Out and Home.
Page 38
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A Search for Darkness. Golf at Coventry. About McCord.
By "The Extractor."
. It was bedtime when I ran across that " bright particular star " Mr. A. E. Bennett, of the Bosch Magneto Co., Ltd. All times are alike
to him. It was sufficient, that he had the new Bosch lighting installation fitted to his car, and I was whisked off from central London to find some spot dark enough effectively to show its paces, which, as may be guessed, is a difficult job. Another friend who was invited, but shall be nameless, spoke up convincingly for St. James's Park. It turned out after'wards that his flat was quite adjacent? and he thus reached home quickly and comfortably, but that is of small moment. We did not find the requisite darkness, but, at any rate, we found a marvellous illuminant. I stepped out 100 yards from the headlights and could read a railway guide by its rays at that distance. Bennett stated that a, newspaper could be read at 200 yards, and I daresay he is right. This lighting set has been a long time coming, but it seems to be pretty well what they claim for it. The next thing is the selfstarter.
The time, has come round again for the annual golf contest for the Dunlop Challenge Cup, inaugurated some five years ago, and the competition will take place at Furham Park, Coventry, on Friday. 3rd October. This event is now combined with that of the Championship of the Cycle and Motor Trades. The arrangement being that the lowest gross score wins the championship and the lowest net score secures a replica of the Dunlop trophy, which seems " quite all right,"as they say nowadays—and nowanights for that matter. It remains for intending competitors to communicate with Mr. Alfred Bednell, 13, Queen's Road, Coventry. When the storm and stress of the day is over the coin
e2 petitors can depend up on a sociable good time. Entry forms and fees must be in by 29th September.
" Has it ever McCurd to you? " This diverting phrase comes to my mind naturally as I ponder over the characteristics and career of Mr. W. A. McCurd. Long before Mr. McCurd commenced manufacturing motor lorries, he was in the vortex of the second-hand pleasurecar traffic. He graduated in Euston Road, for years he has conducted a most successful business, and he has built a, reputation for sound and straight dealing. Moreover, he has perceived that the great future lies with the conunereial vehicle. Infinite patience, and, shall I say also, perspicacity have been bestowed on the McCurd lorry, the design of which, as has been rightly said, " bristles with goad points."
As to the sentence with which this notice commences, it was the headline of many of 141cCurd's former advertisements and obstinately remains in one's memory. This was only one of many telling lines ; for years MeCurd's witty rhyming advertisements attracted attention, not only amongst. probable buyers but throughout the trade, his page in the motor papers being eagerly scanned. He has the business instinct strongly engrained in him, and what I mean by this is that he forms a precise gauge as to the needs and requirements of the buying public. My experience is that if you give people exactly what they want they will, like Mrs. Mieawber, never desert you. So that, having put his hand to the business-vehicle plough, McCurd can be depended upon to do the thing thoroughly.
In himself he is a man of simple tastes ; he bears a Scottish name, is of direct Caledonian descent, but it is an interesting fact that he has never set foot in Scotland. He was born in London, has done much motoring in the south country and in Wales, for the " call of the road " finds -a quick response in his heart. Be finds his way out on the roads now by push-bicycle. I think it was in " Punch " that. an individual was represented picking up a famous beak and reading over the title to himself " Is life worth living ? " Punch's " witty answer to the query was "That depends upon the liver." That doubtless explains why a pedal bicycle is retained alongside its petrol relations.