The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-29
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Early In its history the tendency
developed on the part OF manufacture
ing interests toward specialization
especially specialization in the pro
duction OF the various units whicn en-
tered into the construction OF an
automobile. This was brought about
largely by the fact that, In the oesln-
ming, outputs were small and IL ala
not pay the average car manufacturer
TO make up small quantities or the
various items which went into his car
construction and which could be bet
ter procured from concerns making
specially OF the production OF one
part.
Detroit is now the home OF one OF
the first concerns TO reorganize this
tendency. the company having moved
the axle branch OF It's business TO
this city when the demand for these
products outgrew its facilities. This
resulted in the bringing TO Detroit OF
several hundred families, mostly
heads OF departments and experts III
their particular branches. Since that
time, owing 10 rapidly increasing
business, the plant has been nearly
doubled In size by the addition OF
substantial factory buildings and to-
day this concern IL one OF the large
employers OF labor in Detroit, having
about 1900 hands on their payroll.
Tho automobile axle OF today, as
developed by this company, Is very
different proposition from the crude
affair OF seven or eight years ago
The present axles are OF light. press
ed steel construction, much stronger
and stauncher In design and yet
lighter in weight than the old axles
made from malleable castings. With
increasing sizes of wheels, increasing
wheel bases and large horse powers
comes the demand for higher tensile
strength, and this increase has been
met by the axle maker in the use or
drop forgings where malleable iron
was formerly used. Fine, highgra
alloy steel 10 properly heat-treated.
by which means the tensile strength
Is doubled In many cases and even
tripled. In other words. TO such a
high pitch of development has the
business been brought that an axle
shaft today OF IL inches in diameter
Is as strong as one 1-2 to 3 inches
In diameter would have been seven
or eight years ago. This increase in
tensile strength has enabled the axle
designer TO keep down weights, there
by producing lighter automobile and
an easier car on tires and fuel.
1t IL a matter of great interest that
the axle makers In this city have
stood for high quality in their product
and have catered more particularly to
the high-grade makers. II Is q fact
that Detroit-made axles are found In
nearly all OF the best cars made in
this country and in many foreign cars.
One OF the significant recent de-
velopments In the automobile indus
try has been the growth OF the com
mercial vehicle, which SENS destined
TO assume an even more important
place in the trade than the manufac-
ture OF pleasure cars. That the axle
makers are doing their share toward
the promotion of this branch of tho
industry is shown by the fact that one
Detroit concern is producing and de-
liyering to the trade axles for vehicles
of from Ave to 10 tons carrying
capacity. This work requires ham
mers Of the largest and most powerful
type, and IL has been round Dy actual
experience, that nothing but the best
grade OF material will stand up under
this process. Thus II will be seen
that there are produced in Detroit to
day. axles for every type OF car made.
from the tiniest runabout up to the
largest freight-carrying vehicle.
So Il Is fair to state that the auto
mobile axle industry today Is not on
ly abreast but in advance Of the de.
velopment OF the balance Of the auto
mobile, which seems fitting. for the
axle Is the keystone on which the
whole superstructure OF the automo-
bile rests And this branch OF tha
industry, especially In Detroit, IL In
the hands Of conservative business
men of ample means, whose Judgment
is sound and whose credit is gilt
edged.