Evening star., 1935-09-09

Inc concern OF Jue early duIOillouFc
engineers was to make the then So
called "horseless buggies' go and
keep on going; in other words, the
first three cycles we're their goal. In
order to achieve them they were will
ing to sacrifice the comfort and
safety. In fact the last named, If it
had been considered by these pioneers
and steps taken to develop same. it
might have acted as a sales deterrent.
for the reason that the first pur-
ehasers of the new contrapticn" were
looking for thrill and consequently
by not being safe in every detail added
to their desire to own one.
The first real development OF the
engineers alcng safety lines was q
self started, which eliminated broken
arms caused by hand cranking, but /
do not believe that the inception OF
this idea came from safety as much
as it did from standpoint Of COM
fort, namely, to eliminate the manual
labor that was then required to start
q motor vehicle. So you might then
consider 1t as a comfort item, and II
so, then the comfort score play by
play looks like this-top-side cur
tains- ndshield-self- f-starter-furni-
ture type upholstery-heaters-re-en-
forced fabric top with glass windows
to be put on open cars IN the winter
and taken off in the Summer, ana
finally the closed car.
Safety Next Step.
The engineers were just about 10
run out of new fields to conquer
when safety entered the limelight.
The first development was the i'm
provement of the horn for the safety
of the pedestrian. The next was head
light lenses to eliminate the glare to
passing vehicles and just about the
same time a device was put on the
market consisting Of two small boxes,
one on the cowl just behind the
hood and one on the rear. When
the proper button, located on the
steering wheel was pushed, 1t lighted
a light in each Of the boxes and an
arrow appeared In front OF the light,
denoting the direction in which the
driver was going to turn. BY push
ing another button 1t returned to
neutral position after the turn had
been completed. When the brake was
applied the word Stop in white
lights on a red background appeared
and this also occurred by pushing a
button. but you only performed the
last-named operation when you we're
stopping and parking the car. 1t was
a complicated piece OF mechanism OF
as many wires as there were colors
IN Joseph's coat. I had one OF the
first ones, and about three days after
] had it on my vehicle was caught
In a heavy rain. I distinctly remember
when I blew the horn the lights
went out. The action of the brake
blew the horn and when the light
switch was turned the signal started
to act like an intoxicated person.
This device was the beginning OF our
present-day efficient stop light. one
of which is on practically every motor
vehicle in America and has materially
contributed to safety.
Then windshield wipers--first manu-
nj and then mechanical-made their
appearance, followed by four-wheel
brakes, and, finally, shatter-proof
glass. This looks to me as II the
manufacturer of the present day has
completed his part Of the five cycles,
as no one will question the power,
speed, dependability. comfort and
safety OF present-day motor vehicles.
Up to Drivers Now.
The motor vehicle dealer, with his
up-to-date shop, with his superb
equipment for the testing Of lights.
brakes and steering gears. has done
his part toward safety. Further steps
in this direction must come from the
motorist in the form OF careful and
courteous operation of his motor We
hicle. I further believe that one
Of the most forward steps taken in
this respect is the plan of The Evening
Star Safety Council, and II motorists
will sign the safe driving pledge
and then adhere to its IL points, they
will be making their contribution and
the last cycle will be consummated.
In addition to reducing the number
of accidents, they will accomplish
another purpose-reduce the expense
of motoring by eliminating one Of
Its big items, the high cost Of reckless
driving.
am not an engineer nor q cracker
Jack mathematician, but do know
that sudden starting, break-neck
speeding. weaving in and out Of traf-
fic, which makes 1t necessary to jam
on the brakes frequently. wears out
the motor vehicle way ahead of the
expectancy of the designer
II also causes the consumption Of
more oil and gas, decreases the mile
age Of tires and is daily increasing
by leaps and bounds the cost Of in
surance.