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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 1913)
THE SUXDAT OKEGOXIAX. rOKILASU, 1-EBKUAKY WIS. V V AUTOISTS BLAMED FOR COST OF FUEL Clement Studebaker Declares Motorists Owe Big Debt to Oil Companies. ' TRADE BALANCE DISPLACED Sales of Gasoline, Formerly By Product, Said toExceed Amount of Direct Product, Forcing . Readjustment of Prices. That tbe cost of gasoline rests, to a great extent, on each individual motor ist, and that motoring in general is under a deep obligation to the big oil companies, is - asserted by Clement Ftudebaker, Jr., first vice-president of the Studebaker corporation. "I have recently noted several art! cles quoting automobile manufacturers and others as deprecating the recent in creases in the price of gasoline," said Mr. Studebaker. Some have even pro fessed to see, in the advance, a men' ace-to automobile popularity and Indus try. As a matter of fact, the differ ence amounts to but a fraction of t cent for each mile-per car and should hot, in a season's running of 6000 miles. exceed a total of $25. "On the other hand, it Is high time that motordom should consider the debt it owes the big oil companies. without whose magnificent organiza tion motoring would never have achieved Its present popularity. "Before the internal - combustion motor, gasoline was virtually a by product, on sale at central stations for perhaps 10 cents a gallon, rne cost oi delivery fell on the buyer and often amounted to more than this figure. The oil companies were glad to sell the gasoline at almost any price, for this enabled them to manufacture at a profit greater quantities of oils, greases and lubricants. While this condition prevailed, the buyers of the staples paid a large share of the motor, lst's fuel bill. Tables Are Turned. "But gasoline motor cars multiplied and eventually the demand for fuel equaled that for the other products. A year or so ago. the old balance was reversed. Now the demand for gasoline greatly exceeds that for the staple oils and greases. And, in place of the old method of distribution, the oil compa riles have established a system which rovers the entire country, bringing to the door of each garage a refined prod net which has often traveled thousands of miles. When one considers the cost of drilling, pumping, transportation, re fining and delivering, he must admit that there Is no manufactured product sold as cheaply as gasoline. Even at Its present price, it costs the consumer less than an equal quantity oi most brands of spring water. "When the demand for gasoline came to exceed that for the other crude-oil products, the manufacturers faced dilemma. They could not produce gaso line and throw away the other prod ucts: such a process would have made the fuel prohibitive In cost. To ad vance the price of gasoline and to lower the price of the other products was the only available means of re gaining the balance. So now we pay more for gasoline and less for oils and greases. "As a matter of fact." Mr. Stude baker continued, "we have all wasted gasoline; it has been so cheap. A lit tle economy will hurt none or us. Owners Are Blamed. "Automobile manufacturers have built wasteful cars cars with motors much larger than necessity demanded; cars that lacked efficiency. But the manu facturer is seeing the light. The re cent New York show emphasized a new tendency a tendency toward motors that yield more in miles to the gallon. But these cars will fall to save gaso line unless their owners do their part. "Just as a wasteful car raises the cost of gasoline, so every motorist who fail, to make his car erricieni manes fuel cost more. Owners of automobiles owe It to each other to start a united effort, keeping track of gallon-miles, watching carburetlon. learning- the art of controlling a car more by the clutch and less by the brakes. A campaign along this line will save enough gaso line to more than balance the recent increase in cost. "Our office files contain hundreds of lotters from tourists whose cars have averaaed from 15 to 26 miles a gallon on ordinary country roads, and a car should yield at least 10 miles a gallon in city traffic, where there are many more starts and stops. If motorists iirilh- would recard these averages as standard, and would strive to exceed them, the condition would oe lmrae dtatelv relieved. "The