Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 180, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1916 — New Device Gives Valuable Information to Tourists. [ARTICLE]

New Device Gives Valuable Information to Tourists.

N. L. Perry, representative of the Mileometer company of Chicago, was in Rensselaer this week. Mr. Perry is demonstrator for the mileometer, an automobile guide for motorists. The mileometer is intended to supply a long felt want for automobiles an tour. It makes possible an rbeoLutely safe journey, pointing out all danger points as they are approached, indicating light and left turns in the road ahead and otherwise assuring Hue motorists a safe trip day or night, no matter how unfamiliar they may he with the road.

The present method of guidance consists of maps and printed matter in hook form, which is hard for the average motorist to follow and requires the constant attention of two persons. The mi'eometer overcomes these difficulties. Being mechanical, it will automatically guide the motorist over any given route as accurately as though he had traversed the road frequently. ’

The device, the main feature of which is a tape which by a system of gearing, is graduated so that it moves four inches every time the front wheel of the machine rolls a mile, is attached to die steering column and sets directly beneath the steering Wheel, receiving its action from one of the front wheels through a flexible shaft. The original tapes or routes are made by actually running over the road with an automobile, using a blank tape in the mileometer. There are twenty of these cars in service in the country today. Other features of the device are that it rtot only gives the driver a perfect guidance as to the turns he is to take, but the mileage as to how far he has to go, also informing him which is the best hotel or garage in the town ahead, together with speed laws, regulations and points of interest; dn fact a large supply of information that is of value to the tourist.