The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14

@zssM-- zsElgz WE HAD HOPED that this season the usual spring scramble for automobiles would be averted in the case of studebaker cars at least-but alas for well laid plans
 NOT THAT WE ARE CoMPLAINING-no in the least. So far ourselves concerned. Far from being unpleasant the condition that confronts the Studebaker Corporation this Spring of 1912 is well nigh ideal.
 THAT IS SPEAKING from manufacturers point of : view.
 BUT FROM YOUR sTANDPoINT-it is different That's what wanted to talk about-and to advise you how best to go about it to the conditions that obtain and ward off disappointment HERETOFORE AS YOU KNOW there has always been tremendous-one might almost say hopeless shortage of Flanders 20" and EMF "30' in the Spring months-the rush ONE OR TWO OTHER MAKES that were popular with buyers shared with extent this pleasur- able over-demand Pleasurable but disheartening at that. For dislikes to disappoint many good friends. Then too when you know you make the best automobiles for the money you hate to good friends forced to accept second bests. THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. We were powerless to remedy it. The EMF Company young. Had made tremendous progress, but there limit to financial resources. And, anyway, fac tories can be equipped only about so fast. Machine tools can't be wished into form.
 BUT THIS YEAR it different This big forty-hve million dollar Corporation felt equal to the task of supplying the full demand for its two models herculean tho it was.
 WITE UNLIMITED CAPITAL at it's command with the largest and best equipped plants in the world; with an engineering and manufacturing organization second to hone; contracts for material placed and deliveries assrred 1t seemed if splendid sales force would be unable to keep ahead of the pro- duction department.
 AND WE HAVE DONE ALL we set out to do That is to say, estimated that 50000 (divided into S0000 Flanders "20's' and 10000 EMF "30s"o, would surely supply the demand. WE FELT SURE WE HAD NOT under-estinated the demand. We knew the unparalleled popularity of these famous only throughout the length and breadth of America, but in all other civilized tries, but
 WE THOUGHT 5o0oo CARS would do Some of our competitors warned us 1t many-the rest of them didn't believe would could make that many
 WELL WE'RE UP to schedule-a few cars ahead of it April 1st and we carried over from March to "aos" LOOK AT THIS RECORD-its almost unbelievable. In December, when would-be competitors were sub sstng on snow balls and waiting for "the season" open UP, the Studebaker plants shipped 3600 Tn January Gnventory month), 4000. IN FEBRUARY 42O0; in March 46O1 and the schedule for April is 6OO0-and we have said, little ahead of the schedule.
 IN THE WICKEDEST WINTER in fifty years, you'll recall. You'd have thought that would help us by retarding denand-t did leave other rnakers cars on their floors. But seems as if the harder the cond- tions of reads and weather the careful people are about selecting their automobiles coco A MONTH IS THE SCHEDULE for April May June July and August, and we'll make t1er,l but as the little boy said, that's almighty darndest WOHkING OVEk-I1ME NOW-and stand only about much of that We don't like overtime at all But we're doing utmost keep LID with the demand-and we still in sight of it, tho breathless
 THERE'S THE CONDITION it stands today It is up to you What are you going to do about it? ANALYZE IT: It means that lot of people are going to have to wait for deliveries and lot more will be disappointed-compeled to accept other car second best value-for all will not be able to get Flanders "20' or EMF "30" cars 1T ISN'T so BAD as it looks, in way The shortage Of Flanders 2Os is apparent than real-for our capacity is DO more 20s per day than 30s But it's bad enough. And it shows have again fallen short of ambition hard as we have tried to realize it.
 WE ARE TELLING YOU THIS because we have repeatedly asserted to dealers the public that we would surely avert the Spring scramble. Now that we know that have failed feel that we owe YOU a frank statement of the facts
 OF COURSE IN TELLING YOU we cannot hep telling competitors aso-and very naturally they will use it against us-try persuade you to buy their cars on the grounds former years "You can't get Studebaker Cars-either model" And tl1atu be true-unless you beat some other buyer to it. WE FELT SURE would be able to supply every possible customer with Flanders "2O'-but re- member
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