cost of gasoline will advance no further than the necessities of the oil companies" production require. These necessities are. to a large degree, in the hands of motorists themselves.'' FOlTt - CYLI.VDEK CAB GOES Automobile Men Xovr Making Six- Gauge Machine. i In looking over the 1913 automobile catalogues one Is greatly impressed with the almost wholesale aoanaon merit of the four-cylinder car in favor of the six by nearly all tne nign-graae automobile manufacturers. The cause of this remarkable move ment is due to two important facts virt- the unceasing demand of the discriminating motorist for a car of greater flexibility, power ana luxury and. second, the inability of most man- iifur-tnrers to supply mese cemana with the existing types of four-cylin der motor. Th Increase of wheelbase. heavy tor nein bodv stvles. f ull-floating axles. heavier frames, electric lighting and starting systems and very complete touring equipment which are required in the high-grade cars of today, have added seriously Jto their weight, with a consequently greatly increased de mand upon the engine's flexibility and power. The conventional type of four-cylinder motor as built by most manufac turers has become absolutely unequal to the task and has therefore been forcibly discarded in favor of the six for this purpose There are a few four-cylinder motors, however, which by reason of their special design are , extremely flexible and efficient, and have therefore been able to hold their own with the six cylinder cars of the same class, in spite of these severe conditions. Such a type of motor is that made by tbe Knox Automobile Company, of Spring field. Mass., who are still building a high-grade iour-cylinder car in addi tion to their two six-cylinder models. There are still a large number of motorists who prefer a good four-cylinder motor to a six. provided they can secure the power, flexibility and com fort necessary for satisfactory service. and the ability of the Knox four-cyl-i j n mt those ron- IIIUCl IVUlUlftT-a -- ... dltions satisfactorily Is making It a popular seller witn agents ana cus tomers alike, proving that the policy a . ( ..-lU.ln- a Mai nf u i me cufflpany 1 n wuv.uu.n-, this type was wise under the circumstances. BCICK MAXAGEK OPTIMISTIC Mel Johnson Confident Auto Busi ness Here Is Due lor Boom. There is nothing the matter with the automobile business in Oregon, and from business indications, pros pects of the greatest year in tne nis- tory of the state lor tne saie oi uw mobiles are most encouraging, said tei n Johnson, manasrer of the How ard Automobile Company, after having entertained three of his out-of-town agents last week. Otto J. Wilson, or eaiem, visneu Bulck headquarters and ordered three carloads, containing 12 Buicks, to be .kinnoi m Kulem at the earliest possi ble moment. Mr. Wilson has already had two carloads this season. He has the enviable reputation of having sold 46 Buicks in Salem last season, and claims that during the season of 1913 he will be able to dispose of no less than 75 Buicks In Marion and Polk counties. Ferd Hartrampr or MlllSDoro. duiu agent for Washington county, also among the guests of Mr. Johnson. Hartrampf is most optimistic as to the prospects in his territory and placed an order for a "30" Bulck roadster and "40" Buick touring car tor iwu his customers. Charles R. Segulne. buick agent Malheur Company, residing at On tario, also spent part of the week at the local establishment, ana orms roost flattering reports of prospects from his territory. Motor Truck Effects Great Saying in Expense Experiment Made In Artsona Is Kot ably Sacresafal. I"ECENTJjY an Arizona copper tum K pany Installed, as an experiment a six and one-half-ton motor truck. The car has been operated between Tucca and Copperville, Ariz., a haul of 27 miles, and a careful observation was kept of Its performances. The results far exceeded expects Hons, the cost a ton for the haul being reduced from J15 to less than S5. Nu merous deen sand washes must be crossed, and seven- miles oi graae irom 10 to 18 degrees must be negotiatea, but the truck has proved Itself equal to the occasion. The following operating iigures inui- eate the cost of each trip: Gasoline. 18 gallons at SOe 5.TO Oil. 5 quarts, at -;v com. . ' rcttntr. win. k-- C ftn Tbrluor 1 T. I1&VI - -.- -C....I vl.thla Tinfl6 ............ .$12.81 - . . . . i m t a a .