Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
SERVICE STATION
METHODS IMPROVE
Three Types of Betterment
Noted in Business of Sup
plying Needs. Z
BY II. CLIFFORD BROKAW,
Automobile Technical Adviser.


Three types of improvement are noted
IN the field of automobile Servicing.
The service station itself is taking on
eSthetic qualities-that is, becoming a
credit to its environment. Second, the
workers are getting more and more the
genuine courteous spirit of service which
should go with servicing. Third, the
technical experts seem to have real
technical ability and therefore deserving
OF being called experts in their field.
The last is, of course, the most import
ant matter to the motoriSt who has
some automotive ailment.
There are two types of men in the
business of Servicing automobiles. The
first type is the man who has had little
ii any technical training, but has Sc
cured his ability to work in this field
through practical experience as a
helper. The second type of individual
found Servicing motor cars is the man
who has secured technical training as
well aS practical experience man
who has studied the fundamental prin-
clpleS of Servicing and of automobile
northumberland Is therefore especially
well qualified to be found in this kind
OF employment. 1t is encouraging to
note that the proportion of those auto
mobile technicians who are to be found
III the second group is steadily in
creaSing.
Auto Schools Aid.
In this connection the automobile
schools of the country have performed
valuable service to the automotive
industry and to the automobile driving
public. Through the work of these
schools the standards of automobile
servicing have been gradually raised
and large number of men have been
trained to fill the requirements of
higher standards Without this contri-
button toward more ideal automobile
experiences on the part of the millions
OF automobile owners the situation
would doubles be much different and
much less satisfactory. An inconSpicu-
GUS factor in this great industry, these
schools have quietly gone about their
business and have been continuously
turning out graduates that have been
credit to themselves and to their trade.
The National Automobile Chamber of
Commerce, through its service depart
ment, has for many years appreciated
the Importance of improving the quail
lty of servicing work. This department
has undoubtedly been an important fac
tor IN the improvement which obtains
at the present time. A few years ago
1t was with fear and trembling that the
average owner of an automobile took
his car to service station to have
some work done on it. If he secured
a good job he considered himself in
great luck, but he also remembered the
name and location of the place where
ne got the exceptional service and made
1t point to go back to it when his car
was in need of further attention
Consequently the Y1roppcc of fl1o
vival OF the f1ttest has been going on
until now 1t is the exception rather
than the rule that incompetent work.
men are found to be employed by serv-
Ice stations. 1t is noticeable also that
whereas the automobile owner formerly
dreaded doing business with service
station, he now has different attitude
toward the business. Having devel-
oped feeling of confidence in the tech
meal ability of the mechanics employed
ne is now likely to drive to this station
at the first indication of any slight
trouble.
Many Go for Check Ups.
A large number of motorists 60 so far
as to form regular habit of visiting
. service station every week or two for
The purpose Of having his machine gone
over, to check up on any possible de-
lelopment which may be taking place.
This Is good sign. The result of this
end of practice is that mechanical diff
;ult1es are discovered, If any, in the
initial stages of deterioration and are
.nerefore more easily remedied. This
<lnd OF practice not only tends to
eliminate many accidents which come
rom mechanical Embellishments, but
lIso is probably more economical in the
ong run. The expense of fixing a
minor injury to part is a simple
II the car is allowed to go
Until there Is a general breakdown the
'ost of putting it into first-class condi-
ion again is likely to be much more
expensive.
A motorist ought to be able to 20 to
service station on similar basis as a
nan goes to physician. If something
S the matter with man he goes, hav-
ng confidence in the service he will
'ecelVe and intending to follow it. If
he individual is we'll he often goes for
physical check-up, to see if any ten
iencies are developing which can be
tipped in the bud. A motorist who
Will operate on this basis in connection
With his automobile and his favored
ervice station will probably have very
little need OF technical skill applied to
lis automobile to take care of a serious
breakdown. He is very likely to have
minimum of difficulty and a maxi
mum of satisfactory automobile owner
hip.
Motorists may we'll give all the en-
engagement possible to the movement
or looking service stations.
Along the Pacific Coast most of these
'laces have real architectural beauty
md the idea is taking hold in other
'arts of the Nation. Certainly it is good
BUSINESS policy to house servicing head
quarters in an attractive environment.
'eople like to patronize the location
hat has pleasing annearance