Milford chronicle., 1916-02-11
OVERLAND CAN HARDLY
KEEP PACE WITH DEMAND
Factory Output Enlarged to 1000 Cara
Daily, But Business Keeps Increasing.
JOHN n. WILLYS was FAR-SIGRTED
Immense Purchase Of Materials at Right
Time Enables Large Price Reduction.

Possessed with an uncommon
amount of business sagacity, and
| knowing the automobile situation like
book, John N. Willys, president Of
the Willys-Overland Company, is re-
garded by many as the oracle of mo-
torcar industry His ability to fore
case coming events Is nothing short of
marvellous. A year ago. during the
Automobile Show In New York. he
made a prediction to the effect that
when the 1916 show took place there
would be at least five 12-cylinder cars
on exhibition And when the twin
skies were counted this year it was
found that he had foretold the exact
number.
This was but another striking ex-
ample of the foresight and keen busi-
ness acumen of the Toledo manufact-
urer. Not only has he the ability to
Judge in advance, but his knowledge
Of the different phases of the auto
mobile industry has given him the en-
viable reputation of being one Of the
best posted men in the field. In 1913
and the year following his calcula-
tiOns as to what the public would de-
mand we're almost uncanny. He fore
told the type, size and price that would |
meet with the approval of the major |
ity of motorists That he was correct |
is evidenced by the fact that the total |
production amounted to 10000 cars /
for the two-year period. was not near /
ly enough to supply the demand.
Another prediction made by Mr..
WHY'S a year ago was that the Over
land factory would be shipping 500
cars a day before the end of 1915. At
that time the Toledo plant was setting
the pace for all motorcar manufact-
urers with the exception of one. Its
daily output was averaging around
100 cars, but even though its growth
lad been phenomenal, few people out
side of Mr.. WHY'S believed it possible
% quadruple the production during
he year just passed.
However, before the end of Septem-
ler the factory had fulfilled the pre-
LECTION of its president. Not only did {
dr. WHY'S make good on his 6O0-car- &
.-day program but he increased the
facilities of the plant
% that II is now possible to build 1000
machines every "a hours. Time after
ime he has pitted his business judg-
lent against that OF experts IN some o
articular line, and the result invaf- p
ably has been the same.
Before the war sent prices soaring
he material market was at normal. Z,
Iany manufacturers bought only
nough of the raw products to last 1,
trough the next season. WHY'S, h
owever, decided to take advantage of r
ne low prices, and the result is that,
-hile most every automobile manu- -
lcturer in the country is clamoring -
,day for materials at any price, the ii,
verland Company has been able to
ave $3,50O,000, while the saving on .,
eel amounts to another $1.0O0,0O0. y,
is due primarily to these economics II
lat the Toledo concern was able to :
duct $55 from the original price OF
e Model SOB, even in the face OF a
sing material market.
Some idea of the rapid growth OF Il
e Overland factory can be gained =,
ON the fact that in June the total al
lmber OF buildings contained 20 4
res OF floor space. while at present fi
ere are 4.486,6S0 square feet, or 10
ore than 100 acres of floor space T.
for manufacturing purposes. l.
eb.11-lt-Ady