AGRIMOTORS ON SHOW AT SWANSEA.
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The Bath and West and Southern Counties Society's Great Show in South Wales, By Our Agricultural Correspondent. 1
SWANSEA as the venue of the 'great . annual Show of the old-established and important agricultural society, known in short as the "Bath and West," proved highly successful from every point of view. There were satisfactory entries ef exhibits, both live-stock and implements, and the attendance proved, the extent of the interest taken in the activities of the Society.
The year of the " Royal " at, Cardiff-1919—was the last time that South Wales became the centre of a big Show. At that time there was considerably more money about than now, and it is doubtful whether the Swansea Show last week was not the more popular. Welshmen were keenly interested in the implements and power-farming side of the Show, and it will not surprise me to learn that manufacturers a-nd agents did well 'with their sales. Horse implements predominated over power appliances in point of numbers, although the entry. of the latter was equal to what might be described as the normal.
Mention is made of this fact, not because it has any particular significance. but because some people seem to think that it has. "'Tractors have gone out," remarked an old West Country farmer to me. "I don't like 'em. Never had one on,nay farm in my life, and never shall. They're no good: Give me horses every time." Chatting ,with various farmers, I certainly discovered a modified form of corriaboration of
this' 'view, but.P.Othing.ardte ao sweeping. '
There was a number of agrimotors at, the Show. • Inquiries were numerous and some important sales were made The trade in agrimotor implements was quite fair_, which. together with the high testimony of its value -paid by many farntera who. were Using the agrnpotor, rather proves what I .suspected—that our friend whom I have just quoted was somewhat prejudiced. Besides, how can anyonespeak honestly of an implement that he has never tried? On the other hand, the agrimotor trade during the past two years has been downright bad. Whether the appliance really has "gore out "! remains to be seen, but those who are well qualified to judge say that it has not yet "come in.". If that be .true (and I believe it is), the future success. of those firms that are producing, showing, and selling agrimotors, will be well merited, The sale of . an agrimotor is not, the rare occurrence we sometimes iniagine, and there are ' signs which unmistakably' point to coming circumstances, which, apart altogether, from anything else, will force a return to this means of power, unless, of course, some other form of mechanical power should supersede it. The .finger pointed most definitely to that sign at the "Bath and West ." Show. The horse,. sorry as I am in one way to . say it, has made its first serious step towards disappearing from the land. Farmer's are not breeding. One heard it and saw it on every hand—testimony coming from farmers, aeWards,-judges; and particularly the live -stockinsurance companies. Such a condition Of things is boand=lo bring a return to mechanical means for supplying -power. Either
there will be no horses available in a few years' time or they will cost more than the agrimotor. The machines that are now on the market are all good and reliable. There are no "dud" or mediocre ones to be found anywhere for sale except second-hand. This class has
entirely disappeared. sale, of Bedford, still carry on with the -Universal model of 23-25 h.p., which was shown at Swansea with the new Saunderson super-lightweight agrimotor, embodying entirely new features and providing an excellent machine. Certainly, Saundersoas should, .know what they are doing. The famous British Wallis (Easton.Hornsby) was there, and the International Harvester Co. were represented in full force by the lightweight International Junior.' J. I. Case Threshing Machine...Co. were represented by the 15-27 h.p. model and the new and lighter 12-20 h.p. Fairbanks-Morse and Co. exhibited the Twin 'City. One notable absentee was the AustinMotor Co. There is no need to discuis the merits of any of the abovenamed agriinotors or to describe them. These are Well established and represent, with one or two 'othersnot at the Show, what experience has dictated hmild be aimed at in agrimotor production—namely, the light hut powerful . machine. Efficiency in design and 'construction has now reached a high. standard. . • . :
" Did thengrimoters at the Show represent the type roostsuited to the district?" it might be asked, the answer to which is, " Yes." Wales is not and, although the all-wheel drive or the combined outfit might be useful in some circumstances, the four-wheel general utility machine is regarded as best. In the West of Englandthere is a demandand one that will increase—for this type of light, bandy, but powerful, agrirnotor in the fruit plantations.
Among other interesting exhibits was the Super-Sentinel , wagon; which, although not a require/neat of the ordinary • farmer, attracted as much attention as any other exhibit inthe section, because there were many visitors to whom such 6 vehicle would appeal. This Was the first public appearance of the 6-ton Super-Sentinel, described in, The Commercial Motor (the only paper, by the way, which has correctly described and illusteated, itsfeatures) on April 17th. Some Maxwell products usef ul to the farmer were shown by Difi. C. K. Andrews, JohnFowler(Leeds), Ltd., Marshall, Sons and Co., Ltd., W. Tasker, Ltd., and Wallis. and Steeyens, Ltd.; were also represented with road tractors and locomotives, and most of the . oil and accessory firms were there. The Shell-Mex stand was a veritable wonderland in miniature. Views from the tops of London buses, Of a poach tour in the Lake District, and of a tractor ploughing were among the attractions which created untold interest. British Petroleum Co., Ltd., took a much snore serious view of life
and exhibited. only. "solid facts representative of their products. Besides motor spirit, the Anglo-American. Oil Co., Ltd.,' had on their stand many products and manufactures useful to the farmer.