Evening star. [volume], February 12, 1922, Image 55

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
TRACTOR PRICE CUT
j FLASHEDBY RADIO
Farmers Will Benefit by Cut
* . in Fordsons ? Manu
# f facturer's Message.
The first announcement of the big
cut in the price of the> Fordson
tractor was made through Henry
Ford's radio message Thursday evening,
I January 26, from the Dearborn radio
station to Ford dealers attending a
' Fordson tractor industrial show in
Cleveland, Ohio. The context of his
talk, which was very plainly heard in
Cleveland and surrounding districts, is
quoted below:
"It is certainly wonderful to sit
here in my office and say a few words
of greeting to you Ford dealers of
the Cleveland territory. The radio
is an outstanding tribute to man's
Inventive genius. They say there is
nothing new under the sun, but we
are constantly inventing new things,
every day bringing some big improve
ment over the previous day's methods.
Improved Tranaportntion ^letlioda.
"Manufacturing operations have
undergone some wonderful revolu
tionary changes during th* past few
years. We are all familiar with the
big improvements in transportation
methods, but the oldest industry has
been the most backward in the ac
ceptance or adoption of the new and
up-to-date methods of doing things,
and that is the farming industry.
I Being a farmer. I ain vitally inter
ested in all farm improvements, and
with this in mind I have spent years
of time and millions in money in the
development of the Fordson tractor,
which I really think is one of the
biggest possible helps to profitable
farming
"As a general thing, the farmers
havA bettered their financial condition
during the past eighteen months, but
the production costs of farm prod
ucts are still too close to selling
prices to allow fair margins of profit.
What the farmer must do to put his
business on a paying basis is to lower
the cost of planting, cultivating and
harvesting of his crops. This alone ;
will Increase his profits, and with,
this thought in mind it has been our
constant aim to lower the price of
the Fordson so that every farmer in
the land could afford to own one.
"It is a pleasure, therefore, to an
nounce through you Ford dealers that
we have today decided that the trac
tor price should again be reduced,
and in considering a reduction, nat
urally my thouoght has been to make
it possible for the largest number of
farmers to share in the benefits to
be derived through the use of our
tractor, and consequently, effective
tomorrow. January 27. 1922. the new
price of the Fordsor. tractor will be
$395. f. o. b. Detroit. This is a cut
of $230 off the present price; and
while in making this big reduction
we have taken upon ourselves a gi
gantic task in the reduction of manu
facturing costs, still that task, in my
opinion, is not larger than the farm
er's problem of today, and X. am glad
to do my part in bringing about a
period of increased prosperity for the
farmer. Your part is to carry this
l message to the farmer, thereby en
abling him to produce more with
less cost apd shorter hours."
Charles W. Semmes was re-elected
president of the Semmes Motor Com
pany at a meeting: held during the
past few days of the officers and
board of the company. Raphael
Semmes was elected first vice presi
dent and sales manager, arifl E. B.
Semmes was chosen as second vice
president. John A. Sweeney, who
has been connected with the company
for a number of years, was elected
secretary.
Raphael Semmes. as sales manager,
will fill the position formerly occu
pied by Howard W. Kneessi. vice
president of the company, who was
killed in the recent Knickerbocker
accident. The service department
will be under the supervision, of E. B.
Semmes and Walter Blake, while.
Wilder M. De Neane will have^charge
of the appraisal and sale of used cars.
MANUFACTURER DEVISES PLAN
TO ELIMINATE USED CAR EVIL
Proposes Formation of National Company
Whick Will Buy, Sell and Recon
dition All Old Cars.
As the result of serious thought
given the used car problem from
both the dealers' and manufacturers*
standpoints, H. H. Brooks, general
sales manager for the Nordyke and
Marmon Company, lias evolved a plan
to eliminate the detrimental effect or.
the industry from this cause, which
he recently outlined at a meeting ot
the National Automobile Chamber of
Commerce. Mr. Brooks reaflzes, along
with others, that the used car prob
lem is the manufacturer's as well as
the dealer's to cope with.
Without going into the merits or
demerits of the question of how the
used car has been allowed to become
such a detrimental factor in new car
sales, Mr. Brooks offers what event
ually may become the basis of con
certed action among manufacturers
and dealers looking to a final dispo
sition of the specter once and for all.
Mr. Brooks outlines his plan as fol
lows:
Stork Would Be Sold.
