574 



Popular Science Monthly 



The Port of Ancient Cars 



Some of the tricks to befool the innocent are simple, though effective. For instance, a 

 well-worn tire held for a moment against a buffingwheel might get such a bright shine 

 as to pass for new. Patent cure-alls are used for temporarily plugging leaky radiators 



You can't tell whether he's been in a 

 smashup and sprung the frame and 

 wrenched the car. You can't tell whether 

 or not there's a crack in the frame, puttied 

 up and painted over. You can't tell the 

 condition of the thou- 

 sands of parts with- 

 out having the car 

 taken down and over- 

 hauled; and no- 

 body's going to pay 

 for this on a chance 

 of a sale. If you do 

 know the owner and 

 his habits and so the 

 history of the car, 

 the tale is again dif- 

 ferent, but trust not 

 in the yarns of the 

 would-be seller of the 

 motor car — even 

 though he be usually 

 a truthful man. 



The spare tire, 

 neatly strapped on 

 behind the tonneau, 

 is an attractive addi- 

 tion on the used-car, 

 but before listing it 

 as one of the desir- 

 able points, take it 

 off and look it over. 



You may find, out ot 

 sight to cursory inspec- 

 tion, a nice worn-out 

 spot, or a gash six 

 inches long. 



Heavy oil and ground 

 cork are wonderful, 

 quieting drinks to noisy 

 and worn and loose 

 gears, but, unhappily, 

 they don't occupy a 

 high place in automo- 

 bile mechanics. 



The starting and light- 

 ing system of a car is 

 another trap for the un- 

 wary. Some of the 

 earlier systems were 

 beautiful examples of 

 electric abortions. Even 

 up-to-date systems have 

 eaten-out plates, which 

 usually require a new 

 battery at the purely 

 "nominal," price of say 

 $25. Unless the buyer 

 is in the hands of a 

 reputable dealer, he has his choice of the 

 two alternatives in this case — to stick a gun 

 to the head of the seller and wring the un- 

 biased truth from him or to take the car to 

 the agency for the system and get their 



A Body and Chassis of About 1011 With a New Rear Axle Housing 



The Ford is a good car to buy second hand, for the simple reason that the latest im- 

 provement made by the manufacturers can be easily installed on any old Ford. Of no 

 other car is this true. But buy from a reputable agency that values the reputation of 

 the car. The buyers who suffer in second-hand deals are those on the hunt for unfortu- 

 nates whom Fate has robbed t and forced to " sacrifice " at a ridiculous price 



