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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1923)
Past Six Months Best in History * of Automobiles Dealers Declare Second Half of Year Will Not Equal First But Will Con tinue Prosperous. Detroit. Aug. 25.—The automobile industry closed the most prosperous and progressive six months In its brilliant history. In early January every indlctation pointed t<f a sea son of unhounded business and a glimpse of the balance sheets of the various manufacturers for tlite period now closing discloses promises ful filled and predictions oversubscribed. In early January all those given to forecasts were moat enthusiastic over trade during the first six montne. Opinion teemed to be unanimous that tho period would set a new mark. There were no pessimists and even the wildest optimist undershot his murk. But there were not so many dealers in predictions when the sec ond half of the year was discussed. Set New Marks. "What is the outlook-tor the second half of the year?” this is the ques tion that automobile men are asking. Few agree that it will surpass or even equal the unprecedented business of the last six months. A cross-section of opinions voiced by several recog nized executives is that while trade during the next six months will not equal the business of the last six months it will set new marks as op posed to the corresponding period of last year. A slight seasonal slowing up will probably take place in July and Aug ust with September showing a de ckled pickup. Smart fall trade is ex pected. Two reasons In particular are given by manufacturers to substantiate pro dictions that business will continue good. Rco Speed Wagons Are * Tourist “Baggage Cars” ^ When the long file of cars making up the Michigan Tours association party en route to Washington. T). C., from Battle Creek, Mich., drives in to its ramping site tonight, and the business of making camp for the night Is started, one of the noticeable features of the campmaking will be the service rendered the tourists by tho two speed wagons which accom pany them as official baggage cars. All baggage and equipment for the tourists la *eyried by the speed wagons and been since the first day of the trip: but not only do these trucks carry tho equipment on the road. They distribute It In the eve ning when camp site Is reached, and collect It in the morning when anoth er day calls the tourists into the road again. t'nlformrd drivers operate the speed wagon which are decorated appro oriately for the trip. Bettering on the sides designate them as theV'offi cial baggage cars” of the tour. Each year that’ the association has made a trip, the cars, furnished ami deco rated by the Reo Motor Car com pany, have been the official baggage cars. Mental Tests Applied to London Sehool Children London, Aug, 13.—Strange tests that some critics say might puzzle much older children are being used at various London county council schools to find out the mental development of juvenile pupils. At 8 the child Is supposed to glv$ an intelligent answer to such a ques tlon as: “What are you to do if you break something that belongs to somebody else?" Satisfactory ar.wirs included “Pay for it.” “Own up." "Buy another." “Say I was sorry.” Unsatisfactory answers indued such as: “1 should worry." “Hide it." “Mend it." The last answer was considered useful as giving some indi cation as to the pupil’3 'moral dispo sition. .. . The solving of circumstantial prob lems is one of the tasks allotted to in dicate normal developpments of chil dren of ‘13. One of the riddles was: “My next door neighlior has had three visitors: first, a doctor called, then a lawyer, and tliPn a clergyman. What do you think has been happening there?" One youngster thought that “the lawyer was employed to get the man to marry the girl" while other replies no* adjudged ns satisfactory at tributed the circumstances variously to “A murder,” “A marriage” and "A baby was born.” Soviet Recognition Certain, Says Brookhart After Tour Moscow. Aug. 25.—"Recognition of soviet Russia is bound to cohie," de clared Senator Brookhart of Iowa during n tour of Russia. "Those who are seeking the restoration of their property should recognize the counter claims due Russia for financing counter revolutions," the senator con tinued. "Traveling one day In Russia I <aw more than 700 miles of soil un der cultivation. I can say I know the Russian peasant is planting every foot of available land. Agriculture here is almost ns Intensive as in France, England and Germany. The government must be treating the peasants fairly well or else they would not carry on as they are. “I am here to study the coopers live movement. This Is the only thing in Europe that lias survived the war and it is necessary to the American farmer. Before I return to the United States { shall seo the cooperative movement in Operation wherever it exists in Europe.” AIM F.RTISFMK.NT. Ford Runs 57 Miles on Gallon of Gasoline A new automatic and sclf-regulat ing device lias been Invented by John A. Stransky, 361 Fourth St., Puk wans, S. D.. with which automobiles have made 40 to 67 miles on a gallon of gasoline. It removes all carbon snd prevents spsrk plug trouble snd overheating. It can be installed by anyone in five mlnutea. Mr. Stransky wants agents and l« willing to send