davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
PARADOX IN PRICES
Motorcars Cost More, but Sell for
less Than in 1914

Automobiles that have not been priced
f1ctitiously are cheaper today that they
were four years ago, says the president
of a motorcar concern. This statement
sounds like n paradox, because there
have been some advances in that pc
riod.
The price tag on a car today as com
pared with the price on the same car
four years ago does not tell the true
story, he says. To get a fair idea of
the present price there are vital facts
TO be considered. These relate to the
average indiviGuals earning power-the
price he can get for the things he sells
10 make a living, and the amount of the
commodity he makes which he must eN-
change in the open market for the ar
tiCle he wishes to purchase.
The best illustration to explain this
point is found in the business of the
farmer. The latter's wages or buying
power lie in his crops or their market
value. The staple article on the Arneri-
can farm is wheat. In 1914, or about
four years ago, the farmer received
ninety cents a bushel for wheat. There
fore, IL he wished TO buy car that then
sold for. say slO50, he, practically
speaking, paid about 1l66 bushels OF
wheat for it.
Today If the car cost him as much
as 1855 he has to pay only about 700
bushels of wheat for it, because wheat
today is valued at S2.26 hushel. In
other words. while the car has appar-
entity gone up so per cent. 1t costs the
farmer only so per CiEi as much as it
did four years ago.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
KNOW YOUR TRUCK NEEDS
BEFORE MA KING PURCHASE
Be Taken Into Consideration hen Selecting
Machine, and Expert Aduice Should Be Sought
Capacity and Hdulage

certainly save the prospective purchaser
from making a serious and costly mis-
take in selection of equipment.
1t is natural that the transportation
engineer will be inclined to make recon-
mendationS in favor of the purchase OF
the make of trucks he represents; but
beyond this predisposition his recon-
mendations are likely TO be unpreju-
diced. Many such experts are so honest
and free from bias that they will tell
a prospective purchaser that he does
not need a motortruCk in his business
IL investigation shows that no advantage
or economy will be gained by replacing
horse equipment. However, the need
for more and better transportation has
become SO imperative that cases in
which one or more motortrucks cannot
be used to advantage are rare.
If he seeks the advice of a man con-
nected with n company that manufac-
lures full line of trucks and delivery
wagons (from, say, 1000 or 1900 pounds
TO five tons capacity and bearing n
good reputation for performance and
durability, the prospective truck user
may feel confident that the engineer
will recommend equipment of the best
size and the correct number of units to
60 the required work most efficiently.
Factors to Consider
Every facility should be given the in
vestigator to get full information con-
cernng the customers haulage or de-
| livery needs, and the data from which
the intending purchaser has made his
own analysis should be placed in his
hands In all probability he will cal
for information and make suggestions
on matters that have bearing, but
which have not occurred to the business
man.
Among the more important items to be
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
NO DRUG ON MARKET
FROM ARMY TRUCKS
Hard Usage Leaves Them in
Junk Piles When Dis
carded by U. S.

Trucks used for the transportation of
men and materials during the war Will
not find their way back into the market, i"
says former member of the 102d En-
gineers, recently returned from France
and now with the International Motor
Company.
There are two reasons why this SO, y
he explained. "One is that the trans
portation problem is equally as difficult
now as IL was when the war was reach
ing its climax. The other Is that the
trucks have been Subjected to such hard
usage that when discarded from military
service they are junk.
when units are broken UP and re-
turned FOR muster out, motor transports
are turned over to n base motor depot
Those that can be repaired are overhaul
ed and kept in service ; but many trucks
are scrapped on the ground without even
being taken to salvage dump.
Not Enough for Needs
These wornout trucks will have to
he replaced by new trucks and 1t Is
doubtful il the number of trucks now
contracted for will be sufficient to take
care of present needs.
THE railroad system of France, even
including the temporary military rail-
ways, is hopelessly inadequate, and
motor transports are overloaded ana
driven at excessive rates of speed over
roads that have been worn out by traffic
night and day or ruined by lombard
ment
The cessation of hostilities has
not relieved transportation difficulties
Troops must be fed and clothed, and the
large movements of troops now taking
place in France add to rather than les
sen the demand for transportation. The
feeding of the Central Empires also add!
greatly TO the burden of transportation
for they as well as the Allies are shor
of transportation.
"Then the return of the refugees to th
devastated regions where railroads ant
nearly all roads have been badly dam
aged by shell fire requires an enormou.
amount of motor transportation. Thes
people require supplies of all kinds, il
addition to clothing and food. with whicl
to rebuild or restore their ruined prop
erty.
Factories, stores. homes and ever
farms must be rebuilt, and until tn
entire war-runed area Is restored ther,
will be no lessening of the tremendou
demand for trucks"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
ATTERBURY

