Gaining The Lehigh Objective

Readers will be interested in learning of the progress being made by The Lehigh Corporation in the manufacture and sale of the Lehigh calculating machine. Those who have watched the development of The Lehigh Corporation for over two years knew its objectives were very definitely established at the start, have been adhered to most rigidly, and today the company has developed its organization to a secure and substantial foundation which is very interesting.
The Lehigh machine is of the Odhner type, but with certain improvements and refinements that make for rapid and always accurate work, ensuring portability and an all-round character of service that is thoroughly dependable and certain.
The manufacturing objective of the company has been first, to put Lehigh ahead of the market as a product of absolute dependability of performance; second, to use in its construction materials of such excellence and of such simplicity that the element of subsequent service becomes a negligible factor; third, the adoption of modern methods of manufacture through the complete standardization of every part, enabling the machine to be manufactured eco-nomically.
These manufacturing objectives would seem to have been met in the new Lehigh machine. The Lehigh factory is located in Newark, N. J. It is a modern structure, thor-oughly fireproof, equipped with the most modern sprinkler system, elevators, etc. The company manufactures its machine in its entirety. Its equipment of dies, tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, etc., has been the work of its own organi-zation. Its equipment has been so constructed as to permit full standardization with complete interchangeability of every part. Engineers who have been recently through the Lehigh factory advise that the character of engineering work done has been the very highest.
The Lehigh machine was never built to meet a pre-determined selling price, but rather to meet a standard of service that could be absolutely depended upon.
Joseph Gooch, Jr., president of the company, reports that the company is in splendid shape today. Its program for merchandising is entirely planned and being followed in a conservative, sure way. Modern methods and careful or-ganization of every detail characterize the Lehigh campaign as they do the production program. The elements of busi-ness chance in the progress of The Lehigh Corporation are minimized to a degree comparable only with the sound status of the concern, which has gained stability through the maturing effects of age.
The relations between the distributor and the parent company will be quite similar to those existing in the auto-mobile field. The distributor will act as a free agent except as to restrictions of territory and as to agreement upon the conduct of his business in accord with the general policies laid down by the parent company. The merchandising program of the company from now on will be vigorously pushed and calls for quite extensive advertising and general merchandising plans. The company, however, is not inter-ested in any spectacular effort.
John B. Milliken, for ten years treasurer of the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co., and prior to that treasurer of Chicago Pneumatic Tool, is vice-president and treasurer of The Lehigh Corporation. Its directors, in addition to Mr. Gooch and Mr. Milliken, are:
J. H. Killinger, president, Treadwell Engineering Co.. 140 Cedar St., New York City.
B. H. Ellis, 522 Fifth Ave., New York, formerly president, Manhattan Electrical Supply Co., manufacturers of the world-famous Red Seal Dry Battery, New York.
A. C. Jackson, treasurer Miller Lock Co.. Philadelphia, Pa.
C. F. Winship, of Winship, Boit & Co., Wakefield, Mass., and New York. Manufacturers of the well-known Harvard and Merode Underwear.
F. F. Schaefer, 25 West 43d St., New York City, for fifteen years the United States representative of the product now manufactured by this corporation.
The main office of the company is at 25 West 43d St.. New York City.
A number of interior factory views recently taken at the Lehigh plant in Newark are reproduced herewith. The visitor notes two things in addition to the general modern-ness of the works: the very laudable spirit on the part of the employees to make accuracy the keynote of all they do, and a corps d’esprit that seems to have inspired every member of the organization to be instrumental in the company’s determined success.
"Topics" congratulates The Lehigh Corporation on its intelligent development and predicts for The Lehigh Cor-poration an interesting future.