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jonny@neuromatch.social ("jonny (nonvenomous)") wrote:

my god the writing in this piece, "the domestication of the garage." beautiful.

https://placesjournal.org/article/j-b-jackson-the-domestication-of-the-garage/

There are suggestions in the brief literature on garage design of the period that architects enjoyed the challenge of producing strictly utilitarian interiors which would serve as settings for the engineered beauty of the automobile and the spit-and-polish work of the chauffeur; there seems to have flourished (not for very long) a kind of Machine Age esthetic of the garage. But physically as well as psychologically the garage remained isolated from the dwelling: at the end of a long driveway be­hind the house, or hidden by a wall. Only after the chauffeur had cranked the motor into action, tested the sparkplugs and the tension of the leather fan belt, checked the oil and poured in a gallon or two of gasoline did the car, figuratively speaking, join the family. Outside the front door ensued the ritual of pulling on gauntlets, adjusting veils and goggles and lap-robes (while the automobile quivered restlessly), and finally waving goodbye. There was an early tendency — happily long since overcome but natural enough in those adventurous days — to show off while driving. Various periodicals dealing with country or suburban life urged their readers to behave with dignity on the highway. In 1909, House and Garden cautioned: No toes peeping over the body of the tonneau or feet resting on the dashboard or arms or wraps hanging over the sides, smoking limited to one person, preferably not the driver. Whistles, bells, quacking novelties and sirens seem out of place in town although in the country they may be used to advantage. … Among the purely ornamental novelties of motordom the small gilt figure of an eagle has almost entirely monopolized the place on top of the radiator. … This is a very pretty custom if the figure be small, and quite patriotic where the bill holds a narrow ribbon of the national colors.