Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-06-03
AMERICAN SERVICE
ECL|PSES BRITISH
One Point Wherein EngliShmen
Concede United States
! Has Advantage.
MOTORING CONDITIONS ALIKE
London Critic Compares Auto
Industries of Two Great
Nations.

Discussion of the merits of Eng
land attempting after the war to
build cars for its colonial markets, to
compete with automobiles of Ameri-
can manufacture, bring forth an in
teresting comparison by The London
Times Of British and American ideas
and ideals. Naturally the London
publication is committed to the Brit
ish side, altho making reluctant con-
cessions on "A few points, such AT fit
ments and service of our motor cars.
Conditions Similar.
"One reader argues that motoring
conditions in the United States are
almost identical with those prevail
ing in the British colonies and in
South America, and suggests that the
standard American car is a far better
colonial job than the special cars
which are built in England at addi-
tional expense for colonial tradc-a
point, he claims, which is very often
overlooked" to quote The Times. "The
standard American car must be built
so that it will cross the Rockies.
plough its way across the great Amer
lean desert, struggle thru the almost
bOttomless black gumbo of the pa
kotas. and at the same time have an
attractive appearance on Fifth ave-
nue..
The same kind of a car is needed
I'm Canada, South Africa, Australia
and the Argentine, maintains this
correspondent, and puts forth in sup
port of his plea the certainly very
strong argument that users in those
countries are buying American cars
rather than British constructions be-
cause they are better"
ON which the London paper com
n nnininn thn ion
is not supported by fact"
But there is no wholesale self-sat-
isfied attitude regarding the British
motor car maker, as can be seen by
the following:
America is a country OF big rec
ords and sensational events. England,
apart from the war is not such Il
country. The average Englishman IS
not an advertiser; in fact, he rather
distrusts publicity; and so the aver
age English buyer is not greatly i'm
pressed by the sensational perform
ances of cars, and our makers undei-
Stand this mental outlook.
Proof of Worth Questioned.
1--WE hear and believe, of course
that the very excellent records set up
bv American built cars In crossing
continents. mountain ranges. deserts
and so forth, are really and truly
honest performances but to the best
of the writer's knowledge no particu-
lars have been published as to tne
mechanical condition of the cars after
such strenuous performances. one
may, i'm the course of sensational
five thousand miles 'cross-country
record breaking trip, run car to de-
struction. and If this be the supreme
test, then the average English car
,I htilIar ic nrpnAraH fn hack
his opinion as to the merits of his
own vehicle in nine cases out of ten,
for. run to destruction, the average
British construction will beat the
American, for these cars are built for
short-liVed service and to sell at a
low price. the makers contending that
owners can afford to scrap the ma
chimes after at most, two or three
years of service. The British idea is
TO build cars that, in effect, shouid
last forever.
again. in advertising American
cars not single point that would APP
peal to the buyer is overlooked; Brit j.
ish cars, unfortunately, are not so
advertised. English buyers have not
yet reached the stage of paying. say,
f200 for car for years use, ana
sacrificing it for the price of scrap
material at the years end to buy n
more up-to-date vehicle. Here is one
fundamental difference in the English
and American car outlook
British Service Inferior.
zone weak point in our British
methods Is our inability or disinclina-
tion to give service. Oversee buyers,
prepared to pay a comparatively higl
price for British vehicles do not care
to run the risk of being held up ow-
delay in attaining NJ rtG .