Out and Home._ Air Raids and Car Insurance.
Page 11
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A Sharp Reminder.
One of the first things I attended to on Monday morning last was to ring up Mr. Olden of the British Dreadnought Underwriters, Ltd., and insure the Bedford-Buick against damage by aircraft ; that contingency is not covered with the ordinary policy which fact was brought home too forcibly on Saturday last when the air raid was going on. I was driving to the office when I saw the aeroplanes coming in from the N.E., and apparently about five or six miles away. It was a thrilling experience that scramble to Rosebery Avenue, keeping one eye on the horizon eounting the enemy 'planes and keeping clear of the humans scuttling for shelter. At the same time bombs could be heard dropping and our guns were busy. I found cover when I eventually arrived at our building, but the trusty car had to be left unprotected. Perhaps some of our readers in the danger zone have also overlooked hitherto that ordinary insurance does not cover damage to cars by enemy bonlbs.
War Lorries After the War.
Much epeculation is rife as to what will happen to the commercial vehicles now in France when the war is over and the tangle is unravelled. It is thought by many that speculators in second-hand vehicles will quickly find their way over there with cash at hand buying up the best lots, with subsequent disastrous effect for a good while on the production of new vehicles; others with more optimism think that the war lorries will never find their way back to this country. I hear from many sources that lorries are getting better attention from the repair depots in France than they do on regular work at home, which would seem to indicate that a large number will find their way back to us. The Editor, Pknow, favours the view that relatively few will come back for sale.
One Idea That Holds.
Which, then, will be the best solution? A leading manufacturer gave me recently his view. "Give every manufacturer," he said to me, "the opportunity of buying back all lorries of his own make ; he will be the best man to refit them with new parts and make them ready for re-sale." A lorry may be shattered, but certain portions will come in for use with other lorries in the manufacturers' hands. Again, even with the most strenuous use, various components .never wear out, and can be utilized to the best advantage by the original makers.
This is one representative point of view, and, to my mind, is worthy of further consideration. I shall be glad to have the views of other manufacturers on the same subject. It will be interesting to have the opinion also of the dealers.
The Head-porter's Viewpoint.
The large hotels in the Provinces axe fuller than ever, a good proportion being officers on military and naval service: One is lucky to get a room, if a wire or a letter has not been sent well in advance. The headporter is entitled to his view of the matteia although one does not endorse it; it is the general opinion of these gentry as far as my observation goes. This is how it is put to me. "Oh yes, sir, we're full up all the time, but it's very different to the old days as far as the likes of us are concerned. They order you about ma different way to our regulars ; they acquire it on serviae, I suppose. We get a few of the old Army officers now and again, but not often, and these new ones are mostly what I call temporary gentlemen, sir."
War-work Night Drivers Wanted.
It occurred to an old friend the other day that as was closely identified with motor lorries I might find him some drivers willing to give a hand in some moot useful war work. The venue is London, and the work is to convey soldiers from one London terminus to another in the part of the night when London is mostly asleep. Men keep on arriving from everywhere every night, and they are profoundly thankfal for being assisted. It has been found that a'lorry for such a purpose is the best vehicle, and the City of London Motor Transport Volunteers own lorries bet are short of drivers. Meewho drive lorries by day are not expected to duplicate that work ; but others in various walks of life who can drive and who desire to "do their bit" for certain nights of the week will do well to apply to Mr. John Schofield, 50, Denbigh Road, Ealing, W. 13.
011a Podrida.
I saw some fine petrol rail-cars ready for delivery at
the Scottish Commercial Car works lastuweek.
Werties Motors are going strong in Scotland. They manage to find lorries, arid to sell them to the trade in certain instances which were mentioned.---------- Opposite our offices here are the premisessof The New Welding Co., and we notewith neighbourly interest, if nothing else, how they are exte.nding their prethises in order to cope with an increasing volume of orders. The address is 26, Rosebery Avenue, Lon don, E.C. 1.
The publicity department of Karrier Cars, Huddersfield, is very much in evidence. We like people who "do things," and notaiwith much interest the striking picture which is the frontispiece of a leaflet showing how Kaariers can flatten out the hills. "With the need came the power," aptly describes the effort.
Mr. Maurice Chapman, 75, St. George Place, Glasgow, has been known to us since the time when this journal was but a sturdy infant. The word's "Sheffield steel" will probably be found one day engraved across his heart. Meanwhile, however; he puts his heart into the agency which he holds in Glasgow for Vickers, Ltd., of Sheffield, for their stampings and
forgings and for the tool steel, etc.
Some few of the policemen in Newcastle-on-Tyne are equipped with rifles and ammunition. Very strange and awkward they look too. I received a complete answer to my inquiry as to an address I wanted, but when I went on to ask about the odd equipment and the reason for it, I was merely told
that they had had them for a long time. "