New-York tribune., 1911-01-18
SEEK DELIVERY WAGONS
Business Men on Lookout for
Cars at Truck Show.
INTEREST STILL UNABATED
Knox Fire Pump and Alec Com
mercial Vehicles Attract Con-
siderable Attention.

Striking proof of the interest Of business
men and merchants in motor driven freight
carrying vehicles was furnished yesterday
and last night by the attendance on the
first fun day of the Part period OF
the eleventh national automobile show, in
Madison Square Garden. From the time
the doors were opened at 10 o'clock in
the morning. until closing time last night
the Garden was we'll filed with men max
ing careful and paiustaking examinations
of the many Casolene and electric COM
mercial cars that are being displayed this
week
While the aisles were not generally as
crowded during the afternoon and evening
as they were during the Part l period of
the show last week it was the universal
testimony Of the exhibitors that practical
Iy all of the visitors were there for the
sole purpose Of inspecting the vehicles
shown. Even during the lunch and dinner
hours the big and little commercial cars
were surrounded by interested visitors, who
asked many questions in their search for
cars that they want TO replace horse
drawn delivery systems
The pioneers among business firms that
employed motor vehicles in whole or in
part for their delivery systems figured, in
many cases, at least. that the expense need
lot be the sole factor 20 be taken into con-
sideration. as the early users of motor
driven delivery wagons and trucks OBJ
tanned a direct return i'm the advertising
their use of automobile deliveries gave TO
them. At the present time, however, while
there is still a certain amount of adver-
tsing value attached 20 the employment
of motor-driven delivery wagons ard
trucks, business concerns figure the cost
IN tenths Of a cent per mile when they
discuss the adoption Of motor vehicles for
business uses.
The scene outside the building is a most
unusual and striking one to those accus-
toned 10 seeing only automobiles Of the
passenger carrying type in the neighbOring
streets during the progress of an autOmO-
bile show in the Garden. There are always
a lot of passenger cars around the build
ing, IL IS true, but mingled among them in
Unexpectedly large numbers are the de-
monstrating vehicles of the firms that are
exhibiting cars In the Part , period Of the
show.
These demonstrating cars range from the
dainty little delivery wagons, suitable for
use by grocers, milliners butchers and
others whose business requires quick de-
livery for small light loads, 10 the great
trucks that are built 20 carry beer -four
gravel and other commodities that combine
great weight with comparatively small
bulk. Many of these vehicles that are
being used for demonstrating purposes
have been ordered by business firms Of this
and other cities and bear the names Of
their future owners.
While the Morgan concern has a COM
parativtly small space in which TO display
its truck, ample provision has been made
20 show the workings of the truck s
mechanism. With his usual insight into
the proper method of displaying motor We
hiClCs Carl H. Page, the metropolitan dis
tributer, has made as comprehensive plans
for showing the mechanism Of the track as
II the Morgan space were many times as
larse.
An engine Of q Morgan truck with parts
removed % show its operation. is mounted
on a stand at the side Of the truck. Just
back Of the engine is a clutch, and behind
that a transmission and rear axle are
mounted ON another stand. Mr.. Page de-
cares that every one knows about wheels
and chains and frames, and that the dis
play OF parts includes all of the mechanism
any one il likely % ask information about.
The feature of the show is the big red
Knox fire pump. which is at the space of
the company on the main floor. The gaso- /
lene engine which furnishes locomotion
runs as well pump capable Of doing the
work OF a first class steamer at a fire. 1t
IS one OF the first vehicles Of its kind ever
constructed. and is a whole fire depart
ment in itself, containing space for fire.
men, hose. chemicals and ladders. 1t has
a speed OF thirty miles an hour. which is
a. fast as so heavy a vehicle can be
handled with safety, and can pump go
gallons Of water a minute. 1t is the highest
priced vehicle exhibited at the show, cost
ing $500
The New York Fire Department. which
has used a Knox hose wagon for some time
in the high pressure service, has ordered
one of the new pumps The vehicle is at
tracing considerable attention, and the
Knox booth is naturally crowded at all
times. The Knox company was one Of the
first to build fire wagons Of any kind A
police patrol and a big fve-ton Knox truck
are also on exhibition.
The Pope-IIartford fire apparatus on the
elevated platform. with its big high rear
wheels. also attracts lot Of attention.
The package wagons shown at the Brush,
REQ. Sampson and Butocar spaces are be
ing inspected by business men from nearby
suburban cities and towns. These vehicles
are capable Of much greater mileage in
the course Of a business day than could be
made by horse-drawn wagons OF the same
capacity, and for this reason a good many
procers and other merchants ere figuring
on using them for their deliveries
The three-ton Alco trucks, which have |
been familiar sights to New Workers for
some time, owing to their extensive use by |
various express companies, attract con-