Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (July 11, 1920)
3 AUTO FOR PORTLAND MOTOR CAR COMPANY NOW IN ENLARGED QUARTERS. STRESS PERIOD a i m ii MMmMTTSiitsT naji WW nr THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JULY 11, 1920 iUSTRi DUE Drastic Curtailment Come in Output. Must TRANSPORTATION IS CAUSE financial Difficulties Do Not Hin der Production and Material Is Plentiful. DETROIT, July 10. Unless all signs fall, the automotive Industry will in a few weeks find itself in the situation that governed In the height of the switchmen's strike, as a result of the order of the interstate com merce commission practically barring the use of all coal cars for iron and steel shipments during the next three weeks. If transportation conditions do not improve, drastic curtailment of output must follow. Reports of enforced curtailment of production by automobile plants, due to financial causes, are absolutely without foundation. A summary of the situation in Detroit proves that the different plants are operating to the fullest extent permitted by sup plies of materials. Local automobile makers are insisting that the steel plants ship all the material they have contracted for. J. S. Marvin, general traffic mana ger of the National Automobile Cham ber of Commerce, reached Detroit this week from Washington, where he spent two days in conferences with officials of the American Railroad Association commission on car ser vice and interstate commerce com mission on plans to relieve shipping conditions confronting motor car makers. Auto Cars Are "Swiped." "The difficulty is," said Mr. Mar vin, 'that cars designed to handle automobiles are being used by rail roads throughout the country for all kinds of freight in open violation of the rules promulgated by the car ser vice commission to keep the cars rea sonably within automobile service. As a result the industry had only 2S per cent automobile car supply in May and had to use open cars which are now restricted to coal and farm ing machinery. In the same month 75.0no machines were driven overland because there were no freight cars of any type available. This deprived the railroads of J3. 000, 000 in revenue, which they very much need. Washington officials have relieved the situation as to ex port and motor truck shipments on open cars of the non-carloading types and renewed efforts are to be made toward regaining control of automo bile cars in which railroads in this territory have many millions invested; they are losing all this revenue, while other railroads are using the cars." Mr. Marvin says that railroads have been able to make no prepara tions for grain movement and that coal for the northwest had reached Lake Erie ports to the extent of 2.500.000 tons June 15, whereas 6.500, 000 tons would have been a normal proportion of nearly 30,000,000 tons required during the season of naviga tion. Another Ford Rumor, Something of a stir spread through automotive circles the past week when a consistent report had it that Henry Ford was about to take over the immense shipyards of the Great Lakes Engineering Works, which have been offered for sale. Officials of both companies deny that that there have been any nego tiations leading to the transfer of the yards to the Ford interests, but the rumor continues to receive cre dence. Those who have been follow ing the expansion work of the Ford Motor company closely say it was Mr. Ford himself who declared at the time he mapped out his plans for his now industries in the River Rogue district that his aim was to own or operate some day every kind of plant necessary to the construction of Ford ca rs. "1 hope the day will come when the Ford Motor company will have its own mines, its own ships, its own tire plant, its own blast furnaces in fact everything that will help bring down the cost of manufacturing cars." he said. "When the time comes it is like ly that it will be possible to market a motor car at a price never dreamed of before." It is pointed out that the Ford blast furnaces in the Rouge district are partially completed and in operation; the body plant in the same district will, It is said, soon be enlarged, s6 that nearly all Ford bodies will be made by the Ford company itself, and, although no official Information is forthcoming, it is understood that work in the tire plant is well under tray. Henry Owns Timber, Too. In addition to these steps. Mr. Ford recently purchased a controlling in terest in timber and mineral lands in the upper peninsula, so that it would be no great surprise if he acquires the Great Lakes shipyards, which are considered among the finest in the country and where his own ships could be built and so operate his own steampship company. Arguments in the application of River Rouge property owners for a stay of the order of Judge Tuttle, granting the government permission to continue dredging and improving River Rouge on the provision that the Ford Motor company deposit J2, 000. 