Evening star., 1935-11-03
AUTOMOBILE ERAD|0|
HAS GREAT FUTURE
Public Is Enthusiastically
Seeking Entertainment
While Riding.


automobile radio as an adjunct to
motoring far outweigh any POSSIBLE
disadvantage through misuse the mo-
toriup public has turned toward ether
entertainment in a way that clearly
forecasts the day when every car will
be in radio touch with the broadcast
ers. In 1880 only $4,000 radio sets
were purchased by motorists Tor their
cars. This year it Is anticipated that
auto radio sales will reach, II not ex-
ceed, a million units.
This is not idle prophecy. There
has been a steady and somewhat SEN
sational increase in auto radio sales
during the past few years. In 1881
sales jumped to 100000 units. In 1882
the increase brought the figure to
$4,000. Many motorists. however,
were still skeptical. Some OF them
felt that a radio might detract from
concentration on driving, not realizing
that radio sharpens the wits and is
one of the most effective ways to keep
alert at the wheel The year following
brought much improved sets. This,
in car buying, sent auto radio sales for
the year to 724,000 units. Last year
sales reached the sizable total of 780,-
900 units. representing a retail value
of s2s,0OO,o 900.
Good Sets Cost About $50.
This year, with the motoring pub
lie more generally committed to the
value of car radio, interest centers in
the new types Of sets being offered.
the new programs that are Of special
interest to automobile owners and the
amazing values which are presented
by leading producers of radios. 1t IS
now possible to purchase Tor around
$50 sets which far exceed In perform
ance and reliability receivers costing
more than twice as much several years
ago. Lower priced sets give SurprS.
ingly good results.
Some sets do not require suppress
sion of ignition interference. The
market also offers special filters to
take out ignition interference IN one
operation. Where spark plug sup
pressors are needed the new type of1ers
a resistance of a fraction OF the num-
ber of ohms customary in the kind
used in 1888. Because cars are COM
ing through wired for radio installa-
ton is both simpler and more efl-
cient. Some manufacturers nave
provided special space on the mstru-
ment panel for the controls.
For the new models with all-steel
tops various new types Of aerials are
being offered. One of these clamps
under the running board and is Of the
folded type built along lines similar
to those used in transoceanic service.
Folded to 48 inches, it has 96 inches
over all of effective length.
Wide Variety Of Types.
The newest models offer wide va
riety of types, sizes and installations.
One company is featuring q round
receiver and speaker, while another
offers a set that can be pulled out
from under the dash as one would
open a drawer. The newest in radio
is to locate the speaker above the
windshield or in the roof so that sound
reaches the motorist at ear level.
This year will also find some mo-
torists adding turntables to their radio
sets so that records can be played
electrically. Such an arrangement
will permit having special musical
entertainment wherever the car goes
The new record player is small enough
to fit into the glove compartment OF
some cars and Is especially wired into
the cars radio set. Some automobile
dealers already are using phonograph
records for presenting . sales talk
during demonstrations.
Roadsters, touring cars and steel
topped cars require the new under
car or plate type antennae. A variety
of these will be seen in the auto radio
shops. One Of the new sets features
removable covers so that the chassis
of the set can be serviced without
removal from the car. Another set
has a special speech control for use
when travelling at higher speeds. Some
sets are portable units which can be
removed from the car when the lat
ter is not in use.
Problems Solved Quickly.
The large volume of business now
being done in automobile radio Is q
convenience to the motorist who de-
sires to keep his set in the best oper-
ating condition. Problems which once
required many hours to solve are now
merely part of the usual service rou-
tine. The auto radio specialist is
equipped with the latest in testing
equipment and has reduced his efforts
to science. One of the unexpected
advantages in car radio is the fact
that it often serves as a check on the
car itself. Many ignition defects are
discovered in the process of trying to
obtain better radio reception.
Tune in on one of the new radio
sets, If you want to keep in touch
with the world as you ride. With the
open road calling only by having q
set in the. car can you avoid missing
those important broadcasts now being
rai he