Out and Home.—By " The Extractor."
Page 16
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No one, I suppose, is more interested in the success of the Comruercial Motor Show, to be held next year, than the staff of this journal and for this reason. We have been told on all sides that before very long the businessvehicle aide of the industry will dwarf the pleasure side both in variety and general interest. All the same the Pleasure Show continues year after year to attract buyers and others interested in the November Show, whilst on our side we have a dismal recollection of the last heavy-vehicle show at Olympia, when they came not. True much progress has been made since then, Manchester has insisted on its Show, and everything points to a national success in London because the time is ripe for it. Good reason then for making sure of the proper period to hold it. It happens that I am ubiquitous in my journeyings, and I hear many opinions from those deeply concerned. The variety of these prompted me to make a collection of them, and on this page will be found extracts from some letters I have received in addition to some personally expressed opinions. It will be observed that maay make a point of the fact that Colonial and foreign buyers will be over late in July. Whilst this is greatly interesting, it seems to me that a small proportion will find it convenient to time their visits with the particular week in which the Show will be open, and probably they will be mostly agents who will search out manufacturers anyhow. We must rely principally upon home interests. We must seek to attract the heads of wholesale and retail stores, those forming transport companies, manufacturers of all kinds, municipal officers, contractors, aml a horde of others just changing from horse haulage or perhaps only yet half convinced. Thus the date of the Show is all important, and it should not clash too closely with our national holiday time. It will be remembered that we announced by authority that the opening date would be likely to be about the third week in July.
have approached Mr. Woodfine of the S.M.M.T. and he thinks the experiment in July will be quite justifiable, even though it may not be a, date that could be repeated_ That, date was selected partly to suit the visits of foreign and Colonial buyers, and in his opinion it would be quite impossible to go to the Olympia authorities and ask them to alter dates. He will, personally, try and get it as early in July as possible, and matters have reached such a stage that, although the contract with them is not signed, it is practically impossible to make any changes. I give below extracts as indicated. My interest is only to make sure of a great ultimate success.
Albion.
"No doubt a date in May or June would have been preferable, but it was impossible to obtain Olympia for periods in those months. In our opinion, such an exhibition will be of much more account to the Colonial and foreigner visiting this country than to users here.'
Avon.
" The date suggested for next year's Show is in my opinion much too late in the year. The most suitable time would be in March."
Berne.
"If it must be July, it should not be held later than the first week of that month."
Bosch.
"The time for holding this Show should be either in close proximity to the pleasure-car show, or else in the very early spring."
Brown Bros.
" If it had been fixed, say, for the first week in July, we think this date would probably be as good as any other, but to make it the third week is too near the August holidays."
Clayton, Huddersfield.
"We think we should obtain a large number of visitors from the Colonies, which would help to make up for, possibly, a certain number of London people who might be away in that month."
Commer Car.
" It is not the most suitable time of the year • in fact, we prefer the month of March or April, but as there seems no alternative, we think the beet thing we can do is to make the best of it."
Coventry Chain.
"We consider this a mostinopportune time."
-Dennis.
"The reason it was chosen for July is because it is the only date which is open."
Garrett.
"Many makers of heavy commercial-motor vehicles have had enough of shows by the end of July, owing to the numerous provincial shows at which motor wagons and motor tractors have to be exhibited during the months of May to July."
Halley.
"At first we thought that the date fixed was not a very good one, but, on better consideration, we have come to the conclusion that perhaps it is just as good as any other time." Hanford.
"I think it is agreed on all hands that, had the building been available at any earlier period in the year, after February, advantage would have been taken of the fact."
Mann.
"We think you are already aware that, in our opinion, the whole project is a. great mistake, and simply means wasting the manufacturer's money."
M ilneseD aimler.
"We are of the opinion that it would be much better if the Show could be held in the month of March."
Napier.
"If the exhibition were held some time between the coming November and March or April, a much better attendance would result," Peter Union.
"There are numerous objections to the Show taking place at that time of the year."
Purrey-Exshaw.
'The date fixed for the Commercial-Motor Show is much too near the holiday season."
Smith, Parfrey.
"July, August or September are the worst months for holding this Show so far as we are concerned."
Straker-Squire.
"Has no doubt been very thoroughly considered by the Society, and a very good reason must exist for inducing them to have selected July as the most satisfactory date."
Thornycroft.
"The Colonial business is of very great imports,nce to commercialvehicle manufacturers in this country, and the July date seems convenient."
Polack Tyre.
"We are of opinion that, for the Commercial-Motor Exhibition to be held at Olympia in July would be a mistake on account of the close proximity of the holiday period."
Vacuum Oil.
"It is true exhibitors might arrange their holidays accordingly and make their employees do the same, but you cannot get the .best results if you start out by putting those to whom you look for results to personal disappointment and inconvenience."
Willcox.
"Our opinion is that it is certainly the wrong time of the year."
Yorkshire.
"The Royal and other important agricultural shows are held in July, and it would not be advisable to have the Show clashing with these."