Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

may prove OF interest. It's ao-
vantageS, method of installation
and various claims by its pro-
ducers are set forth as follows:
The most recent contribution OF
the worlds most astonishing in
duStry for public entertainment,
information and education is the
automobile radio. Technical i'm
provementS in the past year have
made another dream come true.
This newest wonder has been
thoroughly tested and approved
by leading engineers.
Soon millions of cars will be
equipped with radio receiving sets.
Already one of the largest Mid
western manufacturers is in
quantity production with an an
nounced retail price within the
reach of every automobile owner.
The automobile radio will I'M
doubtedly have a tremendous in
fuence on the daily lives and
habits of millions Of people. Now
it is possible to have entertain
ment as you travel. Long hours
become Shorter-rough roads are
smoother. The business man will
find the automobile radio useful
in providing important business
Information as he rides to and
from work. After a long, hard
day an entertaining program will
help him get his mind off the
problems of business and lessen
fatigue.
In an interview with one of the
pioneer leaders in the radio indus
try, he states: 1--WE anticipate
tremendous demand for automo-
bile radio, as millions Of car own
ars will want one as soon as they
have a demonstration and appre-
ciate it's many advantages.
Long Business Trip.
Think what the automobile
radio will mean to the man start
ing out alone on a long business
trip; what items Of interest can
be picked up as you drive about
the city; what added enjoyment
it can give to ride into the coun-
try on a Summer evening; what
new thrill of ownership it will
create in the owner of a car, re-
CARELESS of whether he had pur-
chased a new model this Spring
or had it installed in his old car.
For some time I have had re-
ceiving set in my car and find
when driving alone the programs
help to prevent fatigue and mo-
notony Of long trips, especially at
night. The radio does not require
any attention and consequently
does not add to the hazard Of driv-
ing. 1t really works just the other
way and keeps my mind off bust
ness, enabling me to attend to the
job Of driving and to enjoy the
ride.
"The volume Of the auto re-
ceiving set Is ample for the oc-
cupantS of a car, but is not loud
enough to be heard more than q
few feet outside the automobile.
Consequently, 1t does not attract
the attention Of pedestrians or peo-
pie who may be driving by"
The opinion seems to be unan-
imous that the demand for auto
radios this year will be extremely
large. Practically every auto
manufacturer Is either incorpor-
ating changes to make radio in
stallation more convenient, or de-
voting considerable thought to
the problem with q view to adapt
Ing such changes in the near fu-
ture. One motor car company
estimated that half Of the auto
mobiles sold this year will be
radio-equipped.
An exclusive manufacturer Of
high-priced automobiles is expert
menting with auto radios with q
view to equipping practically all
its cars at the factory. Another
high-priced car Is now carrying
radio receivers as standard equip
ment.
Begins With Antenna.
In installing an automobile radio
one usually begins with the an
tenna or aerial. This u an ar
rangement of wire or screen in
the roof of the car and Ia neces-
sary for intercepting the radio
messages. A number Of cars are
now equipped with aerials at the
factory.
OF closed cars not so equipped,
quite q number are constructed
with the roof covering supported
on wire chicken netting. Unless
this chicken netting is connected
to the metal body or frame Of the
car it may be used as the antenna.
An insulated wire Is Soldered to
the chicken netting at the right
hand front corner and carried
down inside or by the right-hand
windshield post to the receiver
beneath the cowl.
If no aerial has been installed
at the factory, or II the roof is
not supported by chicken wire, a
small wire or screen antenna may
be used. In closed cars this can
consist of a section Of copper
screen (the kind used for screen
ing a house, tackled to the roof
bows inside the roof, so that it is
hidden by the cloth head lining.
The proper size of screen to use
varies with the car. The Crosley
Roamio installation uses a screen
about 2 by feet.
Installing an antenna In the
roof of an open car presents a
somewhat different problem, be-
cause the antenna must not in
I'm