Re: The Jungle

["Frank "Free Spirit" Borger" <frank@rover.bsd.uchicago.edu>]

> Date:          Tue, 10 Dec 96 18:00:17 -0600
> Reply-to:      radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> From:          "Richard G. Piccolo" <rgp2m@poe.acc.virginia.edu>

> 3) Airbags and seatbelts certainly weren't the result of
> brainstorms from the big 3. Same with fuel efficient cars.
> 
	Not all big companies brainstorms sell.

	I remember 1957 when Ford came out with their "Lifeguard
	design."  They introduced the deep-dish steering-wheel, padded
	dash, flat dash knobs so you wouldn't impale yourself,   the
	first frames designed to protect the occupant in a crash and/or
	rollover, etc. A LOT of engineering went into the design of
	(at that time,) a safer car.

	Ford lost their shirts that year. Chevy made a pretty car, and it
	SOLD. 

	Some years later Ford had only moderate success with the
	Falcon, which was an early attempt at a fuel-efficient, compact
	car. Lee Iacocca put different fenders, hood and trunk
	on it and called it a Mustang, and it sold like hotcakes.

	Even big companies can't do what is right if the public insists
	on buying what is wrong.

Frank R. Borger - Physicist - Center for Radiation Therapy
net: Frank@rover.uchicago.edu   ph: 312-791-8075 fa: 791-3697

"If I ever had to pick six guys to storm a pillbox, and there was
no coming back, I'd pick six White Sox fans, because all they've
ever known is losing, and death holds no terror for them anymore."
- Gene Shepard