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By "The 4"Jctractor" It will have been noticed that a cleavage is in progress between the B.C.R.T. Co., Ltd., and Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd. I hear of a further circular issued by the latter concern in which they carry matters a step further and give the addresses of their accredited representatives, separate from the B.U.R.T. Co., Ltd., both in London and in Manchester. It looks as if the matter will soon be thrashed out in the courts.
I know of a gentleman who is at present. in employment but is looking for a satisfactory change. I Lave known him for some years, and he is a first-rate motor engineer with many years of experience ; he is just the man to take charge of a transport company or a large cab and omnibus concern where business capability and judgment is required in addition to the efficient. handling of men. I shall be most pleased to put him in communication with anyone requiring a lean who can be depended upon. _ilddress, " Capable," care of " The Extractor," at the office of this
paper.
Friends of J. H. Adams, and they are legion, are agreed on one point, that, with his early start and what looked like his opportunities, Adams ought to be now in chief control of some great motor concern or combination of concerns, hut, of all the men I have met who are happy in their work and contented with the progress made, he stands out clearly. Adams has withstood the huffetings of fortune with a wonderful imperturbability and remains the same joyous person he was when I knew him first, away back in the 'eighties. Those of us who have come up from the cycle side hardly need to be told that "Johnny " Adams, as he is everywhere known, was the first cyclist to do Land's End to John o' Groats within the week. That was in 1883, of course, long before the days of pneumatic tires and pacemaking. He won 10 N.C.U. championships, and his records on the " ordinary " bicycle for the quartermile and the 50 miles stand even to-day. He first became seriously concerned with motors about 11 years ago, when he was made manager of a trading concern ; the
premises were on the spot now occupied by the Darracq, and the name of the undertaking was The Motor Traction Co., Ltd. They had the agency for the original Germain, and even at this period he had to deal with some CanstattDaintier buses, which were managed from Walnut Tree Walk. His colleagues at. this time were Mr. Percy Frost-Smith, who was works manager, and Mr. Andrews, who was secretary and director. At a later date, some nine years ago in fact, Adams went over to the Germain factory with Mr. A. C. Tiffadone, of Durban, and purchased two buses and three lorries. This was the absolute beginning of
commercial motoring in Natal, if not in South Africa. After this,. .Adams was connected with theBritish and Colonial Motor Co., at 11, Baker Street, W., and there he handled the Pieper, Duerkopp and. still another, the Orient Express.. It will be seen by this that the representative for the southern half of England for Belsize Motors, Ltd., was engaged very early on the heavy-vehicle side. His association with Belsize extends back. now some seven years, and the connection has proved a very-happy one. He is unstinted in his acknowledgments of the support and encouragement always afforded hint by the Belsize officials and directors. For some time now Adams has been much engaged with commercial-vehicles. He has great faith in the future of the light van, but if this is to carry 15 cwt., " it must be made to carry a ton, because people will overload." As to cabs, each day brings Adams its daily order. either for a fleet or a unit. J.H.A. thinks, that the real successes in future will be made by the smaller owners and companies ; they can change over to new patterns more easily than can the large concerns. Adams does not hesitate to attribute much of his success to the renewal of friendships formed duringhis cycle-racing career and to acquaintaneeships arising therefrom. But then I know and others know that Johnny Adams has the knack of making people interested in him and in his belongings. Like Father 011ynn, he has such a way with him, and it is never the wrong time to talk business. He is always ready to preach the gospel of the Belsize, but he is never irksome. He makes and retains business friends, who soon become personal friends everywhere. Motoring seems now to be his hobby, but he finds time for a little shooting, and for some of the varieties of billiards, at which games he would appear to be watched over by a most-merciful Providence, the "unexpected "always seems to happen to help him through. Our artist has given an indication of Adams's jaunty air, and it only remains to be said that he is an entertaining companion, full of information, humour and bonhomie ; he finds a. welcome everywhere.