Organizing a Motor Show
Page 32
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AFTER visiting every international motor show that has been held in Germany since 1926 we have come to the conclusion that in Britain our Show authorities have a lot to learn regarding the organization of such an event.
Perhaps this may not be the fault of those responsible here, for in Germany it is made a truly national affair, and an occasion for impressing upon the thousands of visitors other matters not altogether connected with the exhibition, and partly as an opportunity for general propaganda. They are encouraged by other attractions staged on a lavish scale, and given special facilities in the way of reduced railway fares.
One of the extraneous events this year is a huge revue staged in the Deutschland Halle, which. holds some 15,000 people. The revue is concerned mainly with colonial matters, but included is an extraordinary autogiro display, to which we make reference elsewhere.
As to the exhibition itself, its size can be gauged from the fact that it occupies 10 halls, comprising an area of nearly 50,000 sq. metres, and all the halls are interconnected, with moving staircases in several places.
Apart from the chassis and complete irehicles, there are a fine display of railway, post office and army machines, record breakers, thousands of stands showing light-metal products, and a particularly interesting section indicating the progress which has been made in the substitution of certain materials of construction for others which are more easily produced in the country or present special qualities.
Last year there were 760,000 visitors ; on this occasion it will probably approach the million. Germany has certainly become motor-minded, and this tendency is being encouraged by the highest authorities. Even the Fiihrer has sug gested that the people should consume less food and drink and buy technical products, this applying particularly to motor vehicles, whilst he has inaugurated a new decoration to encourage motor sport in German youth. He claims that the industry now has third place in the world, and he hopes that it will soon attain the second.