The automobile book

Selection of the Car: Beauty - A popular automobile instruction book should include practical hints on the selection of the vehicle. Proper or improper selection too frequently determines whether or not the after-service is satisfactory. Heretofore appearance has probably decided more purchases than any other factor, while speed and quantity have followed as close seconds. Fitness for purpose and quality have been neglected, although plainly of greater importance. Fortunately, at present the buying public is better informed than in the recent past and these errors are less frequent. Style is a matter of usage, and is created almost wholly by advertising. It bears no relation to beauty and may change with the seasons, leaving dissatisfaction with one's once stylish choice. Ample examples of this fact abound. Of real beauty, Ruskin says it "is not a matter of individual whim or caprice, but consists of certain essential factors, the chief of which are fitness and truth." He also says, "Architecture does not begin 'till the utility of the structure has been fully provided for." Sweet says "To the educated eye that which is right looks right." This and many similar expressions by various authorities show that “pretty is that pretty does” and that utility is the real basis of beauty.

Speed and Ease of Control - Speed, once a test of quality, has become so common as hardly to attract attention, while its abuse has put it under the ban of the law. The experienced driver takes pride in the "sweet handling" of his vehicle rather than in excessive speed, recognizing that any greenhorn can open the throttle and let the vehicle race, but that skill is necessary to start smoothly, shift gears noiselessly, and stop gently, with no damage to tires or vehicle, and with greatest comfort to passengers. Makers are recognizing these truths, and are not gearing their vehicles so high as formerly. Also, they are providing better carburetors and speed controls, so that it is no longer necessary to keep the engine at full tilt, lest it stop, but allow the driver, if so inclined, to slow up for bad crossings, just as if driving a horse. The same use of the automobile brings greatest pleasure, and the few occasions when great speed is wanted come so seldom, that it is a mistake to give prominence to speed in buying. Practically every vehicle made has speed enough for all practical purposes.

Size and Power Required - Much the same reasoning applies to mere bigness. So long as the mere possession of an automobile was a vulgar proclamation of one's standing in the community, the addition of another cylinder, or an increase in the length of the wheel-base, by a foot or so, had some significance; but to-day, since people have learned the advantage of the light handy automobile for runabout and business purposes, and since many people, keeping a big touring car in their garages, are using the runabout or the motor buggy for short trips or few passengers, this foolish excuse for buying a heavy, clumsy, expensive car no longer exists. The many varieties and sizes of automobiles now offered leave one quite free to exercise his best judgment, and he should select that which best fits his need. It is wiser to have the wrong size a few times in the year than most of the time; just so, it is better to buy for the daily needs, rather than for the holiday needs. The sight of a touring car doing business errands is not edifying. It is better practice to overload the runabout for an occasional trip, made with careful driving, than to have the expensive touring car, with empty tonneau and heavy weight, lying idle, because it does not meet daily needs. This should make the thought clear. Select the car for the service to be done. Whether it be a limousine or a town car, whether a touring car or a high-speed roadster, or whether a runabout or motor buggy, let it be selected with reference to the service for which it is to be most used.

Roads and Wheel Sizes - And this thought must also include the roads. If the roads are good, the wheels may be small, but the steady increase in wheel sizes should plainly indicate that there is merit in large wheels. For rough roads, particularly, the wheels must be large and the clearance sufficient to enable the rig to get over the ridges or obstacles, such as rocks or stumps, without striking. The sight of automobiles stuck because their fly-wheels or framing or similar important parts drag the ridge in the middle of the road, or when the wheels are in ruts, is not complimentary to the judgment of either maker or buyer, yet such sights have not

Size of the Tires - The tires should be large. Some makers are beginning to recognize that large tires will give little trouble, and need few repairs, particularly in connection with a light vehicle. If there is a choice, let it be in favor of a large wheel with narrow tire, rather than a small wheel with wide tire, for the wide tire rolls over more surface, and picks up more tacks, as well as taking more power. The small wheel also drops into holes more abruptly and roughly, and strikes obstacles more severely. The difference in wheel sizes is quite marked, and comparison on the road of the earlier small wheeled cars, with the later ones, having large wheels, will make this difference plain.

Selecting the Engine - Next to the choice of bodies and wheels, comes the selection of the mechanism. Here there is a wide range, but the buyer will usually be satisfied with consideration of the engine; whether S-cycle or 4-cycIe, and whether of two, four, or six cylinders; also, whether air or water cooled, and a number of minor considerations, such as how oiled, how regulated and how ignited. Most of these features will be considered in another chapter. In general, simplicity is the correct guide. If the motor does the work satisfactorily, as indicated by trial, the fewer the number of parts the better. Of course, for extremely smooth running, and for large powers, the greater number of cylinders is to be preferred, but the larger sale of the smaller vehicles having but two cylinders, as compared with the sales of six cylinder cars, indicates that, value for price considered, the advantage lies with the simpler form. The four-cylinder engine has a very great popularity and is the "golden mean," at present, and, therefore, safe to buy, without question. The 4-cycle engine has been so well developed and perfected, that it is doing splendid work, but the two-cylinder 2-cycle gives the same number of impulses per revolution and so is far simpler. That it will in time win a leading position is believed by many.

The Cooling System - Water cooling is the accepted form, and has been well worked out. Natural water circulation is gaining in favor, and fly-wheel fans are on the increase. But air cooling does anything that water cooling does, has fewer parts, and is free from winter worries. That it will win its way to the front seems impossible to deny. The principal argument against it is that it is less costly, and has been oftenest fitted to cheap, unsatisfactory cars, thus getting blame which it did not merit.


DOWNLOAD FREE AUTOMOTIVE BOOK:
The automobile book