Norwich bulletin., 1913-02-20
DOINCS IN THE AUTO WORLD
Hartford Show Comes to Conclusion-Ef of Power Trucks Increasing-The Automobile General Up- fter-Ihs Years Improvements in Cars-Ints For the Motorst

i. 000,000. worth of cars made in the United States
 The sixth annual automobile show of the Hartford automobile dealers as sociatdon came to sUccessf7A I Saturday evening. All week long the big. state armory was visited py cer- lous people from this vicinity, anxious to look over the latest models of the
 motor car. Reports have it that the show has been a big success. It cer- talnly has been we'll worth while, but
 whether or not it aroused more en- thus1asm and general stir than last years exhibition is a question. On the surface, this years show has prob ably not been up to the standard of a. year ago from the business point [ of view, though giving enough satis- faction to all those particularly inter- ested in it.
 The show management worked hard to make things hum, and it certainly displayed untiring efforts. The big ar mory was converted into a most at tractive show hall and the general dec orauve arrangements were such as would arrest and hold the attention of the spectators Painters were busy for weeks preparing restful mural eff fleets and the paipiers and all others
 engaged in the grand plan furnished the most attractive settings for a dis
 play of the auton obile that Hartford has ever had. The allotment of space for the individual exhibitors was a
 wise and careful one. the result being that the cars were placed so as to make handsome picture. There was
 enough room for all who wanted to have their speciaHies inspected and the curious enc could wander up and down the well laid out afsles and look, over the various cars at his ease. There
 was plenty of music every afternoon and evening to add to the entertain ment of the visitors. The stand for the orchestra was located in the center
 of 1n 1oh d s,c.to III IA<.
 orated. adding considerably to the gen era1 effect
 The exhibits were numerous and in teresting. Both pleasure and commer- cial cars were to be seen though the passenger cars were of course in the large majority. There was everything E to be seen in the line of plea sure cars, from the small town electric to the big touring car and limousine.
 The Hartford dealers took particular pride in their individual displays, and there was something interesting to see in every booth. The cars were to be seen in their finest. well arranged in their various show places. Enough clerks were on hand all the time to answer questions, and they were kept busy, too for the spectators displayed a lively interest in everything looked at. Pleasure cars attracted the great est amount of attention, of course, and every make of car came in for close inspection. Commercial cars also were closely studied, for the ex- hibits were extremely interesting and instructing. But after all the truck was but q side line to the other style of cars. Accessories were to be seen in quantities, and everything that had the slightest possible connection with the automobile was presented to the eye.
 Nothing is being left undone by manufacturers to increase the eff ciency and satisfactory operation of motor trucks and delivery wagons. Improvements are being made in the many new models for the coming year that will make them more reliable, more durable, cheaper to operate and maintain. and more convenient to use. Self-starters that enable the driver to start the engine without leaving his seat or stopping to crank the engine, are found on many of the new models. Several of these are of the electric type, in which a generator driven by the engine develops current that is used in the electric head lights, tail lamp and interior lights, as well as for starting the engine. There will also be compressed air starters and start CTS operating on gas mixtures. There is observed a decided increase in the number of commercial cars having the steering column on the left side and the brake gear shift levers in the center which arrangement permits the s driver to sit on the left side where
 he can more. easily see other vehicles passing and will not be interfered with by his helper getting inc and out of the seat at the curb on the right hand side. To prevent trucks from getting stalled in mudho1es and on icy places, many of the big trucks for next year are designed with differential locks. When one drive wheel spins around on slippery surface, and the truck re- fuses to move. the lock is set from the drivers seat and stops the action of the differential gears, so that power is applied to both rear wheel and the one that has traction drives the truck instead of remaining stationary.
 Chain eases are being fitted to more trucks than formerly. They keep all dirt from the road out of the chains and sproclets, which run in an oil