NEWS AND GOSSIP OF INTEREST TO THE A UTOMOBILISTS OF BIRMINGHAM I I
w_-------By EUJS C, HOLLIW8 J ‘ I
JEWETT PREDICTS
President of Paige-Detroit
Company Talks on
Conditions
It in popularly supposed that the
president of a tremendous manufactur
ing organization like the Paige-Detroit
Motor Car company sits in a very pri
vate office and with impressive ser
iousness directs the affairs of his com
pany.
But President H. M. Jewett has a
different conception of what his duties
Require. He believes In eternal watch
fulness of business conditions and in
Securing exact information of the situ
ation from every part of the country.
A few days ago he returned to De
troit after an extended trip that has
practically required the past four
months and during which Mr. .lewett
covered the country from the Atlantic
lo the Pacific. Almost every large com
mercial center in the country was vis
ited and carefully studied. Mr. Jewett
personally interviewed the best known
end most reputable bankers. He talked
with big business executives, with
prominent politicians and everywhere
lie secured complete reports of local
conditions from Paige agents. Hun
dreds of Paige owners in various sec
tions of the country were also quizzed
to ascertain the opinion of the average
citizen on the present situation and
prospects for the future.
Upon his recent return to the factory
Mr. Jewett gave a strong talk in which
lie summed up the results of his in
vestigating trip and put especially
vigorous emphasis on his belief that
the business of the country in general
was sure to undergo a marked Increase
and thut the automobile industry in
particular will find 1915 a year of ac
tivity and prosperity as has been un
known in the past.
From the fact that what Mr. Jewett
said was the result of a personal and
unusually thorough investigation, IPs
remarks have added weight and should
be very seriously considered by the ex
ecutives of large industries ns well as
tmaller business houses and retailers.
“This pessimistic talk about general
depression in all business fields is
twaddle," said Mr. Jewett. "1 felt from
the very beginning that the industries
if this country were too well founded
to suffer much or for long from any I
taiise outside of its own boundaries.
Hut now I am firmly convinced that
the business prosperity of the l nited
States will go on without let-up.
“I have looked into the present con
ditions with my own eyes: have dis
cussed the possibilities of the l'ulun
with some of the biggest and most in
fluential financiers and executives in
the country and 1 have secured veiy
reliable reports from hundreds of our
j.gents and distributors. Everything
points to but one conclusion. Busi
i ess is in splendid shape and constant
ly improving.
Fooled the Kutcher
From the Cleveland Deader.
Tiie smart young housewife went to
market one morning to buy some geese
and found five hanging outside the shop.
“I am a boarding house keeper,” she re
marked with a smile. "Will you pick out j
for me the three of those geese that are
toughest 7"
The man laughed knowingly, and
obeyed.
"Thank you," said the woman, briskly.
“Now, I'll take the other two."
NONSTOP IS NEW FACTOR
IN AUTOMOBILE RACING
The motor racing season of 1913 has
already developed a distinct novelty
—the nonstop speed performanca of
300 miles or more.
At Corona and at Venice, Barney
Oldfield in a Maxwell car ran the en
tire distance—301 and 306 miles, re
spectively—without pausing for a sec
ond in his mad career. The Corona
course Oldfield covered at the terrific
average of nearly 86 miles an hour.
The Venice race was over a slower
course but the nonstop feature en
abled Oldfield to win from Billy Carl
son, also in a Maxwell, but who spent
a fewr seconds at his pit.
Carlson also established a nonstop,
i unning the 306 miles of the Point
Dorris road i ace near San Diego with
out hesitating at any Btage, losing
first place by a matter of seconds only.
These performances have been start
ling to racing man and designers
alike. They have tacitly served notice
that the time is not far distant when
no driver can hope for victory unless
bis car is able to go through the whole
distance of its race without a tire
change, a replenishment of supplies or
a stop for any mechanical trouble
whatever.
Such a feat would have been im
possible to the speed demons of a year
ago. Even now it is almost revolu
tionary. That speed cars should be
built to any other requisites than mere
speed would have been esteemed hear
say in former years. It must soon be
come a creed. For the light, efficient,
well-balanced, nonstop Maxwells ask
no odds of any of their rivals in pure
speed, adding to their ability to roll
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fast, a faculty to keep rolling which
is almost fatal to opponents’ hopes.
With, the heavy racing cars of earl
ier years, economy of gasoline and
oil was a minor consideration, due to
the fact that frequent stops were nec
essary on account of tire trouble. A
pause at the pits for tire changing
was thus made the occasion for tank
replenishment, without additional loss
of time.
