AUTOMOBILE NOTES. 



Edited by J. A. Kingman. 



t 9 05 AUTOMOBILES. 



The 5th Annual Automobile Show will 

 be held this month in Madison Square Gar- 

 den, New York. This is an exhibit of na- 

 tional prominence and interest. Other au- 

 tomobile shows are held in the large cities 

 during the year, but the New York show 

 comes first, is the largest, and the most 

 largely attended. It is the biggest event of 

 the year for automobile manufacturers, for 

 during automobile week they exhibit their 

 models and sell them rapidly, both to agents 

 and to private owners. The Automobile 

 Show had a modest beginning 5 or 6 years 

 ago and was then combined with the bicycle 

 show, only a few crude and imperfect au- 

 tomobiles being made at that tithe. 



Every year the Automobile Show has 

 grown larger and more interesting; the 

 machines have been greatly improved ; the 

 number of automobilists has increased mar- 

 velously, and the general public has become 

 much more interested and intelligent re- 

 garding motor vehicles. This year the ap- 

 lication for space at the show in Madison 

 Square Garden was greater than ever be- 

 fore. 



Many new vehicles, showing steam, elec- 

 tricity and gasolene powers, will be ex- 

 hibited. The great popularity of the 

 gasolene car is noticeable, and most of 

 these vehicles for 1905 will be of the tour- 

 ing type, seating 4 to 7 and 8 passengers. 

 The runabout seems eclipsed for the pres- 

 ent, and this is probably due to the fact 

 that most people like to have a car which, 

 although suitable for 2 persons and of good 

 appearance under such condition, can at the 

 same time be used for more when desired. 

 The popular tonneau body for 1905 will 

 have entrance at both sides instead of at 

 the rear. The 4 cylinder motor will be 

 popular, although single cylinder motors 

 and double opposed motors will be numer- 

 ous. 



Of course, the great popular question is 

 price. The public wants to know how soon 

 an automobile is to be made which will be 

 within the reach of most people. There 

 will certainly be nothing of that kind on 

 the market for 1905. The bicycle business 

 is responsible for a mistaken idea on the 

 part of the public that the price of auto- 

 mobiles will be cut in 2. When the bicycle 

 first appeared it was heavy, clumsy, and 

 the cost of manufacture was large. With 

 a lighter structure and improved methods 

 the price of the bicycle naturally dimin- 

 ished, but it has not dropped much in the 

 last 5 or 6 years. The automobile business 



at the start had the benefit of all the ex- 

 perience gained in the bicycle business. 



The public ought to compare automobiles 

 with horses and carriages, not with bicy- 

 cles. Moreover, it must be considered that 

 no good machinery can be made cheaply. 

 Choice materials, good workmanship and 

 careful construction cost the manufacturers 

 much money. Automobiles must be built 

 well, and even the cheapest - types require 

 an amount of attention and inspection 

 which would surprise the average person. 

 Automobiles must be substantially built to 

 endure a great deal of hard work, for the 

 roads in our country are bad. It is likely 

 that the biggest factor in reducing the price 

 of automobiles will be the betterment of the 

 roads. Runabouts in 1905 will cost about 

 $650, and touring cars will cost $1,000 to 

 $7,000, $8,000, or eVen more for some of 

 the high power cars imported into this 

 country. 



The life of an automobile depends large- 

 ly on the care with which the wearing parts 

 are cleaned and oiled. Plenty of the right 

 kind of oil is necessary. Some people seem 

 to think that it is only important to use 

 enough oil. Not at*all. Every bearing is 

 sure to wear a little, and when it does 

 small particles of metal become dislodged, 

 tending to wear the bearing all the more. 

 Wash the bearings and chains of your au- 

 tomobile frequently with kerosene and then 

 replace with fresh oil. 



A new automobile club has recently been 

 formed in New York City to meet a special 

 need. The new organization is called the 

 New York Motor Club, and is made up of 

 persons who wish a place to meet, exchange 

 views on automobiling, and work together 

 to further its best interests. Many auto- 

 mobilists believe in the future of such a 

 club, which will have a la^ge, unrestricted 

 membership, with low dues. 



GLOSSARY OF AUTOMOBILE TERMS. 



Bonnet : The thing that covers the en- 

 gines. Some makers by lengthening it 

 have found an economical substitute for 

 horse power, besides providing a place 

 where the motorist can get in out of the 

 wet. It is usually so adjusted that when 

 the motorist props it up to look inside, it 

 falls and hits him on the head. This is an 

 ingenious method of teaching him not to 

 meddle with his engines. 



Ball Bearings : These are useful indica- 

 tors, so fitted that when the car gets a 

 shock they break. This enables the mo- 



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