OUT AND HOME.
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
By "The Extractor."
An Urgent Need.
"No industry has done more than yours to fulfil the urgent need," wrote Mr. Winston Churchill to the Association of British Motor and Allied Manufacturers. Since then the Austin works at Northfield has actually been making and delivering lorry loads of coffins for Birmingham, to cope with the ravages of influenza in that district.
,Circumlocutory.
Not having caught a. glimpse of Mr. McCurd for months, I betook myself one day recently, without notice, to Cricklewood to see what -peace .plans he was hatching.: " I have just borrowed my daughter's Rover Twelve," he said, "and if I can give you a lift to town get in, because there's nothing fresh for you to see Out here." So back I came. Then I heard from him an interesting account of weird circumlocutory methods, which leaves him making aeroplane parts for another s-x months at least, with no facilities to get on with that wonderful fourtonner, which secured a niche for itself amongst British lorries. in the shortest _ time perhaps on record. McCurcl has come off badly during war time ; perhaps his location near the Hendon aerodrome has had something to do with it, but I am convinced he has fared worse than any other lorry manufacturer. Even the bald story would make interesting reading, but the time is not yet. Fortunately, he has by no means lost heart ; he has been greatly encouraged by the reports of the lorries turned out before and early in the war. Clients have taken endless trouble to add to their fleets of McCord's, and have paid extremely high prices for second-hand ones, so that, as I say, be has not lost hope, but as soon as he has cleared up his war contracts and has his premises to himself be will get gding, and, what is more, will get there I feel sure.
A Mental Tonic.
One of the cheeriest souls in trade circles is Mr. J. H. Adams, of the Belsize Co., for no one has ever seen him "down." During his slack time of the war he de-voted his spare time to apple culture, and, in spite of the blight, managed to turn them to good account, for did he not discover some by-product-from thevwoollen factories that helpechto exterminate the moth, and did he not supply other apple growers with tons of it, probably at a profit to himself, but what matters. His incursion into rabbit breeding made his less enterprising friends gasp with astonishment, and when the elusive rabbits disappeared off the market he had to endure unlimited banter, but what matters. I believe he bred and sold great numbers, and kept himself well occupied. Did he not at the same time attend well to Belsize interests, and is he not even now an inspector or something,in the Soecial Constabulary, • and has he not gathered round him helpers in that force from all• sections of the motor trade. He looked happiest, however, the other night as he told me of the return to the normal; he lsad ius..t come from Belsize headquarters at Manchester. They had fixed the prices of new models, and he had just arranged an agreement for another seven years —Adams is a mental tonic. .
044
Changing Over.
There is naturally a shuffling of the motor cards, with the advent of peace, and one result is. that the -factory hitherto devoted to the manufacture of the C. F. Wells, and later the Wells-Hammond, commercial vehicles at Dunstable will turn to the making of light cars. Mr. A. S. Fitch is managing this place now, and tells me that the place is not exactly smite able for heavy vehicles. I am persortally sorry that he thus goes over to the private car sidei•
A Volunteer Reminiscence.
Fitch did excellent work in connection with army lorries and agrimotors during the war, taking a leading part, together with Mr. C. S. Waldman, in the Vulcan Car Agency in Great Portland Street. We three were in the same section of the Volunteers in the early days of the war. Fitch juggled himself into the position of sergeant of our platoon. Thenceforward our military lives were not worth living, so to speak, because Wardman and I, being on the stout side, our "base chambers," as be put it, interfered with the perfect. alignment of the platoon. Anyhow, • lie has my hearty good wishes, be is the sort of man who will make a good job of anything he undertakes.
Electric Extensions.
British electric vehicles are making giant strides, and a chance meeting with Mr. Mays-Smith, hitherto chiefly associated . with the Delaunay Belleville, Gallay radiator and other concerns, reminded me that he is interested in the ina,nufacture and sale of "Orwell " electric trucks, •made -by Ransomes, Sims and Je.fferies, Ltd., of Ipswich, about which we have written in recent issues.
Mr. Mays-Smith has 'been a notable personality in the motor trade for many years, and is a founder member of the R.A.C. He won the Golf Trophy offered by that body for two years in succession, and put up a fine score, playing with Capt. Cecil Hutchinson in the Golf Amateur Championship at Sandwich.
Home Grown.
MrT. C. Pullinger, of the Arrol-Johnston, appeared recently in London in go-to-meeting dark suits, giving the Impression that he has been severely rationed. Formerly he was seldom-clad in anything but country looking brown garments, which gave him a "wool grown on my own farm" appearance, as an old privileged friend expressed it in my hearing.
011a Podrida.
"D— good war spoiled" was the candid comment of a large contractor to a bosom companion. 3Ir. A. C. Hills is going to India shortly in the interests of Tozer, Kemsley and Millbourn, Ltd., the great automobile shippers. Questioned about the route, he expressed a desire to go by air, but expects he will find difficulties in arranging it.
Spiral Tube Radiators have found business extend. big so quickly that they have opened additional premises and offices in Caledonian Road, hard by the Northdown Street Works.
A prominent Ford agent states that the new price of that vehicle is fixed at 2250,