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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 1920)
4 THE SUNDAY OltEtiOXTATT, PORTLAND, JANUARY 4. 1920. WHAT WILL BE TYPE OF FUTURE ENGINE? Here's One Expert Who Looks for Multi-Cylinders. OVERHEAD VALVES LIKELY rtliile Europeans Are Coming to American Ideas, We Will Adopt Many European Ideas. BY H. A. TAKAXTOCS, Editor of Jlotor, Member of S. A. E. Every automobile owner would like to know the progress being made in automobile engine construction and what the future holds for the differ ent types both in this country and in Europe. The writer has made a com plete analysis of the enfrine situation nd finds that the overhead valve is fist becoming the American standard, and though the six-cj 'inder Is the lender, with the four second, the eight third and the twelve last, there will bo in a few years a sudden turn to multi-eylin '.ers. European critics seem to believe that abroad also will the multi-cylinder engine gradually creep into first position. It may be difficult for many to see how the six-cylinder can be displaced, but the same view held of the four not so many years ago. Tim ideas that the eight and the twelve present mechanical complica tions and that the more cylinders the more trouble have been shattered. There aro two outstanding features of the multi-cylinder enfrine which will make its appeal all the stronger. One is its performance and the otner its quietness. Smothness of torque great pulling- ability on high when the car is running slowly, quick pick up, reduction of vibration, are the re sults of multi-cylinder construction. Speed and rower, while they may be hod in the four or six. cannot be had with the mo smoothness or opera tion as in the eight ac twelve. V.ons Hood ot Xecensary. It was believed that the use of eight or twelve cylinders entailed the use of a long or wide hood because the engino t ok up more room than a four or six. As a matter of fact we now have eights, with cylinders in a rcw. that are shorter than any sis producing the same power and speed. In Europe the Lancia company is building a twelve-cylinder which is no longer than a nix and looks exactly like one, owing to the casting of all cylinders in one blocU. The two rows of cylinders are only 22 degrees apart and only one carbureter is used. As time goes on the all-in-a-row Idea will take hold and we shall see many such models in production. In Europe the average car has four cylinders and a four-speed transmis sion, while at present the American average is a six v ith a three-speed transmlsaion. Europeans do not ob ject In the least to shifting gears, and they are not so insistent upon ob taining the high-gear performance de manded by American buyers, hence, the four-cylinder engine with the four-speed transmission. Gradually, though, the Europeans are coming to American ideas, for the Paris and London shows, recently held. Indicate that the following: idea are being taken up practically by all European builders: Vacuum fuel feed, block casting of cylinders, removable cylinder heads, bcttery ignition, elec tric starting and lighting. Europeans Beat Vh to It. During the war American builders had a wonderful opportunity to work out details of desien for the post-war engines, using sohr of th knowledge gained In the design of airplane en gines. Thes? builders have not worked out their designs as quickly as the for eigners, who already have more than a dozen overhead valve engines with overhead camshafts. We shall see these designs on our cars a year or two hence. It has been thought by the average automobile owner that a valve-in-head engine is necet-sarily more pow erful than an L-head or T-head. The valve location is not the determining factor in power output, so it is pos sible to have an L-head of given size even more powerful and speedier than an oerhead valve engine. However, the overhead ,yalve en gine on the average is a more effi cient type. The one objection to It, namely noise, has been almost en tirely eliminated by Improvements In design detail of the valve gear. The automobile owner or buyer Bhfiuldj not consider that Just because a car has an overhead valve engine It makes that car faster or better than one with another type of en gine. As a matter of fact the engine may have many times the power and speed of another, and the car in which It Is mounted give poor performance. Work Done Main Factor. The work the engine haa to do must be considered. An engine of a big truck may produce 75 horse-power, yet the truck has only a maximum of 25 or 30 miles per hour. Some of the best cars made In this country and abroad have L-head engines, as for example the Rollys-Royce of England, the Packard, Cadil-ac