Evening star., 1935-02-10
BY FRANK J. CARMODY,

IL is q revolution III dutOmODll(
manufacturing operations that i,
called for under the terms of the re.
vised N. r. A. code of fair competi-
ton, which became effective February
!. The industry now must discard
practices which it has followed fol
more than three decades and its mil
lions OF patrons are called upon tc
change habits which they have fol-
lowed without variation since they
became interested in automobiles.
In the interest of spreading motor
vehicle production over more months
Of the year, "regularizing employment
is the technical term for 1t, the prac-
tice Of introducing new models around
January is abandoned in favor Of a
schedule which calls for debut sea-
son starting October /. This revision,
worked out by the administration and
the Automobile Manufacturers Asso-
citation, Is counted upon to distribute
employment over a period OF eight
months instead of seeing 1t concen-
trated in the first five months of the
year.
Shutdown Better Timed.
This schedule will bring the indus
try's shutdown for retooling prior to
new model manufacture into the late
Summer instead of the early Winter,
timing it much more advantageously
from the standpoint of the employe
who temporarily is out OF Job Tne
factory worker, therefore, will nave
not only longer and more steady en-
nj
more wisely timed from the stand
point of his ability to Withstand 1t.
The new program will become ef-
fective at once Factory executives
already are at work upon the mani
fold details of the readjustment. The
majority of them are planning to
offer their 1886 lines around the
first of October although the sched-
ule does give so days of latitude with
respect to this date.
Along with other large cities OF the
country, Washington will surrender
its traditional January automobile
show in favor of display held in
the early Autumn, perhaps in Oc-
tober.
Adjustment to the circumstance,
however, will be far easier than a
change away from the habit OF buy
ing new cars during the five-month
period from March through July.
The industrys study of this phase
of its operations shows that as much
as IS per cent of its buying volume
has been concentrated in this in
terval. Washington has been no ex-
ception to the national average.
The motor manufacturers are en-
barking hopefully upon their program
of altering buying habits. They
believe that with all new models in
troduced in the early Fall they will
be enabled to make a strong enough
sales plea, to modify the firmly es-
tablished custom.
Stature of Task Known.
Nor is this assumption merely a
matter of wishful thinking on the
part of the motor industry Its lead
ers are thoroughly aware of the pro-
portions of the task they have as
sumed. In their exhaustive report
on the subject they pointed out that
past concentration Of manufacturing
operations during the first five months
of the year was hardly due to factors
within their control. 1T is due SIM
ply to the fact that people want
automobiles more in those months
than at other times" the report
stated the situation terSely.
In order to be, ready with their 1896
cars by october this year, next month
will find the industry busy with new
designs. 1t will be the first time the
factories ever have tackled the double
task of advance planning and forcing
peak production at one time.
The various steps in the cycle OF
introducing new line are thus de-
scribed in the report of the Automo-
bile Manufa cturers' Association:
The first is the engineering step
during which the styling and design
are developed. The approval of the
styling and design completes the first
step and paves the way for all subse-
quent steps. Upon approval of the
design, the manufacturing division
must arrange for the new tools, dies,
patterns and other equipment required
and have them ready for producing
cars at the proper time.
"Production of a new model must
proceed slowly at first, as it is neces-
sary to perfect all the dies, tools, fix
lures, ETC., and to adjust the men to
their work so as to insure satisfactory
quality Of the product. Before the
new model is offered for sale to the
public, enough cars must be manu-
featured to provide dealers with an
adequate line for display and also to
enable them to begin making deliver
les to customers promptly after the
public announcement has been made.
From this point on, production Is
carried forward at the rate required
by forecasts of retail sales and must
be regulated to give effect to such
changes as may be made in these fore
casts. In addition to the adjustments
of production required by changes in
the overall rate of retail demand,
shifting preference for various body
types, colors, etc. neceSsitateS other
adjustments in order to supply dealers
with the particular kinds of cars
which they can sell at the times they
need them"
So1A JAll6 OuG olA3o PiO6i ohA AVA AoSN
at the same time that it is trying to
meet the heaviest demand for new
cars since 1880 promises the industry
the busiest Spring it has had in years.
X X
Motor interests of all kinds, includ-
ing car manufacturers, petroleum re-
fineries and distributors of their
products as well as user organizations,
heard with disquiet during the past
week of reports Of efforts to increase
Federal automobile excise and gaso-
line tax levies. Although having small
hope for the repeal of these miscel-
laneous taxes, leaders of the various
motoring groups have felt confident
that no increases would be voted at
the current session Of Congress.
Battle lines already are laid to re-
sist to the utmost any effort to in
crease the Federal motor tax burden
which aggregated $257, 100000 during