Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-29
FIRST AUTO IN RICHMOND
PIONEER DEALER TELLS
OF EARLY EXPERIENCES
Both Man and Feast Shicd at Strange
Traveller of the High

Richmond IS rapidly becoming the
larses, auIcmohiic cen.er Of the South.
mobile dealer OF the city. who has seen
sthe motor car business grow from zero
10 It's present proportions.
MIR. DlcnneT began selling cars when
the horses shcd at The strange piece
OF mechanism that usurped ,hcir
rights in he highway and when the
farmer looked upon the motor car as
his worst enemy.
Those were trying days." said Mr.
Blenner. in reminiscent mood tn"
Tor us dealers TO realize that some day
there would be no more horses travel
ing on the ravcments. and that ~"
lnctor-driven vehicle would prac:icatl\
change tho traffic map IL such thinG
can nc considered pos siblc.
Brin.s In First Car.
II was back in 1879 that the first
automobile was brought to EicEniund
to be sold. 1t took some time TO ne;:"-
II was n curiosity and people cane
for miles around TO see tho hrrsciCss
carriage. that is what they allied X
then. Most people We're afraid II Il.
They locked at i, Very :nucQ rs he
small boy looks III tho raging .,pi. IN
The cage "a. the circus
Recommendations Were not 20 BE-
though, OF because for one Ting there
wasn't any voluatccr who cared 60
,isls his neck i'll tho strange vehicle.
y WAS we'll enough 10 stand back ma
{, ride WAS impossible.
This difficulty, however WAS over
come after a number or trips through
the streets OF Richmond. and il wasn't
long before some OF those WHO mani
Tested 4 curiosity in the automobile
wanted to take ride.
Thousands in City Now.
That substantially describes III"
carly days OF the automobile in Eich-
Inonl. Today there are several thou
sand OF them III operation in the city.
The horse has practically been driven
from the highway Tile business firm
known. The truck has displaced the
delivery wagon drawn by horses. and
the pleasure ear has taken the place
oc tho one-horse shay. the depot bus
and the piano box buggy. Nj this has
come about since 1929.
Looking back over these years, ono
Is compelled 20 stop in wondcrrlont
and comprehend what has been accom-
pi;Shcd in motor construction. In those
days there were but one or two fac
tories making :lotor-dr!Ven vehicles.
tories making automobiles exclusive
~ and more Khan 2.oN0 factories en-
gagged in making tile rubber tires for
Vast Army l. Employed.
Il; s.agccrs the imagination to con
S.I,r The vast army OF men tina; lin IS
employment III the building OF auto
;,non!!ss one factory III Detroit now
I.rS moro LnstH 5puuv WtthNcl on KS
payroll. and that - but one factory.
rho rubber plants furnish employment
10 millions OF others. one plant in
Akron. Ohio. employs $4,000 men max
ing tires There are more than sixty
iact"rie: there ana the plant that is
known rs the baby" plant. because
% its recent formation, employs 1900.
Men work in shifts Of eight hours
Tho improvements that have been
made in automobiic building arc too
numerous "a cnumcratc. They can best
Ic seen and IN opportunity for this
VIII be afforded next week when tho
annual automobile show OF the Rich
IroMd Automobile Trade Associd ton
;tkcS place in :hc CirayS' Armory The
committee has arranged ain entertain
intnt program that will amuse and
The decorations ~ the hall will ht
:uch as 20 win admiration of the lara,
crowd which the show COMMITTEES /,
arranging to entertain"