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BIRD'S EYE
Page 97
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By The Hawk VIEW Showing the Range Several weeks ago the Ford Motor Co. unleashed a superbly organized exercise in Copenhagen to introduce the D series. About 1,500 dealers from all over Europe were flown in by Ford, treated like visiting Royalty, and shown the vehicles. Having myself been a guest at that occasion, I can say quite definitely that the organization was faultless—it rolled inexorably along like a five-star Leviathan.
And that, I suppose, was the trouble. .
Who Let Him In? A contingent of British
dealers arrived at London Airport. One man's name was not on the list that Ford had prepared. Despite his concern, he was assured everything was under control. Slightly worried, he boarded the plane with the Ford party and by the time he reached Copenhagen a room had been booked for him. He was whisked off (still with the party) in a luxurious coach, and his baggage was in his room when he arrived. Soon afterwards he was transported to Elsinore for dinner.
During the course of the evening he finally made his point: he wasn't a Ford dealer; he was a bicycle manu facturer on his way to Amsterdam! It's true, honest injun!
Chinese Gipsys Ford aren't the only perfec
tionists. BMC were pcesented with a problem when they landed a 300-vehicle order from China for Austin Gipsys. Shipments began a week or so ago. But how do you explain to a Chinese mechanic the workings of the Gipsy?
There was, of course, only one answer possible. The official handbook was completely rewritten at Longbridge.
In Chinese. By hand!
Ma Says It's Good Bob Wilson, the tireless
chairman of the Fife and District Tipper Operators Association, is getting his leg pulled about last week's York Third
Axle advertisement in The Commercial Motor. At an RI-IA function in Glasgow last week I am told that people were wanting to know how much he received for the photograph of one of his company's (M. A. Wilson and Sons) Dodge tippers. "Five hundred pounds at least," Bob was heard to reply. I gather that York can expect an early boost of third axle orders from the area 'cause at least one voice was heard to exclaim, "If Ma Wilson (as he is known) says it's good—it's good ".
Cherchez lea Femmes Miss Melinda (Rindy) Cundy. on a mechanic's course at the Perkins' Service School, says: "I love fiddling with engines." Lucky engines to be tuned up by a lady! Has anyone ever thought of compiling a register of lady transport engineers, on the lines of the exclusive "Caterpillar Club "? The industry should surely cherchez Ins femmes and give them an annual beano.
Salopia's Harvest The farming industry was
well represented at the jubilee lunch arranged last week by Salopia Saloon Coaches Ltd. to mark their Golden Jubilee. The reason for this was explained before the speechmaking which followed the eating.
Whitchurch—Salopia's base—lies in the heart of a rich agricultural area, and whilst many of the company's passengers on the extended tours are brought in from further afield, the many farmers and agricultural workers in the area are prospective customers—provided that the harvesi is a good and early one. Timing of the harvest is an important factor as far as late season tours are concerned —a good harvest invariably leads to a flood of inquiries from the farming fraternity who feel, presumably, that they have earned a good rest.
Tyre Hatching The fact that The Hawk was
to be seen last week belting around Brands Hatch racing circuit at the wheel of a fairly hot saloon does not indicate an intention to take up motor racing—simply that he could not resist the opportunity provided at Pirelli's demonstration of Cinturato tyre virtues. He was, however, interested to learn that the company is pressing ahead with a commercial-vehicle version of this radial-ply textile-cord tyre.
Something Rotten ? If Western LA "Sammy " Gibbon is as well versed in Shakespeare as he undoubtedly is in transport law, he may well be pondering on the appropriate lines from Hamlet:
The time is out of joint; 0 cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right!
Mr. Samuel-Gibbon's incisive probing of the evidence in the big Contract A enquiry, concerning allegedly low rates paid by some West of England quarry owners, set a standard which other LAs might strive to emulate. Could something be rotten in the state of Denmark, or, maybe, in the Forest of Dean?