Document npLgbaqqRmyJj1vgxq557Jenz

Total net sales in 1948 were approximately 88,704,500 as compared to 87,959,500 in 1947, an increase of v745,000, or 9>. A breakdown follows: Original EauiDment 1948 84,115,8 73 1947 4,092,550 Increase or Decrease / 824,328 Percent / .6% "placement NAPA 83,552,953 '^ 82,743,764 / 8789,192 / 29. % Direct Accounts 296,423 244,878 / 51,545 / 21. % Export Div. 244,409 316,135 71,786 - 23. % To Canada 93.018 131.004 - 37.986 - 29. * 84.166.806 83.435.841 / 730.965 / 21. % A-B-K Bearings and Wheels $ 420.812 8 430.519 9,707 - 2. % ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT Our position in the original equipment field shifted to some ex tent during the year in that the Chrysler Corooration split their business between American Brekeblok and Johns-Manville. This split resulted in a substantial reduction in the volume of business obtained from the Chrysler Corooration. At year-end, the lack of t satisfactory material for the new brake designs further jeopardized Chrysler business. Our engineers are working with Chrysler engineers to overcome this problem. Other accounts showed reasonable increases. Major projects that we have on hand include the development of brake linings for the Ford, Mercury, Chevrolet and Studebaker passenger cars. The development of linings for these applications has been under study by our laboratory, and we hope to be able to supply materials to these cus tomers that will meet with their approval. We also have been working with the Oldsmobile and Pontiac Divisions of General Motors. Our position in the truck field is good. We are original equipment on Ford, Chevrolet, Diamond T, GMC Truck & Coach, Mack, International Harvester and Studebaker trucks, and we supply Wagner, Bendix, Timken Axle, Shuler Axle, Kay-Brunner, Clark Equipment and Eaton Manufacturing, who are the leaders in the brake and axle manufacturing fields. During the past year, we have been asked by our truck customers to improve some 4. SPNY 003768