New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
TRUCK TRADE EXPANDS
South American Cities Calling
for American Motor Vehicles.
H. S. HOUPT IS OPTIMISTIC
Expects to Reap Benefit of Send
ing Alco Representative to
Buenos Ayres.

! The American Locomotive Company. maxi
CT of Alco trucks and automobiles. is the
first OF the important makers OF motor
trucks 10 seek a market for them in the
South American field
Alfred Csmsncho has sailed for Buenos
Ayres. representing the company. He will
esta blish branch in that city and Will
Thoroughly investigate the field there. He
las taken with him two Alco cars. one
4-cylinder 10 and the other 6-cylnder
go" three.ton chassis of motor truck
will he shipped Linn al once. This move
has been made by the American Locomotive
Company in response to man. demands
from the South American cities for infor-
nation concerning trucks and cars. Tue
field has heretofore been largely monopo-
lied by the cars and trucks of European
makes. Now the merchants are turning To-
America for more advanced ideas and more
specialized solutions of their hauling proc
lens.
1T Is astonishing" saws Harry :. Houpt,
sales manager OF the automobile depart
ment # the American Locomotive Com
pany. how few high class American trucks
and cars are sold In South America. The
truth Is that the American manufacturer
has been so busy supplying his own marker
with trucks and cars that he has had
little opportunity and less inclination to
inform himself with regard to foreign mar
kets. BIT now the people Of South America
iporticularly have awakened to yhe fact that
European makers do not supply all they
demand.
This is as true of motor trucks as it is
o. cars As have said before. ! believe
flat the use Of motor trucks IN the next
ten years will surprise aven those who are
clc sest TO the industry The call from
South America signifies that the new meth
od of TRANSPORTATION il really the beginning
OF q new era in business methoGs. and that
merchants all over the world are thinking
along the same lines at the Same time.
at was the inquiries from South America
! concerning our trucks. where our locomo-
| tives are well known. that made US believe
fresh market exists there More particu-
larly I'm Buenos Ayres and in the country
! il serves as an outlet j. there demand TOT
such trucks and cars as We build. Practi-
caIlv all the business OF the immense Ar
Centine Republic is handed through
Ruonos AyreS. and il is great world CITY
| There is as much wealth in proportion 10
The popula ton there as in New YORK Clty'
! In connection with the truck situation
there there is also demand for high grade
/ American automobiles. great many me-
dium and low priced cars have been shipped
there for some time. but practically no
| high priced cars. such as the Alco. nave
como i'm there We have not taken TINS step
without careful consideration. We he
lieve We shall have good returns from that
country. and that this is the beginning OF
n broad expansion Of foreign trade in motor
trucks and high class cars
| Several makers are considering SINH
lar move | understand. and believe that
! in A few wears this country will be export
ing as many automobiles as il uses within
it's own borders That has been so in the
bicycle trade. simply because our makers
| have been able 10 build a better wheel and
! lav it down in other countries at compel
| Ing prices.
| While the two situations are not alto
sether analogous the fact is that We are
making in this country the best automobiles
and the best motor trucks made anywhere
: in the world II we did not believe this. as
specifically applied Ia our own cars. we
would not have taken the risk Of opening
] South American connections.
/ Mr. Camancho has thoroughly eX-
nerienced factory man who will work with
| him there IN the introduction OF our trucks
and cars"