Evening Star Newspaper, January 27, 1929, Page 105

AUTOISTS WELCOME TS SHOW OPENN * Enthusiastic First Nighters on Hand at Auditorium to ¢ View Industry’s Exhibits. (Continued From First Page.) each member of the family, old enough to drive, should own one. Despite the convertible types, a model should be had for the city and one for the country. One for each season of the year is not a bad idea, one is told. Such a thing as a saturation point must never be! Fears of the saturation point being reached in the near future are further allayed when the manufacturers turn their thoughts to their export men. American- made cars are Increasing daily in their sales abroad and.to South America. On both continents there exists a great field. There, too, the worry of trading in sec- ond-hand cars by the dealers is not very apparent. Auto Development. One development that is grow- ing annually in the automobile in- dustry is the availability for more car for less money. The purchase of the auto has gotten to be in almost every one's reach, especial- ly with the time-payment basis. Eight-cylinder cars have dropped down*“in the price range of the sixes, and so it is becoming with a few of the six-clylinder cars sell- ing in the price range of the fours. Automobiles are easier to run today. Less time is required in mastering the art of driving The cars, too, run longer and better. Comfort and ease is being mani- fest today, as well as greater speeds. Refinements in appear- ances are a yearly trend. All of these things are today brought about by quantity production. Less profit collected on each car sold, but more cars selling. Increased safety of the opera- tion of motor vehicles is keeping pace with the other developments. Chief among these insurances against accidents is the better systems of braking now in use, and the adoption in many of the models of the shatterproof glass. Improved lights have had their _share in lending to safer driving. Tires have traveled along with the automobile in the lines of de- velopment. Balloon tires have made riding less irksome, and the quality of the rubber and treads today has more than doubled the life of a tire. It is because of these things that the visitors last night took such keen interest in the various ex- hibits. It will be for those reasons that crowds will throng to the show all this week. The advance- ment of the automobile industry is without parallel. Traffic Control Urgent. ‘The adoption of better traffic| control throughout the Nation is next in order. The methods of handling the automabiles,. now that they have devéloped so far, are most urgent. The best meas- ures should be worked out, syn- chronized and adopted for all lo- calities. The Hoover municipal code is a step in the right direc- tion. The National Capital has gone far in traffic control regulation. The District of Columbia’ stands high in the list of less fatalities among cities of more than 100,000 population. Its‘traffic light sys- tem is regarded as one of the best. The office of the director of traffic is to be praised. Words of praise should be ex- tended to the show committee, headed by the veteran director, Rudolph Jose. Through it and officials of the Washington Auto- motive Trade Association, under whose auspices the show is being held, a remarkable exhibit has been offered. It bids fair to be one of the most attractive offer- ings ever staged. . The 150 models of 36 makes stand mute testimony to the skill of the 30 manufacturers. Ar- rayed in all their splendor, pos- sessor of graceful lines, with du- rability outstanding in every part, It is a wonder that a visitor can loumey away from one to another. t is almost like trying to take in TWO POPULAR MAKES Upper left: Graham Paige Sedan. Lower left: : Hupmobile Century Eight. a spacious art gallery, giving due consideration to each picture within a short space of time. Commerce Statistics. Statistics released by the De- partment of Commerce are inter- esting and prove the advance- ment of the automobile industry. Last month’s production (factory sales), according to the Govern- ment-department, of motor vehi- cles in the United States was 233,135, of which 205,144 were pas- senger cars and 27,991 were trucks, as compared with 133,571 passen- ger cars and trucks in December, 1927. The 1928 output of passen- ger cars was 3,826,613, or 29.9 per cent greater than in 1927, while that of trucks was 530,771, or 16.7 per cent greater than for the previous year. In 1922 the sales record for the total number of passenger cars | and trucks was 2,544,176. In 1923 the total number was 4,034,012. In 1924 the total number was 3,602,- 540. In 1925 the total number was 4,265,830. In 1926 the total num- ber was 4,301,134. In 1927 the total number was 3,401,326, Last year’'s output totaled 4,357,384. Practically every manufacturer | is of the opinion that 1929 will break all former records. This is| be hoped for, 2= “wch of the "Nation’s wealth is (ied up with one phase or another of the in- dustry. License Regulations. “The need for a drivers’ license law in all the States is set forth by Sidney J. Williams, director of public safety division of the Na- tional Safety Council in Chicago, who is of the opinion that exami- nation of new drivers, properly administered by a centralized de- partment, would reduce motor ve- hicle fatalities by about 20 per cent. 2 Salient points of Mr. Williams’ proposed measure are as follows: No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway unless licensed by the State vehicle de- partment, except those driving road or farm machinery or oper- ating an official vehicle of the United States Army or Navy. Non-residents over 16, licensed at home, are exempt; if coming from a non-license State, may drive their own cars for 30 days. License is not issued to persons under 16 or chauffeurs’ licenses to persons under 18; nor to habitual drunkards, drug addicts, the in- sane or feeble minded, those un- able to understand signs in Eng- HERE Upper: Buick Anniversary Coupe. &ower: Chandler De Luxe Sedan, : lish and those afflicted with such physical or mental disability or disease as to prevent reasonabie control over a motor vehicle. When the law is first enacted, all persons who have driven for one year may obtain a license within three months on written application, but without any ex- amination. Thereafter all new drivers must first obtain a temporary instruc- tion permit; then, within 60 days, fill out an application for license and pass the examination. The State commissioner may designate local officials to give ex- aminations. The commissioner may require re-licensing not more than once every three years. Chauffeurs’ licenses must be renewed an- nuaily. All" courts shall report to the State department all convictions for violation of motor vehicle laws and may recommend suspen- sion of license. 5 The department must revoke licenses in case of: Manslaughter in operation of motor vehicle, driving under influence of liquor or drug, perjury in connection with the motor vehicle laws, con- vietion of reckless driving three times in a’year, failure to stop after -accident, any felony in which a motor vehicle was used. The department may suspend a license if it believes that one of the above-mentioned offenses has been committed, that the driver has recklessly or unlawfully con- tributed to an accident or that he is incompetent to drive a motor vehicle or is a habitually reckless or negligent driver. The department may suspend or revoke the license for a similar offense committed in any other State. Any person denied a license or whose license has been revoked may appeal to the courts. .. 'The applications of minors un- der 18 must be signed by the par- ent or guardian or employer, who then becomes liable for any negli- gence in driving by such minor. Employers of minors under 18 who permit them to drive, and persons who furnish motor vehicles to such minors, are likewise liable. While such a law seems obvious to residents of Washington, it must not be forgotten that not very long ago the District of Co- lumbia was without a licensing law of any kind. The present Dis- trict, regulation is similar to the |, one” proposed by Mr. Williams. SHOWN The fact that many States have not such laws is unquestionably wrong and should at once be remedied. . ‘The automobilist’ is unafraid of dis- tance, time or strikes. Upper right: Franklin Sport Runabout. Lower right: Peerless Six Victoria. Dirt Track Prospects Bright. Dirt track racing prospects for 1929 appear bright. In Ohio, meets are cer- tain for Toledo and Akron. It is probable that a championship race will be staged at the North Randall track at Cleveland, where the late Frank Lockhart set every record from one to 100 miles on the dirt. Ashland, Ky., and Cincinnati, are making tentative plans for automobile racing for the first time in years. ———— If Central Park were a lake of gaso- line 15 feet deep we should drain it in one year. Seten body slyles priced from §845 1o §955. All prices at faclory. fhe De Soto Six made its bow to the American public during August of last year. It is now six months old -almost to a day. - Among the low priced sixes on display at the Automobile Show, there will undoubtedly be new models, shown for_ thefirsttime. Curiosity alone willimpel you toseethem. ion of De When you have, and while all their elements of newness are fresh in your mind —go look at the De Soto Six. You will find De Soto the newest car at the Show—new 2819 M Street N.W. Moncure Motor Co. Quantico, Va. Moreland Motor Co. .. Waldorf, Md, ____ Associate Dealers ? Ro! WELCOMES TE DAY OF BALANCEDAUTD | Striking Feature Developed From Engineering View- point, Manufacturer Says. Looking at the modern automobile | {rn an engineering viewpoint, there | |is one new striking feature which is | evidencing itself—the day of the bal- auced automobile has come, according | to I. A. Reuter, president of Olds Motor Works. | A balanced automobile is one in | which every desirable detail has been | jglven its deserved attention, so that | style, comfort, ease of