Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1925, Page 64

Trends in Motor Buyers Chance for Variety Practically No Construction Practices Are Universal to All Cars and Changes Come Slowly, Even When Lead Taken. By WILLIAM ULLMAN. of life otordom as shows and as nder of the the interest- s goveren- American 1t the fety he the spic then g trends in autc for the d carry o at th predicted year ing proc ed the autom Some pri while others are v colors are appearin many cars a mark of distinction w olors are being offered rea on many othe The market lied with th engine tk ors to sugs: other types, 3 the fo Jus=t the dom there to have th t L r excepting are not as 3 makes among the ful. Two years ago i though all automobil have the appeara out of the far as detalled finis cerned, but 192 rer sh on ment in . 1o BRY ame o usly sup- ght-elght type leved by its spor tion of all » ants in r popularit 1d thut ideas that age are 1 stzo are con- different story business ition, but it i Many Turn to Coaches. It would s success that has cor tors of the coach bod with manufacturer bringing out models £ there would be 2 landslide to the two door closed car. But it is a matter pf record that several manufacturers are a opposed to the trend as bl is opposed to white. Trends in body design are, a rdingly, going in dif- ferent direct @ no motorist can afford to accept anything as final in the automobile It fsn't o long ago that the wire wheel was the nter of attraction It you had aske e out of ten motorists several years ago what th 1925 car would like th uld be certain to d this of wheel in the list ¢ P f s, yet while the w wheel has its plac and 1s extr: ely p ar for modcls for which it is esy y adapted, it is by no means general Then came the disc wheel in all ¥ rieties. It looked like the rage. You were old-fashi you didn't specify it. ecl has not beoome standard equipment on enough cars to render the alpha and ome though it with th o the origl iy 1 that o idea, and all cla this kind, see greater advantase wheels. Dise Wheels Yilustration. An interesting ph ing problefi of ¢ the effect of one ftr The subjsct of W tllustrates this. Those who are not in favor of dise wheels argue that becau of the solid @onstruction from hub to ri there is mnot enough natural absorbing effect to the wheel, and thus a greater strain on the tires, which m ab- =orb it all. Couple this criticism with the trend toward the balloon tire and the problem is greatly simplified. It has been noticed that si s the adoption of four-wheel brakes on a number of make cars the disc wheel has retur original popularity in many quart because four-wheel bra ate better the better are pro- tected from mud, dust and water. Naturally the disc wheel acts as a shield. The motorist who likes to study the onward march of the automobiie un- derstandingly finds the composite of trends a very important factor in the problem of the conflicts be > th only final progre: that is made b all makes s what coxas sbout a result of the ct of trends upon each other. If you would down into the trends current during the early days of automobliing you would sa of this grow- they end that one | e great | yles Give biies steered with the front wheels, There is much talk about this fea- ture or that being general on the au- tomobile, but in 99 cases out of a hundred one finally winds up by not- ing a gIaring exception to the rule, and the make of car representing that exception may be an extremely popu- lar one Even Engine Position Varies. Tt would seem to be a fixed fact that all placed ahead of the driver on modern motor vehicles, yet right here in America one very suc- cessful manufacturer of motor trucks still places the engine under the driv- er's seat and still thinks that s the logical place for You can count on the fingers of both ds the trends that have bocome rsal in Amcrica. and even then ¢ be a fow fingers left over. right-hand drive has not | quished. Placing cylinders in & horizontal position is general, but | not univer It began to look as though motordom had settled down to ept four wheels as being just right for the automobile, but that is all thrown to the winds by the coming of the six-wheel motor coac and the predictions of six-wheel passenger oar. Whenever a trend has hecome uni- versal it is because of other trends, and it is this point which the motor- |15t should keep in mind when at- tempting to look bevond the maze of | ec to the uni- that are to come. Four passenger automobiles, for S about as a rosult of nds toward stream-lining, cur- slosed bodies, Winter driving, If it hadn't been for these other trends thers would bo at least one make of car today with an open front compartment. And it would prob- ably be popular. are engines are on Changes Come Slowly. We think of the arrangement of | cluteh pedal to the left and service | brake to the right as being universal, | but it Is always necessary to men- | tion two glaring exceptions to the e. And, despite the landslide to- ward closed cars the convertibla open is developing following all owr The matter o {llustrates the relationship between trends in a way that suggests the method to follow in looking ahead with the automobile. Bright colors have not met with uni- versal popularity for the reason that with the automobils so extensively used in all kinds of weather the fa car was impractical. Now enters the trend toward dull finishes and finishing compositions that are Impervious to the elements. That | ns t way to bright colors and | ter viduality in cars, with the result that the drab car may disap- pear alto; The automo! tures univers which o | & akes on new fea- at a