1913 Cadillac Model 30 Touring

In advertisements for the 1913 model Cadillac, the company first used their 'Standard of the World' slogan, a phrase that appears on this vehicle's Motometer (the Motometer is a glass-encased temperature gauge on the radiator that provides a reading visible to the driver. Cadillac's factory was, with precision manufacturing, producing interchangeable parts, a brand new concept within the auto industry. They had set 1/1000th of an inch as the standard of measurement. And with in-house mass production of a single line of cars, they were able to offer a high-quality car at a moderate price. Cadillac had every reason to feel that the '30' was a world-class car within the reach of most buyers.

Harnessing the necessary power to put the engine pistons and shafts in motion was a major advance. Prior attempts to harness the power of compressed air, springs, levers or acetylene explosion were unreliable. In 1912, Cadillac introduced the electric starter-ignition-lighting system, ending the chore of hand cranking forever. It took only four years for every major American car except the Ford Model T to abandon the crank. This system also provided the power to run electric lights.

The advent of the electric starter made operating a car much easier and less arduous. Starting a car with a crank required not only a good deal of strength but agility as well.

Source - SDAM