The Washington times., 1936-11-19
BY JEAN GREEN

The mythical little bird must
have flown to each auto manu-
facturer last year with all the
feminine suggestions on comfort
and convenience. 1t seems that
every "yen" has been answered
in the new 1887 cars exhibited
this week.
If you have not already been
to the show you will certainly
want to see for yourself how the
fascinating automatic devices
work. Really, the gadgets have
entered the automobile field in a
big way and they are no longer
considered luxury accessories but
are built into the cars.
Some of them are for safety
first, others for CONVENIENCE so
that you never need to feel that
you would be safer driver if you
had an extra hand when turns are
to be made and gears shifted. The
control of the gear shift. the
emergency brake, the throttle are
only few items that come under
the new deal for the cars Of to-
day.
Antitrust Feature
Some of the new gadgets fea-
tured at the Hudson Terraplane
exhibits are safety.first measures.
There is first the new window
shield defroster that keeps ice
from freezing on the windshield.
A fan inside the car keep a con-
slant supply of heated air hitting
against the window shield. The
fan is made of rubberiZed material
that is safety proof.
Then, for signalling left or
right turn, there are two tell
turn" lamps. They are automatic
and are controlled by the steering
wheel so that when the wheel
turns to the left or right the
arrow in these rear lights points
In that direction.
Another safety measure is the
swing lamp that is attached under
the tail light and swings from side
to side when the brakes are
applied.
Then, too, there is featured the
electric hand that is the joy of
every woman learning to drive.
This replaces the gear shift.
Aid to "ShOrtieS"
Another improvement is the way
that comfort has been provided
for the short driver. This is espe-
cially grand in the family where
the six-foot husband has a petite
wife who finds that the ordinary
seat adjustments are not all that
Is desired. When adjustments are
made in the new Ford, the seat
swings in an arc so that the seat
not only moves nearer the pedal
but also swings up. This allows a
clear view over the steering wheel.
The Cadillac, LaSalle. Buick and
Packard are among those that
also have new special seat arrange
ments for the short driver.
In the Chevrolet, safety is given
by the shock-proof steering. This,
plus a knee action, gives the wheel
an automatic return when parking
or when turning a sharp corner.
What saving of energy that is!
Another grand feature is the in
direct lighting used at the dash to
give an even glow instead of a
glare to cause reflections on the
windshield.
For the back seat driver there
are arm rests with ash trays down
on the inside in positions that pre-
vent any flying ashes.
In the Plymouth, the panel at
the dash board has gone modern.
The three wide panels on the dash,
finished to simulate grained wood,
have no protruding knobs that
might catch onto glove or rise up
to bump you when reaching under
the dash. Instead are little COM
partments under the dash that
spring out on pressure like the old
fashioned cash register. These
secret panels come in the same
even brown as the dash, and con-
troll the heat, lights, throttle, and
choke.
Another feature that will be ap-
preciated is the depth under the
dash. To one who has watched
many pairs of suede shoes be-
come shiny at the particular spot
where the heel touched the floor