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IP NEWS ANDGOSSIP OFlNT BREST TO THE AUTOMOBILISTS OF BIRMINGHAM I i_—— — - By ELI.H C. HOI.l.UMS _____ PIONEER PERIOD OF TIRE INDUSTRY IS i ■ Picture of Ancient Two Cylinder Equipped With Goodyear Tires of Oldest Style Memories of the pioneer period of tlie tutomobile tire Industry were revived the other day by the reclept at the fac tory of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company, Akron, O., of a. photograph of ft Gobron-Brillie car. The ancient car was built In 1901. It had two cylinders and four pistons and was owned by a well known Suffolk gentleman. With its "buttoned up the back" tonneau, its maze of levers, its Gargantuan lamps, Its ludicrous radiator, and its 6-inch Goodyear detachable tires, it was the Sensation of motordom in that day. The Goodyear tires on this old relic of by gone days carried those who had been with the company since its inception back to the period when the foundation was being constructed for Goodyear's present success. For of a truth the mod ern Goodyear fortified tire is the result of a process of evolution from this tire that was the sensation of motordom nearly 15 years ago. From a present viewpoint this old original straight side tire, with its 1" plies of fabric, tremendously thick side walls, and its solid base of fabric and wire, might he termed a monstrosity. Yet this pioneer tire, despite its short comings, was fundamentally correct in principle. It was a worthy tire con atructlon advance in its day, prophetic of the wonderful change which hits since taken place In the tire industry. The enthusiasm with which this old j type of tire was received is well Illus trated by the fact that the King of Eng land. Edward VTI; Sir Thomas Lipton and Lord Salisbury, the prime minister, used them. The story runs that while touring one day one of Ix>rd Salisbury’s tires was punctured. After a futile attejnpt at repairing the tire, the prime minister hit upon the ingenious expedient of fill ing the casing with hay. ThiR worked well enough until the prime ministerial nose detected the unmistakable odor of burning rubber. Spontaneous combustion had ignited the hay and was rapidly re ducing the tire to scrap rubber. The ■kill of tire engineers folowing out the principles established 14 years ago, has evolved the modern Goodyear fortified tire, a lineal descendant of the first straight side tire made in America. Several years ago it would have been presumptuous for Goodyear to attempt to prove to the automobile world that pre vailing ideas on tire construction were faulty. It would have taken a rash prophet to predict the disappearance of tiie then popular clincher tire. Yet this Is liappeing today. Figures Just com piled from estimates received from the automobile manufacturers of the coun try, of thoir 1916 output of cars, ex clusive of those manufacturing cars us ing 3dx3 and 30x3*6 regular clincher tires, 6how that fully 95 per cent of the new cars built will be equipped with straight side tires. Goodyear pioneered this type and has blazed the trail all the way. Tire history will record that the Good year No-Rim-Cut or Fortified tire wan the first demonstration of the possibility of building a practical straight side tire. Much of the success of Goodyear tires today may be ascribed to the “head start" that Goodyear gained in learning how to build this ultimately successful type of tire. FIRST STORY OF A REAL AUTOMOBILE Alfred O. Dunk, president of the De troiter Motor Car company, declares that the first genuine automobile write-up ap peared in the Scientific American, Octo ber 2, IS45. The- editor Says: “There Is an arrangement In the ma chinery by which the power of the en gine is applied to both driving wheels equally and uniformly notwithstanding the occasional excess of motion in one ©f the wheels in passing corners or curves. Another peculiarity is that the ' force applied may be occasionally in creased by leverage consequently reduc ing the speed to such an extent that one hoi sc power of steam will propel as great a load as can be drawn by six horses. One of the uses to which this carriage is to be applied is to draw a harrow, plow, lift atumps or rocks and do other agri cultural work. “The cost will not exceed $500 and the weight not exceed 600 pounds. The speed will evidently be 10 miles per hour on good carriage roads. The rider and man ager is perfectly safe from any harm by explosion and can manage the ma chinery, replenish the fire and guide the carriage at the sam« time. There can he no doubt of its ultimate complete sue* cess.' * Won Suit for 6 Cents From the New York World. Detroit.