The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-03-26
Opening Night Scores Big
Successes Different
Makes Exhibited.
SALES BOOM SURE
New Features of Mechanical
Design Please Car
Patrons.

vention Hall last night with several
thousand motor enthusiasts jam
ming the aisles.
Bright, snappy cars, the finished
products of a great industry, lined
the aisles in neat array. Thirty
feet from the floor hung a trans
parent ceiling through which vari-
colored lights shown down on the
novel display. An air Of half sup
pressed excitement prevailed; the
cars were surrounded by groups of
buy" look: and intermittingly there
sounded the "toot" of some auto
siren over the buzz Of motor talk.
It Is evident that car builders
realize the time Is ripe for the big
gest display possible. Dealers re-
spond to the show call this year as
never before and as a result the
thirty-eight different makes set a
new record. The total number of
cars on display. approxima.ing $50,
Is also a new high mark. The ac-
cessory dealers also set a record
mark, and these were only limited
because OF space. Had more avail
able space been supplied. 1t could
have easily been filled. it is thought.
TWenty-three accessory dealers
nave their wares on exhibition.
Values Better This Year.
Car values at the show this year
gives the prospective purchaser
more for his money than he has
ever received before. The automo-
bile now being shown is a finished
product It is a necessity in daily
life and the business man, the pro-
fessional man and the general pub
lie. which includes the butcher. the
baker. and the candlestick maker,
to use an old saying, finds the car
a real adjunct to business. The au-
tomobile show gives them a real
idea Of what manufacturers are do
ing in order to put their output be-
fore the buying public in a COM
plete and comprehensive manner.
Broadly speaking, there are two
classes of visitors at an automobile
show. and the division was appar-
ent at the opening. There were
those who seemed interested chief
ly in motor design and mechanical
construction, and those to whom
the body design and comfort in
fittings appeared the chief issue
Not only women visitors, but many
men. as well, took II for granted
that the mechanism of the modern
car has been brought so close to
perfection that they need not wor-
ry as to cars ability to run sue
cessfulfy and display qualities or
endurance. Improvements in bod
les revealed at the show indicate
that the refnements for 1922 are
chiefly comfort rehnements. This
means that the enclosed type finds
greater popularity than ever be-
fore. Better and neater fittings,
moro leg room. paint and enamel
for which greater durability is
claimed are some of the features
noted. Still more cars are hung
low this season, following the trend
of 1921. This form of construction
eliminates side sway and much 'un-
necessary vibration. 1t will be
noticed that bodies have larger win
dows than previous seasons, and 10
a degree which makes vision prac-
tically as free and unobstructed as
with an open car.
A wilder variety Of colors both
in exterior and interior dnishings
is to be found this season, but in
the majority Of these new color
Ings durability has not been sacri-
feed. It is well known that pastel
shades will not stand the sun and
bad weather as we'll as the deeper
tones. One thing is certain, taken
as a whole, the body display Is bet
ter and more alluring than at any
show in automobile history.
The Increased number of low
priced couPes and sedans is inter-
esting. In 1919 enclosed types COM
prised only 10 per cent of the total
production Of the United States
and in 1920 this rose to II pei
cent; 1921 was considerably great
er, and for 1922 1t is estimated that
more than q quarter of the cars
produced will be closed Jobs.
As for the automobile enthusiast
who seeks out new features of me-
chanical design he will see any
number of new applications and i'm
provements both on. the complete
chassis shown and in the accessory
display as well. Without attempt
ing to be too technical. IL may be
mentioned that improvements in lu-
IRRIGATION systems are quite notable
and are bound to attract the atten-
tion of the person whose tempera-
ment can not stand car squeaks and
mechanical "canaries."
A large corps Of decorators be-
gan work on the hall last wednes-
day. The entire ceiling and four
walls OF the building were con-
verted into f1re-proof material. This
step was taken to prevent any
possibility OF fire.
Included among the new makes
on display are the Durant and Kis-
sci cars, shown for the first time
at a local show. Much interest
was displayed In the Durant, one
Of the lowest priced cars on the
market. The Kissel car. it Is
thought, received a happy debut
into local motordom.
The show will last all this week
closing on the night Of May 1. The
show will open tomorrow at 1886
in the morning until 1880 al
night. -.
Passenger car exhibitors and
what they sell are as follows: Un-
Eerer Motor Co., Velie; Semmes
.Moto- Co.. Dodge; II. B. Leary. jr..
Maxwell Chalmers; Neumeyer Motor
Co, Mitchell: District Oakland Co..
Oakland; Stanley Horner. Buick;
Parkhurst Motor Co, Paige Jewett;
I Hurley Motor, Nash; Bartram Motor
lincoln; T. V. T. Motors Corp, Ma
mon; e. J. Quinn Motor Sales Co,
wescott; The Trew Motor Co., REQ
Peerless; Oldsmobile Sales Co., Olds-
mobile; Gibson Motor Co., Cole;
Foss Hughes Company. Pierce
Arrow: Wayne Smith & Co.. Gard
ner: walker Motor Co., Lafayette
Jordan; District Moto- Co, Premier
!, Moon; Thaden Motor Sales, Auburn;
n L. Jackson, winton; Franklin
Motor car Co. franklin; washing