Atterbury trucks, made at Buffalo. y.
Y. are produced in four models, namely.
one and one-half two, three and one
half and five tons capacity, and their eN-
hibit at the show includes the one-and-
one-half-ton model. two-ton model
with hydraulic dump body: three and
one-half ton and five ton, all chassis.
These manufacturers particularly en-
phasiZe the sturdness Of their design
and the quality of the units which enter
into construction, as we'll as the we'll
balanced tnake-up in the general as
semblage. One feature that contributes
10 the strength of the Atterbury truck
is the Driggs-Seabury hydraulic pressed
steel frame, made of carbon-manganese
steel plate. The metal is of equal thick
ness throughout. The frame Construc'
fion as a unit is of the flexible type
They also lay emphasis on the use Of
Archibald wheels made by the same cor
poration that makes artillery wheels for
the United States Government, being Of
the artillery type assembled under great
pressure. Among other important stand,
ardized UNITS are Zenith carburetor and
the Continental motor Of proven four
cylinder IL" head type, of three point
universal suspension, obviating broker
Z crank case arms and general raclling OF
The motor.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
STAGE FOLK DEVOTED
USERS OF MOTORCAR
John A. Cleary Sends Impres.
sive List Of Those Who
Drive a Cadillac

TO the Editor OF the EUeRing Public
E4 Ledger
Sir--Not the least interesting among
The many readable stories in the Auto
mobile Show number of the EVENING
PuBLIc LEDGER. issue OF Wednesday.
March IL, was Mark Wilson's COM
mentary on the theatrical profession's
devotion to King Gasoline.
& Perhaps 1t is too much to expect that
even man of Mr.. wilson's intimacy
with footlight favorites should know the
Rutomobile choice of every one of the
stars of the profession, yet it seems that
any Treatment of the subject would be
glaringly incomplete without the men
tion of at least a few of the following
naines
Actors-David warfleld, Ethel Barry
more, Sam Bernard, Eleanor Brown,
Nora Bayes. Bessie Clayton. Russell
Field, Elsie Ferguson. Justine Johnson
Mrs. Oscar Lewissohn, Ann Murdock,
Fred Stone, Lou Tellegen, Anna
Wheaton, w. c. Fields, r Roy Barnes
Producers and Playwrights-Otto
Hauerbach Miss Elizabeth Marbury, Lee
NJ Boda. All Hayman, Harry J. Powers
Henry W. Savage, Robert q. Larsen.
Motion Picture stars and Producers
Mary Pickford, Jack PiCkford, Charlie
Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Roscoe Ar
buckle, Dorothy Gish. j. Warren ker-
rigan, Kathlyn Williams. Clara Williams
Julian Eltinge. Vivian Martin, William
8. Hart, Cecil DeMille, Thomas lnce,
William Parsons. Constance Talmadge'
Earle Williams. Robert Harron, Sidney
Drew, June Elvidge. Dorothy Kelly
Edna Mayo. Bobby North. Olga PetroNa,
Henry B. walthall, emily Wehlen, Earl
Williams, Clara kmball Young, Com
rnodore j. Stuart Blakton, Essanay
Film Company. Hobart Bosworth, Oliver
Morosco, Jesse Lasky Film Company
Miss Blanche Lasky, Donald l.. Crisp
Mrs. G. w. Griffith.
These are all satisfied motorists.
Each one of them owns a Cadillac.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN A. CLEAR1,
Manager Sales Promotion.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
TRACTOR RESEMBLES TANK
Laws Own Track and Does Work
Of Several Horses and Men

