The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-01-25
AUTO SHOWS
FOSTER PRIDE
IN AMERICA
Clement Studebaker, Jr., Says
Exhibits Demonstrate Our
Triumph
CARS MADE IN UNITED
STATES ARE REIGNING
POpular-Priced American Cars
Monopolize Their Field
the World over
~ CLEMENT sTuDEeAKER, JR.,
First Vice President, The studebaker
Corporation).

First Vice. President, The studebakeI
Corporation).
In all the world there exists but one
nation capable OF giving an automo
bile show that can include the scope
and significance OF the exhibition fol-
which the Wayne Gardens have been
reserved during the coming week.
To be associated with this show as
an exhibitor Is real source OF pa
trtouc pride to any manufacturer. Tt
visit II. even az a spectator, Is
TO bring TO every American a new
Joy In the resources and genius OF hii
nation.
For several years, European pre-
dominance In the manufacture of the
modern automobile, tottered. Now
according TO the frank admission OF
tho manufacturers In Great Britain
popular-priced American cars monopo-
lie their field, while at the same time
the builders Of costly American cars
ask no further odds OF Great Britain's
old-time supremacy In body design.
An American needs an appreciation
Of the foreign viewpoint TO fully ap-
preciate our victory in this revolution
OF modern industry.
Could only thy casual visitor pass
out OF the gardens into the Olympia
show of Great Britain, or the Paris
salon, he would be struck at once
with mighty difference.
Where, he would ask. are the popu-
larpriced cars that, In the foreign
field correspond to Ford. to Stude-
baker. to Overland, TO Buickf
\. IL
vain. Three-wheelers he would find
a few-and simple, little runabouts at
prices that are out of all relation TO
American standards OF value. But the
pathos Of the effect would only serve
70 emphasize It's fuulity.
American firms would be duly rep
resented through their foreign
branches and dealers. but their com
petition would still be merely Ameri-
can against American.
And the visitor would find the great
crowds at London and Paris, packed
tightly about the same cars which
form the centers of interest at the
Gardens.
Price alone 10 not responsible for
the universal vogue Of the American
motor car. To win prestige either at
homo or abroad, It has been neces-
sary to show sturdy endurance. lavish
equipment, style and all-round merit.
As rule, American manufacturers OF
popular~priced cars have both cheap
ened and improved their output until
there are now very few features that
remain exclusive to cars costing even
$4,000 or more.
improvements in manufacture have
alone brought this about, for prices
of raw steel and skilled labor have re-
NAMED substantially unchanged. Let
me illustrate from our own expert
ence.
Our first car was the Studebaker
(EM.FD go" We all clearly recall
tho sensation which this car, priced
at 81 $50, caused in 1908, yet have no
doubt that the progress OF the past
FIVE years has brought our manufact-
uring organization to point where
II could build and sell that ear at
profit for but little more than half the
original figure.
When the condition first became evi-
don't, we had TO decide whether the
rawlings In manufacturing cost should
be balanced by a cut In price or an
Improvement in quality and size. we
chose the latter alternative and have
maintained that policy ever since
During these years, our engineers
have studied every part or that car
with microscopic care. combining sew
eral manufacturing operations into
one;- adapting special steels TO the