—Attorney Frank R. Martin sued John H. Kane for 6 cents and won before Justice Marschner. The fact that the costs and time involved in the case amounted to several hundred times the 6 cents did not detract from the Joy of victory. Martin sighed with satisfaction as he jingled 6 pennies which Kane took from his pocket with great reluctance. Several months ago Martin was re tained by Kanes wife to represent her in a suit for divorce against her husband. Sometime later Kane, among Ollier divers things, said to Martin: “You are a cur; you have ruined my home.” fer" Martin started suit for slander and the jury awarded him 6 cents. Kane refused to pay. Martin then started Justice court action and the verdict was in his favor. ASTOR ANNOUNCES RULES GOVERNING CUP COMPETITION Will Be Given to Winner of Most Points in Auto mobile Races in Five Years Vincent Astor has authorized President Harry Harkness of the Sheepshead Bay Speedway corporation to make public the deed of gift embodying the conditions to I govern the series of contests for the per- ] inanent possession of the Astor cup, the first race for which will be run on Satur day, October 2, at the new Sheepshead Bay speedway. The cup itBelf has Just been completed by Black. Starr & Frost. It is simple and chaste in design, as befits a trophy in tended to be an appropriate ornament for a gentleman’s mantel or dining room, it is a reproduction of a classic Grec;«m bowl. It hears the inscription. “Aster Challenge Cup,” in raided letters. The decorations are bands of laurel and oak leaves. There is also a racing scene, hand chased in relief, showing tho grand stand, track and a car at full speed. Tno height of the cup itself, which rests r.n an ebony base, is 28Va inches and its width is 20 inches. It has a chased cover. In addition to the cup there wi’l be JfiO.OOO awarded in cash prizes for the openi lg races. The conditions imposed by Mr. Astor in his deed of gift call for five annual competitions on the Sheepshead Bay SHSS5HSE5 5ESHSH5'a5HSHSESa5ESel5H5B5B5HS25H5jj] ■ AUTOMOBILE AND n] STEAMER RUGS | Util* also as Carriage, Porch, Lounge, nj Hammock, Tent. Camp, Yacht and In A Big and Attractive Line Pow,r Bo,*c£XJ.r E“r* B~* H F ILL-WOOL SHAWLS MACKINAW ROBES | Beautiful Weave Deaigna and Colorings All Wool —Self-bound (beat bound) Fine fll 3* to • Iba. S4I66—54174—64154—60172. Styles-Soft. Warm Fabrics-3 # to 7 M (Measurements do not include fringes) iba. 64166—54174—54164. |u COLO WEATHER STUFF OUR SPECIALTY—Extra Large and Heavy, Thick, Warm Fabrles. m THE BECKMAN COMPANY j NORTHERN OHIO BLANKET MILLS. . 1117 FULTON ROAD. CLEVELAND. OHM jJ I Year Dealer Daaa Net Handle Oer lint Apely Directly Te Ua lev Color Plate Cota leg and Price Lift nj _aIt_LL_i NEWREO CARS WILL CREATE SENSATION j — -- Just as certain events in the financial ( and sporting world have come to be looked upon as indicating the trend of things for the coming year, so the an ( nual announcements of the Reo Motor Car company is considered by experienced motorists and those in the automobile trade. One reason for this is undoubtedly the fact that the Reo company invariably makes its announcements in September, whereas others are usually made in June. The other reason is the enviable posi tion the Reo occupies in the industry, its stability (one of the strongest financial ly), and the fact that Reo values as an nounced from time to time go a long way toward setting the standards. This year, perhaps more than ever be fore, motorists have looked forward to the Reo announcement and there has been considerable discussion as to wheth er this conservative concern would an nounce any radically new models or would stick to types of cars that have become recognized as standard. Few' in the trade expected Reo to join the radicals. Reo success, based on what might be termed ultraconservatism, had been so remarkable that few ex pected any departure from the beaten course. The expected has happened. The Reo announcement made throughout the Uni ted States this Sunday will undoubtedly create a tremendous sensation, but It will not be because of radically new features in the two models. The sensation Is found in the unexpectedly low price for next year’s Reos, coupled with the manifest improvements and refinements in both of them. To predict which of the two Reo models will bo the leader for the coming year would be Impossible. Last year there was no "leader’’ in the Reo line. The two models, the famous Reo the Fifth, and the Reo Six seemed to run neck and neck. From the outside it might have looked ns if the Six had a little lead because the output of that model was sold August 1, while Reo the Fifth continued to August 20. That did not, however, indi cate a greater relative demand than for the Four. It simply proved that the company