Out and Home.—By "The Extractor."
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The show question has been the one absorbing topic during the past few weeks. It is disappointing, but, if newcomers into the trade are not sufficiently keen to enter, the established houses cannot be expected to lead a forlorn hope. In conversation with some of the leading men, they decline to believe that it will be a blow to the industry. To my mind, it would be a calamity to have Olympia half-filled : the chances are that by the following year the motorbus will have revived— a more desirable and commerciallysuccessful model will have been evolved—and then, with later models in vans, lorries, and steamers, an exhibition can be held which will really attract the buyers. At the time of writing, it seems practically settled that there will be no show this year, and the more I think of it the more I feel that it is just as well.
It is by no means the least pleasing part of my daily doings to find myself well acquainted with the various gentlemen who " dispense " solid tires. I suppose the competition comes a little closer—certainly as to fractions of a penny—than is the case with vehicles, and in consequence it is quite interesting for one like myself in an impartial position to hear some conflicting statements, and some occasional trenchant criticism of other tire makers' methods. I am led to these reflections by a paragraph which appears on page 361 in the issue of "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR " for the 7th of this month, headed "Extraordinary Tire Guarantee." At first blush, it does appear, as the Editor says, "distinctly humorous" to calculate the guarantee of tires on a vehicle that is stationary, and from the above-mentioned paragraph it would appear that one firm only was respon
sible for this somewhat Hibernian arrangement of things. I have been shown catalogues of leading makers of solid tires, both English and Continental, in which they each start their calculations from this curious basis, because it is only a basis, after all, and is generally understood. Possibly, after our scathing observations, my friends the tire makers will find a new expression for their printed matter to indicate what is intended to be zero.
They were making holiday in that wonderful flower garden St. Mary's, in the Isles of Scilly, and they wandered far from the hotel into the primitive recesses of the land, and the masculine instinct discovered an establishment where a heterogeneous selection of articles was on sale, including groceries, brandy balls, flowers, coals and, incidentally, whisky and soda. The . day was hot, and he had no difficulty in selecting his particular purchase, and, when the bubbly stuff had disappeared, he turned to his lady and begged her to make a choice of restoratives: she, promptly, asked if they had any butter-scotch. There was a consultation, a shaking of heads, and regretfully they broke the news that the only Scotch they kept was Black and White and Johnnie Walker ! My friend, Mr. Julian A. Halford, late of Commercial Cars, Ltd., tells me, in a friendly letter from the Scilly Isles, that this was one of his experiences. He and Mrs. Haiford have, I hear, since returned to town—I hope thoroughly invigorated. We shall, no doubt, soon hear of Mr. H. in connection with business again.
The speeches at the R.A.C. and its Associates' dinner, at the Hotel Cecil, on Thursday last, were apparently in teresting and amusing, but they wer made in the most part by gentleme unaccustomed to speaking in larg halls, and I judge that two-thirds c the audience could not hear them. On significant exception was the speec of the Chairman, H.S.H. Prince Frar cis of Tech, who created an exceller impression. Still, there were, in add tion, occasional musical items, and th Grand Hall contained an assernblag of cheerful table parties, if I may ea press it that way, because the tendenc of the period for separate tables (ir stead of the accustomed long "sprags joined up to and at right-angles to th head table) was developed abnormal].) Tables holding 15 persons were place higgledy-piggledy over the room, an I think the innovation, for which, understand, Mr. Orde was responsiblE met with general approval. A vet large number of those present wer private motorists, I should say, but noticed many who are interested in th commercial-vehicle side. Mr. Harr Smith (Rover), Mr. T. C. Aydin; (Broom and Wade), up from Birming ham, and Mr. J. T. Barber (Pratt' Spirit) were in an exalted positior with others, on the stage. Mr. H. C Burford, who was to be seen having long chat with the Prince, Mr. flora, Mr. J. XV. Stocks (de Dion Mr. Charles E. Esse, Mr. E. Permar Mr. Henry Sturmey, and Mr. Thoma Clarkson, also were in evidence. believe, too, the others whose namE follow were there, but the gatherin, m as so vast that I did not run u against them : Messrs. G. H. Smit (United Motor Industries), Mr. W. Rowcliffe (Resilient Wheels), Mr. R. Simms, Dr. Hele-Shaw, F.R.S Mr. F. Thoresby (Car and General' Mr. A. W. Torkington, and Mr. Pat Brodtata on (Continental Tyres).
The only drawback was—and Mr. ulian W. Orde, excellent organiser as e is, should remember it for future ccasionsthat speeches in the Grand fall, Hotel Cecil, should be curtailed, ecause only those near by can hear nything of the ordinary run of the peaker, the acoustic properties being o defective. Personally, I missed the ratory, but I was with a party of old mtoring friends, and they did not how distant and mumbled speeches to amp the ardour or interfere with their Ow of anecdote and playful badinage, nd there were others. It was a pleaant function, taken all round.
Turning from the subject of the R.A.C. dinner, it is interesting to recall the annual "Car and General" staff dinner. That for 1908 recently
took place, at the Hotel Cecil, when Mr. E. Manville, the Chairman, was immediately supported, as may be gathered from the photograph which I am enabled to reproduce, by Messrs. Thoresby, Shrapnell Smith, Robert Ward, Wm. Birtwistle, J. M. Gorham, and R. J. Smith. The company numbered close upon too, but the gathering was a private one. I was nor of those who were privileged to hear the " talk " or songs-let alone to share the good things; there is no question, however, that these reunions between directors and staff are very valuable from the business standpoint ; they afford opportunities for discussion.