a MMple at his own |Vsk. Vj’rll* him today. s Car Runs With Chassis at 32 Degrees i The above illustration shows Frank D. Gulnac. retail sales manager for the Oakland Motor Car company, with a stock five passenger touring car. The chassis is elevated to an angle of 32 degrees and is propelled under Its own power. The motor operates with only one quart of oil passing through its lubricating system. Commenting on this featuie, Mr. Gulnac said: / "Never in my experience of six years with Oakland cars have 1 had one complaint with our oil system. If is unique, simple and performs 1 or* fectly under most conditions. Our purpose in making this demonstration is to prove to the public that tin qualities in our car we have always boasted of arc true. * The car will be driven through the streets of Omaha for the next week. • Saving of Eight Cents on Chalmers Cost Insignificant Walter P. Chrysler, chairman of the board of directors of the Max well Motor corporation, recently dis covered a method by which he be lieved 8 cents could be eliminated from the cost of producing each Chal mers car through greater efficiency of a certain manufacturing device at a particular stage of Chalmers build ing. So engrossed did he become in the thought, and so Important did he deem It, that he pushed every other business consideration aside until he visited the Chalmers plant and actu ally worked out his idea right on the factory progressive assembly line, in conjunction with his own employes. The saving of that 8 cents by the active head of one of the industry's largest concerns does not in itself mean a large saving, even considering quantity production. But the point is that it is merely another Chrysler forward ^tep, and that it was done by the man who has been responsi ble. more than any other one per son, for the lower costs of manu facture accomplished ih the new Chalmers models. Rickenbacker Car Rises to High Sales Position From S3d place to 19th position nationally, and from the foot of the class to sixth from the top in saleR of closed cars in Detroit, Is the record made by Rickcribaker Motor com pany in less than two years, says Capt. K. V. Rickenbacker, vice presi dent of the concern. "In our own home town. Detroit, which community is at the sarryo time the hardest or the easiest in which to sell a motor car, depending on whether the product meets with approval, we stood 12th last month in sales of nil models, and sixth In closed models—and when I say sixth place 1 am including Ford. Chevro let. and all other lower priced cars.” Peerless Head Remains; Experiment Plans Made Prevailed upon to remain as prosi dent of the Peerless Truck ami Motor corporation and president and gin era! manager of the Peerless Motor Car company, li. H. Collins deelardtl yesterday that the entire group of his associates will continue with the corporation and that the expansion plans already laid out are ready to be carried into effect. He also said tHat plans to build and market the Collins Six, in addi tion to ~lhe present line of Peerless eight-cylinder models, were being cur ried forward. No definite Information as to when ttie car will ho ready to market or at what price it will be built Is available at the company's offices in Cleveland. Humors then are that it will he built to sell in the medium price field. New Biiick I’mir-W heel. Brake P ro\cs Efficient| The Buick people Bay then* is noth ing experimental alnmt the Bub k j four-wheel brakes. They am nn *• ly nn extension to all wheels of the! successful external brakes former!; employed by Buick on the rear whet is The change required, of murse, a new and heavier front axie and front wheels, but no other chassis revision of consequence. Final approval of these brakes was made only after a year’s study of design in Kumpe. Demonstrations prov* tli^r the*., brakes, operated by a light pressur* on the foot pedal, will stop the t ti at least tw ice as quickly as fonrlci ly, and reduce to a minimum the possibility of skidding. The American Belief Administra tion has withdrawn from Russia with a record of having saved more live.* ihan were lost in the world war. America's great humanitaHan adven ture in that country cost nearly $6L\ 000.ono, and the federal government, in addition to medical supplies, spent $20,000,000 for corn and seed grain. Improved Roads Not Modern Discovery “Improving the highways is not a new idea,'* says O. A. Wilson of Andrew Murphy company, local deal ers in Durant and Star cars. “High way engineering- dates hack to trie earliest dfiys of history, When first it became necessary to insure the transportation of supplies for tribal a'fmies. “Julius Caesar was among the fore most builders. * Many other noted Homans interested themselves in this work. "A considerable impetus was given to good road building by John L. Me Adam of Scotland. Do uti^zed crushed stone top dressing on a con vex roadbed. It is named macadam, for its inventor, but. with a slight dif ference in the spelling of the name. “Then cam© the automobile, re quiring, for utmost comfort, smoother road surface than had previously been recessary. Dumps that a slow moving vehicle negotiated with comfort, were disturbing to occupants of motor cars, traveling at speeds of from 20 to 40 miles per hour. “Highway engineers turned to tarred surface, asphalt and concrete for a solution of the problem. 