Present day racing cars are so much
lighter that tire wear is less rapid.
>o thoroughly has the problem of bal
ance and lightness been rvorked oul in
the Maxwells that in more than 8000
miles of travel at high speeds in prac
tice and competition on the .coast cir
cuit during the winter but one tire
«hange was necessary at the i ace
track.
Economy in supplies which had been
incorporated into the Maxwell design
l y Chief Engineer Ray Harroun then
became a tremendous asset. A 30-gel
lon gasoline tank would, it was dis
covered, carry ample fuel for 300 miles
of racing. The cars, in fact, demon
strated an ability to average from 12
to 16 miles to the gallon, even at a
sustained spied of nearly 90 miles an
hour. Rubricating oil was used in a
similarly parsimonious way. Reserve
water was unnecessary. And nonstop
i uns began to be recorded
Racing men roughly estimated that
a car loses a mile by a full stop of
merely momentary duration. Each min
ute spent at the pits loses the car
over a mile more. The race cars of
the present are virtually of equal
speed. For the first time, efficiency
r.nd economy are playing a big part In
determining the winner.
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LARGE DEMAND FOR
SKID-PROOF TIRES
The increase in demand for antiskid
auto tires during the past few years
has been a matter of considerable in
terest 1o tire manufacturers. Only a
few seasons back the antiskid tire was
iegarded more or less of a fad and
only used by a small percentage of
the thousands of automobile owners in
this country. As motorists discovered
their many advantages, however, they
became more and more popular until
today the antiskid tire is as much used
as the plain tread and many automo
bile manufacturers furnish them in
lheir regular equipment.
Some interesting statements on this
subject are furnished by li. A. Githens,
vice president and sales manager of
the Federal Rubber Manufacturing
lompany. "We have noticed the change
in the ratio of sales most particularly
iluring the last year," said Mr. Gith
r ns. "Right now the percentage of our
rugged tread tires being shipped from
the factory, as compared with the
smooth tread, is three times as great
hs it was a year ago. We have been
continually increasing our equipment
lor producing1 them, but the demand
has been so gr- at that even with our
present facilities we are unable to
meet tiie requirements of our branches
and distributors. The increase in the;
sale of these tires is, of course, partly
due to the fact that there lias been
considerable reduction in the difference
In cost between the smooth and rugged
tires out. in my opinion, it has been
principally a matter of education.
"The nonskid tire not only ha.- the
advantage of preventing skidding ai d
aiding in quick stope, but it is also
much less liable to puncture. The
raised studs and the spaces between
them afford great protection against
stonr s. glass, nails, etc. Then, too,
there is considerable more wear in lh«
heavier and thicker tread than the
i.mooth type. I belieye it will only
I e a short time before they will be
I ~~~
Packard Makes New
Record Production
On April 12 the Packard established
a new record by shipping the largest
number of motor vehicles turned out
in any one day since the company
started in business. The day's output,
when loaded aboard freight cars, rep
resented a value of $212,795.
When some cr tne motor carriages
were being slipped into the cars Vice
President and General Manager Mac
auley remarked: “They are all first
class tickets for the See-America-First
t xcursion.”
Present reports indicate the April
business for Packard will exceed any
previous April in the number of Ve
hicles shipped and, with good weatn
cr, it will beat the largest month’s
i ecord in the company s existence.
A Dimmer for Any Law
An ingenious arrangement makes it
possible for purchasers of the new
Detroiter “eight" to conform to any
dimmer regulation, without being com
pelled to invest in any of the more or
less expensive apparatus made for the
j purpose. The Detroiter dimmer consists
I of an iron core around w hich the feed
wire is wrapped. As these colls are
unwrapped, the amount of current that
reaches the single filament bulb is 1n
< reased, it being possible to have any
light from one candle power to the full
IN candle power. For the full power of
j the light for country driving a switch
! is provided which cuts out the dimmer
and allows the full current to flow
from the oattery.
I used universally. Many motorist3 not
, only use antiskid tires on the rear
| wheels, but equip the front wheels with
them also. The advantages are ob
vious. They assist in holding the road,
making steering more accurate, pre
vent the wheels from sliding on sharp
turns and are a great help in climb
i ing out of ruts and car tracks.”
The
Light Six
7-Passenger Phaeton
3-Passenger Roadster
The High Grade Car
Is the Light Car
Remember that. Lightness requires the highest skill in de
signing. Ie requires much aluminum, special steels. To get
strength without bulk is the acme in car building. Therefore
the Hudson—the lightest 7-passenger Six—is a matchless ex
ample of fine engineering.
