The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-27
AUTOMOBILE NEWS
NOTES AND GOSSIP

Or. II. NJ. Dixcn is one Of the latest
purchasers OF a Washington car. II IS
Of the tourabout type. finished In dark rec
and fully equipped.
Lieut. r. F. Tate has recently received
his Washington car of the touring type
Iuliy equipped IN every respect.
Among the recent purchasers Of Wash
ington cars are w. Carhan, J. Conner and
W. J. Brown. the type of cars being
roadster. toy tonneau and touring car.
Mr. Charles Dessez, formerly an eu-
thusiastic horseman. is now an enthusIas-
tie motorist He Is a prominent figure in
his Washington tourabout. painted a
bright red.
Manufacturers Of automobiles who pur-
pose putting machines in the 1910 Clidden
tour nave begun 10 display an unusual
amount of interest in highways in the
Southern States. Not since the old DAYS
when armies were moved expeditiously
through the mud and over pike roads
has there been such an intelligent effort
to obtain information.
There viii be even more difficulties than
/ were encountered in the wisconsin
Alleghenies' during the 1909 Glidden tour,
/ is the opinion Of men who have driven
! automobiles over a portion OF the prob
/ able amateur American Automobile As
ISOLATION reliability route. Not a little
valuable road information, logging data,
and geographical notes collected by the
Mitchell Ranger expedition on its stTenu-
Gus scouting trip over the proposed course
Of the big reliability contest has been
gratUi:Ously distributed among manu-
facturers by the Mitchell-Lewis Motor
Company Of Racine. Immediately follow
! ing the receipt of the field notes of Driver
Frank Zirbies, who is plotting the
Mitchell Ranger car over the long route,
with a view Of terminating the expedi-
ton in Chicago early in April.
Fire Chief Croker. of New York. was
perhaps the first TO adopt the automobile
for carrying him quickly to the scene of
action. At any rate, he surely was a
pioneer In the introduction of an ear
splitting, blood cuTdling signal for his
Own exclusive use. The interesting point
is that outside of the Initiative on the
part OF Chief Croker. the smaller cities
show much more enterprise than the
larger ones in the adoption of the auto
mobile for official purposes. Many cities
OF the third and fourth class have motor
chemical wagons, or engines. or hose
carts. that are wholly absent IN cities
Of the first and second class The same
seems 70 be true with regard To the use
Of personal motor cars by the heads Of
fire departments.
With the settling down Of the motor car
industry 10 a sound commercial basis
changes are taking place ia the customs
Of the consumer as well as OF the manu-
facturer. Untn a year or two ago the
man who intended to buy a car would.
In many Instances. await the time when
he could see a car on the salesrOom floor
and inspect IL in detail At that time
mechanical changes in the various models
were Of much more frequent occurrence
than now and this fact was the principal
cause Of the DELAY in ordering, the buyer
wanting TO see for himself just what
improvements had been made. One great
drawback 20 this plan was that the buyer.
when he took a car from the floor could
not specify as to color, upholstery. and
general finish
IN the last year, however. buyers have
come TO the understanding, with some
makes OF cars of the higher grade. that
they can depend absolutely on what the
manufacture turns out They know that
whatever mechanical changes there may
be in new models will not be radical
enough TO take on the nature Of an ex-
pertinent. BY ordering far enough in
advance the buyer can choose colors,
feathers. and finish down TO the smallest
detail and know that the car when It is
delivered win be exactly what he wants.
Certainly the only employees OF motor
car factory, and possibly the only ones
IN any kind of a manufacturing establish
ment. who have music during their noon
lunches are those Of The Plerce-Arrow
Motor Car Company at Buffalo. Recently
the men, backed by the officers and de-
partment heads, organized the Pierce
Arrow Amusement Association.
Accordingly grand piano was bought
and a man to play it engaged. Now.
when the 500 men are at their tables be-
tween u and 12:So. they are RECALLED with
classical and popular music.
AS the result of the merging OF the
interests OF the Studebaker Brothers
Manufacturing Company and EMF
81 e 81 ~
rectOrs Of the Studebaker Brothers Manu-
featuring Company was held at the Offices
or that company in South Bend on Wed
nesday, and at the invitation of the
management, Walter e. Flanders, presi-
dent and general manager of the EMF
Company, and Frederick W Stevens, of
J. P. Morgan Company, OF New York, &C
cepted the nomination and were elected
members OF the board Of directors Of the
Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Com
pany. Both gentlemen are now members
Of the board of directors OF the EMF
Company.
Several unique strictly pleasure tours
are being planned by the Touring Club of
America for the summer These win
be go-as-you-piease events Of from three
10 ten days duration and viii embrace a
great variety OF scenery covering sea-
shore, mountain. and lake country where
the roads are good and the hotel accom-
modations excellent at special rates for
these tours.
In the matter Of touring the Touring
Club of America does exactly this: 1t
gives motorists the advantage of the
special work Of trained experts within
this field at such small fee that no one
can afford to dispense with It's services.
II will advise any mntnrlst about any.