The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-24
TO BUILD AUTO REPAIR SHOP.
SHAW MOTOR COMPANY TO
ERECT MODEL PLANT FOR
REPAIRING AND TEST
ING OUT CARS.

Machinery Has Already Been Ordered
and New Plant is Expected to BE
in Operation Within Thirty Days
Ford Owners to Get Service at
Standard Price Set by Maker of
Ford Cars-Briclx Building for
Shop to BE Erected in Rear of Ga
rage.
A model up-to-date automobile re-
pair shop will be in operation in
Sumter sometime within the next 80
DAYS, it plans now on foot are carried
into successful execution. At pres
ent the indications are that these
plans will be carried out and the
Shaw Motor Company will he readv
to test any car or parts of a car and
to make any or all of the repairs on
the machine.
In fact the machinery for the re-
pair and testing shop has already
been ordered from the Ford factory
at Detroit and Mr. D. c. Shaw, owner
and manager Of the company is pre-
pairing to have the necessary enlarge
ments made on his repair shop for
the installation of the new machn-
cry. The plan is one of Henry
Ford's in order that agents for his
cars VIII be in a position to give the
cars proper attention and make all
repairs necessary on them. Mr.. Ford
mas made it compulsory upon the
agents to purchase the machinery and
install the repair shops, and further
more, he has set a standard price for
all work on Ford cars, so that in each
shop standard price will be charged.
The prices for repairs and replacing
parts have been sent out in q list TO
agents from the Ford factory and will
be put in operation with the installa-
ton of the new service system.
This new system is causing a big
expenditure by the agents, but it is
hoped that it will be a revenue pro-
ducer to them also in the amount of
work it will bring to their plants.
With the installation Of the new ma
chlnery any work on a Ford car which
can be done at the factory can be
done here. Heretofore q similar shop
mas been kept by the Ford factory at
Charlotte for this district. where
there was also an assembling plant.
The repair shop at Charlotte will be
dismantled, although the assembling
plant will still be maintained there.
Mr.. Shaw has had two Of his men in
Charlotte during the past week study
Ing the operation Of the machinery in
order to have qualified men here for
the work. He mas also been fortu-
nate in securing the services of the
superintendent Of the shop at Char
iotte, who will come to Sumter TO aid
in installing the machinery and to act
as superintendent when it is INSTALL
ed. He will thus have a man well
qualified at the head of the new shop.
In addition to the force of six or sew
en- men now employed, he will add
several more men, the number de-
pending upon the amount Of work Sc
cured.
Already the plans have been made
for the building to house the repair
shop. 1t will be added on to the ga
rage of the Shaw Motor Company and
Will connect with the present building
which is being used as a repair shop.
However, the new building will be Of
brick. 1t will face on Sumter street
and will cover an aera ninety by sixty
feet.
The new Ford repair SHOP n,
Sumter will not be the only one in
the State, but it will be the only one
in this section of the State and will
be most completely equipped for work
on other cars as we'll as Ford cars,
Similar shops will be put in at Green
vile. Spartanburg and Columbia by
dealers at those places. The new
shops VIII fill a want which has been
felt by automobile owners here for q
long time. as they can test out any
part Of the machine without taking it
to pieces and tell it's needs, if any.