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Show WEIGHT 15 E ASSET. SMS IUL0VEIG Use of Aluminum Elimi- nates More Than One-half Ton From Marmon. i "Probably the greatest single advancement ad-vancement in motor car construction the past year has been in the reduction of weight," said W. K. Lovering, Marmon Mar-mon distributor, yesterday. "At least no improvement which has come up during dur-ing 1916 appears to have made such a lasting impression on the future of the automobile business. There is no doubt but that the new light-weight models of 1916 will have a marked influence and that the approval of automobile engineers engi-neers will be shown by tho introduction introduc-tion of more light-weight cars during the next few seasons.' ' Continuing, Mr. Lovering said: This reduction in weight has been accomplished in otiier ways than reducing size, power, or encroaching en-croaching upon comfort and convenience. con-venience. For the first time in the motor car industry the careful selection se-lection of material and tho propor relation of parts has been worked out to such a degree that weight is very materially reduced, but without with-out sacrificing power, strength, comfort com-fort or convenience. As nu cxamJ pie, the extensive use of aluminum m tho Marmon is one feature which has materially reduced weight. The Nordyko & Marmon Co. was the first c.oueern to put out a standard model equipped with a motor mado lnrgely of aluminum. Marmon engineers worked for three years perfecting this model and the first car was very thoroughly tested in the deserts' and mountains moun-tains of tho southwestern part of the United Slates before production produc-tion started. ' Tho Marmon motor, for instance, weighs 400 to .r)IH) pounds less tlian the average molnr of its size and power. Since the largest, structural pnrt of the motor is in one piei-p i it. provides heller li'Miring support ) thnn the eon vn tional motor with cylinders boiled to an alumiuuiu crank-ease. The aluminum allows better cooling facilities aud since cast-iron cylinder sleeves are inserted, in-serted, the pistons travel on cast-iron cast-iron just the same as in any other motor. The valves are in the head and the efficiency of this design has been increased by using a hollow hol-low rocker arm shaft in which oil is forced constantly to all bearings. Another place where the reduction reduc-tion of weight is seen is in the makeup make-up of the frame. The Marmon frame construction allows for the use of thinner section metal and although the sides of the frame are much deeper and a steel running board is used, the whole frame structure is considerable lighter than with the conventional design. This new frame design also shows the very ingenious elimination of parts. Side members of the frame are directly under the sides of the body and since the running boards are riveted to these aide-members, step hangers and side shields are done away with. Weight is also saved in the rear axlo. The differential housing is cast of aluminum. It is lighter than the ordinary differential housing, hous-ing, but due to its construction the bearing supports are strengthened aDd hence the rigidity of the driving driv-ing is increased. Duo to the frame construction, the Marmon touring car body can ho made in three pieces and boltod direct to the frame without any subframe or under un-der sills. In fact, in all Marmon models these heavy sub-frames, or sills, for structural strength aro eliminated and consequently the weight is very materially reduced. |