Evening star., 1934-01-07
AUTO MEN OPEN
MOST ELABORATE
SHOW ON RECORD
Official Start of InduStry'S
Sales Drive Planned With
Great Care.
IMPRESSIVE DECORATIONS
SET OFF NEW MODELS
$4,000 Engineers See Final Results
of Many Months Work at New
York Display.
BY JOHN A. CRONE.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, January 6.-The thirty
fourth national automobile show opened
here today in the most elaborate exposi-
ton ever devised in this country
The modern sale de triomphe, de-
signed by Sam Asch, surpassed In color
and light any exhibit at the Chicago
fair. This display Of the latest crea-
tons Of the largest single manufactur-
ing industry in the United States re-
quired 26 freight cars filled with deco
rative materials, including two carloads
of carpets, and $4,000 electric lights
utilizing 100000 watts.
To bring out in full the beauties of
color, line and style of the latest cars.
trucks and accessories, which filed 157
freight cars, the entire Grand Central
Palace had to be changed. All of its
classical architecture had to be blocked
OIL, so that not single direct light
would glare down on the exhibit. All
the lights show through screens.
The walls are decorated with garden
landscapes to give the impression of
outdoors. The chromium utilized
around the mirrors on the columns is
in keeping with the polished metal sur
faces Of the $50 models exhibited.
Behind the scenes OF this show was
not to mention the work of several
thousand required to make the decora-
tive materials. Long before these peo-
pie started to work, the automotive
manufacturing forces had to perform
their tasks
There are $4,000 automotive engi-
| neers in this country. according to w.
S. PEPPER, chairman Of the metropolitan
section Of the Automotive Engineer,
! Inc. These engineers. most of them
| executives directly concerned with de-
| sign, production and operation-not in
| cluding engineers who might be plant
| foremen or observation-disclosures en-
ployed in 5000 automotive and acces-
sorry plants.
In this city alone there are 1000
engineers. around 5000, are in the De-
| troit area, which includes Detroit,
Cleveland, Toledo and Chicago. If the
plant superintendents and foremen are
included. the total would approximate
| 100, 900.
The oldest of these automotive en-
| gineers. by the way, is Charles E. Dur
yea, who built his first car about 1893
| Mr.. Duryea, who spends most Of his
time in Philadelphia, plans to visit the
| show next week.
The four floors filed with exhibits
| here are the products Of these engineers
| and their thousands OF assistants
Every automobile plant has what is
| known as a General Technical Com
| mittee, which includes Representatives
from the research departments, labora-
! tory testing, foundry, assembly and
| service departments.
Required Many Months.
Before the smallest new idea is used.
1t must be developed by the research
| department. after which it goes to the
| experimental laboratory, which builds
it, and then it goes to the testing de-
| partment. After the tests are COM
| pleted it Is returned to the research de-
partment to be redesigned or fitted in
with the ideas Of the production de-
| partment.
Many of the latest styles and ideas
IN cars required months of work by
thousands of people before they were
shown publicly.
| Streamlining and "knee action" are
the outstanding new designs of the
! show. Engineers believe streamlining
| has altered the design Of cars more
| than it has fulfilled its purpose. It can
| be used effectively in going against
| wind or in still air, but it is useless if
the wind is blowing against the side
| Of the Ger. This IS the next stream
| lire problem to be tackled, and already
cut in Michigan they are working ct #.
Other interesting technical develop
ments exhibited are: A super-charger
driven off the rear end of a water
pump shaft; radiator control which
whistles when the radiator gets too
| hot; a battle which prevents gasoline
thefts; set of ignition keys which
are not numbered, the designation be-
ing located on the barrel Of the lock
There is increased use of hydraulic
brakes. Steel spokes Of the artillery
| type are popular There are several
| devices to minimize road vibrations
New ventilating systems are numerous.
And there are nearly a hundred other
| technical developments, not to men,
| ton the many new accessories that can
be added TO your present car.
(Convripbt 1Q24l