"I suggest that a corporation be
formed and operated under the super
vision of the manufacturers of passen
ger cars, the passenger car dealers
and bankers. Stock in this corpora
tion would be offered to any one de
.siring to purchase it. but it should
be issued on a basis that will assure
supervision as suggested. This corr
poration I would suggest be called
the' National Used Car Company, or
some other appropriate name. "The
sole business of this corporation
would be to buy, recondition and sell
used cars. It would have a central
headquarters. with main branch
houses located in various zones
throughout the country. The number
of zones would be dependent upon
geographical conditions and potential
inatrket*. I estimate the required
number will be between twenty and
thirty.
Branche* at Acce??lble Point.
"These main branch houses to be in
j reality reconditioning plants. I men
tion geographical conditions because
1 think these reconditioning plants
should be located at points easily ac
i cessible overland, so cars purchased
! by the company could be driven in
j stead of shipped. Within each zone
there would be located as many sub
branches as necessary. These sub
I branches, however, to be purely re
tail establishments, except that pro
I vision would be made for minor re
j pairs and adjustments on cars pur
I chased which did not require paint
i irog or reconditioning. A srreat many
of the cars purchased would be in.
this class.
"The National Used Car Company
should buy old cars from those auto
mobile owners purchasing 4iew cars.
Impair* Efficiency.
"The manufacturers should encour
age the dealers to discontinue the
parctice of taking in old cars, oven
to the point of demanding this on the
ground that it is poor business, as it
impairs the dealer's efficiency n.nd
finances, 100 per cent of which are
needed in developing the new car
business. Many dealers' contracts
now require them to har.dle a certain
make of ear exclusively, or that car
in conjunction only with certain other
cars of a different class which the
manufacturer' thinks will not con
I flict with sound merchandising: of his
I car. Dealing in used cars by our deal
j ers is not sound merchandising. Why,
i then, have we not the same right?
each acting on his own judgment?
to contract with our dealers against
this pracfice?
The manufacturer explains that he is
not taking old cars in exchange for
new ones, as he has no facilities for
handling them, but that he has an ar
rangement with the National Used
Car Company by which he assists in
financing any used car purchased by
it. provided the owner purchases the
make of car handled by the dealer.
The dealer also explains to the cus
tomer that many other dealers in the
same town have a similar arrange
ment and he suggests that his cus
tomer take his old car to'the National
Used Car Company.
Experts Appraise Car.
"When this is done here is what
will happen: The customer comes in
to the dealer to purchase ,a new car
and with an old one to trade in. He
asks the dealer for an allowance on
the old car. The dealer explains Used
Car Company, where an expert used
car man will appraise his car and
make him an offer of purchase. If he
desires to accept the offer of pur
chase of the National Used Car Com
pany. he will leave his car. accepting
in return therefore a 'certificate of
value' for the amount agreed upon.
This 'certificate of value' will be good
for the amount specified toward the
purchase price of any new automo
bile made by a manufacturer co-op
erating in the plan. When the 'cer
tificate of, value" Is accepted by the
new car dealer and the sale of the
new car is consummated, the National
Used Car Company will give the deal
er in exchange for the certificate of
value' a negotiable note of equal
value. This note can be indorsed by
the dealer and used "at his bank, as
he has made of it two-name paper.
When the used ear is sold the note is
to be redeemed instantly, and from
this point the deal is to be financed
entirely by the National Used Car
Company. A successful operation of
this plan will entirely finance the car
inventory of the National Used Car
Company.
Will Sot Restrain Trade.
"Inasmuch as these cars will be
purchased at the real market value
and sold at a profit, the National
Used Car Company will surely have
considerable competition by other
used car dealers. If the owner does
not care to sell his car to the Na
tional Used Car Company, he will
have the used car dealer to whom he
can sell, and in addition any individ
ual prospect he may have for his car.
It I will not be undesirable for the
competitive used car dealer to pur
chase the car. as that will entirely
relieve the new car dealer of financ
ing the used car.
"This does not restrain trade in any
manner, as the prospert has various
channels through which he can sell
his used car. and there is no inten
tion whatsoever of forcing the owner
to sell his car at less than market
value. Neither will there be any
agreement entered into on. the part
of the manufacturers or the dealers
collectively to force the operation of
the plan. What is said in each in
stance by the manufacturer to the
dealer will be simply an expression
of the individual judgment of the
manufacturer.
Commlniiona to Be Paid.
