Out and Home.—By "The Extractor."
Page 15
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The " Parcelcar" Prize-winner Discovered. British Makes in New South Wales.
"I am Informed That -" A Bob-sleigh Accident.
We were not long left in suspense as to the identity of the winner of the competition for naming the three-wheeler. A letter reaches me giving the very English name of John Bullock, 26, Green Lane, Featherstone, near Pontefract. Mr. Bullock is, according to his notepaper a cartage contractor, and he illustrates a motor van in his heading. I congratulate this gentleman on his success, and I have arranged for a cheque for two guineas to be sent on to him.
It is the business of a tire company to compile an exhaustive list of solid-tire users throughout the land, to compile it carefully and to keep it as far as possible to themselves. But there was no harm when the head of the Polack Tyre Co. recently let me glance at a list of commercial-vehicle users in New South Wales. I knew, of course, that things had developed out there, but I was unprepared for and delighted with such progress. The most vital feature of this list was that 97 per cent, of the commercial vehicles in use in New South Wales are British made. To put the makers alphabetically, I noticed the Albion again and again, the Argyll, and the Arrol-Johnston. Then I saw the Belsize, sent out through Mr. A. W. Roslington, I expect. Commer Cars were there, and the Dennis. Halleys were prominent and there were some Karrier Cars. It was a long list, and. I noticed, to my surprise, but few American " trucks,' as they are inelegantly called—at least the word looks inelegant to British .eyes. This all shows how well the British makers have got first footing in Australia, as I understand that the list is typical. Goodness knows it is not that Americans have no commercial vehicles. I saw a printed list—giving complete specifications of different types—by an American heavy-vehicle paper, and the number seemed interminable. But they have practically no foot
hold in Australia. Now this is quite the opposite, as I happen to know, with marine engines. The Americans supply, 1 suppose, 70 per cent, of the marine engines to Australia They do say that there are more motor boats in Sydney Harbour than in the whole of the English waterways. I merely instance this to " point a moral and adorn a tale." British makers of commercial vehicles must follow up their advantage and effectually sustain this acquired supremacy.
Amongst the odd items of information which have filtered through to me this week are: that Mr. Yarwood is on his way back from Switzerland, where he has been lately, paying a short visit to the place of origin of Berne, commercial motors ; that Mr. John Newton, of Newton and Bennett, Ltd., Manchester, has returned from a business trip to Italy ; that Mr. J. A. Wilding—who does not know Mr. Jimmie Wilding 7—is just now over in Amsterdam. Last but not least Mr. Jiilian Halford, looking sprucer and more distingu6 than ever, greeted me in the West End at the end of the week. I have not set eyes on the gentleman for years, but he assures me, with an expression that carries conviction, that whether he be in Tripoli, the Transvaal or in Timbuctoo he devours weekly the delectable hash which appears on this page. Mr. Bennett, of the Spiral Tube Co., has moved into larger premises—"more commodious" is the stock term, I believe. Anyhow, he is to be found at 61, Northdown Street, Caledonian Road, hard by the old address. There must be plenty of business about, because I have it on the authority of the Studebacker Corporation, who are the English concessionnaires for the Flanders van, that they have received orders for 300 of these vehicles, and their difficulty is to get deliveries. I saw one at the Royal Counties Show. It would appear that they are exhibiting at the principal agricultural shows.
One of the younger brigade connected with commercial motoring, but all the same one who holds an important position, had the misfortune to break his ankle whilst bobsleighing a few months ago in Switzerland. It was a demonstra• tion of how completely the ankle has recovered when this gentleman cheerfully essayed to race another individual three times round the gardens in Leicester Square. Many proceeded, I believe, from the Motor Club to witness the sporting event, and the story should finish, of ()nurse, with the triumphant victory of our bobsleighing hero, but " the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong." Anyhow, as I have said, it is the best demonstration that the accident has left our friend none the worse.