Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07
BY II. CLIFFORD BROKAW,
Automobile Technical Adviser.


In the Spring the fancies of many
young men are said to lightly turn to
thughts Of love. Woman Is one of the
special charms of this season. It is a
| logical time to consider the influence
of women in the automotive industry
| Is the motor vehicle mans machine
| primarily? Or has the female of the
species attained an equality with man
| in this field as she Is attaining in the
realm of economics.
It is safe to say that in practically
all respects the ladies are as much at
home behind the wheel of a motor car
as are the males. In some respects it is
doubtless true that the women have
the edge on men when it comes to a
consideration Of motor alatters. Ger
tainly the women are an important
factor in the whole business of motor
ing. Their influence is very much in
evidence.
Influence Of Women.
Much of the beauty which is an out
standing characteristic of the modern
automobile is probably due to the in
| fluence of women. Not that the ladies
have little consideration for the
mechanical efficiency of an automobile.
AAICJ CARCOL Vic L6RAo ~ Ah4A aAAA 6ANN
satisfaction from mechanical stand
point-they take this for granted.
They do, however, have a well de-
veloped esthetic sense which makes
them susceptible to unusual beauty in
the lines of an automobile, and cOnse-
quently manufacturers, recognizing this
fact, have produced cars of unusual
beauty and much of the satisfaction
which people get out OF the good looks
of their cars today can be credited to
the discrimination of women.
This influence of women is even seen
in the places where automobiles are on
display and sale At the automobile
shows the environment is always In
keeping with the most charming effects
of interior beauty. A modern auto
luxurious decorations and appoint
ments of refinement.
Color and Body Shades.
The introduction of color and the
development of various shades in auto
mobile bodies, which together with the
majestic sweep Of the lines of an auto
mobile go to make it as handsome
vehicle as one could wish, also is due
largely to the influence of women. Man
is in the habit of getting along with
Ol az COAOlC d1AA WOuA0 P4OOoOAJ W
quite content with the conventional
black as a color for his automobile.
Women. on the other hand, are used
to wearing vivid colors themselves and
are consequently more interested in the
delightful color effects which are
achieved in the latest automobile
models.
The interior NERVOUSNESS of auto
mobiles, as now produced, shows the
influence of women. Men are more
easily persuaded to put up with certain
inconvenience, as far as softneSS OF
cushions are concerned or as far as the
presence of little extras. such as vases
for flowers. ash receivers for cigarettes
and the like are concerned, provided
the machine takes him where he wants
to go and when. Women, on the other
hand, insist on having these comforts
and some of these accessories. and
many automobiles have been sold be-
cause of some such factor which APP
pealed especially to the feminine in
terest of the household to which the
car is to belong.
Women Efficient Drivers.
Women are efficient drivers of auto
mobiles and there are thousands Of
them on the road every day. Anything
that the maker of an automobile can
do to facilitate the operating Of an
automobile by a woman is being done.
The seh-starter, for instance, was an
innovation which especially appealed
to women and probably stimulated the
use of automobiles by those of this
sex as much as anything which has
happened in the development of the
automobile industry during recent
years. 1t is now possible for girl to
adjust the seat of an automobile so as
to be perfectly comfortable, She can
manipulate with comparative ease the
brakes, the various pedals, the horn,
ignition switch. lights, etc. And when
| she. gets out on the road with her car