and others. It is a fact that engine vibration and engine torque or pulling ability have a bearing on the life of the rest of the car. Take a two-cylinder engine as an example. The heavy explosions com ing Infrequently jolt every part of the driving mechanism. Instead of a . "thunderous" blow Infrequently the four gives twice the number of ex plosions, but of minor magnitude. . The six gives three times the num ber, each separate explosion being eu&iik. l no eisui giea luur limes .the number and the twelve six times Is many as a two-cylinder engine. The more the number of cylinders the greater the number of smaller explo sions in the same time, hence the lesa the Individual shocks to the whole power transmitting mechanism. the work will proceed simultaneously in all parts of the state. The earliest work will be comple tion of the gaps in the trunk line and the work on the countv seat laterals. The year 1920 will doubtless see com pletely paved the. coast route from San Francis to San Diego, and the valley route from San Francisco" via Sacramento to Los Angeles. The commission is now engaged upon the study of the pavements through in corporated cities and towns. The gap between Cloverdale and Healdsburg will be completed, as well as a short stretch near Hopland In Mendocino county. The pavement be tween Rio Dell and Eureka is al ready arranged for, and one or more contracts between Eureka and Cres cent City will be let. The new bond issue, among other things, provides for the construction of about 16 miles of road not In cluded In the previous bond issues. Since last July the engineering de partment of the commission has been extremely busy making surveys of these new routes and much has been accomplished. Three survey parties are at work on the Skyline boulevard, south of San Francisco, one of the largest projects under the new bond issue. The largest southern California project. Oxnard to San Juan Capls trr.no, estimated to cost about ?4.0j)0. 000, has four survey parties employed. "While, as already stated, the earliest work will be that of completing the HOMES HUNTED BY AOTD, i MAST TOURISTS LOCATE LX STATE AFTER VISIT HERE. Value of Colored Literature Is Be littled as 3Iany Horae-Seck-ers Want to See First. ALBANY, Or.. Jan. 3. (Special.) That people will hunt new locations hereafter by automobile rather than through correspondence and the pe rusal of advertising literature is in dicated by instances observed here this 1b.11. The increasing use of the auto is believed to be revolutionizing methods of immigration as well as other things and it is being predicted by real estate men that former meth ods of seeking new locations may ob tain among only those who do not own cars. This conclusion has been reached because several families who have settled in this section left their homes in middle western states for an auto tour on which to choose a new loca tion. They had general idea of seek ing new homes on the Pacific coast but determined the place by a per sonal -inspection of the three coast THIS IS HOW THEY RACED BACK IN 1903. -ws " - z - 4 5 vivbs&- ROUNDING A CURVE VS LONG ISLAND SPEED CONTEST. The illustration shows rercy Owen (right hand car), now president of the Liberty Motor Car company, but then manager for Winton in New York city, rounding a curve in a race on Long Island. The man leaning out from the car was the combination mechanician and counterweight of the day. Mr. Owen was at one time an internationally known race driver, holding world records in 1901 and 1902 for all distances from 1 to 10 miles. roads contemplated by the first and second bond Issues, it seems probable that some of the $40,000,000 roads will be under contract next year. MEW YORK SHOW TO OPEN BIG EVENT OF 1920 SEASON BEGINS TOMORROW. Passenger Cars and Trucks Are ai Different Show Places in New York City. NEW YORK. Jan. 3. With pas senger cars on display at the Grand Central palace and motor trucks ex hibited in the eighth coast artillery armory, Father Knickerbocker, on the opening of the 20th annual New York automobile show, can sympa thize with the small boy at the three ring circus. Interest naturally centers in the Grand Central palace where the first actual post-war cars are making their debut, the dealers' shoV of last year coming too soon after the signing of the armistice to permit a display of any unusually advanced designs. There is no camouflage about the newness of the cars at the 1920 show, marked changes being noted In both the engines and bodies of many of the different makes of automobiles on exhibition. The motors, for ex ample, embody aircraft principles, while the coachwork reflects foreign influence. The six-cylinder car dominates the show more