New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-20
'AITQ NEWS Of THE DAY
Another Maker Protests Against
the Season Model Idea.
q NEW MILEAGE RECORD
Owner Covers II, 900 Miles and
Crosses the Mojave Desert
Four Times.

THE season model idea in the motor car
trade" saws G. {. Hanch. treasurer Of the
Nordyke & Marmon Company, lis neither
logical nor sensible. | base this assertion
upon the fact that in all trade and COM
merce articles which have been continu-
cuslv designated by season models or year
" STYLES have been such articles as ordi-
rarilv last only one season. There was a
time when the average motor car was not
considered good for more than about five
thousand miles and radical changes fol-
lowed each other in rapid succession. At
that time the ordinary purchaser expected
10 get a new car almost every season
The season model idea grew out OF these
conditions. but II is now out Of date There
is only one logical result of continuing it.
and that will he an undignifed scramble
among manufacturers TO see who can first
announce his next seasons model. This
carried to an ultimate conclusion will find
certain makers. on January Of given
year announcing their models for the sue
ceeding year-manifestly a ridiculous per-
formance I know Of no more certain
death for any commercial or personal prac-
tice than to subject the same 10 ridicule.
There are innumerable reasons why the
season model idea Il wrong. Among others
a few may be mentioned
1T is not fair 10 the purchaser to sell
him an article represented 10 last a num-
Der OF years. and within a week or 80
thereafter announce changes in the same
article calculated to make the first pur-
chaser feel that he has an out-oi-date
product Did any one ever hear OF the
owner Of a horse vehicle boasting 10 his
friends that he had a 1912 victoria or
brougham or a 1913 span Of gray horses
Certainly not The modern motor car OF
reputably developed type is under ofdi-
nary circumstances, as permanent an artl-
Gle as the average horse vehicle.
THE public should be given the benefit
OF any material Improvements in motor
cars at the end Of any manufacturing lot
regardless Of whether the lot ended In the
middle Of the season or at the close OF the
season. II would be fairer to the public
and Of more concern to il If the manu-
facturer would announce that the cars sold
during any season were designed and de-
veloped one or two years previously, az
every maker should experiment at his own
expense rather than at the expense Of his
customers.
The season model idea involves eager
ness to make changes. as without changes
the announcement of new model is more
or less ridiculous II is the duty OF every
manufacturer to improve his product and
keep up TO date. but there should he no
unnatural incentive for hastily putting
changes on the market before they are
thoroughly tried out. On the other hand
when improvements are perfected they
should be given to the public without re-
gard 20 season"
with all this talk OF trips. trails and
pathfnding / think il is up to me to say
NV little bit" stated Hugh Annis to the
Palner-Singer Company the other day.
Mr.. Annis. who drives a Palmer-Singer
go roadster. has go far completed 7l'Oo
miles with his car. He has toured the
states OF California, Nevada. Oregon and
Washington. and he is about 10 start on
trim from Los Angeles 10 New YORK CITY
bv way OF the old Santa Fe trail. This car
has crossed the Mojave Desert four times
and has been over the Sierra Nevadas so
often that IL is no longer considered a feat
by Mr.. Annis.
only recently the car went across the
mountains and in some places 1t was buck
Ing snow thirty-two inches deep, about
seven miles below the summit Mr.. Annis
has been making automobile maps OF CALI
fornia. Oregon and Nevada for The sunset
Magazine" He is now about 10 start on
the Panama. Pacific trail 10 establish
route for automobiles between New York
City and San Francisco. on June Il OF
this month the car leaves San Francisco
to establish this trail and, as Mr.. Annis IS
well acquainted with all sections OF the
country. the run will prove a more than
! interesting one. The upkeep Of this car
/ has been SIS which mostly consisted in
new brake lining. which they were unable
~ btv and had 10 have made 10 order.