The Washington herald., 1922-01-12
FORD MOVE TOBUY
LINCOLN COMPANY
STTRS AUTO KINGS
Much Interest Aroused
Over Proposed Merger
With Lelands.

NEW YORK. Jan. Il.-In the
move of Henry Ford to gain control
of the Lincoln Motor Company. OF
Detroit, now in receivership. the
princes OF the motor industry. Eatn-
cred here in great force TO attend
the national automobile show. are
somewhat alarmed to perceive
Ford's invasion OF the high class
car industry. II Ford intends tc
make a so-caIled hish-class ma
chine. using the Lincoln motor Rs
the base of the new product, the
firms which heretofore have had 70
meet only the urdipsry cSmpetition
Of their own kind may have TO re-
sist price cutting equivalent to that
which makes Of smaller machines
experienced when Ford set out 20
bring the small automobile withln
the means OF the working man.
r. C. Getsinger. sales manager Of
the Lincoln Motor Company. is the
highest authority Of that firm in
New York at present. although Will
fred c. Leland. vice president. is ex-
pected to arrive tomorrow morning.
May set 5000 Price.
Getsinger did not have any infor-
nation as to the sales plan that
- AtPoANSo 20
The present price of the Lincoln,
he said. is $500. and he expected no
radical reduction. II was reported
on other authority, however, that
Ford intends to bring to the manu-
facture OF his high class" vehicle
the same kind Of quantity produc-
tion and management which enabled
him to cut the price OF the '-iivver"
to figure which other makers OF
similar machines fear to attempt.
price of $4,000 for a frst-class.
machine may be set by Ford. some
of the automobile men understood.
Getsinger. protesting not to know
the more intimate details Of the
financial understanding between
Ford and the two Lelands-Henry
NJ. and Wilfred C-nevertheiess vas
able to confirm the general outline,
OF this great merger OF the motor
world.
His information was that the
Fords had decided to back the I,e-
lands and prevent their losing con-
troll of the organization to other
outside interests. When the re-
ceivers' sale is held February 4,
Getsinger understood, Edsel Ford
and the Ford Motor Company by
their representatives will buy the
plant, intending then to dissolve the
present Lincoln organization and
build new firm as a subsidiary Of the
Ford Motor Company. Henry NJ Le-
land will be president Of this firm
and wilfred c. Leland will be vice
president and general manager.
The plan reported here, which CO.
incided with Getsinger's under
standing, was for the present sales
force Of the Lincoln to continue
functioning. with. later on. the Wig
orous cooperation of the vast sales
and agency force OF the Ford Com
pany.
Leland Issues Statement.
DETROIT. Jan. live believe
that Mr.. Ford is prepared 20 bid
high enough for our property to be
The successful bidder and that there
will be a combination OF our re-
sources whereby we will continue
in control OF the Lincoln Motor"
said Henry u. Leland. president of
the Lincoln Motor Car Company. to-
night.
''Mr. Ford is prepared TO start
the bidding when the court orders
our plant sold under the receiver
ship on February 4, at $4,000. 0oo."
Leland said. I'VE do not Know
how high he Is prepared to 20 II
there are other bidders, but we en-
pect that Mr. Ford will gain control
and we will continue making our
car.
I'VE have-heard that the General
Motors. the Durant and the Stude-
baker people are also intending TO
bid. but this we do not know for
sure.
"our plants cost $4,000. 900 to
build. our car Is worth twice that
amount. and our good will should
greatly increase the total valuation
There never was a<good-reason q why
we were thrown into the hands Of
the receiver and we are glad that
Mr.. Ford has announced his bid -
Ford issued a formal statement
that he would start the bidding for
the Lincoln Motor Company at
5000. 600. The announcement crea ~
ted profound stir I'm automobile
circles as a combination with the
Lelands would create one OF the big
gest automobile mergers ever put