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

While Detrot is the acknowledged
leader in the buildins OF touring
cars il 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 yir-
tually minus quantity Any at
tempt Ito take the motor truck IN
dustrv seriously met with derislon
ANY man who dared sertethat there
was a great future in store for the
motor truck industry was put down
as dreamer. and experiments LOOK
ing toward the perfection OF tue
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 ell over the
country that the commercial vehicle
Industry would never amount 70
much
In the production OF motor trucks
and delivery vehicles. Hetroit mas
made rapid strides within the last
year Or iwo 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 i'm the world for building
motor trucks. plant covering Isl
OS5 square feet. IL also boasts sey-
aral OF the best known makes OF
trucks in the country, trucks tha-,
I'm the opinion OF engineers, nave
practically reached the acme of me-
chauical perfection. But II is not
only in heavy trucks that Detroit
excels There are several companies
i'm 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
1ar Is Detroit rs concerned, though
il is growing at what some might
call en- astounding rate, " IS rot
growing GOO fast TO supply the needs,
which viii soon be the demands or
the business world. II has been fig
ured that the motor industry Is the
third largest In the country ana II
is predicted BY sound methods OF
reasoning that the advent OF he
method OF reasoning that the advent
OF the motor truck will raise tie In
dustry 10 q position OF absolute SUI
premacy.
Detroit, with its prog essiye spirit
is bound TO get Is 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-
facturs Of q motor truck.
There was never a mere optimistic
outlook for any Industry than there
is az this time for the motor truck
branch OF the auto industry. The
pioneer DAYS are over. the motor
truck uC longer an experiment or
course. absolute perfection has no;
been reaChed For that matter. moth
ting Is perfect There " still room
FOR Improvement in the telephone
telegraph, cash register and the
adding machine. But these devices
like the motor truck ate more than
mere couypuienCes they are netes-
stiles
Motor truck talk is In the ar
There is scarcely a single large. pro-
gressiye business house in the coun-
try but mas one or more freight and
| delivery motors iu it's service or is
al least making preparations TO es-
/ tabish this service
The manufacture on his part
must realize that he through hold
: ing the solution 10 delivery and
I transportation conditions has had q
trust placed ia him by the man wha
4 mas purchased motor vehicles said
4 a well-kHown Detroit car manu- rac-
tureT he must remember that the
man who bought his trucks has pur-
chased not only the fou" wheels and
I the me hanlsm. but has purchased
I what is known as service as well
! The buyer expects and has right
! 20 expect, that he Will lC supplied
\ with expert advice and attention s,
/ that he may get the NEST out OF hi,
truck at the least expense lie de
| mands. and has a right to demand
/ that the company will be able 3,
| take care OF him, This means that
! the manufacturer must be backe,
/ by large capital and must have All
the facilities that 90 with perma
nenCy i'm the motor truck Industry.