Evening journal., 1918-01-28
curtain Goes. DOWN
N CITY AUTO SHOW
Largest Crowd oi the Week
at Hotel du Pont for
the Wind Up
DEALERS EXPECTED
TO ORGANIZE TONIGHT

About 1890 o'lock Saturday night the
dupont Hotel orchestra sounded cur
tain" on whatw was, from the exhibitors
point of view, one of the most SUCCESS
full automobile show ever held in Viii
mington.
It was a grea. wind-up. An even
larger crowd than that which thrOng-
ed the hotel Friday night was on hand
30 take a last look at the collection of
the latest fashions in the motor world.
There were, too, in the crowd large
number Of last-minute prospective buy
ers-men and women who neglected
the opportunity earlier in the week 10
make use Of the auto show 10 decide
on the make Of car they will buy, but
who rushed in and tried TO look 'em all
over I'm a couple Of hours Saturday
night.
Everybody was nappy as the show
ended The exhibitors and their sales
men were happy when they looked over
the long list Of good prospects" which
had been gathered during the week,
and which they felt sure would develop
into customers before many more days
have passed; the good prospects were
happy as they strOlled around the hotel
because they were experiencing that
feeling, like which there Is no other,
OF near-ownership Of a new autcmo-
bile; the managing committee was
Happy because everybody else was
happy, and therefore, the committee
men had attained their sole aim In life.
Despite smaller attendance records,
despite wartime conditions and despite
freight congestion which prevented
many new models scheduled for the
Wilmington Show from arriving here
despite all Of these handlcaps, the OK
hibitors were unanimous IN declaring
the show a success. All of them de-
clsred that not Oniy was the number
Of actual sales as large as that Of last
years show. but they relieve that the
ultimate number Of purchasers which
eoOn will visit auto salesrOoms as a
direct result Of the show, will be larg-
er than the same class OF purchasers In
former years.
This feeling extends TO the exhlbi-
tors Of the higher-priced cars as well
ne TO the agents who exhibited models
designed for thinner purses. 10 was
passenger cars and not pleasure
cars" which were bought this year
and the price paid was according to
the needs as well as according 10 the
income Of the purchaser. The folks who
bought new machines. bought them
Tor the definite purpose Of getting
around the city and State quicker thar
they can get around on foot, by street
car or train or by means OF an ole
model auto which wheezes along thS
road at a snails pace and costs a:
much I'm gasoline and repairs as
congressional Investigation.
Really a "War Industry"
Summing all this UP, Harry NJ. Part
ington, manager Of the show. salC
that from an exhibitors point Of view
OF the 1918 show Il was an unqualified
success.
Considering the difficulties which W.
faced In staging this years show, aud
also considering the general conditions
which prevail throughout the country
the show was even greater success
than we had hoped for. IL has shown
Ibelieve, that there Is no doubt now
about the absolute necessity for pas
senger cars under any conditlons-tha
the automobile industry IS a war in
dustry In more ways than one"
According to Mr.. partington ther'
were more sales made this year than a
eny previous local show. The record
show the following cars sold: Fordg
-; Hudson, 1; Lexington, 4; Peerless
4: REQ, 2: Rauoh Lang. 1 Haynes,
Dodge, 2; Looomoblle, Buick, an'
Oakland, 2; In addition to these sale
dealers in tires and sundries reported
heavy sales.
From the show there promises Il
arise a Wilmington Automobile Deal
.ers Association, which will absorb TIN
show association and cement the bond
existing between the dealers as nevc
before. Similar associations exist II
other cities and Il is hoped that at tn
get together" meeting Of the dealer
scheduled TO be held in the rose room
at the hotel tonight this association
win be formally launched.