Not all Light Sixes are really light.
Not one is as light as Hudson in this
class.- Our rivals, of course, say their
extra weight—perhaps hundreds of
pounds—is essential.
But it isn’t. No more than 4500
pounds which Sixes used to weigh.
And to carry extra weight daily is
a heavy tux, both on tires and fuel.
Why Go Half Way?
This is the day of light Sixes. Men
have definitely decided never again
to carry vast, crude, needless weight.
All leading cars are built lighter.
Overwhelming demand has compelled
it. But many cars, in another year,
will be lighter still. Cars of Hudson
size must come to Hudson weight. In
the meantime, is it wise to get a car
which has only gone half way?
Hudson Strength
The strength of-the Hudson is be
yond any question. Remember that
12,000 of these Light Hudsons are
running. Many have run for two
seasons. All of that driving, covering
.‘10 million of miles, has failed to bring
out a single weakness.
There never was a sturdier car.
Any extra pound would be useless—
a weakness, not a strength.
But It Took Four Years
Hudson is the original Light Six.
It took us four years to attain. Hun
dreds of parts were re-designed by
Howard E. Coffin, a genius in design
ing.
That is why Hudson weighs but
2870 pounds. That is why it shows
u I tra-ref inement.
It will be your first choice in the
Light Six clais. But bear in mind that
Hudsons are in tremendous demand
in the spring. Decide on your car
while we can make prompt delivery.
7-Pa«nenirer Phaeton or S-Panrafer Road.
•ter, I15AO, f. o. b. Detroit. j
HUDSON MOTORCAR CO.,Detroit,Mici.
One of the greatest things we offer vou la the
matchless Hudson service. Let us explain It to
you. It keeps your car in trim.
Saunders Motor Car Co.
State Distributers
PHONE M. 6688 , 2021 AVE. D, BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
i f l
INSTRUCTIONS ARE
ISSUED TO TIRE MEN
Goodyear Service Manager Tells
Men All Over Country About
Truck Tires
R. S. Wilson, manager service depart
ment, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber com
pany, has issued instructions to Goodyear
service men all over the country in con
nection with the giant pneumatic tires
being manufactured and sold by the com
pany for use on motor-trucks. A larg<*
number of these tires have been appear
ing in service on motor trucks In the
various cities of the country, and truck
users are deeply interested in them and
their possibilities, as Goodyear has
pioneered this departure from solid truck
tires under right .conditions.
Says Mr. Wilson: “Pneumatic truck
tires are built on exactly the same prin
ciples as pncumotic automobile tires. The
bead construtcion is the same, except
that there are more wires in the bead,
to hold the greater pressure and give the
larger tire perfect seating on the rim.
The fabric is the same except that there
are more plies, and the tread is the
same except that it is thicker, so in the
I Giant pneumatics for trucks we have put
! all the care and material and workman
| ship that enter our tires for pleasure cars,
plus a big allowance for the heavier
j weights to be carried and the greater
I strains to be endured.
“Pneumotic truck tires are sold under
'our regular guarantee. They must have
reasonable care, of course, to insure ade
quate mileage—and proper inflation is as
important to their longevity as In any
other type of pneumatic.”
Goodyear specially recommends big
pneumatic truck tires to replace dual
pneumatic truck equipment in the sizes
covered for the reason that it Is almost
impossible to inflate dual tires equally,
and one of a pair usually has to do more
of the work than the other, and suffers
accordingly.
MOTORCYCLE NOTES
Benjamin Levey, a newsboy of Chl
(ago, saved enough money from the
sale of his papers to buy himself a
OVERLAND OUTPUT WILL
BE DOUBLED, SAYS WILLYS
Sis hundred Overland cars a dav will
be the output of the big Toledo factory
during its next fiscal year. This state
ment was made by John N. Willys, pres
ident of the Willys-Over land company,
while in the west where he has been
spending the winter.
‘‘By June 1 we will have finished addi
tions to the Overland factory whichi wrill
make It possible for'us to turn oiiw 600
cars a day,* says Mr. Willys. “This will
be our dally output next year.
“At the present time we are building
300 cars a day. The increase in this
year's business is 30 per cent over that
of last year, when we built 48.468 Over
lands. I fully expect that 1916 will see
100 per cent Increase.
'Seine may think that this is optimism.
It Is not. It is simply trying to meet
the demand that already has been re
ceived for future orders."
