FAST TAX WRITE-OFFS for steel industry have been turned down by ODMobilizer Arthur S. Flemming, at least temporarily. Industry wants special tax write-offs on $1.5 billion steel expansion, but Flemming says no final decision will be made until Defense Department reviews its requirements, probably around end of year. However, Treasury Secretary George M. Humphrey, Commerce Secretary Sinclair Weeks and Flemming himself are all anxious to end tax write-offs.

JAMES NANCE, who recently stepped down as President of Studebaker-Packard, will take a job as Ford Motor Co.'s vice president for marketing. Nance will have free rein as general sales boss on company-wide basis.

AIR SUBSIDY CUT will cost Pan American World Airways $9,800,000 annually, unless the company can change CAB's mind. After pegging Pan Am's total subsidy and mail pay at $24.1 million last year, CAB now thinks level is too high in view of airline's 9.6% return on its investment during fiscal 1956. Pending hearing, CAB has suspended all subsidy payments, will authorize only $14.4 million in actual service mail pay.

SUPER-GRADE GASOLINES are going over far better than expected. Esso Standard Oil, Humble Oil, Continental Oil, Sun Oil and others who have introduced hopped-up (about 100 octane), more expensive (up to 3-c- more per gal.) gas for the new higher-compression auto engines, report that sales are running from 15% to 20% of total business v. expected level of 10%.

NICKEL PINCH will be eased by vast International Nickel Co. of Canada, Ltd. expansion program. After spending $8,000,000 on exploration, world's biggest nickel producer (six-month sales: $225 million) will shell out $150 million to bring huge new nickel source at Moak Lake, Man. into production. At full production, Moak Lake will probably be world's second biggest nickel center, topped only by INCO's own Sudbury, Ont. operation.

JETLINER LEAD is claimed by Boeing for first time. President William Allen says Boeing has sold 134 four-jet 707s to 11 domestic and foreign airlines, either on firm contract or letter of intent v. 114 DC-8 jets for Competitor Douglas.

FOLDAWAY SPARE TIRE, almost small enough to fit in glove compartment, will be brought out by Gates Rubber Co. Tire, which will last 1,000 miles, works like inner tube. After pulling flat tire from wheel, motorist loops Gates tire around rim, inflates it with carbon dioxide gas bottle in kit. Gates thinks tire will be boon to sportscar drivers who are cramped for luggage space.

TRUCK RATES are going up, possibly as much as 15%, to offset heavier taxes, increased costs. According to ICC figures, profits of 900 truck lines slipped 50% in 1956's first quarter.

AIRCRAFT MERGER will put Northrop Aircraft, Inc. in helicopter business if talks with Pennsylvania's Vertol Aircraft Corp. succeed. Northrop wants to swap two shares of stock for one (542,100 shares outstanding) of Vertol, add Vertol's growing (1955 sales: $58 million) helicopter business to its F89 interceptor and Snark guided-missile production.

SOIL-BANK CONTRACTS for 1957 will probably fall short of goal, at least for wheat. As of September 28, one week before deadline, farmers had signed to take only 4,300,000 acres of winter wheat out of production v. some 10 million acres Agriculture Department considers necessary.

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