than ever this year, the majority of the companies exhibit ing at the Grand Central palace sponsoring an engine of this type. The industry's partiality for the six is evidenced by the National's exhibit, where only the new sextet is shown. This company formerly displayed both six and 12-cy Under models. The composite American automobile for 1920 is powered by a high-speed, six-cylinder engine, while the ten dency in body design is to secure the low effect so pleasing in the finest of French and English cars. In both mechanical development and artistic coachwork, the cars now on view at the Grand Central- palace need not turn aside for the foreign post-war models that were exhibited at the recent Paris salon. states. Some had determined to set tle in Oregon andr a few in fact had the Willamette valley definitely In mind "but no city or vicinity had been picked until the country had been "spied out" by auto. These persons visited various sec tions, camping several days at times in different localities inspecting farms or city property for sale. "When a location was selected they sent for their household goods and had them shipped. There lias been a large immigration to this section of the valley during the past three or four mouths. Piacti cally all of the people who came her were seeking farms and had the money to pay for them or at least to make a substantial first payment. Most of those locating on farms in this county recently came from Mon tana or North Dakota, where there have been successive crop failures, but several came from other states. MOTORCYCLES RACK IX SNOW Only Two Finish in 2 4-Hour En. durance Contest. Despite weather conditions that were little short of appalling, the Reading 24-hour endurance motor cycle run was held December 12. Over roads made almost impassable by rain, snow and heavy frost, the entrants struggled to make the 555 mile run. but onry George Isenberger and J. C. Cole checked in at the finish, many hours late. When weather con ditions are considered, the fact that they finished at all was remarkable. Four teams were unable to keep up the struggle with the elements, An derson and Maynard. Bachman and Dalton. Eisenbeise and Reinhart and Flck and Newkirk were forced to fall out between Reading and Bedford be cause of snow. Two teams withdrew at the start because of the impossible road conditions. Isenberger's machine was equipped with Goodyear tires, which were largely instrumental in his wonderful performance because they afforded traction over the indescribably soft mountain roads. Carburetor Vibration. In fitting a new carburetor be sure that there is no looseness to cause vibration, because if there is a broken flange will be the inevitable result. If vibration is present a small iron bracket should be installed from a nut on the engine frame to the instru ment to steady It. also taking fhe strain oil tne intake pipe. CALIFORNIA ROAD PLANS $10,000,000 TO BE SPENT ON HIGHWAYS THIS YEAR. raving of the Coast Route From San Francisco to Los Angeles One Project to Be Finished. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 3. Accord ing to present plans $10,000,000 will be expended by the tate of California on new highways during the coming year. The commission is going ahead with its plans for the expending of $800,000 a month In road work. The state highway activities since 1912 have been separated into several divisions, with headquarters at Wil litts, Dunsmulr. Sacramento. San Francisco. San Luis Obispo, Fresno and Los Angeles. The division organ izatiun are alike in functions, and so THIS VELIE WAS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT. ? .... must- -'r fttogt I If-, .7 ii Opening of- New Oldsmobile S how Room Monday, January 5 th Will Be Open Until 10 P.M. ALL MODELS ON DISPLAY 6-cylinder, Model 37, Sedan $2450 6-cylihder, Model 37, Coupe $2450 8-cylinder, Model 1-45-B, 7-passenger $2350 8-cylinder, Model 1-45-B, Pacemaker $2350 6-cylinder, Model 1737, 5-passenger. .$1650 6-cylinder, Model 1-37, Roadster $1650 Oldsmobile Economy Truck $1600 All Prices Portland ie Olds mobile Lo Broadway at Couch St- OF OREGON Phone Broadway 2270 i !: BD1LLDT DRAMATIC RAGEH FREXCUMAX CROSSES FIXISU LIXE BACKWARDS. Sped Contest in Italy Declared to Have Been Hardest in His-, tory; Had 150 0 Turns. PALERMO, Sicily, Jan. 3. Colliding with the grandstands and backing over the finish line. Andre Boillot won the Targlo Florio, the first European post-war race, in the Baby Peugeot In which he made such a formidable showing in the last international 500 mile' sweepstakes contest at Indian apolis. It was the most gruelling and most terribly difficult race ever held In Europe, and Boillot won only by playing with death every