Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-07-31
AUTOS BRING NEW TALK
Benzine Wagons Have Their Own
Slang.
NOMENCLATURE Is PECULIAR
Conversation Now Resembles SO Much
Greek TO Those who Are Not
Versed in the Motor Car
Technique.
NOMENCLATURE Is PECULIAR


ture has sprung up much as does a local
dialect, or district slang Is spreading in
the automobile world and there seems to
be imminent some concerted effort on the
part OF those most concerned to straighten
out the tangle. 1t has been learned that
this subject was brought up and discussed
at the last meeting of the Association Of
Licensed Automobile Manufacturers one
member. It is understood. pointed out that
the custom Of the railroads offers a hint
they classifying their trains as passenger
and freight trains. and all their rolling
stock. outside of engines. into the two
general groups Of passenger cars and
freight cars. there being a variety OF spe-
Giles in each group.
This suggestion seemed to point to the
American Locomotive company, makers Of
the Alec. and James Joyce. manager of
the American Locomotive company's auto
mobile department, when sought proved
fruitful of an interesting interview.
II am not the author Of the suggestion
that we follow railroad practice and clas-
sify automobiles as freight and passenger
oars" said Mr.. Joyce, but the subject Is
one In which / am deeply interested and
one 1t will be well to have discussed. II
will readily be conceded that there has
been great laxity and abuse in the applica-
ton Of automobile names. The confusion Is
becoming seriously awkward and the time
has come when an effort should be made
by manufacturers and owners to kesp In
use the most fitting and simple names. II
the proper names are agreed upon and ali
work together this can readily be done.
have heard OF men almost quarreling over
the question Of whether certain car had
on It a miniature tonneau, baby tonneau,
toy tonneau or tourabout body. That. how
ever is trifling compared with the need
for generic names for the broad division
of automobiles.
ClassifyiRE Names.
with the development Of the motor We
hicle in many different forms for carrying
merchandise II must be recognized that 1t Is
becoming important to have In general use
some classifying names to discriminate the
vehicle used for hauling goods from that
used for passengers. Determinations that
have sprung into common use are CONNER
cial vehicles and pleasure cars While one
says commercial vehicle, however, another
says motor truck another power wagon,
then another gasoline truck. and so forth.
OF the first two names, commercial We
hicle and pleasure car It is agreed that
neither is adequate nor desirable; both are
Nd6uS anu Il-IitunBs Inc LcTIut picdSAtO
cars covers in a way the various species
Of touring cars town cars. toy tonneaus.
runabouts, etc., but as q generic name II
Is decidedly Objectionable. being too sug-
gestivey of 10y riding and other frivolities
The expression, commercial vehicle does
not afford sufficient antithesis to any OF
the names applied to the motor cars used
for individual transportation, and. besides,
the term is far too loose a one; 1t applies
quite as properly to a mule-drawn dray and
freight packet as It does to an automo-
bile; again, 1t is too cumbersome. Person
ally, l would be in favor Of the expression
motor truck to cover the whole range OF
motor vehicles used for hauling goods
The term is concise. euphonious and de-
scriptive. Under this caption would come
all the varieties OF delivery wagons, vans
lorrys, drays etc, and the same as there
are now touring cars, limousines, etc, I'M
der the head of pleasure car The ety.
mology OF the word, truck. and its general
usage Justifies it's employment in this
broad sense. The expression is now quite
commonly used for the heavier vehicles
and II everyone interested began to employ
Il as the generic term for all merchandise
carrying vehicles. referring 70 a thousand
pound truck. as we'll as to a 'five-tor
truck 1t would soon be adopted. There 1:
no sense in buclxing the tide in this matter
but the wise thing TO do will be to seel
the path OF the least resistance by trying
to have adopted names now in use, oil
others as suitable and simple as possible
In place OF the expression. pleasure
cars, as a general term for the various
runabouts. touring cars, limousines. etc.
suggest that passenger motor car be sub
stituted, though 1 am not seeking to hav'
my own ideas adopted. What / most de
sire Is to see lively interest taken in tn
subject and wholesome discussion.
'In suggesting the use of passenge
motor car as g generic term. have yer,
definite idea that before long the first wore
of the phrase will be dropped as being un
necessary to convey the proper meaning
There is excellent reason that this SHOULD
be 90. II We look into the origin and u.s.
OF the word car we viii find that It carrie
the idea OF passenger vehicle as an Amos
inevitable association. We get the wor'
from the old French term, with which 1t 4
identical but It's derivation goes back T.
classic days when the racing and wa
chariots OF the Romans were alternatel.
called cars In Shakespeare we find allu
sion to the chariot OF the sun god a
Phoebus car while the funeral car o
the mloulo ages conunues IN evidence O
the death Of royalty. or any mortuary coca
sion OF great pomp and ceremony. Away
there Is associated with the word, It Wi
be noticed. the idea Of It being a persona
conveyance and not a dray. Moreover
there is something of dignity and almost Q
majesty In the word. Therefore Il is NOR
than probable that the name motor car
which forms a perfect antithesis TO 'moto
truck win eventually be found sufficien,
yet II win be well to start with the es
preston passenger motor car, in order I
more effectually emphasize the distinetio
to those who are novitiates in the motor
ing field The word automobile. which "
borrowed from abroad, as we did mote
car can be retained to embrace all class,
Of motor vehicles. But let US have a fu
discussion and an agreement upon II
names most fitting, then a hearty cooper,
tiOn toward having them generally used"