Cadillac 1937 LaSalle VVI Information page 58

The second standard is that of accurate dimensions. There
is an unwritten and unbreakable law of accuracy among
Cadillac craftsmen. Over 27,000 dimensions must be within
one thousandth of an inch; 37,000 more must be within two
thousandths of an inch. Weights also must undergo critical
measurement, as illustrated by the balancing machine whose
light wavers excitedly if a crankshaft is out of balance more
than one sixteenth of an ounce inch ( 1 /1 6 oz. pressure at 1 6
inches radius from center of crankshaft). These are ex-
amples of accuracy far ahead of any other manufacturer.
Strength is a third Cadillac standard. This is determined
by innumerable and exhaustive tests. The fatigue test is one
of these and is famous for its detection of a weakness in any
part or mechanism. It was found under this test that the
new all-silent transmission was 100% more durable than any
other pleasure car transmission now built. The new hypoid
rear-axles also had to prove indisputable superiority over
all other axles of like or differing design before they re-
ceived final approval by Cadillac engineers.
These three standards combine to form the fourth basic
standard of unsurpassed Cadillac quality. To be positive
that standards of material, dimensions, strength and work-
manship are right, there are many inspectors in the plant to
check upon work as it flows through production. Even after
transmission gears and rear axle gears have been finely
machined, lapped to a glass-like surface, and carefully mated
together by hand for uniformity, they must pass the eye and
ear of an inspector. He operates his own set of master
gauges with full authority for rejection. These master
gauges are checked each day with the renowned Johanssen
gauges, first imported into the United States by Cadillac.
Two Johanssen gauge blocks fit so perfectly together that
they become as one single block and can be separated only
with force.
After all these expensive precautions in manufacturing,
one might reasonably ask, "How can Cadillac and La Salle
be offered at such amazingly low prices?" The answer lies
in the continued desertion of the fine car field to Cadillac.
As the volume of productive output rises, the unit cost of
that output falls.
A second important reason for Cadillac-La Salle value
relative to price is efficiency in manufacturing. Cadillac was
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