New-York tribune., 1912-01-07
GENERAL USE FOR AUTOS
Purchaser Now Desires to Drive
Car Throughout Year.
CLOSED BODIES IN DEMAND
Protection from the Weather
Sought as Much as Luxuri-
ous Qualities,
Ey Charles r. Duryca

II there are any tendencies for 1919 10 he
seen at the great automobile show which
opened at Madison Square Garden last
night II is safe to say that they are toward
q greater use of the automobile by every
member OF the family and on every day OF
the year Tho student Of the subject Will
not ind many radical steps forward in any
particular direction hut the general trehu
IS distinctly practical and useful.
one Of the evidences of progress Is seen
in the increased use of closed bodies
Where the pleasure vehicle Of a few years
ago was utterly without top, to-day the
situation is reversed, and few cars are
sold unless equipped with protection iiom
the weather. In several makes Of cars tops
are provided with glass windows Whl'n
can h, let down into The sides, after which
the top folds and thus converts from
limousine 10 q touring type of vehicle.
Glass fronts of many varieties Keep OUT
the wind. and curtains button from front
10 rear. so that almost every touring car
is now capable OF being completely 'IoS'u
and thus defying the weather
one Of the drawbacks Of drivins in bad
weather and on bad roads has been the
necessity OF goiuC ont in front of the car
inclosed car this is particularly annoying
because Of the bother Of untastenms 'he
curtains or creeping under them. l"' SER
starters, as used on the Nntoh' Ahpi'N'
Cadillac Maxwell, Simplex, Stoddaru- baS-
ton, Pullman. Everett, Chalmers l"u''ii'
Interstate. Peerless Marmon and others
absolutely does away with this ooJ'c'IoH
and permits the daintily dressed woman u
drive the big car in all kinds OF weather
The same applies 10 electric Igh'Hls'
The short days of winter bring darkness
carly I'm the afternoon and the caller OF
shopper finds herself needing hghts lo'
safety in traffic and from the law WIN
uussy kerosene lamps she gets dirty anu
greasy trying 10 get them lighted ou'
with the handy systems used on Such CdIH
a. the Lozier. Columbia. Marquette Speeu-
well. Peerless, Pierce, Stoddard~DaH'o"'
Pullman. Cadillac and a host OF others she
has but 10 push a button or turn a COCK
and the thing is done. No wonder she
finds herself using her car In all xmas OF
weather and for all purposes.
Many such steps forward can be seen
among the numerous cars exhibited at the
Garden. each of which is not a great au-
vance. but all Of which help toward the
more universal use Of the automoDiIe. IN
strictly mechanical things the most eH-
uloited is the use Of sliding valves on sNch
cars as the Columbia Stcarns and Stod-
dard-Dayton. That the reciprocaung pop
NOT valves commonly used are not the final
forms many engineers now admit
Clutches have been bettered wheels have
grown is size. SPRINGS have been length
cned or softencd. bodies are wider and
lower. muf1ors have been much improved,
oilers have been smpifed. running boards
have been stripped Of their clutter and
even dashes are much less loaded with
mechanism These things al ht tho auto
mobile to the use of the woman who can
with safety TAX. her good clothing into the
orerator's seat and not feel a constant
dread OF getting covered with oil and dirt
Add 70 these things a general simnlihca-
lion and bettermen' and it will he seen
that there has been much advance even
;-ou-h no great s,or forward in any SIN
glo point is 10 be found.