Hudson Head

Hudson Head

Thirty years ago there came to Riker Motor Vehicle Co., of Elisabethport, N. J., (early auto makers) a young man recently returned from the Spanish War. This Johnny Who Had Come Marching Home wanted a job--salary requested, $14 weekly. Openhanded, the Riker people gave him $15. Last week the onetime soldier became president of Hudson Motor Car Co. He is William J. McAneeny, now president both of Hudson and of its allied Essex. Coming to Hudson in 1909, as purchasing agent, he advanced rapidly, was made first Essex president when the company was formed (1918). President McAneeny succeeds the late R. B. Jackson, who died last month in Mentone. Prosperous are both divisions of the McAneeny family. In March, Hudson shipped 44,295 cars, exceeding its March 1928 (record month) production by almost 11,000. Hudson-Essex, combined, produced more than 108,000 units in the first three months of 1929, are scheduled for an April production of 45,000. Hudson enjoyed a record-breaking first quarter in 1929, earning $4,567,783 or $2.68 per share. Production included 1,585 cars sent abroad and 6,178 to Canada, greatest Hudson export mark. Plants are operating at capacity (1,900 cars daily) but the number of cars on hand and with distributors is below normal.