very greatly underestimated the demand for the "Six," while feeling con fident of that for Reo the Fifth "the in comparable Four," which is now the old est four-icyllnder car in America. Reo the Fifth has been ma le in essen tially the same form for now five years That it has survived the onslaughts of radicalism and experimentation, and one new model after another, is the best evi dence of its quality. Last Sunday the Reo company made one of the most remarkable announce ments which has ever been made by any manufacturer. That was to the effect that "Today there isn’t a new Reo auto mobile of any model for sale in the world." At the time this announcement is made the status is still the same, al though deliveries of dealers’ demonstra tors will commence In the next few' days. <••••••••■•■•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••■•••••• After reading the descriptions ana spec! rications of the two new models and con sidering the price, one is forced to th< conclusion that those who want Reoi next year will "have to hurry." The new Reo Six is a strikingly neautl ful car. It is one of the best examplei of the Internationally popular “Sheer line” type, and the Reo designers havi caught the spirit and developed thli graceful type of body to a remarkable degree. Notable amqng the Improvements thli year Is the longer w'heel base (128 inches) which makes it a full seven-passenge: car, where it wfas formerly five; increan of tire sizes to 4% inches; mounting o instruments on the steering post lnsteac of on the cowl board where they former ly were; the change from worm to chair drive in the electric starter; divided fron seats—heretofore a feature in cars of verj high price—and finally the thief-proo locking device, which will bring joy tc the heart of every motorist. There have been innumerable attempts and count less patents issued upon devices for lock lng an automobile so it could not be driven away by any other than Its owner None of them, so far as we know, has been a success. On account of the unique Reo contro system, the Reo engineers have found 1 possible to trebly lock the car. In othe: words, by one operation the transmis slon is locked in neutral position; th< electric starter is locked so it is inopera tive, and floor boards are locked dowr bo that the parts cannot be gotten at. This same feature is in Reo the Fifth as are also several of the improvements such as Instruments on the steering post new tire holder, improved starting device and others. The same distinctive Reo radiator wltl tlie gracefully curved visor has been re tained, but this year the cellular sectlor Is black instead of alumium colored as formerly, and is much more distinctive and in tune with the times—as are al other features of both models. The Birmingham Reo company, whe will handle the Reo automobile here expect to get a shipment of the 1911 cars the latter part of this week. J. P Wright is manager of the company and will make a special feature of giv ing service to Reo owners. Mr. Wright said yesterday that the> were expecting to receive a shlpmen of five touring cars, three of -which will be the four-cylindered, flve-pas senger type, and two of which will be of six cylinders, with a seven-passen ger carrying capacity. The companj also will get one three-fourths-toi truck and one two-ton truck, and f large stock of parts. It will be a par of the company’s policy to be able tc supply all parts of the Reo cars tc owners, and these parts will be car ried in stock; in order to prevent anj delay whatsoever. The territory of the Birmingham Rec company comprises of 10 counties ad joining Jefferson, which is a larger ter ritory than ever before wras given tc a Reo agent in Alabama. The locatlor of the company’s salesrooms is one ol the best in Birmingham—at the cor ner of Avenue B and Twenty-first street, where every automobile trav eling north or south will be obliged tc pass. >••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••■•* speedway, the rnp going to the entrant and not the driver. The final possession of the trophy will be determined on a point basis. It being Mr. Astor's Idea that this will Inspire not only repeated annual entries, but also the nomination by as pirants for final ownership of the cup of two or more cars. The deed of gift Is as follows: I, Vincent Astor, do hereby donate to the Sheepshead Bay Speedway corpora tion a silver trophy for motor car com petition. to be contested for In accord ance with the following provisions: 1. The trophy shall be known as the Astor cup. 2. It shall be competed for only on the Sheepshead Bay speedway by motor sirs as defined in the rules of the American Automobilo association. 