Lördag med Gutenberg

THE   WOMAN

AND THE CAR

A  CHATTY  LITTLE  HANDBOOK

FOR  ALL WOMEN WHO  MOTOR

OR    WHO    WANT    TO   MOTOR

BY DOROTHY LEVITT  

EDITED   WITH   INTRODUCTORY

ARTICLES    BY    C.    BYNG-HALL

ILLUSTRATED BY PHOTOGRAPHS

SPECIALLY   TAKEN   

I dag hade Gutenberg mycket läsvärt att bjuda på, först var det svårt att veta i vilken ände jag skulle börja — men "The Woman and the Car", från 1909 av Dorothy Levitt vann med flera billängder, så snart jag insåg att det rörde sig om en bok skriven av en kvinna som inte bara vann biltävlingar, utan också tävlade i alla tänkbara "okvinnliga" farttävlingar, till sjöss såväl som i luften.

Hon rekommenderade alla kvinnliga bilförare att ha med sig en fickspegel och ett skjutvapen. Spegeln var bra att hålla upp med jämna mellanrum för att se vad som hände bakom bilen, detta innan någon annan kommit på att en backspegel var bra att ha. Och för kvinnor som rörde sig ensamma på vägarna kunde en pistol komma väl till pass.

Photo. H. W. Nicholls

REMEMBER TO TWIST THE VEIL BEFORE TYING—

THIS PREVENTS THE KNOT WORKING LOOSE

Rätt klädsel var viktig på den tiden bilarna var öppna:

One of the most important articles of wear is a scarf, or muffler, for the neck—and the manner of wearing it is also important. Fold it, then wind round the throat, beginning at the front, bringing the ends round from the back, and fold over in front. See that the throat is covered closely, and not too loosely. Wearing this properly will save you all manner of colds, sore throats and kindred sufferings.

Regarding gloves—never wear woollen gloves, as wool slips on the smooth surface of the steering-wheel and prevents one getting a firm grip. Gloves made of good, soft kid, fur-lined, without a fastening, and made with just a thumb, are the ideal gloves for winter driving.

It is not advisable to wear rings. If you do not want to leave them at home, or in a hotel, but want to wear them when you are indoors, during your ride or tour take them off while on the car and stow them away. Rings, when you are driving yourself, hurt terribly, and also the stones are loosened. Bracelets and bangles are irritating unless secured by a sleeve or glove from working up and down.

Photo. H. W. Nicholls.

“THE USEFUL OVERALL{”

Indispensable to the motoriste who is going{28} to drive her own car is the overall. This should be made of butcher-blue or brown linen, to fasten at the back—the same shape as an artist’s overall. It should have long sleeves. You can always slip off your coat and put on the overall in a moment—and it is necessary if you have anything to do in the car. Remember it is better to get grease-spots on your washable overall than on your coat or other clothes.

While there are several little repairs that it would be impossible to remedy if wearing gloves, the majority of work on a car (filling tanks, &c. &c.) can be done just as well if one’s hands are protected by a pair of wash-leather gloves. You will find room for these gloves in the little drawer under the seat of the car.

This little drawer is the secret of the dainty motoriste. What you put in it depends upon your tastes, but the following articles are what I advise you to have in its recesses. A pair of clean gloves, an extra handkerchief, clean veil, powder-puff (unless you despise them), hair-pins and ordinary pins, a hand mirror—and some chocolates are very soothing, sometimes!

Photo. H. W. Nicholls

THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE FOOT-BRAKE IS A MATTER OF SECONDS

Vidare går hon igenom hur en bil fungerar, och vilka enklare ingrepp bilföraren kan behöva ta till utefter vägarna. En högst nöjsam bok!

Photo. H. W. Nicholls

THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE FOOT-BRAKE IS A MATTER OF SECONDS

Dorothy Elizabeth Levitt,1882 - 1922