The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-11-07

centred over the body of the car in a
way that renders II device that would
be OF greatest service at noonday in the
tropics, When the rays OF the sun are
absolutely vertical. To the canonv TON
were added the adjustable window in
front and the rolling curtains at the
side, but as everv one knows who has
ridden in clash top buggy or an ooen
trolley car, these things Ieak-thev leal.
wind and dus- and rain, or which eyer
may be most pressing from without In
competition with the canopy TOP there
was introduced this season the Cane tor
named because of its adoption from the
vehicles used at Cape Colony. a huge
clash top, with back and sides in one
piece. which does not leak. but frankly
makes no pretence of shelterinp those
beneath 1t from a wind or rain that
drives from in front. Furthermore. it IS
a literal drawback because OF the way If
catches the wind.
In pleasant weather dust Is the one
great bane OF automobiles. 1t detracts
so heavily from the pleasure. of this
mode OF travel that a number of those
with wide experience have decided that
there are about only four months in the
year when automobiling can be thor
oughly enjoyable, and those the COM
parat1vely dustless months of spring and
faL-Aprll and May, October and No
vernber
None Of the popular appurtances yet
devised affords satisfactory protection
from dust which filters in through
minutest crevices. The dust panooly.
spread out at forty-fve degrees from the
rear upper edge of the tonneau, the
the great hood of the cape top have all
had their uses and yield their modicum
of Improvement in the direction of COM
fort, yet have all proved inadequate to
keep pace with the demand for greater
comfort, for ease, for positive luxury.
which IS subtly supplanting the exulta-
ton in the hardihood demanded by a
wide. open car.
Throughout the procession OF the de-
vices mentioned there has been in scant
use style OF automobile which does
sufficiently protect the occupants, but it
has been scorned as too eferninate by
the general run of automobiles. Still.
IN the flush of the first enthusiasm the
type of completely enclosed body known
as the limousine has been deemed as fit
only Tor tenderfeet ard women. Yet the
limousine type of body is the only one
yet devised for touring cars of the road
that yields real protection Just as the
coupe, which has grown so popular.
affords proper shelter for winter transit
about town.
A few limousine bodies have been
made by American manufacturers and
quite a number imported They are
more expensive and are generally built
only to order, and orders for them are
not sought, because to turn aside for
one. or few special styles interrupts the |
rapid progress and greater profit in a |
factory where certain fixed types are be- !
ing produced in quantity. Yet there is |
no installing that along with the demand |
for the side door entrance and other |
attributes of convenience and comfort |
there is a slowly increasing demand for |
limousine bodies, which portends strik- |
ing change in the character of the motor |
vehicle to be found on the road in the |
near hereafter.
1t would seem unquestionable also |
that if the automobile is to become the
vehicle of permanent utility and generali
which is being conceded to |
be its province and its destiny, the modi-I
ications must be made which will rel
move from it the character of being al
and fall, or for any limited season. +
Heretofore the manufacturers of motor
vehicles have not been forced by fulness
If supply and scantiness of demand and
he stress of consequent competition to
anticipate the advance of the user to-
ward greater comforts, to originate and
'ffer a variety of styles. The manufac-
urer has been following the demand.
NTH the growth of the industry a
hange in this respect must come and
ertaln signs indicate d proximity to
hat point
The United States has followed the
cad of Europe in all phases Of auto
nobiling. The demand for roonly ton
Ieaus, side entrances and limousine or
nclosed bodies on touring cars is show
ng an. unrnistakable increase across the
cean, while yet only the first faint re-
ections of 1t are noticeable here. Far
lighted makers are preparing, however,
nd the tide of change is quite likely to
ONE with the swiftness of head-waters.
'hese are the same forehanded men,
ers of the industry who are paying
lore+ and more attention to the develop
1ent of the commercial motor vehicle.
Ultimately it would appear that the
utonlobile industry must depend for its
erpetuatlon largely upon the productlonI
f commercial motor vehicles and cars
f moderate cost for the great number
f that middle class which can afford a
.mperate indulgence in luxury, those
aving incomes neither large or small.
his probability and its imminence in
olive further notifications in the predo
linating type of motor car. In calculat-
lg upon a permanent demand and sup
Iy for the great majority not classed as
-ealthy the cost of maintenance is the
esideraturn that is most vital. Some in
lie industry who are classed as shrewd
redict reaction from the big demand
II four cylinder cars The contention
that the cost of maintenance is null
piled directly with the number of
5linders and engine has, the greater
of construction involving
lore frequent breakaoe and derange-
ent
On this premise it is held that car
moderate size and measure of power
hich can be furnished consistently by
/ engine of one or two cylinders will {