3. Competition for the Astor cup sha'l be held annually at a distance determined upon by the Sheepshead Bay Speedway corporation, and approved by the donor 4. The Astor cup shall be contested lor five successive times, at Intervals of not less than one year. ti. The cup shall be loaned each year to the entrant whoso cars finish first in com petition. Said entrant to retain posses don of same for a. period of one year. Said period terminating 30 days in ad vance of the next contest for the trophy, when same must he delivered to the Sheepshead Bay Speedway corporation. 0. Permanent possession of said cup, after live annual competitions for same, Bliall go to the entrant having the high est total points for winning said cup each year, in accordance with the following scale: a. First position each year .20 points b. Second position each year —15 points c. Third position each year .13 points d Fourth position each year —10 points e. Fifth position each year.S points f. Sixth position each year — 7 points g. Seventh position each year. (> points h Kighth position each year — 5 points I. Ninth position each year. 4 points J Tenth position each ysgr . 3 points 7. In ease of a tie for the pevmanenl possession of the trophy. t!)e disposltloi of such shall be determined by a series of three 100-mlle race* on said speedway one ear each to he nominated by entrants time tying for possession. Best two out ol three in these sprints to be winner. .Sam* ears to be used In all sprints, sinles: otherwise mutually agreed upon by en trants and approved by management 5. Not fewer than five different makes of car* shall constitute a competition any year, for said trophy. 9. Qualification of oars to compete foi this trophy to be determined by thf Speedway corporation. 10. Permanent posBeasion of said troph.v shall begin one year after date of fine competition for same, in case permanent winner 1* not the entrant winning ths tiophy the fifth year of competition. 11. If any entrant should obtain suffi cient point* to Insisre permanent posses sion of trophy in fewer than five com petitions, the fifth competition shall taks place In due course. Not only will the city be represented at the race by Mayor Mitchel, but ths state itself by Its highest' officer, Gov ernor Whitman having alao accepted ths Invitation of Percy R.' Pyne, second, ts: occupy one of his boxes that day .Othei guests of Mr. Pyne will be Mr. ans: Mrs. Oliver O. lselln and Robert \V. Goelet. Those who have recently secured boxer for the race are ex-Oov. A. M. Fletcher of Vermont; Col. George R. Fearing. Sam uel D. Babcock, J. Henry Alexander. O B. flairs and the Ivy Club of Princeton university. TOURING INCREASES DESPITETHE RAINS Automobile Touring Shows an Increase of 300 Per Cent Washington, D. C., September 11.—(Spe cial.)— Although the weather reports throughout the United States show an abnormal rainfall—in many instances the increase being more than 300 per cent— automobile touring has increased, over any previous year, for all sections of the country. The east continues to show the lion's share of cars from other sec tions, with New England maintaining its position in having cars displaying the license plates of nearly every state in the union. Transcontinental touring also coQtinues to grow in the number of cars en route. The various highway associations look ing after the different routes have not let the weather discourage tl\em and are continually at work repairing any dam age to the roads caused by the rains. On some of them a patrol system Is maintained and weekly bulletins Issued showing exact conditions from point to I point even where these conditions are not favorable. These transcontlnentalists are wide spread in their home points of departure, the records of the Touring Bureau of . the American Automobile association, both at the Washington and the New York headquarters, show that the bu ' reau is routing cars not merely from J the Atlantic seaboard, but from all tlie f great farming states west of the Mis sissippi river and between the Canadian | and Mexican borders. | This routing demand has made the transcontinental automobile map, showing [ all the established routes across the coun 5 try, one of the most popular of the many ; route maps issued by the touring bu ' reau of the A. A. A. I 1 ■' " ..