Neutral Notes.
Page 20
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News of the Industry in Neutral Countries, However Sparse, is of Peculiar Interest at the Moment. Particularly is this so of America, as so much that is American is Being Offered Here for Sale.
Fire-engines for the Hague.
A short time ago the firm Benz and Co. of Amsterdam, supplied two motor fire-engines to the town of Scheveningen. On the demonstration which took place on delivery the trials proved very satisfactory. The same firm have also supplied two fire-engines to The Hague, while Amsterdam has two on order.
American 1916 Car Exports Valued at 220,000,000.
Significant figures are disclosed concerning the export of automobiles and heavy-vehicle chassis during the 1916 fiscal year. which ended 30th June. • The total value represented approaches very closely to £20,000,000, as compared with the corresponding figures for 1915, which were £12,000,960. Europe is still the heaviest consumer, having bought 35,280 vehicles out of a total of 77,496 exported, the former figure being 2.7 per cent, of the total output. Canada is the second greatest customer with 10,403 vehicles, Australia corning third with 7378. This is the first time that the Australian business has been deemed worthy by the Government's Statistical Department of separate classification. The biggest change in exports occur in regard to South America, the total for the year 1916 being 6725 as against 1264 for the preceding year. An analysis of the exports to Europe shows that the United Kinodora is the heaviest buyer., having purchased 18,428 machines, rather more than half the total European quantity. France is second with 7768, Russia third with 5177; Italy took 387 and Denmark 847.
America Testing Armoured Cars
An armoured car was recently subjected to an endurance test involving a run of 652 miles by the United States Government. The distance was covered in 36 hours, and we understand the car .gave every satisfaction. It was built by the Armoured Motor Car Co.,of Detroit, carrying a mounted gun fixed in a revolving turret, and with a capacity for three spare guns The car is entirely enclosed, the view of the country necessary for driving being obtained by means of periscopes. It was fitted with Hyatt roller bearings.
A Ford One-tonner.
The Ford Motor Co. is engaged upon the construction of a one-ton worm-driven commercial-vehicle chassis. It is expected that this will be ready for delivery during next winter. Chassis for demon stration purposes, it is believed, will be in the hands of Ford agents within the next few months. There is some doubt as yet concerning the peice at which this latest Ford production will be sold, but £100 is mentioned as the probable figure.
Petrol Cheaper. Petrol is a cent per gallon cheaper all over the country, with the exception of Chicago and St. Louis. The primary cause is stated to be the fall in crude prices, which have dropped five to ten cents a barrel recently. In Texas the user is paying 18 cents a gallon, throughout the middle west, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and New York, the price is 23 cents per gallon, in Boston 24, and in Jersey 22. A further fall in price is expected shortly.
From a Dutch Source.
There is a great scarcity of rubber in Denmark and particularly tires. A Ithongii England has not entirely prohibited the imports, restrictions are very severe. Thus it is necessary to return all old tires when new ones are purchased. No French, English or American tires may be purchased by owners of German vehicles delivered after let April, 1915. Germany, however, has sent Denmark 100 tires on condition that they are solely used on German vehicles' and it is understood that further deliveries will follow subject to the same conditions.
American concerns are obtaining a big market in Holland, and practically every well-known make of car, tire or accessory is now represented by agents. Amongst the most prominent are Packard, Leole, Detroiter, Maxwell, Cadillac, Winton, Stearns-Knight. Goodyear and Goodrich.