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fmmERcia MOTOR

26th February 1929
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Page 41, 26th February 1929 — fmmERcia MOTOR
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Largest Circulation, Conducted by EDMUND DANGERFIELD, Stimulating Our Overseas Trade.

IAEA sales of commercial vehicles and motor 11/4--, appliances overseas are not increasing nearly so rapidly as might well be wished, and what trade is being done is shared amongst a comparatively small number of makers.

At present the home market is quite satisfactory, but it is essential that every consideration should be given to the possibilities of the future. What should be done ,to-day should not be put off until to-morrow, for to-morrow may be too late. We have no pessimistic opinion regarding the future of road transport in this country, but we consider that an important development in our overseas trade would have excellent results, not only in bringing money into the country but by reducing the cost of particular vehicles to the home buyer.

The matter Is so urgent that we strongly advocate the establishment of some form of advisory council which could go fully into all the problems confronting our makers who wish to venture into overseas markets. Such a council would save a tremendous amount of Individual effort and be in a position to send representatives to any part of the world where there were trade possibilities.

We know that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has a department which can supply reports on overseas conditions, but we feel that some organization which could carry the work still farther is really necessary.

Some Points for Consideration.

There are many important points to be considered by the maker. He must not expect to obtain orders from an overseas agent unless the vehicles be actually on the spot. Cases have been known in which a potential buyer has been asked to wait six months for delivery of a vehicle for which he has had to pay cash with the order. The overseas sales department must not expect to do any considerable volume of business unless a well-equipped depot supplied with all spares likely to be necessary be maintained at a reasonable distance from districts where the vehicles are likely to operate, so that undue delays through the lack of such spares will not be occasioned. We know of one case of a British maker in a comparatively small way of business who is prepared to spend £5,000 in each country where sales are to be made, purely in

the establishment of a satisfactory service depot and apart from a stock of vehicles.

Naturally, certain countries are closed to us because of the excessive tariff rates, but there are others with which we are not doing a large volume of trade but which possess considerable potentialities. We must not leave it to foreigners to hold a predominant position in such • countries.

We know that we have vehicles which can compare favourably in 'price, and certainly in quality, with those which any other country in the world can produce. It is only the marketing organization which is needed and in which we are so sadly deficient.

As was pointed out recently by one of our readers in Brazil, it is important to be able to • arrange sales on the hire-purchase system. Much of the business in our own country Is effected in this way, and we have no reason to expect that the overseas buyer will be more content to pay the full price of his purchase immediately.

• The matter of unsuitable roads is not so difficult as it was a few years ago ; in any case, we have that wonderful vehicle, the six-wheeler, in Its many forms, which can tackle almost every class of surface both on and off the beaten track.

The Design of Fixed Signals for Drivers.

-EaA S the volume of traffic grows daily, so must

there be an increase in the number of signs conveying instructions to drivers. Particularly is this so in cities and towns where the width of streets is a limiting factor. Great Britain, having many hundreds of thickly populated areas laid out long before the rcad transport era, has greater need of such forms of regulation and instruction than have countries of more modern growth.

These signs spring up from day to day, but they are erected only too often in the manner in which noticeboards have been established from time immemorial for the benefit of pedestrians ; in other words, they are placed out of the Dermal range of vision of the man in control of a motor vehicle. In country areas the eyes of a driver are usually focused some little distance ahead, his primary concern being to watch for vehicles travelling in both directions and for other road users debouching from turnings. This means that he has the opportunity for seeing warnings in ample time. On the other hand, in cities and towns, objects at closer range must be expected; in consequence, the driver's eyes are focused on a point much nearer his own vehicle and his line of sight inclines more sharply downwards, especially where pedestrians are to be found in numbers. It is in just the latter type of area that• the written form of sign for drivers is Most common.

Why Some Signals are Missed.


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