- -- - — t p H. E. ARNOLD DRIVES OVERLAND CAR FROM DETROIT TO ALABAMA Miss Pauline Thomas of Birmingham Accompanies Him and His Family and Trip is Made Without Mishap—Many Bad Roads Encountered and Meanest Man in the World Bobs Up i - AFTER traveling over, through and in roads good, bad, Indifferent and otherwise, H. E. Arnold of Mont gomery arrived in Birmingham Friday morning In a model S3, 1916 Overland car, having made the trip overland from De troit. Accompanying Mr. Arnold were Mrs. Arnold and their two sons, Merton R. and Stanley E. ArndTd, and Miss Pauline Thomas, the last named a resi dent of Birmingham. Mr. Arnold came up smiling, notwithstanding the quality of roads, and said his car was in prime con dition. He came through on one set of tires, using an inner tube manufac tured in Birmingham. Mr. Arnold and his party left Birming ham in their machine yesterday afternoon for Auburn, where Merton will matricu late this year. Stanley will attend the Riverside Military academy at Gaines ville, Ga.. and it Is was for the purpose of placing his boys in school that Mr. Arnold made the trip. He secured his car from the Overland factory in De troit, on- an order from the Birmingham Overland company here, and spent most of his time here in the offices of the local concern, talking about the roads he encountered. At times Mr. Arnold said the wheels of his car were so deep in the muddy roads that the differential was resting on the ground—or slush, if you prefer. The total running time of the car was 67 hours. I which, considerir^the roads, constitutes a I record. Mr Arnold said the roads In Michigan were in fairly good condition. The roads | in Kentucky, he said, were excellent, and I it was in the Bourbon state that he had smoothest sailing. The worst roads he [ encountered were in Alabama, and the worst in Alabama was tne stretch be ! tween Birmingham and Huntsville, with the exception of the few miles from Bir mingham to the Jefferson county line. The Jefferson county roads, Mr. Arnold found in excellent condition, and he had no complaint on them. But for other parts of the state he gave it as his opin ion that they were the worst roads In the country. Mr. Arnold said he met the meanest ' Six $1145 SSodd M f.o.b. Toltdo J ^ I * k Just “Six” Facts— n.. __ - To you who are confused with and weary of long drawn out aside from-the-point arguments, we present these Six important basic facts: The Overland Six has a wheelbase of one hundred and twenty-five Inches. Many a Six—costing more—has a shorter wheelbase. \ The Overland motor develops full forty-five horsepower. Many a Six—costing more—has considerably less power; consider ably less speed. The Overland is a roomy Six—seating seven adults with ease. Many a Six—costing more—has a smaller tonneau; hence less comfort. The Overland Six has 35" x 4^" tires with non-skids on th< Many a Six—costing more—has smaller tires. The Overland Six has high tension magneto ignition. Many a Six—costing more—has not. All Overland electric control buttons are on the steering column—• within reach. On other Sixes, that cost more, they are not as conveniently Hiese few major items alone should, we believe, convince any in telligent buyer of the downright wisdom and out-and-out economy of r lecting sn Overland Six. BIRMINGHAM-OVERLAND C0„ Distributers 2108-10 Fifth Avenue Willy s-Overland Company, Toledo, manufacturers of WiUys-Knight Automobiles "Made In U. S. A.' Model S3 Oder i«r Touring Car • • f 790 • j | - ....... 739 i TtUt man In the world in the northern P£.rt of Alabama, and that this man directed ! him to follow the meanest road in the world when he asked him for a direct * route to Guntersville'. Mr. Arnold said he was near a fork in the road. One branch of the road was is ■ macadamized and good as one could wish for. The other branch was little more than a cow path with the under brush removed. Stones galore awaited is the yielding rubber of his tires with (lend- j i ish glee. Some stretches that caused his ; engine to labor excessively were placed at frequent intervals along a 30-mile stretch. He knew nothing whatever about ; j 1 either road, and was anxious to take the dh ect route to Guntersville. So he asked a householder, who lived hard by, which was the direct route to Guntersville. "Right down thataway, stranger,” was the answer, and Mr. Arnold's eye followed the direction of the bony Anger. He groaned when he saw that the route lay over the rougheat road he had seen ; since leaving Detroit. But he was game, and the rest of the party were game, so they started Boldly out on thef road to Guntersvilla. After traveling for some miles they dis covered the road they were on joined the macadamized road thfey had left, and also learned from another tourist that they had been hoaxed by the native Informer and that really the pike road wai the most direct road to Guntersville. It was a long way back to the native’s house, so they decided not to go back and murder him. Mr. Arnold was loud in his praise < - the Overland car, and said he would not have I believed any automobile could have so M well survived the gruelling drive had he M not actually traveled with the car. W