Automotive news. [volume], March 30, 1940, Page 12, Image 12

About Automotive news. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1938-current

Image provided by: Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library

                
12
N.Y.C. Notes Progress in Improving Used Car Ad
Dealers and Newspapers
Are Co-operating in Drive
Special to Automotive N*ws
NEW YORK—Continuing prog
ress in its drive to improve used
car merchandising practices in this
city, with the co-operation of legiti
mate dealers and newspapers, is
noted by the automobile division
of the Better Business Bureau of
New York City, Inc.
“Every effort has been made to
keep this work on a constructive
and confidence-building basis,” the
report declared. “Publicity has
been employed only in the most
flagrant cases, where it has ap
peared the effect would be con
structive.
“On the whole, the progress has
been definite and public confidence
has been enhanced. With the con
tinued co-operation of those inter
ested in the maintenance of fair
business practice, the work that
remains to be done will attain a
good measure of success. As be
fore, the bureau invites dealers
whose attention is called to justifi
able complaints regarding automo-
Pontiac Reports
Dealer Profits
Are Up Sharply
PONTIAC.—Net profit of Pon
tiac dealers in January, 1940, was
three and one-half times that of
January, 1939, according to D. U.
Bathrick, general sales manager.
One of the principal contributing
factors to this showing in dealer
profits was an increase in new car
sales of 32 percent.
“This excellent job of merchan
dising and management gives every
indication that Pontiac dealers will
enjoy the largest profit in their
history,” said Bathrick. “With Jan
uary sales 32 percent over last
year, and February business up
59.8 percent, indications are that
February will be another record
month in dealer profits.
“Pontiac dealers" have an excel
lent opportunity to further im
prove their profit possibilities
through continued increases In
service gross profits," he continued
“It is interesting to note that in
January gross profits from this
department exceeded December
by 5 percent, and were 21 percent
over January last year. This, toge
ther with continued control of ex
penses by Pontiac dealers has, and
will continue to decrease the
amount of remaining overhead to
be absorbed by car profits, thus
widening the profit margin.
"Another important contribution
to dealer profits is indicated by
the number of dealers that have
already reached contingent quantity
discount brackets, and are enjoy
ing the benefit of these increased
discounts.
Thermoid Salt's Dp
TRENTON, N. J. Thermold Co.'s
present sales volume is running con
siderably ahead of the corresponding
period of last year and “1940 should
be a much better year than 1939," it
is declared by Frederic E, Schluter,
company president.
wiint fiRSg.
OAS-O-METER, shown attached to
instrument panel, will be used during
the "Drive - » - Willy*" demonstration
campaign to be conduced during April.
See story on I'age 6.
bile purchases, to refer the com
plaints to the bureau.”
The bureau reported "with satis
faction that in most cases where
it was necessary to request cor
rective action, the dealers con
cerned willingly co-of»‘erated. It is
also gratifying to report the active
interest and co-operation displayed
by the newspapers, in matters in
volving violations of \heir stand
ards.”
During the year ending Feb. 15,
1940, the bureau conducted 591
shoppings of used car advertise
ments of 153 dealers, according to
the report. Not all of these indi
cated the need of corrective action.
Many of them were made at the
request of newspapers. The bureau
received from the public 124 com
plaints against 99 dealers. Of these
only 27 were of importance, in
volving either violations of regu
lations or the advertising stand
ards of newspapers. The bureau
communicated with or interviewed
dealers on 196 occasions concern
ing matters which appeared to
need corrective action.
On about 45 occasions, the
bureau found it necessary, after
investigations, to refer cases which
directly or indirectly involved ad
vertising, as well as complaints
from the public, to the city’s de
partment of licenses. In each of
these instances, the commissioner
of licenses ordered some form of
correction or adjustment. The re
portsalso noted that the bureau has
been assisted many times in its
work by the state bureau of motor
vehicles and the. automobile squad
of the city police department.
Several important dealers, whose
advertising was a disturbing factor
in the used car field, it was re
ported, went out of business rather
than continue to face the bureau’s
fact-finding and corrective action
on their practices. The bureau also
co-operated with local tax officials
in uncovering sales tax violations.
Among wrong practices cor
rected by dealers as a result of the
bureau's activities, the report
stated, were the improper use in
advertisements of terms such as
"guarantee.” "as low as,” "whole
sale prices.” than manufac
ture's cost,” “free,” “late model,”
and "authorized dealer;” inaccu
rate claims of "savings;” and fail
ure to indicate that 1940 cars of
fered for sale in used car columns
were not brand new.
