Connecticut western news., 1914-02-19
HUSTLING BENJAMIN
Something About the Best-known A
 Merchant in the State.


 makes two blades of grass grow whSre only one grew before. then surely he is no less one who starts a new business enterprise in IA community aud by his own industry. perseverance aud busi- ness acumen, develops it to proportions that place it in the front rank of similar institutions in the state. That is what Roscoe Benjamin, the ''auto merohant," who made the term, speed merchant," fla miliar far and near, has done in Win sted.
 Starting from small beginning, he has built up business thut draws the highest class of customers from all over Connecticut and outside the state, and his emporium-the floor space of which, on it's four floors aud basements, may be computed by the acre-has no superior in the state. either in magnitude, c6h- venience and completeness of it's ap- pointments, extent of stock carried, LOT infinite variety of automobiles and hofee vehicles and accessories down to the minutest parts. 1t Is said of Rosdbe Benjamin that he is Winsted's iveli@ss merchant, who draws more out. of-to]n people into Winsted than all the reAt. that he is booster, who is constantly doing all he can to boost his own busi- ness, his own town, and the interests of everyone in it," He believes in doinMa little better than any other merchant can or will do, and does it in excellent taste and with excellent judgment, He is never satisfied with a simple repesi- 5ion of the previous years business. Last year he increased his business te double that of the year before, and ia confidently laying plans to double last years business this year. With this eud in view he has vastly increased the oa- pacity of hls big establishm by the addition of large ell, giving 1t another half.acre of floor space, every inch pf winch is occupied by stock. He has noN practically three entire buildings in one. and every floor of every building is fuAg occupied, every room being devoted te some special department of the trade.
 
 wareroom being filled with goods of the same kind. Here are automobiles. la double rows. bright and new-Cadillaoa% Buiols, Pope Hartfords, Fords. etc., in every design and capacity for pleasure cars; trucks aud commercial cars made by the same makers besides the Adams and White trucks. In other rooms you find bewildering array of wagons. dn carriages, surreys, etc. Further along wilderness of sleighs, cutters, bohs. and 80 on. Still other rooms are dexnted to harness, in endless variety-team hsr- ness. grocery harness, farm harness, ,driv- ing harness, single and double. express harness, with every grade of halters and horse goods galore, large space be- ing given to robes and blankets in plush. silk-plush, steamer rugs, and Galway robes, that range from $4 to $36, beauta- ful to look upon and enduring. In one big show room are automobile parts and essentials-tires, tubes. presto-lite tanks gasolene pails, tubs, soaps, trunks, trunk racks, straps, etc., with n regular auto clothing department of coats, gloves. caps and goggles. But to attempt to' enumerate the contents of the Benjamin establishment would be to inventory the stock-in trade of an auto factory. wagon factory, harness factory aDsl fur nishinR department store, all in one, for7 Benjamin has everything that spPar- tains to all these. And ,it isfcne of his standing propositions that if he does nu happen to have any particular article that any particular customer may hap pen to want. he will get it, no matter what it is.
 Some idea of the amount of business done by done by Mir. Benjamin last year may be gleaned from the fact that dur ing the twelve months he sold 325 auto mobiles, to say nothing of the wagons. carriages. .sleighs. etc. and the accessores. which constitute a large business by themselves. But selling alone is not the whole of the Benjamin policy. MT. Ben- jamin says he is always ready for trade of any kind, and twill trade for anq- thing that does mt eat." But even tiris qualification does not always bind him. for he is a well.known horse fanoier and has a reputation as one of the best "hitchers " in New England, when 1t comes to showing fancy horses. He has at present, in his barn, some fast Ceoord horses-but that has nothing to do with his auto and wagon business Has tact as "trader" has brought into hsspos- session some rare and valuable rehcs, OF wheels and runners, including one par ticular sleigh, more than 900 years old. that would delight the soul of the dis cerning antiquary.
 The new part of the Benjamin estab- lishment is given up entirely to antomo- piles on every floor. The elevator is enclosed, and every point of .oonven-