yard of the way. His average was only 34.21 miles per hour, but when it is con sidered that the 268-mile course had 1600 distinct turns to each lap of 67 miles through mountainous -country, and that snow and rain fell intermit tently through most of the contest, his- performance ranks as truly mar velous. The outstanding feature of the race, the tenth to be held on this famous course, was a duel between Rene Thompson on the eight-cylinder Bal lot that he drove in the last Indian apolis event, and Boillot in his little Peugeot. Thomas drove desperately as'long as he was in the running, and held his rival on nearly even terms until the last lap, when he skidded on one of the many dangerous turns and broke his rear axle. In his daring driving Boillot had Innumerable narrow escapes. S i x times he missed his turns and went right off the course. One of the most sensational of these incident oc curred in full view of the grand stands. Climbing the winding hill running away from the stands. Boillot swung to the right to tackle the left hand turn that would take him out of sight. His car- skidded and struck the bank. It leaped three feet into the air, dropped on two wheels and tottered for a second on the edge of a precipice, then slipped back and set tled on a heap of stones. Boillot tried to pull off under his own power, but, being unable, to do so, jumped out of his seat, dragged the car clear and; was off again before any one of the spectators could come to his assist ance. Approaching the finish line, he no ticed that spectators had Invaded the course. He braked hard, spun around twice on the greasy road, and shot diagonally Into the grandstands, slightly wounding two civilians and two soldiers. The car was pulled clear of the wreckage and Boillot and his mechanic, who had been thrown out, were lifted back Into their seats. As the rear of the car was turned toward the finish line. Boillot slipped into reverse and cut the line back wards. He was unable to walk and was lifted out of the car. A few seconds later a cry went up from the Italian partisans that the Frenchman would be disqualified for finishing on reverse. Immediately Boillot and his mechanic were lifted back into the car, the Peugeot was driven 30 yards down the course and run across th finish line for a sec ond time. The race was won. Boil lot collapsed in his scat. Announcing the Arrival of 3 Carloads of the Well Known Mrs. Frank Doaerber of Astoria and her mrtr Vellc, which was delivered as Christmas morning surprise from her husband, well-known Astoria jeweler. The ear was sold by the Nyqnlat Motor Car company of Astoria and was the first of the aew 1V20 Yclicn to be delivered in Clatwoy county. Immediate deliveries on 1920 models, 5 and 7 passenger." See them on display at both our salesrooms. "JUST A LITTLE TIP" Ask Larry Sullivan of the Fashion Garage, Tenth at Yamhill street, the man who rents cars without drivers he'll tell what he thinks of this honor builb car. We are now allotting territory to live dealers. Correspondence Invited. s-. -l , I " " r inn.?, h i ...T ' Lewis E. Obye Motors Co. ' . Distributors . - TWO BIG SALESROOMS Broadway at Couch and 12 Grand Avenue North, Near Bumside Street Phones Broadway 3327, Broadway 330S Phone East 346 At the recent salon in the first international exhibition held since 1913 In Paris, there were on exhibi tion the leading cars manufactured in France, England. Italy, Belgium, Spain and Switzerland, while the United States was represented by about a dosen different makes. ,P III NUM. IIUI. PERFORMANCE COUNTS CHAIN DRIVE ON MACK TRUCKS A Statement It has come to our attention that the sales manager of a motor truck company has issued a letter in which he welcomes the AC MACK into the fold of worm driven trucks. We appreciate the gentleman's good wishes, but desire to correct the erroneous impression his letter gives. A. C. MACK (3'2-5-7'2-Ton) TRUCKS Will Not Be Built With Worm Drive v x For several years the International Motor Company, manufacturer of Mack trucks, has built and tried out a great many types of drive on the AC models, but has not suc ceeded in finding any as satisfactory as the present Chain Drive. These experimental trucks have given good service and we believe they have as good a worm drive rear axle under them as it is possible to have, but the factory is not satisfied. Although committed not to use the worm drive on AC models, if later the factory per fects an inclosed drive superior to anything of the inclosed type now sold and decides to market them, we shall continue to recom mend the CHAIN as the most satisfactory type of drive for heavy duty trucks. International-Mack Corp. Tenth and Davis Sts. Broadway 691 r. I- 1 -.-y 1 i A A