According to custom, a man becomes of age when he is 21. A woman is recognized as a woman when she reaches the age of 18.

But what about a magazine? When does a magazine become of age? When does a magazine reach maturity in the eyes of its readers?

For Automotive Fleet, the November issue is Volume 8, Number 1. It's the first issue of our eighth year.

In a memo to advertisers in the November, 1961 issue, which was our first, Edward J. Bobit, president of Bobit Publishing, had this to say about the purpose of Automotive Fleet:

"... This new service was designed to provide the most comprehensive editorial coverage available to the fleet car market ... a market never before treated, exclusively by any other publication ... Automotive Fleet has identified, the market, is serving the market exclusively and will continue to provide this market with the most comprehensive editorial coverage possible ..."

A potpourri of news in that first issue might be of interest as a yardstick to measure the industry's growth. Here are a few examples:

"... Chrysler Corp. has become the second automaker to offer a depreciation program to support the resale value of biased passenger cars. Any Chrysler model sold after six months of service in leasing will be eligible for a subsidy if its depreciation is greater than that for any comparable ear as determined by auction reports ..."

"... Wisconsin has become the first state in the nation, to require safety belts on the front seats of all new ears sold in the state starting with the 1962 models. It's a good idea as research proves that seat belts cut the death rate in ear accidents by 30 per cent ..."

"... Studebaker-Packard Corp. has no plans to revive its famous Packard nameplate. In fact, the company is seriously thinking about dropping the word Packard from its corporate name ..."

"... More and more states and municipalities are taking up the problem of air pollution caused by automobile exhausts. This should be of concern to fleet users since only a few automakers now equip their cars with anti-smog devices ..."

"... Following George Romney's policy of "styling continuity," the basic appearance of all Rambler models is unchanged for 1962 ..."

"... The two-ply passenger tire, which fleet users will be hearing more about in the months ahead, is a step forward. Why two plies? The softer ride is only one plus in its favor. The tire is credited with an improvement in traction and the thinner sidewalks generate less heat ..."

Even in that first issue, the staff of Automotive Fleet recognized the importance of maintenance in the day-to-day operation of a fleet. In the November, 1961, issue, a story on how Illinois Bell maintained its fleet was featured, along with a story on how to end rust out problems.

In his editorial, Roy Wiley, then executive editor, had this to say about Automotive Fleet's future:

"We are excited about the future of Automotive Fleet. We feel that we have a great opportunity coupled with a challenge to provide a vital service for a vigorous but neglected industry ..."

As director of AF's editorial staff, I can state unequivocally, that Automotive Fleet has met this challenge, has fought, the battle of recognition and is now a guiding force in a once-neglected but now much-in-the-limelight industry.

We realize that there is much that needs to be done. And perhaps we, being the spokesman for an industry, realize this more than most. There is much to be done about the problems facing the industry ... problems such as insurance, rising cost of money, maintenance, and used car buying and disposal. There is much that needs to be done about the training of the industry's future leaders. There also is much to be done about legislation affecting our industry.

But we at Automotive Fleet feel that in the years ahead we will be better able to guide, better able to serve as the watchdog for the industry over any group or individual, that may not have the best interest of the total car fleet market at heart.

And the reason we feel this way is simple: Like the man of 21 and the woman of 18, we at Automotive Fleet have become ... of age.