The Washington times., 1914-01-18

Before an order is placed every per-
con knows something about the type
and class OF car he or she intends to
get. By attending the automobile show
all the cars of this particular class can
be inspected in a comparatively short
time"
Without having actually tabulated the
new features of automobile construction
for 1914, it is difficult TO give complete
review of them. The student Of auto
mobile practice must visit the show and
see for himself the many changes that
mark the progress of the year.
Gains Many Advocates.
Left-side control is one feature that
has gained many followers during the
last year. Just why left control should
apparently win now. when it was ad-
vocaated and abandoned ten years ago
by several prominent makers, is hard
TO say. Evidently the public of that day
was not sufficiently informed to appre-
ciate the advantages of tie lett con-
troll. but it seems certain that owners
of today in more increasing numbers de-
mand this arrangement, which permits
landing passengers at the curb without
Z
The left control brings with it features
which add to its greater comfort in use.
One Of these is the fitting wheel, or
some similar arrangement, TO get the
steering wheel temporarily out Of the
way in mounting or dismounting, an
other example of rejected good things
used years ago.
Doors that overlap the seat make in
gress and egress more easy in that they
allow the driver to get from under the
wheel without lifting II or fitting II.
Central brake and clutch levers not only
get away from the doors and sides Of
the body, but they leave the side Of the
car free for passengers.
Many Skies Seen.
The increased number Of "sixes'' will
be noticeable ut the show. But, unlike
In the past, when every added cylin-
der meant more power the usual new
six is a small one. More cylinders, I
but less powe-. smoother running and
greater reliability, but less weight and |
greater economy.
Show visitors will find that the
smoothinG-up process has continued and d
has resulted in a number Of steps for
ward. The unsightly littering OF dash
ana running boards by boxes and
gauges anu EtN ia W. "a tAAl IAAaS5 al 49,
Ioudest OF yellow brass-fnish has gone. :
Epare tires are now carried in drawers
made for them or are attached at the
~ear, where they do not impede en-
trance.
Show visitors will find that a graceful I
cowl now covers the dsRn and protects
mGny levers and fittings from the
weather. while keeping them out Of
sight With the smoothing up ard !
simplifying Of the .necnanism' there
has been found in the body Of the |
vehicle ample room for the boxes for ,,
y hich the running board was formerly |
The cowl has extended backward +,
further, making use OF room that served !
nc purpose in the past and II is now |
pretty generally regarded as AL eX-
tensiOn Of the hood. Each year the
lines of the cowI conform more to |
these Of the hood and with an ADDED !
ether models 10 be appreciated.
Fuel Tank In Cowl.
Where in the past the auto mobile /
maker was al a loss tC place the fuel :
ts nix. he now ends room in the top of :
the cowl, where gravity feeds the fuel !
properly and without pumps or pressure !
devices.
In looking over he many cars to be !
exhibited in Convention Hall visitors !
will find that at the rear Of the cowl /
and close TO the operators hand many
cars have a second dash or instrument !
board which carries the switches and !
similar fitting within easy reach for
both certain inspection and operation.
This is strong contrast with the days
when the kick switches" were sup
Piled, because the operator cou,d |
scarcely reach with his hands the far
away position in which the switches
were located
In most of the weiI-known cars the
sN itch arrangement is just below the
II ont OF the seat cushions, where they i
can be reached easily. II
II will also be found by show vistors
that the number Of amps is decreas- n
ing. Whereas once the more lamps Il
supplied, the better IL pleased the buysr. L
this vulgarity seems TO be at an end 1
ard single seIrchlights or no side L
lights, but searchiights supplied with
DINNERS, are now TO he seen The Il
many Improvements must be seen 10