The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-27
AUTO DEALERS EXPECT UNUSUAL
 YEAR OF SALES

Automobile dealers are becoming more and more confident that the 1919 season is to be featured by the exceeding of supply by demand, ana with the opening of the seventh an nual Bridgeport automobile show set for next Monday, March 3, they are warning prospective customers that the early bird will catch the worm this year, if never before. One deal CT, whose case epitomizes the general condition, reports that he has had a greater number of prospective buyers consult him about his models than he has had in any other stretch of 30 days since he opened his shop
 Representatives in Bridgeport for two of the most popular cars on the market-which are to be exhibited at the automobile show-decIared today that after April 1 their business would be confined to the resale cf secondhand cars.
 Tt appears that we will be sold out of our allotment in all models long before Aprn!' one of the dealers asserted. The demand for automo- piles this year seems to be greater than ever, and 1t comes at a time, when by reason cf not having yet effected 8 recovery from the restrictions wartime con ditions imposed, the manufacturers are caught short on production and will be unable to come anywhere near meeting the demand
 Automobile manufacturers have been engaged, as everyone knows, in the specialties of wartime produc- ton; have been turning out tractors special motors, armored bodies and thousand lesser things for purposes of war One manufacturer, for in- stance. produced in January only 80 passenger cars in place of his usual 300. Time will be required for the return of peace time production e passenger vehicles and the 1919 sea son will have come and gone befor- the completion of the commerclaI transformation.
 Therein is seen a distinct advan- tage in the holding of 1919 auto
 mobile exhibits at an early date, and Bridgeport is right in the van in this respect Its show will be among the first half dozen to be held in the country, allowing this part of Con necticut to inspect the models in search of the desired qualities, and make a choice before the great rush begins. Even the possibility of ones being disappointed despite an early opportunity to make a choice is re lieved by the chance he will have of going to some less wide-awake com munity to make his purchase.
 Three to six months has been de manded by the 4anufacturers for the revolution of their business They must make extensive changes in plant arran cement, in machinery, and in working personnel to effect a change back to the old time standards. Prac- ticalIy all the standard makes of cars will appear at the Bridgeport show with many welcome improvements. but few radical changes. Yet, in the opinion of some who are in a posi- ton to speak authOritively concerning the industry, it is rather surprising that in view Of the high cost of Hv- ing and materials and the difficulties which the automobile industry exper- fenced during the period of rush war construction that the average price Is not considerably higher today. Qa1ified representative of all the leading Bridgeport dealers will be at the automobile s11ow-both the passenger car show at the Armory and the motor truck show at the Ca. sino-to discuss the problems of the individual purchaser with the sole ob- feet of helping him to find the auto mobile "soul mate" which he seeks The exhibitions in both auditoriums will begin Monday night and will continue daily from l to 1o:30 p. m until Saturday, when the demonstra- ton will end with appropriate cere-