New-York tribune. [volume], January 04, 1920, Page 9, Image 87

About New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924

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estimates 1920 Demand at
More Than 2,540,000 Cars
jfurd, of the Premier, Examines Into Factors Which
He Says Control Replacement Market?Satura?
tion Point in Call for Machines Still Far Away
-Judfiin? f?m the number ?* flnc '
sold in W Ra<* the outloo!s f0* ?
?? '?fleeted in the quantities con
?jj for by distributors, the point
"saturation in the automobile field is
f foe ysart distant," said E. W. Hurd.
- * eraj jgies manager of the Premier .
?ot? Corporation.
?. j9i6, 1917 and 191S, the lean,
y, in motor car production, the |
^a?b?r rf potential buyers did not de
tlgje when compared with former
.- On the contrary, the number,
? ?jeatly increased, because of the [
"cual ?mount of money in circula- j
tion. due to highly jpaid labor, lartje
.'raus at bi?Sh prices and the manv;
Lases converted to war purposes
ftat produced largo returns for their ;
Mr. Hurd.
o-mers. The production in 1917 and
1918 was largely absorbed by the gov?
ernment. The few cars left had to
spread very thinly over a demand that
exceeded the supply at least eight to
one in 1917 and twelve to one in 1913.
"Each year a certain number of used
and rebuilt cars result from one of
two causes. Either the owner buys
into another class or feels his old car
has outlived its usefulness so far as
he is concerned. In normal years
these cars have a fixed resale value,
there being a schedule on which the
average dealer will market this used
product. However, in 1917 and 1918
cars that had seen two, three and even
five years' service sold at prices better
tian obtained for them when new.
These cars, together with the cumula?
tive wear on all models prior to ?917,
that naturally would have been
scrapped had there been a normal out
pet, continued in use.
This very wear, based on 6,000,000
an now in use, means that not less
than 12 per cent, or 720,000, must be
purchased each year to replace those
used to the point of destruction. For
the two years of lean production we
have a replacement necessity of 1,
480,000 carB worn out, and another
720.000 worn out in 1916 and not re?
placed, or a total 'of 2,200,000 cars of
which less than SO per cent were pur?
chased in 1919.
"We have in America about 15,000,
000 prospective automobile buyers.
With only one-third of the number
sold, this leaves 10,000,000 potential
owners. Assuming that 10 per cent
will buy each year, then the 1920 de?
mand, in connection with the renewal
market, will be 2,5?10,000 cars. This
does not contemplate the new buyers
created each year from the growing
population or those who purchase
more than one car.
"Considered from the angle of posi?
tive demand the stability of our na?
tional wealth, the earning power of
our people, I cannot see, despite the
largely increased production predicted
for 1920, any possibility for saturation
either in that year or for 1;en years
to come."
Used Car Value
Vital to Buyer
Hudson Sets Standard by Elimi?
nating Costly Yearly Changes
"It is only a few years ago that au?
tomobile styles and designs changed
as frequently as the seasons," says
Harry S. Houpt. "Sire months after
its purchase a car was out of date
and would command only a fraction of
its first cost when put on the market
for resale.
"In those days it was a common
saying that the depreciation of an
automobile was approximately 60 per
i cent, or more than one-half its cost,
j the first year. Manafacturers then
i were bringing out new models every
! year, and therefore the depreciation
! of the models already out was unnec
' eesarily heavy.
"This era of periodic and radical
changes was ended by Hudson en?
gineers when they decided that such a
system not only was unnecessary, but
that it was unfair to the motoring
; public. As a result Hudson cars have
i not undergone a single radical change
since the announcement of the Super
\ Six. Instead there have been a refine
I ment of detail and a steady growth
| toward perfection, the result of years
\ of experience, with approximately
80,000 cars in the hands of owners.