Mr. Willys sees nothing ahead but big
things for the automobile industry. He
predicts that the companies which did
the biggest business during the present
season will rave little difficulty in in
creasing the volume of their sales dur
ing the coming year.
“The automobile manufacturer has now
reached a point where he finds the re
newal trade quite a factor in his sales,''
continues Mr. Willys, in discussing the
future of the industry. “Still, the gen
eral prosperity of the country, the devel
opment. of new land by the farming In
terests and the establishment of new in
dustries in the cities all tend to create a
new’ field of buyers seeking their first
car.
“Five years ago I stated that the in
dications were that it would be merely
a matter of time before the building of
the leading motor cars would be handled
by five houses. Conditions today prove
that this prediction was true. Out of
nearly 100 motor car manufacturers, five
supply at least 80 per cent of the entire
American output.
“These five companies have successfully
held the public pufse and have built cars
that have given service at a price in
keeping writh the purse. Five years ago |
there were over 400 automobile builders.
Since then the number has become
smaller, while the cars have become
cheaper and better.
Referring to the remarkable strides
made by his own company Mr. Willys
declared: “The Overland factory is to
day the second largest producer of auto
mobiles in the United States. In 1908
the total output of Overland cars w'as
465. Today in 36 hours, we do as much
as we did during the w'liole year in
1908.
“This statement is backed by the fact
that the output of our factory has given
us first choice of position at the New
York automobile show for 1913. 1914 and
1915. This means that we had the second
largest output during these years, the
leading builder not being a member of
the National Automobile Chamber of
Commerce.
“Today the Toledo plant of the Willys*
Overland company covers 99 acres of
ground. Its capacity has been doubled
In the last tw’o years. The new additions
now in the course of construction will
contain 17 acres of floor space, making
a total floor area of 79 acres.
‘To build Overland cars, the company
employs 12,000 men in its different
plants.”
motorcycle, and now he covers his
route on the two-wheeler.
The Northwest Auto Protective Asso
ciation of Tacoma, Wash., hks a corps
of five motorcycle detectives.
“When I finished my trip my motor
was singing: as sweetly as ever,” says
D. Rosenbaum of Spokane, Wraslt.,
who has just completed a cross-coun
try motorcycle trip.
Eight hundred and eighty-five new
memberships and renewals were rc
1 ceived by the F. A. M. during March,
as against 797 during the same month
last year.
Alexandria, Minn., has a new motor
cycle club of 16 members.
On July 4 the Tucson tAriz.) Motor
cycle club will stage a 171-mile road
race.
Detroit motorcyclists have made a
bid for the 1916 convention of the Fed
eration of American Motorcyclists.
TWAY TELLS HOW TO
“This proposition of dimming the head j
lamps of automobiles in order to reduce !
the light for city driving or when the car
is left standing seems to h£ a puzzle to
most people.A declares Charles W. Tway,
of the Haynes Auto company, local dis- ]
tributor of the Haynes light, six. i
“To make the matter clear, suppose
that there are two tubs to be filled with
water and that a separate pipe carries
the water to each tub. The tubs will
receive a certain amount of water within
a given time. One of two methods may
be used to reduce the amount of water
flowing into the tubs. %
“Both tubs may be filled from the same
pipe and the other pipe turned off. In
this method less water is used in the j
same time that both pipes were flowing.
The second method Is to allow' the water
to flow into the tubs through the two *7
pipes and cut holes in the pipes so that
part of the w’ater in each pipe may leak
out. In either case the amount of water
reaching the tubs will be less than in
the first case.
“Now'the electric current behaves In |
the same manner. The head lamps are
the tubs and the wires the pipes. Ths
electric current Is the water flowing
through the pipes. When the lamps are
burning at the fifll intensity, current is *
coming to each one through separate j
wires. The only way to make an eleo- JJ
trie lamp give less light Is to cut down !
the current flowing through it. The
wires may be cut the same as holes were
cut In the pipe, and resistances or coils of
wire connected in to use up part of the
current so that less current will reach
the lamps. Obviously, more current is
being used when the lights are dimmed by
this method than were the lights burning
brightly, but this system can still ba
found on some cars.
“The most economical way is to actual
ly reduce the amount of ourrent going |
to the lamp by switching both lamps into
series the same as both tubs were filled V]|
from the one pipe and the other pipe
shut off entirely. In this method the
electricity is saved by turning the dim- *?
mer switch just as gas is saved in ai
gas light when the gas is turned down
low.”
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