The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-04
ITS TIME ID GO
 OVER THE TOP 0F
 YOUR MOTOR CAR
Many Autoists Never Give Roof" a Thought Until Storm Overtakes
 Them

Do you recall that day, two years ago this coming spring, when you ran into that terrific thunder storm up in the mountains?" asks writer in the March runber of American Motorist Then continueing, he says.
 Tt just rained and stormed and storned and. raiued But you put up your top hustled on the side curtains ana buttoned CT up tight. until you were
 as snug as the proverbial bug in the
 Administer
 That was one time when you had
 good deal of respect for your top and
 felt like batting it on the back and call
 ing it good old top
 Later on the top went down, liter
 ally as we'll as figurativey. You prob
 ably didn't trouble to lay it into even folds Perchance you carried an oc- casicnal grip or other appurtenances on the folded-up top in the rear when front space happened to be at premium
 Maybe you didn't wait until the top was
 dry before folding and covering it-n
 you did cover it at all.
 "So today that slick, spic-and-span. smooth car roof the one thing that will stand between you and a drenching. IS wrinkled flabby. and unsightly it hangs down in mournful folds and is embel- lished with a number of small holes at
 lease one which is always located with such nicety that it directs tiny stream let of rain down your neck band. After cautfoning motorists that In tne matter of ton care as in everything else that has to do with the conservation or automobile accessories. it is well to pear in mind the old adage according to when q stich in time saves nine. the writer gives some advice on top care and says among other things:
 "The first thing to do with your oiu ton is to open it and give it thorough surface cleaning with a stiff brush, the stiffer, the better If yours is mohair ton which shows stains and is otherwise dirty it is a good plan to take pail or lukewarm water in which you nave worked up a substantial lather or lNory or some other mural soap Then you go over the top with sponge taking care to remove all traces of soap wlth another sponge pressed out from tune to time in clean water. "If the top has been up a good uea' during the season it is apt to sag Tn the middle this may be due to the tacI Una. the windshield supports have worn loose through constant vibration so that when the top is fastened to the ~,nusnul,a i,,aa stanchions the entire frame is pulled backward and the top conseduentiy lei' to sag. By tightening the nuts wltn which the windshield is fastened to the cowl the frame will assume it's proper position and not only will the top p~
 fight. but a number of mysterious sauaks and rattles for which you have iookeu
 ;1 v.in will disappear at the same time.
 "The next step is to close the small leals the location of which is usuaiiy
 betrayed by discolorations on the inner
 side of the top fabric. The most efncacI-
 ous remedy Is found in the use or Am
 broid. If the hole in the top IS falfiy
 small. dip a toothpick or pointed SUCK oi
 wood into the Ambrid and let u'ep ,p
 faIi m inc exact spot to be mended; 1t
 ui1r set almost immediately and Will pc
 dry within fifteen or twenty minutes