Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-17
GREAT WORK TO
STAGE AUTO SHOW
Annual Exhibition Is Planned
Almost a Year in
Advance.
NOT ENOUGH SPACE
TO MEET THE DEMAND
Newark Display Means Months
of Hard Labor for
Managers.
BY HORACE A. BoNNELL

considerably heavier undertaking
Scarcely has one annual affair been
finished than the work on the next
one starts. It is first necessary for
us to look around for a suitable build
ing. For the past three years we
have been located in the First Regi-
ment Armory, which is the largest
armory in the State. Our show is
getting SO big each year that it is
difficult task to accommodate all
those who want TO be represented. 1t
may be possible that later on it will
be necessary for us to run two
section show, with the pleasure cars
in one section and then exhibit the
commercial vehicles the second week.
After the building Is secured and
iea5 signed, floor plans are drawn,
with spaces arranged in suitable
sizes so that both the large and small
dealers can find accommodations,
license must be secured from the city
authorities; thousands of pieces OF
printed matter arranged for; space
application blanks and diagrams
mailed to every dealer throughout
this section, and date set when the
applications much be in hand. so that
the drawings for space allotments
may take place on time, and the
necessary subsequent operations be
accomplished in ample time before
the show.
Work of Carpenters.
The carpenter work is no small part
of the decorative effects desired. In
the local armory it is necessary for us
to lay a false flooring over the regular
drill floor, and this must be put down
80 that no nails mar the finished
flooring of the arnory. car
penters We're busy for two months
getting out the columss for the peri
style in the main entrance and the
upright pillars chat support the per-
Eolas which extend over every aisle.
The rafters for the pergolas have all
to be sawed and carved, and then they
are painted white, to simulate marble.
When mural decorations and other
artistic effects of similar nature are
desired it is necessary for the artists
to do their preliminary work many
months in advance.
The electrical contracts are no
small part of the decorative work.
Thousands and thousands Of special
tungsten lamps are employed to pro-
duce The brilliant lighting effect. The
wiring for the power that is used to
run the various moving exhibits on
the main floor must all be arranged
FOR and in place before the carpenters
get at their work. Then there is the
wiring for the telephones. Every ex-
hibitor has a telephone connection
right into his BOOTH While a>switch-
board operator at the north end Of
the armory insures a prompt con-
nection, so that the dealers can
transact their business from the ex-
hibition hall just as we'll as though
they were in their own Offices.
Not Enough Space.
In the early days it was necessary
10 solicit manufacturers, as well as
dealers, to urge them to enter the
show. OF recent years the difficulty
has not been in this respect Where
the trouble comes is in distributing
space so that the majority of those
who would like to exhibit at the
shows can get in.
The work of the space committee
calls for special effort. The Newark
show is one of the few in this coun-
try that have not had any serious
difficulties to confront that were
not surmounted. When the ap-
plications are all in, the members or
the space committee get together and
drawings are made to indicate the
order of preference for space. Notices
are then sent out to the various ex-
hibitors, informing them of their
space allotments, and notices calling
attention to the fact that arrange
ments have to be made for electrical
connections, arranging of exhibits,
etc.
Morning of the Opening.
Where the management's chief
trouble is experienced is during the
few days before the show opens.
When the show manager has TO
worry particularly is at the time the
automobiles begin to stream into the
building. The first car cannot enter
before the carpenters get through at
o'clock on Friday morning. Mean
while, ever since daylight the cars
have been arriving. The gasoline
must all be pumped out of the tanks,
so as to comply with the fire regula-
tons, which prohibit explosives of
this nature being taken into the ar
mory. Then the cars are run up an
incline. being hauled in by a motor
truck. This all takes time. and if
the day is particularly bad under
foot it is necessary to wash not only
the tires, but bodies as well. >,
Final Testing.
On Friday night there is a final
testing out of the lighting system,
and each one of the contractors goes
over his work with the show man
agement The entertainment COM
mittee announce what arrangements
have been made for each night during
the show. and the name of the
speaker who is to open the show is
announced.
| doubt IL there is a buster spot
anywhere on earth than in the show
building between the hours of and
1880 d. m. ON the opening night. Fin
lshng touches are being put on every
thing. all the waste paper, wrappings,
etc, have to be taken care of and
disposed, workmen's tools cleared
away, and last OF all a corps of expert
carpet stretchers make a tour of the
building and patch up any spots in
the carpet which may have become
loosened or which have not been per