South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-15
MANUF ACTURE Of
STUDEBAKER CARS
Evolution Of Largest Vehicle
Plant in World to Great
est Motor Producers.

The Studebaker corporation has
IN the past 81 years grown from
small crossroads blacksmith shop
one OF the greatset industrial institu-
tons in the world. Today the stud
ebaker factories at Detroit. South
Bend and Walkerville cover 1853
acres and contain 100000 square
feet OF floor space. SIS, 500. 900 has
been invested IN plants and equip
ment. and 100000 in raw ma
terial and working capital
Studebaker has what are probably
the most complete research and ex-
perimental laboratories in the in
dustry. requiring the services Of 100
skilled men, working under the
supervision OF Is special zed technic-
al experts.
Originate Treating Operations.
Many OF the heat treating opera
tons that are now standard in the
automobile world were originated by
Studebaker.
The laboratory investment alone
amounts 10 nearly 100000.
over 100000 studebaker cars, with
net sales value in excess of $780,
900, 900. have been produced and
sold up to date. OF this number
over 10000. have been four-cy-
Under cars and 10000 six-cylinder
cars
Studebaker employs at the pres
ent time 10000 workmen. This
army OF workers will be increased
10 over 10000 in 1920. when the
new automobile plants at South
Bend are completed.
Use Many Machines.
Fifty-f1ve hundred machines are
used in the 200 different manufact-
uring departments OF the Stude-
baker factories Six hundred and
twenty mechanical operations on
the new Studebaker cars require &C
curacy 10 the one-thousandth part
Of an inch; $50 operations 70 the
one-half thousandth part Of an inch.
and nearly 400 inspectors are en-
ployed to see that every operation is
up TO the Studebaker standard Of
quality and accuracy. Nearly 1000
inspections take place in Stude-
bakers own plants before a car is
ready for shipment
grade steel are consumed annually.
and 100000 gallons Of fuel oil are
used each year for heat treating and
drop forge furnaces; 100000 opunds
OF castings are used each day in
Studebaker factories.
In the evolution OF the auto
mobile Studebaker has lead the way
in practically every step forward
that has been OF direct benefit to the
ultimate purchaser. Studebaker
produced the first six-cylinder car
20 sell for less than $4,000: the first
-FOUR cylinder. 4O-horse power tour
ing car 20 sell for less than $1,000;
the first 5O-horse power to sell for
less than $4,000 and the first car "a
sell for less than $4,000 with com
plete cord tire equipment. And. here
II is interesting 10 note that Stude-
baker was the first manufacturer TO
produce a car with crown Tenders
and to make extensive use OF pressed
steel throughout
One Piece Motor.
The industry also owes 10 Stude-
baker the progress that has been
made IN the casting of motors en-
bloc II is a well known fact that
Studebaker was the first manUfact-
urer 10 do away with the old method
OF casting cylinders singly or in pairs
and make a six cylinder motor in
one piece.
The beveled plate glass windows
that are now a style feature OF some
or Americas best motor cars also
owe their parentage 10 the prolific
brans Of Studebaker designers. The
method OF mounting these nickle
trimmed oval windows IN the rear OF
the top was originated by the Stude-
baker body engineer nearly three
years ago.