Evening star., 1930-12-07
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.

leather, imitation leather and
metal. Some Of them are cleverly
designed so that they may be
opened out in way to triple their
normal capacity when added car
rying space is needed, on camping
trips, for example. Trunk racks
now are chromium-plated, of
course, and the trunks themselves
have taken on chromium fittings
to match. Rear view mirrors are
now fitted with clocks of either
the one or eight day variety; a
new type of dome light for SedanS
not now equipped is entirely in
dependent of the wiring system on
the car; does not attach to it at
all. Instead. it carries a couple of
tiny dry cells right in the lamp
case; hence it is quickly and easily
installed with a Screwdriver. Fen
der flaps are fairly common and
are recognized for the good work
they do in preventing mud and
water being splaShed all over a
car. The new ones are made of
flexible rubber moulded into a de-
sign that harmonizes with the
shape of the tenders, and their
method of attachment has been
perfected to the point where they
will stay put, once they are ap-
piled.
One thing is certain-depres-
sion or no depression-the manu-
facturerS of cars and accessories
have gone forging right ahead
with new ideas in construction for
1881, both in general car design
and in equipment. The recent
wholesale trade show of the Motor
and Equipment Association, and
the National Standard Parts As
sociation, held in Cleveland two
weeks ago, revealed the general
opinion of the trade; namely,
that the worst had passed, and
the attitude of makers and job
bers was optimistic and in sharp
contrast to the midsummer
gloom. 1t was reported that ap-
proximately 600 jobberS attending
the show were unanimous in look
ing forward to and planning for
steady improvement in business
for 1881. Among these were some
whose business has been increas-
ing since last August, and some
whose October and November
sales actually exceeded those Of
one year ago.
Business Improvement Aid.
Business would get better much
sooner if lot of people would get
over the notion that there is to be
some sort of a complete change in
methods OF merchandising COM
modities."
This assertion was made by Will
liam O'Neil, tire company presi-
dent, when he addressed the Ma
tional Tire Dealers Association at
its annual convention in Chicago.
Radical changes do not come
suddenly in merchandising, al
though they often do evolve rap
idly in the production of manu-
factured goods and in the inven-
tion and perfection of machin-
cry" Mr.. O'Neil said.
while new inventions and new
Improvements have come rapidly
in the development of radio, for
instance, yet trading remains one
Of the oldest of arts.
when times are easy, produc-
tion men naturally come to the
head of manufacturing concerns,
for, at such times, it is easy to sell
and the problem is one Of more
efficient production.
zone of the troubles with busi-
ness today Is that production men,
having evolved new production
methods successfully, have gone
into the merchandising field and
have attempted to bring about
similar changes in field in which
they are not trained.
This has resulted in the fac
tory-owned tire store and in chain
store and mail order house mer-
chandising.
They do not seem to have
learned that the most efficient
worker is a 'piece-worker, not a
day-worker. The independent tire
dealer is piece-worker; the
manager of a chain store, a mail
order outlet or a factory owned
store is a day-worker.
You can get day-workers, at
low wages, to merchandise articles
of small value and they can do
that satisfactorily. wever,
when it comes to a matter of re-
failing an article that costs more
than $5, higher type Of sales
manship is required.
1.-THE man who is capable of
that type Of craftsmanship is not
long content to be a day-worker.
He wants to be in business for
himself, where he can capitalize
on his ability in the largest de-
gree.
THAT is why the independent
tire-dealer will be the ultimate
distributor of tires. That is why
experience has proved that hard
fare merchants, wholesale drug
and grocery concerns and similar
outlets cannot merchandise tires
successfully, and that is why tire
merchandising through ch ain
stores, mail order houses and fac
tory-owned stores will not sue
ceed."
lTVI AlAl