Evening star., 1923-07-30
FALL AU[GBUYlNG
NOW BIC PROBLEM
Dealeps Watching Trend.
Cars in $500 Class Hav-
ing Huge Sale. 4
BY j. c. ROYLE.

special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, July 30.-Executives
of the larger automobile companies
are throwing strsws On trade waters
TO gauge how fast the current OF buy
ing will flow this fall. Feeling among
manufacturers is that the bottom of
the summer lull has been nearly
reached. There are sporadic calls for
increased shipments. but these are
balanced by occasional requests to de-
lay deliveries. The general trend for
the moment is neither upward nor
downward.
Outside OF the plants making low
priced cars. such as, the Ford, Chew
rolet. Overland ana others, operating
schedules today are. averaging from
IS TO 80 per cent OF capacity, which
II should be noted, is higher than
should be expected at this time of
year Manufa0. are watching
crop reports. and grain prices with
particular iauerest. for the larger por-
tlon or the 'Ulrmer buying takes place
in the fall,
FIl Buying Is Problem.
All are agreed that indications
point to brisk business early In
Augu 81. The chief question is how
far Siais demand will go without the
stl tl'nulation of new models. Several
m Akers are preparing to bring out
lfw designs next month, but many
will not do SO. One or more of the
fnew types will offer four-wheel
these viii be watched closely.
one of the smaller manufs cturers who
have turned out such model is reported
TO have been somewhat disappointed
device. Another producer takes an op-
,poSite view and has gone extensively
unto the innovation. one veteran en-
gineer and observer declared today that
public had not fully acquainted itself
with the mechanics of the two-wheel
brakes, and that not one driver in ten
knows II his brakes are in working or =
der or how to keep them so. Other en-
gineers agree with him that the four
wheel brake will require campaign of
quick education, or makers will have
to go back to models which are foolproof
and less complicated.
$500 Cars Selling Well.
The field reports of the leading motor
companies are growing more optimistic
as regards the farmers situation AS
harvesting proceeds their surveys show
that while wheat prices are low the
losses on this account will be largely
offset by generous Yields and higher
Ihls theory is substantiated to some
extent by the sales of the cars OF the
So-called $500 class, which are going
through this normally quiet season at
an unprecedented rate. The total sales
OF the four leading low priced car manu-
facturers in July will approximate $50
900 cars, divided as follows: Ford. l75
900; Chevrolet, 10000: Overland, %, 900,
and Durant. 10000.
When these figures are compared
with average monthly sales OF $4,000
cars by all American manufacturers
during the first half of 1928. il will
be noted that these four companies
are accounting for so per cent OF the
/ business. The remaining companies
! could be shut down to so per cent of
ca pacity. which is far from the fact
and the total output OF the country
on the basis of car units. would still
be running within 80 per cent of the
average OF the last six months.
New Service Plan watched.
The automobile companies are look
ing with much interest at the develop
ment OF the scheme of the Detroit
United railway to establish a pick up
and delivery trucking service in con-
nection with electric line freight
service. At many seasons of the year
such service can be made very use
L, full in moving stocks OF parts and ma
chinery. During the peak production
periods of the last year. the Detroit
United lines handled over six hundred
freight car loads Of automobile prod
ucts a month. and. with the added
service. a much greater volume of
business will be offered, especially if
the trolley lines of Ohio and Indiana
adopt the plan.