10
automobile NEWS AUTOMOBILE SECTION SAm " 5
ADVERTISING ALFRED P. DAVIES, Auto Editor 10-11-12-13
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MILLER AUTO CO.
MOVES OFFICES
Occupies Temporary Offices
in New Location, Third
and Locust Sts.
The Miller Auto Company Inc.,
local distributor for Oldsmobile,
Maxwell and Hayncs touring cars
and Mack Trucks, have moved their
offices into temporary quarters at
their new location in the old post
office building at the corner of
Third and Bocust streets.
Work of remodeling the building
into an up-to-the-minute show room
and offices as well as two large
storerooms facing Third street, will
start Monday morning. The Bell
Telephone Company will occupy one
of these storerooms as their local
offices. The other will be used as
offices by the Miller Auto Com
pany until their main room is fin
ished.
The service station and parts de
partment of this firm will be con
tinued at their old location, 68
South Cameron street. They will
maintain a full line of parts for
the cars they handle and will main
tain efficient service at all times.
Owing to the necessity of mov-
. Satisfaction in the ownership of an auto
f t mobile depends upon the riding qualities,
the appearance and the economy in opera-
All three of these qnalities are to. be
Every Amort- found in a large number of cars on the
can bears the market to-day, but none to such a mark
personal O. K. Ed degree as in the American Six.
of Louis Chev
rolet on the in- The American Six is the last word in
• side of the dash motorilom, its looks arc instantly appcnl
—it is your ing, its riding quality is superb, and its
guarantee of su- economy will satisfy anyone. It is truly a
preme quality. balanced six.
American Auto Company
Sales and Service
Rear Second and Forster St., Harrisburg
1 Bell 2850-J. C. A. Slongli, I Dial OUSO.
l, The Offices of T
:, The Miller Auto Co. Inc. I
have been moved to our new location
j i
Third and Locust Streets |
\* ® ■ (old Post Office building) ?
|
:; Our Service Station |
and Parts Department j
j, will be continued at our old location ?
68 South Cameron Street |
where owners of a
Oldsmobiles Maxwells
Haynes Mack Trucks
<' can secure any part they need and also first class service ''
j, _ '•
Miller Auto Co., Inc.
< ' Office Service Station
' Third and Locust 68 S. Cameron St.
Bell 5295 Bell 4119
;• f
satuSSSY EVEimro,
ing from half the garage that they
formerly oocupled, they are selling
several used cars cf different makes
in a eale that started a few days
□.go. It is understood that they
still have several cars for sale.
How to Make Your
Battery Last Longer
The man who is not used to hand
ling batteries might say that the way
to get the most out of a battery is
to use it Just as little as possible.
As a matter of fact, that would be
just the wrong way to get at it.
Batieries .are made to bo used and
they can be used regularly and put
through some pretty stiff paces and
yet last a long time, if the man who
uses them only follows a few simple
Vules of battery care.
Here are a few of the rules:
1. 13e sure your ignition switch
is closed.
2. Pull out your chockcr.
3. Push out your clutch pedal,
so that your starting motor will
have to turn only the engine.
4. Then step on your starting
button, and your motor ought to take
hold. If it does not, then the
thing to do is to find where the
trouble is and remedy it before you
make another trial.
Battery life will be prolonged if
these rules are observed all the year
round and in all climates.
Automobiles Are Being Used For Most Anything These Days; Here's a
Dodge Bangaloo Being Used by "Doug" Fairbanks to Beat the Hotels
| | ' * * '
; ?■;. ■ _ """' - • •■■
Douglas Fairbanks, more or less well-known movie actor, doesn't worry about hotels and restaurants
while scouring the western plains for suitable locations for his scenes. Ho travels in a "Dodge Brothers'
House Car," which is tho name he gave the strange but cozy-looking vehicle designed and built for him by
the Albertson Motor Co., Dodge Brothers dealer in Los Angeles. As th e illustration shows, the walls of the
cars form beds when lowered. The re is additional sleeping space insi de, as well as a complete kitchen
ette, ice box, electric lights and all the conveniences of home. The car seems to require no roads to travel
on and has a faculty of taking Mr. Fairbanks exactly where he wants to go, regardless of whether the
topography makes for smooth sailing or rough.
