HOPES FOR COMING YEAR,

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19314, 15 October 1932, Page 12

HOPES FOR COMING YEAR,

During a recent visit to Detroit a San Francisco journalist telegraphed his impressions to his paper. In the course of his message he said; —

After a week’s survey in this home of the American motor industry, one can draw but one conclusion, and that is there is a very definite optimism here. This optimism is not based on actual happenings in the motor-car trade, but is due primarily to the improvement in general conditions throughout the country. At this writing no estimates have been given as to volume of business or trade activity manifested during the month of August, but it is generally known that production sank to a new low level for the year.

Actual work at the majority of the factories is confined solely to the cleanups of the 1932 commitments. Many of the plants are entirely closed, and the general impression is that they will not reopen until the manufacture of the 1933 models begins. Tooling up and plant rearrangement 'are now in progress at several of the factories, but actual production is not likely to start for a month at least. In one or two cases I have been allowed to crawl under the engineering tent, and have seen some of the freewheeling and transmission betterments. I have been sworn to secrecy, but have been granted the privilege of making public the statement that these improvements will add to the joys of driving and the comforts of riding. There might be some advance in prices for cars next season over the prevailing values of this year because of the higher rates of raw materials. Indications are that despite the general shrinkage in business for 1932 fewer automobiles will be carried over into the new season than in many years past The manufacturers have been cautious in building, endeavouring to keep their supply about balancing the demand, and by so doing have held their inventories down and will not be faced by heavy losses because of the year-old models left on hand.

A clutch which tends to “hang up,” making engagement of first gear difficult without a very audible scrunch, usually can be freed by jabbing the accelerator pedal sharply with the clutch pedal fully depressed; the trick is done owing to the inertia of the floating member. Where this fails, try engaging top—when forced meshings of the dogs will do little harm — then move the lever into first. At the earliest opportunity, the real cause of the trouble should be investigated. Washing out with petrol or paraffin is generally a certain cure, unless the fault is mechanical.