What IVIakers Think of "The Royal"
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WHAT might, with every justification, be termed a "burst of optimism," greeted us on the Fowler stand at the Royal Show at Newcastle, where both Mr_ Paul R. Hasson, chairman of directors, and Mr. E. A. Pelly, vice-chairman, were so obviously pleased with the progress made on the opening day that to catechise them on the subject seemed almost a waste of time. Mr. Hasson said that the attendance of visitors merely confirmed his opinion, already formed, that prosperity, already on the upgrade, was climbing higher.
He stated that during the first six months of this year no fewer than 13 of the larger gyro-tillers had been sold, of which 11 were for home use, two going abroad. He added that 70 of these machines were in use in this country and many were going to the Colonies. There are some operators, said Mr. Pelly, owning fleets of the largest (170 h.p.) type.
Mr. E. R. Foden, managing director of E. R. Foden and Son (E.R.F., Ltd.), was equally optimistic concerning the state of the trade in E.R.F. oil-engined lorries. He himself had hardly missed a Royal Show for 45 years. His only complaint appeared to be that he could find no work for his repair shop, which stands, he added, "like an empty house."
Case Tractor Sales Good.
Mr. H. Hawke, managing director of Associated Manufacturers Co. (London), Ltd., whilst satisfied with sales in general, was of the opinion that Newcastle could hardly be expected to rank as high as Ipswich as a sales ground. He was, however, quite satisfied with the progress that Case tractors were making in the area, He had appointed a representative some six months ago, and the step had already shown itself to be a wise one.
Mr. 0. Linguist, from the Case factory in the U.S.A., whom we met in company with Mr. Hawke, said he thought the Exhibition, on the whole, was a fine one and likely to encourage sales of farming implements.
All the exhibits on the huge International Harvester stand would be delivered to customers when the Show closed, remarked Mr. A. J. Purves, sales manager of that concern, when asked for his views. He B.20
manufacturing Fields
told us that there were 2,000 International agents throughout the country, of whom no fewer than 500 were tractor-minded. By their aid, by local demonstrations and by such exhibitions as the "Royal," which he regarded as bearing the same relation to tractors as Olympia does to commercial vehicles, the sales of International tractors were being made to increase by leaps and bounds.
Fodens Satisfied.
Mr. A. E. Jackson, director of Fodens, Ltd., was to be seen at the Show in close conversation with Col. D. C. McLaglan, secretary of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Mr. Jackson's smiling face might have been taken as indicating his general satisfaction with the state of trade in general, and that of Fodens in particular.
Col. McLaglan, debonair as usual, was not on a pleasure trip. 'His presence at the "Royal," I was told, was due to a meeting being held there to-discuss a proposal to hold a
tractor trial in 1937. Representatives of the S.M.M. and T., of tractor and implement manufacturers and members of the Royal Agricultural Society were to be present at the meeting..
Merry-weather's Fine Record.
The market for fire-engines is well maintained—that, at least, was the impression we gathered from Mr. R. E. Stubington, director of Merryweather and Sons, Ltd. Although at Newcastle ostensibly to protect the exhibits from damage by fire, actually Mr. Stubington expects to do quite a good deal of business.
Already, on the morning of the first day, an important deputation of potential purchasers had been re
ceived on the stand. Merryweathers has been represented at the " Royal " for 40 years without a break.
" General sales already effected and the outlook most satisfactory indeed "—this report came from Mr. T. Powell, of Universal Power Drives, Ltd. He appreciated this all the more as he had not anticipated much direct return, having exhibited more as a means for keeping the company's products continually in the public eye.
Mr. H. McLaren, of J. and H: McLaren, Ltd., regards Newcastle as rather a fortunate choice, especially this year. The Highland Show, he reminded us, was held in Aberdeen. Consequently, a large number of Lowland farmers will visit .the " Royal " in preference to going so far north to what they commonly regard as their own show.
• Furthermore, he expects to do business with marine engineers on Tyneside, and to that end there are several examples of marine-engineering products on the stand, as well as of the well-known McLaren oilengined ploughing tackle.
Mr. Geo. L. Gunn, of Diamond-T Motors, had only just arrived on the Show ground when we met him, and had hardly formed any impression of the way things were likely to go. Business generally, he said, "was looking grand, and as he could not imagine that exhibiting at the " Royal " could do other than improve matters, it is correct to say that his report was entirely favourable.
Dodge Stand Unique.
Mr. William Wallace, sales manager and director of Dodge Bros. (Britain), Ltd., was encountered in company with Mr. Harold Gibbs, the publicity manager. Both were, to use their own expression, "full of beans." The Dodge stand, incidentally, is unique in agricultural show exhibits, embodying the familiar castle motif which we have already observed at Olympia. The company has, in the words of Mr. Gibbs, "put the castle into Newcastle."
Mr. W. G. Cairns, managing director of Reo Motors (Britain), Ltd., was quite pleased. "We are already doing good business in this district," he said, "and this Exhibition is likely to help. I understand that the attendance already constitutes a record, and that in itself is a good a ugury.