The Topeka state journal., 1913-11-08
Some Notable Features of the
New Models.
P0P-P0P MEN At CHICAG0
Several Topekans Attended Big
Convention in Coliseum.
Some Personal Notes of Local
Automobiles.

had a single keynote. For 1914, how
ever. 1t may be said that there Is not
just one new point that all makers
have taken up. If there is any one
thing that stands out as a tendency.
it Is that Of making the automobile
more comfortable for its passengers
at a lower cost.
Where once demountable rims fig
now the rule. Such things as power
tire pumps, one-man tops. electric
headlight DINNERS and quickly ad-
Unstable rain curtains. are typical OF
what is being done to make the new
automobile more habitable. Instead
of having to carry an air bottle or else
go to the great effort Of pumping tires
by hand devices. it is now possible to
make the motor do the work.
AS one man said about power
dumping devices on motor trucks. as
contrasted with hand operating de-
vices:
Save Hand Labor.
IT cannot see the logic of letting 80
to SO horsepower stand idle in the
truck plant while the chauffeur works
a dumping or hosting device by
hand"
This is the same thing that appeals
now to many car owners. They can
not see where they come in to do the
back-breaking work of pumping tires.
when there is a great big hulk OF a
lazy motor standing by.
Another development in building
automobiles is placing Of the operat-
ing switches and buttons on boards
close to the hand of the operator. A
part of this tendency is the idea of
hiding as much as is possible of the
wiring and mechanism and leave ex-
posed only the control buttons and the
lever. This makes a more workman
like job of the car. and at the same
times takes account of the comfort of
the motorist.
On the mechanical side, 1t may be
said that the number of six cylinder
cars tend to increase rather than de-
crease. The tendency is towards
smaller skies, such as are called night
skies and little skies.
Prices Generally Lower.
These points, together with tend
ency to lower prices slightly, or else
to give more value for the same
money as before constitute the out
standing new features for 1914. 1t
Is summed up by one technical writer
after having looked over the an
nouncements Of about sixty-five max
ers, that:
Light skies. light cars, complete
electrification and better equipment,
automatic gear shifts. better carbure-
ton and the introduction of the cycle
car are to be the program for the
American motor car industry for 1914.
The cars will show healthy. though
not radical growth in design and
equipment"
AS to statistics, 1t appears that Of
sixty makers announcing their cars,
fifty include SKIES and eighteen of
these fifty skies for the first time. OF
these. two are new makers who can
make their debut with light skies. Six
of the eighteen four cylinder converts
have dropped their fours altogether
On this basis SO per cent. of all the
makers will have skies for 1914.
Price reductions this year have av-
eraged in the neighborhood of so per
cent. Twenty-Five makers announce
the left drive for the first time. Nir.e-
teen makers have center control with
the gear shift lever; five concerns have
the electric gear shift levers, and two
have adopted the two speed rear axles.
F. M. welton returned Wednesday
night from Chicago. where in COM
pany with Irwin Kellar, Winifred
Grammon and George Brummitt. he at
tended the National Motorcycle asso-
ciation's convention, held in the Coli
scum. There were 131 exhibitors hav-
ing displays there and the big hall was
crowded all the time. Mr.. Welton says
It was the greatest meeting of it's kind
ever held. The convention days were
November 3-S inclusive. Mr.. welton did
not stay for the entire meeting and so
beat the other Topekans home.
Dr. Franklin D. Walsworth is PLAN
ming a trip to the great lakes in his
Hupmobile next summer.
Mr.. and Mrs Ed McKeever have re-
turned from an overland trip to Leav-
enworth.
Frank Conwell, the North Topeka un-
dertaker. has purchased a jackson
Olympic.
The Cathedral club football team is
going to Rossville today in automo-
biles. The players will make the trip
in three machines.
Nevan Foltz. Of wakarusa, bought a
Jackson Olympic this week.
The proposed new highway between
Topeka and Lawrence that is being
planned by Shawnee and Douglas coun-
ty farmers. should tend to increase the
auto traIHc WIN Kansas City.
z. r. Baines. Of Meriden, this week
received a Buick Model 25 The pur-
chase was made through the CAPITAL
Auto & Supply company. This company
also put in stock this week a Buick
Model 81.
Mr.. and Mrs. George w. Stansfield
will drive to Kansas City in their Staf-
ford car Monday.
A number Of Topeka autoists will
motor to Lawrence Saturday to see
the Washburn-K. U. football game.
NJ. C. Porter, DR.. A. H. Hogeboom and
L. M. Jones are among those who have
already declared their intentions.
A. A. Hurd this week purchased
Chicago electric through the ]. F. Bill