MANY DETOURS !
ON HIGHWAYS
Don't Take a Motor Trip and
Expect to Follow the
Main Highway
In contemplating a motor trip
these days through Central Penn
sylvania. don't lay your plans to
travel any fixed distance on the State
highways, for the first thing you'll
bump into a sign with the word
"Detour" on it and a hand pointing
the way out into some unknown and
unheard of road where the rut and
bumps will put you in mind of the
"rocky road to Dublin."
Practically every State road is
undergoing a complete renovation.
During the war these roads were left
to deterioate and now that the work
of repairing them has started many
detours are necessary. As a matter
of the fact the many detours through
Central Pennsylvania take you into
some very picturesque scenery and
fully repays the motorist for the
roughness encountered in travers
ing them.
HARRlttBu K.G. tEEEGRSPSI
DETERIORA TION
TlfcE TALK NO. 7
By George G. McFarlaiul
What has already been said in
these talks has dealt with a num
ber of topics. The necessity of at
tending to tires at the right time;
the importance of choosing the
proper size and type for a given
capacity; the danger of misapply
ing tire to rim, the proper care of
inner tubes, particularly the value
of fresh air; the use and economy
of flaps; and the relation of such
factors as inflation to riding com
fort, have already been discussed.
Let us speak further of deteriora
tion, a subject that has already been
suggested at least in Tire Talk Num
ber 4.
Deterioration in tires, up to a cer
tain limit, is not necessarily a re
sult of age, any more than it is in
people. When a man or a tire has
lasted for a long, long time, of
course we allow him or it to begin
to break down a little. Until tht
limit is reached, however, the tb •
has no more business to "go back
than has tho man.
The conditions under which c\tclp
ment is kept have more to do With
the life of a tire, especially of the
inner tube, than has age. Inner
tubes are not fitted by nature to en
dure light and heat. Rubber is par
ticularly susceptible to the rays of
the sun, and rather quickly becomes
dry, hard, and "crackly." As a
protection Firestone tubes, after
final inspection at the factory, are
invariably wrapped in paper, a pre
caution which also serves to main
tain the of the tire. The
paper covering may well be left
on extra tires. If anybody has the
idea that such a sheath looks a lit
tle queer, and insists upon taking
it off, tho tires may be put in use
How to Make a Correct
Test of Your Battery
Many mortorists know that it is
necessary to use a hydrometer
syringe to test a storage battery, but
they do not always know just how
to use it. It is not hard to learn
and it is really worth while if a
man would save himself from a bat
tery repair bill.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Wil
dermuth, the local Willard Storage
Battery dealer, we are able to pub
lish the instructions on the use of
a hydrometer as sent out by the Wil
lard Storage Battery Company.
The hydrometer has a scale grad
uation in the upper part of tho tube
ranging from 1.150 to 1.300 with
.005 graduations and reads correct
ly at seventy degrees Fahrenheit. A
fully charged cell should road about
1.280 and a completely discharged
cell should read about 1.150 specific
gravity, both of which are marked
by a. red line on the scale.
Tho Hydrometer test should he
made before distilled water is add
ed. If distilled water is added and
then the test is made, the reading
will not be correct.
Make tho test as follows:
1. Remove vent plug from top of
cell.
2. Force the air out of the hydro
meter snrings by squeezing the rub
ber bulb.
.3. Insert rubber tube through
the vent plug , hole into the elec
trolyte, or battery solution.
4. Release the bulb and draw up
sufficient, electrllyte into the glass
tube to float the hydrometer.
5. See that the hydrometer
floats freely, touching neither top,
bottom or sides.
