188 



Gleanings in Bee Culture 



also because the average four-cycle engine 

 is somewhat more easily controlled, and 

 steadier in running, a very large proportion 

 of the manufacturers use this type. 



Among the advantages that may be men- 

 tioned of the two-cycle engine are the sim- 

 plicity, the ease of lubrication (for the oil 

 may be mixed with the gasoline) , and the 

 fact that the two-cycle engine of a given 

 horse-power is lighter than a four-cycle en- 

 gine developing the same power. In the 

 past, quite a number of cars having two-cy- 

 cle engines that were poorly designed turn- 

 ed out to be failures, and this has caused 

 considerable prejudice against this tyjje of 

 engine, which is not well founded, in view 

 of the fact that there are some manufactur- 

 ers who for years have built good reliable 

 automobiles in which this engine is used. 



THE TRANSMISSION QUESTION. 



The weakest point in most cars is the 

 transmission, which changes the ratio of 

 drive between the engine and the wheels. 

 It would be impossible to go into even a 

 brief discussion of the merits of the different 

 types of transmission vised; but we will say 

 that all forms of transmission have their 

 faults and their limitations. For instance, 

 the planetary transmission which is simple 

 to operate is limited to two speeds forward 

 only. It is difficult to learn to operate prop- 

 erly the sliding-gear transmission that is 

 used on the majority of cars manufactured, 

 and the gears are short-lived unless equip- 

 ped with the very best bearings. The fric- 

 tion transmission which is the easiest to 

 operate of all is expensive to build, and 

 slightly less efficient than either of the other 

 two drives; and this loss, though so small 

 that it can not be detected in the running 

 of the car nor in the amount of gasoline used, 

 has caused considerable j^rejudice. This 

 point is more fully discussed elsewhere in 

 this issue. 



SOLID vs. PNEUMATIC TIRES. 



We are asked quite often as to the merits 

 of solid tires as compared with pneumatic 

 ones. The solid tires are perfectly satisfac- 

 tory for motor trucks, wagons, etc, where 

 the speed is not over fifteen miles per hour. 

 They are lower in first cost, the expense of 

 upkeep is less, and they never give serious 

 trouble on the road. Pneumatic tires, how- 

 ever, are much to be preferred for pleasure 

 cars, as they ride easier, and they are much 

 easier on the mechanism of the car, since 

 the machinery is subject to much less vibra- 

 tion when they are used. 



THREE RELIABLE TRUCKS. 



After the foregoing, it may seem like an 

 impossibility to recommend any special car; 

 but owing to the fact that so many have 

 asked for advice, we desire to mention here 

 three trucks — the Keo, the International 

 Harvester, and the Chase. These are built 

 especially for business, and we can give 

 them our unqualified endorsement. The de- 

 signs of these three machines are quite dif- 

 ferent from each other; but we have no hes- 

 itancy in recommending any one of them. 



There are undoubtedly other motor wagons 

 or trucks that are perfectly satisfactory; but 

 these particular machines are to be seen in 

 service every day on the streets of most of 

 our larger cities as well as on country roads, 

 saving time for busy farmers, and we believe 

 them to be particularly adapted for bee- 

 keepers. 



We have had personal experience with the 

 Reo. For instance, the one shown in our 

 cover picture of this issue was purchased in 

 1906. For four years it was used as a pleas- 

 ure car, being fitted with a folding rear seat. 

 The last two years it has been used as a gen- 

 eral truck, the body shown being built here. 

 It would be impossible to say how many 

 miles this machine has traveled, but 15,000 

 w^ould not be far out of the way. The orig- 

 inal price was only $650, so it can be seen 

 that the investment for this distance travel- 

 ed has not been great. The repairs have 

 been rather below normal if anything; and, 

 although the machine needs a general over- 

 hauling now, it is still capable of consider- 

 ably more hard work. The 1912 model truck 

 is shown on page 196. 



The International auto wagon made by 

 the International Harvester Company of 

 America, Chicago, 111., is used by the thou- 

 sands by farmers and business men of all 

 classes. It is equipped with a 20 h. p. two- 

 cylinder opposed, air-cooled engine, which 

 has had to be altered very little m design 

 during the past few years, showing that it 

 has proved v ery satisfactory in the hands of 

 the users. The high wheels and solid tires 

 make it possible to drive in mud or sand. 

 In this connection, notice what Mr. Polhe- 

 mus has to say, pages 204-206. 



The Chase motor truck is sold in perhaps 

 larger quantities for commercial purposes 

 than any other one make. Mr. Peterson's 

 report of his success with this truck on iiage 

 200 is not an unqualified endorsement, but 

 it must be remembered that the one which 

 he has is a very old model. Those turned 

 out by the Chase Motor Truck Company, 

 Syracuse, N. Y., at the present time are be- 

 ing bought in large numbers by such large 

 corporations as the Bell Telephone Com- 

 pany, etc. This car has one of the simplest 

 engines that we have ever seen. For in- 

 stance, 167 parts found in the ordinary four- 

 cylinder, four-cycle, water-cooled engine are 

 eliminated in this three-cylinder, two-cycle, 

 air-cooled motor, and it is a motor that "de- 

 livers the goods" too. 



Occasionally, bargains may be picked up 

 in second-hand cars; but as a rule they 

 prove to be a big expense for a year or two; 

 and then have to be sold for almost noth- 

 ing. Then there is always the danger that 

 the former owner, through abuse, may have 

 weakened some vital part, such as the steer- 

 ing knuckles, or axles, which may give out 

 at any time without warning. The owner 

 who drives the machine himself knows just 

 how he has driven it, and, therefore, knows 

 what to expect. As a rule, we believe that 

 new cars prove to be more satisfactory in 

 the end. 



