Anticipating Operators' Requirements
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ADDRESSING a party of prominent members of the commercial-motor industry recently, on the occasion of a visit to the Morris-Commercial works, Mr. W. G. Graham, of that company, quoted a remark made by Mr. G. C. Vickary, of William Younger and Co., Ltd., to the effect that manufacturers—among the performance of other services—should anticipate requirements.
Producing articles for which a demand is only expected is a somewhat speculative occupation. For one thing, it is sometimes impossible to foresee what influences will come into effect ; for another, the demand they will create is by no means always clearly indicated.
When signs are apparent, the maker's difficulty is correctly to interpret them ; but there is little absence of keenness to do so in these days of intense competition. As a rule, British manufacturers rise splendidly to the occasion.
The building of commercial "vehicles has recently been controlled largely by the influences of legislation, and these might have distracted designers from concentrating solely on improving the breed ; but it cannot be denied that the latest products of our factories are superior in almost every way to models of a few years ago.
Designers everywhere are, nevertheless, busily progressing, despite legal requirements, science directing their activities, although the basic motive be the promotion of sales. All operators value reliable, lasting and economic service, and the average man's definition of a good machine is that which gives him this. Many place such service before considerations of load-to-weight ratio, and some before price.
The Commercial Motor "Patents Page" is convincing evidence of the ingenious brains always striving for genuine advance. Better transmission systems, cylinder heads that give combustion nearer perfection. more efficient injection systems for oil engines, electric-ignition devices even more reliable than those in use at present—there is a host of them, and the majority is based on clever practical ideas.
Every year, every moment the user's requirement is something better. Inventive geniuses are unceasingly anticipating it.