000 to guarantee costs, were heard in the circuit court'of appeals this week. Attorneys for the Ford Motor company argued that the com pany had already spent $46,000,000 in anticipation of the improvements. The case was taken under considera tion for judgment. Certain property owners allege that the government work will benefit the Ford interests alone and damage their properties. Expected increases in the prices of certain units entering into the pro duction of automobiles and trucks during July. 1920. are not materializ ing. For the first time in two years the steel organizations are sending their salesmen to material sources in an effort to solicit orders. Nt Auto Traffic- Chief. The action of the government in prohibiting the use of open freight cars to haul sand and pig iron Is tem porarily forestalling the expected de crease In the price of all castings, but it is predicted that within the next month or two a number of reductions in the list prices of factory prodducts will be announced by some manufac turers. To further facilitate the handling of traffic matters affecting the auto mobile industry. Kenneth A. Moore, . formerly general agent of the New York Central lines, has been added to the staff of the national automobile chamber of commerce as assistant traffic manager in the western dis trict, -with headquarters at 1009 Ford building. Detroit. The national" automobile chamber 1HV?' ' V f&" Vjf Cll t . vm4I w 7,l,,,ii; i--''v..v.v..-....-.----...-.-.-- -Y-.- -WT"" ' ! y y -J 8 1 b-vsQz&3&-;-::. x.- , -t g&j X ' H I? .I-a ? Kiss I - - - , , y i? With completion of a laree addition and remodeling of its old quartern, the Portland Motor Car company, Packard and rVah distributor, now occupies a buildlns that covers an entire half block in Tenth atreet from Bumalde to Couch. 1 he chanse arives arcatly added apace to the salesroom, shown below, and has made possible much enlarged shop and service space. The shop, vthich is Completely equipped with modern machinery, is shown tn the upper photograph. of commerce has further developed its staff in the motor truck depart ment by adding Captain L. E. Gossett, a graduate from the motor transport corps of the United States army, to assist in the rural motor express di vision. The Ford Motor company produced its 4,000,000th car the second week in June. H. W. J. Russell, export manager of the Maxwell Motor Sales corpora tion, is on his way to Europe to visit Maxwell-Chalmers distributors. He goes first to London and then will cover Holland. Belgium and possibly Germany and Austria. NEW BUILDING FINISHED ADDITION' GIVES PACKARD AGENCY HALF BLOCK. Portland Motor Car Company Has Much Enlarged Show Room, SIiop and Parts Space. The new. addition to the Packard and Nash establishment, which houses the agencies for these lines of cars and trucks, is now occupied and the remodeling of the old portion of the building at Tenth and Burnside streets is completed. The finished building now covers an entire half block and is used by the Portland Motor Car com pany, Packard & Nash distribution, for sales and service for its lines. All on the ground floor, every de tail of the construction has made for convenience for both the firm and its employes and the el'entele it serves. In adciiHon to the cost of the new addition hich fronts on Couch street, the Portland Motor Car company has spent in the neighborhood of $10,000 in remodeling salesroom and general offices. The change gives more than, double space to the salesroom, which is now one of the best fitted in the city. The floor is even with the side walk level, which enables cars to be displayed to better advantage. A mar ble chip floor hai been Installed, the lighting fixtures changed and private offices erected for Manager Peters and his assistants. The space occupied. by the shop is now devoted to used cars and as a service floor, where owners may drive In their cars for attention The ad dition is given over to the shop and parts department. The additional space permits the company to carry a larger stock of parts than before, both for the Packard and Nash. DODGE CHANGES NOTED XEW DIRECTORS ASSUME CREASED BURDENS. IX- F. J. Hajnes Receives Recognition for Splendid Development Plant Achievements. Announcement has just been made of important changes in the person nel of Dodge Bros." home office organ ization." Long-established relation ships continue, with added responsi bilities for several who held the more important posts. H. E. Dodge himself remains at the head of the institution as president and treasurer and' member of the board of directors. The other two di rectors named are F. J. Haynes and Howard B. Bloomer. Mr. Haynes has been associated with Dodge Bros, for many years and was their factory manager when they first began build ing motor cars. It has been under his direct supervision that the great plants of Dodge Bros, have grown in a little over five years from about 20 acres of floor space to nearly J00 and have produced approximately 500,000 motor cars in that brief period. Ho is now appointed vice-president and general manager. Mr. Bloomer, the other director, has for many years been the close personal friend and legal counsel of both Horace E. and the late John F. Dodge. It was the latter's death, last January, that brought about these changes in Dodge Bros.' personnel. Other promotions include that of Arthur T. Waterfall, former 'director of traffic, to the position of assistant general manager. Mr. Waterfall has been prominently Identified with the affairs of Dodge Bros, for some time and is recognized as one of the lead ing authorities in America on trans portation problems. Preston G. Find lay has been appointed director of traffic and Raymond H. Allen director of purchases. Mr. Findley was for merly traffic manager, of the Michi gan Central railroad. Mr. Allen has long been one of the chief executives in the purchasing end of the business. Of especial interest to dealers throughout the country is the ap pointment of Charles W. Matheson as acting general sales manager. Mr. Matheson has been director of service almost since the time the first Dodge motor car was built and in this im portant capacity has encountered and solved some of the most perplexing problems of the business. With prac tically a half million of the cars now in the hands