Out and Horne.
Page 19
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Lamps Alight.
Light up your lamps at :-4.36 on Thursday, 4.35 on Friday, 4.34 on Saturday, 4.32 on Monday, 4.31 on Tuesday, 4.30 on Wednesday. The above times are for London. In Edinburgh light up 22 mins. later, Newcastle 20 mins. later, Liverpool 34 mins. later, Birmingham 33 mins, later. For Dublin the lightingup time reckoned in the local mean time for the district is 22 mins. later than London time.
How We Keep Live.
Wilcox's of Southwark Street pay us this compliment: "One thing," they say, "you do keep your paper alive." My first thoughts flew, of course, to the reviviscence of this particular feature, "Out and Home." Then I wondered querulously if by chance they referred to the page of " One Hears, because there wct%s a smart par on that page a few weeks ago—I wrote it myself. Then I fell-a-thinking that it must be the more solid dishes, the leading articles, which had riveted their attention, or was it " Our Despatches from the Front," " Enemy Pars," " Neutral Notes," or "Wheels of Industry "2 At last after this process of elimination and, seeing that the remark was addressed to me personally, I concluded that they referred to those beautful pages, ever changing, always hopeful and bright—the advertisements.
Manufacturers Having a Strenuous Time.
" This war will mean thc making or breaking of many manufacturers," said a controlled manufacturer to me this week, as I sat discussing business with him. I picked up a small brass article from the desk, asking its use. For answer I was told that he had to turn out a million and a quarter within a week, and the talk turned on to how difficult it was to realize the extent of a million completed articles. The metal required for these is stupendous ; as I sat the telephone bell rang and within five minutes a cheque for 22000 was promised for that afternoon to seal the bargain, and this is a small business. My friend went to the bank a few days ago saying he should want £25,000 advancing ; that afternoon the, money was forthcoming, as 240,000 was 10 days before. Our sense of proportion is getting rapidly distended. My friend has a shipload of lathes and other tools coming over from the U.S.A., uninsured, too ; he will feel, doubtless, more comfortable ,when they are safely in the docks at Liverpool.
if the War Would Stop To-morrow.
The thought forces itself on one that the interest of these manufacturers, who are daily, at their own risk, increasing buildings and plant, is in a continuance of the war for some time to come. I ventured to express this view, and was glad to find my manufacturer give utterance to the remark " I would willingly sacrifice all my business interests if the war could stop to-morrow," and so say all of us.
Dennis Do Well.
A very satisfactory report will be presented to the Dennis shareholders on Monday the 22nd inst. The profits for the year ended 30th September. 1915, amount to 2117,220 6s., as against 261,484 last year, and 243,249 for the year before. It is necessary, on the present occasion, to provide for the liability in respect of Excess Profits Duty, which is not yet ascertained. I notice an investment of 220,000 in the 4:1 per cent. War Loan, and also cash at bank and in hand 2118.109 7s. 9a.. The dividend reaches 10 per cent. for the whole of the year, and in addition there is a bonus of 1s. per share.
Zepps. at "Victoria Street Station."
According to the map given on this page, which is copied precisely from a German motor paper,
Islington is the gate of Central London, and " Victoria Street Station " is the outlet. The loop line shown would appear to indicate the route taken by a Zeppelin just skirting the Themse—as they prettily put it. What disturbs me, however, is that they have apparently been dropping their " bomben " on the Bank of England, and I never heard of it. I hope the few Five Shilling War Loan Vouchers I have deposited there are still intact.
011a Pedrida.
The number of people who have asked me to see them on business when the war is over" is legion. I don't know why, but it makes one think of " when the leaves begin to turn." It sounds a long way off anyway.
Mr. J. A. Rennie, the ooneessionnaire for the Shakespeare trucks, has had an interesting career. His eyes fairly glow as he recalls his early days farming in Australia. The name Shakespeare has not been tacked on in an attempt to anglicize. The name, as I have seen, is that of the manufacturer. Mr. Rennie is just over the military age, but looks younger. He has adopted his own badge to save badgering; a small tablet adorns his buttonhole age 41.
A prominent concern, advertising American lorries in this journal, is looking for a first-class salesman with headquarters in London, but who would have to make journeys into the provinces. Real good remuneration will be paid to the right man, who must know the business. Letters addressed " American " to this office will be forwarded and held in confidence.
Only the fact that I was busily engaged in Birmingham and Manchester prevented me from attending the big Commerear Concert at Luton. I hear it went "with a bang," as the phrase goes. We shall have to revise our everyday expressions of this kind, these 'Zeppelin days One of my associates in the pre-Commercial-Motor days turned up last week after a year of A.S.C., M.T. in France. Sonic interesting talk transpired about Campaign Comforts and then about war vehicles. "My Leyland never gave me five minutes' worry in spite of the awful conditions," was his comment.