1914-03-09

“Marking a year of unprecedented growth in the motor and accessory trade, the first annual automobile show of the Hamilton Motor Dealers’ association opened at the new armories on Saturday night; and the big military pavilion never looked prettier than it does at the present time”

Hamilton Spectator March 9, 1914

It was a first for Hamilton – a week long automobile show at which dealers of automobiles and of the accessories needed to operate them could collectively display their goods to a very interested public.

The then still new armories building, built immediately to the south, and connected with the Drill Hall on James street north was the location selected for the show, and the immense space usually used for marching drills had been handsomely decorated.

For the official opening on Saturday March 7, 1914, the mayor of Hamilton was invited :

“Mayor Allan pressed the button which lighted the thousands of colored lights which are intertwined among the decorations, the band played God Save the King, and what promises to be a great week for the motor enthusiasts of Hamilton and their friends was off to a grand start.”

Hamilton Spectator.  March 9, 1914

A large crowd made to the armories for the official opening ceremony:

“Mayor Allan made an opening address from the balcony at the west end of the hall, surrounded by the directors of the show. He congratulated the promoters on enabling Hamilton to have such an excellent display placed at their door, and said that the show was a fair criterion of what great progress the city had made within the past few years. He said that it was only recently that one of the largest automobile manufacturing establishments in America had decided to establish its Canadian branch in Hamilton and he thought that the day was not too far distant when Hamilton would be looked upon as the auto center of Canada.

“Such an enterprise as the Hamilton motor dealers have manifested in arranging so magnificent a display of automobiles and accessories would do a great deal, he claimed, tin helping to advance the interests of Hamilton.

“The mayor’s address called for appropriate applause and nearly every motor horn in the large hall was tooted as a signal that the much talked of show was in full swing.”¹

¹“Large Crowds Attend Motor Show Opening : Brilliant Scene on Saturday Night at Armories : Flood of Light As Mayor Pressed Button”

Hamilton Spectator.  March 9, 1914.

When the show opened not every display had arrived, but the Spectator reporter who toured the hall the “the opening was one of which the management may well feel proud,”

“The decorations are particularly appropriate and handsome and the hall proved to be particularly well laid out for such an event. The ceiling proper of the big hall is hidden by an arrangement of bunting of different colors with fringes hanging down every few yards and a liberal use of divers colored small electric lamps.

“The sides of the large hall are beautifully draped and the balconies are hidden from view by immense Canadian and British flags. The booths in which the various displays are made, are neatly arranged, each having comfortable chairs for the patrons and large rugs make each look cosy.

“The Ninety-First band rendered a program of music on Saturday night, and Lomas’ orchestra will play each afternoon and evening. The salesmen and exhibitors in each exhibit were in evening dress which gave the show a tone the ordinary exhibition of that nature usually does not have.”¹

The Spectator reporter made note about “the ladies” in attendance whom he wrote “displayed a keen interest in the various types of cars which were on exhibition”

“Naturally the majority of them expressed a wish to have one of the many electric coupes shown, while others told their escorts that one of the nifty little runabouts would answer their needs.”¹

The ladies of St. John Presbyterian raised funds for their church by setting up a tea room near the James Street entrance to the hall. Besides liquid refreshments, ‘dainties’ were also made available for those with sweet teeth.

It was felt that Hamilton was the most appropriate location for such an auto exhibition :

“Dealers from all parts of the province will gather here. Hamilton is well-situated for such an event, for with its splendid electric and steam road connections, people from all parts of the Niagara peninsula can attend with little trouble.”

It was expected that 1914 would be a banner year for automobile sales, with the Hamilton dealers predicting that despite the increase in number of dealerships, there still would be twice as many cars sold at each business that had been in business in 1913.

As the 1914 car show began in March 1914, it was estimated that there were 1,000 cars on Hamilton streets, meaning that of a people around one million, there was one automobile for every 100 persons.