'Flic materials which made such satisfac tory sidewalks were ns useful for read paving. Cobblestones are dis appearing, replaced by smooth brick pavement, asphalt. *tar or concrete. The nation’s main Intercity highways are paved.” Powdered Graphite Removes Squeaks from Car Springs Squeaks from motor car springs can he eliminated by the use of pow dered graphite between the leaves. The fine particles of graphite fill up the microscopic voids on the surface of the leaf and give it n smooth sur face, according to W. J. Sherry, man* ag» r of the accessory division of the Nebraska Duick company, distributors fur Dytroit springs. Because of the difficulty of getting the graphite between the spring leaves, without taking the springs apart, many motorists neglect to upe this material. An efficient method • •f getting graphite between the leaves is as follows: Into two ounces of commercial ctTier dissolve two ounces of powdered graphite and pln<•© the solution in an oil can. Then oil along the sides of the leave-’. The ether will flpw easily between the leaves and oift on the other side, carrying graphite with it. When the ether has evaporated it will leave a thin coating of graphite deposited between tho leaves of the spring. Cord Tires Replacing Fabric, Cannes Now Met ter cord automobile tires, as the result of constant improx rments. nr* gradually sounding thy death knell "f tb* fabric tire. The first pneumatic automobile cas ings were developed to such a point that they jpv© what was then con sidcred good server, in many raves they ran up mileages as high as 3,?»00 and 4.00U. That was considered good Today the purchaser of a fabric tire ix dissatisfied unless he gets more than 4.000 miles. According to Miller tire men. the small car owner may now buy » . Mi-dud first quality 30x3 \& cord n* fabric price that gives an average of 20 per cc t more miles than n fabric. ' ** ■ Dodbe.Brothers Announce" IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS Dodge Brothers have not simply brought out a com plete new line of motor cars. They have done something infinitely wiser and better than that. They have brought new beauty, new riding ease and new mechanical perfection to the product on which their reputation as builders has been founded. \ They have built a better and a more desirable line of motor cars —yet basically and fundamentally the iden tity of their product remains the same. The same sturdy engine is under the hood; the same dependable chassis, im proved in numberless de tails, underlies the body. But the rear springs—now underslung—h^ve been ma v terially lengthened. The wheelbase, too, is longer, and the combined result is a notable improvement in riding qualities. Bodies of all types have been designed to give improved appearance, and greater comfort. Lower, longer, with deeper seats and more leg room, the lines of these new cars are low-swung and graceful the interiors are comfortable and roomy. New head lamps and fen ders, especially designed by * Dodge Brothers to conform with the general lines of the car—a long straight hood and cowl effect—longer and wider running boards—un usually wide doors— com bination stop signal and tail lamp—and instruments at tractively grouped on raised panel—are a few of the numerous body innovations common to all types. Combining these features with important mcchaniaal improvements too numer ous and technical to enu • mcrate here, it is not extrav agant to predict a reception for these cars unprecedented in automotive annala. O’BRIEN DAVIS AUTO COMPANY 28TH AND HARNEY STS. TELEPHONE HARNEY 0123 Councli Bluffa Salesroom, 33 Fourth St.; Tel. Council Bluffs 091 New Hupmohilc Praised by Many Motor Experts Mutor car experts who have tested out the now Ilupinobile are high in tlieir praise of its improved appear ance and performing i|iialitics, as re vealed by a day spent in seeing the car manufactured and giving it a thorough demonstration from behind the wheel. H. A. Tafantous, managing editor of Motor, said this, in part, in dis cussing tile ear in that publication: ‘'.National reputation for' goodness is founded on goodness and this lias been a Htipmobile quality for many years. A day at the plant Inspecting the new four-cylinder chassis and a reasonably long demonstration were sufficiently convipcing to enable me to say unhesitatingly that Ifupmo lille js tm: most remarkable car in its class.” Patience and Paint Go in Stephens Car “Automobile body /.bushes today must meet very exacting require ments,” says if. .T. DeOTinttd, vice president in charge of Stephens pro duction nt l’rreport, 111. “They must endure, rapid change.** nf heat and cold, shed water nil and be sufficiently hard to resist wear un (Ur tho continuous attack of wind driven grit and splashing mud. To produce attractive finishes that will stand 'up under such conditions re quires patience,-much floor space, ex perienced skill, and a thorough work ing knowledge of the use of paints and varnishes. “In finishing Stc'phcfts bodies, we apply 17 coats of primer, paint .and vgrnish. The first rough coat is laid on after a vigorous sand blast treatment "f the surfaces to remove grease and all other foreign matter. Successive coats follow only after each preceding coat has thoroughly dried out. Drying is accomplished, in darkened [rooms: forced drying Las proved un satisfactory and the slow, natural drying process requires, altogether, three weeks’ time. Fa-h coat of paint or varnish is carefully brushed on by hand in well lighted rooms and rubbed down by hand before the next coat is applied.M Car Trawls 0.700 Miles W i I lion t New \ir in I ire Sixty seven hundred miles on the same air without a puncture n the record made by U. )|. t arter, man ager of the Sprague Free Tire sUttion at Eighteenth and t 'timing streets-1, on a not of Sprague tins. The tires were put on .