Evening Star Newspaper, May 18, 1930, Page 55

In the Motor World BY G. ADAMS HOWARD. OR the time being there has been enough discussion about left-hand turns, sig- nal lights, automobile pro- duction and fatality figures, to say nothing of the various arguments outside of the motor world and vehicular traffic in general. All of these things tend toward a certain amount of static, and every one knows that there is plenty of that in the air during the warm months of the year. However, speaking of static, brings to mind a new subject for dis- course which should prove of in- terest at this time, and at least should promulgate some new ideas —which in itself will be refresh- ing this time of year. The subject is radio and lts connection with the automobile, joint use of which is becoming more and more popular as the days go by. Such use is causing many traffic officials new worries —not that they have not had suf- ficient ones previously. But traf- fic officials are in a class by them- selves, and just can't help being fiven over to worries, whether ustified or not. Several States, notably Massa- chusetts and New Jersey, have frowned upon the use of radio by motorists, which the automobile manufacturers are beginning to exploit on a big scale. The chief argument against it was that it distracts the driver and in crowded traffic might set up a bedlam if generally used. On the other hand, the manufacturers maintain that it is a splendid means for relieving boredom while on long drives. Proposals have been advanced to curb the use of radio in auto- mobiles either by prohibiting them altogether or by prohibit- ing the playing of the radio sets within city limits. In Massachu- setts the proposal was that no radio set shall be played in an au- tomobile while it is in motion, thus leaving the car owner free to have the set in his car, to be played only while parked at pic- nics or the like. New' York City barred a taxicab eompany from equipping its cabs with radio. Meanwhile the auto- mobile and radio manufacturers have shown a decided resentment toward these limitations. Gen- eral Motors has gone into the ing a huge majority, is getting to be an American disease.” In the meantime the production of radios for automobiles con- tinues. Perhaps some of the pub- licity eoncerning this development may prove of interest. Its ad- vantages, method of installation and various claims by its pro- ducers are set forth as follows: The most recent contribution of the world’s most astonishing in- dustry for public entertainment, information and education is the automobile radio. Technical im- provements in the past year have made another dream come true. This newest wonder has been thoroughly tested and approved by leading engineers. Soon millions of cars will be equipped with radio receiving sets. Already one of the largest Mid- western manufacturers is in quantity production with an an- nounced retail price within the reach of every automobile owner. The automobile radio will un- doubtedly have a tremendous in- fluence on the daily lives and habits of millions of people. Now it is possible to have entertain- ment as you travel. Long hours become shorter—rough roads are smoother. The business man will find the automobile radio useful in providing important business nformation as he rides to and from work. After a long, hard day an entertaining program will nelo him get his mind off the| problems of business and lessen fatigue. In an interview with one of the pioneer leaders in the radio indus- try, he states: “We anticipate a fremendous demand for automo- bile radio, as millions of car own- will want one as soon as they e a demonstration and appre- e its many advantages. Long Business Trip. “Think what the automobile radio will mean to the man start- ing out alone on a long business trip; what items of interest can be picked up as you drive about the city; what added enjoyment it can give to a ride into the coun- try on a Summer evening; what a new thrill of ownership it will create in the owner of a car, re- gardless of whether he had pur- chased a new model this Spring manufacture of automobile radio sets, and about a half dozen makes of cars can now be purchased with radio installations. Director Not Worrled. Willlam H. Harland, director of #raffic in the National Capital, is one director who is not worrying about the combination automo- bile-radlo. At least he is not worrying about it as yet. He does not believe that the attention of the motorist at the wheel should be distracted, but cannot see that s radio would take his mind off any more than the or- eonversation of a pas- . At the present time, he not advocate any more re- strictions on automobilists. He states that the time has not some in Washington for traffic of- ficials to give the matter any seri- ous consideration. Also he believes that it is the eyes of the driver that must be protected more than or had it installed in his old car. “For some time I have had a re- celving set In my car and find when driving alone the p: ms help to prevent fatigue an notony of long trips, especially at night. The radio does not require any attention and consequently does not add to the hazard of driv- ing. It really works just the other way and keeps my mind off busi- ness, enabling