The Washington herald., 1914-01-20
CROWDS ATTEND
AUTO EXHIBIT.
President Launches Big Show
on It's Weeks Course
Of Triumph.
OPENS AMID AccLAIMs
Washington Auto Dealers Association
Surpas. All Efforts in Display
at Convention Hall.
OPENS AMID AccLAIMs


In a setting Of scintillating oriihancy'
under every promise OF q successful ex-
hibition, the annual automobile show OF
the Washington Automobile Dealers As
sociation at Convention Hall. Fifth and
L streets northwest. was thrown open
to the public at o'clock last night with
fitting civic and social honors.
For the second time In the history OF
the automobile trade in Washington
President of the United States formally
opened the exhibition. Promptly at 8
o'clock the tingle OF silver bell over
the main entrance of the huge audi
torium and the binding Hash Of thou
sands of electric lights launched the
show on its weeks course OF triumph.
Even the dealers who have given the
greater part Of their time for the past
two months planning and carrying INTO
execution their plans for the opening OF
the show were awed by the brflliance
of the scene. They had underestimate
the magnitude and elaborate scale OF
their plans. The color scheme Of gold
and white, blending with the glare OF
countless incandescent bulbs, transformed
the usual barnlike baroness OF the han
into a veritable fairy palace. II seemed
as If the transformation was the work OF
fairies, and the thousands OF motor en-
thusiasts who attended the opening OF
the exhibition indicated their approval
by applause which completely drowned
the strains of the opening overture by
the Marine Band.
Other Decorative Features.
At short intervals along the sides OF
the exhibits which extended the entire
length Of the hall were a number OF Or
namental lampposts with side arms, from
which hung in clusters hundreds OF
electric bulbs. Southern smilax ana
hundreds OF palms completed the deco
rative scheme.
Twenty-three concerns manufacturing
pleasure and commercial cars have
spaces at the show, and while there Is
a heavy preponderance OF gasoline cars
electrical vehicles come in for their pro-
portionate representation
There have been many noticeaoie
changes made in the American automo-
bile in the last year. Chief among these
are the great increase in the number OF
six-cylinder machines manufactured, the
growing popularity of left side drive, the
almost universal adoption of self-stsrt-
ing systems, sand the building Of stream
line bodies.
Manufacturers who last year built big
| SKIES this year are adding light skies
to their lines. and makers who last year
built only "fours" are now building
skies of one type or another
seIf-starter Popular.
The last year has seen the self-starter
and the left side drive idea gain equal
popularity. where each was yet novelty
at last years exhibition. The self-start-
er needed no friend to plead Its cause;
fn0
did the left side drive arrangement have
any setbacks-
The stream line body has done more
than any other influence since the side
door entrance came into vogue to i'm
prove the appearance OF the automobile
For more than a year the various man
ufacturers have been experimenting with
different designs. and nearly all have al
last struck on patterns that are pleasing
to the eye and that afford the greatest
| comfort and convenience to the occu-
pants.
In addition to these changes, the
manufacturers have achieved a little
more in the way of obtaining better riding
| cars In fact most OF their efforts in
| the last few years. since they were re-
| lieved of their chief worries regarding
motor construction, have been directed
toward producing better looking and
Many Convertible Bodies.
The various convertible bodies found
at the show bear testimony to the amount
OF thought the designers have given in
the last year to the problem OF producing
the most comfortable car possible. These
bodies may be used in either an open
roadster effect or as coupes. 1t is possible
to make the change in the body with
very little trouble.
Much has been accomplished in the
designing of extra tonneau seats that
fold entirely out OF the way when they
are not in use. Compartments in the
back of the front seats and In the ton
neau floor are used to hide the idle seats
in several instances.
| In equipping their products with the
latest devices designed for the comfort
and convenience of the motorist the
manufacturers have outdone all of their
previous efforts. "One-man'' tops form
probably one of the most notable i'm
provements in this respect.
/ While there have been no noticeable
changes in motor construction beyond
the increase in small bore, high-speed
engines, there have been brought out
within the year some important me
chanical changes in the cars. Chief of
these are a two-speed rear axle, which
Is on display in one section at the show,
and an electric gear shifting device,
which also is exhibited In such a man
ner that the public may see its work.
ings.
/ The show that continues all this week
will give an opportunity for the local
motorists to see the various models
ranged side by side 50 as to permit in
telligent discrimination in the matter Of
choice The setting for the display is
all that could be asked.
1 well-informed statesmen will be on
hand to assist the prospective pur-
| chaser in learning all there Is to know
about the various cars.
| MuaicaI Concerts . Feature.
A feature of the show will be the
musical concerts every afternoon and
evening by the u. s. Marine Band un-
der the leadership of Lieut.. Santlemann.
Thursday night has been designated as
society night, on which occasion the
price of admission will be doubled. Last
year society night proved one Of the
i features of the show and for this reason
it was decided to repeat the affair again
this year.
The show committee. to the members Of
| which credit is due for the arrangement