driving, safety, | accessories and all features of engin performance are in balance and har- mony with one another. The day is not far distant when the buying public | will conclusively recognize that the most desirable automobile is that which em- badies the proper balance of all desira- ble features rather than presenting but one outstanding attribute to the ex- clusion of all others. ‘Throughout the life of the automo- tive industry there have been cycles of engineering development. Of course, the first emphasis was placed in making a car which would consistently run. This was followed by a universal de- | | sire for speed which was sjimulated by | he early automobile races. le of Ornate Style. years ago, after sturdy en- gines had been developed, there started | a_cycle of ornate style, Emphasis was placed on bodies with all manner of | brass and nickel trimming. Follow- ing the war the newer demands of the motoring public resulted in a different feature being emphasized each year. These included braking ability, accel- eration, speed, driver comfort, dollar value, visibility, quietness and numerous others. Today all these factors must be em- bodied in the modern car. The devel- opment by these cycles has resulted in automobiles which are balanced in all particulars. They undoubtedly present the greatest dollar value ever offered to the public. All this, however, has been accomplished through the years ;)r tdevelopmem and by continuous ef- ort. This balance and increased value of the 1929 automobile is due to improve- ments in car appearance and car per- formance. Both of these factors are turing skill plus manufacturing econo- mies. Each of thess tiwee factors is the result of unremiitent effort by en- gineers, and victories gained by them either in new refinements or manufac- turing economies being passed on .to the consumer in the form of added value. Artist-Engineer Enters Field. The vital importance of car appear= ance has resulted in the development of the artist-engineer. His work embraces the imaginative and the piactical. The artist-engineer must sense tae public’s trend in automobile styles, interpres these trends into harmonious body lines and appointments, and furthermore, regulate these lines so that they con- form to the mechanical design of the car and are practical from a 'manu- facturing standpoint The engineers who have improved car performance have worked on some- what similar lines. They knew what features of car performance appeared most desirable to the public, and then sought to give proper balance and pro- | portion to those features without sacri= ficing any other characteristics. This work of creating a palanced au- tomobile has been assisted by new and modern methods of accurately testing and proving each new development. Dynamometers, which can be adjusted to give the same results as actual driv- ing, and the use of such facilities as are afforded by modern research labora- tories and the proving grounds enable engineers to obtain in & few weeks re~ sults which would require years of own- er driving to duplicate. Performance Features Demanded. ‘The difficulties these engineers have had to contend with can be seen by comparing some of the major per- formance features demanded by mo- torists—an engine powerful yet quiet, capable of high speed performance, but with gasoline economy: with quick ac- | celeration, yet having the maximum of hill-climbing ability: a minimum of service requirements. with a maximum of endurance and long life. Each of these contradict one or more of the same group. But this list of contra- dictions failed to daunt the engineers, who have striven, bit by bit, to design an automobile as nearly perfect in all features as possible. + Working hand in hand with the .de- sign, engineers have been the produc- tion engineers. Their duty was to find new and better manufacturing methods. These better methods do not neces- sarily represent less costly ways of per- forming operations, but demand meth- ods which result in increased accuracy and the establishment of finer manu- facturing limits. Improved manufactur- ing methods have done more than any- thing else to make possible today’s fmer automobile at moderate prices. ‘This year may well be termed one of echievement in the industry through the introduction of the balanced auto- mobile, The car of 1929 represents ex- cellent qualities in all the features the the result of engineering and manufac- Seoto, six months ago. motoring public have desired, and at & value greater than ever. The Newest Car at the Show is Six Months Old in style, new in beauty, new in luxurious comfort and riding ease. And you will begin to appreciate that the very elements of newness now emphasized by others in the field of low priced sixes were embraced in the design and construc- Cl;rysler leadership in engineering and manufacturing expresses itself in the De Soto Six with a finality that is beyond quibble or question. - MAYFLOWER MOTORS, Inc. Phone North 1104 Torrey Motor Co. 2108 L St. N.W. ney Motor Co. « __ Frederick,Md, -