6. Move the hydrometer syringe
so that the level of the electrolyte
in the glass tube is on the level of
the eye.
7. Read the point on the hydro
meter scale which appears level
with tho top of the electrolyte.
8. Then force the electrolyte
back into the cell from which It
was removed.
Tt is advisable to rinse out. the
hydrometer svrine-e with water as
the electrolyte w'll in time destroy
the containing case.
In some cars the battery i so
for a little while until the rubber
surface becomes soiled. In this way
the pores are filled with dirt, a
preservative effect thus being ob
tained.
Those who have had any experi
ence with photographic plates or
films are aware that warmth spoils
the emulsion. In the case of gum
both .light and heat bring the sul
phur to the surface and make the
rubber minutely porous, somewhat
as sugar may occasionally grain
and crystalize on the top of a
housewife's candy confection. "Gum
checking" or oxidation swiftly de
stroys the "nerve" of the rubber!
with .a corresponding resultant ef
fect in respect of flexibility and
durability. A dark, dry room in
which the temperature stays from
forty to fifty degrees is best.
In winter, when one's car is laid
aside, or whenever it is "in dry
dock" for any length of time, the
stale air should be removed from the
tires. The latter should be parti
ally inflated with fresh air s —enough
to round, them out and covered
with muslin or light-excluding me
dium. The weight of the machine
should then be supported by blocks
or jacks, in order that no burden
may fall upon the wheels.
When spring returns, examine
your tires as you overhaul your
house. Look over them sedulously
for cuts on the outside; get all
tacks or small nails out; reinforce
any small abrasions in the fabric
within; and then cause them to feel
good by a dose of lubricant. Be
certain that rims are not dented or
otherwise irregular. Apply a thin
solution of graphite, shellac, and al
cohol.
(The End)
placed that it is difficult or impos
sible to hold the syringe in an up
right position over the battery. Un
der such circumstances pinch the
rubber tube with the left hand so
that the battery solution will not
run out of the hydrometer. Then
lift the hydrometer out and away
from the car and hold it upright to
take the reading. Bo careful not to
release the rubber tube until it is
again placed over tho hole in the
top of the cell.
Why Batteries Will
Not Last Forever
"Most people can understand why
a tire wears out, or why bearing
points of a car work loose," says the
local Willard service station dealer,
"but they don't quite see why a
battery should ever wear out."
"Of course the main trouble is
that it's harder for anybody to
imagine a chemical process than a
mechanical one, and the battery is
strictly chemical."
"There's not much inside a bat
tery. About all there is to it is a
set of plates with insulators be
tween each pair, and solution that
covers both plates and insulators.
These plates are simply lattices of
metallic lead filled with lead com
pounds. The insulators may either
be wood or threaded rubber."
"Before a battery can be used at
all it has to bo charged. The elec
tric current coming in, causes cer
tain chemical changes. When you
turn on your lights or step on the
starter, changes start, in the oppo
site direction and supply you with
current.
"Of course this constant changing
hack and forth will wear out a bat
tery in time, just as contaet with
the road will wear out a tire. And
even if the battery is in storage and
is kept charged, some wear will go
on, as the chemicals are all present
and are never absolutely idle.
"The way to get the longest life
out of your battery is to keep In
mind the fact that its life depends
to a great extent on how well you
treat It, and to remember to add
water and make a hydrometer test
at least one every two weeks."
SELDEN TRUCK
DISTRIBUTORS
TO REBUILD
Erection of Three-story Fire
proof Garage to Start
at Once
During the past few months the
business of tho Seldon Truck dis
tributors, local agency for Seldon
Trucks, has increased to such an ex
tent that larger quarters were made
necessary and E. L. Craft, the man
ager, negotiated for and secured the
large lot adjoining their present
garage in Market street which also
has a frontage in Cameron street,
and will begin operation at once to
place a modern three-story, fire
proof garage there.
The architects, Markley and
Starr,, have already turn/cd the
plans over to tho contractor, Harold
Hippie, and materials are already
being hauled with the actual work
starting, in all possibility, next
week.
