Evening star., 1930-12-07
THE a tom bile industry
4 is stalking its all, or at least

is stalking its all, or at least
very nearly its all, on the
coming motor car shows
More than ever before are the de-
tails of the approaching exhibits
being carefully made, Everything
possible is being done to stir ur
interest and enthusiasm.
More than 100 exhibitors OF ac-
cessories, parts, sundries and shop
equipment will show their latest
products at the 31st annual Ma
tional Automobile Show in Grand
Central Palace, New York, Janu-
ary 3 to 10. The great majority
of these also will exhibit a few
weeks later at the Chicago show
which will be held from January
"a to 81. Combined with 54 makes
OF complete passenger cars, COM
q ercial vehicles and taXicab mod
els. the aggregation will be most
complete and representative OF
the industry.
Interest in Accessories.
Considering that the accessory,
narts and tire industry has a
wholesale value of more than
S2,O81 100000 annually, it is obvi-
Gus that an exposition of acceS-
sories and parts alone is of ma
tional interest. When the latest
complete cars are combined with
such an exhibition, the result is
perhaps the greatest annual in
dustrial exposition on the calen-
dar.
There are more than 117,000
dealers and 1000 wholesalers in
the United States who sell cars,
trucks and equipment. Naturally,
the competition is keen in every
locality. To keep business moving,
and to meet CON- petition, dealers
must handle modern products,
which explains Why so many
thousands of them make annual
trips to the New York or Chicago
show.
Pausing for moment to give a
thought to the fact that dozens of
industries produce raw and fin
iShed materials which enter into
automobile manufacture, the abb
solute necessity of the shows is
apparent. A large percentage of
people attend the national expo
Sitions in order to study the posi-
bilitieS of contributing to and sell
ing goods or services to the auto
motive industry.
=. However each season new cars
are purchased by the thousand to
replace obsolete models. This is
not so much a matter of fashion
and keeping up with the mode as
the idea Of greater economy. Cars
OF the current season cost much
less to run than the cars of yes
terday, both in fuel and repairs.
Many Brand-New Exhibits.
Reports of representatives of
the management of the National
Automobile Shows, who have been
making trips to various automo-
bile and accessory factories, indi-
cate that there is much more
which is brand new for 1881 in
the way of refinements and acceS-
sories than the average motoriSt
might believe. The consensus is
that seldom has any national
show produced as much in the
way OF actually new accessories
as the forthcoming exhibitions
promise. Of particular interest to
motorists is the fact that these
devices a. for the most part,
really useful additions and not
mere decorations.
For example, the radiator grilles
these beautifully chromium
plated screenS-not only enhance
the appearance of the cars in
their new rakish lines, but serve
a useful purpose as well in afford
ing very real protection to eXpen-
Sive radiators. Several manufac-
turers will display grilles suitable
for any make of car, and at least
one manufacturer has gone so far
as to match and to f1t them to the
headlamp lenses as well, thus af-
fording headlamp protection.
Another entirely new accessory
with strictly utilitarian value is
what is known as fender
guide" This is a slender rod.
chromium-plated and topped d
either with a small chromium ball
or brilliant red and green lenses,
for attachment to the crest of the
front tenders, as an indication to
the driver that his tenders are
clear of other vehicles in con-
gested traffic.
Twin electric signals are rapidly
taking the place of the single
horns that have served in the
past. Any number of makers
have brought out m a C h e d
horns, and here again utility is
the prime consideration, because
the matched tone is less offensive
but ever SO much more effective
particularly in traffic Compressed
air operated signals, such as have
become familiar on big busses, now
are available for use on private
cars as well. One maker has
brought out a vacuum operated
signal of the type which is just as
blatant as its air-operated broth
ers, but considerably less compli-
Gated.
HeadIamp Bulbs Larger.
Thanks to the adoption of new
headlight legislation by nearly al
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