The Washington times., 1923-03-24
MILLION
MARK GAR IN
DEMAND
Dealers See It's Advertising
Value, But Workers View
Is Sentimental.

L AASS~A
quisitions for the millionth Buick
car have come from so many Of our
branches and distributors deal
ers az WELT will for the present
remain unassigned"
Thus General Sales Manager p.
IT. Strong. of the Buick Motor Com
pany, today disposed Of the question
as to the ultimate destination Of the
smart model SIS, six-cylinder sport
touring car bearing upon its frame
the imposing number plate Of LOCO.
'of course they ali want this car.
Not primarily for sentimental reas-
ons, but for an intensely practical
One-its advertising value. So we
feel we cannot let anyone have It
without being accused Of discrimina.
tion." Il
Pride of Employees.
While there may be less Of senti-
ment than business acumen in the
desire on the part Of Buick dealers
to possess the millionth Buick car,
there IL no question that sentiment
predominates in the reception Of
this car on the part Of Buick en-
ployes. Thousands Of the latter have
worked on Bucks ten years or more
ana feel personal pride In the at.
!! tainment Of the million mark, They
| stand about in groups fondly look
Ing over this milliontln Buick, and
g flood OF Interesting recollections
/ find expression.
il Starting with the head Of the or
gantzattOn down to the llumbleet OF
the ranks, you win find many men
Wo have lived" with Buick since
the days when the future OF the All.
tomobile was still . matter Of
i grave doubt.
| H. y. Bassett. now president Of
the Buick Motor Company, was, in
1907. general superintendent Of the
Weston.Mott Axle Company, which
had a plant adjoining that, of the
Buick and built all Of the axles for
that car. In 1914 Bassett became
general manager Of Weston-M Mott
and In 1915, when the latter was
merged with General Motors, he
became assistant general manager
Of the Buick. In 1919 he became
president and general manager
Thus Bassett has taken prominent
part In the production Of all but
4
Then there is Cady b. Durham
who was made assistant genera
manager upon Bassett's acquisition
to the presidency in 1919. Durham
came to the Buick In the early days
az assistant superintendent Of one
Of the many unite Later he wal
promoted to general master me
chanic then to general superin
tendent. and finally to his present
position next to the throne"
Worked On FIRST Buick.
Some Of the other present key
men worked on the first Buick
built after the incorporation Of thu
company in 1903, twenty years ago
One Of them worked on the draw
ings Of experimental Buick cars al
Tar back as 1896. He 10 e. G. Rich
] ards, at present research engineer
william Beacraft, manager Of the
|, motor department, built the engine
for the first Buick car. At that timt
the employees Of the company mum
bered less than one hundred. C. j
Ross, general factory superintendent
has taken a more or less prominent
part in seeing through the plant
more than 9S5. 900 cars. Chief Engi
neor Es a. eWaLefS came 10 bu1cE
in 1905 and r. A. Bowers, his CHIEF
assistant, shortly afterwards, SO thai
the modern Buick car il largely due
to development under their guidance
In the ranks there are several hun
. dreds whose service covers a period
Of more than fifteen years.
In the sales department, e. +
Strong, now general sales manager
has assisted in the disposition o1
more than 900, 900 Bucks. He was
first employed as special travelling
representative, then as branch man
ager at Buffalo, Indianapolis, and
Chicago, respectively. In 1915 Strong
stepped into his present position
Since then, under his direction, more
than 100000 cars, or three-quarters
of the total Buick production, have
been marketed.
In the field organization through
out the country q similar situation
prevails. Practically all the Buick
branch managers and distributors
have been with the company more
than ten years and some Of them con
siderably longer. All Of these men
have done their "bit" in the achieve
ment Of the million mark and natur
ally are imbued with a high degree
Of personal pride In the accomplish
ment.