In window on North Broad street
is a short, stub-nosed machine. built on
y" same principle as the famous war
tanks, and which is unlike anything in
Automobile Row. .
The machine has a hood like that of
any automobile, but there the re
semblance ceases. A straight steering
wheel sprouts up from barren back
ground and a slender seat protrudes
from the rear The wheels. however
ire the real curiosity, because there
aren't any.
Instead. a steel belt extends from
stem 10 stern, like the caterpillar tread
on the war tanks. Thus, the machine
carries and lays its own track can go
over any kind Of ground without sinking
in, and. while it looks clumsy and
cumbersome, can turn around in L.
foot circle.
This is the Cleveland tractor, on ex-
hibition in the offices of the Philadel-
phia Tractor and Implement Company
Although only e6 inches long. SO inches
wide and So inches in height, 1t does
the work of several horses and men,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
BETHLEHEM

The Bethlehem Motors Corporation. Of
Aiientown, Pa, produces three different
1nodels---one and a half tons two and
half tons and three and half tons.
They are built in one OF the largest eS-
Elusive truck plants in America. All
models Of this years series are identical
hi design except for the size and strength
OF the respective parts used, and each
chassis is complete chassis, designed
Tor the particular strain TO be placed
upon H. The Bethlehem radiator is a
sdistinctive feature. being of the armored
type. made by the Fetters Manufactur-
ing Company. II is suspended on lami-
mated felt and coil springs The Mon
arch governor and Schnoebler carburetor
and Atwater- Kent ignition are standard
euaIpment. All transmission and shafts
ara or chrome nickel steel. They are
equipped with Gray and Davis electric
afarffnR and lighting system, which they
regard As vital In a truck as on q pas
tcnEer car, insuring gasoline economy
hy elimloatinE the need OF running the
3notor idla. The wheel basis extends
4rom 12e inches, IN the smaller model.
10 >62 incilss 10 the larger model
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
TRUCK DIVISION FORMED
Stedman Bent Chairman of Com
mcrcial Car Board

New York, March 19.--Tho organiza-
ton Of mOtortruck division by the
American Automobile Association put-
tends increased commercial car use III
every state in the union.
The division is getting IN touch with
clubs. loca lized motortruCk organizations
and individuals who have accomplished
things in the truck field. and is prCpar-
ng to announce its full policy IN the
near future.
Truck developments already under
way, such as the rural motor express.
the road building movement, etc., Will
receive the cooperation and help OF
the bureau.
A fact bureau will he established.
through which companies interested in
motorizing their businesses can obtain
data free of charge.
Motortruck conferences in the differ
cnt state are being planned, and are
designed as an educational movement OF
the economic value of trucks for haul
age
Stedman Bent president Of the Auto
mobile Club of Philadelphia, " chairman
of the motortruCk board. and John X
Eustis, secretary. Georp" NJ. Graham
chairman of the motortruck committee
Of the National Automobile Chamber OF
Commerce. has also been asked to serve
on the board.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19

So many factors are 10 be taken into
a motortruCk. or changing from horse
drawn to motor equipment, that the
prospective buyer will be well advised
to avail himself Of expert advice that
is obtanable for the asking. No matter
how much he knows about hauling or
delivery work with horses, he is not
qualified to make final decision re-
CardinE motortrucks or wagons unless
he has had experience with t.san or has
such a simple proposition that there Is
virtually only one answer.
The careful purchaser will perhaps
want to analyze his own problem as
prcljminarv, with all the facts regard
ing his particular business in front of
him for study. and to famliarize him
self with all the conditions that have to
he met. as viewed from his inner knOWl-
edge of his trade.
Having done this and arrived at his
own conclusions, perhaps, as to what
kind and size Of truck or delivery wagon
;s REQUIRED and how many, he shoald
then invite the manufacturer of some
make of truck, or the manufacturer
agent. to send a transportation engineer
to make an independent investigation
of his needs. All leading truckmakers
and their branch houses and principal
dealers have traffic experts or engineer
statesmen for this special work, and they
are glad TO make recommendations.
Get Expert Advice without Cost
As these men are engaged constantly
in the study of traffic conditions and re-
, duirements in all lines of business and
have an intimate knowledge of the capa-
bilities and limitations of motortrucks
and their operation, they can almost
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19

Detroit, March 19.-At the annual
meeting Of the Lincoln Highway Asso-
citation held at the Detroit Athletic Club,
the followir~ officers wern elected for
the year 1919: +. A. Seiberling presi-
dent; Henry B. Joy, Roy d. Chaplin,
Carl G. Fisher. II. G. Osterman. vice
presidents; A. +. Bement. vice president
and secretary. and Emory w. Clark,
CreaSmer
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
TRUCK BESTS 18 MULES
Truxtun Unit Can Be Attached to
ANY Passenger Car