very slow ssibly suggests the ai ved the American despite their seeming eager- ness to rush headlong into anything that is new. And it doubtless explains why the American automobile is so generally trustworthy and vold of freakishnesa. (Copyright, 1925.) POWER FOR WINTER. Car Should Be Adjusted to Meet Conditions. never done €0 before up your mind what u are having in your particular lo and adjust your car accordin Whera the Winter is chiefly cold rains and wet snows, with no real cold weather, you will prob- ably find it an advantage to have the spark timed a little later than normal so that there will be less strain on the engins dragging around a set of chains and plowing through heavy, wet snow In high gear. On tha other hand, if the Winter is very old and you are forced to use 8o uch alcohol that the engine tends to overheat in traffic and on hills, better set the timing ahead a little. If you have you should mak sort of Winter 3 MOTOR CAR PRODUCTION 1924 TOTAL 3,560,813 Figure Is Nearly Half a Million Under Output for Preced- ing Year. Total production last year in the United States of motor cars and trucks amounted to 3,560,813, according to fis- ures compiled by the Natlonal Auto- mobila Chamber of Commerce. Pro- duction of Canadian factories, figures of which are not vet available, is ex- pected to bring the grand total to ap- proximately 3,650,000. Production figures States for the 12 months, cember, 1 partly estimated, low: for the United with Da- fol- 1024 Innuary 218,282 September ctober . November December Year 1,012,500 3,560,813 HEAT AIDS GREASING. Car Should Be Placed in Different Places in Garage. When grease cakes in the spring bolts during & cold spell it 1x a good plan to place the car in the garage in such a way that each night some one particular bolt is nearest the steam pipes. Ehoot grease into the respective bolt the next day when you go to get the car. The next night place the car so that another part|| to bs greased will bs as near the heat source as possible. By spreading out the work in this manner a customary Winter problem can be overcome with little difficnity. The Washington Automotive Trade Association Announces Its Fifth Annual UTOMOBILE SHOW To Be Held in Convention Hall Fifth and L Streets January 24 to 31, Inclusive This year’s display will include both open and closed models of passenger cars, motor trucks, light commer- cial vehicles, tires and accessories. All the latest and most alluring creations of America’s foremost motor car manufacturers will be exhibited in a setting of rare beauty. Formal opening Saturday evening, January 24, at 7:30 o’clock. Special musical program. It will be a gala occasion. Make your plans now to be present and join in the festivities amid the wonder cars that mark the silver anniversary of the even more wonderful automobile industry. Under the auspices of The Washington Automotive Trade Association UTO SHOW HER larged Line at Exhibit Fewer makes of cars displayed at this year's automobile sho which will open In Convention Jall next Saturday night, does not mean that thers will ba fewer models to spect nor less to interest the motor enthusiast, according to. Iph Jose, chairman of the show eommit- tee of the Wa Automotly Trade Association, whose | pices the exh be ¢ ducted. As a matter of fact there will be more diffe: t |than ever before exhibited District motor car exhibition The forthcoming show, ha declares will serve to emphasize the surpris revealed at the national show in Ne York City, where, though there were but 54 makes represented, the moto ing public found more than 500 ca: to engage their attention. Lines Are Enlarged. Mr. Jose calls attention to the fa that, with very few exceptions, each manufacturer has a longer line of models this year than eyer before So far as the spectator is concerned, the motor show will offer all the nov- elty of a far longer list of makes than is actually the case. In an official statement regarding the coming show, Chafrman Jose sayr: “Many of the makers of sixes are oftering eights, which means that the ngton under on will chassis at any in- E TO DISPLAY RECORD NUMBER OF CHASSIS Jose Says Virtually Every Manufacturer Has En- Starting in Convention Hall Next Saturday Night. motorist who goes to the show really 4 new car from radiator to tire While the nams plates are the same and the character of work- ip up to & standard which the |motorist knows fr experience, the |eights ara « different from the |*ixes in engineering features, us well as in hody design. The reverse E(r.m where manufacturers of efghts are digplaying for the first time thelr sixes “Those who have a good memory tomobile shows will recall years h a dealer might exhibit elght each body model being on {dentically the same chassis. This will not be the situa- tion this year. When you stop at an exhibit, the models wiil be as differ- ent under the hood as in body design. Makes Vistt Werth While. “This served to lend added Interest to the show in New York and will undoubtedly make a visit to the Washington show well worth while. en those manufacturers that are bullding but one type of engine are showing different variations of it mounted { different chass!: Two sizes in sixes wlill be quite common, while in one Instance the motor en- thusiast will three different sixes carrying the same name plate. “In other words, an exhibit of any (Continued on Seventh Page.) mounted Filtered Gasoline against very latest alemite equipm any day until 6:30 p.m. reliable oils and greases. FILTERED in the country. 