Article: Far-Reaching Economy Results

FAR-REACHING ECONOMY RESULTS

from Motorcycle Illustrated January 25, 1917

Henderson Salesmanager Inaugurates a Series of Teats Embracing Stock Machines the Country Over Which Nets Wonderful Results in Way of Consumption Figures

DETROIT , Mich., Jan. 22.-As a means of collecting definite up-to-date information, showing what a good motorcycle actually will accomplish for use as sales ammunition by dealers, a series of tests to be held by dealers in widely separated sections of the country has been initiated by the sales department of the Henderson Motorcycle Co.

Lots of men who are thinking of buying cheap autos, because they are economical to run, would buy a motorcycle and sidecar instead if they knew that they could travel three or four times as far on a gallon of gasoline with a motorcycle outfit-but they have never imagined such a thing to be possible.

Bailey Starts Something

So Sales Manager Bailey started the ball rolling to collect a bunch of real facts. definite records of performances by the new three-speed Henderson under all conditions. The plan was to collect this data from all sections of the country so as to show that the efficiency of the machine does not depend on locality, climate or circumstances.

For the first test of the series a gasoline-consumption trial was selected and a letter sent explaining what was to be done. Arrangements were to be made for having each test supervised by a public official, police officer or a prominent man in some other position, and the report of results was to be sworn to before a notary, so as to avoid any question as to their authenticity.

It was specifically stated in this letter that the test was to be made with ordinary stock Henderson motorcycles, properly adjusted, of course, but without using any special coils or screens in the manifolds, special reduced carburetor jets, special warming devices or heating arrangements; as the object was to get real facts about stock-machine fuel consumption and not a phenomenal economy record.

Tests Held in Midwinter

The tests were held right in the thick of the mid-winter weather, reports so far received covering trials made in the latter part of December or first of January. While the low temperature rendered vaporization more difficult and thus reduced the efficiency of 'the motors somewhat it was considered that such a test held at this season would be more conclusive than if held in warm weather. The reports received at Henderson headquarters up to this time are from localities ranging from one corner of the country to the other; and in view of the conditions under which the tests were made the reports received have been quite pleasing.

There was a foot of snow on the ground, with the thermometer at zero on the day Chas. Selk. J r.. made the test at Manitowoc, Wis., but he went ahead regardless of weather in order to find out what his Henderson really could do against such unfavorable conditions. And considering the difficulties he made an unusually good record, for he covered 55.8 miles on the gallon of fuel (motor No. 6529) .

It was a bitterly cold and windy day when August Boesche, with electrically equipped Henderson (motor No. 6564), and Owen Brissie on a fully equipped Henderson that was only two days out of the crate (No . 7204) rode the test in Cincinnati. At the finish both felt that the cold had been a severe handicap and stated that much higher mileage could be made in warm weather. However, their records are distinctly creditable regardless of hindrances, for Mr. Boesche covered 71.7 miles on the gallon, while Mr. Brissie's mark was 71.4 miles. In Bridgeport, Conn., Leon W. Welch was at the helm of Henderson No. 6589. Thermometer below freezing point and considerable wind. Results, 78.8 miles on the gallon.

Sandrock's Showing Good

Baltimore, Md., Henderson No. 6742 with F. W. Sandruck, jr., in the saddle. Rode to Washington, D. c., and return and then continued about the city for some time, rolling up mileage until his fuel was exhausted. Covered 78.2 miles on the gallon.

Between 1:30 P. M. and 5:30 P. M. John Bice, of Chicago, rode 82.3 miles on 70 pints of gasoline. On account of the extreme cold and the condition of the roads he was forced to stop then by physical exhaustion. Measuring the fuel that was drained from the tank showed one-half pint unused. At the rate he had progressed until that time Bice would have covered about 87.7 miles. Horace C. Fuller, on Henderson No. 6462, and accompanied by riders on other makes of machines, made a round trip from Tacoma to Seattle on his test ride rolling about the city for several miles after making the circuit before exhausting the gallon. Machine fully equipped and conditions just the same as met in ordinary road riding. Eighty-seven miles on the gallon.

Vernons Make 104 Miles

Vernon & Son, in Seattle, made two tests under differing weather conditions. One ride occurred on a day when the air was freezing cold, and the result was 81 miles on the gallon. The other test was on a favorable day and set up a mark of 104 miles for the gallon. The balmy air of sunny California proved an advantage for: such a tryout, and the results gained there give an ideaof what riders can expect elsewhere in the summertime. In Pasadena George Main traveled the popular valley road between Pasadena and Pomona on his test getting a mixture of hills and level stretches that is characteristic of the chief touring routes in that section of the State. His machine covered 100.4 miles on the gallon. The test was made with standard gear ratios and without special tuning, as the object was to get information as to what can be done by the regular stock Henderson motorcycle such as ordinary customers buy.

A slightly better mark was made by motorcycle Patrolman E. L. Huls, who made the test ride in Modesto, Cal., under the supervision of the chief of police. With his 1917 Henderson No. 6612 he covered 104.2 miles on one gallon.