Evening star., 1925-02-23
AUTO MAKERS SEEK |
TO ADD COMFORTS
Rubber Shock InSuIators
Cause Stir Among Dealers
in Big Industry.
BY j. G.. ROYIE,

Special Dispatch TO The Star
DETROIT, February 23-Who shall
have the last word? That is the
question which is agitating the auto
mobile industry today What the
autom motiVe engineers are worrying
about is the last word in riding COM
fort. 1t is probable that the last
word will not be spoken for years,
but one of the latest words has been
uttered by the introduction of rub
ber shock insulator which provides a
non-metallic n connection between car
chassis and springs.
Balloon tires and hydraulic brakes
have undoubtedly added materially
to riding comfort, but advocates of
the latest development claim it has
done even more to, defer the rattle
period which affects every motor
car after the first bloom of youth
has passed.
Other New Devices.
More important still from the man
ufacturers viewpoint, the new device
has eliminated 16 grease cups and 80
pounds of expensive steel springs, and
has deferred far beyond the 10000
mile limit the noise which heretofore
has attacked shackle straps. The de-
vice consists of live rubber pocket
the springs. Tests on taxicabs show
that frequently $4,000 miles have been
covered before the rattle makes its
presence known. Some taxi and cab
companies. including the Yellow Cab
Co. of Detroit and the Yellow Coach
and Fifth Avenue Coach Co. of New
York, have made these insula tors
standard equipment. Three high
priced passenger car manufacturers
have also adopted them.
Plants More Active.
While part of the motor industry
Is tagging, there are many instances
of quickening demand observable
here. At least three makers are hir-
ing more men and increasing produc-
tion. The Hudson Co. has increased
It's production schedule from 700 to
500 cars a day. Officials say that if
incoming orders continue at the pres
ent rate the schedule must be raised
to 1000 ears day by March /. The
Packard Co. is running far behind in
delivery OF single six models. In this
city purchasers cannot secure deliv-
cry OF Packard sedans until April !.
The company, now operating on a
schedule involving production OF
! 900 cars, will advance the rate to
2,000 a month in March.
Chevrolet Needs Bodies.
The Dodge Brothers factory has
boosted production from $50 cars a
day to 500 and officials say their sales
curve has begun TO show a steady
upward trend. The Chevrolet Company
has orders on its books for 3. 700 closed
ears which cannot be delivered be-
cause the supply of bodies for these
vehicles has fallen far behind Several
owners of new Chrevolets here are
renting their cars to dealers for show
purposes. The company is shipping
1000 chasses day and will increase
TO 1850 a day in March
Ford, on the other hand, is rela-
lively behind other producers. Ford
sales officials say that orders are
satisfactory, but they are not break
ing records. The company expects to
sell in the neighborhood of 1000 600
units this year. The adoption of bal
loon tires on Ford cars is proving
big sales incentive. The company is
offering these tires with steel wheels
as optional equiment at an increase
of $25 over list price Some talk of
new six-cylinder Ford model per-
ststs. but officials of the company
hatly deny they contemplate turning
out such model
Foru fHces TO stand.
The consensus of opinion here is
that the Ford Company will not
change prices either up or down, but
viii follow the policy of giving more
for the money through improved
equipment. The Continental Motors
Corporation has received an order
for 2,S00 motors for Locomobile
Junior eights, and reports that the
Jordan, Moon and other makes using
Continental motors have increased
orders.
With the exception of half dozen
companies, releases for shipments of
materials are increasing, but the
policy of caution is by no means
being discarded, although makers are
convinced that high wheat prices are
going to mean big demand from the
rural communities as soon as spring
appears.