The Washington herald., 1916-02-10
MOTOR GOSSIP
By "sT, GROGAN.

The Record Auto Company has taken
the agency for the Saxon car. This ma
chine is built in both four and a six
cylinder model and is one OF the popular
Of the so7called low-price machines.
We used to imagine that people were
| particular about their carriages from the
way they were painted and the kind OF
upholstery used. but the average auto
mobile owner is twice as fastidious," said
sam" Meeks yesterday, in speaking OF
the demands in the way of finish that the
average motor car owner expects when
he has his machine done over.
Half the motorists trouble from his
! tires are due to punctures and they usu-
: ally happen at the most inopportune time,
so that he either runs the tire fiat for
a short distance or simply changes tubes
and goes ahead. Result is that the tire
fails to run its guaranteed mileage and
the owner believes he is entitled to an
adjustment. II. B. Leary. who sells 'the
Lee puncture proof tire has cash refund
as an adjustment basis If one of his tires
punctures before it goes its guaranteed
mileage, thereby obviating any chance OF
an argument
Anyone who visited an automobile fac
tory a few years back noticed the num-
Der OF road testers that were running in
and out of the factory yard with nothing
but a gas tank and bucket seat for body
equipment Their work was to put the
cars through their PAGES before they went
to the body department and mako any
adjustment necessary Most of the rae
ling drivers graduated from this school
Modern machinery. by means of which
THE cars are tested without leaving the
plant, have done away with the tester
and with them the school for racing
drivers.
"It is very difficult to say just what
enters into the decision for the purchase
of a certain type OF car" says Johr
Bartram. who has had exceptional sue
cess in selling Baker and Rauch & LanG
| Electrics in Washington. THE prefer
ence for one car over another may be
curved panel ha- lonious line, tht
shape of a hood, the type Of lamp, tbs
distance from step to the interior, ir
! fact 1t may be one of hundred things
over which the dealer has no control, yet
which assist or make him lose sale.
The manufa turer tries to build G
comfortable car with harmonious lines
based on the experience he has in tbs
| building of cars and In selling them
1t is naturally impossible for one man &c
sell all OF the cars, especially as thu
tastes Of purchasers vary. The aim Of
the manufacturer is to produce such g
car as will meet the riding needs and
tastes OF the majority of purchasers.
| THE majority Of persons are impress
sionistic, and as impressions easily as
sert themselves in deciding on the pur-
chase of car. II the car has good lines
and appears to advantage the impress
sion at times Is sufficiently strong tc
Offset any inferior mechanism that
might be part of the car. While a. manu-.
| facturer of a high grade article such
as the Baker and Rauch & Lang Elec-
| tries naturally makes the unseen quail
ties commensurate with the product as II
appears
| IT have seen a car sold on ne sha pe
Of lamp or the thickness of the cush.
| ion, or the slope of the hood, items thai
seem merely an infinitesimaL part of the
| completed vehicle The purchase of q
car sometimes depends upon the judg.
] ment of the salesman as to tia needs
Of the prospective Gust -.ner. 1t would
seem useless to try to sell roadster to
a man who had a large family. Again
It would seem III advised to suggest a
large car to a man who is probably
contemplating using It for only his wife
and himself. So many factors enter into
the purchase of car q 1T the salesman
just naturally prepares himself for the
handling of suggestions that might re.
| ject the car