New-York tribune., 1912-03-24
VALUE Of AUTO ENBlEMS .
r,ropean Countries Quick to See
the Advantage.
BENEFICIAL TO TOURISTS
insignia of the Important Organ
isations Are a Passport Of
Owners Standing.

.1-here have the Billikens, the bulldogs
- ,he Teddy Bears gone that used to
s~,orate the radiator tops on so many mo-
w. .ore IN the city?' asked a prominent
80 enthusiast the other day.
a. answer seems TO be IN the extraordi-
x growth IN the tendency so common in
.I,nrSpean countries to display on the front
S.ach car the emblem of the motoring or
osn,,atlon with which the owner is idenu-
fed
:, enneared to him. he explained an in
...-,,,tv that a man with sufficient means
~ o,rn an automobile should disfgure the
..or, Of his car with meaningless images,
a,d he commended the apparent disfavor
,.,o which the practice had fallen.
One Of the most popular English organi-
-..,o,s is the Automobile Association of
In,6op recently consolidated with the
1,otor Union Of Great Britain. membership
- wtich pernits the use OF eS well known
hross insignia. oval in shape, and which
oortsin the letters "A. A" The most eN-
osnsive Of any foreign automobile club EN-
,,.r, js that OF the Royal Automobile Ciup
=, london. which is Of a beautiful design
- a decided ornament to any car This
II
,,hpe that Of the Automobile Association is
e,anpe6 around the waterspout Of the radi-
.,or. The Touring Club Of France and
,bs Touring Club of Italy have also very
ornamental badges for their members, but
not one approaches that of the Royal Auto
,n.bils Club, which was selected as the
model for the beautiful emblem Of the
rorrinr Club of America. This consists OF
smsu brass wheel, upon which is mount
"a monogram in enamel colors Of red.
White and blue-the letters ~. c. A.
4 well known New York motorist who
mas observing the splendid manner in
which the traffic officers handle the great
/. army of motorists at Fifth avenue and
q i9d street, in New York, ono day last
week. noticed the large number of cars
which displayed the emblem of the T. c.
A and took occasion TO count the many
r c. A. cars passing this point. Within
half hour siXty-two cars had gone by
and the count was given up. Later on the
same owner found that there were more
than thousand of these emblems on mo-
tor cars in New York alone and said he
was not surprised.
The value of an emblem on the front
Of a motor car lies not so much in its dec
crative effect as in the respect 1t elicits
from police officials in practically all COM
nunities a touring organization suffl-
GENTLY large TO make its emblem well
known frequently is equipped to handle in
drastic fashion any complaint lodged with
II ressrding treatment of its members o-ns
the highways, and a Newark motorist
f -. Pa,r nalyc tAlG 90 ha-
ing held up in a speed trap, while car
that Immediately preceded him was per
mitted to pass through without molesta-
ton He made inquiries and found that
the preceding car bore a Touring Club
emblem. and II was explained TO him that
while the law makes no distinction in the
matter. IL is generally assumed that
member Of a representative touring body
is sufficiently we'll acquainted with high
: way regulations and his Judgment is sufh-
GENTLY well supported TO warrant GER
tain respect on the highway.
So general has become the recognition Of
the Touring Club emblem that the member
arriving ct hotel or garage identified with
the club in an official capacity is accorded
degree Of courtesy in treatment that i'm
meClately eStaDnSHeS tle ilOsL ColuIdI ioi"-
tions between himself and the proprietor,
for the fact that both are associated In the
same organization establishes bond OF
confidence that is Of mutual advantage.
Not only is this true of officially appointed
hotels and garages in this country, but the
extensive foreign connections made by the
Touring Club insure the member splen-
did reception in nearly every country Of
Europe 1t is q most gratifying incident Of
4 his foreign tour