The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-08

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and in the general prosperity OF the
country II is impossible TO reduce TO
figures.
How Auto Has Improved.
The first few years OF the modern
automobile were disconcerting in
many respects. due 10 the influence
OF the rigs that were pulled by horses,
and to the fact that the patrons OF
the industry, while they knew nothing
whatever about the building OF auto
mobiles, felt quite satisfied that IT
they could not have a horse in front
they should have something else,
SAYS Automobile. These same pa
irons, not being satisfied that the
something would be provided by
the makers of influence. were much
inclined 20 furnish the necessary i'm
petus, and il Is feared that some or
them really succeeded in getting what
they thought they wanted The echo
OF II all sounds too discordant 10 lend
the impression that these patrons
were content
I'm the course OF time the builders
of automobiles were able TO convince
growing clientele that 1t was not
necessary for a buyer to advise the
makers in the customary mechanical
ways, and the principles which under
lie business in general taught these
makers how 10 maintain the integrity
OF their investment. and to disregard
suggestions. however good they might
prove TO be in the long run, insofar
as they might upset the plans In pro-
cess and become inharmonious.
1T is little difficult TO get the
American user into the state Of mind
which will permit him to clearly ap-
preciate the fact that an idea, how
ever good ii serves In France, for IL
lustration, might be valueless In Am
erica, and that a scheme which at.
tracts the notice of the German may
be obnoxious for a hundred reasons
when II is transplanted. and that the
heavy construction OF the English car
although il is intended TO portray sta
bility, has nothing much TO recon
mend II when the weight must be car
ried on pneumatic tires over the ups
and downs OF American roads.
The American designers, while
| they have had many opportunities To
copy the expressions OF the automo
| bile art as they come from other
! lands. have been compelled to take
! cognizance of experience, and one OF
| the misfortunes OF the time Is en-
| tirely due 10 the narrowed field OF
vision of the used as compared with
| the many opportunities to see from
| the vantage point OF the designer. The
American idea is winning out; where
| II had ten friends yesterday IL has a
| thousand today and when the tomor
row OF the automobile industry comes
! its enemies, II IL has any, will reside
in chateaux in foreign lands, and their
enmity Will be bitter In proportion as
! their experience is broad
Standardization the Trend Today.
"A few years ago. when the Ii
censed Association Of Automobile
Manufacturers was instituted for pur-
poses which seemed 10 the members
TO be beneficial their deliberations
soon led them 70 reach the concln-
sion that the problems involved should
be amplified and that the path to the
! final Standardization OF the automo-
bile should be blazed. The first move
in this direction eliminated In the
! organization Of what was then called
THE Mechanical Branch" The body
polite Of this auxiliary body was
made up of the chief engineers OF the
| various allied makers, and they met
| with great frequency for purposes ef
discussion. the comparing OF notes aud
the calculation OF the problems n.
volved. The literature OF the mechan
/ ical branch, was ultimately the basis
OF a system OF standards which was
finally promulgated under the auspices
Of the Society OF Automobile Engin-
GERS, and when the mechanical branch
became inactive, It's records OF expert
ences and standards were placed at
the disposal of the Society OF Auto.
mobile Engineers. forming the nucleus
OF an effort which has since been eX.
tended TO the good Of the industry
The best guarantee that purcAas.
ers can possibly have Of the stabi'
! ity OF the AmeriCan-made autoEtCbil.
is present In the concerted effort ~
! the American automobile engineers.
Fand the fact that they are members
OF common body. and that they neer
lat frequent intervals for the purpose
OF comparing notes, is assurance
enough To the buyer that II the AMER
/ ican-made type OF automobile differs
In important particulars from those
which come from afar. the reasons
/ for the differences. whatever IN ~
may be, are paramount"