The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-12-31

totaling more than $4,000 100000.
The converted passenger car and
body manufacturers turned out an
estimated $8,840 100000 worth OF
aircraft, tanks, military vehicles,
guns, shells, marine equipment and
parts during the II months ended
today according to the Automotive
Council for War Production.
This record output represents a
100 per cent increase over value Of
the industry's production of civilian
goods in 1941, its peak peacetime
year, and nearly double its arma-
ment volume during 1912.
The industry swings into 1914
with production schedules shifting
continually to keep abreast of battle
front strategy, necessitating lay-oft
of some workers, transfer OF others
to plants building newer types OF
arms and equipment. However, as
yet no cancellations or cutbacks OF
contracts have retarded the upward
trend of the industry's productivity.
Plan Quick ChangeOver
The new year also finds the In
dustry's top-fight designers and en-
gineers perfecting plans and blue
prints for a quick changeover to
automobile production, once the
need for large-scale manufacture
of armament diminshes. The in
dustry believes it can build cars
again within 80 days after it re-
ceives a go-ahead from the govern
ment, provided effective machinery
is established for termination OF
war contracts.
The induStry's number one OBJ
jective today still is production for
war.
Although the industry is prcduc-
ing at a record rate, Alyan Mac
auley, president of the council, as
serted "there is no thought of coast
ing to an easy finish or resting on
laurels already gained"
when the industry was asked to
produce one-sixth OF the nations
armament total,' he said, "the task
appeared to be appalling. But the
application of sound engineering
and business practices to it soon
dispelled the chaos Of the first
weeks, and laid solid basis for the
tremendous industry-wide effort
which was to follow"
Credits Sub Contracting
Macauley credited the industry's
continuous flow production tech
niques and b-contracting of war
orders among small producers in
1875 cities and Al states for its
achievement on the production
front.
This extension OF the assembly
line into 1875 cities, far from the
final points of assembly" he said,
has made possible the full utiliza-
ton Of the industry's manpower,
and factory capacity as no other
method could have done
This cooperative effort, he added,
has enabled aircraft production to
climb II times the pre-Pearl HSrbor
rate, the output of guns to increase
ten-fold, the production Of tanks to
reach eight times the rate prior to
dec. Z. 1891. Macauley SalQ SUD-
stantial increases also have been
noted in output of other war prod
ucts.
The industry has filled $780,
100000 worth of orders remaining.
so per cent of them are contracts
for aircraft, arplane engines, pro-
pellers and aircraft parts. The re-
mainder is divided among military
vehicles, tanks, ammunition, artil-
lery, marine equipment, small arms
and miscellaneous items.
A total OF $4,000 wage earners
was employed by the former pas
senger car and body makers dur
ing the month Of December. Addi-
tional thousands were employed by
former automotive parts suppliers
now engaged in war production.