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Out and Home. By "The Extractor."

30th November 1911
Page 13
Page 13, 30th November 1911 — Out and Home. By "The Extractor."
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The limit, I think, has been reached in the matter of price cutting of solid tires, and I venture to put on record a word or two of warning at this juncture. Competition was never so keen as at present and doubtless the buyers in some of the larger commercialchassis concerns as well as those with some of the large users are as keen as it is possible to be ; with all these things there is a point where it reaches the suicidal to gain an apparent advantage over a competing concern by a quotation which plainly can bear no profit, but must represent a distinct loss. I am only giving my individual opinion, as one interested in both chassis makers and tire makers, when I say that it is time to pull up and go through a process of self examination ; I think if I were in the tire business I should want to meet my fellow competitors and discuss the whole thing frankly, and try and arrive at some workable understanding. It may be inferred from the foregoing that before penning these lines I have information of quotations transcendentally low in figure, and they are not given for supplies to vehicles

to be shown at an exhibition ; in such a case it may reasonably be argued that a substantial part can be placed to the publicity account. The quotations in question are for ordinary supplies, From tire makers of the first order, to chassis makers ; therefore it is to my mind sufficiently serious to warrant this warning note.

It is often said that it takes at least a war to rub up our geography ; then, by studying the maps which appear in the papers, we learn where the places are— from Tripoli to Timbuctoo. I find the Overseas Annual with which we

are now deeply engaged has the same educational and enlightening effect I am finding out daily the odd countries where commercial motors are at present used, and the various purposes for which they are employed. Rudyard Kipling wrote of Mandalay and " Ele

phants a-piling teak in the spludgy squdgy creek." It will not be long before the elephant follows the horse into antedeluvianism ; one manufacturer recently told me that he noticed inquiries from last year's export number from 13 different countries, some of which countries he had never even heard

of before.

It is interesting to note how some of the tire makers have gone wholeheartedly into the making of golf balls, those most noticeable being the following, which I give alphabetically for obvious reasons : Avon, Dunlop, Al idland, Silvertown and Wood-Milne; all British makers it will be observed. The Continental makers, prominent as they are with solid tires, do not seem to have perceived the tremendous opening for them in this country ; I have a recollection that the Polack had a shot at ball• making some years ago, but I think they must, have dropped it. It. does seem to me that the tire firms with their facilities should practically monopolize this business which is growing in an incredible manner in all parts of the world.

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