Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-11-07

now many peTSOuS Interested III
automobiles have stopped long enough
to realize what the introduction Ct
Standardization into the manufacture
OF automobiles means? There is, per
hapsr no other word that conveys the
note Of confidence to the manufac-
tureT, dealer or user to a greater de-
gree than standardization. Not since
its production into the industry has it
been bTouht to a stronger realization of
its strength than is indicated by the
present situation.
1t is apparent that the industry is
undergoing a metamorphosis, not, as
a few alarmists predict, for the worst,
but quite the contrary. AS might be
expected from any new industry where
its prosperity has been rushed with
impetuous force, a basic test was in
eyitable, and when reached it would
settle down to a sOunder and firmer
basis than before.
This applies not only to the selling
but to the manufacturing as we'll.
With the organization of the mechani-
cal branch of the Association of Ii
censed Automobile Manufacturers in
1903, the first work of the engineers
of the branch was toward the stand
ardzatiOn of many Of the parts of an
automobile. 1t was apparent to them
that if many unnecessary annOyances
which beset the industry were to be
eliminated standardization of certain
parts was the medium through which
the evolution would take place.
The cost OF manufacturing an auto
mobile is alomst inestimable. No
one can realize to what extent a man
ufaCturer must proceed after extensive
experiments and tests to produce a
car that is better than its previous
model The great cost of producing
is not alone in material and workman
ship ON the car itself, but largely in
she cost of special machinery and tools
10 make the many parts constituting
the anatomy Of a machine.
Often the expensive machinery in
stalled to manufacture one year is en-
Girely inadequate to produce the fol
lowing years output. This is caused
in many instances by changes in the
newer models.
The advantage to the manufacturers
gained by standardized methods is ap-
parent He can make UP, or have
made up for him material and parts for
three or four years to come, thus elm
mating the necessity of many spe-
cial sizes and styles of parts. His
cost Of production is cheaper and his
wear and tear on machinery reduced
materially. Time and labor are saved
in the installation of new machines;
the same skilled mechanics can be re-
tanned and are accustomed from year
so year to the same class of work as
they are producing.
Perhaps one Of the greatest bene-
fits derived bv manufacturers who are
members of the licensed association
has been cooperation in the selection
of materials. In the early stages of
the industry the engineers of the me-
chanical branch realized what con-
fronted them in regard to securing ma
reriaj for construction.
To get steel capable of withstanding
both the dynamic and static strains to
which it would be subjected was a
matter of considerable moment It
was difficult to buy it in the ready
market. Special specifications were
necessary and the steel manufacturers
were not prepared to supply immedi-
ately the steefs demanded by the
makers. Various manufacturers used
various grades and quantities of steel,
perhaps no two ordering from the
same specifications or in the same
quantities The result was almost
chaotic The limited time given the
steel manufacturers precluded their
getting out the best steels.
One of the first steps taken by the
Mechanic Branch, after thoroughly ex-
perimeating and testing the various
grades of steels for their respective
parts, was to adopt and standardize
certain specifications for metals which
would give the maximum Of results IN
the places where they were to be used.
These specifications were issued to
the members of the association, who In
turn used them when ordering from