Tire Shipments
In Feb. Easily
Top 1939 Total
NEW YORK.—Shipments of au
tomotive casings during February
are estimated at 4,118,030 units,
which is 3.7 percent lower than
the 4,276,512 units shipped during
January but 13.1 percent above
shipments for February, 1939, ac
cording to the Rubber Manufactur
ers Assn., Inc.
Replacement shipments totaled
2,057,092 units in February. This is
13.7 percent under the January re
placements of 2,382,826 units and is
less than 1 percent under replace
ment shipments for February, 1939,
which were 2,075,705 units.
Shipments of casings for original
equipment purposes are estimated
to have been 1,974.273 units, an
increase of 9.4 percent over the
January figure of 1,804,606 units
and 34 percent over February,
1939, when original equipment
shipments were 1.473,664 units.
Export shipments are estimated
to have been 86,665 units for Feb
ruary which compares with 89,080
units for January and 90,409 units
during February, 1939.
February production, estimated
at 4,910,754 units, was 1.3 percent
under January but was 16 percent
above February, 1939. Automotive
casings in the hands of manufac
turers Feb. 29 are estimated to
have been 10,156,918 units. This
represents an increase of 8.2 per
cent over Jan. 31 stocks and 6.1
percent over the Feb. 28, 1939,
inventory.
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, MARCH 30, 1940
jjjj
HARRY lIYtiKL, manaKcr of um*il far promotion for I’ontiar, atutlif* a wot
of miniature hift;nH, Itannern and other decorations for dressing up the used
car lot or Used car salesroom. Left is a bracket fci|{n for wall or post, next a
p> lon sii;n, then a section sign to use over the entrance or at the rear oi a
used car lot, then two lurye waterproof cardboard si|(ns for indoor or outdoor
use. In the forcKround is the miniature of a lari;c cloth banner with rope ends
while directly back of this is Illustrated a string of small banners.
Truck Drivers ’ Safety Code
On Highways is Outlined
DETROIT. “When common
courtesy becomes a conscious prac
tice of every motorist on the high
ways. traffic accidents will de
crease."
This is the opinion of Harry
Hartz. formerly national champion
race driver and now a test driver
for Chevrolet's commercial car de
partment.
Recently, Hartz , established a
new world record for sustained
and certified automotive operation,
driving a l l *.r-ton Chevrolet truck
more than 101,000 miles to set the
new mark. The entire run, un
der sanction of the American
Automobile Assn., was completed
without so much as denting a
fender.
In view of Hartz’ perfect record
during the more than 101,000 miles
he drove the test unit, his views on
safe driving may be taken as au
thoritative. Stressing the need for
Marnion Offers
New All-Wheel
Drive COE Unit
INDIANAPOLIS. Demands for
a short-coupled, medium weight
All-Wheel-Drive truck, to be used
for semi-trailer work in highway
trucking and for general construc
tion and excavation services, have
now been answered by a standard
Ford 101-inch wheelbase cab-over
engine model, converted to All-
Wheel-Drive in the Marmon-Her
rington factory here.
The short wheelbase provides an
unusually short turning radius.
All - Wheel - Drive traction and
power are said to give the ability
to climb steep hills and grades and
insure performance in soft or slip
pery footing. Normal front wheel
placement gives a greater ap
proach angle for getting in and
out of ditches, excavations, etc.,
without "rooting." Cab-over-engine
design permits better load balanc
ing, more uniform traction and
less tire wear, it is said.
This model like all other Mar
mon-Herrington All-Wheel-Drives,
is equipped with constant velocity
joint steering ends, which take the
"fight” out of the steering wheel,
and provide easy steering control
under all conditions, it is claimed.
IN. Y. Legislature Gets
Compulsory Test Bill
ALBANY. N. Y.- A bill providing
for compulsory motor vehicle in
surance has been introduced in the
state legislature here by Senator
William H. Hampton, chairman of
the senate insurance committee, as
the law mill moved swiftly toward
adjournment. It was plainly indi
cated that the measure, prepared
and sponsored by the state insur
ance and taxation departments, was
introduced as the basis for further
study and would not be pressed for
passage this year.
In a joint statement outlining
details of the measure, State In
surance Superintendent Louis H.
Pink and State Taxation Commis
sioner Mark Graves, expressed hope
the bill would be enacted next year
"with such revisions as may result
from a year’s continued study.”
courtesy on the road, he explained
the signal system by which truck
men endeavor to aid one another
and also to advise passenger car
drivers of their intentions.
“The average truck driver,” he
said, "appreciates the interchange
of information from our fellow
drivers, and tries in every way
possible to advise them of condi
tions they are about to meet.
“He makes every effort to in
form the passenger car driver of
his plans. For example, in the
daytime, he warns an oncoming
driver of danger ahead- in the
way of a crack-up, a narrow
bridge, a restricted speed zone,
- by signaling with the hand, in
a ‘wave-down’ motion, which in
dicates that the oncoming driver
should reduce speed and be on the
alert for unusual conditions.