- cent mi-re" on - - - - - , . and Insurance for 1.5 days . m nor Mint. .. W Ueprecinuuu a- 2 a'K Repairs . . Hn fnF unlcften and Avenisfl p -' ' - S"2 6S expense . r Co.t a ton a trip iI'no Former cost a ton.. "" Showlne a taving ot lt.o The saving to the company on each trip over that of the wagon haul Is is? 5 with the completion of the company's new mill, permitting haul age from the mill to the railroad, the truck will show a much greater econ omy, as practically all the transporting will be on a descenaing grauc. AUTO CHUG CHUGS CRITICAL examination oi late models shows the trend of motor car designing and discloses the tend- toward the f llowlng: Kix-pvlinder motors, complete equip ment full electric equipment, ions; stroke, block-cast motors, demountable rims, longer wheelbase, longer springs. i.ri-nr tires, counter control ana icit hnt.ii flrive. deeDer upholstery, clear running boards, three-quarter elliptic springs, cowl aasnooarus, tuwi tanks, dirtproor construction, im proved lubrication systems, quietness of mechanism, "silent" chains lor cam shaft drives, magneto worm driven ana nickel trimmings. m m m irnteiHs.1 nroarress was made during 1912 in the production of the electric automobile. The output reached iu. 000, including both passenger and commercial vehicles, divided In 6000 pleasure cars and 4000 trucks. It is expected that the production will be doubled this year. Mel Johnson, rotund and carefree manager of the Howard Automobile r-nmnnnv himn't the slightest anxiety over the fact that 10 feet soon will be shaved from the building his firm now occupies. Manager Johnson neciares there are several buildings now rented by automobile dealers that can be leased ad vantaceously. Although the city is cutting off 10 feet from the tnrn.stnrv utructure. tne owner reiusea to reduce the rent proportionately, and Manager Mel is casting his eye about for a suitable location. Commercial car salesmen are going to have further competition. The In ternational Harvester Company has es. tnhllshed a retail autamoblle depart ment here and soon a force will be out fter the business of local merchants. Economy of maintenance and simplici- iv of operation are points aavancea for the high-wheeled Harvester by George W. Cruzen, who thinks Port land business men win lane to tire .in ternatinnal product when they learn what a really good piece of machinery it is. v. VL arlinrer. of the Gerllnger Motor Car Company, left last week for the East. He will attend tne unicago show and the several manufacturers he represents before returning to Port land. Rebuilt cars will be an Important factor In the automobile business here in a short time. Already tbe larger companies have established rebuilt car departments. Neate 4k Mc-arty, .Lo comobile and Cole distributors, were imoni the first to do this. Their sec ond-hand car business is under the management of R. G. Hunter, whose experience in the automobile business has been varied ana long, nunier lleves he has several points of advan tage over his competitors and has proven his ability by going out and selling the rebuilt stuff. - There Is a buzz of exoitement in au tomoblle racing circles In the East the rumor being current that Ray Har- roun, who won the first annual 600 mile International sweepstakes with a Marmonr is superintending the con structlon of another "Yellow Jacket which will be entered In the five cen tury classic If Harroun comes out with another Marmon "Wasp" the star pilots had better look to their laurels. The American Automobile Assocla tion has found one firm supporter in th ranks of the manufacturers. He is George M. Dickson, general manager of the contest board of tbe three A s, and declares that any attempt to or ganize Insurgent associations will re sult in dismal failure. That may be, but there are several wideawake auto mobile men in Southern California who are willing to attempt it - P. 3. F. ,Ded, OF THE MAXWE Foley on LL MOTOR GO. A (INCORPORATED) To the Automobile-Buying Public: ! THE MAXWELL MOTOR COMPANY has acquired by purchase and free from debt the assets of the late United States Motor Company, consisting of the following plants equipped for the manufacture of automobiles and automobile parts and accessories. - T tr xt n new. THE MAXWELL-BRISCOE PLANTS at Auburn; Maxwell-Briscoe plants at Tarrytown, N. Y;; MaxweU-Bnsco plants at