Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-14
Maxwell PRICES TO
MOUNT; INCREASE
EIGHTEST SO FAR

A0AA @6A ~ AAAN
Unable longer to offset the constant
ly-soaring price levels for raw materials
without either taking something cut OF
the ear or adding to its selling price in
order TO make ends meet, the Maxwell
Motor Sales company, il is made known
has found IL necessary to increase the
retail price of the Maxwell touring ear
and roadster models. The advance takes
place May =. Ii amounts TO $50
Indicating the degree of efficiency
that has been attained in the Maxwell
company's manufacturing plants, this
increase takes rank, il is pointed ont,
as the narrOwest margin of price ad
vance found necessary to any autOmo-
bile producing organization since prices
first evidenced a marked trend as a
result of the stringency in metals and
other raw materials after the first year
or 50 of the European war.
Through announcement a month in ad
vance of the price change, purchasers
who take early steps for preparation
for the coming season of the motor ear Is
greatest usefulness are 10 be given the
advantage of the present Maxwell re-
tail price of $635 for one month. This
makes possible a financial saving that
assumes some importance in the light
| of hints from the Maxwell company
that it is possible the price may have
! to be further advanced if conditions
in the materials markets do not adjust
themselves more satisfactorily in the
next few months than they have in the
period since January LIST.
| Tho oil ron1ofa nf ha Maxpva11
company are not as yet affected by the
price increase 1t is asserted that
| lift may be given closed car figures al
so, should the company find it necessary
again to add to the touring car and
roadster prices that must apply after
May l.
The Maxwell manufacturing policy
has been to produce in large quantity
light and efficient ear of standardized
parts, says President Walter B. Fland
ers of the Maxwell company. We have
adhered to the original practice of the
standardization of all Maxwell parts
and will continue to do so. The policy
has resulted in degree of manufaetur
ing efficiency by which we have been
able to overcome the great increases in
the costs of our raw materials.
These increases have been enormous
In the aggregate they amount to over
thirty per cent. In some individual
instances they have run from 1000 to
900 per cent. Every item that enters
into the making of the car has inereas-
ed in cost by a margin several times
greater than the percentage of increase
we have given the selling price.
This gives a forcible illustration of
what car Standardization means for the
automobile buyer. Because of it we
find it possible to keep ON with our
production We could have accepted
suggestions number of times chat
involved taking out something that ye
now give the Maxwell buyer We did
not deem such changes to be advisable |
in order toeffect so-called economy.
The Maxwell producing units now
have been in operation number of |
years, so that with the price advance |
we surely give the public the benefit
Of refinements and advances we have
made. In the making of almost 10000
cars yearly we have brought about ec
onomics as we'll that have a direct re-
lation to the buyer IS purse. Recently |
we perfected plans for the biggest pro-
duction of trucks in the motor world.
This makes possible still further mar
gin of efficiency so that our ideal Of
Standardization does not need to be
disturbed
All this has enabled us to withstand
the rising costs for everything we use
and go ahead with our output as sched-
uled for the year with the smallest mar
gin of price increase the industry so
far has made known. We will proceed
with the hope that materials costs will
not necessitate an increase in the prices
for our closed cars or further addi-
ton to the slightly advanced figure
that must apply with the other models
from May l.
The Maxwell has offest its own ad-
vanced costs with success so far, our
policy plainly shows, and we are in
position as advantageous as any in the
industry to still further produce use
full and complete automobile for the
American public at the lowest possible
mi