Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
THE automobile industry has

|HE automobile industry has
felt its part of the so-called
business recession, but in no
L way admits anything that
could be called a depression. AS
matter OF TACT, a feeling of optimism
does prevail, although not as much as
many would desire.
On the whole, however. the automo-
tive picture is rather encouraging and
manufacturing leaders in general are
of the belief that sales are moving
ahead and will continue that way.
Automobiles now are considered
necessity, and with the present. day
great values America can never cease
to be motor minded.
The above statements are pretty we'll
substantiated in survey made by the
North American Newspaper Alliance.
This cleaning of the industry news in
general is as follows:
The men who build and sell auto
mobiles have shed within the last
week some of the frowns they were
wearing early in November.
First, in contrast to the attendance
at the New York opener, crowds have
turned out in huge numbers at the
shows held in the last two weeks. In
Detroit, l4l,l $50 visited Convention
Hall during the seven-day display
This was only 1909 under the record
IN 1885, when the show operated eight
days, including Sunday. The Chicago
show set new all-time record Of 345,-
900, compared with previous high Of
$4,000 last year.
Second, neW-car buying has been
revived. The stalemate which over
took sales late in September appears
to have been broken. At any rate,
buyers are putting their names on
the dotted line in greater numbers
than at any other time in the last
three months. The hesitancy that was
shown earlier, in the face of price in
creaSes, shows signs of abating.
The manufacturers are still keeping
cautious eye on buying trends. There
Is much speculation whether the low
priced field may not weather price in
brackets. Some significance is seen in
the fact that cars selling for less than
$3.50 gained 7l8 per cent in the Sep
TENDER registrations at the expense of
other price groups.
The likelihood that November pro.
duction will surpass last years figure
has not been enhanced, however. by
the Improvement in sales. Dealers have
been well supplied by factory ship.
ments in the last six weeks. For many
of the manufacturers, four-day opera
lions each week will suffice to care fol-
additional dealer needs between now
and January l.
Current discussion in motor circle.
in Detroit centers largely in the failure
of the New York show this year to pro.
vide much-needed spark to ignite
automobile sales throughout the coun
try. Opposition to autumn dates fo
the New York show has been revived.
The chances that the New Yorl
show will be returned to the old Janu
ary dates may be discounted. TIL,
trying to get the Nations major SHOW
out of the way before Armistice Da,
the manufacturers suffered. Predic
tons are made that the 1888 show will
not open before November Is.
The Automotive Daily News, a trade
publication out of Detroit, takes thi!
point of view.
With production last week reachin,
total of $4,000 to $4,000 units, onl,
a small part of it contributed by Fort
Motor Co., it is apparent that tn
much mooted depression" has no
made itself manifest in minds of auto
motive executives. True, a slowing o
production may be expected during De
cember, since dealer sampling will thel
be complete and output will be gearet
to current demand.
There can be little question tina
these are times to look facts in tn,
face. Pollyannas have no place in tn,
picture but, on the other hand gloom
sters should be equally taboo Too Otter
when we say We will look facts in tn,
face we force ourselves to see only tin
adverse facts which become distorted
and narrowing when set apart withou
the softening background of fayorabl,
factors.
Retail sales reports of new passen