Newcastle; Brush Manufacturing Company's plants at Detroit; Alden-Sampson Company, Detroit; STODDARD-DAYTON COMPANY'S PLANT at Dayton. Ohio; the Briscoe Manufacturing Company, Detroit? THE COLUMBIA MOTOR COMPANY at Hartford, Conn., and twenty-four branch houses established in yanous cities throughout the country. rALSO THE ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS of the Flanders Motor Company of Detrpit. THIS AMALGAMATION IS AS IMPORTANT as any yet consummated in the automobile industry. The Max well Motor Company, as now constituted, starts with clean slate, a cash working capital of three million dollars no bonded debts, no mortgages, plants free and clear, and with assets, facilities-and personnel equal to any. other . similar organization. The Maxwell Motor Company i s now prepared for business. . WE STAND ON THE THRESHOLD OF TOMORROW and have no interest in the past save to give service td ' owners of cars manufactured by the plants we have acquired. That responsibility is established and assumed for all time. Our business now is the manufacture, the distribution and the development of popular types of motor, cars requisite to supply the universal demand. , . - , rr mi CIVILIZATION REQUIRES an efficient, durable, low-price'd vehicle for its transportation and its pleasure. It will be the policy of the Maxwell Motor Company to meet these requirements even to the minutest detail. We have the experience, the ingenuity, .the capital and the equipment to achieve these results, and we pledge ourselves 'their accomplishment. ' - - , . 1 . a 1 SO MUCH IN BRIEF to the public, all of which has for its direct object the establishment of an absolutely flawless Organization throughout the United States. To the Dealers Selling Maxwell and Flanders: THIS CLAUSE IN OUR DECLARATION is as vital as State rights and must have equity for its basis. SEVERAL HUNDRED MAXWELL DEALERS have applied to handle the complete line of mclor cars manufactured by the Maxwell Motor Company, the sixes and fours. To these dealers we say in the open territory it is our intention to have the full line of cars handled by one dealer. PRESENT MAXWELL AND FLANDERS DEALERS will be given consideration and an opportunity to handle the new line of cars manufactured by the newly organized Maxwell Motor Company, providing that a readjustment of territory and other conditions can be brought about Here are three illustrations: FIRST IN TOLEDO the dealer who is selling Flanders cars and the dealer who is selling Maxwell cars combined their interests and thus acquired the sale of the complete line. In other instances the same arrangement between Maxwell and Flanders dealers in the same town has been effected with gratifying results and mutual benefit. SECOND IN DETROIT, where the Maxwell Motor Company, had acquired a branch house, we turned over to the Flanders dealer all the good will and the business being done by the branch house. Thus this dealer acquired the right to sell the complete line of cars and a profitable and extensive repair parts business. THIRD WE ARE READY to make similar arrangements with' either Maxwell or Flanders dealers so that they may acquire; these rights and privileges in connection with the complete line in many other important cities throughout the United States, wherever the United Motor Co. formerly, operated Branch Houses. TO FURTHER OBVIATE CONFUSION and insure a proper readjustment of the territory of Maxwell and Flanders dealers so that each may enjoy the full benefits through the sal of our complete line of motor cars, each individual dealer should address himself to the manager in charge of sales of the Maxwell Motor Co. in his individual district. These sales managers are located In the following cities: RALPH COBURN, BOSTON DISTRICT; P. J. Pollock, Chicago District; C G. Jackson, St. Louis District; O. W. Klose, Minneapolis District; C. S. Wright, Kansas City District; J. W. Shelor, Dallas, Texas, District; J. M. Opper, Omaha, Neb., District; Branch House, Atlanta, Ga., District; C F. Redden, New York District; EI G. Oliver, Philadelphia Dis trict; A. Burwell, Jr., Charlotte, N. C, District; E. M. Green, Pittsburgh District; F. B. Willis, Indianapolis, Ind., District; Chas. Booth. Memphis, Tenn.. District; D. S. Eddins. Denver, Colo., District ; C. B. Newby, San Francisco District ; J. S. Con well, Southern