Out and H ome.— " The Extractor."
Page 15
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"There is plenty of business for all of us without this suicidal cutting of prices—there is absolutely no need for it." The above expression of opinion was given to me at one of the leading solid-tire manufacturers last week, and it was confirmed at other places. I shall purposely not give any names, but from what I can gather there has been a shuffling of the cards, and those who used to bake a leading hand at cutting have perceived the folly of it. This reminds me of the famous lines:— " So comes a reckoning when the banquet's o'er—
The dreadful reckoning, and men smile no more."
Most of us enjoy the Annual Cattle Show thoroughly, because it is so different to the other shows, because the atmosphere and environment takes us temporarily "back to the land,' although we may not take an absorbing interest in the fat cattle. I was quite relieved last week to find one of the tractor people confessing that he had never cast a glance at a sheep or a cow except those in the immediate vicinity of his stand, Anyhow the agricultural people who yearly attend are a most interesting body of men. I know so many town people: who have at the back of their minds a vague idea of finishing up in the country—votaries of the simple life. I had an obverse ca&e
before me, though, not long ago. A friend of mine in the heavy-vehicle trade and located hundreds or miles from London, with nothing about him to indicate the Southerner, explained to me that he was born within the sound of Bow Bells, but was taken to the C01111try when quite a baby. He was never so well or so happy as when in London. IL must be in his blood, because his prevailing idea in life is to settle down, sooner or later, in a London
suburb !
The last paragraph was started with the idea of giving a, few stray notes about the Smithfield Show personalities,but somehow it drifted along and never reached its
object. 1 saw Mr. Pa,tehell, of Clayton and Shrittleworth's, just fresh back from Russia on his way to Lincoln in fact ; also Mr. Sparkes — formerly associated with the same firm, but now retired, arm in arm with Mr. J. Barford, of Barford and Perkins ; he was beaming with .pleasure at the sight of so many friendly faces. I did not catch sight of Mr. Charles Burrell, but the eons were keeping the flag flying. The Garretts showed prominent notices of their recent sales of steam wagons and have reason to be sa,tis• fled with their progress. Mr. Alfred Wallis, of Wallis and Steeveris, owned that their first three-ton steam wagon had been deliVered to Pickford's that very day. Mr. Trit ton, of Foster's, appeased me with a neat pocket-book—the first souvenir I have seen at the Cattle Show. Mr. Pessill, of Brown and May, although not showing his motor tractor, never seemed to have an unoccupied moment. Fetter's oil tractor came in for a wonderful share of attention ; they are also making marine engines, I hear, of the semi Diesel type. Mr. Hoare, of Taoker's, spoke brightly about the improvement in trade, particularly on the wagon side, and the new Daimler tractor keeping Tasker company in the Gilbey came in for great attention and praise. ..9.11chins were handicapped in not being able to show their latest wagon'. Mr. Hoffmann, with the Ivel tractor, was as usual in the gallery, and extracted a promise that I would go and see the Ivel on the "Pictures," as the million call them. It is in this case I understand on the Kinemacolor—a fact which has recently been mentioned in the " C.M." on several occasions. Mr. Saunderson, with his tractor, had hardly even leisure to wave his hand at me. Last but not least Foden's are not showing, but I perceived a smile broadening as it came nearer and nearer, and at last I realized that it was the ubiquitous Mr. Charles Foden Davies. I did not hear it from him but somebody told me they are so full up that they cannot promise delivery of a wagon under three months.