It was not until Monday that I was enabled to
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pay a visit to the Acro Exhibition, and I At the Aero just missed Mr. H. Show. G. Burford, who has
a magnificent display of Humber fliers. Brown Brothers, Ltd., has a useful stand, showing principally aeroplane fitments and engines, and, flitting hither and thither, like a will o' the wisp, was Mr. John Cates, of " Shell " spirit; this gentleman is becoming the oracle of the Society of Chauffeurs—presiding at their dinners and spreading his genial influence around. I silently observed Mr. H. Spurrier, Jr., eagerly scanning monoplanes and biplanes, obviously more interested in those built for carrying a little ex
Anything but tin weight; I shall Exercise, not be surprised to see him in the air one day, for he is a venturesome spirit. Subsequently, I jostled against him trying to find a small motor suitable for a dinghy, because the pulling to and from his yacht is a little troublesome forsooth! I have found it like that. When on a motoring holiday we would go and see the sights which we could reach by the car and not otherwise, and so, the exercise obtained was infinitesimal. The only remedy is the royal and ancient game of golf, but that is by the way.
The wave of improvement, in trade continues apace, and everywhere indications present themA Healthier selves; it is obvious, Tone. as soon as the news paper representative appears on the horizon. A firmer tone is distinctly apparent, and, at several works I have visited during the last week, one does not require to be -told that it is a case of all hands to the pump. The Wolseley Co. has its hands full with pleasure cars, and I have before me an advance copy of its catalogue of marine and aero engines: this shows how completely the works are tackling that side of the business. A return to the commercial vehicle is to be the very next step. Then, there is the " Commer Car " coneeru, as full of work as ever they can he. I hear that Mr. F. J. Field has lately joined them, and I congratulated him on getting in with such a representative house, and one whose products enjoy so fine a reputation. I have, too, seen some of the tire firms quite recently ; competition amongst them is of the keenest description, but, all the same, they are doing excellent business. Peter Union is no exception to the rule; Polack's are going very strong ; when I called at Dunlop's, at Aston. I found the same healthy tone prevailing; I found Mr. Challiner, of Shrewsbury and Challiner, poked away in a temporary office while his new factory and offices are quickly going up, and he informed me, with evident satisfaction, that the chimney was put up in a shade under two days—a marvellous
instanee of rapid building. At the Star Engineering Works, at Wolver Tire Firms Busy.
hampten, orders for cars and vans come in at the rate of three a day : I hear great things of a new two-ton vehicle, for commercial work, width a ill be put on the market very quickly. I also saw in the shop a fine aeroplane, every part of which—engine included —has been built in the Star works. The Sunbeam people are working double shifts, and at the Belsize works, at Manchester, they are getting as
busy with vans as
The Haitey with cabs, which Re-organization. signifies a good deal. Before leaving Loadon, I spent an hour with Mr. Arthur J. Foster, of the B.U.R.T. Co., the concessionaires for the Halley Industrial Motors, and he is tackling the organization of this business in a very thorough fashion. Many additions to the staff are in process, and I begin to understand more cleanly now why Mr. George H. Halley was so satisfied over this new combination. Altogether, it seems to me the heavy motor trade appears to have taken a new lease of life.