Alma record., 1920-02-19
OPERATIONS WERE
STARTED TUESDAY
Northern Wheel Co. Machinery
Is Turning Out the First
Products.
PROSPECTS ARE EXCELLENT
Many Inquiries Are Coming to the
Officials Regarding the
Business.


The Northern Wheel Company.
started active operations Tuesday
morning, and as it begins operations
has better prospects for fine SOC
cess than perhaps any industry has
ever had at like period of its his
tory in this city.
Thirty men were on the payroll Of
the company as workers on the first
day that the machinery was in mo
tion, starting to turn out the first
wooden automobile and truck wheels
to be made in Alma. II is certain
that the next few weeks will see the
force increased rapidly until in the
neighborhood of one hundred men
are employed at the plant.
Six dry kilns are already filled
with spokes, while three others have
been filled with bent felloes, and
other material is being received rap
idly, indicating that the factory will
not receive any immediate setbacks
from this source
In an interview yesterday Orville
Allen, secretary Of the Northern
Wheel Company, stated that the
company expected to have finished
wheels out yet this month
When asked what in his opinion
were the prospects for the enter
prise he stated that large number
Of inquiries had been constantly COM
ing to the concern, most OF them be
ing through the Automotive Wood
Wheel Manufacturers Association, O4
which the Northern Wheel Company
Is now a member 1t was also said
that a number Of manufacturers had
sent representatives here, one Of
whom had offered the company a con
tract for 10000 sets of wheels (160.
600 wheels), one-fourth Of the num-
Der for immediate delivery. Not be-
ing in a position to handle the con
tract at the time. the company was
forced TO pass the business or.
1t was also stated that the com
panv might find it necessary to dou-
bic It's capacity of 100 sets Of wheels
per day, before the y1ar was over, so
that instead Of turning out four hun
dred wheels in one day, as it will
when it reaches capacity within the
next few weeks, it would manufac-
ture 500 wheels per day.
1t is confidently expected that the
Northern Wheel company will sell az
least fifty per cent of its normal out
put to The Republic Motor Truck
Company Inc. of this city
In his interview yesterday Mr.. Al
len stated that the officers and di-
rectors Of the company believe that
they have one Of the finest small
wheel factories TO be found in the
country, and said that the represent
atives of various firms, who had beer
here and gone over the factory were
also of that opinion.
The Northern Wheel Company was
organized in August Of 1919, beng
capitalized at 81 100000 $4,000 in
stock has been sold. this being taken
up rapidly, after the preliminary or
ganization of the company. In Sep
tember of last year the factory was
started, but due to delays in securing
material the work proceeded slowly.
The factory building is a modern
structure of brick and concrete, 32s
feet in length by 90 feet in width, in
cluding the dry kilns. The heating
plant, lumber and stock sheds make
up the balance of the plant. 1t is To-
Gated close to the Pere Marquette
railroad in East Alma with spurs
leading from the main line to the
factory.
The officers of the company are
men of high standing here, whose
business ability is such that there
is every prospect for success for the
company, if good business dealings
will bring success. The president Of
the company is A. ID. Smith, who has
had over twenty years OF experience
in the wheel manufacturing business
Because of his wide experience in the
making of wheels, and is experienced
in managing other concerns, he will
be the general manager of the North
ern Wheel Company. j. w. Blakely,
the vice president Of the company, is
a shrewd business man, with consid-
cradle experience. Little need be said
of +. l.. Smith. treasurer, or Orville
Allen, secretary. Both are highly
capable men. who have derived val
liable knowledge Of such work from
their connection with The Republic
Motor Truck Company.