Out and Home. Clayton Reminiscences. ." .— A Good Man Available,
Page 18
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The Extractor."
It feels like taking an advantage ,o publish the subjoined caricature when the innocent subject of it is away on a business visit to Canada. When I say innocent, I have hardly hit upon the right expression, because a shrewder, more longheaded person than Mr. Reginald F. Clayton it is not often one's fortune to meet. He possesses the real North-Country tenacity which, when it happens to be blended with much earnestness and a genial disposition to boot, is pretty hard to resist. I have always felt, and have often expressed real admiration for the, bold way in which Clayton and Co. (Huddersfield), Ltd., set to work. Most makers have drifted into this business, or
reached it by easy stages. They have been making pleasure vehicles first or, on the other hand, have come up from the heavy steam PIde, but in the case of Karrier Cars, they saw some years ago its sure development and they took a factory, laid down their plant, struck out an entirely new design, and without any connection or introductions set about to sell them. What a task to get the first few sold. I have seen a few manufacturers with good vehicles in the earlier days who have given up the ghost after trying vainly to break the ground. Clayton's in their own confident way went first to the cloth manufacturers in their own county, a nice, hard-headed lot, too, and one demonstration after another slowly but surely broke down the old conservatism, but I will warrant that Reginald Clayton could unfold some pithy stories of hope deferred when they were "first year" men. It was at the last Manchester Show that the accompanying sketch was furtively accomplished. The artist's first nroduction depicted our Huddersgeld friend looking quite bright but somewhat solemn. A turn
round the Show, however, and then another glance at Clayton resulted in what I think will be voted a characteristic expression. Reginald Clayton is a warmhearted person with a great capacity for work, and he seems to inspire his henchmen with the same feeling. His holiday moments are spent motoring. His neighbours. David Brown and Sons, Ltd., have built him a Lucas Valveless, and it is rood to listen to Clayton's experiences and his enthusiasm for his Huddersfield ear. A capable man whom I know well, and who has been identified for years with a, motor concern, acting mostly in a secretarial capacity, is seeking another post. He ia young, of good appearance, can be safely put in charge of an office or a department where exact care is required. I shall be glad to introduce this gentleman to any firm interested. A letter to this office marked " Secretarial" will be forwarded.
At the close of last summer I wrote concerning a great development in chars-a-banes work in. which Lancashire was showing the way, as that county constantly claims, and not without some justification. It was in connection with long holiday round trips. It was shown that Blackpool residents were enabled to make a week's holiday by charge-banes doing about 100 miles per day taking in the South Coast and London, thus making for folk, whose motoring opportunities are limited, a unique holiday. I afterwards heard of similar t ers from other Lancashire towns, but as yet from no other quarter. I was up at Alldays and Onions's works at Birmingham last week and was much interested to see a special char-abanes ready for delivery for the very purpose ; moreover it was bound for Blackpool. Later on I saw the vehicle on its way to Lancashire with its proprietor in command; just the hearty sort of individual who would engineer trips of that character, and I gathered that he had let 20 seats for its maiden trip already. The price worked out at £2 10s. per head for. the week with hotel accommodation, specially arranged on moderate terms, extra. I predict a great extension of these trips from and to all parts of the land as soon as more enterprising people realize what a great holiday scheme it is.