On making a friendly call last week on Mr. 0.
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L. Wells, the Midland agent for Albion commercial vehicles, I was concerned to find that he is but slowly recovering from the effects of an accident which might easily have had a tragic termination. A piece of loose masonry on one of the public buildings in Birmingham fell on Mr. Wells's devoted head as he was passing along the street ; by great good fortune he was wearing a straw hat at the time and the strong top edge of the hat saved his head from fatal hurt, although he has passed through, and is still experiencing, a very bad time. I saw the hat itself, and it makes one shudder to see the dent in it. I once had an almost identical experience: some years ago it was the custom for every self-respecting, righteous person in the City of London to wear a silk hat ; as I answer the above description so precisely I was thus immaculately hatted. In my case, the only suffering was the loss of the hat and my dignity, because, for the moment, T was bonneted. Anyhow, in Mr. Wells's case, I am glad it is no worse, and I hope soon to hear that he has entirely recovered.
Ti. was made clear to me, when at Preston one day last week, that Wood-Milne solid tires have been successfully launched upon the market. For a little time past some users in the neighbourhood of Preston have been seriously trying these steel-rubber tires, and it is significant of their most favourable opinion now that repeat orders are being placed with the Wood-Milne people ; further, the L. and N.W. Rly. Co., and the Army Service Corps, have placed orders for Wood-Milne tires, so it will be apparent that this make, already so successful with pneumatic tires, has to be reckoned with.
It goes without saying by this time that the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., in addition to making excellent solid tires, has made a lasting
success in another direction—with its golf-balls. In my mild way I play a round or two every week, and the Dunlop Junior has become my prime favourite, even though I have to pay full price for the same, which always comes amiss to me, but which I strive to dismiss from my mind ; however, once or twice a year, when I call at Manor Mills, I am invariably presented with a ball, and last week it-was a new type--the stud pattern— and the special marking really has the effect they claim for it; I found, last week-end, that approaches to fiery greens were arrested with very great precision ; the trouble, this dry summer, seems to be in that direction, and my "short" game with this stud pattern astonished myself and, for once, paralysed an old opponent.
The idea of choosing Whit Monday for the Coronation parade gave one a momentary shudder, but I for one felt a real glow of pleasure at Monday's remarkable sight, because those of us—and there are many now—in the commercialvehicle movement who have done hard missionary work in the cause and have tried to foster and encourage mechanical transport, partly, no doubt, because one's interests lie in that direction, but principally because one's ideals and beliefs are with the movement, begin to expect evidences of growth, unless one's heart is in the work there can be but little enthusiasm-and enthusiasm is essential in this world of motors. These thoughts are induced by the gathering at Earl's Court, and by the strenuous work of the officials, with whom I include the marshals. It was a great encouragement to see those lines of vehicles ; it helps one to realize more vividly how the commercialvehicle movement is progressing, and I think all honour is due to the members of the Commercial Motor Users Association, and to the prize givers, for making practicable and possible this gigantic undertaking.