San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-01
OUTPUT GAINS
OVER 1924: BY
100000 CARS
1926 to Be Even Better
, With Industry at Peak
Of Prosperity.
By ROY c. HAYES


DETROIT, Mich, Jan. Amer
jca's greatest industry, this week, con-
ciudes its greatest year. offering au-
thoritntive testimony to the unparai-
jeled prosperity of the entire nation.
In the II months period just closing,
the automobile industry built 5000
more cars than were made during the
corresponding period of any previous
year.
Exast figures on motor car produc-
zion in 1925 will not be available for
several weeks, but expert opinion
places the total at more than 400, 900
ears and trucks. This may be COM
pared with 4,017 900 for the previous
record year.
Thirty-twO miles of motor cars were
turned out daily this year. Visualize
this picture and you have some idea
Of the magnitude and Importance Of
the motor car industry, which during
the year has given employment to
more than 100000 men and women.
II LOWEST PRICES.
Automobile values reached record
heights and prices hit the lowest
known figures. These two facts,
coupled with the growing need of rap
i'd Individual transportation are re-
sponsible for the remarkable showing
made during the year.
Through manufacturing and selling
economics. the automobile industry
was enabled during the current year
10 place the motor car within the
reach of thousands, who had hitherto
been denied it's service.
More important even than the none
tary gain which the success of the au-
tomobile industry brought to nearly
Every household during the year, is the
health, happiness and new opportunity
which automobile ownership provided,
More people are more broadminded
Is a result of the spread of this facile
and economical means Of travel.
Through it the city dweller is given
an opportunity to inspect rural CEN
tiers and exchange ideas with the farm
er. On the other hand, the farmer,
though he may live many miles away,
can keep in constant touch with the
kity, its thoughts and ways.
BOOST FOR HOME.
Real estate and building, city de-
3 selopment and home ownership has
progressed immeasurably and in great
part due TO the more common use OF
the automobile. Thriving and home
full communities that surround our
great cities owe their existence and
much Of their prosperity to the auto
mobile.
Fame ridden place Of New England
eun-lit boulevards Of California. in
dustrial avenues OF the great Middle
West, palmwalled highways of Flor
ida, vast farm stretches in our enter.
prising central states and the din and
stir of our great cities are within easy
reach Of all of us as result of the
tremendous increase in the manu-
facture and use of automobiles dur
ing the year now closing.
The most outstanding note during
the year in the industry itself was the
rise Of the closed car to dominance
over the open type. For the first time
On. record, more closed cars were
bought than open.
i, MORE CLOSED CARS.
4 Increasing trend in this direction
has enabled manufacturers to make
further cuts in closed car prices, due
to an increasing volume.
Following two years OF trial, four
wheel brakes and balloon tires estab-
iished themselves firmly as regular
equipment, the former because of the
greatly increased safety factor and the
latter because Of the improved riding
qualities resulting.
Another milestone accounted for
during 1925 was the general ,recogni-
tion Of the coach type OF body, al.
though many companies chose to call
1t by another name.
Return of brighter colors in body
finishing and a touch Of gayety in ap-
pcarance distinguished the 1929 car
from its predecessors. Two-tone I'm
jshes and new stream-line effects were
introduced to further smarter appear
ences.
With only very few exceptions
every manufacturer Of the automobile
made gains over the preceding record
year. The most notable showings were
made by Packard, Hudson-Esscx
Buick. Chevrolet, Nash, Chrysler,
WHY'S Overland, Dodge, Hupp. Oak
land and Cadillac. of the larger firms.
Others made gains approaching these:
Several new cars were introduced
during the year, including among
these the Hupp 81 :. Diana eight-in-
line. Star six. New-Day Jewett and
Jordan light eight.
Despite the magnitude OF this years
Accomplishments, the motor car INDUS
try is preparing for an even greater
year in 1926. IL present production
plan, are carried. out 1926 VIII sur
noes 1So5 In notor car building.