Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06
AUTO PRODUCTION
IS ON QUIET BASIS
Extension of vacation
Period" Causes CurtaiI-
ment of Output.
BY DAVID ]. WILKIE.
Written for the Associated Press.

DETROIT, September 5.-The up
ward curve September was expected
to bring to the automobile industry
seems to have been somewhat fattened
out by the fact the Ford Motor Co.'S
vacation period" curtailment has been
extended about a week longer than 1t
generally had been expected to last.
When the Ford Co. curtailed opera
lions on August l resumption on the
three-days-a-week schedule was ex-
pected on September /. although no
definite statement to that effect was
made by the company. Approximate
10000 workers have been advised to
report for work again September 8.
Personnel Increased.
The return of these employees will
bring the Ford personnel up to about
10000 workers. as compared with some
thing more than 100000 in normal
times. Despite the curtaument, which
it has been pointed out is not a
shutdown" in the strictest sense of
the word, the Ford daily pay roll in
the Detroit district has appropriated
100000.
Considerable speculation continues
manifest in automotive circles as 10
whether the Shutdown" period has
been utilized by the Ford Co. for a
retoollng of plants in preparation for
an altered model A. The company
has neither confirmed nor denied that
changes are to be made in the cur
rent model. Rumor has it, however.
that the Ford car shortly will appear
with longer wheel base probably free
wheeling and other changes of less
radical consequence.
In the same price bracket, Chevrolet
Is expected to continue production
through September. Whether the full
pay roll of $4,000 men will be con-
olnued will depend largely upon i'm
mediate development in retail demand
During August Chevrolet produced 54.-
9o8 cars and trucks, compared with
o1,o22 IN the corresponding month last
year.
Several other plants that closed down
during July and August have resumed
operations, but production activities
are proceeding rather cautiously. Plym-
outh which with Chevrolet and Ford
make up the larger part of the low
price production field, has been an ex-
ceptlon. but this generally has been at
trlbuted to the fact that 1t recently
introduced a new model.
With no new models for presentation
at this time. Bucks production during
August totaled 1928 cars, Compared
with 10000 during the like month a
year ago. It is pointed out that a
year ago the heavy production schedule
renected liberal sales Of new models
introduced at that time. Buick, with
several others In the same price bracket
Is withholding its new models until
later in the year
Replacement Buying.
The Buick plant is nlannino IN cIos.
down few departments at a time
curing September for inventory. A
staggered plan OF suspension was
decided upon in preference to a COM
plete shutdown because Of employment
conditions
An idea of what the much talked
about delayed replacement buyinr'
may amount to when it finally is re-
leased is given in a statement by Alyan
Macauley president of the Packard
Motor Car Co., and head of the Nation-
al Automobile Chamber of Commerce,
In statement in which he urged that
unemployed dollars" be put to work"
that they might become the self
starter" for better business and great
er prosperity" he said:
Hundreds Of thousands have run
their old cars a year or two longer
than usual. Many of these thousands
now hesitate to buy new cars for fear
of being charged with Haunting their
own prosperity or because of what
others in business associations may
think.
I'm our own clientele (the higher
price field we know that In 1880 some
10 per cent Of those who should have
bought replacement Packards did not