The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-05
GROWTH OF AUTO.
Col. Pope Shows How It Has De-
yeloped.
Only 81 Exhibitors at First New
York Show.
NOW NOTR ON ENOUGH
At Recent Exhibition Space Was
Denied Many.
Then There Were Something
Over 800 Exhibits.

cars CARRIED themselves in overallS and L
started out fully equipped with tools to |
meet emergencies, and it is safe to say |
that they usually made use of their
tool equipment before the long and
comfortable ride was completed.
There are several things to which
can be attributed the advancement of |
the motor car. The automobile shows
have played a very important part in
their development as have also tour |
ing, road racing and kindred contests. |
parallels the growth of automobile
shows and an outline history of the
shows will gle an interesting enlight-
eminent on the rapid strides made since
the first affair At this show there
were 81 exhibitors of cars and twenty
exhibitors of accessories. There were
not enough exhibits to fill the spaces,
even with a board track on the main
floor Motorcycles and motortricycles
were included with the automobiles.
The track was used for gymkhana
events, starting, stopping and braking
tests. The public was very skept1cal
concerning TIE automobiles on view
and occasionally query was heard
as to whether or not the cars would
run up a hill. The first show was
financial success. The Garden was
crowded at ey cry session. The cost OF
putting on the first show was $11 200,
not including the cost of decorations,
which were paid for by the exhibitors.
The Second Exhibition.
1.-The second national show was
held in the Garden during the week
of Nov. 20, 1901. There were SO ex-
hibitors in this The track was omit
ted and again there was a loan exhibit
of foreign cars.
about this time the industry be-
gan to develop and with an increas-
ing output by the factories the max
ers found it necessary to act as
wholesalers only. 1t was during the
of he a FIJI
ture of American cars became more
certain. The National Association of
Automobile Manufacturers was or
ganized and it was decided. after sew
eraI conferences that the next show
would be held at the beginning of the
year instead of at the close. and 1t
should be managed by a committee
on which the N. A. A. M. the Auto
mobile club of America-under whose
auspices the first show was held
and the Garden company should each
be represented and it was arranged
that these organizations should share
in the profits.
There was no show in 1902. and
the third one was held in the Garden
during the week of January 1924,
1903. The number of exhibitors had
now grown to more than $50 and for
the first time a foreign exhibitor took
space; this was the Paris Automobile
company, represented by H. Fourier
1.-The fourth national automobile
show was held at Madison Square
Garden on Jan. 1923. 1904. This
show had more than 1856 exhibitors
and was held under the same auspices
as the previous one.
THE automobile industry was grow
ing so rapidly that at the fifth show
in the Garden, January 1921. 1905.
many firms seeking space had to be
refused. The show was held under
the same auspices as before and ESQ
exhibitors secured space.
with the 1905 show. the contract
between the National Association of
Automobile Manufacturers. the Auto
mobile club of America and the Madi-
son Square aGrden company. expired,
and the Association of Licensed Auto
mobile Manufacturers obtained
lease of the Garden for several years
with an option of renewing it.
Under New Plan.
'When the show passed to the aus
pices of the Association of Licensed
Automobile Manufacturers. a commit
| tee was appointed to take charge of
individual exhibitors were permitted
to decorate their booths as they
| pleased and the general result was a
| mess of bunting, irregular and glazing
signs and there was a confusion of
color to be seen everywhere about the
| garden The show committee took
! charge of the decorating and in fact.
everything connected with the show
management They formulated plans
to make a harmonious exhibition. and
the decorating was placed in charge
| of an expert. Thereafter the signs of
! the exhibitors were made of uniform
| SIZE color and design. Other details
were carried out to conform with the
| ideas of the show committee.
1.-THE sixth annual automobile show
| was held in the garden Jan. 1920,
| 1906. under the auspices and manage
ment of the A L. A NJ There were
so exhibitors of cars and 10 exhib-
| itors of parts and sundries.
! Under the same auspices as its pre-
decessor, the seventh annual show was
held in the garden during the week of
Jan. 40, 1907 That the public was
now .eeply interested in automobiles
was strongly emphasized by the vast
show on the opening night. More than
i 1000 people were there At this show
II there were AZ exhibits of cars and 202
Il accessory exhibits.
There was another show that same
1 year. 1t was held in Madison Square
garden during the week of Nov $40:
II 1907. This was the eighth national
automobile show. under the auspices
of the A L. A. NJ. There were 68 ex-
hibits of complete cars. number of
commercial vehicles and about 225 &C
cessory exhibits.
1.-THE ninth national automobile
show. under the auspices of the A L.
A. NJ in Madison Square garden Jan
1924 1909 At this show there were
III complete cars, % GLASSES, 81 cleo
trio vehicles and a number OF com
mercial vehicles.
1.-THE number of exhibitors at the
lshow recently closed in the garden. the