I "The National Used Car Company
i will sell-its cars at cost, plus recondi
tioning, plus sales expense, plus a
normal profit. A commission should
be charged the dealer for the sale
of the used car. This commission
should be the same as paid the new
car salesman. The new car sales
man will receive, as is customary to
day, a commission on the amount of
cash received, and the National Used
Car Company will receive a commis
sion on the balance Involved when the
used car is sold."
Mr. Brooks suggests financing' the
corporation by having the manufac
turers subsidize it to the extent of 1
per cent of the net value of their
products until the company is oil a
sound financial basis; also to call on
the dealers for funds, but he believes
the financing could be, easily accom
plished where the benefits are so
great.
The new plan also Involves a na
tional advertising campaign to sell
the public on the new method of
THE light, specially-made pis
tons and the perfectly balanced
crankshaft of the New Series of the
good Maxwell not only increase
motor smoothness, power and flex*
ibility, but reduce vibration to
the vanishing point, lengthen the
motor's life and hold down repairs*
' I
V
Touring Car, $885 Roadster, $885 Sedan, $1485 Coupe, $1385
F. O. & Detroit, iiihw addtd
H. B. LEARY, JR.
1321-23 14th Street
Telephone Main 4105
handling; used cars and to show the
public that the plan will work out
to their best Interests.
By the new plan long delays in get
ting: used cars reconditioned would
be avoided, and used cars could be
offered for sale where the market of?
fereri the best opportunity, not, as at
present, wherever they happened to
be traded in.
Mr. Brooks realizes the controversy
that will be waged over any drastic
suggestion such as his plan, but
thinks that something will eventually
be done and wants to start the ball
rolling. He will welcome the fullest
discussion of the plan from all an
gles.
COTTON FIBER IN TIRES.
Over 9,000,000 Feet in Ordinary
Carcase.
Here are Interesting facts about
your automobile tire: 1,723 miles of
cotton liber, if placed end to end,
go to make up the carcass of a
30x3'A cord tire. This Is over 9,000,
000 feet of cotton fiber. There are
400 of these fibers to the inch. The
best fiber Is one and five-eighths
inches long, says the fabric inspec
tion department of the Miller Rub
ber Company.
In the 35x5 cord tire there are
30,330,000 feet of cotton fiber. This
is over 5.744 miles. Here again the
one and five-eighths inch standard is
maintained.
In the cords which go to make
up the carcass of the cord tire there
are fifteen twisted strands. Each
cord is divided into three cables of
five strands each. There are 650
Inches or eighteen yards of fiber In
each inch of this yarn. ,
A standard make of five-inch cord
tire has twenty to twenty-six cords
per inch. Eight plies or layers of
cords make up the. carcass. The
breaking strength of a cord Is ap
proximately fifteen pounds. Cords
are similar to a medium-weight fish
ing line. Each is insulated with rub
ber and each ply iieparated from the
rest by a layer of rubber Insulation.
Walter Schneider has rejoined the
sales force of the District Oakland
Company, after an absence of one
year. Schneider's connection with
the retail sales end of the Oakland
covers a period of over five years.
Subject to Be Discussed by
Automotive Engineers'
Committee.
Owing to the large number of pur
poses for which motor trucks -are
'used, it is the universal practice of all
truck builders to sell motor truck*
without bodies or cabs, these units
being obtained by the chassis pur
chaser. As bodies and cabs are not
interchangeable on different makes
of truckii of the same capacity, it is
necessary for motor truck chassis buy
ers to lace special order* for bodies and.
cabs, these units being to the
I truck at the body builders' plant, re
sulting in additional expense and a loss
of time.
Motor truck users and body and
I cab manufacturers fully appreciate
this most uneconomical situation, but
as the quantity production of bodies
and cabs is absolutely Impossible ow
ing to the variation in the amounting
dimensions for the different types
and makes of motor truck chassis,
they are powerless to remedy the
situation.
Subject for Dlacaaaloa.
At the suggestion of a truck manu
facturer having a large distributer
and dealer organization, this condi
tion is to be discussed by the motor
truck manufacturers' committee of
the Society of Automotive Engineers'
standards committee
The fundamental djmentions which
must be (standardized to obtain
the desired Interchangeabllity of cabs
are the distance from the windshield
to the front of the driver's seat and
the width of the seat. The latter
dimension has been standardized at
about 20 inchcs In practice, but the
former varies, depending principally
upon the angle of the steering col
umn.