"Notice how few, if any, Hudsons
i are offered for sale and then notice
what abnormally high prices they
command. While the prices, of course,
vary in different sections of t*he coun?
try it was nothing unusual last year
for four-year-old Hudsons to resell for
as irnch or, in some cases, more than
the original purchase price.
"So Hudson owners have come to
look upon their cars as an investment,
the exclusive principle used in the con?
struction of the motor to minimice
! destructive vibration assuring not only
] dependable service but also long life
and high resale valne."
Light Weight a
Term That May
Not Be Clear
j How This Is Obtained, Rath?
er Than Figures Reached,
| . Is Something Important,
Says Holmes
"More and more the term 'light
| weight' is coming into use among
; motor car salesmen and publicity
; men as a selling argument," says
Arthur Holmes, president of the
Ijolmes Automobiie Company. "But- it
is a matter of considerable question
whether or not the average car buyer
Mr. Holmes.
understands -what light weight really
means.
"Engineers are all talking light
weight and building toward light con
! struction in their cars. With them
light weight is not a matter of pounds
i alone, but of relation of pounds to
the size of the car, the capacity ol
the power plant, the type of body
used.
"This being the case, certain large ?
; cars which, in poundage, weigh far ;
| more than ?mailer cars are actually I
lighter in weight from an engineering!
viewpoint than are the small cars.
And these larger cars will, afford the
owner more of the advantages of light
weight than will the cars of lower
poundage.
"Car buyers should be careful that
j light weight is not used in place of
I the more proper term, 'small car.'
"It has been proved beyond question
that road stability is not dependent
upon weight, that durability is more
easily obtained through light weight
than through heavy weight, if all other
features of design are properly worked
out, and that an ease of riding can be
obtained through light weight con
i struction that cannot be obtained with
heavy weight and it3 attendant
I rigidity.
"A consideration of weight in a car
] shows two distinct types?one the
: weight that is carried on the springs
', and the other the weight that is car
1 ried below the springs, or unsprung
! weight. Unsprung weight is the most
j destructive, since it multiplies the
' poundage strains of rough roads. The
first problem of the engineer building
for scientific light weight is to re?
duce the unsprung load.
"The use of full elliptic springs is
one method of reducing unsprung
load. And yet a designer cannot
arbitrarily say he will use full elliptic
springs, and let it go at that. FirBt,
j proper consideration must be given to
the riding action of full elliptic
! springs. To secure the maximum
! benefits of the unrestricted throw, the
j chassis on which the springs must be
j mounted should be flexible, free from
I rigid cross members, radius rods, etc.
"The engineer in taking this into
I consideration must decide whether the
I particular motor he is using, the body
| he is putting on the car, will admit
? of the desired degree of flexibility. If
i not, then he will have to compromise
? on spring equipment, and in doing so
1 defeat much of his earlier ?efforts
toward light weight."
It Wam't a Success
?The Chevrolet Review" says: "At 11
o'clock on Thursday, July 13, 1899, the
i start WB3 made on the first attempted
transcontinental automobile trip from
New York to San Francisco. Owing to
; mechanical difficulties experienced, the
< trip was given up at Toledo, Ohio, after
! nearly six weeks."
The Greatest Car Improvement Since the
Multiple-Cylinder Motor
At the
SHOW
Space No. MO
Fourth Floor
Center Aisle
THERadcHfiVTnrbine
Drive ia a revolution?
ary invention. It has great?
er significance than any
other engineering feature
at the fchow.
Fours equipped with the
Radcliffe Drive shade the
performance of the finest
twelves, Twelves with the
Radcliffe perform like no
car that was ever before
known.
Don't fail to see the
Radcliffe Turbine-Drive
?and have ?explained to you
its simple principles and
construction.
