Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-26

| truth III tue charge mat the service
stations have brought evil upon
themselves by their vigorous compe-
tition to Guido one another in giving
service. Undoubtedly free air, free
crankcase service. battery service and
radiator service have had their part
in training the motorist to expect a
great deal for nothing. Perhaps it
is not illogical for the motorist who
receives such attention without cost
at the station where he buvs his
gasoline. his oil, his accessories and
other motoring essentials to assume
that he may expect these same serv-
ices at establishments where he
makes no investments.
| Furthermore. it may be true that
it is a game of give and take-that
the stations even up i'll the long run.
But one never could make the serv-
ice man believe this. He would be-
Iieve it. perhaps. if all stations gave
the same service-which every mo-
torist knows is not the case.
When the service station owner
argues that it is at least bad sports
manship on the part of those who
impose upon him he is deserving of
attention. 1t costs money to provide
| his free services. TO buy, install and
maintain equipment and hire men to
operate it. He must make this up
on his gasoline, oil and accessory
sales. together with his fabrication
and tire repair services.
L.
! gin of profit if too large proportion
of motorists become converted to
the theory that it is better to ge:
than to give This fact is obvious
When the day comes when too many
motorists are converts TO this idea
economic necessity, it is argued, will
dictate curtailment OF the services
that are free" today.
The service station man wants to
prevent the coming of such a day.
He wants to so on giving more and
more service. But he believes he
cannot do it without the co-opera-
ton of the motor car owner.
His case is worthy of a hearing,
and undoubtedly fair minded motor
lists will give it the consideration it
deserves.
1t seems strange that the foreign
representatives of American makes
of cars should be the first to hit upon
a new idea i'll the "drive-yourself"
scheme of motoring. Two men in
Paris have organized a company to
supply American tourists with auto
mobiles for their own personal use
while on the continent.
The cars are sold outright to tour
lists, and not rented, as in the Amer
lean arrangement. In certain ways
the deal amounts to the same as a
rental. but it has other advantages.
The tourist. for example, buys the
car outright and feels that it is his
All sense of riding in rented car
thereby is eliminated Another i'm
portant advantage is that ones itin-
erary does. not have to be made to
fit the term of rental, since one can
keep the car as long as one likes and
go where one pleases.
Any time the motor tourist wants
to return to Paris he can take the
car back and sell it TO the original
owners. The resale value is based
upon the mileage covered. assuming,
of course, that certain rules with re-
spect to treatment and service of the
car have been complied with by the
buyer. One of the outstanding ad-
vantages of this plan is that. since
the tourist buys the car outright and
is under no obligations other than
those which would affect the resale
of the car to the original owners, it
is possible to sell the car at any
point where one feels inclined to
abandon the trip.
Both American and European cars
are to be supplied to tourists, so it
is expected that many Americans
will come TO learn more about for
eign cars and their individual pc
culiarities.
Except for a slight spottincss, the
automotive market is active. Here
are 10 reasons why:
Cars are more efficient and more
attractive than ever before.
Automobile prices are at rock bot
tom, despite the great improvements
wrought in them since last Summer.
Ire and accessory prices are low.
Gasoline and oils are cheaper than
they have been for some time.
GOOD weather is at hand and the
lure of the open road is becoming
more and more irresistible.
More good roads and better
marked roads are available in all
parts of the country.
Automobile service has been placed
on more efficient and economical
basis.
There is tendency toward liberal
lzatlon of traffic regulations.
The acute situation created bv the
used-car problem is showing signs
OF Improvement.
An automobile new one il pos
sible-is indispensable in the modern
scheme of things.
Here are some historical facts
about the automotive industry which
may prove of more than passing in
terest:
AS early as 1906 an automobile was
advertised to go 20 miles an hour.
According TO the latest historical
Interpretation. no one man is given
credit for having invented the auto
mobile. although the pioneers are
given due credit for their contribu-
| tions.
Few modern automobile owners
| know that the initials A. L. A. NJ.
| stand for the Association Licensed
Automobile Manufacturer. These
were the manufacturers licensed un-
der the Selden patent.
| lCopyrght 1927