California District; L. H. Rose, Portland, Ore gon, District; C. F. Stewart, Des Moines, Iowa,District. THESE DISTRICT SALES MANAGERS "have been selecteS from the former Maxwell-Briscoe Motor, organization and, from the Flanders Motor organization. To the Present Owners of Maxwell, Stoddard, Everitt and Brush Cars; WE NOW ADDRESS OURSELVES to the more than one hundred thousand owners of Stoddard-Daytons, Brushes, Everitts, Columbias, Sampsons and Maxwells now" in use. While not legally obligated, the Maxwell Motor Company does recognize the moral obligation to every owner of a car made by the above-mentioned concerns, all of whose plants we have acquired. A COMPLETE FACTORY representing an investment of more than one million dollars in buildings, machinery, jigs, tools and fixtures, located in Newcastle, Indiana, the center of population of the United States and the center of ownership of these hundred thousand cars, has been set ' aside for the purpose of manufacturing and supplying the repair parts necessary to cater to owners. To the Prospective Buyers of Our New Models; IN ADDITION TO THIS central manufacturing repair parti factory, service depots, all of which will carry a complete; line of repair parts, have been established In the following cities: Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, Omaha, Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, Charlotte, N. C, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Memphis, Denver, San Fran cisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon. These service depots will be operated under the supervision of the district sale managers of the foregoing cities. REGULARM APPOINTED DEALERS of tha new Maiwefl Motor OtTJany will have the preference on the repair parts business "of the earlier model Maxwell motor cars. Ther system will be comprehensive, the deliveries Immediate, and any order can be filled. All dealers throughout the United, States, therefore, can secure repair parts from tbesp service stations or from Newcastle, Indiana, direct. WITH A CAPACITY OF FIFTY THOUSAND CARS per annum, we are in a position to supply the buying public with the four, types of motor cars now in general use : MAXWELL SIX Model 50 (Seven Passenger Touring -. Car, $8,850), (heretofore. Flanders Model). MAXWELL SIX Model 40 (Five Passenger Touring Car, $1,550), (heretofore Flanders Model). MAXWELL Model 35 (Four Cylinder Five Passenger Touring Car, $1,085). MAXWELL Model 25 (Four Cylinder Five Passenger Touring Car. Price to be announced). THIS QUARTET WILL ENABLE THE BUYER to select from a range of from five to seven passengers, and from four The Question of Immediate Delivery; na tot PAST CUSTOMERS HAVE SUFFERED from misrepresentation on the part of manufacturer as to delivery dates, and dealers have been pot TtfsTicoiiScS and InS embarrassment because of condition, beyond the control of manufacturers. THEREFORE, WEtTtK to Customer and dealer alike that deliveries cannot be made on the Models 86 (four eyLnder) and Models 40 x crbn. der) until March. 19 on Models 85 (four cylinder), June, 1913. tots i la tjtitc to THE FACT that the bur Dayton plant will not begin shipment on the first lot of five thousand cars until March 15th, and the plant TO.t DetoJ eitf ttafim tefof five thousand Model Mayth. Deliveries on Maxwell Mbdel 50 (six cybnder) can be made at once, a. th Flanders plant .at Detroit is operating on full time. - to six cylinders, and from 25 to 60 horsepower, SnrpleteTy; equipped in each case with top, wind-shield, speedometers,i lamps and horn. The sixes are electrically self-started and1 lighted. IN RESPONSE TO PRESENT DEMANDS for the season o8 1913 we are manufacturing the regular Maxwell Model 23 (a three-passenger roadster) the regular Maxwell Model 40? '(a five-passenger touring car) and the popular . Stoddard- Dayton Models 30, 38 and 48. THE MODEL 48 STODDARD will be equipped with electric? self-starter and electric lights, Gray and Davis System, for, $200.00 extra. DELIVERIES on all of these Maxwell and Swddard Models, can, be made at once. . Executive Officer. Board of Directors WALTER E. FLANDERS - President RvRRONNER W CATCHINGS "KSg&r " . - . VlCiZ"no EUGENE MEYERT!?. 3far FCSTKK - -Veroa! -asc, WM. K. POTTER WALTER E. FLANDERS THE MAXWELL MOTOR COMPANY General Executive Offices Woodward Avenue, Corner Warren, Detroit, Michigan, U S, A