1 HE old Hone-lungersw represent, by modern standards? the tero
point ia car performance ?and motor flexibility. "To get there and back"
?as the only demand of their pioneering owners. i
Development of high-gear ability, ease of handling and road-worthiness,
?really began with the advent of the multiple-cylinder motor.
il#NGINEERS have traveled fast upon the trail, and have recorded a
notable series of achievements. Cylinders have multiplied?fours, sixes,
eights, twelves?valves have multiplied, revolutions per minute have
multiplied; and motor efficiency has risen to a new high point which seems
near perfection. Yet car performance is still a compromise.
The Radcliffe Turbine-Drive is the solution of this compromise. It cor?
rects the prime deficiency of all gas-motors?inherent in the finest modern
twelve as in the pioneer "one-lunger"?by the simple conversion of motor
power to hydraulic energy. Hydraulic energy' as flexible, positive and
efficient as steam!
THE Turbine-Drive opens fresh vistas of motor car advancement.
Elimination of gear-shifting, simple throttle and brake control; increased
motor ability, greater safety?these are but the beginning of its possibil?
ities It links car ability and motor efficiency' giving car performance
which is the sum of the two. It is a forward step as great as the building
of the first four.
Radcliffe Turbine-Drive
"Throttle control on high-gear from start to the limit of car speedy
The Radcliffe Turbine-Drive Co., Inc.
1777 Broadway, New York City
llie Radcliffe Turbine-Drive interdianges with standard clutches
Stutz Speaks Well
Of Indianapolis
"Eight automobile factories produc?
ing quality cars and a large assembly
plant producing that 'well known light
car' constitute the present automobile
producing capacity of Indianapolis,"
said Harry C. Stutz, of Indianapolis,
yesterday. "In the quality class the
Hoosier metropolis leads all ot/ner pro?
duction centers of the United States.
Indications are that Indianapolis is
soon to become a quantity-quality pro?
ducer also. j
"Indianapolis, with its sixteen lines
of steam railroads all connected up by
a belt railroad system along which are
hundreds of ideal factory sites, has
shipping facilities second to no other
city.
"In addition, Indianapolis is the geo?
graphical center of manufacturing in
the United States, as shown by the last
census, and it is within sixty miles of
the center of population. Of its popu?
lation, estimated at more than 330,000,
more than 80 per cent are native-born
white people. This means, naturally,
that they are Americans?they are
home-owners, they are good citizens,
and that there is little of the transient,
floating element and little of the ele
1 ment of radicalism.
"Indianapolis also is the commercial
] center of an agricultural territory of
great wealth. Within 100 miles of the
j Iloosier canital farm crops were pro
I duced in 1918 to the value of $300.000,
? 000 and within the same area livestock
I of the value of $275,000,000, and the
total farm property value within 10C
! miles of In-ManaDolis amounts to at
j lea3t $7,500,000,000.
"It is with the firmest faith in th<
j future of the Hoosier metropolis that
, the H. C. S. Motor Company is enter
\ ing into the manufacture of its n?v
' car and has under way and nearinj
completion a model new factory build
\ ing. I am convinced that quality mus
; mingle with quality, and because o
j the reputation for quality built up i:
the past the H. C. S. Company is proui
! to take its place amon?j the quality au
? tomobile builders of Indianapolis."
Mr. Stutz is here to attend the Na
j tional Auto Show and is exhibiting
i chassis and complete model of his ne'
j "H. C. S. Special," which are attractin
much attention.
Case Presents Model V
As New line for 1920
?-_____-_________.
Description of Feature? of the
Cars'; Novel Lubricating
System
The new model V line of Case auto?
mobiles is on exhibition at the Auto
Show. Back of the Case ear stands the
reputation of the J. I. Case Threshing
Machine Company. Associated in the
production of the Case six are twenty
four well known names in the automo?
bile industry.
t Leading the Case line are the coup?
i and the sedan. The coup? accommodates
j four passengers. There are two indi
', vidual seats in addition to the full
| width rear seats. Cushions upholstered
i over China cotton on duplex springs
are covered with mohair velour of a
subdued stripe pattern in a rich gray.
i The ceiling, with its dome light, is fin?
ished in a plain velour. Rubber tubing
! applied to the header prevents rattles
| and makes it waterproof. A locking de
j vice provides for locking one door from
? the inside. The other locks on the
outside.
