Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-10
1000 AUTO FANS
AT THE BIG SHOW
DESPITE RAIN
Exhibition, Gorgeous and
Amazing, Fills Visitors
With Delight
A GLITTER1NG SPECTACLE

more persons who stormed the doors o
Convention Hall today during the early
hours Following the opening Of the biggest
automobile show Philadelphia has evei
seen. True. the men and women who
We're there for the opening at 10 O'Clock
were not dressed as for a social function
but even their umbrellas. raIncoats and
rubbers had no effect on tho gorgeous
display. They Just tripped along, happy
and smiling, from the highest priced car
to the humblest accessory
The setting is at Convention HILL Broa d
street and Allegheny avenue. IT'S a spec
tacle that will never be forgotten by
any one that secs II. and it's expected by
the Philadelphia Automobile Trade AS
snclat'on. under whose auspices tho show
is being held. that more than 10000
Philadelphans Will pass through the
doors before they close on Saturday night.
Z Tho scarlet. white. green, orange and
every other color Of milady's gowns and
clcnks. passing up and down the ases
like the colors OF huge Kaleidoscope. the
million and half dollars worth Of spark.
ling cars at every turn. the rise and fall
Of continuous stream of chatter. gos-
sip and business. and the lively airs Of
sO-picce orchestra, all add to the brill
llancy Of what is admitted ON every hand
TO be the beginning OF what is going to
be the most successful Of all the IL auto
shows that have been held In this city.
It's worse than an afternoon aboard the
good shin oscar " to listen to all the
theories eNpounded at the show. Every
one present has an idea, and every one
who listens to the expounding of this idea
seems I, have another idea.
WONDERS OF BIG SHOW.
Ten million questions have been asked
SO far, say statesmen in tcstifying to the
success of the show. There has never
been so much interest in the public in the
latest fads, additions and improvements
In the equipment OF the various makes
This. say officials of the show. is due to
the fact that the average price of auto
mobiles will only be around $500 during
the year 1915. Where one man owned his
own set OF wheels last year, three will
own them this year, say sales managers.
And the cars this year will make last
years cars look like nothing at all $50
say the sales managers). But be that as
II may
THAT locomotive there reminds me Of
an Oriental blackboard | used to have 10
wears ago. said one man. pointing to n
huge "dreadnought" sparkling under n
bright coat of scarlet enamel and Gisten-
ing with polished nickle "hxin's."
ITO start my blackboard | had to reach
down and give the fiywhecl Flip while
I held on to the halter | made for II. I
had to let the little thing get underway
before | could hop In. II / jumped In too
soon II would stop. Now. look at the |
paces fellow can put his car through, |
Just by touching buttons" and the two |
men then 'chugged" along in a shower of
technical terms and scientific theories as
they hung over the huge car behind the |
rail.
STAGING THE BEAUTY SHOW
II has been n tremendous proposition |
to stage this beauty show" OF modern |
All questions of expense have
been forgotten by the committee |
II charge I'm their efforts to put the dis
Iiays across"
The first difficulty that had to be over
'ome was the provision OF sufficient floor
pace. At least 10000 feet of lumber
lad been used in adding to the accommo-
iations OF the huge hall, so that an acre
md a half OF display room has been made
lvailable. Another problem that faces the
committee was the proper heating of the
,uilding. A network OF miles of piping |
las been laid through the hall Twelve
ons OF linoeum conceal the fresh plank
ng. Countless rolls OF gay bunting have
'een unraveled and draped through the
luge show place to relieve the black and
white. which Is the prevailing color
cheme. Statues. statuettes and marbles
II every kind are half hidden or boldly
displayed on every hand Most of them
ire reproductions, OF mRsterplec-- ancient
md modern.
The most magnificent of all the decora-
ions Is a huge fresco. Is feet high and
40 yards long, representing the popua-
ion of a whole town In the eCstacies of
irecian dance. Folks don't take to the I
these days to do their dane
ng. and that Is Just where the fresco
as significance at the automobile show.
or where in the old days the city folks
Tere drawn TO the open air and country
" the dance and other sports. for which
Is used as the symbol the modern
utomobile now whirls them along the
ountry roads In the pure air and sun
hine. This also Is explained. TO any one
nat takes the pains to ask. by the gra-
lous salesman.
VISITORS AMAZED.
Clasps are as common at the show as
OF pleasure over the new
iodels on exhibition. Visitors were
nocked speechless at first as they crowd
around the gorgeous booths and gazed
Z what is to be the mode in motor
raveI for the year 1916 Many a polite
alesman had TO stop TO catch his breath
r rub his tired Jaws as he attempted
D take fresh start In answering the
easeless flow OF questions that came rat
ling across the rails at every booth.
Everybody picks at me So" said one
alesman. taking a hasty look at a near
y mirror to make sure that his shiny
air had not been disturbed by the |
Humorous visitors. lone snatches at my
another at my elbow, while
mother is batting me on the back and
ollering In my ear, yer cars a. right. |
a. right" And the salesman puck
red his brow TO emphasize his disap-
rovai of such violent methods.
In the number OF exhibitors the 1916
now Is far beyond anything that has
zen held in previous years. Models OF
ars and accessories are being shown by
lore than 100 concerns, which is twice |
le number that held forth at the first
now. years ago. Most OF the cars are
as-driven. There are only three cleo
'ic makes, and a lone steamer-not much
ke the original steamers" 10 be sure,
lat looked like a large cloud OF steam
bling down the street.
12-CYLINDER MODELS
For the fret time is shown the new 12-
yIlnder models. There are not a few
-lshtr." while the good old ''sixes" and
foers'' prove once more their stability
nd popularity by composing the major
art OF the exhibition. Styles in bodies
ave varied more in the present exhibit
on than for a number OF years. A
sature Is the predominance OF demount-
bic tops. which have proved so popular
nd which have done so much 70 make
Is automobile an all-yesr-round car. |
oaaster types have had great attention
wished on them by builders this year
nd are expected TO be more popular
IAN ever,