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Big Attendance at Show : B.T.C. Will Not Extend Manufacture
Page 53
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THE expectation of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders that the attendance at this year's Commercial Motor Show would be a record is likely to be fulfilled. In the first three days the number of admissions was 4,748 higher than in the comparable period of 1952. On the opening day the attendance was 6,766 and on Saturday it rose to 17,218. On Monday there were 13,718 visitors. By 5 p.m. on Tuesday, 51,386 people had passed through the turnstiles and manufacturers had booked big orders. •
Sir Brian. H. Robertson, chairman of the British Transport Commission, who officially opened the Show, said that there was no fear
that the Commission would wish to expand their manufacturing resources as long as they received the treatment that they were having.
Half the vehicle makers and about a quarter of the bodybuilders and trailer manufacturers exhibiting were suppliers to the B.T.C. Sir Brian remarked. The Commission were particularly interested in the new trailers and tankers, and in the latest articulated vehicles for railway delivery work.
As owners of some 23,000 buses, which were replaced at the rate of 1,000 a year, they were also closely concerned with bus design. " There is an example on the floor where our own engineers have made an important contribution," he said. [Sir Brian was referring to the new Routemaster bus for London.]
"We are not only very large purchasers of commercial vehicles, but at this time we are probably the largest single seller of second-hand commercial vehicles in the country," he commented. "There are some people who say that we are flooding the market with vehicles at give-away prices. There, are however, others who say our prices are exorbitant. I am not sure which is right."
1250,000 Order Within hours of the opening of the Show, Leyland Motors, Ltd., received an order for 100 Royal Tiger Worldmaster chassis, worth £250,000, from Bombay Electric Supply and Transport undertaking. The order came by cablegram. B.E.S.T. had previously ordered 40 Tiger Cub chassis.
The total number of vehicles represents Bombay's requirements for the current year.
By Tuesday, the following additional orders for Worldmasters had been received:—South Africa, 40; Uruguay, 20; Middle East, 30; Belgium, 12; Denmark, 10; Australia, 8 and Holland, 5. Twenty Octopus eight-wheelers and 6 four-wheelers had been ordered by the Coal Cartage Co., Johannesburgh, and 20 Comets by the British West Africa Corporation (U.K.), Ltd., for use in Nigeria.
On the opening day, Smith's Delivery Vehicles, Ltd., ordered 100 Karrier Bantam chassis for mobile shops.
Eight minutes after the Show opened, Charles H. Roe, Ltd., Leeds, sold four coaches, valued at £17,000, to Essex County Coaches, Ltd.
An order valued at $12,000 was received by Hindle, Smart and Co., Ltd., makers of the Helees electric 'vehicle.
On the eve of the Show, Mr. A. 13. Waring, president of 'the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, announced that a new record in output had been set up by the commercial vehicle industry in August.
Sir Reginald Rooks, deputy chairman of the Rootes Group, also stated that within a week of introducing the TS3 opposed-piston oil engine in Commer goods vehicles, orders totalling Lim. had been received from home operators alone.