Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-26
NO SHORTAGE OF PARTS
CAN AFFECT CADILLkCS
EVERY PARTS PLANT IN COUNTRY
HAMMERING DAY AND NIGHT
Ninety-fve Per Cent of Cadillac Cars
Are Produced. in Manufacturers
Own Foundries and
Shops

Timid and ill-inuformed critics OF
the automobile situation, who are con-
stantly expressing fears of an over
production OF cars in this country will
find comfort and solace in the remark
able condition which obtains at pres
ent in the parts market.
Even If these skeptics had ground
for their fear that the country would
not be able to absorb the enormous
output planned for the coming season
which they have not-their misgiV-
ings would be removed If they ac-
quainted themselves with the limita-
tions of parts manufacture in America.
Every parts plant Of any import
ance in the United States is literally
working night and day, In vain en-
deavor to satisfy the tremendous de-
mand upon its facilities, resulting from
the enormous output of half hun
dred or more automobile factories.
They will fail by a considerable mar
gin, according to the best informa-
tion obtainable, to satisfy that demand
during the ensuing year.
Which is just another way of saying
that the fifty odd manufacturers re-
ferred to will not be able to build
the number Of cars which they have
planned on paper.
Even if they could attain the max
imum quantity upon which they have
figured, that quantity would not be
sufficient to satisfy the appetite OF the
buying public.
But there need be no fear on that
score. There will be no overproduction
for the very excellent reason stated
above-that a sufficient volume of
parts cannot be made by all the plants
in this country combined working full
time, to come within reasonable dis
tance of supplying the number OF cars
which the manufacturers would like TO
build.
1t is a question II this condition is
not a blessing in disguise. 1t is at
once a check upon careless manufac-
ture and a possible Cutting of the
market twelve months or tWenty-four
months hence.
At the same time it has its serious
aspect. The buyer of car which is
dependent for its parts upon several
manufacturers has a reasonable desire
to know whether or not he is going to
get lis car after he has ordered IT.
Many manufacturers can give this pos
tive assurance of delivery to most or
nearly all of their buyers; but many
others cannot.
The average parts factory is being
hammered from morning till night
every day in the week and month by
manufacturers clamoring for immedi-
ate delivery. When one manufacturer
succeeds in getting hi parts another
has to suffer. and, in turn, the buyer
has to suffer, because he has 20 wait
for his ear.
Doubtless the situation will adjust
itself in time. There will be an in
crease in the mtnufactu- e of parts in
this country. That is absolutely i'm
perative. New companies will, in
time ease up the pressure,
But this relief cannot be counted
upon in the next twelve months; and
perhaps not for twelve months longer
because another veXing question en-
ters into the situation at this juncture.
Many parts manufacturers may be de-
sirous of increasing their equipment,
and many new companies may be anx-
ious to enter the field; but both will
encounter a tremendous difficulty in
securing the proper machinery and
getting the necessary material
So that more or less of a shortage
may be counted upon at least during
the entire year of 1910, and it behooves
the prospective buyer of automobiles
to know precisely the condition of the
plant in which the car is made and
precisely how it is built-Whether it is
assembled or whether it is manufae-
tured, and whether or not he can be
sure, first, of careful unhurried con-
struction. and, secondly, of a reason
able delivery.
OF course the automobile manufac
turer whom the strictest sense of the
word-manufactures his own car views
this peculiar situation with perfect
equanimity.
Thus the Cadillac company is in the
enviable position of building 80 per
cent of all the parts which enter into
the construction of the Cadillac go"
Equipped with our own pattern
makers, our own foundries, our own
machine shops, and casting our own
cylinders, manufacturing our own
transmissons, carburetors, radiators.
etc, we feel ourselves" says w. c.
Leland, general manager of the Ca
dillac company, absolutely immune
from the great majority of the thou
sand troubles which vim undoubtedly
beset the manufacturer during the
coming season."