The Washington herald., 1921-11-06
DRIVERS Is YEARS
AGO USED GOGGLES,
ONLY PROTECTION
Automobile Industry De
velopment Takes Rapid
Strides for Comfort.
ISTORY GIVEN
.AIl-Year-R Round Motors Find
Prominent Place in
Market.


/ of goggles marked the seasoned
motorist," declares Current Com
ment.
This was quite essential to the
driver and passengers touring
through open country. Clouds or
dust were as common TO the old au-
tomobilists as the clouds OF vapor
to the soaring aviator.
"And goggles and gauntlets were
about the only protection anordeo
the early motorists, who pioneered
the way for the travellers Of today.
In those times the more gust
one collected, the more dust that
obscured ones features, the greater
the distance he had travelled.
But now the motorist no longer
feels that he must change his at
tire or burden himself with Cog
giles and gauntlets. Assured the
comfort Of travelling in a Twell-
equipped train, he can direct his
car where he pleases with ease and
convenience. Improved roads have
to a. great extent encouraged this
feeling OF freedom, but the change
is accounted for to an even larger
degree by the development of the
motor car itself. The open car, for
Instance, Is more inclosed- Doors
have been added, the cowl has grad
ually become higher, and the wind
shield more efficient. The re-
vamped surrey body Of the historic
days Is no more.
Inelosed Type.
But the greatest impetus to
comfortable and pleasant travel by
motor car was given by the crea-
ton OF inclosed body types and
theif subsequent development.
Until about the latter part Of
1915. closed cars were manufae-
tured In very small quantities in
comparison with the production OF
the popular runabout and touring
types The early cars were more
or less cumbersome, as We look
back on them now. and 1t was, in
deed, believed the height OF luxury
to own one OF them.
The average motor car owner
considered q closed car somewhat
Of a novelty or plaything and not
especially practical for trips OF any
great length.
But those who owned closed cars
APPRECIATED the all-weather protec-
tion and their success with the new
cars foretold what was to come
Rather than producing closed cars
for the few, manufacturer took In
hand what had been q SIDE line with
them and earnestly endeavored to
Increase the utility and practicable
ity of the inclosed body types
Big Strides.
The most important strides in
the early progress Of closed cars
were noted during the season of
1s1s-1s. Not only were they great
~ Improved in beauty, lines and ap-
potntments, but they were also
manufactured in Increased num-
-bers. Since that time the builders
Of cars mechanically correct have
seldom been able in any season to
produce inclosed cars In sufficient
quantities to meet the demand Of
buyers who have sensed the value
built into the year-round cars So
the increased use OF enclosed cars
and their increased utility have
gone forward together.
But the attitude of many gar
agemen in working on closed cars
has not changed as it should during
the last decade. Some have yet to
realize that there is a decided DIFF
ference between a beautiful sedan
yet to understand that plain care
lessness can mar for life what a
manufacturer has spent considerable
time and effort IN building and
what an owner has paid for.
when a .garageman, wearing
overalls smeared with grease, slides
into a closed car without the slight
est attempt to protect the uphol-
stery, he is guilty Of an act OF neg
ligence. He should be punishable
for damage to the owners personal
property. It Is little wonder that
the owner is highly incensed when
he discovers the want OF care, evil
dence of which he no doubt found
on his own clothing after taking
the car away.
Grease spots may, Of course. be
removed to such an extent that
they will not injure the apparel Of
driver or passengers, but they leave
ing marks on what was once beau
tiful upholstery, carpets or cur
tains.
Aside from enjoying the service
ability Of a closed car, there Is
pride In owning a Job that Is rich
' and luxurious. tasteful and refined
Ia compartment one likes to keep
as splendidly appointed as 1t was
when Il left the builder.
And that Is why the manufac-
turer takes such pains in selecting
material for the cushions and car
pets. the curtains and trimmings
that will be both pleasing and
serviceable. He builds with the
idea Of permanency In mind. He
knows that so far as the owner is
concerned the interior will be
treated with respect and care, and
he hopes that the car will never be
turned over to a mechanic who does
not know the difference between a
motor Investment OF $4,000 and one
Of $500. He trusts that the owner.
when in need OF service, will take
the car where service includes care
full regard for the condition Of the
interior.
Lubricants are essential to the
good performance of any motor
car, They are friends of mechan-
ism but enemies Of q beautiful in
terror. And IL is very easy to keep
them in their place-to keep them
away from the upholstery. the door
handles, the steering wheel. the
control levers, the cushions and the
dozens of spots about the car where
a mans hands are likely to rest.
Good Service.
Good service men almost uncon-
sciously succeed in protecting the
finish and interior of a car Before
starting their work. they cover the
seats and cushions with clean slips