The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-25
AUTO SHOW OPENS
IN A OF GLORY
Car Builders, Including
Newarkers, Display Their
Products at Exhibit.

NEW 1Oh&. OcI. 10.-AIter q dress re-
hearsal yesterday afternoon the eighth an
nual show Of the Automobile Club OF
America opened in a veritable blaze last
night at the Grand Central Palace. The
opening proved to be similar to such oc-
casions in the past. There was a scant
casual inspection of the many types Of
automobiles on view. The crush of an
opening night prevented that. There were
SO many people in the aisles and on the
platforms that 1t was not possible to get
more than a glimpse of the important ex-
hibits. For this eason it was scarcely ex-
pected that there would be an opportunity
for any prospective car purchasers, pros-
pective car agents or Others with different
interests to examine details. The opening
night had its Importance as a spectacle
and as such 1t was not Disappointing.
Another night or an afternoon VIII af-
ford the visitors an opportunity to exam
inc carefully, perhaps analytieally, the car
or ears that catch their fancy. In logical
accordance with development of motor
| manufacture, the visitors will probably
look for faults which they would not like
to find. The statesmen who follow present
day conditions will, instead of being pre-
pared to tell them points of construction
that do not particularly make for relialil-
ity, economy and longevity, endeavor to
show the perfection OF their particular
make of car in details that a year or 20
ago were either taken for granted or never
thought of by buyer or salesman.
Every year in the past eight the auto-
mobile industry has increased in extent
until now it Is generally considered one
of the largest existing manufacturing in
d~ustries. Whether 1t is called motor
phobla" or not the fact remains that bust
ness mems brains and regulations for cOn-
servatism are involved In the AutOmobiie
Club Of America show. A final report from
the American Motor Car Manufacturers
Association states that there are seventy
motor car builders showing their 1905
products.
Quiet elegance is the keynote of the cars.
Freak lines have been abandoned, and
there is no great variation between the
many makes in bodies and general appear
ance. Engine hexibility has been the goal
sought, and results attained by demonstra-
ton have satisfied the automobile engi-
neers that the 1908 product is in q class by
itself. t3a a.
The accessory manufacturers have also
put in q heavy season, and a great variety
OF advanced ideas are on show to prove
that their labors have borne fruit. AS in
every other branch of the trade, IN elimi-
nation contest has been in progress. and
the result has been the survival of the
fittest. Taken as a whole the show is o
distinct advance over last year, a larger
and better assortment OF exhibits being Of
fered and in more attractive arrangement.
Wood BODIES P~redominate.
Wood bodies predominate. but the use
of steel is undoubtedly destined TO in
crease for this purpose. Some makers,
their cars with great satisfaction because
of the easy and perfect finish, the free
dom from splits or cracks, and its peculiar
fitness for structure subjected to the Wide
variety OF temperature and varying
stresses of automobile service In the
Crawford vehicle he bodies are metal
covered. In the Kingston aluminium Is
used, and in the Wayne metal is-em-
ployed, while in the Gearless larninated
wood is used because of its freedom from
splitting. Shapes likewise vary from the
tulip pattern to the stralght-lined Chad
wick and American
Colors run through a wide v~ariety-from
olack. dark green to red, blues and French
grays. with some makers, as the Acme, OF
Reading. furnishing any color at the op-
because of their quantity of output, moro
closely hold to one or two. colors charac-
%teristic of their product. Six-cylinder cars
have. greatly Increased In number, but
this Indicates diversity and not an abun-
Comment of the two and four-cyIinder cars.
While the great majority are five-passen-
ger cars, the %sprinkling Of seven-passenger
and llmousines is larger than ever before,
numbering more than one-third of the
total. In price the larger passenger car
averages about $4,000, or 5000 per seat,
while the five-passenger costs less than
$500 per car, or about $475 per seat.
whieh comparison clearly indicates the
~ lluNtl hDDA luAuiK.
In steerings wide variety Is found with
no great predominance In favor of any
form. In general there are about three
descriptions, with about equal numbers of
each. which include screw and nut, worm
and segment, and reversible. Clutches
also show quite a variety, but the cone
type predominates, followed by multiple
disc and expanding or contracting band
devices. Fan blades In the cone clutch
appear in a few instances, and in the
American cars cork Inserts add friction
IN a few cases, but the general tendency
seems to be to gain additional life and
power by increasing the surface, either
making the cone larger or adopting the
multiple oisc. In the Kingston a three
multiple disc clutch with cork insert Is
used. WithNfew exceptions double brakes
are provided, generally on the rear
wheels, but principally on the transmits
sion or on the counter-shaft.
Novel Exhibit of BaIIOops.
Particularly timely Is the Aero Club ex-
hibit, given as an adjunct of the motor
show. Several of the balloons which COM
peted in the international aerial contest at
st. Louis during the fore part of the week
are exhibited, and a number of the con-
t~estants in that event were on hand to
recount their experience. Virtually every
type Of machine devised in the recently
make navigation OF the air an established
fact is in this show.
Dirigible balloons are side by side with
"gasless'' flying machines. Models of all
devices planned by ingenious inventors to
assist the work of defying the air cur
rents are entered, and the exhibit is the
most complete ever attempted along these
lines. Admission to the Aero Club exhibit
Is included in tickets to the automobile
show. In addition. coupons are provided
for each visitor for admission to moving
pictures of the great balloon race, eX-
hibited for the first time.
The decoration of the palace is simple,
not to distract the attention of the spec
tators from the exhibits. but in good. ar
tistic taste. A huge Wheel about twenty
five feet IN diameter will meet the eye of
the visitor as he enters the main hall The
wheel. the emblem Of the Automobile Club
OF America. has a foot rim OF white
incandescents to resemble a tire, and ten
red illuminated spokes, with a big gold
hexagon hub cap. Two semi-eireular scrolls
entwined about the spokes contain in illu-
minated letters the name automobile
Club Of America Suspended from and
hanging in graceful folds to the edge Of
the huge skylisht Is a canopy OF soft
brown tone that harmonizes with the
autumn foliage which decorates the edge
Of the gallery and other parts Of the hall.
The theatre. or principal floor. is reached
by a stairway from the street entrance.
There is a clear space at the top of the
stairs with only the canopy overhead. Two
galleries overlook the floor at this ~seetiona
one of which is utilized entirely by ex-
hibitors. while the other above It serves
as a visitors gallery and gives space to4a