*» Dodge tour-| ing car in Tacoma, Wash., and besides several thousand miles run both in ! Tacoma and Om:ih.}, the cross conn-1 try tVip was made without a change of air or without tire trouble of any kind. ' New Transmission Lock Is on Reo Cars A transmission lock which provides protection against -theft, and which also eliminates one of the dangers associated with 1 lie operation of a car in cities Is a real friend of the motorist. Such a lock is now being used on all Keo passenger models, according to announcements received by J. M. Opper Motor company, Omaha Keo distributors. The new locking device will be coming through on the cars received from the plant from now on and will continue to be regular equip ment on all models, it is understood. Ttie lock has been given a class A rating by the underwriters' labora tories, where it has been tested, says E. F. Nygaard. This means that the owners of ears equipped with the de vice secure the maximum discount in premium for insurance against theft. Oakland Distributors Inspect New Body Plant Pontiac. Mich., Aug. 11.—Distribu tors and branch managers of the Ouklund Motor Car company from all sections of the country assembled at the factory recently to go through the $2,000,000 plant of the Fisher Body corporation where all bodies of the Oakland will be made. This new body plant has been built within three-quarters of a mile of the Oakland factories to take care of all of Oakland's car bodies. The distributor and branch man agers were likewise through the Oak land factories where hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of ma chinery and equipment have recently been installed. All were entertained at a banquet at the Bloomfield Hills Country club. Talks were made by George H. Han Hunt, president and general manager, and <J. Nephler, general sales man ager. Cadillac Head Finds Factories Are Rushed t’pon his return from a trip to the factory last week, J. If. Hansen, ^ of the Hansen Cadillac Motor pany, commented on the fact that for the past s:x months of this year busi ness has increased nearly double over last year. He mentioned that the Ford. Buick and Cadillac factories are working record hours making outputs and that other factories such as the Hupmo bile and Dodge likewise are building more cars than ever before! The sat uration point In the motor car busi ness will never be reached, in his opin ion, until this country quits making good motor cars better or until good folks of this country no longer de sire to own good or better things. Italy has the lowest cancer rate In the world, according to statistics made public by Professor Lutario, di rector general of public health. Better ark flags for less! f ^ ■j Champion is a better sparlc plug and yet the Blue Box Line is but 75 cents and Champion X s 60 cents. These low prices are made possible £ by the tremendous Champion production of more than 40,000,000 this year. Champions are regular equipment on cars from Ford to Rolls-Royce. The owners of the finest cars pay but 75 cents for their spark plugs. There is no reason why any car owner should pay more. The genuine Champion has the core with the Double - Rib. Dealers everywhere sell them. A type and size for every engine. Champion Spark Plug Company, Tbledo, Ohio Champion Spark Plug Co. of Canada. Ltd.. Wtad tor. Ont. a y < J rad tg**t*d mrdfo^ Ford Cara na<{ Tras.K* n+d Fardsoa Tradar* eoata Hit 60c CHAMPION Dependable for Every Engine x r Canopy Express > $1375 V at Lautiut; add tag Read What a Speed Wagon User Said J. M. Oppcr Motor Company, Omaha, Neb. Wahoo, Neb., Aug. 4, 1923. ticntlemen; On December 4, 1922, I n- . • i ':..in your company a Reo Speed Wagon. Serial No. 79t>5N. At this time 1 have driven this spe. d w~igon 24,000 miles, hauling freight and cat tle, e. ., i>etwren Omaha and Wahoo and Lincoln and Wahoo. In cheeking up the actual repairs put on this truck I was surprised to learn that l have spent only $2.25 for repairs for ihis mileage of 24,000 miles and 1 thought that you would h<' glad to know about it. I am mote than pleased with mv Reo Speed Wagon and consider myself forturate v. far having chosen the 11KO Speed Wagon instead of one of the other trucks that I was figuring on. My loads vr.i) jn weight from 2.000 to 3,500 pounds and 1 have received uniformly gooij mileage from my tires; and wit< surprised to learn the number of miles I could drive on a gallon of gasoline, ns well ;is the number of miles I could drive on a quart of oil. With such a record as outlined shove, I carrot h In but be a real booster and assure you that 1 will go out of my way to boost your truck. 5 ours very truly, H n MARSHALL. ;i J. M. OPPER MOTOR CO. 11 255p Fariwhn St. REO DISTRIBUTORS Omaha, Neb. REO M O T O R CAR COMPANY, T. a n a I n g, Michigan