Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-21
INCREASED ACTIVITY
FOR MOTOR TRUCKS
Present Transportation Con-
ditions Give Industry Chance
to Demonstrate Importance.
RELIEVE FREIGHT JAM

! Present transportation conditions are
| affording the motor truck industry an
! opportunity to demonstrate the versa
| tilty of its product. Not only are mo-
! tor trucks increasing their radius of
! activity, but they are being exploited
| in fields where heretofore transporta-
| ton was confined to the horse and the
! railroad. The successful truck manu-
| facturer must anticipate his market
must carefully consider those inf1u-
ences that may arise in the develop
ment of his market as well as take into
| consideration the effect which the war
is having on the truck field, especially
in its relation to transportation.
That the war and the resultant con-
| gestion in freight and other conven-
! tional methods of transportation have
| Influenced the manufacturer is fndi-
| Gated by resume of the plans OF the
! motor truck industry for the season OF
1918. Despite the fact that the num-
| Der of commercial cars produced in
| 1918 will greatly exceed that of the
| previous year, an analysis of the COM
! mercial car review shows that there
| are seventy-one less makes to be mar
keted in 1918, or a decrease of approx
| mately Is per cent over last year.
writes c. P. Shattuck in the CONNER
| cial Car Journal
| While it's true that the tendency OF
| the manufacturer to retrench or re-
duce the number of chassis was pro-
| nounced in 1917, 1t is even more so this
| year. In 1917 there were 535 models
offered. That the policy is now to con-
| centrate on single model is indicated
| by the fact that this year there are
! So per cent less models or chassis, or
| in numbers, 332 less.
Have Been Discarded.
While a greater number of what is
| termed the delivery or light type OF
chassis is being produced, it Is interest
| ing to note that five different capacity
j types have been discarded by both the
eastern and western manufactured
chassis was 500 pounds. In 1917 one
such model was marketed, and this
year none. The 750-pound capacity We
hicle is not offered for 1918. These small
cars were, with one exception the
product of the west.
The l y ton iS-another type that has
been discarded This capacity was pro-
duced by one maker in 1917 and in two
! models. The ALTON shares a similar
fate. two makers offering such a chas-
sis last year. The 5h ton. an eastern
product, and which was seen In four
models last year, Is now a thing of the
past. as are the 61s and 71z-ton chassis,
all of which were products Of the east.
and material, the advance in the aver
age price of the chassis is not marked;
In fact, In some instances tho list price
is less than q year ago. This - true
of the 500 and 1,ooo-pound CAPACITY
models and the 21a -tonners. Three
types Of the 1,500-pound, the 1-ton and
the 21a-ton. list for less than they did
in 1916.
Increased in Cost.
-; oI, 1ao< a
in so far as the number of models are
concerned, have increased in cost to
the consumer by $50 and $3.50, re-
spectively. The greatest advance Is
with chassis OF 5 and ton capacities,
these Increasing $500 and $6SS, respec-
lively. These figures refer to the aver
age price of the chassis.
AS was to be expected there has been
an increase in the number OF models
equipped with some form Of ignition
current supply. In 1917 fifteen Of the
635 models, or per cent, were equipped
with battery ignition. This year there
are thirty-f1ve, or. IL per cent, which
means gain for the advocates Of the
battery form of ignition. o
1t Is of interest to note that whereas
during the past two years the western
makers have led In numbers. in so far
as battery ignition is concerned, the
pendulum has swung the other way
this year, for of the thirty-flve models
equipped twenty are eastern made
cars.
Those who predicted a greater use of
engine starters in 1918 doubtless based
their prophecy on the grounds that the
increasing use Of motor trucks In what
may be termed twenty-four-hour serv-
ice, would require effective means for
Illuminating the highways, particular
ly where the vehicle is engaged in
long hauls and night service.
Equipped With Starter.
OF the 332 models listed this year,
seventy-seven are equipped with start
ers. or slightly less than % per cent.
| This is an increase of per cent over
last year. when of the 535 models
marketed only seventy-f1ve were fur
nished with starters as standard
equipment. Option was allowed by
twelve makers.
! The west may be said to have favor
ed the engine starter as standard
eastern makers. In 1916 thirty-four of
were of western make, and last year
I seven. The figures are reversed this
seven are eastern makes.
| Those who have closely followed the
development of the commercial vehicle
increasing use of the electric starter
proved methods for mounting the stor-
hot 60