The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-05
AUTO SHORTAGE
FEARED BY
DEALERS
Plants Running at Capacity
While Untitled Orders
Are PiIing Up.
BY MARSHALL B.. WALKER,
CosmopSlitan NSwS Service.

DETROIT. Mich. March O.-De-
spite steadily increasing atltomObile
production every month DO far this
year, recent price increases and .
fear on the part Of the public that
lated sales that dealers again are
predicting Q shortage Of cars this
spring.
Manufacturers have been run.
ming plants at capacity, operations
in February showing Q Is per cent
increase over January ana q greater
percentage over the corresponding
period q year ago.
Schedules are heavy for March
and manufacturers predict this
month will exceed February pro-
duction. Large volume OF sales
last month IL but o forerunn0r Of
far greater demand In March, 90
cording to dealers, who say they
expect tho bulk Of spring orders
will be placed within the next two
or three weeks.
Unified Orders Pile Up.
The Nash company today has
more untitled orders for spring a..
livery than ever before In it8 his.
tory. Hudson.Hssex dealers are pre-
dieting O serious shortage this
spring, In view Of the fact that
sales have been 20 heavy that they
have been unable to lay UP any
stock, despite capacity operations in
the plant. Chevrolet has pushed
production to $500 cars q day and
expects soon to be making 5000
daily, but heavy seals have con-
tinuod during the cold weather and
practically all cars stored are held
ON advance ordeeA Paige-Jewett
sales in December, January and
February increased 81 per cent
over the corresponding period q
year ago ana the factory will not
be able to supply the demand this
month, according to President II.
N. Jewett.
Michigan distributors Of WHY'S
Overland have limited at q possible
price increase by their company,
in stating their belief that q factory
announcement on prices win be
given within two weeks.
In contrast to advances By half
q dozen companies is the announce
ment Of q substantial price EOdNc-
ton in Lafayette cars.
AZ prices 60 UP and sales In.
crease in the closing month Of the
first quarter, factories are quick
ening their pace TO avert this short
age feared by dealers. Reports.
locally ana from Flint and Lans-
ing, the two other great auto-pro-
ducing centers Of Michigan, indi-
cate that employment in the auto
mobile factories is being Increased.
Has Two Shifts o Day,
Olds, with O production schedule
Of 400 cars daily, has begun the
two-shift-a-day system in several of
its departments in Lansing. About
1000 men are employed there now
and by June another 1000 VIII have
been added. REQ IL working with
about 5000 men and IL preparing
to open the plant recently pur-
chased from the Duplex Truck
Company.
The Flint Motor Company, Of
Flint, and the Long Island City,
New York, division have expended
more than 30 per cent In volume
since December. bort production
and employment are high ana manu-
facture has started on q new utility
coupe.
Gray Motor production has been
boosted 100 cars and trucks day
compared with so to 90 units daily
in the past. The new sedan com.
prises nearly 80 per cent Of the
output.
Final production figures given
out by the Ford Motor Company
show that January production this
year tota1od 1S3,602 cars. trucks
and tractors, or 81 per cent gain
over January, 1928. Closed car
output now II about one-third of
Ford's production.