Evening star., 1937-10-31
INTEREST IS KEEN
|ND.C. AUT0SHOW
40 Per Cent More Attend
Opening Day--85 Cars
Are Exhibited.

washington's Eighteenth Annual
Automobile Show got away to swift
smooth start, yesterday, with the pub
lie showing desire to buy as well as
to see the cleaning new products of
American industrial genius.
Attendance figures on the opening
day showed a 40 per cent increase
over those of last year, promoters of
the show announced. This year 30
automobiles of % makes are on dis
play, and there are 26 exhibits in all,
including several arranged by manu-
facturers of accessories.
The cars displayed a new simplif1-
cation of line, refinement of in
teriors-reflecting the influence of the
woman driver and passengers-anda a
number Of stock Improvements which
have added to the comfort and safety
of the motorist.
Several of the lower-priced cars, for
example, are offering safety glass all
around in their stock models this year.
Parade Offers Contrast.
A contrast between the new and the
old of motordom was offered yesterday
through a parade Of ancient auto
mobiles along Constitution avenue
from Sixth street to Twenty-fourth
street, and thence to the show at 1912
Twenty-fourth street northwest.
The old cars were judged this year
on the basis of age, mechanical per-
lection, performance. and the cos
TUNES of their drivers and passengers.
First prize went to C. Raymond Lewis
of Annapolis and Baltimore, who
drove a 1902 Cadillac. He also took
the event last year.
Lewis, garbed in an ancient "duster,'
cap and goggles, was accompanied by
two pretty girls in bright, flowing
satins fashionable in the gay '90s.'
The girls wore great, ostrich-plumed
hats tied about their chins by heavy
wells.
Almost a score of automobiles, old
enough to be museum pieces. moved
along the parade route. The falter-
ing engines of several failed, how
ever, and they had to be towed in
or loaded on a truck and hauled
to the show headquarters.
Electric Carriage Second.
Second place went to an electric
carriage entered by Haleys, Inc, of
1920 M street, and third to 1904
Oldsmobile operated by George c.
Green, Lambertville, N. j.
Walter Matter of Hawley. Pa, won
en- award for driving the longest dis
tance to participate in the parade.
He had 1910 Ford. Several of the
cars antedated pneumatic tires and
were equipped with friction brakes,
like wagons. They were cranked at
the side and power we' transmitted
to their wheels by cl MS.
Othex entries included a high
wheeled bicycle and a huge tricycle.
with dual drive, seats and handlebars.
The contestants were judged by
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen. Po-
lice Chief Ernest w Brown, Traffic
Director William A. Van Duzer and
other officials. The contest was spon-
sored by the American Automobile
Association, and. 5000 in prizes was
handed out.
Interiors Improved.
The sleek new models in the show
drew as much attention as their
ancient forerunners. The interior
decoration of the new cars is an i'm
provenent this year, perhaps due to
feminine influence. Color schemes
and modern designs are worked out
in leather and metal to catch the dis
eliminating eye of the woman buyer.
Many of the new cars have auto
matte transmisSions to eliminate floor
pedals and enlarge the capacity OF
the front seat so three persons can be
accommodated comfortably. Ventila-
ton systems, too, have been improved.
One smart model offers air condition
ing for all sorts of weather.
The frontal grills of the new cars
are decorated with chromium in mod
ern designs in a more elaborate man
ner than those of last year. Many
carburetors have been improved for
added fuel economy.
Prices of almost all models are
somewhat higher this year The sales
men say, however, the price boosts
are more than offset by Improvements
built into stock models which last
year offered them only at extra
cost.