The American Invasion.
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Up to the time of going to press we have learnt of no fewer than 37 American chassis or" trucks " as they are dubbed by our transatlantic friends, which either are already on offer in. the British market or are shortly to be " placed " here.
As the recognized Users' Journal, it is our duty, and will continue to be so, for us to examine and report in our columns upon all the practical examples of this and any other origin which are brought to our notice. Our raison d'être is, of course, to serve the user's interests, He is confronted, as we have pointed out week after week lately, with a series of most awkward dilemmas and, while leaving to him, the ultimate decision, we must, so far as possible, arrange that he, is conversant with all the facts of the situation created by the war and its subsiduary effects. Of the latter the most important for the industry as a whole, whether as user or manufacturer, undoubtedly is the American invasion which has already in part taken place and which bids fair to grow to very large dimensions. This fact has to be faced. Our pages have not ignored it. '
The user knows full well of the insuperable superiority of the British , petrol-propelled commercial vehicle ; he also is aware of .the' unique character of British steam-wagon construction. He has arrived at a stage of experience which leaves him very little in doubt as to the capability of the British models. Left to himself the user makes no demur as to his choice between the example of first-line British manufacture and ; those from overseas. Patriotism, it is urged, should, where possible, make the user give no orders for replacements or for new equipment, except for such date as his approved maker can again supply. Consideration of this kind is the due of those manufacturers whose outputs have been impressed for Government purposes. No war profits will make up for the. ravages on sales books which hasty alternative purchases will ultimately reveal.
There are, however, many cases where it is vital that the nation's wheels of industry must not be allowed to cease revolving because of the. inability to secure just the machine which is required. In such cases the American alternative will, without doubt, be taken by the user to help him out, and on the balance, this would seem to be no undesirable. pro cedure. The involved risks represent an increase of anything between d. and 3d. per vehicle-mile on the working casts, compared with results from approved British makes The American manufacturer now has an opportunity, which it has been impossible for the British industry to avoid, to come in as a competitor at a time when the home houses are temporarily helpless. This is good for the American maker, and he is proving quick to realize it. It is also good for the many people over here who are hurrying to associate themselves with this new development, some skilled in the industry, others, unfortunately for the new comers, utterly at sea in it. There is consolation in the fact that it also may in. the long run be good for the British manufacturer ; it is, at any rate, well to hope that it will be, in View of the 'fact that the circumstances which have conspired are inevitable.
The British manufacturer has, as a rule, benefited in the long run by straightiorwaxd competition The American maker has a long way to go yet to produce machines in. large numbers and in great variety, which will successfully, chassis for chassis, compete in an open market-with the big array of accepted British models.
We are being frequently asked to advise as to the suitability of this or that American chassis. Our expertoetaff, in order to assist the user, can express its opinion upon the structural characteristics of the machines in question, but, in the entire absence of running experience in this country or anywhere else than in America, it cannot, of course, advise as to any recorded performances of such machines under the circumstances pertaining to British use. If the user decide S that he cannot wait for the British manufacturer to be released from his national obliga tions, he must take the risk that was taken in the earlier days, wha:ia referenoes to and personal interviews with satisfied owners with long period experience behind them were not possible.
Many of these American inachines, although not revealing the same degree of craftsmanship in design and finish, are, it must be admitted; by no' means poor productions.; some of them are really first-class models. As a rule these latter, however; are as unattainable as are the British machines, for the same reason. The Allies get most of them A user must remember that, in audition tO-the results of the American invasion, there are still1British manufacturers with smaller outputs and perhaps shorter reputations in this country, who can still quite well quote for reasonable deliveries. When, therefore, he is considering the possibility of " making do " with an American alternative during this present extraordinary enerienee in the industry's history, he has several questions to consider. Can he afford patriotically to wait for the manufacturer of his own British machine to get going on civilian work again? Has he considered the alternative steam wagon and other available British proposals? Has he satisfied himself as to the design and construction of the American model submitted to him? Is he prepared to take the risk of the absence of running experience in this country in view of his urgent need of transport? Is he assured of the permanence of the invader's establishment in this country when the present situation has ceased? If he be satisfied on all these points, he may then quite well, with justice to our own home industry, make do with an American " truck." One of the biggest British manufacturers, indeed, is offering a model from over the water, in place of its own ordered but undelivered machines.