Evening star., 1912-11-24
ENGLAND FOLLOWS
AMERICAN EXAMPLE F
British Automobile Concerns
Now Furnish Full
Equipment.

They are coming around in England to
the American idea of full equipment for
automobiles. On various pretexts in the
past the British manufacturers have re-
fused to furnish cars with what Is COM
monty known as standard equipment in
America, and almost everything was
classed as an extra which the motorist
really would need. AS result the cost
price of the car was always $500 or 5000
less than the total of the eventual prep
aration of it for the road
The incurson of the American machine
into England with its full equipment in
cluded in the purchase price has made a
difference to the Britishh market. What
ever the British automobile manufacture
er may think of the American for having
forced him to this step there Is no ques-
ton that the consumer ought to be
grateful to the invader of the British
market who has brought this condition
around.
Individual Taste Is Plea.
Rather grudgingly the British motoring
writer's are calling attention to the trend
with regard to equipment and are in
dicating that the maker ought not to
hesitate to follow this American fash
ion" The Field of London dilates upon
this new development in automobile
making and explains that European
manufacturers used to refuse to equip
their cars with complete fittings on the
plea that individual tastes vary to such
a degree that the practice is not salts
factory.
1.-THE plea is fallacious.' said the Field
land the only evidence necessary to prove
it so is the popularity of those cars which
are ready to drive away There was
time when the wind screen and the cape
hood were extras. just as the magnett
and the spare wheel became later, but
the pressure of competition compeiied tne m
inclusion of all those things in the list
price of standard cars, and the same
force will irresistibly impel the car max.
er or his agent to send out his standard
models complete and not lacking the i'm
pedmenta that absorb anything from ter
to twenty sovereigns to acquire.
Benefits Motorists.
There is no suggestion that the GUS
toner should get these things thrown in
He does not do SO in the case of wind
screens and cape hoods, but undoubtedly
he would get them more cheaply when 50
included than IL sold as additional fit
tings That is the result which has ac-
crued in the case OF the wind screen ano
hood. Even the motorist who does not
appreciate the style, form or quality OF
the hooter or lamps thus supplied him
will not object to having his own ideas
given full effect as to the difference in
cost involved, so that there need not be
any hesitation on the part of the maker
in adopting this American fashion.
1T wou d be a boon to the inexpe-
rienced motorist since he would be GER
tain to get goods bought with the best
knowledge of their quality and useful
ness, instead of being lett to his own de-
vices or the tender mercy of a smart
salesman intent on keeping up his sales
returns There can be no doubt that the
knowledge that the advertised price of an
American car includes all these things
has influenced many a sale. At the same
time 1t has to be acknowledged that the
public is prone to forget the value of the
goods it is getting when Jumped up in a
single sum in this way.
"One firm jealous OF its reputation will
have nothing but sound and substantial
British made accessories, while a rival
will appear cheaper simply by resorting
to lower priced and less acceptable con-
tinental goods. Notwithstanding these
drawbacks. we certainly support the con-
tention that when standard cars are Of
fered to the public they should be COM
plete in every detail