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NEW AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY DIRECTOR.

25th October 1917
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Page 3, 25th October 1917 — NEW AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY DIRECTOR.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Mr. H. C. B. Underdown, of

Commercial Cars, Ltd., Takes the Wheel.

.mri. H. C. B. UNDERDOWN, the new Director of Agricultural Machinery at• the Ministry of Munitions., is one of the most familiar figures in commercial motor manufacturing circles. He has been intimately identified with the heavy vehicle movement since its infancy, and has always been one of the most active and vigorous champions when its progress and interests have been assailed.

Educated at Oxford, he was called to the Bar, read law but did not practise. To his inclinations and temperament the brisker spirit of the City made stronger appeal than the 'enervating atmosphere of the -Courts. In 1905 he became attached to the self-propelled traffic movement, which was then commanding world-wide attention, especially in so far as it concerned commercial operations. With one or two kindred spirits a small siynclieate was formed with Mr. Harry Tilde/down, as he is more familiarly known throughout the trade, -at its head, essentially to try out and determine the commercial value of the Linley cbang.espeecLgearbox.

The experiments therewith proving promising, a 4-ton motor lorry was turned out in a South London workshop and placed upon the mar

ket. Its features, especially the gearbox with its automatic changespeed,gcar, aroused immediate •attention, and the outlook appeared so, promising as to . give birth to Commercial Cars. Ltd.,with its home at Luton. That was in 1905; to-day the works cover five acres, and give steady employment to 800 to 1000 hands, devoted to the manufacture of commercial vehicles, with Mr. Underdown guiding its destinies as chairmanand managing. director. -It may be remarked

pauant that the assumption of the responsibilities for agricultural tractors and other urgently de'manded machinery will in no wise affect the Director's connection with the destinies of the Commercar.

Mr. 'Underclown's -commercial activities and , interests are diversified. He is a ,direetor•ol•flic Direct United States Cable Co., the Trinidad Oilfields, Ltd:, and the Sheffield-Simplex Motor Works, Ltd. He has close associations with the land, owning some 4000 noses in Norfolk, of which county by the way he is a; magistrate, so is able to bring :first-hand farming experience to bear upon his new duties, which, in conjunction with his widespread commercial knowledge, should enable him to grapple with the many problems. involved in a successful manner. He .is also-a Governor of the Royal Agricultural SocietY. • Mr. Harry Underdown is acknowledged to be one of the foremost imaginative, quick-decision men in the British motoring world to-day, and the . interest of domestic Manufacturers so far as agricultural machinery is concerned is in safe hands.

In so far as the associations identified with the

teotion and advancement of the Motor industry are concerned the new Director has always played a • prominent and energetic role. Pleas on tha:earecutive of the-.A.B.RA.M., being chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Committee, and has been one of the most

enterprising and enthusiastic supporters of the ' S:M.M.T., of the General Vehicle Committee of which • he Was also chairman, only resigning the honour upon his Official appointment a few days ago. It is reassuring to learn, however, that he will pursue just as active an 'interest in the operations of these two live trade organizations as his new duties will permit, hav• ing the interests of the British motor industry sn much

at heart. efforts on=behalf of the trade in connection With the problem of the disposal of war-worn vehicles returned from the Front are well known to the* industry, and to which We have referred on more than one occasion. it is a subject which has engrossed his attention for months.


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