The San Francisco call., 1909-11-07
NOT ENOUGH AUTOS
TO SUPPLY DEMAND
Proposed 100000 Output This
Season Will Not Meet Needs
of Purchasers
Prospective Buyers Are Ad.
vised TO Place Orders for
Their Cars Early
B9 r. R. LHoMMEDIEU

By R. R. L'HOMMEDIEU
The reports received from time to
lime from the east to the effect that
sbout 100000 automobiles viii be
manufactured the coming u months
have been very alluring TO the man who
las been contemplating buying an
automobile. and especially to those
,..oss means restrict them to the popu-
"a. priced car. 1t is a certainty that
.his number Of automobiles Will not be
Manufactured, first and foremost for
she reason that it viii be impossible
- get the material with which to con-
strgct them. The growth of the auto
snobiie industry has been so rapid that
the allied industries. which fave to
supply the component parts of an auto
mobile have been unable to keep in
sep with the fast moving progress Of
the modern vehicle. Automobiles, are
no' made out Of crude material.
II 1RODUCT OF REFINEMENT
The motor car Of the present day is 2
product Of refinement in all its parts,
The most prominent of which is steel
This steel is not the steel of a few
Years ago which was put into the first
= s.omObiles. II is a steel worked up
with anti-fatigue alloys, that is, alloys
that counteract crystallization, de-
nsanded for the safety of the owner
and to withstand the great vibration
that Is superinduced by the great speed
-. the motor car running on pneumatic
tirsS This IS but one part of the great
scientific advance that may be said to
iss Followed out in all branches of auto
mobile construction Hence il viii be
seen that 10 produce stock of this
nature, with which 10 construct motor
cars. must take time and large guam
fifies az men to supply the demand.
This is especially evident when it is
considered that during the 10 years.
pp 10 tho present season, about 300,00
automobiles have been built. and now
suddenly for the next u months they
demand stock for 10000 at least.
That this demand viii not be sup
piled is a certainty. The same also can
30 said Of the tire situation. There is
not going To be enough crude rubber TO
supply the demand, hence il it were
possible 10 construct the cars. IL would
be impossible 10 move them on account
cf the tire situation.
There is no question that the
world has become enthusiastic over the
automobile, and as has been ssids has
gone motor mad The two reasons for
she great popularity Of the automobile,
first. the great delights of covering
space in a fast moving vehicle under
ones own command and secondly. the
great benefits derived physically from
, tl,e forced life out of doors. have made
. inany give UP other pleasures for this
marvel OF the present century.
OVERSTOCKING IMPOSSIBLE
There have been some who have said
- 1,a
manufactured this year it would
oEerstOck the market Considering the
popularity and demand, this is impos-
Sible. when we calculate that there are
90 600. 000 people in the United States.
and, taking il a four people 10 a fam
ily. would mean something over
10000 600 families. II is estimated that
only a fifth Of the population Of the
United States earns 5000 or over A
year. which, following out the same
calculations. would mean there are
about 100000 families who can afford
s.n automobile.
This shows that with 800 900 already
manufactured. and 100000 planned for
the present year. there would only he
, supplied about one-eighth the number
necessary for those who could afford
q bay a motor car.
OF the 100000 already manufactured
many have gone 10 the junk heap. be-
ing cars Of the experimental stage
while others have entered the second
hand market, and are being purchased
- the 95 per cent below the $4,000 in
come mark
This s. per cent Of the population
sQust show 10 the manufacturer where
Che cheap or popular priced car of the
present season viii from now on drift
80. Hence when it is said that the
manufacturers propose TO build 200, 600
automobiles the coming season. II con-
ditions permit Of their manufacture
Il VIII not produce an overstocked
market.
From these deductions there is but
one conclusion for the buyer to con-
slider and that is. II he is TO enjoy an
automobile manufactured this season.
IL behooves him TO place his order at
once, for II he does not. he will find
that he will be enjoying his touring
FOR the first time during some period
% 1911.
-
Cincinnati owner of a six cylinder
WintOn wrote q fiattering letter to the
factory. a cOnv Qf