The Washington herald., 1921-03-06
Suggestions for Rejuvenating
Old Automobiles-AF Few Touches
s.. Will Make Them Appear as New

Within the past few years there
has come to be a sort of basic
standard in automobile bodies and
tops. so that a car OF this years
ferent from one built two or three
years ago, except as regards the
shabbiness Of its finish. This works
out to the advantage of the car
: owner. in that he can, as neeo
artses. renew top and curtains or
any other part OF the upper works
and have practically a new vehicle
As far as the body goes. 1t Is simply
a question of sending il to the
paint shop and having II rennished
in whatever color or colors one
fancies. For the top the problem
- little more complex. because
hare are a number of different
materials that may be used and II
may be Of interest to the car owner
- review the possibilities along
tbs line.
I'm the first place, the car owner
should know that the best ma
terial that can. be put into the top
and the best workmanship win
make the total cost only slightly
above that Of poor material and
unskilled labor. Indeed, for the
man who possesses a little skill in
mechanics IL IL possible to get a
top covering already cut to ft the
framework OF the top that is fitted
on his car and himself put IL on.
But the problem in either case
comes down to the material to be
lsed.
For the service to be demanded
Of II the top material must not spot
on stain easily, 1t must not fade
readily nor become lusterless. 1t
must not absorb dust and 1t must
be easy to clean OF course it must
shed water.
Leather Expensive.
The tops used in the early days
were either of leather, which serves
very well but is expensive, or of
heavy vater-proofed duck This lat
ter material has many drawbacks
saaa II not generally used today, be-
cause we have found a number of
other materials that serve the pur-
Pose better. without adding greatly
to. the cost.
~ the cloth top materials mehair
10, rhaps the most popular. This
cloth has q sort of lustrous sur
face and IL sheds water very well.
It has the disadvantage of fading
rather badly and absorbs grease and
dust. Frequent folding gradually
wrinkles this material. and in some
cases IL Is also subject to shrinking.
This latter condition Is serious
failing, because IL means that the
80 . A. -
shape, the curtains become too small
to nt the fasteners that are intended
TO hold them In place and the result
Is not edifying.
The leather top of other days Is
not much used now, for the simple
reason that its cost Is prohibi-
tive. Also leather Is not altogether
adapted to resisting the changes of
temperature to which the top is sub
jected- The leather loses its re-
siliency and tends to crack under
the constant folding and creasing.
Initatisn Leather Best.
within the past few years a num-
Der OF materials have been devel-
oped which have a smooth surface,
which dirt and dust cannot pene-
trate and which grease does not
STAIN LhcSo oEc Nue type COmmOu-
" referred to as imitation leather.
They really partake more of the
nature of oilcloth. They arc smooth
surfaced. glossy, with the surface
erained to resemble feathers Of va
rious sorts. There is rubber or a
similar compound in their coating,
which makes them waterproof. BY
the nature of their compcunding
they are very flexible. so that the
creasing and folding necessary do
not wear, them out nor cause them
TO crack as real leather does. These
materials 40 not fade. so that II
takes longer for them to become
shabby.
II Is . good idea when the Job or
doing over the top Is under way to
1ats an envelope made for housing
he top Ehen It = down This win
= @ y