FINGER-TIP CONTROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 958, 29 April 1930, Page 6

FINGER-TIP CONTROL

PROVED ITS USEFULNESS After a year’s experience with finger-tip control, Willys-Overland claims that this radical departure has stood up to the job with practically no mechanical failures. Undoubtedly this type of control ha 3 provided unusual driving convenience —a single button in the centre of the steering wheel starts the engine, operates the lights and sounds the horn without changing the driving position. The system has numerous advantages. In stalling the engine it is no longer necessary to grope in the toeboard for the starter button. The driver merely pulls upward on the button in the steering wheel, and the engine is started. Many women have greatly appreciated this feature, since they no longer soil their hose while searching for the floor-button to start the engine. Another advantage is when an engine “stalls” on a hill. With the general practice it would be necessary for the driver to set. his hand-brake, start the engine, then gradually release the brake as he placed the car in gear. With the finger-tip control all that is necessary is that the driver use his right foot to hold the foot-brake, start his engine from the steering wheel button, reelase his clutch and away he goes. . » LIGHTS AND HORN, TOO Operating the lights is another advantage, which will be readily appreciated by those motorists who do a great deal of night driving. In switching lights from dim to bright, or vice versa, the driver has not to reach forward for the usual switch on the dash, but need only keep his eye “glued” to the road ahead and operate his lights from the centre of the steering wheel. The same holds true when sounding the horn. This is also operated from the same button.