me to attend to the glg of driving and to enjoy the . “The volume of the auto re- celving set is ample for the oc- cupants of a car, but is not loud enough to be heard more than a few feet outside the automobile. Consequently, it does not attract the attenion of pedesrians or peo- ple who may be driving by.” ‘The opinion seems to be unan- imous that the demand for auto radios this year will be extremely large. Practically every auto manufacturer is either incorpor- the ears. However, the Automotive Daily News, a trade journal, becomes e T T and while - the use of radios in automo- Massachusetts, home of the sacred codfish and the Pilgrim fathers, seems determined to arrogate to itself the role of law-trying guinea pig. The Bay State tried out at considerable local anguish the first compulsory insurance law passed in this country. It has tried out other measures at which State legislatures elsewhere had nibbled but never quite dared to enact. “Now Messachusetts is dallying with the idea of passing a law for- bidding the use of radio on motor cars. The reason advanced is that a radio in operation in the car wds to distract the attention of e makes for accidents. It is further contended that radios on cars add fo the already plentiful traffic din. “As a matter of fact, in most ears carrying passengers there is & constant buzz of conversation. A pts to gain the driver’s at- fention are reasonably constant, and a radio in operation is not as distracting as r1;:1’50:)31 questions and requests. truth, the radio may have a tendency to still pro- miscuous conversation and may actually contribute a Ilittle to keeping the driver’s attention on the road. As for adding to traffic din, the radio in a motor car can scarcely be heard by any one standing beside the car, much less by a driver passing in either di- rection. Cigar Lighter Question. “We might just about as well forbid cigar lighters, on the pre- text that lighting a smoke of any kind takes the driver's mind off his business. We might almost forbid headlights, on the ground that many of them, through im- r adjustment or other causes, @ vehicle operators on the ways, This business of serv- & very small purpose or cur- & very minor trouble by pass- a sweeping law, inconvenienc- PIERCE-ARROWS Sedan Limousine Run 8014 Miles Cost $4,325—Now $2,750 New Collapsible Coupe Cost New, $3,525— Now $2,900 Will Trade—Terms A. C. Moses Motor Co. 1437 Irving St. N.W, - driver and consequently ating changes to make radio in- stallation more convenient, or de- voting considerable thought to the problem with a view to adapt- ing such changes in the near fu- ture. One motor car company estimated that half of the auto- mobiles sold this year will be radio-equipped. An exclusive manufacturer of high-priced automobiles is experi- menting with auto radios with a view to equipping practically all its cars at the factory. Another high-priced car is now carrying radlg receivers as standard equip- ment. Begins With Antenna. In installing an automobile radio one usually be; with the an- tenna or aerial. This is an ar- rangement of wire or screen in the roof of the car and is neces- sary for intercepting the radio messages. A number of cars are now equipped with aerials at the factory. Of closed cars not so equipped, quite a number are constructed with the roof covering supported on wire chicken netting. Unless this chicken netting is connected to the metal body or frame of the car it may be used as the antenna. An insulated wire is soldered to the chicken netting at the right- hand front corner and carried down inside or by the right-hand windshield post to the receiver beneath the cowl. If no aerial has been installed at the factory, or if the roof is not supported by chicken wire, a small wire or screen antenna may be used. In closed cars this can consist of a section of copper screen (the kind used for screen- ing a house) tacked to the roof bows inside the roof, so that it is| hidden by the cloth head lining. The proper size of screen to use varies with the car. The Crosley Roamio installation uses a screen | about 2 by 3 feet. | Installing an antenna in the| roof of an open car presents a| somewhat different problem, be-| cause the antenna must not in- THE SUNDAY™ STAR, WASHINGTON, D.: O, MAY -18, 1930—PART FOUR. v FRANK BECk | [SUMMER EXCURSION SEASON | ou Will Never Forget. B, ! DOWN THE ROAD-Rides Y. "BHE “TIME “You iGoT A LIFT AND THE TRUCK DRIVER COASTED DOWN ALL THE GRADES terfere with the collapsing of the roof. A flexible insulated wire attached to a piece of drill cloth serves admirably for this purpose. The wire is run back and forth across the drill cloth in grid fashion. The top is removed, and the drill cloth is stretched over a false head lining and tacked to the end bows. When the top is replaced the antenna is entirely concealed. The lead-in wire is taken from the back, and is run down underneath the chassis to the position of the receiver in the front of the car. Many different locations have been luggested for the receiver it- self, but the preferred one seems 0- | to be on the engine bulkhead, just below the cowl. There it is out of the way and in convenient posi- tion for adjustment by means of controls mounted on the instru ment panel. Speaker Location Optional. There