Evening star., 1925-01-18
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.
If variety be the spice of life then
the conflicting trends in motordom as
seen at the automobile shows and as
predicted for tho remainder of the
year should carry on the interest
ing process that has always goveren-
ed the development of the American
automobile.
Some cars are going up in price
while others are going down. Sober
coIors are appearing on many cars as
a. mark of distinction while gay colors
are being offered for the same reason
on many other makes.
The market is now generously sup
piled with the straight-eight type
of engine that is believed by its spon-
sors to suggest the abolition of all
other types, yet the improvements in
the fours. and their popularity, tell
Just the opposite story.
No matter where you go in motor
dom there is no one trend that seems
TO have the support of every one, and,
excepting the brand-new ideas that
are not as yet known to the average
motorist, some of the most individual
makes are among the most success
full.
Two years ago it began to look as
though all automobiles would soon
have the appearance of having come
out of the same mold, except in so
Ear as detailed finish and size are con-
cerned, but 1925 tells a different story.
There Is a lot of follow-the-leader
business occasioned by competition,
but it is by no means q. trend that one
can accept as general.
Many Turn to Coaches.
It would seem that with the great
success that has come to the origina-
tors Of the coach body type idea, and
with manufacturers of all classes
bringing out models of this kind,
there would be a landslide to the two
door closed car. But it is a matter pf
record that several manufacturers are
as opposed to the trend as black is
opposed to white. Trends in body
design are, accordingly, going in diff
ferent directions, and no motorist can
afford to accept anything as final in
the automobile.
1t isn't so long ago that the wire
wheel was the center of attraction.
II you had asked nine out of ten
motorists several years ago what the
1925 car would look like they would
be certain to include this type of
wheel in the list of specifications, yet,
while the wire wheel has its place
and is extremely popular for models
for which it is especially adapted, it
is by no means general.
Then came the disc wheel in all va
rieties. 1t looked like the rage. You
were old-fashioned if you didn't
specify it. Yet the disc wheel has not
become standard equipment on enough
cars to render it the alpha and omega
Of wheel design, and. though it is
highly recommended by many manu-
facturers, there are others who still
see greater advantages in artillery
wheels.
Disc Wheels Illustration.
An interesting phase of this grow
ing problem of conflict in trends is
the effect Of one trend upon another.
The subject Of wheel types clearly
illustrates this.
Those who are not in favor of disc
wheels argue that because of the solid
construction from hub to rim there is
not enough natural shock absorbing &
effect to the wheel, and thus greater
strain on the tires, which must ab-
sorb it all. Couple this criticism with
the trend toward the balloon tire and
the problem is greatly simpufied.
1t has been noticed that since the
adoption of four-wheel brakes on a
number of makes of cars the disc
wheel has returned to its original
popularity in many quarters. This is
because four-wheel brakes will oper-
ate better the better they are pro-
tected from mud, dust and water.
Naturally the disc wheel acts as a
shield.
The motorist who likes to study the
onward march of the automobile un-
derstandin gly finds the composite of
trends a very important factor in the
problem of the conflicts because the
only final progress that is made by
all makes is what couas about as a
result of the effect OF trends upon
each other. If you would dig down
into tho trends current during the
early days of automo bling you would
discover Mhy Il is thar all aIrt ONO