Out and Home. —By "The Extractor."
Page 12
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Quite a neat little steel device for slitting the ends of cigars was given to me at fessop's steel works last week. It hangs and nestles up alongside one's sovereign purse, and, after one has spoilt a few cigars and got the knack of holding it, one possesses an acquisition; A chat at the Manchester Show with Mr. Stanley Williams, of Berna Commercial Motors, disclosed the fact that, after an exhaustive test between London and Brighton, an order was placed with them for a five-ton 35h.p. lorry, for furniture removing, by Messrs. Furlong and Company, of Woolwich.
At the works of John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., I heard to my great regret of the recent death of one of their trusted representatives in the tractor department, and one with whom I came a good deal in contact —Mr. Roundel'. He had seemed to me delicate in health for some time past, and it appeared to be a chest complaint, but he eventually succumbed to appendicitis.
An excellent opening for a smart young fellow came before my notice this week. I know a firm allied to the motor trade who are large advertisers, and who, properly enough, believe in constantly changing the matter in the valuable spaces they occupy. They want a young man to see to this department and tabulate the results. A young man with some engineering knowledge will be preferred, but it is not absolutely necessary; if he has ideas he is likely to get on. A young fellow of r7 or 18 is wanted, and if I had anyone near and dear to me of that age I should delight to put him in with these people. Letters addressed to me will be forwarded.
Some very good reasons for not applying to the S.M.M.T. for space recently were adduced by Mr. J. H. Mann, of Mann's steam wagons, when I was at luncheon with him last week, one reason being that, last year, it cost them 1:6o for space to show one wagon. Then it was pointed out to me that at the Brewers' exhibition and others cheap tickets were procurable for two or three days from provincial towns to London, and understand that a similar privilege could have been obtained for the commercial motor show if the railways had been approached. It will be well to bear this in mind next year, when the show question crops up again. Mann's, by the bye, are keeping busy : I saw ready for dispatch a tipping cart for use at Osmaston Manor, the estate of Sir Peter C. Walker, Bart., a name which suggests the Walker Art Gallery and, incidentally, Warrington Ales. The size of policemen's feet has long afforded merriment in song and story, but it has been left to one of our Editorial staff, Mr. Arthur W. Windsor, in a peep into the future which appeared under the bead of " Motorcab Topics " in the issue of the 18th instant, to give the mechanical policeman's hand five fingers and a thumb. Mr. Windsor is certainly a• bold and reckless spirit to make these digital caricatures of the Force, and is evidently asking for trouble. Most people make a point of being civil to policemen, perhaps on the same principle as the old lady who always curtsied when the name of Satan was mentioned ! She explained, on being asked, that " Politeness costs nothing, and you never know what may happen."
It is something of a proposition to take a six-ton tipping wagon to pieces and pack it in cases not exceeding 3cwt. Even the boiler had to be packed in sections, and all this because the wagon had to be taken through the passes of the Andes, in Peru, on mule back, or by " mule train," as they call it. The vehicle in question is being used for the carting of copper ore, from an altitude of 9,000 feet to a lower level, for smelting purposes, because at the higher altitude the atmospheric pressure is only a little over half that at sea level, and smelting is impossible there. Another interesting point is that each wagon carries a small circular saw, which is fitted with two road wheels and trails behind in accordance with this Journal's illustration of the t4th November, 1907. This is used for cutting up wood into suitable blocks for fuel, the wood being " gathered " en route. The Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Company is this week dispatching one of its vehicles so divided and packed, according to Mr. E. A. Jarmain.
It was a source of joyto me to renew acquaintance, at the Manchester Show, with some old-time colleagues of mine at a time when I represented, as I did for many years, a Lancashire motor firm Charles Davies, this year's President of the local Motor Trades Association which controls the Manchester Show, and who was most fittingly referred to by one of the speakers at the opening as " Charles Foden Davies," is a well-known figure in the steam-wagon trade; W. L. Carritte, one of the founders and a former President of the same Association; Francis Burnett ; and W. A. Cunliffe. The two last-named gentlemen are still identified with the fortunes of Bradbury's, of Oldham. Carritte and I worked together in most excellent harmony for more years than I care to count. I notice, now, his waistcoat is becoming hemispherical
but then, there are others !
At the opening luncheon, Colonel Crompton discoursed most interestingly on the use of the motor wagon in conection with agricultural produce, and its inevitable adoption in the army, and their use in time of war, and Mr. E. Shrapnell Smith proposed the toast of "The Association." One speaker referred, to the present exhibition, but not at all dolorously, as an " unsanctified " show, and Ingoldsby's famous lines from the Jackdaw of Rheims, oocurred to me :
" Never was heard such a terrible curse,
" And what gave rise to no little surprise; " Nob:aly seemed one penny the worse."
Another speaker gave his definition of the well-known letters S.M.M.T.—the brief way of indicating the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders_ This gentleman, in a spirit of banter, construed it into "Seize Money, Make Tracks," and he further said, referring to their association's attitude, that when they were not able to defend themselves it might be safely concluded they were all dead. Mr. Henry Spurrier, jun., of Leyland Motors, Ltd., supported the chairman, and Mr. Arthur Spurrier proposed Colonel Crompton's health. Amongst those present, J noticed : Mr. Ernest Doak, of Dook-Swain and Dook's-Hercules tires; Mr. Clayton, of Clayton and Co. (Huddersfield), Ltd.; Mr. Balkwill, of Stagg and Robson's ; Mr. W. H. Clay and Mr. Stanway, of Ryknield Motors; Mr. Gillespie, of Foden's Steam Wagons; and Mr. Hindrnarsh, of Shell motor spirit. The pleasure-vehicle side was also well represented, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. I have already heard of several commercial vehicles being sold at the show.