New-York tribune., 1912-01-07
AUTO THE MAGNET At
FINAL GARDEN SHOW
Crowd InvadeS Amphitheatre to
View Wonders of the
Newest Cars.
SCENE ONE OF SPLEND0R
Novel Models of the Year Are
Displayed Against Back
ground of Crimson
and Gold.


fully decorated structure, and within ten
minutes the aisles were packed with hr-
manity, So great was the crush that the
spectators were frequently swept along
against their desires,
II was a brilliant scene that met the eyes
Of the visitors. Against a background OF
crimson and gold. the most artistic of the
many beautiful color schemes that have
marked automobile shows in this city, were
set hundreds OF glttering cars OF every size.
shape and color. Never had there been so
many and never had they appeared TO be
more attractive.
The great throng that visited the Garden
for the Inauguration OF the show found
more OF interest than ever before In the
long history Of these events. Even 10 those
who lack the means or have not the IN
CIinstion TO purchase a car, an lnspeclDh
Of the finely finished mechanism and the
dsintlv fitted bodies must have oeen an
education. In whatever direction the VS.
tor turned could be found, examples OF
clever handiwork in the building OF power
nlsnt body or accessory. In every respect
the current exhibition stands far above IT'S
1,-edecessors. il seems fitting that Maolsoh
SouarA Garden, which has Sheltered 'he
autornobile shows since the industry was
{, ,ts infancy, should close its historic
career with this greatest of exhibitions
las, years plan Of having the elevated
platforn and bslceay- above the arena
boxes project over the main MOOR ana '''o
scheme Of covering the high rear seats
So as 10 make sort OF mezzanine noo'
has heen repeated this season for ''e
edges Of the elevated platform and oaiconS
special ratings have been designed WHICH,
l,ka the stalrways, standards ana oecoTa
five borders. are finished in gold. IN the
general view these ratings OF the PLATFORM !
rise in three rows IN front and rear ana
,z.o rows on each side of the Interior EN-
tending about the arena from floor TO dome
,re tventv.Gve steel columns, which add
rrpch n the stateliness Of the effect. These
columns support the balconies.
SbAltoriug the vast expanse OF the Gar
den arena and hiding the steel roof slr-
ders IS a huge Oriental rug, which weighs
nearly three tons. II stretches from wall
"a wall and contains a centre panel meas
,rring 200 by 90 feet. fringed by twenty
Tour smaller panels. In the centrepleCe
;s q female figure with arms outstretched
l. ropresentiug the triumph of industry.
SNrThe whole canopy is gracefully drapeu
WNyith garlands Of flowers.
y Striking as are the decorations, last
nights visitors. after the first general III
spectiou. devoted their time TO the eN-
hibits. Apparently the 1912 enthusiast
is more Of "A real motOrist than ever as
fla, salasmcp quickly learned. The early
Questions disclosed remarkable knowledge
Of mechanical details that stamp the car
Of 1872 as different from those OF other
years.
Some wonderful designs are displayed IN
bndv construction. Such types as the
cabriolot, the fushsded phaeton' lhe /
"Priuce Henry" type OF body, and the
Coronation" torpedo type which attracted
wide attention at the recent Olympia show
are radical and pleasing. Broughams
single Iandaulets, double landaulets, Ian /
daus, protected phaetons with folding pillar
tons. limousines with plain and sliding I
roof. the latter having a slide to admit air
or sunlight; wagonettes; limousines with .
four doors. two on each side; theatre
coaches with rear end entrance; all Of
these were on view, in addition to the
regular lines of foredoor touring cars, /
roadstcrs, semi-racers runabouts, gad-
ahouts. cunboats and rlCkshaw styles.
II is striking evidence Of how times
change 10 recall that only two or three
wears ago the automobile manufacturers
were rrocIaiming. with undoubted SINGER
itv. that "Finis" had been reached in auto
mobile design and finish. I'VE cannot Inn
rrovo." they told the public 'and what
Won buv now will be up-to-date half dozen
1-ears from now" II IS only necessary to
contrast the more graceful, quieter types
Of to-day, many equipped with a self
starting device and a larger number cleo
tricaIly lighted, with those Of three years
ago TO show the advances that have come
even I'm that short time.
No addition TO the comfort OF the auto
mobile user has meant so much as electric
lighting. now used 10 such an extent that
81 IS 10 be found on cars at the Garden
costing less than 1900 What user OF
car cannot recall the dozens OF enforced
stops I'm wind and rain storms to light per-
verse oil lamps? How often was 1t found
that there were no matches in the party
or that rhe raindrops had soaked the lamp
vicks? The acetylenes were not so bad
but even these can now be lighted and con-
trolod from the dash
The self-gtarter s. a stI more recent
DEVELOPMENT Of the general demand Tor the
greatest comfort I'm motoring. Time WAS
Y. hon the use Of a magnetic on a car WIS
sufficient TO stamp IT as being superior 10
the majority To-day every car is equipped
with a magnetic. The same SITUATION i
coming with regard 10 the sef-starter. AL
ready a device Of this kind, gas, electric
o. compressed air, IS ii regular equipment
On 2 remarkably large number OF makes
and every week brings reports OF IT'S adop-
ZION on others. Not only IS the cranking
* car rendered generally unnecessary
hut the use Of a felf-starter removes a
posltlvc danger from the operation Of auto
mobiles. Statistics show that the number
of broken arms and wrists in this country
due 10 the Kick back" Of nigh compress
sion motors. has mounted into the thou
sands annually. With the small cars, Of
course. this danger has hcen reduced.
gy 10 means the least important OF the
features that are removing from the au- /
,cuobjle the last vcstge OF discomfort T.
for The user is the luxurious type Of up F.
bolstrrv that can De found on all sides Of
the Garden. Six, eight and ten inches OF
horscbair and springs render the seats
pcrfect for relaxation. A days tour I'm /
modern car is no more firing than would
have been a two hours run I'm one Of the |
machines Of FIVE years ago. 10 is not gen
orally appreciated that the comfort OF the .
present day car IS due IN "A large measures
10 the scientific placing OF the seats.
Practically all seats are now tilted at an
sngle that renders unnecessary any effort
or ,hc part Of the passenger 10 prevent
SLIDING forward.
To-day viii be- spent by the exhibitors In
Strengthening out any Of the minor omis-
t, I. hum Tod