Performing the work of eighteen
mules is a feat claimed for a Truxtun
two-ton truck, which is on exhibit at
the fifth annual commercial car show,
by Matthews. Mock 4 Hales. of Oman
cock, Va, in q letter to the Truxtun
Sales Company, distributors, 1714 North
Broad street.
Nine hundred business firms in Phila-
delDhia and eight hundred in New Jer-
sey use the TruXtun truck.
The Truxtun unit consists Of frame
which carries the load. springs, rear
axle and wheels fitted with solid or
pneumatic tires. 1t can be attached to
any make of passenger car or small
truck, thus converting 1t into Truxtun
truck of one and one-quarter, two or
three tons capacity.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
HAVE DIRECT SALES PLAN
Battery Service Corporation Deals With
Ultimate Customer

Elimination of agents and distributors
and selling direct to the consumer is the
method by which the Battery Service
Corporation. 6l5-19 North Fifth street,
thus saving the customer three profits
he otherwise would have to pay on his
batteries. 1t has an accessory eX-
hibit at the fifth annual truck show.
Every year automobile batteries re-
quire some repairs. such as new sepa-
rators, new plates, jars, or cases
Bought through the ordinary channels
these parts would pass through the fol
lowing routine: CD Manufacturer to
co territory representatives, to CD dis.
trict distributor, to % dealer, to (5J
battery repairman. TO (6) customer.
Under the Battery Service Corpora
TONS selling plan. the sale is made di-
rect from the manufacturer to the Gus.
toner.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
Will Make $4,000 Hupps

Detroit, March 19.-The Hupp Motor
car Corporation will produce 5000 cars
in 1919. This is an increase of $500
cars over last year. During the last
its production to forty cars daily, and
further increase is contemplated.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-19
Beam Starts Truck Line

Perry L. Beam has resigned os presi.
dent of the Fletcher Transporta-
ton Company, and is now conducting
his own organization at 425 Market
street His New York and Philadel-
phia line is known as Beams own"
The sun., 1919-11-02

For the first time in some years New
York's automobile row is furnishing
a candidate for an important position
in the forthcoming election. Franklin
G. Hill. Familiarity known as Frank"
Hill to thousands of persons in the
trade as well as motorists, is in the
race for Sheriff Of Nassau ceunty. and
from present Indications stands an ex-
excellent chance to be elected.
Mr.. Hill is manager of the Republic
Rubber Company Of New York, and
has been with that concern for fifteen
years No man In the automobile in
dustry has a higher reputation for
ability and integrity. and there is no
question that he would bring the same
sound Judgment to bear in the office
to which he aspires that he has shown
in business life.
In various ways Nassau county has
been shown UP in an unenviable light
in the past few years. eliminating a
few days ago in the removal of the
sheriff. For that reason several nom
partisan organizations of Nassau county
are cooperating in the effort to place
the office in Mr.. Hills hands.
The sun., 1919-11-02
Steering wheel. The controls are all
mounted on a keyboard on the oowl in
instant and ready reach

