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Ay "The &")ctra ceor " Another Cartoon at Cast.
An excellent impression has been imparted by our artist of Mr. H. White-Stevens, of the Mandslay Motor Co., Ltd. In next week's issue I hope to include in these notes a short word-picture, if I may call it so, of this gentleman, whom I have known for some years.
Buses and Bumpy Roads.
Something must be done with the country roads to counteract the effect of the heavy buses which are now extending miles out of London at every point. The billowy effect produced is terrible for other road users. At one recent utomobile meeting some steam-wage • representative, I understand, exp:itined that his company's wagons had done more in the way of improving the roads than any other vehicle. Hereby he procured a very nice advertisement. I am afraid, though, that they cannot have much effect on this totally new development; they will have to go to the foundation of the road. It should be tackled, and quickly, because some roads are becoming impossible.
"The King is Dead, Long Live the icing!"
Another member of the numerous staff of Temple Press has cast longing eyes on my wonderful little 10-12 h.p. Belsize car, with the eventual result that I have been induced reluctantly to part with it. I have had infinite pleasure in piloting this car on many a business errand, and it has never failed me. I have used Wood-Milne tires all the time, and have never had anything but good to say about them, so my ini tial experiment in owning a car has been a completely happy one. There is a blot on the escutcheon which the recording angel will put down on my particular slate, I suppose, not on the manufacturer's, and which I foreshadowed in last week's notes. The bolt has fallen, in spite of all the A.A. solicitor could urge on my behalf, and my last new licence has a horrid scrawl across it. Anyhow the brave Belsize and I have parted on most friendly terms, and by a great stroke of luck I have been able to secure another car at very short notice. An order was cancelled. and T happened along to my old friend Mr. F. Jenkins of the Rover Co., Ltd., at the psychological moment, so that a new Rover " Twelve " is already in my possession and has now been through a most successful trial trip. I suspect that the man who cleans it for me is a devotee of the music halls with a special penchant for Mr. George Robey, because as I drove the new arrival into the garage his comment went in the form of "And Very Nice Too."
Exit H. G. Prested.
Amongst my early recollections, when this journal was started, was the Prested Battery concern and
Mr. .11. G. Prested, and niany pilgrimages were made to Elthorne Road, Upper Holloway. I was a motorcycle enthusiast at that time, and we pinned our faith to accumulators, only carrying a "spare," however. Through our constant association a Prested battery was included in my equipment, and I don't remember a more reliable and efficient one, Now I hear that Mr. H. G. Prested, and his brother, Mr. J. C. Prested, are no longer connected with the Prested Miners' Gas-Indicating Electric Lamp Co., Ltd., but that the business continues as before. The word "electric" seems to me to be a recent addition to that already lengthy
title. suppose it signifies that they are engaged also on the magneto side.
Well Worth. Attending, "Father's sent me out to know if it's a fight that's going on, because if it is he wants to be in it." That was my feeling about the Parade on Whit-Monday. It seemed hard to give up the one day's holiday, but we are all so keenly interested in the now rapid development of commercial vehicles that a display of 370 of them, all nicely cleaned up and of unending variety, was not to be missed. It was good, too, to note the good-humoured enthusiasm of the drivers. I had ialks with a few, and you hear practically the same note of pride and affection for their mechanical helpmates that one notices and has noticed for the team of horses. Small wonder that so many makers advertise repeat orders. The vehicles have, no doubt, accounted for themselves well, but drivers are full of their own personal enthusiasm for this or that particular make. I heard snatches of tremendous discussion, and it is good that it should be so. Then the men, their mates and womenfolk went off for a meal and the Palladium. Others of us repaired to the Royal Automobile Club for the inevitable and very welcome luncheon. In the speeches I learnt that 2400 had been spent that day in prizes. This helps one to realize the vastness of this commercial-vehicle business and its possibilities. The military officers' speeches illumined the Army Transport use of motor lorries, and Mr. II. Cannon's early trials and episodes with steam wagons struck many a responsive chord around and about, and the stories lost nothing in the telling.