The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-03-08
Fair Sex Have
Last Word This
Year of Grace

ny FREDERICK NJ. KERRY

IN t. ~ ttlli NNitNAihANfWW
NEW YORK. March S-Women
are going Co b. behind the steering
wheels Of tho 1919 autos. Men must
drive ears built for women" Mans
pretense that a motor ear il an intri-
cate pieoe Of machinery that a mere
woman's untcchnicai mind can't un-
dersnnd. IN gone forever. Before
tho war, husband or brother was
chary about letting wife or sister
take out the family car, Driving
was a mans Job" When the men
went into tho army. or ON war work.
women took tho wheel. Tho ranks
OF women motor drivers have boon
swellcd by thousands Now design.
ors or new pleasure cars are think.
Ing more about women than mon
drivers. The new ears aru smaller,
lighter. more easily handed and
more comfortable than ever before.
The auto manufacturers have
been giving lot or attention 90 casi
er riding qualities, better hraking.
and stnpiification 81 handling Of the
new models for 1919" said Alfred
Reeves. Of the National Automobile
Chamber OF Commerce. 10 me today,
discussing tho influence OF war and
women on tho new cars. During
the past year, from 1890 20 zoo. 1000
women undertook 90 drive cars who
had never driven before. due 60 tho
fact that the men folks were away.
An a result. tho new ears are going
10 he much lighter than our present
ones. they viii use more aluminium
and pressed steel parts. they viii
have better bodies. be more comfort
able. moro economical and show
general refinement In detail all thru.
These new women drivers mean
a greater potential demand for ears.
too
The models shown AZ the auto
shows this winter at Chicago and
New York do not have great mum
bcr OF changes. The designing of
new things going on during the war
win not show 80 much for another
year. You know. the whole automo-
bile industry was prepared 10 so up.
on ie0 per cent war basis and stop
absolutely the production 81 pleas.
ur- cars. when the arrnlatica cane.
Tho industry was soo.oo cars short
last yrar against the previous years
production.
We can expect lower pricea only
after big production gets under way.
Tn. question Of high cost Of mntcri.
ais and labor enters into price. Ford
In selling for $3.50 his car that used
10 sell for 1850. But tho rcncn-
dous competition that is TO follow
WIN inevitably have n tendency 90
bring prices down.
The tendency In tho new cars in
toward iightn~s-. with abou, the
Same Sowcr Here again. the infiu'
encr of tho woman driver IL appar-
emit The sim OF motors viii BE-
smaller. aitho developing In. aam.
power. that II. motors are becoming
more efficient This In partly due 10
lessons learned from building air
plane engines.
The motor Industry. m a result
Of war experience. got better
knowieige % making parts quicker
and more accurately. IL has learned
how To produoc good units In guam.
uty. Engines are going 20 hr better
fabricated. They viii run hotter.
and snore OF them will use tbcrmo
static control. Ignition VIII certain
ly b. improved. Bearing trouble viii
be a thing OF the past because of
wha; the war has taught about max
ing bearings and oiiing them Tho
knowledge OF metals gained In war
work viii be reflected In the cars OF
the near future. Engine and chasusia
fabrication viii b. much improved.
and the fuel problem win DO much
reduced in importancc."
Peter SteenHtrup. manager OF tho
General Motors Export Co. thinks