The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-08
WORLD LARGEST
TRUCK PLANT HERE
Detroit Rapidly Coming To Fore as
Leader in Commercial Car
Industry

While Detroit is the acknowledged
leader in the building OF touring
cars II has been little known up TO
the last few years for its production
OF freight and delivery motors.
Ten years ago the commercial We
hicle industry in this city was VIZ
tually a minus quantity. Any at
tempt to take the motor truck IN
dustry seriously met with derlslon.
ANY man who dared assert that there
was great future In store Tor the
motor truck Industry was put down
as a dreamer, and experiments look
ing toward the perfection or the
commercial vehicle were carried on
under the cover OF great secrecy.
Detroit. however, was rot unlike
other cities in this respect. There
was general feeling all over the
country that the commercial Vehlcle
Industry would never amount 70
much.
In the production OF motor trucks
and delivery vehicles, DETROIT mas
made rapid strides within the last
year or two, and IL uses as many OF
such vehicles. in proportion, as the
leading eastern cities, where the In
dustry is more firmly established.
Detroit today boasts the largest
factory in the world for building
motor trucks, a plant covering lSl,-
O3b sauare feet. IL also boasts sew
eral OF the best known makes OF
trucks In the country, trucks thai
In the opinion OF engineers, have
practically reached the acme OF me
chanical perfection. But II is not
only in heavy trucks that Detroit
excels. There are several companies
In this city. formerly identified only
with the building of touring cars,
that now see in the light delivery
motor fertile field
AS a matter OF fact the commercial
car industry is only in its infancy as
far as Detroit Is concerned, though
1T is growing at what some might
call an astounding rate, II is not
growing too fast TO supply the needs,
which will soon be the demands, OF
the business world. IL has been fig
ured that the motor industry Is the
third largest In the country and IL
is predicted by sound methods or
reasoning that the advent OF The
method of reasoning that the advent
OF the motor truck will raise the IN
dustry 10 a position Of absolute SUI
premacy.
Detroit, with it's progI essive spirit
is bound TO get its full share In the
benefits OF this inevitable expansion.
This city is the undisputed center OF
he touring car Industry; the same
considerations govern in the manu-
facture OF motor truck.
There was never n more optimistic
outlook for any industry than there
Is at this time for the motor truck
branch OF the auto industry. The
pioneer days are over: the motor
truck is nc longer an experiment. OF
course. absolute perfection has not
been reached For that matter. moth
ing is perfect. There ls still room
FOR Improvement In the telephone
telegraph. cash register and the
adding machine. But these devices
like the motor truck. are more than
mere conveuiences; they are neces-
sites.
MOlOI lIuNh Ntlh - ~ Nllf al
There Is scarcely a single large, pro-
gressiye business house in the coun-
! try but has one or more freight and
| delivery motors in fits service or is
at least making preparations TO es-
! tablish this service.
The manufacturer on his part
must realize that he. through hold,
! ing the solution TO delivery and
transportation conditions. has had a
| trust placed In him 10y the man who
has purchased motor vehicles" said
| a well-known Detroit car manufaC.
turer. "lle must remember that the
man who bought his trucks has pur.
chased not only the fou~ wheels and
the mechanism. but has purchased
! what is known as service as well
| The buyer expects. and has right
TO expect. that he will tc supple,
with expert advice and attention $.
! that he may get the NEST out OF hi,
truck at the least expense. He de
/ mands. and has a right 20 demand
| that the company will be able {,
/ take care OF him. This means tha'
/ the manufactures must be backed
by large capital and must have All
| the facilities that go with perma
| nency In the motor truck Industry.