El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-17
GAR
LOOKS LIKE NEW

There is no reason why the owner
OF an automobile who has driven his
car for one or two seasons. until the
body finish has become dull. should
envy his neighbors who spin about
in newer cars, for almost any man
can keep his car looking very nearly
as good as new II he cares to take the
trouble Indeed, it is not an unpleas-
ant undertaking 20 refinish your car
every year, and II this precautiou is
taken in time it costs very little.
A suburbanite who had grown to
be somewhat ashamed Of the ap-
pearance Of his car, after using Il for
two years tells how he was induced
to renew the body finish, and the
means be used may suggest to other
motorists how they can preserve the
new appearance Of their automobiles.
"A neighbOr across the street" he
said, had big. eight-cylinder car.
which noticed was always LETT
standing in front Of his house in all
kinds OF weather I often wondered
why he was so Indifferent tothe pos
sible consequences on its body finish
and after two years the machine
looked as II II we're ready for the
Gets On Owners Nerves.
Last summer the appearance Of his
car began to get on the owners
nerves. and he decided to have It re-
painted. He took Il to a local auto
mobile paint shop. where II was found
that the original finish was so badly
cracked that the surface had to be
removed Then eight coats OF paint.
with a final coat Of varuish, were put
on The cost was something like SIS.
and prices have gone up appreciably
since then However, the Job was
well done, and when my neigh Dor ap-
n frrH = Il
TO feel how badly my car suffered by
comparison
I had always made It a custom to
put my car in the garage, when Il
was standing idle for any length OF
time, and not leave It il front Of my
house. Notwithstanding this care. the
luster OF the body gradually began
to disappear as the first season went
by ana at the end OF the second year
il had almost a slate color.
Several garage owners told me
that the finish could be renewed by
and found upon inquiry that the
automobile painters were asking SIS
for the Job. The work OF vanishing a
car did not seem TO he particularly
difficult, SO 7 Invested s1-50 IN a
brush and 65 cents in a can OF var
nish and made preparations to give
my car a new dressing / first washed
both body and chassis with lukewarm
water, and then drove it under q tree
AZ the side OF the house.
7 took pains, OF course, 20 pick a
clear, dry day, and the varnish was
applied without any trouble. A slight
breeze accelerated the drying process, /
and the following day I put on a sec
0nd coat, each time putting a coat OF
black enamel on the chassis.
Realizes His Mistake.
one OF the amusing incidents in
connection with my first undertaking
as an automobile painter occurred !
when my neighbor, who was working
IN his garden. stopped now and then
10 watch my progress. Il took a
couple Of hours TO put on each coat
1f varnish, and friend neighbor had
The opportunity OF seeing the Job
completed while he was hoeinE. his
potatoes Finally he dropped his hoe
and came over under the tree. He
took one good look az the car and
Just 10 think what q fool
was TO drop that SIS Why, you've /
done better job than they did on
ny car
The success or failure OF painting
mes automobile viii depend largely 1
IN the kind OF Tarnish used. but any
me contemplating this viii probably /
lave recommended 10 him some var ]
iish that I found, II he viii inquire OF !
several paint stores and automobile /
inishing shops. Before trying to
laint the whole body and chassis II /
s wise TO take of a door and try
rour hand on that before going any
urther- It may be that the varnish 4
loes not dry quickly enough. in which ]