The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-01
MARMON'S 1928
PLANS AIRED AT
CHICAGO SHOW
President Williams Chief
Speaker at Luncheon
for Auto Men.
BY swEDE SWANSON
Times Automobile Editor

CHICAGO, Feb. Laying spe-
ciaI emphasis on progress, policy,
products and profits, G. M. VIII
liams, president Of the Marmon Mo-
tor Car Company. was the prin-
cipal speaker at the annual Mar
mon dealer meeting held Thursday
in the Crystal ballroom Of the
Blackstone hotel
The meeting Of distributors and
dealers from all sections Of the
country climaxed Marmon activi-
ties during the week of the Chi
cago show. regarded by company
officials as the most successful In
which Marmon has participated.
More than 300 automobile men
gathered at the luncheon as guests
Of the company, learning from the
speakers the plans which have been
formulated for the coming year.
Thomas E. Jarrard. general sales
director Of the Marmon company,
presided as POSTMASTER.
Points Out Progress
williams pointed out the rapid
strides made by Marmon in the last
two years, during which time the
company has been engaged in the
manufacture of straight-eight auto
mobiles. Last year, Williams point
ed out, Marmon sales showed a
tremendous increase and this year
will show a greater gain, as the
more expansive plans of the COM
pany are placed in effect.
The Marmon company will devote
its resources to the manufacture OF
straight-eight cars exclusively and
it's products will cover all primary
price fields.
A. r. Heiskell, president and
secretary of the company. was the
next speaker. Having been associ-
ated with Marmon since the COM
pany began the manufacture OF
automobiles in 1902, Heiskel1 drew
on his long experience for incidents
tending to show the rise of Marmon
to a position Of prominence in the
autmobile industry.
He recalled a number of innova-
tons pioneered by Marmon, includ-
ing the side entrance tonneau, the
use of channel steel in the frame
construction, and the direct drive
from the motor to the rear axle,
practices since adopted generally.
Explains Test Work
Outlining the Marmon policy of
experimental work, Thomas j. Lit
tie Jr., company's chief engineer,
told Of the many tests to which the
.company's products are submitted
before production begins.
Not only is the Indianapolis motor
speedway utilized in this work, but
transcontinental trips over noun
tains and through deserts are COM
pleted in the course of development
work.
The final speaker was w. It.
Young Jr., president of the
Homer Mckee company, who pre-
sented the elaborate merchandising
and advertising program to be fol-
lowed by Marmon in the next four
months.
Young emphasized the value OF
newspaper advertising in acquaint
ing the public with Marmon pro-
ducts and told of the manner in
which this valuable medium would
be used.
Williams expressed himself as
highly pleased with the manner in
which the Marmon program for the
Chicago show had been climaxed,
stating that the luncheon was the
most successful ever held at a Chi
cago show by the Marmon company.
Aviation Day at Show
Thursday was aviation day, with
all manufacturers paying tribute to
the exploits and developments of
air transportation. The setting aside
of one day at each national automo-
bile show for the recognition of avi-
alton is significant, showing that the
automobile industry does not regard
air travel as a competing move
ment, but rather as an allied in
dustry, respected and encouraged.
Among the automobile manufac-
turers who held dealer meetings
today were REQ, De Soto and Du-
rant. All entertaining visiting rep
resentativeS and outlining plans for
future developments.
The DuraIt affair took the form
of luncheon at the Palmer house,
while Reo's party was staged at the
Congress in the evening with din
ner for the guests. The De Soto fac
tory organization met with its deal
ers at lunch at the Congress hotel.