The Washington times., 1913-12-06
HIDDEN TREASURES
IN NEW MOTOR CARS
Prospective Owners Touring
Saiesroom Section Find
Many Conveniences.

previous years.
There are many hidden treasures il
the various cars now to be seen il
. Washington's automobile showrooms-
features which are under the skin, as j
Were. The man who views a ca
through a thick plate glass will mis-
many of the latest improvements il
motor Car construction, and whether h,
wants to buy car or not, if he ap
preciates mechanical perfection, h,
should not hesitate to see the car a
close range. That is what the automO
bile dealers have the cars in their show
rooms for.
Motor car development has beer
marked in previous years by some i'm
portant changes in deS gn, but this veal
the general features of the cars are
much the same. There are a greater
number of siN-cylinder cars than there
were last year, and almost any car now
cen be equipped with self-starters and
electric lighting systems. The left-side
drive has beea adopted by several
manufa ctuTers who formerly held to the
riGht-s.de drive; but none of these fea-
lures are new in themselves. They are
merely in more general use.
The general tendency in the new mod
els is toward simplicity of operation,
refinement of construction, elimination
of useless parts and accessories, and the
addition of features which will give the
occupants greater comfort. Many of the
higher priced cars have added features
which tend to cut down the cost of
operation, matter that is particularly
significant in view of the talk of money
stringcncy.
Little Change In Prices.
In the matter of prices there is
little change this year, there being d
tendency to offer better goods at the old
price rather than the old goods at Il
lower price. While there are many cars
which are not TO be found among those
represented in Washington, the best of
every grade can be found here. There
are fewer manufacturers having agen-
cicS here than there were last year,
but il has been largely, a survival
of the fittest: a condition that is said
10 be applicable at the present time to
the automobile manufacturing business.
This evolution during which the weaker
concerns are passing out of existence
is expected TO lead to a narrowing
down TO few reputable manufacturers
OF machines in each of the various
grades of automobiles
This question of financial soundneSs
of automobile manufacturing concerns
is of vital Importance to every one con-
templating the purchase Of car. One
Of the essential points in buying ma
chime Is to consider the facilities avail
able for getting repair parts quickly
For this reason the record of the manu-
featuring company should be regarded
with the same Importance by the pros
pectiye purchaser as the quality OF the
car itself
MANY of the manufacturers Of the
higher grade cars are dropping the year
" model plan, simply bringing out new
models from time to time as new de-
signs are worked out. and the pro
L.. h
ing demands OF the public are more cas-
lily met. Such a policy, however, could
hardly be adopted with profit by tho
makers of the cheaper grades of cars.
where il is necessary to make Great
numbers of cars of one model in or
der 10 have a profitable business.
Easily Operated.
4 few Of the manufacturers are fza-
turing electric gear shifting devices this
year. but this novelty has not been
adopted by enough makers to consider
jt a general feature of the Eew models. !
II is device, however. that should
grow in popularity. because everything !
that tends to make automobiling easy !
for the man who gets frightened at the !
sight OF piece OF machinery Is Ger I
tain to appeal to the buyer. There is |
really no reason why anyone who pos
sesses all his faculties should shy at the |
automobile Of today. il is q common |
thing for people to learn to operate the |
machine in one and two |
lessons
The bodies of the new models are con- |
spicuoUs for the greater room given to !
the occupants. the deep cushions of the |
seats and similar features which in |
crease the pleasure and comfort Of |
Coupe bodies are apparently |
meeting with much favor. They appeal |
especially to the motorist who drives |
Isis own car. 1nclosed in glass, the coupe |
-. = s..t,
terferes at times with the pleasure Of |
riding in touring car. 1t permits the !
nan who does not employ a chauffeur |
TO Join in the conversation of his guests.
"A, well as TO enjoy the warmth and pro
lection of the inclosed car.
Put To Many Uses.
The general lines of the cars are bet
ter this year than ever before. Wherever
possible to do so, attachments which |
disfigure a car have been concealed or
so placed as not 10 be in view. There
are few cars which now carry the tool
boxes on the running boards. Most of
them have the tool boxes placed under
the floor of the car. with access from
The side. The placing of the tires, on
tie rear is another improvement in the
2 appearance of the cars. although on one
car the tires have been ingeniously
p laced on the mud guard without block
Ing the fore door On the opposite side
a fully eQuippsd tool chest is placed.
Bat this particular car has a 145-inch
heelbase; which makes the arrange
Through the usa of headlight dim
? -eTs. or in some cases by means of
small and large bulb in each headlight.
TIE side lamps OF most cars are now
eliminated. In some cases the high
priced cars have ornamental lamps on
he sides. especially to light mp the en-
rance doors TO limousines ard coupes.
There is an almost limitless scope to
ne application of the electric lower
lOw generated on mOsJ cars which have
he electric self-starters Electric horns. !
.lectric trouble lights, electric cigar
ighters, electric headlights, and even
telephone to replace the speaking :
13bes in closed cars are now To be
Ound on many of the up-to-the-minute Y
machines. In some cases the entrance 1
oor TO a limousine will be specially .
lghted through the-opening of the door
In the matter of operation many i'm
movements looking toward simplicity I
ave been devised in the last year. Cen q
er control of gear-shift levers and even
utomatic gear shifts are now in order.
All OF the operating switches and but
ons, gauges. and instruments are now
'laced high up on the dash within plain
!sht and easy reach of the operator.
Iany Of the cars have locks for the
snltion system and the electric starters
Where once demountabIe rims were
onsldered special equipment, they are
.eil-appointed cars. There is evidence
NrfI n Of 4