When in Sheffield rec.mtly, I w as reminded of a
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prevailing practice in t hat town which strikes me as being interesting and, as far as I know, unique. In order to provide worker; with something extra to spend on Yuletide festivities, it has become a custom, agreed upon by manufae turers, to start working overtim; three weeks before Christmas. Th first week starts lightly with two hours per day extra and is termed " Calf Week." Then, as the holiday is approached, extra hours of woik are added and the second section is denominated " Cow Week." Th final stretch before the festival find ; everyone putting in a solid 15 hours a day, and this arduous period i,. not inaptly, designated " Bu'I
Week."
One change to be recorded for th New Year is that of Mr. B. Thompson, formerly with the Lacre Co. and afterwards with F. R. Goodchild and Co. He has now been appointed safes manager to W. A. Stevens, Ltd., 26, Victoria Street, S.W.
The first package I opened on re miming work after the holidays revealed a, fountain pen sent on to me by the " Commer-Car" people with many good wishes for the festive season. I have heartily reciprocated these kindly thoughts, and if this pen will only effect some improvement in my caligraphy then a paean of praise will go up from those
members of the staff who think they arc sorely tried in deciphering my contributions. Commercial Cars, Ltd., has certainly struck a good idea in selecting such an article for Christmas presentation, for, like the poor, it will be always with me.
No matter how bad business may have been in the old year, we turn the corner with renewed hope in our hearts and make a fresh cheerful start with the beginning of another year, In the con] m e rc ialvehicle world, however, there have been
unmistakable signs of progress everywhere during 1911. The conservative horse user has been "snowed under" in all trades, and the view is expressed to me en
every side that there will, in the near future, be a demand for vehicles altogether out of proportion to the supply. The old-established houses will naturally have much difficulty in delivering, but they are and will be extending their outputs rapidly. On the other hand, fresh makers will be opening up between now and the summer and first of all they will require to "make good," as the Americans very expressively put it. To my mind not only the corner of the year, but the difficult corner of the industry has been successfully negotiated, and there is a straight road in front of us. The tire manufacturers to my mind have helped this along ; their wares play such an important part in the upkeep. Now that they have improved the quality so greatly, the vehicle maker's path is a smoother one. The demand for tires will shortly be stupendous—an excellent reason for the tire people to stop the senseless cutting of prices. More than one vehicle manufacturer has quietly remonstrated with me for my recent notes of warning on that subject, but interest on this journal is general ; it is undesirable for prices to come down below cost.
May I now venture, after this tirade, to wish my readers all they wish themselves in the year 1912.