South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-26
DECLARES GERMAN
auto INDUSTRY now
FACES BANKRUPTCY
Only High Priced Machines,
. With International Reputa-
tons. Profitable.

4 BERLIN June %. Bankruptcy
and imminent dissolution summar-
Ees the situation If the German au-
fomoble manufacturers according
A. au Investigation made by rhe IN
fcruarional News Srsice only the
Hizh pricel cars with international
Regulations stand thc chance OF sur
giving The o,d-fashioped and made
tuate methods OF production.
German efficiency" that hypno-
tzlue slogan which has thrown fear
into the hearts Of competing coun-
tries and forced the hurried pass
axe Of auI-dumping legislation 10
protect home markets from German
compelt0n. has never made its de-
but iB the automobile industry.
Mass production. even for small
ears. Is unknown. Compared with
american methods. one can truly
say that German cars are hand
made. II you want an automobile in
Germany you are limited TO Ger
man makes. for the government for
bids importation OF either cars or
tires.
You first decide what engine yOu
want You can order 70 from the
factory directly or through a deal
er. Even Benz and Mercedes have
no standard prices. There are prob
ably 40 % 90 automobile dealers IN
Berlin selling the Benz car. Prices
depend on the contract the dealer
made with the Benz or AIercede s
companies. IF he has an early con-
hu ar-1r
ciated 20 its present level. he can
sell you a chassis, with engine, IS
percent cheaper than his competi-
tors, or even the factory itself.
After you have the chassis you go
10 a car architect and have him de-
sign the body FOR you. He may have
half a dozen stock body designs. but
there viii be no bodies on hand. II
must be built, which means a delay
OF six weeks to three months
II you want a self-starter and
electric lights you go to a third
shop, where accessories are sold, and
pick out your starter and electric
tights. There isn't a single German
manufacturer who has reached the
point OF including starter and cleo
trio light as standard equipment for
his car.
Lights Cost $500.
The chauffeur habit Is responsible
Tor the absence OF the starter. Even
the curious little tricycle. automo-
bres running around the Berlin
streets are driven by their uniform
ed chaufgeurs A starter and cleo
trio light costs between 5000 and
10000 marks, which means about
$500 in American money.
A chauffeur earns about 10000
marks a year. Consequently the
most expensive and approximations
1imousines require the driver to get
out and turn It over before he can
start It.
II YOU are amazed at the lack OF
system IN the prices OF the chassis
vouII be more astonished at the
differences IN tire prices. You must
make the rounds Of the tire shop.
and carefully get their bids on tire;
for your car. There will be varla.
tions Of 20 to 80 percent. This Is
traceable to the fact that, although
Germany forbIds the importation
probably buy were smuggled IT
Through the zone occupied by the al.
HE'D armies Of occupation.
Germany's cheapest automobile
BY the time Il has been QUILTED
with tires. which acetyline lamps
costs more than one thousand dol
lars, at the present exchange.
trip IN a car Of this type remind.
YOU more Of a motorcycle sidecal
than an automobile Germany's beS
makes. Of international reputation
however. are cheaper than the equi
valent American cars. At prices
f, ranging between $4,000 and $4,000
you can get a Benz or Mercedes
limousine IN Germany with a body
which. I'm luxury leaves nothing I,
be desired.
Workers Earn Is Gents An Hour.
But even these latter cars require
that YOU shop carefully. picklnl