New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-27
mo MENACE TO EXPORTS
WHY'S Says British Cannot Build
Cheap Automobiles.
OUTLAY WOULD STAGGER
Believes American Machines
Will Continue to Tighten Hold
on Foreign Markets.

The recent suggestion by manufacturers
Of automobiles In England that a $4,000
900 company be formed to build and mar
ket car to compete with the popular
priced American cars that are selling so
readily in England has caused no little
comment among American manufacturers
The opinion, however seems to be
unanimous that nothing Will come of the
suggestion, and in this connection a re-
cent Interview with John y. why's, pres
ident Of the Willys-Overland Company, Of
Toledo. which is a strong factor in the
British market, is interesting.
Il believe that average Englishmen
are not adapted TO combination Of the
magnitude of that proposed by the Eng
lish manufacturers" said Mr.. WHY'S.
They are not accustomed to such COM
binations, nor are they ordinarily willing
to invest such large sums in an enter
prise the success of which is purely
problematical and, in the event of sue
cess, so far in the future.
1T takes years for even an American
factory with all its ingenuity, capital
and labor saving machinery 10 be. in a
position to turn out cars at popular
price and proftaby. American automo-
biles already have very strong hold in
England, and are gaining daily, their prices
being far below those Of cars OF similar
capacity made in England. This Is due, or
course. to the enormous productions Of
the American manufacturer, such as the
Overland, which permits buying the best
materials at lower prices than smaller
makers pay for inferior grades and 10
employ labor saving devices, expensive
figs. automatic machinery, etc, the cost
of which would be impossible for a maker
with a smaller output, but without which
low price is impossible. .ss,,
1T would take five years, in my esu-
nation, If such a combination could He
formed in England, to place IL on com
netitive basis with the Overland at the
Dresent time and by that time American
machines would have practically hlled the
market
"To make that combination successful,
American machinery, automatic and
otherwise would be absolutely essential.
With the demand for that class. OF ma
terial at the present time prompt delV-
cry is out of the question.
There are few Engishmen, living IN
England, accustomed TO PRODUCTION. IN me
quantities with which our automobile
manufacturers are familiar There are
no automobile manufacturers in England
accustomed to investing and spending the
amount OF money necessary. TO provide
for that large production, nor do ! believe
any could be induced to make such an
investment.
I'VE have been called nation or
gamblers; the English nation Of plod-
ders.' believe, broadly speaking, that
this is true, although the word gamblers
IS perhaps misused. The American is
optimistic and generally farsighted-he Is
willing to risk all he has II he can see In
the end success: the average Englishman
wants immediate returns on his invest
ments or his work; and If the difference
can be called gambling, then we are
gamblers.
such a coalition of makers is, in my
opinion, absolutely impossible, and were
IL organized would be unsuccessful unless
it were financed managed and controlled
by Americans of large experience taken
from this side Of the Atlantic 20 the other
for that purpose. 1 do not believe this is
likely 10 happen" -... % ---.