The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-27
DETROIT GETTlN c
ACQUAINTED WITH
81 VARIETIES
It's a Strange Coincidence, But the
D. A. D. D. A. Automobile Show
Has Just That Number Of Fac.
tories Represented.
Many Cases Where New Manufac'
turers Have Aped the Product of
1909 Successes.

latest name for the triumphant exhibit
tion OF motor cars. now IN progress
II the Wayne gardens under the aus
pices OF the Detroit Automobile Re
tailers' association, for which Jonn
Gillespie holds the position OF show
manager. II is a peculiar fact that a
famous manufacturers of condiments
has nothing on the Detroit SHOW
There are few who can enumerate lhe
picked delicacies but many a man.
woman and child in Detroit is III posi-
ton to rattle off the names OF the
cars which have become household
: words In Detroit. Some OF them nave
enioyed that distinction for years,
while others are OF more recent al
( vent in the local halls OF fame, but no
Detroiter San be pronounced Well IL
I formed on current events II he can |
Z rattle them all of by name and recog'
nize most OF them when they Whiz
past on the street.
There are just exactly 81 varieties
OF them in the show that, OF course
there are many subdivisions or me
products OF the factories presented
= which brings the total OF cars on eA'
hibitIon up TO we'll beyond the 500
mark.
Record Breaker Sure.
The present show is now half over
and there has been no diminution IN
the enthusiasm which started Things
On with the largest crowd that has
ever attended an event OF the kind la
the Michigan metropolis. The GROVES
on Wednesday continued at r@le
which ensures recCrd-oTeaking weeA.
AS the public is becoming acquainted
with the show the purchasers are
making the appearance In large mum,
bers. IL has come TO be an accepted
fact that the man who orders his cal
in January, is the one VINO Is going
10 get Il when the season is young
II has taken a good many years for
this fact to sink into minds OF the
local public. but indications around
the show are to the effect that the
lesson had been well learned al last.
The statesmen are naturally glad over
the prospect that their season Is now
definitely taking form, and that thsy
will probably be able at the close or
the show, 10 make very accurate eS-
innate of the business which they can
expect the season through. and make
their supplementary orders from the
factories accordingly. None OF the
dealers have as yet duplicated the rec
ord OF the dealer who sold "a cars AT
retail In one batch, but Sold signs
are making their appearances at all
the booths and the general run or
business is sure TO eclipse any show
OF former years.
An interesting feature OF the show
this year has been the number iml-
tations that have sprung into being,
az the result of manufacturers recent
ly entering the field, who have pat
termed their output very closely after
the lines {. successes of former sea
sons
lmitators Are Welcome.
Last year a Detroit factory made a
welI-timed advent into the field with
a low, racy-looking little runabout
which was virtually big car boiled
down" The machine scored an in
slant triumph and the food of pros
perity which ensued for the manufac-
turer and those interested with him
excited the envy OF many rivals. This
year there are no less than three cars
exhibited. all of them from factories
show, the product OF which is SO pal
pably an imitation of the successful
model OF 1909 as TO draw attention 70
the fact from the most casual OBJ
server.
The ordinary business man might
be pardoned a protest at so obvious
a pirating OF design But not so the
automobile manufacturer in consider
alton
I'VE have already made contracts
which will ensure the sale OF our en-
tire output, and we are making five
times as many cars as we did last
year." said his local representative on
the floor last evening. Our car was
a success last year and is an improv-
ed product now The other fellows
are welcome 10 what business We
can't take care OF and that is what
they are getting. We wish them
nothing but luck"
Another OF the new factories max
ing its debut this year boasts as its
chief stock I'm trade the fact that the
man who designed its car was one OF
the assistant engineers at the factory
which produced a most conspicuous
1909 success I'm the light touring car
class The fact that the chief en-
pineer OF that factory was and remains
one of the most noted technical eX-
perts In the A. r. A. NJ, and was the
man who had to stand or fall with the
success of the car last year is kept
In the background as much as pos
Rible and the firm carries its imita-
ton OF its predecessor to such an ex-
IRENE that. in finish and lines and
resemblance Is so marked as to make
lhe two cars almost identical, even
No An observer we'll acquainted with
lhe original model.
Nor does the factory whose car was
oirnted emit the least protest Like
me manufacturers OF the cute little
rnnahout mentioned above, there IS
NO complaint. The makers OF the
original have their whole output dis
posed OF under contract and are per
iectIy willing TO let the imitators
grab OF all the business they can
from those who care TO take the risks.
NOTES or THE SHOW.
billy NetEger and Frank Briscoe, pi-
oneer Manufacturers, spent most or the