This new building will have a
frontage of 65 feet in Market street
and will contain three large store
rooms and a large driveway Into the
garage that will bo placed in the
rear. There will be a frontage of 50
feet 6 inches in Cameron street
where there will also be two store
rooms and an arch driveway into
the garage. ,
The two upper floors will be fit
ted out for storage and also in such
a manner that they can be used as a
convention hall, for automobile
shows, eta Instead of elevators,
there will be an 8 per cent, grade
incline, 12 feet wide, made of con
crete going to the upper floors.
Since January 1, the Selden Truck
distributors have sold 58 trucks.
They are entered in a contest for
the sale of trucks that is being held
by the Selden Truck Company and
stand fourth in the list of dealers
who have sold the largest number
of trucks Such cities as New York,
Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore
are listed so that it can readily
be seen that the local dealer must
hustle some to keep in the running
with the larger cities.
With the completion of the pro
posed building at the corner of
Market and Cameron streets, the
corner will not only be more invit
ing to the eye. but will contain as
modern a garage as will be found
in the city. It will also add to the
business of that section of the city
for it is proposed to place accessory
stores and automobile salesrooms in
the storerooms that will form part
of the building.
You Fix Conditions
For Duplex Demonstration
We are glad to have the truck The Duplex always wins in a
prospect fix the conditions comparative demonstration,
for a test of the Duplex 4- j t w j ns because it always goes
Wheel-Drive Truck. through and "goes more
Pick out the hardest work cheaply. j
you will ever ask a truck to That is why the Duplex costs
do and we will have the Duplex Jess per-ton mile.
f *° That is why it is the most
We like to have the prospect economical and efficient haul
try other trucks at the same ing vehicle offered to business
v time. men today. j
HARRISBURG AUTO CO.
4th and Kelker, Harrisburg, Pa.
DUPLEX TRUCK COMPANY, LANSING, MICHIGAN
DUPLEX TRUCKS
cib,s't LeXs, .Per-Ton-milef
RHMMP
JULY 5,1919.^
Buick Agency Moved to
Shaffer Garage in 11th St.
On the Ist of July, George B.
Zech, the local Buick distributor
moved his offices, salesrooms and
service station from 28 S. River Ave.
to the Shaffer Garage at 50 to 60
S. Camcf-on Street, in the rooms that
were formerly occupied by the Mil
ler Auto Co.
Mr. Zeck will use the large sales
rooms and office of the Miller Auto
Company for his salesroom and has
the upper part of the garage which
he will use for service for Buick
cars.
I I in"""' N
X. Price vs. Endurance X,
I y Tho Lexington is not an auto- N. 7
yS mobile for people who are waiting
until automobiles go down ten dol-
I / lars in price. Lexingtons are pur-
I C y chased by people who can afford ( J
I much more costly cars —but who
think the field over from five thou- yS
S\. sand dollar cars to five hundred dol
| / \ lar cars, and light on the Lexington. / \ \
I\. y In Lexington there is a good deal I y
\.S of the golden mean. 't
The Lexington is built to grow ( if
/ up with the family, to stay with you f
I / \ for years, like a faithful servant. / X 1
IN, / Cost does not matter. What do you y y !
I ■ care when you count what you are i
' ' J g| J
Lexington Motor Company Connersville, Ind., U. S. A.
Dauphin Motor Car Co.
Moved to Larger Quarters
Last Tuesday the Dauphin Motor-
Car Co., Inc., moved their servtc*
station from 126 Cherry St to tho
garage formerly used by the BtllciC
distributors at 28 S. River Ave.
This location Is a little less than a
square south of Market street on the.
Ave. between Front and Second.
This garage is of two story con-,
struction, the lower floor being usedtj
as a repair station for Oakland ex-1
clusively, the Dauphin Motor Car]
Company being the local Oakland
distributors. The second floor wilU
be used for the parts department)
and offices.