The Washington herald., 1913-03-16

lures. and many others for the conven-
ience Of the passenger.
"All Of this development work which is
under way in our laboratories Is new and
original At the risk Of exposing our
intentions to our competitors We will
state definitely that We realize the i'm
Iportance Of electrical conveniences and
accessories in maintaining the pre-emi-
nence Of our cars. and are prepared to
spend a great deal Of money in develop
ing such accessories. Indeed We forsee
the time when the control of both the
car and the motor will be entirely cleo
trical.''
ANY reasonably good car will please
the public; but the automobile hasn't yet
been built that thoroughly satisfies the
dealers who retail it."
So runs an axiom as old as the industry
which coined it-an, axiom often proven,
too, despite the fact that it conflicts
sharply with the idea Of the general pub
lie which, in its relations with the auto
mobile dealer. has never found him other
wise than bubblingly enthusiastic and
losing no chance to sing the praises OF
the car he IS selling.
THE automobile dealer is an optimist.' -
declares C. w. Long, local agent for the
Studebaker. He looks on the bright side
Of everything all day. But. when his
routine is over. he shuts himself into
his ONCE and becomes sincerely-some-
times brutally-frank. as he writes the
sales manager Of the factory he repre-
sents.
THE line of cars he has been praising
all day may come in then for scathing
criticism. They may be really giving
excellent service to their owners. but the
dealer insists that a number Of improve
ments are needed badly.
"Once in a long while the dealer may
compliment the factory on some new de-
velopment, but that is unusual: he takes
it for granted that affairs should be satis-
factory, as a rule.
I'VE believe We had Studebaker deal
ers in a quandry when we began deliveries
on the new Studebaker '25.' '35,' and Six.
several months ago." continued Mr.. Long.
These cars had been designed to suit
our dealers idea of an article that would
sell. stay sold. and repeat. Many of the
dealers had been consulted regarding the
details. The cars had been thoroughly
tested and had shswn themselves wonders
of power and value.
But We were magnificently mistaken.
Dealers everywhere admitted themselves
pleased with the cars. They even dilated
on certain features that appealed to each
individually. But they began Immediately
to criticise US for not doubling our fac
tory and our output, in order to take care
Of the tremendous demand.
Dealers told us how their allotments
were all to small. and demanded more.
Others said their friends were making
trouble over discrimination in the distri-
button Of cars. One or two frankly ad-
mitted We had no business to give them
cars that were too good. Right now, with
our factories working at full speed, we
expect to face a steady battle with our
dealers until snow flies.
The automobile business is another
great place of human nature"
One can 60 entirely around the world
and see an American car in every coun-
try he visits. One American manufac-
turer. the Ford Motor Company, which
builds one-third of Americas cars, has
invaded nearly every country where there
is a road. Strange as it may seem, the
American built Ford is present in greater
numbers than any other car. not barring
domestic products. in almost any country
one can name. This is all according to
CIaud Miller. local representative of the
Ford company. who is very proud of the
new models of the Ford now on show.
This Is strikingly brought home to Amer
lean tourists in foreign countries. No
matter to what remote recess of the
earth they go. they are given a warm
thrill Of patriotism by seeing the familiar
name of Ford on a doughty little motor
car. &
In England the branch factory at Man
chester builds more cars than the next
two largest English motor car builders
combined. This year the Manchester fac
tory will turn out 10000 cars.
One Of the largest motor car selling
agencies in Paris is that of the Ford
Motor Company. The Paris branch of
the company this year will have sales
into the many thousands.
Over in Russia, NJ. S. Friede, the Ford
established the first taxi
cab service in the kingdom of the Bear.
This was in St. Petersburg. and seventy
FIVE Fords were the equipment. Now Mr..
Friede has one of the biggest exhibition
rooms in Europe. located in the Russian
capital. and this winter held a motor
show of his own. Besides his st. Peters
burg headquarters. he has a large sales
room in the old city of Moscow.
There is a big salesroom in the city OF
Berlin, Germany, where one can buy the
Ford. Scotland is thickly populated with
them. Dublin. Ireland. is familiar with
the light American Ford.
But one would expect to find a car
in such numbers in princi- |
pal marts Of the world. It is in the out |
of-the-way places that it is surprising |
the car has gone. One can hardly men, |
lion the name of a country from Labra- |
dor to the Fiji Islands, in Tasmania, in |
he Hawaiian Islands, down to Australia, |
about the roadless tracks of |
South America, and over the veldt of |
South Africa. in China, in Japan, in Ko- |
'ea, in Turkey, Greece. Abyssinia, every
where. wherever a motor has ever throb- |
bed. the American Ford is known.
During the month Of January, this year,
he export shipments from the factory at |
Detroit would be a revelation even to |
hose who make some attempt to keep |
Ip with the records of the company's ex-
oansion. Here is typical days ship I
nent: Alden. Arabia: Bangkok. Siam;
Java: Buenos Aires, Argentina;
-dad, Bolivar: Columbia, Isles of Pines;
Colon. Panama: La Guaira, Venezuela;
Maracaibo. Venzuela: Marangao, Brazil;
Uruguay: Port Au Prince, !
Santo Domingo; Port Cabello, Polotas,
Brazil. Tampico, Mexico: San Juan, Porto |
Rico; Sau Paulo. Brazil: Santa Clara,
Cuba: Scerabaya, Brazil; Tientsin, China;
Chile. and Yokohama, Japan. |
This gives a faint idea of where the |
more than seventy-five thousand cars the |
company manufactured last year went to /
outside of the United States. and where
'ome of the 100000 that 1t is building this
'ear are going.
AS an example of what quantities 60 in
shipments Of this kind. 1t il interesting
% know that to Sac Paulo. Brazil. there
we're shipped some thirty cars during the
month Of January.
Arthur L. Fox, secretary-treasurer of
he Matheson Motor Company Washing