Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-11
uTO BUILDERS SAY
SHOW Is INAUGURAL
Or PROSPEROUS ERA
Optimism Is Keynote of An
nuaI Exhibit, Which Is
Bigger and Better Than
Ever. :

Optimism is the keynote OF the automo-
hIie show now being held under the
auspices OF the Philadelphia Automobile
Trade Association in the Metropolitan
Building. Broad and wallace streets II
there - Business depression and other
signs OF hard times, evidence of II is
sadly lacking at the greatest exhibit OF
pleasure cars ever arranged In this coun-
try
Manufacturers, dealers and others inter-
eated IN the industry are confident that
The future has great things In store, and
they are not a bit worried about what
tho year 1915 will bring. Experts at the
chow say there ls no evidence OF hard
times manifest
Some time before the doors of the great
show building were opened to the public
today long line of automobiles stretched
down Broad street and along the side
streets There was no sign of hard times.
Every one seemed to be prosperous, and
no chow ever held in this city offered
such encouraging business conditions as
this one.
SHOW A BANNER ONE.
when the show was talked OF for this |
year there were number Of the men,
bers OF the association did not believe
such a show would be successful in view
OF tho reported "hard times" However,
the more optimistic of the tradesmen felt
the reports were exaggerated and set to
work to make the 1915 show banner one
They declare they have succeeded with
out question. Evidently from the great
crowd which Is turning out to view the
cars the shows ultimate success need
cause no worry.
Automobile manufacturers are certain
the year 1915 will be one unprecedented
so far as output is concerned. The esti-
mated production for the current year on
a conservative estimate Is $4,000 cars.
That doesn't even bear the earmarks of
pessimisn In 1904, according to United
States census reports there were manu-
factured in this country 22S30 cars
From present indications the record
for attendance made last year will be
exceeded. Show officials are of the opin-
ion that before the close of the show
next Saturday night 100000 persons will
have visited the exhibit.
CARS WORTH s1,OOo.OOO.
Some of the attractive cars which were
on exhibit at the New York Show were
placed this morning, and by nightfall
all Of the exhibits are expected to be in
place.
There are 60 exhibits and five accessory
exhibitors at this years affair.
The cost of the cars is fixed at about .
81. 10000. The lowest priced car in the
Metropolitan building Is 1895, while the
most elaborate will cost $1,000. /
That the Automobile Salon has the fin 4
est display of automobile coachwork ever
seen In this country is the consensus of
opinion expressed by practically ell ex-
perienced motorists who have attended c
The many different cars on exhibition af- 7
ford even the novice an opportunity to c
go into ecstacies, as no two are alike s
In the coachwork of the bodies they
mount 8
1t is this feature of the salon which t
attracts so much attention on the part v
II those motorists who own high-grade s
,ars. They recognize that while the serv- v
ce they receive from their cars depends
argely upon the excellence of the design
md construction of the chassis, the ap-
convenience and comfort Is a
natter of coachwork. 1t is not strange /
therefore, that they devote their princi-
,al attention to the design, equipment
nd finish of the body.
OWNERS DESIGN CARS. c
It is for this reason that It is now c
eneraliy the custom for high-grade p
hasaes and bodies to be bought sepa- A
ateIy The purchaser, after selecting IL
he chassis. consults with the designers O
mployed by the body-builders as to the
lyle of body desired. The work of these !,
esigners is very often that of carrying Z
ut the ideas of the owner, many of n
HON show remarkable taste in the mat r,
ar Of automobile coachwork, so much so
nat the finished product has remark
bly, individual distinctiveness. This is
fe case with a number of the most
eautiful cars shown at the show, Some i
ave been built on order for customers
nd are being shown by special permits
on.
In previous years the most handsome cl
ara shown at the annual exhibition, F.
1ose in which the creative genius and p
xiIlsd workmanship of the coach builder 81
'ere carried out TO the highest degree, 8!
ave been the products of the famous g
European carroseries In recent years
lark you well-the American body A
iaker has come rapidly to the front, "