The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-03
Washington Agency Goes Into
New Hands as Result Of
Late Negotiations.
NEWS IS. RECEIVED TODAY
c. Walter Hoover Will Be Gen.
eraI Sales Manager Of the
Combs Company.

Local -ynotordom received one Of the
biggeH surprises II has known In many
years, when telegram from Detro''
received by The Times this morning an
nounced that plans had been consuH'-
mated whereby The Combs Motor Com
pany of this city took over the agency
for the Chalmers line Of cars. formerly
held by the Union Garage. G. Walter
Hoover, who has been general manager
and vice president OF the Union Garage
goes with the Combs Motor Company
as general sales manager.
Hoover has long been prominent in
the local automobile field and has been
a potent factor in Washington motor
dom Since the inception of the practical
automobile. It was through the infiu-
ence Of his personality that Miller
Brothers knew such great success In
the establishment Of the Ford in popu-
lar local favor.
In accepting big contract to assume
sales management of the Combs Motor
Company. Hoover Identifies himself
with one Of the most extraordinary men
in the automobile industry. ]. S. Combs
Is decidedly o credit to commercial
motordom. A keen executive. than
whom there are few more capable Of
holding the reins of management. he
has proven. In the year and a half since
the Combs Motor Company was formed.
not merely to possess remarkable busi-
ness integrity but an unusually fine
square dealP that has won him a host
OF friends.
The Combs Company started in Janu-
airy Of 1915. with the Jeffery line Of
pleasure cars, many OF which were sold
year, approaching the need In his busi-
ness for a higher priced car to 60 along
with the Jeffery. Combs went West on
a visit In July. and in early August. the
National six-shortly followed by the
in Washington. Since that time II has
come into real recognition among Wash
ington' motorists, and within the past
six Months the list Of new owners OF
include prominent lights in official Gov
eminent >eircfes, members of both House
and Senate. and not a few distinguished
members Of the Diplomatic Corps.
gave up the Jeffery line, and has sought
a popular priced six to take its place.
The Chalmers fills this requirement ad-
mirably.
are of the highest order. however. his
health has not been OF the best for
more than year, and while his
present salesforce Is thoroughly
capable one he has for some time
lieVe him of the greater burden of
directing responsibility. Fortunately.
when plans for taking on the Chalm-
ers Zine were on the way to c9nsum-
the very man for whom he had been
looking. He found a man Of tremen-
dous personal force: man who;
through trenchant understanding of
human relationships. had made a big
name for himself as an executive and
a reputation for dominant power in
saleswork wherever his work. what
ever his connection.
Hoover was for seven years with
Miller Bnothers. and was head of
several departments during that con-
nection. In 1914 he was second In the
years standing for individual sales
of Ford cars. and the records show
one car a day for the entire three
hundred and slxty-five. He left Miller
Brothers early In 1915 to take over
the general MANAGEMENT OF the UNION
sales work when the Chalmers line
was taken on.
As Combs right-bower and general
Manager. Hoover will undoubtedly give
Els new associates and altogether,
theirs can BIO a connection of nothing
but the most successful order.
The Chalmers line OF cars is too
we'll known to need any special COM
ment here. That Hugh Chalmers has
found the secret OF popular demand
is best expressed IN the fact that two
years ago the Chalmers Company
Last year $4,000 was it's total of
production, and this year, close on
general appreciation of the merits
cars will be built and sold.