The Detroit times., 1915-01-20
MOTOR SHOW
VISITORS GIVEN
REAL EDUCATION
Both NOvices and Experts Learn
Much by Examining Stripped
Chassis
BIG EXHIBIT BUILDING
PACKED TUESDAY NIGHT
Days Attendance Figured At
Close To 10000 and Interest
Is Keen

! Ever pick watch or clock to
pieces, when you were a kid, of about
fourth-grade age, just to see what
there was inside that made il go?
That same childish desire to probe
into an unseen power is bringing
crowds OF spectators about the
stripped chassis on exhibition at the
Detroit Automobile Dealers associa-
tion's annual show, In the building
of the Detroit Lumber Co., West JEFF
ferson and Junction-aves. The great
majority of the visitors, whether they
be automobile experts, or persons who
have never driven car, are anxious
to look into the organs of an auto
mobile, and have a man speak to them
about floating rear axIes, worm gear
drives, and swinging pivots.
There are several or these stripped
chassis at the automobile show. They
are exposed so that every working
part OF the mechanism can be seen.
Electric lights are installed in the
most intricate parts are plainly Wis
ible.
I've watched crowds go up to
these stripped chassis exhibits all
day" said Walter Wilmot, manager
of the show, Tuesday night, land the
striking feature about them is that
both the men in the automobile bus
mess and those who know compare
lively little about a motor car, get an
education while watching a machine
| in operation. The auto men see me-
chanical features In other machines
that may not be in the cars they
handle They hear another salesman
talk, and, perhaps. they pick up a
few new ideas on selling talks.
"The men who know little about
machine are prompted by curious
desire TO find out all about the or
ganism OF a motor car. The man In
charge OF an exhibit is eager TO stimu-
late interest in his particular ma
chine. and loses no time in deliver
ing what is as good as an engineers
lecture on the various features OF the
car he handles. Before this show is
over, I'll wager that thousands OF
people whose only previous knowl-
edge OF an automobile came from see
| ing them pass on the street, will be
talking with familiarity about modern
! features of automobile construction y
| II is estimated that between $4,000
and 10000 persons attended the show
! Tuesday The weather In the even
| ing was the most enjoyable since the
display opened, and the crowds
| packed every aisle In the big build
| ing. According TO Manager Wilmot,
men in charge of the various displays
are reporting numerous sales and
keen interest in the latest models.
The old and the new OF automobile
construction furnish an impressive
example OF the rapid development OF
the motor car industry, and the dis
play OF first cars built, in the midst
of the latest models OF great manufac-
turers, Is commanding the interest OF
almost everyone who passes the turn
stiles at the big show. The first cars
built by a half dozen men whose
names are now among the leaders of
automobile makers are grouped to-
gether in one section OF the first floor.
These odd-appearing buggy-like- con-
! trivances are fianked on all sides by
all that is modern In the manufacture
OF motor cars. The story OF the phe-
nomenal growth OF the auto manufac-
turing industry, as told by the exhibi-
ton OF the first models and the latest
ones, is one OF the big features OF the
show.
That the manufacturers OF automo-
biles are catering to the wants OF the
man Of ordinary means. eager TO give
him everything that is modern and
accepted in auto construction, is eti.
denced by the numerous displays of
low-priced and moderate-priced cars
of the enclosed type. Time was when
the only enclosed machines were the
llimousines of the high-priced class.
The Detroit dealers exhibit shows
that almost every maker OF popular
priced cars is Offering an enclosed
model at a price little higher than
that of the open model.