New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-26
T. P. Myers, of the Pack
ard Company, Tells OF
Growth of Industry.

An effect Of war upon the motor
truck industry promising an influence
far more permanent than those gem
erally discussed concerns the organiza-
ton by truck makers of their plants
for large scale production.
The obvious influence OF the war III
this regard has been. of course the
stimulation of foreign and domestic
markets through the demonstration OF
efficiency made by American trucks IN
military service, the rising cost Oh
horses and the general revival OF %.
nestle business. These factors nave
compelled numerous manufacturers 10
produce in heavy volume, and the m
creased production has held NehlSyite
prices steady, despite the eXceptlohalIS
high material markets. 49,
This stability in price has IN tuth
extended the market for the ttuVN -
themselves. II this market continues
to grow at its present rate II may oe
expected to establish the business I It
nitely on a large scale basis. Inc
probable result will be that the cost
of truck operation will be cut so lar
below that of horse hauling on most
Jobs that horse equipment VIII DC re-
gsrded everywhere as obsolete;
ct p MYERS. manager of tho truck
division OF the Packard Motor Car
COMPANY. Of New York, cites the prog
ress Of the truck department OF the
Packard company as an indication OF
.he rsniditv with which the industry
is going forward. In seven years, &C
cordinc 10 Mr.. Myers, the annual pro,
auction of Packard trucks has scared
from % TO All, an increase OF H'Sre
than 1900 per cent.
ain 1908 one corner OF one room,
comprising about 1000 square feet OF
floor space, was used" he said. In
1918 there were seven buildings, with
combined floor space of 3l5,OS9 square
feet. Seven years ago we had seventy
five employees in the truck department;
now we have nearly 1000.
Naturally, in such a growth. manu-
featuring facilities kept pace, and the
improvement in methods has been OF
the greatest Importance TO the truck
buyer. For every advance accom-
plished in manufacturing there IS a
corresponding increase IN the quality
that is built into the truck. by put
ting profits into research, equipment
and advanced factory practice we com
pei the increased output 20 pay back
into the hands of the public increased
value In the goods delivered.
81 think it improbable that truck
production will ever reach the same
stage of Standardization that passenger
car manufacture has reached. One rea-
son is that the variety and sizes of the
trucks demanded will always be more
numerous than the designs and types
of pleasure cars. In our own lines we
build seven separate and distinct sizes
not 10 mention the varying speeds and
chassis lengths in each size TO accom-
modate the various kinds of merchan-
disc 20 be carried.
pleasure vehicles are built az tour
ing cars and roadsters usually, the va
ration in carrying capacity being
largely a matter OF adapting differ
ent type Of body to the same chassis
But trucks must range from the ma
chine for light loads up TO the heavy
carrier with capacity for six tons OF
more.
THE general line of development in
tho truck industry is marked By sim
pifcation, the elimination of parts
wherever practical and the effort 10
build enduringly.'