Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-24
TURNING ATTENTION TO
DESIGNS OF DIGNITY
Manufacturers OF Automobiles Con-
slider Beautiful Lines of
Ancient Coaches.
RETURNING TO OLD PRACTICE
Many Europeans Buy Chassis and
Then Have Body Built to Con-
form to Their Own Ideas or
Taste and Style.


Taste and Style.
UP TO about 100 years ago or more
coach building was considered one OF
tho highest forms OF commercial art In
European civilization The coach was
considered the principal outward indi-
cation OF wealth and aristocracy' ana
the finest artisans OF the period were
engaged in the industry. sometimes
spending several years in building
single coach. Often the lines OF these
products were very beautiful. With
the coming OF tho steam railroads. how
ever, modes of travel changed. and it's
decaicnce began. Again. out few
years ago. another revolution in trans
portation occurred in the coming OF the
automobile.
This was more in the nature o! a
direct Improvement upon the coach OF
former days, hut for the first dozen
years or more the great problem of the
automobile was TO make IL 20. Now
that this has been solved. manutac-
turcrs. and particularly owners are
turning their attention more ano moro
TO the body OF the motor car. The de-
sire for beauty of lines and finish an"
for the exercise OF ones personal tastes
is causing a revival In q somewhat new
form Of this centuries old art OF coach
building. The particular men or
women OF to-day are just as keen Tor
individuality and distinctive appearance
in their automobiles as TIL: old ar!s-
tocracy was proud Of the exclusive fea-
lures Of the old family coach.
AIR OF DIGNIFIED QUALITY
SOUGHT DI DESIGNERS
BY years OF experience. study and
aptitude. the noted designers and
builders OF motor carriages have sue
cecdcd in bringing TO this all-too- IRof-
crn invention that air OF diSn!iied
quality and individual distinction which
marked the coach OF The fine old family
of half century ago. In accomplish
Ing this they are fo,liwinS out what
has grown 10 be tho common practice
among upper class Europeans. whose
custom is. IN selecting an automobile.
10 buy the chassis and then have the
body built TO conform 10 their own
personal ideas. Thus have they re-
turned in = way to the practice OF the
old days when centuries of development
had brought coach building to be one
OF tho finer commercial arts.
II was only 4 few years ago that
the average car owner WAS lmbued
with the idea that special bodies. cX
prcSsivc OF personal ideas, tastes. and
re!!ncments. were an oddly introduced
in the icld OF motoring 10 meet the
WDiINS oil a rev stage CCIeDTitItS. no
regarded d:stinctiveness US n valuable
impetus To success. And tho average
rnotorist. 100. was inclined 10 believe
that the activities productive of these
beautiful spccial bodies were usual
~ confined to tho back room OF some
obscure paint shop a3 a side line 10
the carriage painting business. II =
interesting to note. however. that In
the Immense plants of,-oniy several Of
the leading motor carriage designers
and builders IS represented invcstmcn
OF millions of dollars. employment or
thousands OF artisans. and the bc
creative skill obtainahlc through jnr
combination OF natural aptitude and
years 0. study and experience. All ~
which, o! course. Indicates that the de-
mand FOR custom-rnaGc motor carriages
IL constantly Increasing, and that
plcasurc-car body design has reached
an important stage in It's development
in this country.
WRITER'S DECLARE WORK
HAS REACHED NEW STAGE:
Writers IN close touch with this de-
velopmcnt declare that the Industry has
reached q stage where the products
carry tho distinguishing marks OF two
schools of body design, namely for pur-
poses OF explanation. the progressive
and the rcactlonary. The latter. i; is
pointed out. are surrounded by the
traditions OF generations OF coach
'H'.'S''' arc bItHulnp the Oh nTac-
ices with the necessary mechanical
parts OF tho automobile so NJ TO strike
a perfect balance. The progressives on
the other hand, are attacking the prob
lem OF how TO ciothe chassis from
viewpoint that crystallizes the four
characteristics OF the motor car that
49, speed. power. utility and comfort.
But the products OF both groups, or
schools, enjoy the communication OF
their respective patrons. In fact. dis
elimination between them could be
based only on personal taste
Discussion or comparison OF the re-
suits attained by either group should
not lead the owner to believe that
ordering special body for his car Is
complicated matter. In act IT is quite
simple, for In these days II Is only
necessary to step into the customers
room in one OF these highly organized
establishments and convey to the ca :
pahie designer usually In charge. the
features he desires TO have embodied IN
the body construction. Even though
the ideas advanced by the customer ma Y
be in the crude, these craftsmen have
thoroughly practical way TO mos,
pleasing finish. In the customers room
100, the motorist may look over vast
array OF color schemes special fittings
and wide variety OF upholstery
samples