The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-03
RECORD SELLING SEASON IN 1915.
By D. &. CHANDLER,
President the Chandler Motor Ca

President the Chandler Motor Car
Compnny.
We can most fairly Judge the outlook
FOR the coming year in the automobile
industry by reviewing the record OF sales
for the past twelve months and studying
their effect on next seasons business. Dur
ing the past year there has been marked
tendency toward the establishment of
fixed values In motor cars. Companies
manufacturing cars In the neighborhood
on the $500 class have enjoyed their
usual heaIiry Increase In trade while
between that figure and the $1,000 mark
number OF astonishingy good values In
four cylinder cars have appeared, q ma
jority of which have met with ready
sales
The most prominent feature of the
entire year has been the constantly in
creasing demand for sN cylinder cars.
This has been due in great measure to
the wonderful advance made in six cy'in-
der construction during the past two
years Up to the beginning Of the 1913
season the six cylinder car was cNClu-
sively manufactured for the high priced
trade. To-day the man With 81 800 to
Invest in an automobile doesn't even CON
slder four cylinder machine in his
calculations. which is something Of a
tribute TO the advance in manufacturing
methods and the development of the six
cylinder car in that short period.
Among the important Considcra tons
which have led to the increascd sale Of
skies is the abolition Of the old buUhesr
relating to the high cost OF operating
six. Times without number i'm tho last
two years light weight skies have cduallcd
and In some cases exceeded the mileage
per gallon of Edsolcue obtained by a
four cylinder car Of the Same horse
power. Their mileage has also been in
creased in the case of the six due to the
elimination Of useless we ght and the
more even distribution of power to the
rear wheels. with this last cause for
objection removed the six cylinder car
offers So many additional inducements to
the buyer OF Il moderate priced car 40 to
turn the balance definitely in favor OF the
six.
In regard to the selling situation there
undoubtedly has been revision IN values
that will make its effect felt profoundly
during tho coming year. The high priced
field Is practically the only one that ha.
narrowed to any perCepthlc extent. Mo-
florists VINO have in tn, past been com.
PEELED tn invest $4,000 to obtain the most
advanced ideas in motor ear construction
are securing every convenience of power
fiexibility and equipment at approximatcl,
one-thiId that figure, This tendency to-
ward conservative buying promises to b,
still stronger in Tn" 1918 season aud will
serve 10 benefit tho greatest number Of
concerns now doing lus!uc~, !U this Couu
try ON the other hand Ia, elimination e.
all for"!Eu ears 10y the European war may
benefit tho American concerns mluufaC
turing h,gn priced cars through tho re-
moval of their chief competition.
A most encouraging feature OF the clos
ing months Of 1914 was the trcmrnduu
increase in sales To- farmers. Good CROP
throughout the entire grain belt OF IN
United States, coupled with high prlr.I
brought about 10y the foreign conflict, ha
made Tn, American farmer kinuuiu i'm IN
selling situation. This prosperity in Tn
farming districts was felt almost iumc
diately by dealers ~ enc rural cummuui
ties. A. a single illustration 10 per cent
OF the Kansas registrations of new car
during October rcprcs nted sales to farm
ers. In the usually slack autumn an
early winter season sales in the aEricul
tual districts established new records fu
volume of business. In the South the ten
porary embarrassment caused by the pill
ing up Of the cotton crop is rapidly III
appearing and a good many distributors e
that section have increased their a.lot
ments for cars FOR 1915.
American automobile manufacturer
have succeeded. after long delay, in taku
steps toward the development of the trad
with South America. and while the build
ing up of trade relations with Tn, IepGt
lies to the south of us H. going to b.
more or less complicated job, every md