The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-05-09
Most Interesting Sight in To-
ledO, Ohio, the Great Au.
tOmObile Factories
IMPROVEMENTS MADE
Continual Additions Necessary
To Take Care of Increase
in Sales
BY Phil O'TOOle

safe to say that you will find the
plant of Willys-Overland, Inc. max
ers Of the Overland and WHY'S
Knight automobiles, one of the
most entertaining and instructive
sights you ever witnessed. Don't
plan on spending only short time
visiting this plant, for there is so
much of it that you will not he
able to see and hear all about it.
spent two days at this great in
stitution headed by John N. WHY'S,
but | came away with the feeling
that could have stayed longer
and enjoyed every minute.
spent hours listening to guides
tell me about factory operations
necessary to complete the finished
products. During the trip through
the factory | covered approximately
119 acres. which are near the
northwest city limits of Toledo.
Within this vast space there are 81
buildings, each unit contributing
toward the successful manufacture
Of two lines of cars which are
hnOus the world over.
Srhree.StOry Storage Building
Planned
The Overland factory has suffi-
Gent capacity to produce 1900 cars
per day. However, with the in
creasin@ demand for Overland and
Willys-Knight cars, the officials
are always faced with the problem
81 getting the most production pos
lin In
business done by the Overland has
necessitated improvements on the
plant site and additional storage
space for new cars. When I was
there plans were under way for the
construction of a magnificent &C.
ment drive from the final assembly
building to the drive-way-gate in
front of the Administration build
ing. understand this has been
completed. Another step forward
includes the erection OF a massive
three-story storage building, which
will be used to store drive-away
cars and boat shipments. This
building will have outside run
ways, which will greatly reduce
the handling time for storing cars.
These two new changes for the
Owe rland are only indicative of the
policy which guides the officials
President WHY'S, one of the real
peers in the automobile business,
is always on the job and furnishes
as many helpful suggestions for
improving the system of manufac-
ture as any man he has associated
with him.
Concerns Growth Has Been Steady
A review OF the company's his
tory imparts that the growth has
bean steady since it's inception. At
the present 10 miles of railroad
tracks are required within the
plants boundaries to care for the
thousands of cars which are ship
ped from the factory each month.
These tracks will accommodate
1000 freight cars.
Even when the factory is pro-
lucing more than 1900 cars daily
tNis is not enough to supply the
dJmand. Practically every inch of
the 100000 square feet OF storage
space is utilized in the manufacture
and storage of new cars, but there
is great need for more room, ac-
cording to one of the company's Of
ficials. who says that the time will
come when more territory will be
needed.
l found the factory modern, with
every known convenience provided
for the worker. The Overland
takes real human interest in the
men land women who strive to
make the Overland and WHY'S
Knight cars the best on the mar
ket for their price. Take, for in
stance, the Mutual Aid, Differed
by the workers. It's function is to
care for the men and women who
become ill. The employees pay
small dues each month and in turn
are paid sick benefits and their
heirs are given a death benefit
should they die.
There are other ways in which
the company seeks to please it's
employees. Among these are the
coTnmissary kitchen department
and its 33 serving stations, and the
confectionery booths which are
placed near the, gates. The COM
missary kitchen has worked very
satisfactorily at the Overland.
All the food is cooked in q CEN
trail kitchen and hauled to the
wing stations where the food is
y at cost. When the commits
kitchen department started
eation last April, only a small
If M a
ions during the first few weeks.
qually their popularity in
ssed with the result that today
e than 1000 are fed each noon.
number does not include the
sral hundred who patronize the
terra in the magnificent admin
alton building, where the prices
SO low that it is possible to buy
Extraordinary palatafble meal
~ cents.
he confectionery booths were
ned for patronage when was a
st at the plant. There are five
hese and in each is q big stock
obacco, candy, gloves, fruit and
sr articles which the workers
It. They are open for business
h morning when the employees
& to work and again at noon.
Oledo is justly proud OF the
rland factory. It. employs
asands of men the year round
the buildings add to the indus
appearance OF the city. All
factory buildings are remark
! substantial and clean, cut.
Administration Building
he administration building sits
b beautiful site slightly west Of