DEMONSTRATION OF COMMERCIAL SIDECARS.
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Agents and the General Public Flock to See the "Travelling Olympia." Trade Stimulated in the South of England.
XIA T the moment of writing, the second annual demonstration of commercial sidecars organised by the AutoCycle Union on behalf of the British Cycle and Motorcycle Manufacturers' and Traders' Union, Ltd., is nearing its completion, as the direct result of the undoubted success which attended a similar event held last year in the Eastern Counties, Yorkshire, Lancashire and the Midlands. This year the South of England was selected for the purposes of the demonstration and from the moment that the procession of utility carriers started from Reading On its 600-mile tour, unprecedented interest has been evinced all along the route. It is rather strange to note the absence from the entry list of several firms who for many years have realised the demand for this type of parcelcarrying vehicle, and who have numbers of their products actually on the road. Maybe the fact is realized that for the ordinary motorcycle market the season is drawing to a close, or, perhaps, it is owing to the proximity of the motorcycle show ; but we cannot help feeling that they have made a mistake in not taking advantage of such a cheap and effective means of propa ‘ganda amongst their agents.
Be that as it may, the entry list may be termed fairly representative, and two firms in particular are taking full advantage of the demonstration, Dunford and Elliot (Sheffield), Ltd., and Ttudge Whitworth, Ltd., each having entered four demonstration outfits. In both cases the firms have included in their exhibits not only general utility pared-carrying sidecars, but also outfits which have attracted considerable attention on all sides—the former with a complete fire-engine and the latter with an ice-cream wagon and a tradesman's carrier drawing a tradesman's delivery-van trailer in its wake. Incidentally, this is the biggest load-carrying outfit in the demonstration, being able to cope with no less than 8 cwt. of goods.
Horse-power varies from the 9.8611.p. B.S.A. milk-float and the 9.76 h.p. Royal B35
Enfield milk-float to the minute 1.72 h.p. Francis-Barnett entered by Messrs. Meeten Bros., of Dorking, with Meeteu box body capable of handling 1 cwt. of parcels as surely no dashing young errand-boy could hope to do on. a pedal tricycle! Ariel Works, Ltd., are making a special appeal to their agents direct and to their ordinary motorcycling customers in general by utilisinga hot body with the legend " Aridl
Service" painted upon it, the load consisting of a selection of various Anal spare parts. Dorway Sidecars, Ltd., are carrying, upon a commercial truck, a touring body with sub-frame and are demonstrating the folding principle of their patent chassis.
This year a three-wheeler is in evidence entered by J. Warrick and Co., Ltd., whose small van is so familiar to Londoners.
The Watsonian Folding Sidecar Co., Ltd., are using a 6.33 h.p. Norton motorcycle, to show off the advantages of their chassis, with patent quicklyinterchangeable fittings for converting the commercial outfit into an ordinary or pleasure vehicle.
Zenith Motors, Ltd., with a Burlington tradesman's box sidecar ; 'Messrs. Mills-Fnlford, Ltd., who have harnessed a 3.50 h.p. Rex-Acme motorcycle to a commercial box sidecar ; Messrs. Humphries and Dawes, Ltd., with a 2.92 h.p. O.K. attached to a sidecar specially fitted for butchers' delivery work, and Messrs. Butterfield, Ltd., with a general parcels van hauled by a 2.47 h.p. Levis complete the miniature travelling commercial sidecar show.
With the exception of No. 7 (Dunford and Blliott; Ltd., lift-off-top van) all the demonstration machines checked in at Reading on Sunday and were duly weighed complete for the road, and a load equivalent of ballast also weighed and put on board.
Interest at the start was not as great as might have been expected, but agents knew that on the following morning they would have an opportunity of viewing the exhibits in the public market-place.
Monday came and with it a steady downpour of rain ! Punctually at 8.30 a.m. the imposing convoy left the garage and wheeled into the market-place. A stimulus to the proceedings was given by an immediate order for a butcher's An example of good salesmanship is Provided by Budge Whitworth, Ltd., who not only showed a selection of tour different models, but also clothed their drivers in immaculate white pats and peaked caps lettered suitably for the trade indicated by the particular box bodies on view. Undoubtedly one of the features of the demonstration is their tradesman's delivery van trailer. A trifle cumbersome to look upon, it has a weight capacity of anything up to 6 cwt., and being approximately 7 ft. by 5 ft. by 4 ft. 6 ins., it has a cubic capacity not far short of many four-wheeler vans. Moreover, the sidecar itself carries 2 cwt., and as they can be used separately or in conjunction, the whole outfit offers exceptional value for handling both small or large loads. Nor is it unwieldy.
The tiny Francis-Barnett, driven by Mr. 14leeton, is keeping Its place with the rest of the convoy. At an average speed of 20 m.p.h., it will cart 100 lb. load.
As the day went on the interest seemed to intensify, and a crowded market-place at Warminster kept the demonstrators busy during the time the column was halted. And so to Bath, where the local agents had arranged a truly magnificent reception.
Leaving Bath in pouring rain on Tuesday, the nineteen commercial outfits proceeded on their course, and the somewhat hilly nature of the course could be said to have given a real test of the capabilities of the machines. At Radstock and Wells small crowds assembled to inspect the machines, and during the luncheon hour at Bridgwater quite a pleasing amount of interest was displayed. By this time—only a day and half—a number of firm orders had been placed, and the agents who took interest in the show were amply re• paid for their trouble.
Various forms of advertising the demonstration were in evidence, and in one or two cases the local garage pro-, prietors had shown a real sense of the importance and usefulness of the trial.
Convoyed by a crowd of willing motorcyclists, the show moved, on to Weymouth, parked for a brief Spell on the esplanade in the middle of an excited throng, and "so to bed."
On Wednesday the riders wakened to the usual outlook of rain and wet roads, and left Weymouth prepared for the worst, but presently the clouds lifted, and for the remainder of the day gorgeous sunshine raised the spirits of everybody.
At Poole the crowd -included the Mayor, who, as an .old motorcycle rider, was keenly interested in the effort to improve trade and also in the individual exhibits.
At Bournemouth came the "lunch hour," and the motorcycles, parked in the triangle, were the object of much interest (and not a little speculation, let it be said, on the part of dear old folk who were convinced that there was a race toward!).
And so, with half the tour completed and interest growing on all sides, the demonstration can be said to be achieving its purpose in no uncertain manner. Firm orders have been placed, agencies established, a host of inquiries received and the seeds of further propaganda sown, not only all along the course, • but throughout the adjacent areas.