“However, since most of his driv
ing is done at night, signals are
usually made by manipulation of
lights. Flashing the lights rapidly
is the night-time ‘wave-down.’
“When a motorist approaching
from the rear wishes to pass a
truck, he should signal by means
of his lights or his horn and then
wait until the driver has blinked
his trailer lights for the ‘all clear'
signal. The truckman will often
indicate by his spotlight when the
passenger car has cleared his unit
and may safely cut back into the
right-hand lane. Many drivers
customarily honk a time or two
as they pass, to thank the truck
man—a friendly, courteous act
that is appreciated.
“When two trucks approach a
dangerous area from opposing
directions at night say a one-lane
bridge—the driver who is nearer
the bridge will indicate that he is
coming through, by swinging his
spotlight in an arc across the road,
and pufijflg out toward the center.
The other driver then pulls well
over, stops and dims for the unit
coming ahead.
"Blinking of the trailer lights is
also a stopping signal," Hartz said,
“•but motorists confuse it with the
passing signal. Other truckers
can usually tell the driver’s inten
tions, but motorists rarely pay
enough attention to do so. Like
wise, blinking can indicate a turn,
if the trailer carries no turn-in
dicators. Here again, the motorist
must study the circumstances and
decide what intention the trucker
is trying to convey.”
>
Trade Barrier Problem
Studied by Colo., N. M.
DENVER.—Colorado and New
Mexico will attempt to solve the
trade barrier problem at a con
ference in Denver Apr. 4 between
Secretary of State George E. Saun
ders and J. O. Garcia, motor Vehi
cle commissioner of New Mexico.
Garcia requested the conference in
a letter to Saunders.
Saunders pointed out that the
two states have a working agree
ment now on many phases of the
use of license plates by motor vehi
cle carriers, automobile dealers in
moving cars, traveling salesmen
and others.
•
F ? r „ a fn '” h automotive viewpoint
Edgt'W?se r " e Slnfum g "A Word m
Hudson- Service
Officials Meet ii,
Spring Scssi,
DETROIT. Hudson
service supervisors from
the United States, together
representatives from the comD>
Canadian and Fix port SenyT
ganizations, will convene here;
day for a three-day busines*'
sion to be held at the Fort SIJ
hotel.
Thomas H. Stambaugh, din,
of national service operations ,
will preside at the gathering
nounced that 6
George H. Pratt, _
general sales
m a n a g e r, a n d
Murray Northrop,
of
llir agenda
includes plans for *
merchandising of
n
neetion with
spring owner Stamb»u*t
maintenance. New
merchandising plans in connec:
with accessory sales, which junt
92 percent this year over last
also be discussed, Stambaugh j
Assisting in the discussions
be H. J. Hudson, manager of
eessories sales; FI. J. Blum, tec!
cal service manager; L. L. Sha:
manager, owner relations diva
T. E. Jones, parts specifics!
manager; C. C. MeKellar, spe
parts and accessory field m
sentative, and J. T, Gooch, s;;
intendent of the factory sen
station.
At conclusion of the threen
session, the visiting service en
tives will be tendered a banque:
the Hudson factory on Apr. 3
will then return to their hi
quarters city to conduct sin
service and merchandising |
grams for the distributors
dealers in their respective ti
tories.
Richmond Dealer
Adopt Code for
Used Car \
RICHMOND, Va. (OTPS
Seeking to promote public I
fidence in the automobile indas
the automobile dealers' !
group of the Better Bus.:
Bureau last week approved
proposed fair practice stand
for advertising selling
cars in the Richmond trade i
Thirty-one dealers in new
used cars have pledged ti
selves to abide by the stano
and to eliminate all question
words and phrases in adverta
in any media.
Enforcement of the stand
has been placed in the hani
the Better Business Bureau, *
is authorized by the dealers tc
certain methods in carrying
provisions of the code. “
Used Gar Index
National Average, All
1940 Hiri> u
Jan. 7 $515
Jan. 14.. 525 4
Jan. 21 521
Jan. 28 524 *
Feb. 4 514 «•
Feb. 11 516 V
Feb. 18 519 ;
Feb. 25 527 *
Mar. 3 513 }
* Mar. 10 523
Mar. 17 508
Ai To.MOTivK tab!’
Used Car Selling Prices *
expanded at the start <>•
year and now include four}’
models. Weekly national -
ages consequently are . ..
than in previous years wb‘;\
tahle included only three )
models.
Comparisons be t w een I
year’s and previous I
tional averages of .1
cannot validly be made *»" ft
therefore .omitted here. E