Steering wheel. The controls are all
mounted on a keyboard on the cowl in
instant and ready reach
All In all. Overland -Four impresses
It's visitors as being a motor car value of
very distinctive comfort, economy. quail
ity and convenience. 1t will be marketed
in four body styles: A sedan at $1,375 !;
coupe at s1.325; touring car and road
ster at $S4b, (. o. b. Toledo.
The motor of the Overland -Four is
cast enbloc with a removable head 1t
has generous valve opening.
The lubricating and oiling system re-
quire no pumps. The oil is circulated by
pressure automatically created and the
water Is circulated by the thermo-syphon
system or natural cooling method. No
power Is required OF the motor to oper-
ate these systems.
The steering apparatus is of the plan
etry gear type. with the gears at the
bottom Of the steering column. By this
arrangement all the strain is taken at
three points instead Of at one.
The clutch is of the single plate type
now used by II per cent. Of the motor
manufacturers. The selective gear
transmission has three speeds forward
and reverse. 1t operates in oil.
The front axle Is of chrome nickel
steel, which affords both light weight
and strength. The front wheels have
tapered roller bearings. The rear axle.
also of chrome nickel steel, is three
quarter floating. The differential and
rear wheels operate on annular ball
bearings.
The car Is equipped with two brakes
foot and hand. These work on 10-inch
drums on each wheel and to assure
safety are larger than necessity de-
mands.
Upon the instrument board, or key
board" as 1t is called on the Overland
-Four, Is centralized the hand throttle
spark and choke control. and the ignition
and electric buttons. together with the
speedometer dial and current indicator
In addition to the hand throttle there
Is a foot accelerator handily placed. The
clutch and brake pedals are adjustable
to reach.
The wide. deep seats of the Overland
Four supplement the three-point suspen-
sion springs and comfortably accommo-
date five passengers. The cushions are
equipped with Marshall divan springs.
The upholstery throughout the car Is
long grain Duratex. All cushions, in
GLIDING the back and sides, are remov-
able. The one-man top also Is of Dura-
tex.
One of the chief aims Of the builders
has been to maintain the highest stand
The sun., 1919-11-02
sHARRER SEDAN TOP.
Two Cars I'm One Il Made
Easy.

Easy.
Automobile owners who must be con-
tent with modest equipment of one
touring car which serves all motoring
purposes every month Of the year, will
find great comfort in a closed top sold
by the sharrer Patent Top Company.
No. $50 West Fifty-fourth street. Mr..
Hart tho sales manager and treasurer
OF the company. New York and Philsdel-
phia distributors for the Detroit
weatherproof demountable tops, says
these tops win transform a touring car
though by magic back again to an open
car.
For . trifiing expenditure one can
have two cars In one. 1T II becoming
more and more apparent" says Mr..
Hart, that motorists no longer look
upon the detachable top as a seasonable
proposition. It 10 an all the year round
proposition and not merely a feature of
the trade during the four months of
winter. More and more the idea of the
permanent roof is prevailing. That is
because one needs protection from
rough weather at all seasons Of the
mountable top Is properly designed it
can be opened UP so that the breezes
sweep through It as though 1t were a
car completely open. Our tops are de-
signed according to tho car to which 1t
Is to be attached. 1t Is not an assem-
bled proposition. The tops are COM
pletely manufactured
zone of the features of these all
weather tops Is the patented flexible
sliding doors which disappear instantly
into the roof All four doors can be
opened IN q few seconds No glass to
rattle or break. plenty Of ventilation
| and freedom for signalling. The side
| section doors and quarters can be en-
| tirely removed in q few minutes"
It Is claimed these tops never rattle
| They are attached to the regular body
| irons of the car and At perfectly flush
| with the sides Of the material. the in
terror lining and trimming being OF
limousine cloth. There is a three inch
electric dome light in the centre Of the
permanent roof
The sun., 1919-11-02

ard of quality throughout the car In both
the material and manufacture. This has
been carried to the design and finish, the
body details and the equipment
The car has a streamline body which
Ii entirely constructed of steel with
slanting windshield The full-crowned
tenders are of heavy sheet Steel The
running boards are covered with limo
leum. aluminium bound The body and
chassis are finished in hard baked
enamel The fittings are nickel and pol
ished aluminium.
The car is equipped with an Auto-Lite
two-unit starting and lighting system,
headlights with a DINNER. dash and tail
lights. magnetic speedometer, electric
horn. spare tire carrier, extra rim. COM
plete set of tools. tire repair kit, jack
and pump. The tires are mounted on
demountable rims
Because of the unprecedented de-
mands for the Overland Four, dealers
for the time being are accepting orders
for delivery to purchasers in the order
In which requests are received.
The sun., 1919-11-02
BR1scoE IS BOOMING.

The Briscoe Motor Corporation. Jack
son, Mich, is again getting acquainted
with James r. Findlater, sales manager,
who has just returned from a four weeks
trip through the East and South calling
on Briscoe dealers. Mr.. Findlater is
enthusiastic over business prospects for
1920, and asserts the saturation point in
automobile production cannot be seen
even on the far distant horizon.
The Briscoe Motor Corporation this
week is the scene Of a big Government
auction sale which has developed con-
siderable action. This In the sale Of all
Government machinery which was in
stalled for the manufacture of NUM-
lions during the war.