Out and Home.—By "The Extractor."
Page 11
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The Trial of the Paris Show. Curzon and the Crimea. Murky Manchester and Grey Glasgow.
I was reminded the other day of one of Charles Dickens's characters, and although I possess most of his works and letters, I cannot locate the one in question. Anyhow, he draws a picture of a prosperous undertaker walking at the head of probably the most gorgeous funeral procession of the year. It is part of his business, of course, to look preternaturally solemn, but, as he passes one of his business competitors, he has much difficulty in disposing of a smile of satisfaction which threatens to suffuse his features. I was reminded, I say, of this the other day when I met Mr. Charles Foden Davies, who explained to me that he was afraid he should be obliged to run over to the Paris Show for a few days—against his will.
It transpired, in subsequent conversation with Foden's popular representative, that he had just returned from the West Country, after visiting their new agents for that district, Messrs. Mais and Bretherton. of Bristol. I asked if tins was the same Bretherton who used to make steam wagons some years ago at Willesden, and I was much interested to know that it was so. Bretherton and Bryan was the concern, and I remember we were much impressed at the time with both the wagon and the man. He certainly has the knowledge, and should, with his partner, prove a most-useful agent, especially as they will be able +o undertake all kinds of repairs and to stock a complete selection of Foden spare parts.
From all sides we, bear of the enormous resources and the wealth of Russia, but the attempts to find motor business there have hitherto been fraught with difficulties. Mr. Stuart A. Curzon has just returned from a trip to that country, however, and is in high feather about his business prospects. He is now the managing director of the General Motor Service of Russia). Ltd., amongst his other manifold occupations.
His main idea in visiting Russia was firmly to establish the position of his company in the Crimea. He has now procured permits to run between all the important towns of that territory, as well as preliminary contracts extending to two million poods of merchandise per annum (a pood is approximately 36 lb.).
I gather that he sent out a double-deck bus to make tests of various routes, and its innovation has been almost frantically welcomed by the people there. It is now engaged in regular service between Simperopok and Karasubazar_ The main difficulty that its representatives have in dealing with this bus is to fight the crowds that insist in getting on to it. Takings per mile are so high, that for fear of being called names, he declines to quote them to me.
The support of all the important people of the Crimea has been obtained, including that of the powerful landowner, Prince G-eorges Kougoucheff, Chamberlain to the Czar.
Enormous fruit-growing tracts lie all round the Crimea, and the owners are extremely keen to make contracts for cartage of their goods.
Mr. Curzon is now actively engaged in promoting a large company, with the ambitious view of running 400 vehicles throughout the Crimea. for passenger and goods traffic. He intends to use Daimler four-ton vehicles, owing to the extraordinary satisfaction that has been .obtained by the tests that have been made under working conditions in Russia.
The demand for chars-h-bancs on British lines extends even to Copenhagen. On page 183 will be seen a picture of one of the Dennis vehicles, two of which have been supplied through Messrs. Lowener and Co., who use them for sight-seeing trips. The accompany-. ing guide will be seen standing beside the machine. It may be interesting for chars-à-banes users to know that the price charged per head is 16 kroners or 18s. for a round of approximately 80 miles. This price includes the " soul's sincere desire," a free lunch. "Eighty miles and a meal for eighteen bob "—not a bad investment.
Everyone, T thought, except myself had taken holiday, but I found at Manchester last week that Mr. C. S. Challiner, of the Shrewsbury and Challiner Tyre Co., had just set off for a week's walking tour, and Mr. E. Mayet, the British agent for the Aries commercial vehicle, was about to start for his native Franca for a couple of weeks stay. In this case, it will be partly a business trip because his visit synchronizes with the Paris Show, but, anyhow, a trip to La Belle France is regarded by us poor stay-at-homes as a holiday.
The same has never been inferred by the man who has to go down to Manchester, for instance, because, for some odd reason, apart from being a great business centre, Man chester has acquired a. dismal character. I have never yet met a, human being apart from the native article who had a good word for Cottonopolis. Yet the other day in the brilliant autumn sunshine some of the principal streets looked animated, if not almost gay.
Glasgow has acquired the same notoriety for dismalness. It must be the uniform greyness of the buildings, together with the evenly intersected streets -which are strangely alike in the two towns. All the same, although I share the prejudice, I usually proceed to these two towns with a feeling of commercial blithesomeness, bemuse they resemble London in one important respect—someone or other is bound to be busy.
It will have been noticed that I have chronicled from, time to time the recurrence of vacancies for representatives in solid-tire concerns. I am glad to say that I have recently been the medium for fixing up several important appointments. I do not think thatTeople even yet realize the extent of the. turnover on solid tires and the opportunities for really smart men for making money. The lousiness is becoming gigantic, and there is room for several really good men as chief representatives of the best tire firms, but they must be men who ca-n influence business. Travellers there are by the score who can follow up inquiries, can state the case for their own particular tire, men of the "plodding" type, a Very useful and necessary individual, but never worth more in any trade or profession than about £150 a year. At the moment I am looking for some man different to this. I have a first-class tire concern in view which does not object to paying first-class remuneration to a man who can influence a large turnover. It is a man who is widely known and well liked who can a get the ear" of the large users and manufacturers. It is not sufficient to leave cards and see only inter-. mediaries in this particular case. The representative will have an excellent tire to sell, and it will be no to him to find the market. I shall be glad to receive letters, which will he held in strict confidence, and I will see that they reach the proper quarter. They must, however, emanate in this case from persons who know the large users of tires either through a previous acquaintance with the tire business or through some other branch of the motor trade. Letters to "Excellent," care of this paper.