OMMERCIL MOTORS
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By Our Own The ninth annual motor show, held from 14th to 9.1st February, under the auspices of the Automobile Trades Association of Canada,. was opened by Sir John WiBison.
This show has been increasing in importance for some years past, and the buildings used until last year proved inadequate, so larger quarters had to be obtained. With the object of affording the I est possible accommodation, the management secured two large buildings in the exhibition grounds, viz., the Transportation and the Horticultural Halls. These were used last year for the first time and the change met with the hearty approval of the public.
Toronto is claimed to be the centre of the motor trade in Canada, and the opening of its ninth annual show brought before the public the largest exhibition of touring cars, trucks, motorcycles and accessories so far exhibited in a Canadian city.
The first car owned in Canada had its home in Toronto, and there :ire now more cars and trucks in daily use on the city's streets than there are in any other Canadian centre. European and American cars and trucks in larger numbers and greater variety than ever before are vying with Canadian built machines for supremacy in this greatly increasing market.
Although the past year has been one of rather restricted industrial activity, the steady growth or the larger Canadian cities has not been set back. General business is now again beginning to advance and the 4.lemand for trucks of all capacities is evident ; as economical methods of using and keeping them continually in service are better understood, their utilization in all classes of trade is becoming more general. Receiving and shipping equipments are being designed to co operate with the truck over here, and transportation is accordingly being made less expensive ; 1914 promises to be a year of great business for the truck dealers in this country.
The general business done at the Show has proved it to be the most
satisfactory held. When the first Toronto Automobile Show was held nine years ago, the promoters would not have dared to prophesy that this city would ever see such a gathering of motors as that opened on 14th February. From $100,0130 value in exhibits at the first Show, it has increased each year by leaps and bounds, until now the Toronto Show, which is the National one of Canada (and is only exceeded by two .on the American Continent, those of New York and Chicago), was opened this year with over a million dollars of ear value arranged in its balls.
There is no other event, of the year, with the exception of the Can dian National Exhibition, which attracts so many visitors to Tomato as does the motor show.
It was interesting to notice in the commercial-vehicle section at this year's Show that three British manufacturers were represented : Commercial Cars, Ltd., John T. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., and the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd. At last year's Show the only British trucks represented were Commers. This year there were 32 trucks to be seen in all-11 of them Canadian, 7 British, and 14 American.
One of the principal attractions amongst. tire commercial exhibits was the Russell-Knight six-cylinder 42 h.p. ambulance, built by the Russel motor Car Cu., in their factory at West Toronto, to the older of J. C. Eaton, Esq., who presented the machine to the Toronto General Hospital on the opening day of the Sluaw. Without doubt. itis the most elaborate and up-to-date ambulance in canada. The interior equipment consists of two stretchers, two removable chairs for attendants, four electric lamps in roof, electric fan and electric heating. Kelly-Springfield tires are used—twin or rear wheels, electric head, side and tail lamps, left drive and side doors to driver's seat.
The exhibits on the principal stands may be summarized as follow —
INDUSTRIAL MOTOR TRUCKS, LTD., 85, Dupont Street, Toronto (agents for Ontario, Quebec and Maritime provinces for Commercars) : two 5-ton Commer trucks, sold to the Motor Tyansport Co., Hamilton ; one 30-cwt. truck, sold to the Sanitary Wet ‘Vash
'-oronto ; and one 7-ton chassis.
On 12th February a repeat order was booked from tly2 Sa.aitary Wet Wash Co., Toronto, for a similar 30-cwt. truck. A chain and sprocket, taken flora a seven-ton truck belonging to Mineral Springs, Ltd., of Toronto, was staged ; these have been in continuous operation for nearly three years and show absolutely no sign of wear, which condition speaks well for Commercar durability.
THE MARITIME MOTOR CAR CO., LID., 40, Bothesay Avenue, St. John, N.B. This company has secured the Canadian agency for Thornycroft trucks, and has opened a branch recently at 559, Yonge Street, Toronto, where spare parts can be obtained. A model " M"
41) h.p. chain-driven truck was exhibited with special tipping front axle, which should prove very satisfactory in use on Canadian roads. A model " B T." 32 h.p. 21i-ton, worm-driven chassis was jInothier example, from the Basingstoke works, which was on view.
THE ALBION MOTOR CAR CO., Or CANADA, LTD. (affiliated with the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., of
Glasgow), Head office, St. Nicholas Building, Montreal This company has just opened a garage and repair depot at McCaul Street, Toronto. A 5-ton 32 h.p. Albion truck was staged. There are at present seven Albions in Montreal, eight in Ottawa, and 7 in Van couver, all in regular service. In addition to Albion trueks the above company is the Canadian representative for A rrol-Johnsv.ui cars.
ONTARIO MOTOR CAR Co., 18, Bloor Street East, Toronto, staged : one 2-ton chassis ; one 3-ton truck ; and a 5-ton truck with steel body and patent. hydraulic tipping arrangement, this truck is de
signed for coal or contractor's haulage work.
THE WIL1TE MOTOR CAR CO. exhibited: one i-ton light truck ; one li-ton light truck ; one 3-ton truck ; and a 5-ton truck, owned by the Kuntz .Brewery Co., Ltd., of Waterloo. This last is the third repeat order for the above firm ; one of the earlier purchases is in service in Toronto and two in Hain ii ton.
THE PEERLESS MOTOR CAR CO., of Cleveland, Ohio, showed a 5-ton truck, fitted with special wormoperated dump body.
THE PIERCE-ARROW CO., Of
Buffalo, staged: one 2-ton chassis ; and one 5-ton chassis.
THE FORD MOTOR CAR CO. was, of course, showing. The building of a thousand or more cars a day would seem impossible to the average person, but this enormous output of the Ford Motor Co., of Detroit, and the Ford Motor Co., of Canada, Ltd., was illustrated on their stand at the Toronto Show by a large blackboard ruled in sections to represent each hour of the day. The number of cars made each hour by the American and Canadian plants was chalked up in the corresponding section on the board, as the report was received by telegraph. Totals were cartied over from day to day, and the grand total of Ford cars manufactured since the inception of the business ten years ago was also figured each day. On one occasion the total for the day showed 1262. The grand total of Fords manufactured up to 20th February, 1914,
was .155,!3.92. The Ford Co. have plans out for a factory which is shortly to be erected in Toronto, and much new trade is expected