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By "The Extractor."
An Important Engineering Combine.
Following on the Ruston-Hornsby combination, I hear of a great amalgamation, which will interest a large body of our readers. The following concerns have decided to combine forces :— Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., Leiston. Aveling and Porter, Ltd., Rochester. E. H. Bontall and Co., Ltd., Heybridge. Blackstone and Co., .Ltd.., Stamford: J. and F. Howard, Ltd., Bedford: The two first-named concerns are very well known to our readers, in connection with steam and petrol wagons. Messrs. Blackstone are prominent makers of agriinotors, who Illadle a good show at the Lincoln Tractor Trials. They also man-Ofacture crude-oil marine engines stationary oil engines, and hay harvesting implements.
Messrs. Bentall Mak6 stationary petrol engines, in addition to farm implements. Messrs. Howard. are plough and harrow makers. All. these names are household words in the agricultural world, and most of them established well over 100 years. The object of the amalgamation is to develop mass production with efficient and, doubtless, at the same m,ore economic selling organization. The concerns entering the•combine will, in no sense, lose their identity, nor will their management be changed. The amalgamation will be known as the Agrioulturak and. General Engineers, Ltd., with a. capital of three. millions sterling, and the head offices will be at Central House, King sway, London, but until the Government dep.artment, which is now in possession of Central House, have removed (which will be in the course of the next two months), the temporary offices are at 50, Pall Mall,_London, S.W.1.
The Road Club.
It is a certain thing that the Motor Club is to be renamed, and it can be taken, I think,.as decided that the new appellation will be " The Road Club." This is no doubt an excellent selection, and it will go far to create a new atmosphere. There was a club cr association bearing that name some-while.a,go, and I have recollections of seang their signbeisrds when I have been touring. It neverassumed any proportions, however, and there should, to my mind, be no objection to using the name.‘ I heir great accounts of the decoration and reconstruction scheme of the old Motor Club premises, and it ghould prove a tremendous success. I am assured that the new rooms will be open, together with the kitchens, on November 1st.
R.A.C. to the Rescue.
There was a nasty accident to.Mr. G. W. Watson, the technical adviser to the Lincoln Trials. Oddly enough, I happened to be a passenger on the very vehicle which caused the accident. Our bus was turning up the side road which led to the Exhibition buildings, and cannoned with one of tWo.poles which held aloft a banner, in connection with the Trials. Watson was standing in the,roa,d and the descending pole caught his skull ; he was dazed-for a moment, blood flowed freely, helpers flocked round, and I was glad to find that the R.A.C. stout on duty at the corner efficiently took command, praduced bandages from his pocket, and rendered excellent, first aid. The fact that the medical officer at the aerodrome hard by declined to give any attention is another instance of stupid red tapeism, and want of ordinary human feeling. Watson was, for years, a Valued member of our staff, and I am glad to know that he is practically recovered..
Two Points of View.
A very grave view is taken at Robe's. at Lincoln. of the moulders' strike. They ski zaey cannot go on for king, and, eventually will nave to close down, and they say that most engineering concerns throughout the country will be equally affected. Apait from purely Motor concerns, I gather that employers are going to fight the strike to a finish. On the other hand, at Ruston-Hornsby's and Clayton and Shuttleworth's they are going on with their plans in more oPtithistie -fashion. " We shall get through this strike as we have got threugh others, I reckon," was told at the former place.
An Alternative:
The railway strike emphasizes very forcibly the great importance of developing an alternative mode of transport. The roads will have to be used regularly, in addition to the iron way, and there is a great name to be acquired by Sir Eric Geddes in his new position if he will devise a gigantic-alternative means of goods transport. The passenger side will more or less settle itself with mass production in cars ; we shall gradually become a race of ear users, and a railway breakdown will not be so paralysing, but the food and milk traffic should not be dependent on the railroad. Everyone prefers electric light, but few factories and dwellings depend,upon it entirely; gas is almost invariably-fitte.d in addition. So there ,sh-Culd be a network of food-conveying lorries carrying their loads to the central cities and towns.
A Harmonium Horn.
People were wreathed in smiles everywhere at the Tractor Trials when Mr. Rowland Winn, of Leeds, passed along Vrith his all-weather car, in which he has fitted close to the steering wheel a miniature harmonaum. Instead of a rancous.note from a modern horn, he presses out a few chords reminiscent of church time, and the .effect is. so incongruous that everyone turns, gets out of the way, wonders a moment, and laughs. No one worked harder or with more success at land cultivation during the war than "Rowley Winn, as he is known. He was in charge of the Yorkshire district, and thoroughly earned the 0.B.E., which was conferred upon him.
A New House Organ.
The news and views of Wood-Milne, Ltd., and George Spencer Moulton and Co.,. Ltd., are very brightly written up in a new house. organ issued by that concern. The publication is-called " The Winged Arrow." I quote one pregnant p.anagraph which oonveys an impression of the. tone of thii little production:— "Amalgamation is the order of the day. Just as the League of Nations-is being four1:1$41.to pool the forces of freedom and the moral agts.of mankind, and to narrow the circle of friction, so great firrris, like Wood-Milne and Spencer Moulton, are founding 'Leagues of Enterprise to pool the assets and methods of commerce, to lessen the area of friction, to curtail the waste of. overlapping, to contract the centre of control, and-to extend the circle of efficiency. Tennyson's. dream of the 'Federation of Mankind' is taking shape in the federation of man's commercial interests, and, the trader is again the pioneer of progress, the missionary of the gospel of efficiency and material reform."