New-York tribune., 1912-03-19
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY
Tire Dating Bill to Have a Hear
ing in Albany To-day.
MAKERS WILL OPPOSE IT
It's Passage Would Create Seri-
ous Situation, They Assert
Rambler to Build Trucks.

-,. hill IN compel tire manufacturers to
- date on their product viii come
t,- hearing before the Senate COM
w p,...o bss-ing it in charge to-day. 1t will
,-,eoyo,sly opposed not only by tire
% -. hut by automobile dealers in gen.
, che interests OF both being threatened
e,-rad bv the Goodyear, Goodrich, Diamond
,I.bs1in. Firestone and about dozen
- tive firms. call for action has been
-. n a majority Of automobile dealers
s,-,,,obout the state asking that they tele-
.,h their respective Senators protesting
ea,rs+ the passage Of the bill. In part the
Letter reads
This bUl will create a situation for the
s..,o-s IN tires I'm the State of New York
.so+ Il will be almost impossible for them
- vrork under. II win place tires in the
o,ass of perishable goods. Consumers will
Se.lire 10 accept tires unless dated few
S.vs nrlor 20 the time Of purchase. 1t is
.,sysicaIlv impossible for manufacturers to
s,,,rlv the trade Of this country under such
.cnsitions. Tires cannot be manufactured
IN suficient volume 10 permit dealers TO
nsvs fresh stock on hand at all times
no,lers could not afford to stock tires in
~, uncertainty that they would be sold
sDsssiIv enough 10 stin allow the dates to
;. ,pf7cieutly recent TO warrant customer
taking same.
Manufacturers Of cars would not be
taken care Of 50 that they could always
sbIn cars 70 the garages for sale with
f,asb tires on. 1t would seriously handicap
every dealer handling cars in the sale Of
ears The purchaser would insist on old
dated tires being taken off and recent dated
tires placed thereon. This issue more vital
o. dealers class CT this country than TO the
manufacturers OF tires. You would be LETT
% work of your stocks as best you could.
There is no public injustice righted py
this bill. Simply a destruction Of necessary
working conditions under which you must
labor,. All reputable manufacturers adjust
,r;,b. consumers without reference 10 The
date Of production No public policy IS
therefore served. but q distinct injury TO
. large class Of dealers engaged in the IN
dustry
While no public announcement mas YET
been made, il is known TO the trade tnaI
the Thomas B. Jefery Company, OF
Kerosha. Wis. is now making extensive
tests Of the one and one-haf ton TRUCK
which was exhibited at the Chicago motor
truck show, preparatory to marketing
service truck Of this type.
Built on sturdy lines, the Jehery truck
has a carrying capacity Of 5000 pounds 50
per cent Of which Is carried on the rear
wheels. The motor, over which the foot
board and seat are built, is Of the four
cylinder vertical type, water cooled rateu
ct IS horsepower. Ignition is by Bosch hish
tension magnetic. and fabrication by com
bination Of force feed and crank case
splash.
Transmission. Of power is through q sys-
lem which includes a thTee-speed change
gear. jackshaft and final drive by side
chains to the rear wheels. The maximum
speeds on the first. second and third gears
are three and one-half, seven and fifteen
miles per hour. respectively; control OF
speed changes is through a lever project
ing through the centre Of the heel board
Of the drivers seat the steering wheel
being placed on the left side.