Being at Bedford early this week during the heat wave,
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it occurred to me it would be easier to go out by bicycle to Elstow to callupon Saunderson and Gifkins and the Adams people. It was then vividly brought before me how much the cycle is used by employees of both sexes in country factories. I saw a goodly number at Saunderson's, but at the Adams place, although they were only working at half strength during this holiday period, I counted in one shed 108 employees' cycles. A new Adams commercial model has been designed, and the first few have been made, so that a description of this may be shortly looked for in these pages. Like the Adams pleasure vehicles, it will be found to be built on sound and interesting lines. At Elstow, they had just opened the works after a week's holiday, and it was apparent that the Saunderson and Gifkins tractors are in brisk demand. I also noticed large extensions to the works.
have noted with much interest the revolution that has been effected by the motor char-it-bancs on rural trips. It goes without saying that picturesque country is invariably hilly. When the horses have to toil laboriously up one side and creep down cautiously at a snail's pace on the other, with wearisome and interminable rests, very little distance can be covered. The marvellous advance that has been made in this direction is very clearly exemplified by a case which came before my notice during the past week. Bradbury's, of Oldham, had their annual staff outing on Saturday, the oth inst., and selected therefore a wonderful stretch of country through Hodder Bridge, Whitewell, Red Pump, Basha,11, Eddisford Bridge, and Clitheroe to Whalley. They are so busy that they cannot close down for a day, so they did not leave salubrious Oldham until the afternoon. Still, with a train journey and then the motor chars -a-banes, they contrived, at a very moderate cost, to get in 40 miles on the road through the pick of the Lancashire hills and dales and then to sit down to their " tea," which is really a dinner, at 5.30 p.m. Many people have no conception, from observation of conditions in the South, for instance, of the progress that has been made in char-k-bancs work. Manufacturers will do well to pay further strict attention td these developments.
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In front of me lies a picture postcard showing a most inviting panorama of tree-clad hills and a winding river ; on the banks thereof are alluring looking caravanserais where, I should say, elevators take tired people to the upper floors, and ice-cold lager beer awaits the mountain climbers' return. The picturesque spot in question is in the Austrian Alps, and my friend, who sends a few accompanying words, is Mr. Richard Bockemiibl, of the Peter Union Tyre Co. I understand from him that English is spoken everywhere there. What I do not understand—but I accept his statement implicitly—is that he daily starts his mountain climbing at 5 am. I know a much better place, especially at holiday times, for that hour in the morning. Mr. Bockemiihl is accompanied in this
holiday-making by his friend, Mr. F. W. Turner.
Still another item concerning a tire corporation, and in this case it is that famous French concern, the Gaulois. It is well to remember that this is pronounced as spelt —Gaul-waw. Foreign names of this character are a terrible puzzle to the man in the street I was inquiring my way to Les Etablissements Bergougnan, in Bath Street, City Road, and I gave it, as I thought, just the proper French inflexion, but one of their neighbour's workmen corrected me. " Ah." said he, looking very profound, " you mean the Golloise l" Since my last visit, I found a new manager installed, Mr. A. De Gory, and judging by the plans he is making, also by the issue of a comprehensive booklet (which, by the by, is worth procuring), this maker is setting about seriously now to capture a share of the British trade. Gaulois would appear to have already secured the premier position for solid tires in France.
In charge of the publicity department of the Continental Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., for many years, Mr. H. D. Kerr has now made a change ; he has been appointed to a similar post with the North British Rubber Co., Ltd., and is stationed in London. Mr. Kerr seems to have quite recovered from the remarkable balloon accident which befell him last year and appears to be as vigorous as of yore. I gather that he entered upon his new duties on the 1st of August.