New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-05
AUTO EXHIBITORS
REST UP FOR A
STRENUOUS WEEK
Only Activity at Palace Was by
Those Whose Displays
Arrived Late.
UTILITY is THE KEYNOTE
Exhibition Discloses Effort OF
Designers to Add to Com
fort of User.

Exhibitors at the automobile show IN
the Grand Central Palace. which opened
on Saturday and. in theatrical parlance,
PLAYED TO crowded houses both after
noon and evening" found time for a
breathing spell yesterday.
While the exhibition. 80 far as complete
ness Is concerned, was perhaps more
nearly ready when the doors were thrown
open than any previous affair of the sort
there still remained lot Of work to do'
and those whose exhibits had iailed 10
reach the city in time for sausfactof|
placing up to noon on Saturday spent yes
terdav getting ready for the business OF
the week.
Everything will be shipshape for TINS
morning, however. and the lnteres'eu
concerns look forward to busy anu
profitable week Not many of the hrst
DAVIS crowd Of intending buyers are sat
isfed with one inspection OF the cars. and
while some sales were registered on SAT
urday, they were few in comparison with
what will be done to-day and throughout
the week
Utility is the dominant note OF the show.
Even the specially built show cars are
practical vehicles. designed for speci"c
use. vehicles Of this class are closeu
cars. with interior fittings OF the most
luxurious character. Yet only in the IN
teriors do they differ from runabout ana
touring cars Of the same makes Inc
onerating mechanism IL the same IN all
cases.
With scarcely an exception. designers
have worked with the comfort OF passeh-
gers in mind. In a large number OF cases
If has been made possible for the driver
10 reach his seat from the steering wheel
side. To render this possible extra tires
a.e carried elsewhere than on the running
board. This placing Of spare tires In the
rear is only one. although the principal
step in the direction OF clearing the run
ming board Of the impedimenta when IL
has formerly carried-battery. tool boxes
etc. The result is very pleasing.
Touring cars are mostly of the five-pas-
senger variety. the rear seats being roomy
and with thick cushions that are lower al
the back than in front TO afford greater
comfort Where the touring cars are ue-
signed TO carry several passengers the
auxiliary seats differ from the make
shift affairs OF other years. some OF
them are provided with arms and they
are Of ample size and have an appear
ance of permanency. In some or the
closed cars the rear seats are almost Ike
armchairs.
nd
driver has been looked after very care
fully. He Is provided with electric nghts
in the dash. which enable him to examine
all OF his gauges, indicators, etc; SELF
starters are practically universal. and
centre control being widely used he mas
no trouble to reach either his gear shlltihs
or emergency brake lever. Thus he mas
everything requisite for the operation ana
control Of the car under his eye or at
hand
Bv comparison with the show OF year
ago great changes have taken place III
exterior lines The "streamllne body' 50
widely heralded, is really here. There are
some cars which have not conformed 10
the new movement, but they are in the
minority.
While there are perhaps fewer chasses
and motors shown than at previous SHOWS
the ones on exhibition undoubtedly marx
an advance They show the mechanism
more clearly. and the working models
consisting OF the motor and transmission
run with smoOthness ana silence thal
is little short of marvellous. Inc cut
,;,o quay NJ narts TO show their mechan-
lem &c very complete and illuminating.
Wire wheels may be coming pu. '"e
time when they may be regarded az
standard is still in the future. AS yet
their use Is confined almost entirely 70
large cars. The dstinctiveness or these
wheels is undeniable, and the cars on
which they are found are among the most
striking in the show.