A 70-van Convoy Advertises Radio
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Pollee, A.A. and Aerial Escorts Shepherd the First Convoy of Such Magnitude on the Twoday Run to Manchester
LAST Monday, at 8.30 a.m., a convoy, of some 70 vans, owned by nearly 40 manufacturers of wireless-receiving apparatus, started from Aldwych, London, on a trip to Manchester, for the radio exhibition being held in that city. This is probably the largest demonstration of its type, involving the use of motor vehicles, that has been staged in this country, and the credit for its organization is, we understand, due to Mr. Alex. E. Moody, the organizer for the Radio Manufacturers' Association.
The smooth working of the demonstration was, to a large extent, dependent upon police co-operation, and in this respect the enterprise was admirably supported. In London, police escorted the convoy as far as Finchley, whilst the Automobile Association provided patrols to accompany it throughout its two-day journey, during which it passed through such important points as St. Albans, Bedford, Kettering, Leicester, Derby, Macclesfield and Stockport. Civic receptions were provided by the authorities in several towns en route. The provincial police provided assistance in the way of arranging for escorts and superintendjag Parking.
On Monday night a halt was made
at Leicester, where parking was arranged at garages and on a site in the centre of the town, whilst loudspeaker vehicles enabled a concert and dance to be given. On leaving Leicester on Tuesday morning, an aerial escort, provided by leading personalities in the wireless industry, who arc amateur aviators, met the convoy and travelled up to Manchester with it.
Most of the vehicles participating in the event carried goods for delivery at the Manchester exhibition, whilst several of the vans were equipped with loud-speaker apparatus. With its attractive decoration, the convoy, which was half-a-mile long, was an imposing spectacle.
We were informed that the value of the goods carried was over £200,000.
A feature of the convoy that attracted much attention was a vehicle carrying the aeroplane "Heart's Content," in which Mr. .1. A. Mollison recently flew the Atlantic. In Manchester, the oods were unloaded at the exhibition and several of the vehicles embarked, or a few days, on a parade of the cit , whilst others continued their Journey, although not in convoy formation, to th wireless exhibition at Edinburgh. The 'vans are returning separately. The well-known con ern of radio
apparatus nianufactu ers, Philips Lamps, Ltd., 145, Chari g Cross Road, London, W.C.2, provide four vans and a public-address vehicle, hilst the company's transport mana er, Mr. H. A. Read, was the honorary hief marshal of the convoy.
Last year, the Radio Manufacturers Association, Astor H use, Aldwych, London, W.C2, staged a similar convoy, but on a much em er scale, only about a dozen vehicle participating. Nevertheless, the expel.' nee gained was most valuable and was urned to good account this year.
For instance, in 19 1, the fastest vehicle was placed at t e front, and it was found to be diffic It to keep the vans in convoy forma ion, but, this year, the slowest machine headed the column. The demonstration had to be timed extremely carefully throughout its operation, and each unit had its allotted position in the convoy.
This event is but another example of the important part that the motor vehicle is playing in modern publicity methods, and the radio industry will undoubtedly derive considerable benefit from the demonstration.