1st STREET AND CAPITOL GASOLINE STATION THE HOME OF FILTERED GAS NOTICE AUTOMOBILE OWNERS Don’t Buy Dirt and Water During cold weather, with its ice, snow and rain, there is bound to be more water and sediment in gasoline than at any other time. \is trouble by purchasing your gasoline at the CAPIT( . GASOLINE STATION the home of GUAR- ANTEEL FILTERED GASOLINE, where every gallon of gasoline is thoroughly filtered right at our station before going into our tanks. ALEMITE SERVICE—We are now equipped to alemite any make of car. Having recently installed the stands, we can alemite your car in a very few minutes Remember, we only handle the very best grades of brands of oil sold at this station. By giving our customers good GUARANTEED LINE and best oils we have pros- pered and our new station is now the largest and finest Capitol Gasoline Station (Foot of Capitol Grounds) High-Grade Qils Protect yourself ent and three large alemite No inferior or unknown MARYLAND AVE. MARYLAND WILL BUILD 100 MILES OF HIGHWAY Seven Times Amount of 1924 Road Work Made Possible by Gas Tax. Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, January 17.—Approx- imately 100 miles of Maryland high- ways will be extended to standard 25-foot widths this year, according to John N. Mackall, chairman and chief engineer of the Maryland State roads commission Total funds available for all main- tenance and construction purposes for 1924 were $1,900,000, while this vear the commlission will Teceive $3,297,788 for such purposes, $1,500,000 coming from the State, $600,000 from the countfes, §640,000 from the Federal ald fund and $300,000 from the State and counties for bridges and grada crossings. Chatrman Mackall esti- mates 100 to 125 miles of new high- way will be put under construction this year. Winter Repairs Held Essential, Rather Than Wait for Spring Putting Off of Needed Work Likely to Cause Damage, Greatly Increasing To- tal of Expenses When Finally Done. BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL. Customs are fast golgg by the hoards in motordom, but one that ap- pears to linger and impede motor progress is the habit of looking for- ward to Springtime as ,the logical season for repalring the car. Many car owners are beginning to discover that Springtime repairing is largely the undofug of unnneces- sary Winter neglect, but it may be some time before the {dea s thor- oughly popularized. ! “T'll have it fixed in the Spring.”|' says the average owner, never real- | faing that Instead of postponing his worries he's advancing them. Experi ence seems to show that the mers postponement of repair work often develops a new set of troubles. There {3 the classic example of the motorist who postponed having the pinfon gear adjusted for a better mesh with the d@ifferential ring gear onl to dlscover, in Springtime, that it was necessary to install new gears. But thers are many other instances to suggest the economy of alwavs ha ing repairs made when they necessary, though there I3 a knack in | recognizing the psychological ment in repair work. Holds Up Spring Work, The custom of having the car gone over in the spring is now viewed service and maintenance experts the heigth of procrastination. torist enjoys putting his car in shop, and the Springtime repalr habit | is thus viewed as evidence of his giv- ing way to a natural inclination Owing to this habit repair have been taxed to the limit yond, during the Spring months, work is often rushed beyond the point where satisfactory work !s possible and many an owner finds himself pre- vented from having his car painted. Ono repairer declares that nine- tenths of the jobs he has during March, April and May could be done during the Winter months to the ma- terial benefit of all concerned, in- cluding the car. Valve grinding and carbon removal are not strictly repairs and, as such, are exceptions to the general rule that there is no better tim to have repair work done than when it necessary. Carbon is increased by ex- cessive choking w 80 often u avoldable In cold weatl whils valve troubles, particularly aggravated by so much r n the firing chambers when the en- gine Is cold. To bave this work at- tended to during Winter, therefors, suggests the possibility of a repeti- tion of the job later on during the be ginning of the touring seaso The wise car owner, thercfore, 1 entirely fled in “putting off" engine cleaning pro itil such time as he is assured against the need for excessive use of the choker. mo Generator Needs Care. But this is the exception, and unless he recognizes it as such he will be post- poning a lot of other things that be done &s they are needed. 1f he his generator to struggle along with a trouble and decreases enzine aMclerncy through poorer fgnition but % e pa the way for a worn genarator comn tator and the expense ed in finishing it If ¢ or 4f the retor needle valve is worn, entire unit necds rebutlding, Winter offers as good an opportur any fo day th paying a gina Chance of Real A casion cau: bro; = having owTier postp, tended to. ap ine work Damage. Cluteh Causes Trouble, AR Wil OEten 0o~ t motion throug causs a 1o sion gears around tha have utch fixed as a . but when it amage tha cl x 1ot of lc Springtime 1s the c to a pu: get of worn brushes he not only pulls the | no promises battery way down, increases starting (Copyright, 1825) Donee BROTHERS SPECIAL TYPE-A SEDAN To say that the Special Type-A Sedan looks as good as it really is, is simply to pay a just and deserved tribute to the coachwork and the special equipment. ‘The appointments were determined in the usual Dodge Brothers way— strictly on a basis of quality and not of cost. Pive Balloon Tie $1330 f.0.b. Detrott—$1455 delivered SEMMES MOTOR COMPANY 8- DUFONT CIRCLB MAIN 6660