antiquemachinery.com Machinery Magazine January 12 1922 starting pg 34

>pg 34 AMERICAN MACHINIST
Vol. 56, No. I
1921--1922

WE HAVE come through a hard year together, not entirely unmarked, but still full of fight. If any far-seeing prophet toward the end of 1920 had predicted truthfully what was~ to happen in the twelve months to follow, his popularity would have suffered severely. That the machinery industry "has withstood so well such a period of depression speaks well for its inherent sound ness. There is also this to be said--all the frills and useless appurtenances of -boom times are gone and our shops are ready to produce on a basis of rigid economy. Unfortunately, such a sweeping statement cannot be applied to all of our merchandising and distribution methods. During last year we brought out the big spread between the selling price ,and the cost of,materials and direct labor in. the .case of one of our most efficiently built automobiles. Later investigations show the figures to have been typical, not only of automobiles, but of other products of the machine shop. fin 1922 we shall give consideration to the sales problems which are en- grossing the attention of executives everywhere. The natural result of the slowing down of production was the release of the designers and engineers to complete the many projected innovations and developments which have been conceived during the war and in the boom following the armistice. Our columns reflected this condition by containing a number of new tool descriptions some 30 per cent greater than that of any previous year--in .round numbers 650. Many others have been held back ~by the manufacturers and will be described in 1922 in the AMERICAN MACHINIST. Features for 1921 were three big series-Metal Cut- ting Tools, Modern Production Methods and Tool. Engi- neering. Next year we shall publish a strong series on machine tool designing by the author of Metal `Cutting Tools. Tool Engineering will probably run through most of the year. Only one or two more installments of Modern Production Methods remain unpublished, but as soon as they have appeared we will commence a number of articles on two of the most interesting phases of modem management.
Sufficient automotive material is on hand for a number of issues and more is constantly being gathered. The railroad and car and locomotive shops are being visited by our field editors and will~ receive their share of atten tion. Other repair shop articles.will come from the serv ice stations and from machine shops of all kinds every- where. Much of the material from the latter source will be published in the form of practical letters. Textile and paper machinery, small parts, press work-all will be covered in our "first thirty-two" pages. Arrangements are being made to add to the value of the news pages. New correspondents, both at home and .abroad.. are being appointed, men who know the machin ery industry and can sense news values. No stone is being left unturned to make the AMERICAN MACHINIST an absolute necessity to the progressive men of the machinery industry whether they sit behind the executive's desk or direct the operations in the shop.

It will take real ability to keep up with the procession in 1922. Business is coming back, but not the kind of business that knocks at the door and begs to be admitted ProsPerity lies just ahead for the fellow who is ready to meet it with a well-equipped shop, a good product, uP-fo-the-minute information and good old-fashioned push.
Resolve To Show Your Faith in the Future No MATTER how difficult the past year may have been,
we believe every red-blooded American looks to the future, not only with hope for better business, but with an abiding faith that it cannot fail to come. Not a faith that expects miracles, not the kind of false optimism that looks for the overthrowing of all economic laws, but faith that this and other countries can and will overcome the causes of business depression and once more enjoy the prosperity that comes with earnest en deavor.
We have had severe and expensive lessons in the eco nomic evils of over expansion. We have learned of the evils of combining speculation with manufacturing in- dustries, frequently because of borrowed money being too easy to secure. But we also learned that united ~ effort toward a common goal could work wonders in production; that real co-operation could be secured. The live, forward looking business men are not' going to forget any of these lessons. They `can and will be applied to secure the victories of peace as well as of war~ Normal prosperity, real prosperity means that when manufacturers are, studying economic laws and are abid ing by them, they secure an adequate return for their efforts. No one who has studied the past--who has faith in himself or in his. fellow mencan doubt that this prosperity is on the way. Just when it will come no one can say. But its coming is sure and it will be hastened by those having the real faith putting their shoulders to the wheel and helping to start the load. Let those who can, show their faith by beginning to buy the things they need, but which they have been putting off. If every man with faith in the future will resolve to buy what be can the tide of prosperity will begin to lap our shores in an incredibly short time. ~ Let your New Year's resolve be to show the faith that is in you by beginning to buy-NOW!

Comparing Prices With 1914
In Making comparisons of machine tool or other prices with pre-war days, it is always well to consider values as well as prices.
We should remember that over seven years have elapsed since the 1914 prices we talk about, and that in many cases the present machine bears very little relation to the old.

The changes in weight, design and efficiency should be carefully considered in making comparisons with 1914 prices, as is constantly being done. Buyers have a perfect right to demand a fair price-but they should consider all conditions carefully so as to know what a fair price really is.