of the public, he begins his new duties with a full realization of the importance of keeping a car sold as well as merely selling it. It, has been announced by Mr, Dodge that t lie re will be no change in the policies of the company. CHEVROLET IS MUCH BETTER Brother of Gaston and Lewis Re covering From Smashup. Among the interested spectators at the Lniversal races held at Lnlon town. Pa., recently was Arthur Chev rolet. who is recovering from injuries received in, practice at Indianapolis when his speeding Frontenac side swiped Rene Thomas Ballot, which had thrown a tire. Arthur was thrown upon his face and chest, suffering severe bruises. At Uniontown he followed the driv ing of his brother Gaston, winner of the Indianapolis classic, with great interest and was deeply disappointed when engine trouble forced the green Monroe out on the 118th lap. HERFUL GAS RECORD OVERLAND 4 TRAVELS 10 6.4 MILES ON GALLON. Certainly Sounds Past Belief, but Affidavits of Observers Bear Out Claim to the Record. BAKERSFIELD, Cal., July 10. Henry S. Amon, automotive engineer of Los Angeles, established a gasoline economy record last week so far be yond the dreams of mo'.-ir car author ities that it is almost unbelievable. Driving a four-cylinder Overland touring car from Selma, just south of Fresno, Amon went eight miles past Bakersfield and then back again al most to Bakersfield, a distance of 106.4 miles, on a single gallon of gas oline. This breaks all world's records and although unofficial. Is supported by affidavits of newspaper and technical representatives. The test was made under super vision of Harry S. Mason, well-known Los Angeles technical expert, and Harry Unger, who tested the speed ometer used on the car and assisted Mason in officially checking in the car. The previous record for econ omy as unofficially recorded was 81 miles to the gallon, while the bett 100,000 Satisfied Owners Hudson's Greatest Proof W! 'E count all Hudson's famous records but a little thing beside the common trust and reliance of its 100.000 owners. Even new owners, who have but short actual acquaintance, share it. Not merely because they drive the greatest of all the Hudsons. Probably they do not think of that. More likely they bestow their faith on what they have seen of the earlier Super-Sixes. For they have five years of Hudson history and the observation of 100,000 Super-Sixes in service to vouch that their confidence is well placed. Such a test must earn a car the exact place it merits and leadership, if deserved. But equally it must expose any shortcomings if they exist. Yet today Hudson's position is even farther in advance, in relation to the rest of the field, than when it startled the world by winning all important stock-car records for speed, acceleration, hill-climbing and endurance, ndarly five years ago. C. L. Boss Automobile Co. 615-617 Washington Street official mark under A. A. A. sanction was 55 miles to the gallon. The test car left Fresno shortly af ternoon after having the gas tank sealed by Mayor Toomey of Fresno and was run on the main tank to Sci mo, from which point the test was made. At Selma the main tank was drained and entirely disconnected. The test occupied seven hours and -0 minutes, or an average of. about 15 miles an hour. The economy run was enrrinered and directed by Manager E. B. Wil son of the Willys-Overland Pacific company, Los Angeles branch, and the car was strictly stock. Grease Cup Filler. This filler Is made from a 6hort piece of rubber tubing, one end of which is fastened over a' grease cup shank of a size to fit the various cups on the chassis, ami the other over a crease gun nozzle. To fill the jrrease cup all that must be done is to screw the cup on the shank and force grease into it. By" so filling the cups the threads remain free from grease, thereby permitting them to be easily replaced. Truck Spark. Plugs. Many car owners do not realize the importance of keeping the spark plugs clean. The points of the plug seldom need rleaninc but grease and mineral dirt do accumulate ea the exterior and. interior of ths par celain, so that the current passes that way instead of jumping the ga p as is intended. The pluge should be kept clean, or ignition troubles will result. The French goTernment reeerree I franc 50 centimes (normally 30 cents) on every gallon of gasoline and oil used in the operation of motor care in that country. Investigate That's All! Chassis only $1750 With Cab... $1793 " Ex. body $1850 All prices Portland delivery. 3V;?2n? J F u ,,, ,... .-Trr. A.vv A V- iv trmfrm. 22d Year Oldsmobile Broadway at Couch Company of Oregon Phone Broadw ay 2270 Vesta Policies Make Vbsta Battery Service Behind every Vesta Service Station is the policy of the Vesta Accumulator Company; complete equipment, expert service and guaranteed repairs. Our ability to install complete equip ment, our skill in battery repair work and our willingness to use both our equipment and experience for the best interests of motorists place at your dis posal the highest type of battery service. We do everything in our power to help you get maximum service from your present battery no matter what make it is. All Vesta repairs are guaranteed for six months. We are able to do this because in repair ing any battery, we use the patented features which have made Vesta catteries famous. We do not charge for testing your battery. Drive in and let us look it over. You will like Vesta Service and the plan behind it. Gibson Electric Garage and Storage Battery Co. Alder at Twelfth tft ether tatttry fiat thtm sst-2!s - r " W Id COSTS LESS PER MONTH OF SERVICE Jndestructiblt Jstlators leek ths a