Page 5 Advertisements Column 1

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 139, 18 July 1914, Page 5

He who cannot lead must Mow # ' There are always one or a few leaders in every field of endeavor. The manufacturer of motor cars is not an exception. It is often said that in automobiles there are three price classes —the low price, the medium price, and the high price—and that each price class has its leader. The efforts of the unscrupulous follower are not infrequently directed more toward tearing down the structure of the leader than toward building a structure of his own, hence such followers never become leaders. . Eleven years ago the Cadillac Company manufactured the first practical, durable motor car. How practical it was, how durable it was, the whole world will bear witness, because those eleven year old cars—many of them after running more than 100,000 miles, are still giving faithful service. We do not need here to tell you the reason. You know it. Of course there were followers—but do you see any of their cars running to-day? Five years ago, the Cadillac Company, by massed production and manufacturing ability, was first to produce a high grade car at a moderate price. Immediately there were attempts at following. The price was met; but how about the qualities—particularly the staying qualities ? How many o£ the followers' cars do you see that are still in service? More than two years ago the Cadillac was first to relieve the motorist of the awkward and aggravating method of cranking his •car by hand, and of the bothersome method of lighting his lamps. Were there any followers ? Of course. But only after foisting upon the public their inefficient makeshifts. Only after the attempts to disparage the Cadillac way—the electric way. Then they came to it. - At the beginning of the present automobile year—l9l4—the Cadillac again paved the way by endowing the motor car with a new element of efficiency, a new quality of luxury, a new source of economy—the two-speed direct drive axle. It accomplishes what has never yet been accomplished in any other way. Besides an appreciable decrease \n operating cost, it accomplishes that acme of luxurious ease and smoothness in running for which makers have striven for years. But in which only the Cadillac has so far succeeded. * . _ Will there be followers? Wait. "The Automobile," one of the leading trade papers, in an editorial under the caption "Two-Speed Axles are Coming,'' has this to say: — "In these days of innovations and quick transitions it is questionable if the two-speed axle, now that it has been announced by the Cadillac Company, will not be taken up with avidity; true it will not. come with a landslide like the self-starter, but in the form of a sure and certain movement. Now read that last paragraph again. DEXTER & CROZIER CHRISTCHURCH & AUCKLAND