October, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



393 



repair an old one, as it is almost impossible to make a satis- 

 factory repair job on the road. Inner tubes for use in rear 

 shoes should ne\'er be repaired with rubber patches cemented 

 on. The heat caused by road friction melts these patches off. 

 The only sure way is to have the tube vulcanized. Inner 



A Cape Top and 

 Waterproof 

 Protector are 

 Indispensable 



A Good Spot for Luncheon 



tubes should not be carried 

 loose in a storage box, but 

 should be put up in separate 

 bags liberally sprinkled with 

 French chalk, in order that 

 they may not become chafed 

 and so be rendered unfit for 

 use. 



An experienced tourist is 

 not ready to start until the 

 car is equipped with a full 

 set of tools, extra valves, 

 valve springs, spark plugs, 

 and such small moving parts 

 of the engine as are likely to 

 wear quickly or break easily. 

 Of course, this list will dif- 

 fer with each make of car. In machines that are chain driven 

 extra links of chain are carried in the toolbox. A jack, tire 

 tools, and full tire repair kit are, of course, essential. In moun 

 tain touring It is necessary to have non-skid chains, which must 

 be used when coming down long hills slippery with mui 

 after a heavy rain. The car, unless equipped with these, 

 may skid and become unmanageable. In the early days 

 rope was tied around the rear wheels to gixe them trac- 

 tion, but the newer and more serviceable tire chains or non- 

 skid treads have taken its place and made driving on slippery 

 asphalt or "greasy" country roads much safer. Protection of 

 the car and its occupants from mud and water has been looked 

 after mostly by the manufacturer before the car left the factory. 

 Cape tops and folding glass fronts do much to keep the car dry 

 and comfortable in rainy weather. I he machinery is also pro- 

 tected from mud and water by metal casings. It is advisable, 

 however, to have mackintosh covers for the lamps when touring, 

 sj as to avoid the need of continual cleaning and polishing, antl 

 if the magneto is under the bonnet where rain may possibly 

 reach the connections, they shouM be protected with a rubber ar- 

 rangement suitable for that purpose. Many manufacturers ne- 

 glect to furnish this, and as a consequence their cars have been stalled in 

 wet weather by water getting into the magneto and short-circuiting it. 

 The greatest care should be taken to keep water away from all the elec- 

 trical parts of the machine. 



It is possible, of course, to make a tent part of (he equipment, but this 



will scarcely be used unless the party intends to camp out 

 for the night. Vhe automobile of to-day has such a wide 

 radius of action by reason of its high speed that this is 

 seldom necessary, as it is nearly always possible to reach a 

 town or large city by night. It is best to have the car 

 equipped with good headlights and a reliable gene- 

 rator or gas tank, as it sometimes becomes necessary 

 to do night riding in a strange country. Even with 

 good lamps it is never safe to drive faster than twenty 

 miles an hour at night on roads with which one is not 

 familiar, as danger can arise in an instant. The ma- 

 chine should always be kept under perfect control; half 

 of the accidents that occur are due to careless driving. 



7\mong the miscellaneous items that are needed and 

 which come in very handy are a collapsible gasoline 

 bucket with chamois strainer, collapsible water bucket, 

 ammeter and voltmeter for testing the batteries, small 

 electric flashlight to examine the car at night in the event 

 of accident, and a dash clock. 



Most cars of to-day have 

 plenty of carrying and stor- 

 age room. The extra tires 

 are usually strapped to the 

 running board with special 

 holders. Inner tubes may 

 be stored in the space under 

 the rear seats. Extra boxes 

 on the running board will 

 provide a place for carrying 

 tools, while a metal trunk 

 rack fitted with leather auto 

 trunks, that are dustproof 

 and waterproof, will serve 

 for baggage. 



The modern touring car, 

 properly equipped, is capable 

 of railroad speed and will 

 take a party safely across 



Cape Top and Folding Glass Fronts do Much to Keep 

 the Car Dry and Comfortable in Rainy Weather 



country, up hill and down, in rain or shine, 

 with more pleasure than can be derived 

 from any other method of transportation. 

 The man who owns his automobile has his 

 private car as luxurious as a Pullman, with 

 all the roads of the country as his right of 

 way and no schedule other than that fixed 

 by his own fancy and convenience. 



