The Washington herald., 1916-06-12
Motor Gossip
By "SI- GROGAN.

Carelessness is not confined to any one
class OF humans; those who drive auto
mobiles are endowed with their share,
and one Of the straws showing the direc-
ton Of the wind is found. so to speak, in
the big stones left on most every rural
and suburban hill OF any steepness. II
for some reason a car is forced to stop
on the hill, the rear wheels are scotched
with the biggest rocks in sight and when
the car pulls away the geological speci
mems, being unblessed with motive power
or volition, remain, a menace to traffic.
That the menace is not an empty one has
been sharply brought home to many
motorist passing down. instead OF UP,
and at better speed than is wholly pru-
dent. This is a case where a friend in
need should be cast aside soon as the
required service has been rendered.
B. ]. MacMulIen. well known as an
automobile sales executive has recently
Joined the Chalmers Motor Company as
assistant sales manager, according TO an
announcement made by Paul Smith. vice
president Of the Chalmers selling division.
Mr.. MacMullen's long and varied ex-
perience in marketing motor cars will
prove a valuable addition to the Chalmers
sales staff" said Mr.. Smith yesterday.
Starting with the White company in
1907. Mr.. MacCullen was connected with
)
several years. He Joined the Willys-Over-
land company in 1910 as a factory and
special representative, and has remained
with that concern for the past six years
Since 1914 he has been general manager
of the Pacific Coast zone with headquar-
ters at San Francisco.
He is widely acquainted with dealers
in all sections Of the country and will
specialize in increasing Chalmers dealer
efficiency"
Under present arrangements Sales Man
ager Frank B. Willis will have three as
ststants, including F. H. Smith, w j
Drumpelmann and B. J. MacMullen.
Members Of the Society of Automobile
Engineers. the organization Of motor car
experts who govern the technical desti-
nies of the industry. have recently been
making close study of the proper rela-
tion of standardized parts to the manu-
facture of cars
For the discussion OF this important
subject symposium was held in De-
troit last week and the address Of the
evening was made by Harry NJ Jewett
president Of the Paige-Detroit Motor Car
Company. Mr.. Jewett's remarks were
made from the business mans standpoint
rather than from the purely technical
angle and his views on the problem of
how far a manufacturer of cars should
go in the making OF the parts Of his car
prompted an interesting discussion in
which many famous engineers took part
The tendency in the industry OF late
has very apparently been toward the
further elimination Of manufacturing
effort on the part Of the car builder Mr.
Jewett was therefore merely voicing
present symptoms. or current trend, in
so far as he expounded the advantages OF
assembling standardized parts In this
connection the Paige president pointed
out that even the makers of standard
accessories are adopting the assembly
ing idea, so far has the modern idea of
specialization progressed. Thus, a great
many axle companies today are buying
gears that go into their units; gear set
makers do the same thing. buying gears
and malleables and machining and as
sembling them.
There are certain things that car man.
ufacturers seldom make, bearings, for
example. Usually these are patented
processes requiring intricate and costly
machinery and the car maker can pur-
chase bearing from firm making a
speciality Of this part and secure a bet
ter article at a cheaper price than he
could possibly produce in his own fac
tory.
1t would not be an economical policy
to install the machinery for certain parts
rake Tor example, rear axle housings
Unless production were extraordinarily
large the press to produce these housings
would be idle three-quartcrs of the year.
1t was one Of Mr.. Jewett's points that
makers Of cars of a certain high price
must make more parts than others simply
In order to secure the individuality their
price necessitates. 1t was Mr.. Jewett's
contention. however, that conditions de-
termine to what extent car builders shall
make parts. There Is no uniformity and
each manufacturer must be guided by ex-
perience.