III. International Motor Show in Vienna 1903

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Ettore Bugatti and his chauffeur arrive at the exhibition in Vienna in his Dietrich Bugatti car.
Archduchesses Maria Theres and Maria Annunciata in front of the Turgan steam truck from the Wyner company.
Exhibition poster.

The III. The international automobile exhibition took place from March 14th to March 29th 1903 in the flower rooms of the Austrian Horticultural Society in Vienna . The aim of this show was, in addition to showing technical progress, to increase the popularity and understanding of automobilism in Austria.

Automobileism in 1903

Owning a car was a very rare luxury at that time, as production at that time was still far from any series production. Only a few could afford to buy the new “wonder vehicle”. Therefore, the target group of previous events on the topic of automobilism were aristocrats and the upper class. In 1903, smaller automobiles made their way onto the market and became affordable for medium-sized businesses and were therefore an integral part of automobile exhibitions in Paris and Berlin. Vienna, however, had proven to be an excellent sales area for larger automobiles and so it was logical that this Viennese show was limited to more exclusive models.

The technical advancement of vehicles made faster and faster progress and the popularity of the automobile increased accordingly. In 1903 it was already known that the automobile no longer only took the sporty idea into account, but contained the potential for an important factor for industry and transport. At the same time, the voices of those who advocated cheaper automobile production became louder.

The essence of the exhibition

The Austrian Automobile Club, founded in 1898, with its club member Alexander Pallavicini as vice-president of the exhibition, put a lot of effort into organizing this event in 1903. The premises of the Austrian Horticultural Society were chosen as the new venue, instead of the Prater area near the Vienna Rotunda, as was previously the case. This should ensure better accessibility for visitors. 56 automobile and motor companies were admitted as exhibitors, as well as some suppliers of automotive sports articles.

Ludwig Lohner was represented among the important Austrians with the 15 HP Lohner-Panhard car and his Krebs-Carburator with automatic mixture regulation and double power interruption of the ignition. A groundbreaking feature of this model at the time was an electromechanical regulator on the generator that adjusted the car speed on inclines. The Nesselsdorfer Wagenfabriks-Actien-Gesellschaft, the oldest car manufacturer in Austria, exhibited five cars and two bodies, including the first gasoline car built and put into operation in Vienna, the Nesselsdorfer “President”. In addition, Arnold Spitz with a “Mercedeswagen”, the Austrian subsidiary of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft from Wiener Neustadt with its Daimler bus, a Daimler Phaeton, a Daimler coupé, the “Paul Daimler light car” and a “14 HP military” -Motor trucks ". The Viennese automobile company Michael A. Wyner, founded in 1897, presented its “Wyner car” with a cooling device, which was a novelty. Alexander Wiesner, also from Vienna, exhibited a Serpollet steam car. Most recently, Opel & Beyschlag was represented with two of their Opel (Darracq) cars made in Germany.

Other exhibitors were Bock & Hollender, Carl and Anton Armbruster from Sebastian Armbruster , Karl von Škoda , the Österreichisch-Amerikanische Gummifabriks AG, Rudolf Mandl as general agent for the French Michelin Pneumatiques, Brunnbauer & Sohn, August Braun & Co. and the men's clothing supplier Goldman & Salatsch . Ettore Bugatti presented his Dietrich Bugatti car on behalf of the Dietrich factory .

Two-wheelers, electric and electric gasoline vehicles, trucks, Phaetons and coupés were also on display.

During the exhibition, on the initiative of the Reich War Ministry, a "competition of trucks" took place, a competition that was supposed to demonstrate the usefulness of automobilism.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Christian Brandstätter: StadtChronik Wien , p. 369. Verlag Christian Brandstätter, 1986, ISBN 3-85447-229-3
  2. ↑ On the opening of the automobile exhibition. In:  Neue Freie Presse , March 14, 1903, p. 7 (online at ANNO ).Template: ANNO / Maintenance / nfp
  3. ↑ Article  in:  Sport & Salon , March 14, 1903, p. 17 (online at ANNO ).Template: ANNO / Maintenance / sus
  4. ↑ a b The opening of the automobile exhibition. In:  Neue Freie Presse , March 15, 1903, p. 11 (online at ANNO ).Template: ANNO / Maintenance / nfp

literature

  • Christian Brandstätter: StadtChronik Wien , p. 369. Verlag Christian Brandstätter, 1986, ISBN 3-85447-229-3

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