With roomy front and rear seats ir
the sedan and two auxiliary seats
which disappear into the back of th?
front seat, this all-season car seat!
seven. Mohair velour of exquisite tex
ture in taupe shade and a ceiling fin
j ished in a velour covering to match
i lend an air of refinement to this model
i Illumination is afforded by the dornt
j light operated by an automatic dooi
j switch and two inside corner lamps
! Woodwork in the sedan is of Circas
! sian walnut inlaid. There are wid<
? square cornered windows of polishei
i crystal plate. The velvet covered win
dow channels, rubber bumpers, 01
...- J
j which the window? drop, and rubber
j tubing in the header eliminate rattles.
The seven-passenger touring ?ad
! four-passenger sport models also are
? on exhibition. Their equipment in?
cludes soft, deep cushions on duplex
springs, upholstered with genuine
leather, cowl board and paneling of
Circassian walnut, a fitted top of ge
! iected materials, curtains opening with
? the doors, plate glass rear window and
tonneau lights.
Improvements over previous model?
characterize the 1920 Case line. The
wheel base has been lengthened to 12(5
: inches. The Delco ignition system has
been installed, with the Westinghous*
starter and generator. The divided
front seats are displaced by a solid
front seat, which joins the body sides
firmly.
An improvement of the lubricating
system has been effected by substitut?
ing the Alemite system for the old
fashioned grrease cups. Forcing lubri?
cant into the bearing surfaces with a
screw type of grease gun, affording
over 400 pounds pressure, covers spring
shackles, steering gear and kingpin
) bearings.
French Among the Absent
One of the "old familiar faces" mi*s
ing at this year's show is that of Lucius
French, formerly advertising manager
for the National Motor Car ?St Vehicle
Corporation. French is now in the oil
business in Indianapolis. Fred Well
man has succeeded him as the Na?
tional's advertising director.
Valve-in-Head Engine
I Engineers who designed the new
! Nash Four declare its perfected valve ?
! in-head motor to bo unsually powerful
j and flexible. The motor also, because
I of its construction, is economical of
gasoline consumption and is quiet.
-?--_?-===
%? ?i?-_? wM? mK@m^^M?(^
AT THE AUTOMOBILE SHOW! The car
/jL with a longer life will be there in a new dress.
The distinctiveness of the design, the fascinating
two-tone color-scheme, the unusual completeness of
the car's equipment, will attract thousands to the
Westcott exhibit. Of these thousands a few will
look underneath the paint to the goodness within.
These will form their judgment of the car?not on
the things that are new today, only to become old
before another show rolls around?but upon those
hidden qualities which mean life and service. The
evidence that Westcott is the car with a longer
life, and the car of more genuine comfort during
every year of that long life, may be found within
the car itself if you will but look for it.
WESTCOTT MOTOR COMPANY
OTTO W. HECK, General Manager
1838 Broadway Phone Columbus 8645
THE LIGHTER SIX
118-inch Whc_ib___
Fife-Passenger Touring
Two-Passenger Roadster
Three-Passenger Coupe
(Straight Seat)
Five-Passenger Sedan
THE LARGER SIX
l_5-iach WheelbsM
Seven-Passenger Touring
Five-Passenger Touring^
Sevea-Pissenger Limousine-Scd an
The longest cross-country sealed
chassis run in automobile history
was made by an El&in Six?6,202
miles, with motor, clutch and
transmission officially sealed. This
and a score of other record break?
ing performances have stamped
the El&in as the
World's Champion Li^ht Six
ELGIN MOTOR DISTRIBUTING CO.. lac.
BroaSwoy ?t 57th St., New York City
GARLAND AUTOMOBILE COMPANY
1888 Broadway, at 62nd St., N. Y. Phone?Col. 5596
I