Evening star., 1920-03-21
SAVE THE AUTO TOP
FOR TIME OF NEED
Advice Regarding the Proper
Care and Preservation of
the "Car Roof"

DO you recall that day. two years
ago this coming spring, when you ran
into that terrific thunderstorm up in
the mountains" asks a writer in the
American Motorist. Then, continuing,
he says:
1T just rained and stormed and
your top. hustled on the side curtains
and buttoned 'er 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 patting it on the back
and calling it good old top
Later on the top went down. liter
ally as well as figuratively. You prob
ably didn't trouble to lay it into even
folds. Perchance you carried an oc-
casional grip or other appurtenances
on the folded-up top in the rear when
front space happened to be at a pre-
MUM. Maybe you didn't wait until
the top was dry before folding and
covering tiff you did cover it at all.
shows Up "UnsiehtIy."
so today that slick. spic-and span.
smooth car roof, the one thing that
will stand between you and a drench-
ing, is <wrinkled. fiabby and insight
ly: II hangs down in mournful folds
and is embellish with a number of
small holes. at least one of which is
always located with such nicely that
it directs a tiny streamlet of rain
down your neck kband."
After cautioning motorists that in
he matter of top care, as in every
thing else that has to do with the
conservation of automobile acceS-
sories. it is we'll to bear in mind the
old adage according to which a stitch
in time saves nine. the writer gives
some advice on top care and says.
among other things:
THE first thing to do with your old
top is to open it and give it thor
ough surface ileanfng, with a; stiff
brush. the sitter the better. If yours
is a mohair top which shows stains
and is otherwise dirtys;it. is a good
plan TO, take q pail 3of- lukewarm
water in which you have, worked up a
substantial lather of ivory or some
other neutral soap. Then You Ego
over. the top with. a sponge. taking
care to remove all traces of soap with
another sponge pressed out from time
to time in clean water.+
Top Is Apt to. sag.
III the top has been up good deal
during the season it is apt to sag in
the middle; this may be due to the
fact that the windshield supports
have worn loose through constant vi
bration so that when the top is fas-
tened to the windshield stanchions
the entire frame is pulled backward
and the top consequently left to sag.
BY Tightening the nuts with which
the windshield is fastened to the cowl
the frame will assume its proper po-
sition and not only will the top be
tight but number Of mysterious
squeaks and rattles for which you
have looked in vain will disappear at
the same time.
"The next step is to close the small
leaks, the location of which is usu-
ally betrayed by disco1orations on the
inner side of the top fabric. The
most efficacious remedy Is found in
the use of ambroid. If the hole in
the top is fairly small. dip a tooth
pick or pointed stick of wood into the
ambroid and let a drop fall on the
exact spot to be mended. 1t will
set almost Immediately and will be
dry within fifteen or twenty minutes"