The San Francisco call., 1909-03-27
PROMINENT AUTO
MAKER ARRIVES
w. j. Bowman, Vice President
of the Overland Motor Car
Company, Comes West
BY K. K. FHommedieu

W. j. Bowman, vice, president Of the
overland motor car company, has ar
rived in the city direct from the east
He came to the coast to look over the
automobile situation, his trip now being
an annual affair Bowman is more
than enthusiastic over the automobile
outlook. He said it was not question
among the manufacturers as to where
they were going to sell their cars, but
how they were going to supply the de-
mand.
Some may think that 1 am talking
from the standpoint of one who is try
ing to boost the trade" he said. But
take the present situation in your city.
Go look up any of the standard makes
out and have reputation. See how
soon the representative will promise
delivery. You will be surprised to find
that you will have to wait. The same
conditions exist all over the United
States and, in fact, all over the world
IL 1t were not so it would be possible
for automobilists on the Pacific coast
TO get ears whenever they wanted
them. The buyer who thinks that
there is no hurry in placing his order
viii be sadly disappointed when the
touring season begins. 1t has been
possible for the manufacturer to ship
many cars to the coast during the
winter because this is the selling field
at that time In the winter months
east, when the ground Is covered with
snow, the enthusiast is not keen on
motoring. But wait till the first sign
OF spring makes its appearance, and
then there is a rush for cars. The
dealers in the east know this from
experience and have placed their orders
with the factories accordingly. These
orders mean that the great bulk of
the cars viii be delivered to them bel
tween the middle of April and the 1st
OF July We will have to supply this
demand, for they all have contracts.
This also means that there will be
fewer cars coming to the coast than
there has been for the last four months.
If there is a shortage of cars here now,
1t will be worse in a short while. The
man who knows that he is going to
buy car this season should take time
by the forelock and decide at once and
place his order, getting a delivery It
the time he wants to go touring II
would suggest that he take a delivery
80 days before he really thinks he
wants car, Tor the factories are not
going to be able to fulfill all the prom
ises that are made by the representa-
tives.
ITO run factory on true business
means that the whole auto
mobile field all over the United States
must get cars in certain numbers all
the time, SO that the product will be
seen on all roads and city streets This
is laying up a reputation for the time
when the supply will be greater than
the demand. 1t also means that no one
section will be fully supplied, for when
that time is reached another touring
season will be at hand.
AS for the Overland cars, I can
only say that we feel that we are get
ting more than our share of the trade. |
The Overland cars have made good be-
cause they are made good. We have
given the coast a certain number OIL
cars, and from the present outlook this
number will not be increased unless
we are able to increase our ability to |
produce more cars"
A trip to Genoa, Italy. has been
planned by E. j. Holt, prominent au-
tomobilist of this |
EaToDsas Tour sfafly SEX sylnds4 Ra5sRassS oi5s,
mobile. Holt will |
De accompanied by his family on the |
-our and the party will use their Amer
can made car for travelling. According |