It probably will be found necessary
to establish two cab widths or seat
length*, owing: to the larger crew
usually carried on the heavier trucks
and also to appearance. Instruments
will probably have to be attached to
a dash furnished as a part of the
chassis. This would save a large
amount of time In equipping trucks
with cabs, as no instrument connec
tions would have to be disturbed.
Dlllcaltles PrmiM
The location of the pedals and the
levers involves difficulties so far as
standardization Is concerned, and a
great deal of study will be required.
The standardization of the location
of the pedals and levers is not abso
lutely necessary, however, from the
standpoint of standardising the prin
cipal cab-mounting dimensions.
Standardization of cab dimensions
will mean that the seating comfort
of the driver will be assured in all
cases. This is a very important point,
possibly more Important than inter
ehangeabillty of cabs, as it would
eliminate a great deal of criticism on
the part of drivers who desire pas
senger car comfort In motor trucks,
which is impractical at the present
time. It is a point which is taken
very seriously by salesmen and re
ceives a great deal of discussion in
any motor truck aale.
MIND AUTO BATTERIES
NOW, SAYS SERVICE MAN i
When you go out to the garage with
a. pitcher of distilled water in one
hand, and a battery hydrometer in the
other it may be satisfying to know
that the majority of motor car own
ers are with you. "The Willard com
pany was curious," said Mr. Rubel. a
Willard service station dealer, "to
know how much care was given to
the battery by its owner, so they put
the question directly to 2.04S owners.
While only E6.7 per cent of this num
ber replied, of this ground 30 percent
said that they gave their battery a
great deal of attention, while 20 per
cent admitted that they paid very lit
tle attention to it. and 6.7- per cent
stated that they did not do anything
at all."
These are the mornings when the
average motorist gives iiis vocabulary
of profanity a thorough tryout. Cool
mornings when the thermometer is
hovering a few degrees above the
freezing mark cause the air about
the family garage to become pos
sessed of an azure hue. Mr. Motorist
steps on his starter pedal and the
motor turns over a few times, but so
far as starting is concerned there's
nothing doing.
But "there's a rekson!"
The storage battery companies say
this is the worst season of the year
on a battery. This is the season when j
the motorist is suffering from a con- j
gested carburetor. He has not ad- !
justed this most important part of i
the car to winter conditions. The'
mixture of gas with which trie*
to start the engine is the same as
that which was us?d afl summer. It's
too lean and will not ignite. The
longer the driver holds down the
etartirg pedal the more current he is
using from the battery, and after 9.
morning or two of such doings the
battery will need recharging. It's far
better to adjust a carburetor and sav*
the battery?and it is cheaper in the
long run.
The New, Superior
CHEVROLET
Four-Door Sedan
$875 F. O. B. Flint
At its pricc this car represents the fullest v'.lue of
today's dollar. It is built of materials priced in ac
cord with today's market. It represents all of the
present day economies.
A few for immediate delivery
Barry Pate Motor Company, Inc.
1218 Connecticut Avenue
Franklin 5627
COLN
M
S
5>T
Hi
rg
The Lincoln Policy
A
C Revision
?800S
'1,200s
in the price
schedule of
LINCOLN
MOTOR CARS
is now effective
TWELVE
BODY
TYPES
LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY
Bartram Motors Company
Distributors
New Hampshire Avenue at M Street >
Telephone West 458
persists inflexibly to produce the
finest motor car in the world.
By finest motor car in the world we mean, without
reservation, the most attractive in appearance; the most
comfortable and least fatiguing in which to travel; the
most fascinating to drive; the most dependable; the
most enduring; the most road worthy; and by every
standard the most desirable and ipost satisfying motor
car of which it is possible to conceive.
The effecting of that policy is made possible only because
of abundant resources?in scientific equipment, in adept
craftsmen; and in finances which are practically with
out limit.
Lincoln Policy is not subject toone iota of compromise.
It is not subject to the influence of desire to meet a pre
determined selling price.
Lincoln Policy is not subject to any adverse influence,
regardless of whatsoever effort or expenditure may be re
quired to perpetuate the world-known Leland standards.
Quality and character, as always, will persistently stand
foremost
These, scrupulously maintained, price then necessarily
becomes incidental; and Lincoln prices are merely
what a car of Lincoln quality and Lincoln character,
scientifically produced, must of necessity demand.
DETROIT, MICH.
LELAND-BUILT