A Revolutionary Car Body

VANITY FAIR'S OBSERVER

THERE has appeared recently one single automobile which may change completely the principle of construction of all car bodies, not only in this country but wherever automobiles arc built. Then, again, it may do nothing of the kind, but turn out to be only a flash in the pan—one of those radical ideas which pop up from time to time in the automobile world and are not heard of again. It is called the Meritas body and was invented by Mr. Kenneth L. Childs; the design and structural details were worked out by Mr. George J. Mercer, Chairman of the Standardization Committee of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

From the at ten tion being given this car by some of the country's most prominent body engineers, it is certain that Mr. Childs and Mr. A lercer have stumbled upon something which is going to come in for the closest possible inspection on the part of the automobile industry. The foundation of the I body is a light wooden frame, as shown in the lower photograph on this page. This is covered with a wide meshed wire netting, on which is laid a layer of gray cotton felt. Over this is put a covering of buckram, which is a loosely woven burlap. Then comes another layer of the cotton felt. The final covering consists of Mcritas fabric, which is a high grade, oil-impregnated, imitation leather, which takes a high and lasting finish in almost any color. The interior is upholstered in the same material but with a very attractive floral design in blue, There is no paint used anywhere in the construction of this body, which is quite different from other fabric bodies where the fabric is simply shellacked over metal panels. The absence of necessity for painting and the simplicity with which this body is put together reduce the time of construction to less than half that of the cheapest stamped metal body now being made. This system of building is also infinitely cheaper than that of the metal body and the designers state that the car is entirely free from the rattles, squeaks and drumming which are so closely allied with the ordinary metal body.

This body is impervious to staining by mud or oil, and is easily repaired.