THE MAN WHO CAME BACK.

Shannon News, 30 September 1924, Page 3

THE MAN WHO CAME BACK.

MR JOHN N. WILLYS, OF WILLYSOVERLANR.

Mr John N. Willys,, the executw hea4 of the Willys-Knight ana Willys Overland motor companies, first start ed in life as a travelling salesmar and in 1901 first tried his hand in the motor business (when he sold two cars. The following year he took up the Rambler agency and sold four. In 1903 his sales had to twenty cars. In 1905 the public j seized the motor car with avidity and jit was then he decided he should be building cars for himself, but had 'neither the capital nor experience to do so. He did the next best thing and formed a selling ■: company and relieved the manufacturers of the sales onus. In 1907 Willys arranged to handle the produce of the Overland Company. The Overland was then a four cylinder car when most popular cans of that day only boasted of two The output for 1907 had been the biggest in the history of the company which had then been in existence for six years but this only amounted to 47 cars. Willys agreed to accept 500 Overlands for 1908 and made a deposit of 10,000 dollars as evidence of good faith. Then the great panic set in and with the chance of Overland going to the wall and his 10,000 dollars along with it Willys borrowed a further 7500 and took charge of the company’s, affairs. Nine months later 465 cars had been -built and sold. In 1909 the company built and sold 4000 cars and showed a net profit of 1,000.000 dollars. By 1916, 141,000 cars had been built and sold. Then came the war disorganisation in America and it was not till 1919 that business looked up again. Then came the crash. A strike occurred at the-works that lasted six mouths, during which period dealers, unable to get Overlands, took to other makes. This was almost the knock-out for Overland; but not quite. John N.' Willys came hack, took off his coat, and spit on his .hands so to speak. Things had to go or fail and- go they did. This was in February, 1928. Tn March the sales doubled. April and May showed big increases and in .Tune IP.OOO cars were sold and July beat, this record by another 1000. Then came the price war at a time when Mr Willys was absent in Eurooe. Those in charge reckoned his decision would do on this question when he returned' so' that by September all this phenomenal progress was lost. Willys now toolf charge of affairs with the determination' that all Drevious records wore to be relegated fo th scrap heap. In January, 1923. l he corner . was- * completely iurned and over 1000 cars a day were caving the works. The total output lor the year exceeded 200,000. , It has been said that John N. Willys never took a backward step or gave a backward glance in his life and he . sees to-day a-record for 1924 that will put- to shame that established in 1923. The foregoing facts leave no foundation for a rumour that has been circulated about the finances of the company and intending purchasers or those Who alreadv own Overlands can rest assured that spare parts will always be obtainable. Mr P. O. von. Haftitzsch, of .the Eclipse Garage in ■ Levin, will be- pleased at anv time to give a demonstration of the Overland’s suneriority over all other light cars.— . Published by Arrangement. 'Vnode’ v-,- rnughe and Cold, nevor futb * “ALL BLACKS” SCORE CARDS. ( Petailpre wbo display Q-tol or Flu-. ptizo] should send a oostcard to Box 1013. Wellington, to that effect. A supply of itinerary cards will iheu be sent fo 1 " issue to their customers.*