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"The extractor" Certainly, so far as I am concerned, a record was established at Manchester, last week, when a motor company, when entertaining a large number of Pressmen at luncheon, deliberately avoided all speeches, and arranged no set places for different personages. Tables for four were spread about titroom, and one tumbled in as one pleased. The result was a delightfully informal meal, and no jealousies were engendered amongst the Pressmen ; the representatives of the great daily organs and the humble plenipotentiaries from the technical motor journals sat che.ek by jowl, and seemed hugely to enjoy each other's company. Moreover, the directors and officials of Belsize Motors, Ltd., sat with different groups promiscuously, and took care to pay visits to all tables, so that this innovation was made an assured success. So much for the mid-day proceedings, which took place at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, on Wednesday, the 18th inst. Previous to that function, Belsize taxicabs, assembled in Albert Square, had whirled us off to the works at Clayton (out into the " country " as one of our guides facetiously observed), there to inspect a very extensive addition to, and rearrangement of, the works rendered necessary by the steady development of the business. It was especially interesting to me to learn that it was the increased output of taxicabs, fire-engines, delivery vans and lorries which mainly gave rise to this new building, which covers some 9,000 sq. ft. One feature greatly appealed to me : in addition to the chief officials of this company, the directors, with whom I came in contact at the Clayton works, are practical men and engineers with complete knowledge of the work and motor requirements of a surety, this practical knowledge soon reflects itself in the 1;:eneral efficiency of the works. It will serve to show the progress made by this concern when I say
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that t was founded 15 years ago on one acre of ground with 90 men ; now seven acres are covered and some 1,200 men find employment. Much interest was centred on the newest engine in the Belsize works ; its " detachability " and accessibility were being ably demonstrated. One Pressman, who repre
sents a syndicate of provincial newspapers, was rightly persistent in his thirst for knowledge and asked one question after another ; this gave an opening for the neverfailing witticism of a popular Irish journalist, "That's just like him, he must be told 40 times, I suppose, because he represents 40 papers."
An instance of the enterprise of the gigantic London stores cams before me this week, when I found a splendidly-equipped delivery van, built specially for sale at the motor
department of John Barker and Co., Ltd., of Kensington, W. For some time past "John Barker's" have been associated with the sale of tires ; later, they came to add pleasure cars with conspicuous success, and now they naturally turn to the commercial vehicle. This new 15-cwt. van promises to find its market. It is fitted with a 16-20 h.p, four-cylinder Fafnir engine, and I gather that the chassis and back axle are specially constructed for commercial work. It is claimed that it can be used satisfactorily also as a station or private hotel bus. I may say further that at a later date this journal hopes to put this van to a test and give a detailed report of the same.
When in Lancashire, recently, I ran into Mr. Geo. W. Lowcock, late of the Lowcock Commercial Motor Co., and he advised me to look round at his new offices, at 57, King Street, Manchester, at which place he has well established himself, in conjunction with a partner, as a consulting engineer for commercial motor work. He has a thorough grasp of the motor-haulage question, and knows the Manchester district and its requirements exceedingly well, so I shall be surprised if he does not meet with his share of work.