Evening star., 1933-03-12
|DR|VE IS LAUNCHED
! FOR RADIO IN CARS.
Installation of 250,000 Sets
Predicted by Makers
for 1888.

With shine on its hood and mel
ody in its tonneau, the modern car soon
will be rolling along through the new
motoring season carrying cheer, enter
tainment and instruction for its owner
and passengers. The radio industry Is
determined to make car radio the rule
rather than the exception.
1t is assumed that the motor public
favors car radio and that those who
have invested in this modern innova-
ton intend using radio wisely when at
the wheel. After listening to argu-
ments on both sides Of the question
many safety advocates have come to
the conclusion that the possibility OF
unsafe use of car radio is entirely up
to the driver. The radio industry came
to that conclusion some time ago. Most
of the leaders in the industry now epro-
duce new and improved sets for auto
motive use.
Enthusiasm Shown.
OF even greater significance Is the
enthusiasm of those motorists who have
invested in car radio. They say they
do not know how they got along with
out the companionship of the ether
waves. This has been especially true
of travelling men and long distance tour
lists. Radio has served to keep many
driver awake.
Advocates Of car radio, however. point
out that too much stress Is placed on
the plan of using the radio while the
car is in operation. A campaign is un-
der way to sell the motoring public the
idea of enjoying transient radio at
those times when the car Is parked or
when it Is being used for a Summer
outing. 1t Is believed that the time Is
not far distant when there will be spe-
cial broadcastS for motorists over the
air, designed to be picked up by those
who are at the wheel or who are start
ing out for the day.
One safety expert points out that II
it were possible to broadcast message
to the millions of people who are in
parked cars during the day and night
there would be vastly better driving, a
new sense of comradeShip on the road
and a keener desire to understand the
handling of the modern car.
Roof Prepared.
Twelve of the popular makes Of cars
now come with radio antenna already
built into the roof. Cars which do not
offer this convenience. however, can be
adapted to radio reception with less
difficulty than was the case few years
ago. The antenna can be placed In
the roof or under the frame. One COM
pany makes a special sun visor which
also serves as an antenna.
The radio industry has launched
campaign with a view to having every
radio dealer in America driving radio
equipped car for demonstration pur-
poses. This would put an additional
10000 radio cars on the road. This
should create demand for more auto
motive f1avoring in radio broadcasts.
Additional opportunities will be afforded
motor vehicle authorities for putting
safety counsel on the air and into the
ears of the motorists.
It is estimated that there will be
quarter of a million cars with radio re-
ceivers by the end of the present year.
Back in 1880 there were but $4,000 sets
installed. In 1881 there was jump to
100000 installations. In 1882, in spite
of the howl over business conditions,
car radios were installed to the num-
her of 100000. The estimate for the
present year is not considered unrea-
sonable, in view of the fact that the
newer sets are lower in cost and easier
to install
Itdu1O uiCu Say tlAaL IlIC SAllc1 W.
stacle to the sale of radio receivers has
BEEN not price, but the average motor
lists fear that the installation will in
some way mutilate his car. The fact
that many of the pioneer installations
did call for strenuous operation on the
cars anatomy has served as sales re-
Sistance. This, however, is being over
come by the news of new simplicity in
design. The introduction of the power
equipment to do away with the use Of
dry cells did much to accelerate interest
in this movement.
Portable Set Made.
One company has developed special
portable radio not much larger than
good camera and weighing only 5
pounds 1t can be used in the home as
well as in the car, being attachable to
the automobile in IS minutes time. OF
course spark plug suppressors are need
ed if the set is to be in operation while
the motor runs, but many motorists will
use this receiver for camping, picknick
ing or when parking. This is believed
to presage trend in radio.
Some radio auto specialists are now
installing car radios right in the GUS
TONER'S own garage. Installation charges
have been held down to not exceeding
DO. AS CdI TdQlU UtCOlIitS Slllpllllcu,
this charge will gradually drop until it
will become merely nominal. One Of
the most interesting developments OF
the year is the offering of new set by
leader in the industry, the tuning dtals
being well up in front of the driver, on
the steering post, so that he does not
have to take his eyes off the road en-
tirely when switching stations.
Automobile manufacturers have not
come to any general agreement as to
their car-radio policy for the year.
Several companies are selling receivers
through their dealers. These sets are
built for them in quantities by radio
manufacturers and are priced very at
tractively
The feeling that people plan to enjoy
their cars this year seems to be gen.
eral. Radio should contribute to this
trend. When you go out for air with
your car this year, better get what's on
the air as well.
(Copyright. 1889
UTnv,o,, Of nnrk