The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
Making american C~hauffeurs

kind OF courage, and some mechanical
ability.
To find such a combination among
American coachmen is almost impos-
slble, and therefore no one can look
TO him as the chauffeur of the u%niver-
sal automobile of the future. He
must come from a different type of
young manhood.
That type has been found.
Up to a year ago all the chauffeurs
who drove the big French motor cars
used in this country were imported
from Paris, and were practically a
part OF the machines. AS a rule, they
were men of no particular intelligence,
were inordinately vain, foolishly sensi-
tive, and extremely difficult TO get
along with. Numerous paragraphs in
the society journals have told Of the
trouble that millionaire owners OF
motor cars have had with their chauf-
feurs over quarters assigned to them
IN out-of-town hotels while touring,
and of grievances of a similar nature.
Eccentricity of Some French Chauf-
feurs.
The average French chauffeur seems
to be possessed with the idea that he
owns the car he drives, and ii is not an
uncommon trick for one of these men,
on having a difference Of opinion with
his employer, TO stop the car and leave
1t by the roadside and take the first
train back to town.
AS the men who could drive these
French machines were few in number
the n were at their mercy. Not
that they couldn't drive the cars them
selves, for anyone can drive a car sf-
ter a few lessons, but the trouble was
to drive at the best advantage and
with the least possible wear and tear
to machinery and running gear.
The Fgenchman possessed a perfect
knowledge of the machines and the
ability 70 repair them, while their en-
ployers were in absolute ignorance of
these things. Therefore they had to
tolerate the whims of the chaufeurs
with as much patience as they could
muster.
But with the increase in the number
of these French motor cars in this
country, it became necessary to estab-
lish repair depots, with French work
men from Paris. Two years age a re-
pair shop OF this kind was opened in
New York City, and il is now not only
the largest of its kind in America. but
it is also the most important training
school for the American chauffeur in
the United States.
When the French mechanics were
brought here they were given as help
ers skilled American mechanics. These
helpers mastered the intricate mech
anism of the French machines so
quickly that in less than a year the
manager OF the repair shop was able
to let the Frenchmen go. Then the
American workmen were given Amer
lean boys as helpers.
Interesting Evolution of the Eative
Chauffeur.
It is from these boys that the native
chauffeur is evolved. Time has shown
that he is more honest and reliable
than his French cousin; that he is
more intelligent and knows his place
better; and that when the occasion
arises for an exhibition of nerve and
daring he is never found wanting.
The training of the young Ameri
can chauffeur is OF the best possible
r. kind, for he begins at the very frame
, work of the machine TO learn all abou
il. These boys are about II years old
When they begin work they are paic
So a week, while the trained mechani
earns from $I8 to SCI for the am,
- period.
N When an automobile is sent into tn
s shop for repairs the boy helps TO re
rs move the car from the chassis" a
the running gear of a motor car
ID called; he learns to take apart the mU
tor with its hundred intricate parts
III and he becomes proficient in the de
Is tails OF the electric battery. In tive
IN years. if he sticks TO the shop, he ha
re become a skilled mechanic.
ne But from the point of view of tn
ne foreman of the repair shop, that i
where the trouble lies. The helper
doesn't stick 10 the shop. Ii is 4 par
& his duty when a machine has bee
repaired TO take it out on the road an,
y test il. AS 4 result, from four 70 eigh
n months after the boy has become
helper" these testing trips have mad
IL him as good a chauffeur as the owne
or Of a motor car could find the auto
mobiling world over. The owners o
he automobiles know it, and the helpe
II becomes a full-hedged chauffeur forth
with.