is no universal rule for the location of the speaker. Some installations are made with the speaker in the back of the car; some with it suspended from the roof bows just above the back of the driver’s seat. In modern, low-built cars, however, it seems to be advisable to locate the re- ceiver so-that it is as inconspicu- ous and out of the way as possible. In the installation the speaker is carried on the receiver case, be- neath the cowl. Automobile receivers are oper- ated by batteries. The car stor- age battery is used for the “A” supply, but in addition there must "G Supply. A batiery pox, sunk supply. in the floor boards at the rear of the car, is ordinarily used for carrying the batteries; although they are frequently packed below the drivers seat, in a rear com- partment, or in some other out- of-the-way location. ‘Tuning is accomplished from a panel easily attached to the in- strument board. Volume may also be regulated at will by turning a dial. The automatic volume con- trol keeps the rr am at a con- stant level while the car is being driven from place to place. Radio manufacturers have found it best to provide a switch of the lock type, operated by a key. This makes it impossible for the' re- ceiver to be turned on by passerby when the car is parked. One of the most important fac- MOTOR DONTS DONT BUY GAs, BY THE QUART!® IT WASTES YOUR TIME AND THE STATION ATTENDANTS Yo BUY ONE OR TWO GALLONS — PILL YOUR TANK EVERY TIME —YOU WiLL NOY “RUN OUT * SO OFTEN - AND A FULL TANK IS @OOD BALLAST Mr. George formerly Mannge Business Sub-Sta | Wardman Park Garage We take pleasure in announcing that E. Keneipp r, D. C. Division American Automobile Association is now associated with us as Mannger GillLCA INCORPORATED Both Sides of H Street N.W. Between 6th and 7th tions at Capital Garage IN NEUTRAL. tors which must be considered in the installation of automobile radios is the elimination of inter- ference from the ignition system and other electrical circuits of the car. This must be done in a thor- ought manner, so that recepuon’ is quiet while the car is being driven. There are several methods of eliminating interference. The usual practice is to install an eliminator unit on the generator and on the starting motor. In ad- dition, eliminators may be re- quired at the starter switch, and on other electrical devices, such as horns or windshield wipers. "WO R L D°S AUTO THIEVERY SHOWING INCREASE IN BALTIMORE 951 Machines Reported Stolen Bince January 1—Joy-rider and Boot- legger Chief Offenders. | Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, May 17.—Automobile | thievery in Baltimore during the first | four months of this year shows a de- cided increase in comparison with the number of cars stolen during the cor- responding period of last year, accord- ing to the records of the police. From January 1 to April 30 of this year there have been 951 machines re- : ported stolen. Fifty of the automo- biles have not been recovered. During the four-month period of 1929 there were 886 thefts reported and 867 re- coveries. According to the police, it is the “joy- rider” and the boouefier who are re- sponsible for the stealing of a large percentage of the cars left parked by their owners on the street. The machines are believed by the po- lice 1o have been used by bootleggers in transporting liquor cargoes or by the type of automobile thief who is bent on “seeing America first” by stealing a car in every city he visits. In every place this thief arrives he leaves behind the automobile stolen in the clty he left and pilfers another to proceed on his journey, the detectives say. OFFERS RARE INDUCEMENTS Brokaw Believes Now Is the Time When Every Motorist Should Plan Out- ings for His Family. BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW, Automobile Technioal Adviser. Now is the time when all good mo- torists are coming to the aid of their families by planning an automobile tour of some kind. Usually this is arra in connection with the annual Summer vacation. Often it includes the whole family—man, woman and children— and is looked forward to for weeks in anticipation of a wonderful experience. And usually it turns out to be an évent long to be remembered and furnishing conversation for many weeks after its completion, In connection with a touring experi- ence, one of the things most desired is that it shall not be marred in any way by any mechanical deficiencies of the automobile. The best insurance which one can have in respect to accomplish- ing this ideal is to have the machine thoroughly checked over before start- ing out on any kind of an extended trip. Ordinarily a service-station tech- nician will be able to do this job in a thoroughly satisfactory fashion if the automobile owner merely takes the car to the service station and asks for a general checking-up of all possible ms, Some Ponder Over Detalls. Some motorists, however, like to be & little sure of having everything in cor- rect shape before starting out, and con- sequently prefer to give more specific directions to a service-station workman. In order that such a person may more easily include in any kind of a list he makes all the items that would at all be likely to need attention, a list of items is given below. If the list is not