Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-18
AUTO SALES ARE
UNPRECEDENTED
LOCAL DEALERS HAVE BUSY
TIME
Wet Season Did Not Entail Decrease
of Orders Among Los Angeles
Agents, Who Report Excep-
tlonaI Demand

10 one IN quest or actlVlIleS among
automobile dealers of Los Angeles dur
ing the past week the task was dis
couraging to say the least.
Not that there were things on the
tapis among the agents. Quite the re-
verse and for that reason the trouble
of getting in a word or two with the
harassed dealers. One had but to enter
the doorway of any garage in town to
learn that business and business alone
was the order of the day. To find out
the trend of all these transactions was
effected only after virtually holding up
the garage owners and demanding what
1t all meant.
To do this without disturbing the
process of a sale required more or less
sentinel performance on the part of an
investigator who had needs be on the
jump to get in a question or SO side
ways.
Nearly every 1906 make to be seen in
Los Angeles has been given a thorough
demonstration and the effects are now
being shown by the number of orders
which have poured in since the new
cars have been placed upon the mar
ket. Instances are on record for the
past week where orders have been re-
ceived for machins from out of town
purchasers who relied solely upon the
cars secured by friends from the var
ious local agencies.
The fact that very little chance for
demonstration has existed in connection
with the large number of sales made is
indicative of a growing demand for the
machines which are so well adapted
to the climatic conditions of this sec
tion of the country.
Several of the Los Angeles concerns
where all cars had been sold out prior
to the rainy season have passed the
week largely in repair work, with the
demonstrators occupying a prominent
position near the show windows
Although nothing definite has yet
developed, it will be no surprise should
plans for an automobile boulevard in
the vicinity of Los Angeles be made
public at no far away date. Several
prominent persons in both the auto and
political life of Los Angeles have bee
buzzing that may lead later to the
added joys of Southern California tour
ing. Those interested have thus far
refused to make known the progress
of the idea that has become ripe i'll
their minds, but may do so before an
other week has passed.
Prospects of the racing game, so far
as strictly local meet is concerned,
are at a standstill for the present,
though the probable appearance of
Barney Oldfield in Los Angeles during
the month of May will lead to a re-
newal of the sport.
The Angel City management lost
heavily because of the downpour that
greeted the first two attempts made
this year, and will direct all efforts for
the present along lines calculated to
bring some returns from the eXpendi-
lures put forth in promulgating the
track events.
Ralph Hamlin of the Franklin
agency is meeting with success in the
disposal of his 1906 models, and dur
ing the past week delivered a twenty
horsepower model D, Franklin tour
ing car to John E. Parkinson. the Los
Angeles architect. Mr.. Parkinson is
enthusiastic over his new purchase,
which, by the way, he has had little
opportunity of enjoying owing to the
unsettled conditions of the March
weather.
A. r. Names of Los Angeles has
also secured a Franklin in the nature
of a twelve horsepower machine,
model G.
C. L. Holmes of Redlands has be-
come the owner during the past week
of a model G, twelve horsepower
Franklin, which he will use along the
orange scented roads of the upland
community.
The 'Hamlin agency has. since the
beginning of the year. handled every
Franklin 1906 model and, with the ex-
ception of the six-cylinder car, every
Franklin is in stock, ready for de-
livery.
The Marion Motor Car company has
been doing quite business with the
secondhand cars since the set-in of
the wet weather.
They were unpacking the new order
of runabouts and touring Cadillacs at
the Lee agency yesterday, where a
knot of those interested in the popular
car were gathered to inspect the new
arrivals. The lot consists of three
runabouts and three light touring cars,
single cylinder, ten horsepower.
These single cylinder cars have
proved among the most powerful ma
chimes of their kind brought to the
coast. With an occupancy of four
persons the cars take the steep grade
on the west side of the Second street
hill with ease, demonstrating their
power of endurance.
The 1906 model four-cylinder tour
ing Cadillac will arrive by express
within few days and may be ex-
pected to find favor with those cog
infant of its power of endurance
One of the 1905 models purchased by
Los Angeles enthusiast has been
driven for twelve months without hav-
at the present time is apparently as
good a machine as on the day when
it bade farewell to the factory
The 1906 model is equipped with a
three-speed planetary transmission
The weight of the car, although sue
cessfully carried during the season of
1905, has been reduced from $500
pounds to 2200 pounds. Among the
added features is a new carbonator
and governor.
The Cadillac company has offered a
reward of $1,000 to any one who will
return transmission in which the
material has worn away. Two power
full brakes contracting and expand
ing over the rear hubs render added
safety for street travel Throughout
the car is fitted with Hess Bright bali
bearings, for which the Cadillac COM
pany has placed the largest single or
der ever received by the European firm,
calling for $4,000 worth of the bear.
ingS.