Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-19
PRICES
MEAN BIG SALES
DEMAND FOR HIGHER CLASS
CARS STIMULATED
INDUSTRIAL EVOLUTION MAkEe
ECONOMY POSSIBLE
Outlook for Coming Season 10 E~eep-
tlonalIy Bright, as Many intends
Ing Buyers Have Deferred
Their Purchases
nY I. oEoneR THoMPsoN


tbouoh without real cause by a few
oe the dealers in motor cars because
of the announcements Of several of the
automobile manufacturers that low
nriced four-cylinder cars would be put
IN the market this coming season,
instead of worrying the dealers
should congratulate themselves that 1t
has been found possible to manufac-
t1re good cars for less money.
The tendency Of the low priced car
has always been to create more motor
car owners, who eventually buy high
er priced or higher powered cars.
Each sale to a new customer in
creases the demand for cars and makes
additions to the ranks of good roads
enthusiasts both of which conditions
are to be cultivated.
That practically the same cars Will
be sold for less this coming season
means that the processes of manufac-
ture and the cost of output have d.
minished rather than that~the quality
of the cars has suffered.
The Standardization of motors and
bodies has done much to effect a saw
ing in the cost of manufacture, as the
cars will be turned out with prac-
ticalIy the same patterns and machines
as were used before. The knowledge
gained as to the amount of the out
put of the various cars that VIII be
needed to supply the demand is mucn
more accurate and larger lots can be
sent through the factory at one time,
thus effecting another large saving.
The cost of demonstrating and try
ing out various parts will be mini
mized on account of the adoption of SO
many of the features that have been
incorporated in former models.
Special machines and apparatus Tor
the manufacture of parts will not have
to be made, as was the case when new
STYLES were adopted each year in many
of the essential features.
All these things taken together Will
lessen considerably the expense of
motor cars when they are made UP in
large quantities, and the benefit of
the saving can be distributed between
the customer and the manufactures
with less cost to the one and greater
profits to the other.
There will always be the same de-
mand for the higher priced cars and
II will increase with the sale of the
medium priced ones instead of dimin-
fishing. as some have feared.
Prosperous Times Ahead
with the good crop conditions that
have prevailed over the greater part
Of the country and especially in South
ern California, the next season, which
begins within two or three months,
should prove more profitable thar. any
that have been experienced.
During the panic many who had IN
mind the purchase OF a motor car de-
ferred It until the time OF stringency
was past. They had the money, ana
Il is still available, but they adopted
a conservative policy and waited; ana
thew have continued to wait to see
what the coming season Will bring
forth. 1t is very unlikely that there
will be slump in motor car prices.
as the manufacture of cars Is now on
q firmly established business basis and
fhe man who buys q motor car today
NAYS for the material and time put
into its manufacture, plus the cost OF
selling. ID,
as heretofore, SO that any reduction III
price must come from the manutac-
turer, and he can only cut prices wne ~
he finds more improved methods OF
manufacture or manufactures In such
quantities as will reduce the expense
Motor cars are at present one of the
closest figdred products on the mar
ket. and nobody so far has made
fortune from their manufacture.
Next season will see many minor
announcements, but they will be slight,
tending to increase the comfort or re-
finement of the car, but affecting the
efficiency very slightly, as no radical
changes in the motors are propaple
until an entirely new style Is invented
or some other fuel than gasoline is
made practical. ~,
The motor buying public is a FACTOR
that has changed things considerably
in the sale of cars, as it is much better
posted than formerly on account OF the
space that the press is devoting to the
industry.
Where a good talking point formerly
would sell cars questions of operating
and expense now figure largely in the
sales. The car that gets the most mile
age out of set of tires with the least
gasoline consumption per passenger
mile is the one that will sell, If 1t Is
stable and reliable.
So far as appearance goes they all
look alike to a very great extent, many
of the experts being bothered to tell at
a glance the make of a car as it passes
on the street.
While the announcement of new cars
at lower prices has affected the sale of
this seasons models to some extent,
business conditions are very encourage
ing, and the prospects of a good season
for all reliable makes that give value
for value received are such as to make
many of the farsighted dealers prepare
for a greatly increased trade.