complete, it will at least include most of the items any automotive driver could be interested to have inspected. ange engine and en- tire car, adjust timing and clean points, tune up motor, check ofl leaks, adjust hot spot, test starter, test switch assem- bly, test throttle control, test choke control, test and adjust headlights, check tail light, test dash light, test dome light, fill water in battery, flush radiator, check water leaks, fill ail grease cups, grease transmission, grease dif- ferential, grease universals, grease front wheel bearings, check cotter pins on front wheels, check felt washers on rear Wheels, test transmission or ignition lock, adjust steering gear, adjust foot brakes, adjust hand brakes, test clutch pedal play and lubricate thrust bear- ing, tighten radiator bolts, test door lock on closed cars, test window regula- tors. test speedometer, test gas tank gauge, check air in tires, align front wheels, grind valves, clean carbon, clean generator, clean gas line, tighten all hose connections, adjust valve tappets, clean and adjust spark plugs. The motorist should also see that the mechanic tightens the following: Cylin- der head bolts, floor boards, fender bol runningboards, mutler and (40 pipe, shing U Bovs steering wheel, rear wheel axle nm spring shackle and clips, clean hten battery terminals. If the automobile body needs a coat of finishing material to help it look like a new vehicle, it is well to have this attended to before starting out. The family will feel better to ride in a car which is at its best in looks as well as in mechanical detail. If the toj needs finis] to avold possible leaks, this, too, should receive attention. Cer- tainly the tourists must have every pos- sible protection from bad weather. Check over the upholstery of the ns to see if of the car is oAk.l Be l\n;en tl'}:ti al uuntlm-‘ cessories are eir proper : Then find out what will be needed in the way of camping paraphernalia and get this supply in hand. There are plenty of details for the average motorist to handle when - ting ready to go on a long automobile tour, so that it is more than likely he will do well to have this work of &: paring his car done at a service station. If he takes his car to a station where experience has demonstrated that the workers are thoroughly efficient and understand their jobs, this fact makes it all the more logical for the motorist to have his car checked up in a service station. However, if a-motorist is me- chanically inclined and wishes to do this hi f, there is no reason why he should not get all of the pleasure of such a job one so inclined may get. Mr. Brokaw will be glad to write on any subject pe: to the automobile that a reader may request. TAXI MIRRORS REMOVED Constantinople Drivers Must De- vote Attention to Driveway. Mirrors attached to the windshields of taxicabs in Constantinople, Turkey, have been removed by the . This move ;vnu duzu l':in dxlve;: being so inter- es wal g leir passengers through these mirrors that they neg- lected the operation of their cars, wi the result that they sometimes crashed into other cabs. AUTOMOTIVE BRIEFS A. D. Gardner and Eugene Stuart have been appointed as authorized dealers for Do and Plymouth cars by the Washington Dodge distributors, the Trew Motor Co. Both Gardner and Stuart have been well known for years along automobile row. They will main- tain showrooms and service station a$ 1858 Florida avenue northeast. L 0O WEGST-P RI CED BE I 6 B T PREFERBED e FOR QUALITY more than low price Success has come to the new De Soto Straight Eight— QUICKLY! q The public had been looking to the automobile industry to produce a truly DGO AND UP-F. O. B. FACTORY v WITH THESE FEATURES Unisteel* Construction of Chassis and Body Down-Draft Carburetion fine Eight of low price — well within reach of a moderate income. De Soto produced it—and the De Soto Straight Eight has stepped right into a remarkable success. 4 It is, however, the smartness, the richness and the marvelous performance of the car itself—it it quality far more Impulse Neutralizer Full-Pressure Feed Lubrication Mechanical Fuel Pump—Fuel Filter—Air Cleaner ‘Thermostatic Heat Control Hydraulic Brakes Bydraulic Shock Absorbers Pubber-Cushioned Spring Shackles Double Cowl Ventilators Non-Glare Windshield Rust-Proof Parts #*In ths Unisteel type of construc tion, the body and chassis are de- signed as @ unit, eliminating body sills and all ather wooden parts. The body is bolted directly to the chassis, o0 that the two become mutually supporting and mutually flexible. Copyright 1930 by De Sote Moter Corporstien DISTRICT MOTOR CO. GARNER MOTOR CO. CHRYSLER MOTORS NATIONAL AUTO SALES CO. (INCORPORATED) 1337 14th St. N.W. Potemac % 1000 RONEY MOTOR CO. Frederick, Md. NOW ONE OF PLYM SOLD oToOoRS P R LERS than a low price—that is lifting De Soto so swiftly to a top place among today’s Eights: The De Soto Straight Eight rises clear above mere price, and wins far more friends because of what it is —and does—than because of its low cost. You'll realize that when you see it and drive it. D:Q orTo STRAIGHT s> EIGHT 0. R. Blanton, Prop. 33 New York Ave. N.E. Metropolitan 9225 W. E. MONCURE Quantico, Va. THE LOWEST-PRICED CARS IN THE WORLD OUTH obucT EVERYWHE PRODUCT MORELAND MOTOR CO. Waldorf, Md.