The Washington times., 1919-11-15
By L. J. FAULKNER.

One of the most important events in the automotve
world for many day staged at Detroit during the early
part of this week under auspices of the National Automo
bile Chamber of Commerce.
convention held in the spacious banquet hall of
the Hotel Staer 1t assembly of service managers
from various automobile and truck factories throughout the
country This convention of trained experts deemed
necessary owing the fact that manufacturers months
behind production and it is necessary to furnish the
ultimate in service to owners of thereby proongng
the cars life until production catches up with the demand
This feeling that service is paramount is of the
best indications of progressveness in the automobile indus
try today.
The time has long passed since service was Secondary
consideration Many cars reputation has been ruined by
lack of efficient service This defect the part local
dealer always due to lack of DESIRE but
Ignorance of the character of the serco be rendered
coupled with Inefficient and inexperienced force take
care of it.
Some years ago several factories this and service
schools established in which trained in all
the details of the mechanism of their particular These
afterward sent service managers to
local branches
and with full realization of the Importance of service to
the industry the interchange of views by experienced
Ice men result only in better understanding and the
establishment of more systematic methods On Monday the
speakers E. T. Herbig of the Service Motor Truck
Company Wabash Ind; E. A. Haskins, Federal Truck
L. c. Voyles, of the Nordyke Mamon Company; Albert
Cough Liberty Motor Car Company R. c. Reiche of the
Chalmers Motor and Walter NJ Ladd of the Pierce Arrow
general service policies.
On Tuesday the relation existing between the factory
and dealers taken up. Such speakers Ralph c.
Rognon, Automove Service Association; H. W. Drew
Packard Motor Company; " NJ Warner, Cadillac Motor
Company j. B. Bray, Grant Motor Corporations O. r. F
shafer, Chalmers Motor Company and A. B. um-
Washington representative of the Autocar Company
were the program.
On Wednesday a visit paid to the various Detroit
factories and study made of the methods of handling
service at the plants themselves.
AT times during the convention the discussion became
somewhat heated but it surprising the general
tenor that pervaded the entire convention and the feeling
of loyalty that seemed to exist among all service stations
regarding their particular car.
The main keynote of the entire meeting was that
dealers responsibility did not end with car buyer at anv
time after purchase made far related defects
manufacture The fact that the sighting of this response
by condemned by every speaker is certainty that
this convention will result in better service conditions and
far closer cooperation between the factory and local
dealer.
the intention to hold these conventions yearly even
after the normal production has been reached
Washington itself has been peculiarly fortunate in the
stations they have the handwriting on the
wall by force of example, and many will recall the onus cast
on two wellknown makes of previously handled in
Washington due to the fact that proper and efficient service
was not maintained.