Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-30
MODERN MACHINE EMBoDYING
FRENCH IDEAS
FIRST MODEL IN LOS ANGELES
Automobile Received From New York
Has Everything for Convenience
of ocoupants-tiot and Cold
Water Provided

buy an automobile this spring 1t may
interest you to know that for $1,000
you can get perfect beauty, with "all
the comforts Of home" At least that
is what the manager of the largest con-
Germ in Los Angeles assured visitor
one morning last week when she
dropped into the place to look over the
Monday morning bargain stock.
The manager, with a well fabricated
tongue, went on to point out the par
ticular attractions of a new French
body, whose dressing he assured her
was French, too. He spoke learnedly
of the automatic carburetor controlled
speed of the engine. the variable lift
inlet valves, the ignition system, the
honeycomb radiator with fan, and the
control levers on the steering wheel,
while the feminine eyes took in the
points that appeal only to the sex.
The points that appealed to the visi-
tor in this particular automobile had
to do with the soft upholstery of pur-
plish maroon, luxuriously fitted to the
auto-the color carried out to perfec-
tion in the body of the machine-the
ease of the side entrance and the can
opy top which protects yet does not
conceal.
When the auto is closed up in the
form of a coupe, a surprise awaits the
possible purchaser Every bit of the
upholstery can be pulled down, piece
by piece, disclosing first a mirror large
enough to see the face and head. An
other bit reveals faucets of hot and
cold water over a small washbowl.
There are places for combs and brushes,
racks for newspapers and books, places
for writing materials and visiting
cards-in fact, every possible want of
the touring occupant.
There seemed to be only one lack, and
the visitor asked why it was not pos
sible to make autos so they could be
turned into sleeping cars at will.
The manager FASTENED to explain
that the erratic Englishman, the late
Marquis of Angelesey, set the fashion
in this respect having a touring car
built which, behind the drivers seat,
inside of the body, measured 6 feet
inches, and in this car, complete in
every respect as regards comfort, he
Travelled across England and the con-
tinent. This fashion was already be-
ing followed abroad, but so far in this
country the American seems satisfied
with a touring car like the one which
IS a pioneer of its kind in Los An
geles.
The manager had forgotten to show
the last attraction. When the curious
one alighted she saw secured in the
rear a fair sized refrigerator, with
shelves roomy enough to hold a good
supply of solid and liquid refreshments
en- route.
Machines cannot be made fast
enough to fill the orders for cars of
this class in the east and France" the
manager said. THAT is a popularity of
the French workman. He will not turn
out slipshod work for the mere sake
of getting more accomplished.
"The great change in fashions this
spring in all sections of the United
States is the call for closed automo-
biles. Formerly when we displayed
these machines in New York to the
trade, we sold about one in every thou
sand Now one in every twenty-five
finds buyer"
Il would rather sell to ten men than
the average woman" observed sales
man who was formerly connected with
a New York concern, when the possible
purchaser had taken her departure.
"The attitude of the average woman
buyer is very difficult one to meet.
She knows nothing about machinery
She will ask questions, of course, be-
cause she does not wish to appear
Ignorant, and many women have
gained superficial knowledge, which
they air, but which is merely SUPER
fetal.
man gives his order. and when the
machine is ready he wants it to be
perfect. If 1t is he will overlook the
fact that whereas he ordered a Brew
ster green it may have body shade
lighter or darker. What he wants is
mechanism without a flaw"
Next in Importance to the automobile
is the chauffeur. You hear lots about
him in the automobile show rooms.
And the chauffeurs do a lot of talking
themselves.
The knights of the lever in Los An
seles are good looking lot of men
and are of every acknowledgements
can, French and English There is a
preference for the foreign men, who
are described as being more steady and
more experienced than the American,
though opinion differs materially upon
this point. A good chauffeur gets $25
week and his expenses, but the train
of the millionaire is rapidly spelling
this scale Of price.
In the east chauffeurs get 500 a.
week, and at the end of each week
many employers also give the men a
bonus of $50 or 800 more If they have
escaped even trihing accident.
"rhere is one thing more needed than