Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-16
AMERICAN MOTORS
EXHIBITED At LYON
First "SampIe Fair" Ever
Held in French City a De-
Cided Success.
FAIR BUILDINGS ERECTED
ON GREAT RIVER QUAYS
Smallness of American Accessories
Display to Be Deplored, Con-
sui Jones Reports.

| The Sample fair recently held al
Lyon, France, was the first exposition
of its kind ever held in that city, and
despite difficulties of production and
transportation was a decided success
according to the American consul, DR.
John Edward Jones, native of this
city. One of the features of the ex-
position was the display of American
automobiles
| THE idea of organizing sample
fair did not take definite shape until
toward the middle of the year 1915,
says DR.. Jones in his report to the De-
| partment of Commerce, but it at once
received the support of the mayor and
! municipal administration of Lyon. and
later obtained the patronage of the
| president of the republic and the min
| istry of commerce. A fund of approx
mately 100000 was subscribed by the
| Societe Lyonnaise pour lie Development
| du Commerce ct de Industry en-
France. which company later incorpo-
Ideal Exposition Site.
THE extensive quays of the Rhone
and Saone. which streams have their
confluence at Lyon. afforded a splendid
site for such an exposition as was
contemplated, and it was upon these
mammoth quays that the fair buildings
were erected. The quays of the Rhone.
where a majority of the buildings were
placed, are forty-two feet wide and
l IT.
We're $50 stands or booths. occupying
an area of nearly 1900 square yards
right in the heart of the city The
Lyon fair was open to all manufac-
| turers of friendly and neutral coun-
tries
In speaking of the automobile and
accessory display Consul Jones said:
THE manufacture of automobiles
ranks among the greatest of French
industries. France was one of the ear
Hest in the field and still occupies an
enviable position. At the Lyon fair
there were represented no less than
twenty-five different makes of touring
cars and twenty three trucks and in
dustrial machines, and twenty-three
firms exhibited automobile accessories.
Attracted by American Cars.
Among the automobiles of foreign
manufacture were five American cars
and as many Italian. The American
cars attracted a great deal of atten-
ton and ELECTED favorable comment,
especially as regards their latest i'm
provements, economy of operation and
low price. American automobiles are
getting Arm foothold in France, and
to hold the market only the very best
| type of representatives should be en-
ployed Practically all the best makes
of French cars were represented, and
| the agents report an encouraging out
| look for the future One of the features
of the French car exhibit was the ex-
| cellence of the finish, even on the
trucks. This was remarked by the rep
Iresentative of an American car, who
observed that while American manu-
facturers could undoubtedly equal the
finish. 1t would mean a material in
higher scale OF wages prevailing in the
United States
Few Accessories From q. g.
Tn automobile accessories there were,
as stated. twenty-three firms repre-
scented. nearly all French. These ex-
hibits were placed partly In the PaIais
de Commerce and partly In the automo-
bile section Of the fair. Practically
| every part Of the automobile and the
nc" luNcuIlOnb were QlSptayeO, as 1ar
as tho French machines were con-
cerned. and there were also in evidence
accessories from Italy. Switzerland and
England. and some from the United
States. Tho practical absence Of auto
mobile accessories Of American manu-
facture Is to be deplored, and 1t is i'm
portant that at the next fair the United
States be well represented in this par
tfcular line.
The bicycle and motor cycle exhibits
were shown with the automobiles The
exhibit was limited, especially in the
motor cycle line"
DR.. Jones was for a number of years
| connected with The Star reportorial
staff. resigning to accept an appoint
| ment in the consular service At the
outbreak Of the present European war
he was the American consul at Genoa,
Italy. 1t was through his efforts that q
large number Of Americans were en-
| abled to reach this country. following
the purchase by him of a vessel to
| bring them home. He returned to this
| country about the first of the present
year, and. after a brief rest, was pro-
| NOTED to the post at Lyon.