The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-15
MUST THEY NOW
LOCK UP THEIR
SHOW MACHINES?
Studebaker Dealer Loses Dem
Onstrating Car But Has
Check for Its Value
WEIRD STORY COMES
FROM ILLINOIS MAN
While He Telephones Customer
Purrs Away in His Only
"35" Car

II an automobile Is exposed Tor SAFE
and H. In the temporary absence oi
the salesman, buyer leaves per
fectly good check amounting 10 the
advertised selling price and theh
drives the automobile away, Is the
transaction sale. grand larceny, or
n Joke on the dealer who has there
nv lost his demonstrating car
The above hypothetical question
arises from the strange experience Oh
~ B. Collins, OF Danville, Ill.
The Collins garage had received It's
samples OF the new Studebaker 20
and 49, and had been booking or
ders for spring delivery at rapid
rate. The "35" stood maJestically on
the salesroom floor, undergoing the
inspection OF a big mine operator VINO
with Mr.. Collins In attendance, was
noting the graceful. roomy six-pas'
senger body. the electrical cranking
and lighting device, the large tires
and the other points OF interest,
'Ill take it." said the mining man
Then he went TO work with a cheek
hook and fountain pen, turning over
10 Mr.. Collins the equivalent for 81
300, plus the freight from Detroit.
"Now let's see: you'll want deliv-
cry about March frst?' Mr.. Collins
asked the question blandly, pencil
-pe4sea- ever order blank
March first, your grandmother
I'VE bought this car and I'm taking II
away with me-
With patient smile, Mr. Collins
launched himself into the old, old
story which dealers in standard cars
must use so often during each selling
season. He told how Studebaker had
been building these cars for only
three months; that the new models
had swept the market by storm; that
no factory in the world could cope
with such a demand en- the immediate
delivery basis. /.
"As for this car, couldn't think OF
letting II go" Collins continued
why people are coming in every
hour of the day TO see it. But I'll tell
YOU what I'll do. I've got a young
trainload of these cars coming, IN TWO
weeks. I'll try to put OF somebody
else and let you have one then.
So saying, Mr.. Collins dashed for
the Office at the other end OF the
room. to answer a telephone call
The mining man looked at the car
Then he looked out through the big,
omen doorway 10 the street which was
bathed in the unreasonable warmth
OF misplaced spring day The
temptation was too strong. Also, Col
Inns had kept that check
The deep cushions Of the seat re-
ceived him as with a caress. The
man gave little tug at the starting
cable. and noiselessly shifted gears
The motor barely purred as the car
moved out OF the doorway Collins
telephoned away blissfully oblivious.
Straight to his mine, more than 20
miles away. the man drove. There
he locked the car In barn, and walt
ed for Collins. whom he met with
open hospitality and a proffered com
promise whereby the car was 10 be
left at the Collins garage in all Its
idle moments, until the next ship
ment should arrive from the factory
Collins knew his own position was
not very strong for he had surely
taken that check. So the offer was
accepted.
Back at his place OF business, Mr..
Collins lost no time in telegraphing
Sales Manager Benson OF The Stude-
baker Corporation. posting him on
the latest sales development and sug-
costing that all demonstrators be i'm
mediately placed under guard.