Evening star., 1923-08-31
AUT0PR|CE CUTTING
WAR NOW SECUTED
Appearance of 0ldsmobiIe
Light Six Cause of Many
UnCOnfirmed RumorS.
BY j. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK. August 31.-The bring
ing out of new Oldsmobile light six
model and the reductions of from $40
TO $50 in the Maxwell types, which
have stirred the motor trade this
week and have been the cause of
much speculation, are not opening
moves in an automobile price war.
Reliable information from automobile
Centers confirmed that statement to-
day.
In answer to questions as to the
meaning of the appearance of the new
pldsmobile model at Toronto. A. b. G.
Hardy, president of the Olds Motor
Works, quoted to the writer today
the statement of the company issued
June 6, as follows: The Olds Motor
Works announces that during Septem-
ber it will put on the market new
popular priced water-cooled six-cylin- :
der car along With its present line,
which will be continued into the 1924
sales year"
Prices Not Yet Fixed.
This program has not been
changed in any way" Mr. Hardy con-
tinued. No final prices have yet been
established on our new model and
these prices will not be established
nor issued until the end of September.
The car shown at Toronto was simply
n experimental sample loaned by US
To the Canadian Company. which VIII
nianufaC ture OldS car complete In tne
new OldS plant at Oshawa, ontario.
before the end of the year. No prices
I3V been quoted anywhere.
Competition is keen, as develop
mcnts which have already taken place
ana which will be announced IN
the net sixty days indicate, but the
ir.ustry is one in which the product
has not become so standardized that
any leader can establish prices which
others will follow. The narrowing
down of the companies which are
however. is making competition
keener than ever. but the Struggle is
less III the nature of price war than
d struggle for prce field. Some of
these price fields offer strong sales
possibilities.
NV Price Level Likely.
manufacturers have figured that
somewhere between the so-called
Ford class and the cars selling
around or above $1,000 there was a
price level which would attract many
purchasers. They have been study
ing sales statistics and some are be-
lievo1 to have determined to invade
this field with touring cars of strong
engine attraction. while others have
stressed closed body types rather
than motor changes.
All the manufacturers concerned in
this price field are watching for the
response of the public to determine
their future programs more definitely
manufacturers reported TODAY that
c"ngeStion of freight is developing
ard acting as an artificial brake on
production. because of inability to
get raw materials into the plants
required b. operating schedules.
Ford production for the week
totaled only 34.7S0. compared with
A peak output of $1,000. The loss is
nue l" changing the plans to accom-
lnodate production of new models
put oftcials state that the 1000
daily outturn will soon he in effect
5hdin' as orders are in excess of pro-
duction. and the only obstacle is de-
lay III obtaining materials
Sporting Goods Take Spurt.
Sales of sporting goods have al
ready taken big jump, according
to dealers in large distributing CEN
ters, and the volume in prospect for
fall unquestiona bly, is greater than
Tor many years. This demand is most
plainly apparent in the south and
middle west. where wonderful strides
ms iiidde Ill SpoItS IN the cOun-
try schools.
Hundreds of professors and teach
erS of preparatory schools. high
schools. and grade schools. who never
In their lives have played foot ball.
are taking courses in foot ball and
basket bak coaching now being held
IN various sections. More than fifty
professors were students in such a
course at Louisiana State University.
cach OF whom will organize teams
from among his pupils
Basket ball teams in the country
districts of the middle west will be
numbered this year not by thousands
but by tens of thousands Sales of
golf goods have shown steady in
creases throughout August. and the
opening of new courses is adding
thousands of new players monthly,
More attention is being paid to quail
lty III sporting goods than ever be-
the higher priced articles