Evening star., 1934-07-15
CHANGE IN MOTOR
SHOWS S|SPEND|NG
Placing of Exhibits in Hands
of Dealers Is Due for
Early Decision.

DETROIT. July IA CNANA)-l
Negotiations looking toward trans
ference of the annual New York and
Chicago automobile shows from ma
tional to regional control, with spon-
sorShip by dealers. were begun here
this week. A joint meeting of the
National Automobile Chamber Of
Commerce Executive Committee and
the Board of Directors was held at
which proposals were submitted by
the dealer group.
In answer, the N. A. C. c. sub
mitted other proposals which are to
be the basis of further discussion. Ac
cording to Alfred Reeves. vice presi
dent OF the N. A. C. c.. the negoti-
atoms are approaching completion
and the result should be known with
in a week.
The national or regional show ques-
ton is agitating the sales divisions of
the motor companies. In this con-
nection. it is significant to note that
General Motors has Cancelled its usual
show-time arrangement whereby COM
hotels without charge to the public,
but in competition with the national
shows in New York and Chicago,
where all makes we're represented and
admission was charged.
Ford Changes Viewpoint.
The independent shows which last
year were put on by the Ford Co,
following. but not coincident with the
introduction of new models. have
changed the show viewpoint of the
magnates, as have the Chicago Worlds
Fair displays on which Ford, General
Motors and Chrysler have spent mil
lions in promotion investment.
All of these factors will be taken
into account and argued out before
cohesive action on the part of the in
duStry for 1885 can be decided.
Automobile manufacturing has COM
pleted it's initial period of real oper-
alton under N. r. A. control For the
production side, the period--begin-
ming September laSt-has been close
to 10 full months. On the distribu-
ton side, it has been one month less
Retail code control became effective
October 3. 1893.
This period saw the industry go
through four months of preparation
and introduction of yearly models as
a first stage, and subsequent half
year in which the new cars were
marketed.
Production Shows Decrease.
Both manufacturing and distribu-
ton we're carried under abnormal
conditions which allowed strikes and
labor negotiations to handicap pro-
duction and delivery of cars at times
when there was urgent demand for
them In spite OF the difficulties which
made working conditions irregular,
the factories produced 1902, ,442 cars
and trucks, which was a rs per cent
better showing than for the like
period of 1888. This was the extreme
low" of the slump and the volume
went down to few thousands more
than 1000, 900 units.
Forecasts covering the current half
year point toward production activity
that should result in a total for all
plants exceeding 1000 900 units This
should make possible total for the
year that will approximate 100000
units and represent the best II
months that the plants have expert
enced since 1890.
From now until the end of the year
the factory magnates are faced by less
difficult conditions, which nevertheless
may change the entire front for 1885.
The progressive trend toward top
value in the lower priced divisions is
forcing builders of the higher-p priced
models into position where they
have to revamp in order to compete.
Changes in the factory set-ups neces-
STATED thereby are to be costly. be-
cause body design is undergoing radi-
cal development toward the extreme
Of Streamlining.
Futuristic Models Considered.
No factory of any size nowadays is
without its experimental division, in
which half dozen or more futuristic
models are in development for pos
sible adoption. The engineers are
using research to try to find out the
advantages that rear-engine cars may
offer, while other technicians are en-
deavoring to improve front-end mount
ing against a day when the two may
oppose each other for public prefer
ence.
To induce people to pay higher
prices for a new appeal. several parts
builders are peddling adaptations of
the European fluid fly wheel transmits
sion to the automobile factories.
Knee" wheels as yet are in form
ative stage i'll this country. Numer-
Gus European jobs have all four
wheels independently sprung. instead
of two as in current models here
This trend is almost certain to be
followed up on this side
For commercial hauling, the Diesel
power plants, because of their low
priced operating costs, will continue
to advance in usage. Their inherent
faults of slow gear changing are being
corrected by the development of fuel
injection pumps and other means of
adding speed f1exibility. This process
is akin to the problem that makers of
oil-burning furnaces for homes had
to cope with in making such devices
fO0l-nr0Of and Work hlo