The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-01

Motors Corporation, Brooklyn. N. T: w.
II. Phoenix, waterbury. Conn. !. T.
HULL Meriden, Conn. Reed Robbins,
Plalnfleld, N. j.. Van Motor Company,
Newburgh. N. Y, and Vans Garage,
Kingston. n. y.
Associated with vice-Presldent Woods
In the local headquarters are ]. A. Clark,
retail sales manager; w. ]. Lasher, dis
trict manager; T.. II. Fagnan, superin-
tendent Of service, and Frank Zittel,
auditor.
Tho first thing the Van Cortlandt
Vehicle Corporation did was to estab-
lish a liberal service policy embodying
the principles not generally covered by
other concerns ana based on the theory
that every car was perfect and should
stay so for a reasonable length OF time.
This unusual service policy covered not
only parts made by the Peerless Com
pany but also the accessories used on
the car.
When the Van Cortlandt organiza ton
opeEed for business two years ago It was
unable to obtain suitable service quar-
tere---being limited TO space on the NTH
floor OF a nearby building. But later It
erected a large station-the one story
building at 642 West Fifty-seventh
street. where there are $4,000 square
feet on the ground floor for adequate
ton and light insure the good health Of
the Peerless experts and exceptionally
good work Is the result The station Is
equipped with the most modern ma
chinery.
Walter Woods 10 q Peerless man
through and through. having been with
the factory organization before entering
the local field. He held executive posi-
tons both at the factory and in the New
York branch In the early part OF 1916
ne was sent to the Mexican border by
the factory to cooperate with the Gov
crnment In the matter OF suitable truck
transportation. In April. 1916, ne drove
Peerless truck from Columbus y. NJ,
to Gen PershinR's headquarters IN Mcy-
leo. Gen. Pershing had reached a point
where he was unable TO maintain his
line Of communicate ton for sustaining the
army and Woods, with others, was called
to look over the situation and make a
report. Woods spent six months In the
field visiting all the border towns and
experimenting the delivery OF a great
feet OF Peerless trucks in charge OF spe-
cially picked crews from the Cleveland
! factory.
After his great work IN Mexico was
accomplished Woods came 10 thie city
and imm ediately began negotiations TO
take over the Peerless limo from the c.
T. silver Company. His wisdom in Sc
Letting the Peerless to handle eyclu-
s,vely was clearly proved by the ready
| market found for the car. Here was
an automobile that had been one OF the
leaders for seventeen years. formerly
having been produced at prices ranging
from $4,000 TO $1,000, and later at less
! than half the old price. owing to in
creased production and other nanufac-
turing reasons and without losing the
old Peerless hallmark of-des!gn aud de-
tail
When war was declared % per cent.
of the employees either volunteered or
were indicted into the service Among
| the officers now overseas are Capt.
| Charles c. Percival. First Lieut. Martin
| Carroll. First Lieut.. Julian Malcolm and
! First Lieuts. Robinson and Bo'dman.
/ The one gold star in the organiza ton is
! for Lieut.. Bruno.
| Walter Woods and his organization
were intensely active in all the special
| Liberty Loan. Red Cross and war work
drives on Automobile Row. They con-
| triuuted generously both in money and
! in physical effort 20 make all OF them a
success. Woods was a member Of the
! COMMITTEES Of automobile dealers which
assisted the automobile men o: the city
! in selling si2 1000. 600 worth OF bonds for
the third loan and s2o00O.O60 for the
fourth loan.