The 1907 and 1908 Shows Compared.
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EXHIBITORS' VIEWS.
In order to afford exhibdors the opPortunity of expressing Cub' °Pinions, we invited a number of them to communicate short letters in regard to (a) comparisons with 1907 ; (b) the trend of business ; anct (c) any suggestions for 1909. The first instalment of the replies is given hereunder.
A Shorter Period in 1909.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—The attendance at the tgo8 Show of Commercial Vehicles may not have been So great as at the show of 1907, but we are of the opinion that there were more definite enquirers present than on the first occasion. We were particularly struck by the enquiries for tractors. We would suggest that the 1909 show, if held, should not extend over a longer period than five days.---Yours T. C. AVELING AND CO., LTD., T. C. Aveling, Managing Director. Birmingham.
A Wretched Attendance.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—Although the show was certainly a very attractive one so far as exhibits were concerned, the stands being -furnished with machines of the highest quality, the attendance was wretched, and buyers and enquiries very few ; therefore, in our opinion, from a busineTs point of view, the show was a failure.
As you are no doubt aware, makers of steam wagons and tractors are formulating suggestions to put before the management with regard to next year's show.—Yours truly, MANN'S PATENT STEAM CART AND WAGON CO., LTD.,
J. C. Cornock, Manager and Secretary. Pepper Road Works, Leeds,
Enquiries More Numerous.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—The actual business transacted at the show, in comparison with that of last year, was disappointing, although we are glad to say that the enquiries received were more numerous than at the previous year's show, and doubtless good business will result.
In view of the fact that, before any order is placed for a commercial vehicle, firms now insist on having a trial, it is questionable whether the show serves any useful purpose, except to introduce new models, other than being a big advertisement. We are of opinion that the commercial vehicle has now made such strides that it has been amply de monstrated, and it is a recognised fact that it has come to stay. The need for an exhibition is, therefore, no longer as great as it was, and it might be advantageous both to the trade and to the user to hold this display only every alternate year.
The attendance seemed to us to be smaller than at the last show, and, possibly, greater publicity will help in this respect in future shows.—Yours faithfully, For the NEW ARROL-JOHNSTON CAR Co., LTD. Ernest A. Rosenheirn, Acting General Manager.
Keep Open till Ten O'Clock.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—With reference to the motor show at Olympia, which has just come to a close, we beg to say that we have had a number of genuine enquiries, and these, of course, we hope will lead to business. We think that it would he an improvement if next year's show were kept open till to o'clock, as it would give the business man more opportunity to look round toe exhibition after dinner. We also consider that it should be more extensively advertised.—Yours faithfully, G. SCAMMELL AND NEPHEW. Fashion Street, Spitalfields, F.
"Business Nil: An Absolute Failure."
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—As reg-anis ourselves, we may say that the business actually done at the recent exhibition was nil. We had a certain number of enquiries for cab chassis, but, beyond those people with whom we had already been in negotiation before the show, they were practically all for cabs to be supplied on the instalment system. We discussed the matter with two or three exhibitors, and we know that they were of the same opinion as ourselves, that the show, from the point of view of business, was an absolute failure, and that it would be a waste of money to show again.
We certainly shall not support the 1909 exhibition, as, in our opinion, a show of the kind is not necessary, and is simply a waste of money on the part of the exhibitors.—
Yours faithfully, For FIAT MOTORS, LTD., D. R. Baker, Managing Director. 37 and 38, Long Acre, W.C. The Reverse of Hopeful.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—I am in receipt of yours of the 4th and beg to give you below my views on the matter. The commercial show is before time, the supply is above the demand already, cutting of prices is the order of the day before any profit is made, prospects, in my opinion, not at all encouraging or ever will he; manufacturers not watching dead expenses in this branch of the motor business will feel it at reckoning day. The gross profit sure to be very much lower percentage on the commercial vehicle than the pleasure car.---Yours faithfully, THE STAR ENGINEERING CO., E. LISLE, Managing Director. Frederick Street, Wolverhampton.
"More Than We Ventured to Hope For."
The Editor," THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—We have pleasure in stating that, so far as we are concerned, the 1908 commercial vehicle show which has just closed has been of very much greater value than that of 1907. We have had a very encouraging number of firstrate enquiries, and, what is still more pleasing from an exhibitor's point of view, have booked, directly at the show, a satisfactory number of orders—in fact, considerably more than we ventured to hope for; and we have no doubt that a still greater volume of business will follow as the result of our exhibit.
Regarding the 1909 exhibition, we have not many suggestions to offer, but think that a considerably greater amount of advertising will then be advantageous.—Yours HALLEY'S INDUSTRIAL MOTORS, T.TD., GEO. H. HALLEY, Managing Director.
Yoker, Glasgow.
Seed-Time.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—Our view of the Olympia show is that, although a great amount of business may not have actually been transacted, yet much good seed was sown that should in due time bear fruit.—We are, Dear Sir, yours very truly, BAYLEYS,
D. H. BAYLEY.
Newington Causeway, S.F.
"Enormous Strides."
The Editor, "THE. COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—I beg to state that, whereas, at the 1907 show, the visitors to the exhibition were only very slightly interested in the commercial motor movement, and were very sceptical when lengthy explanations were entered into by the representatives on the stands, the visitors to the 1908 exhibition showed enormous strides of in
telligence over those of the previous year. In fact, at the first show there was practically no demand for vehicles of this class; whereas, at the last show, the demand was most emphatic.
During the 1908 show, my company received approximately 50 sound enquiries per diem, these not including the casual private man who is not a buyer, but sound firms who could be termed "possible users" of commercial motors. We anticipate, shortly, that the demand for this type of vehicle will greatly exceed the supply.
Regarding the 1909 exhibition, for the moment I can only make one suggestion, i.e., that the exhibition authorities should circularise possible buyers, and bring to their notice the existence of the show, and also advertise in the local papers : the expense could be borne by a contribution from each exhibitor pro rata to the space taken.—Yours, faithfully, For COMMERCIAL CARS, LTD., JULIAN. HALFORD, Managing Director. Cambridge Circus, W.C. Steam in the Ascendant.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :-In reply to your favour of the 4th inst., we would say that we have not booked any orders, but are not disappointed in consequence.. As you are aware, we have been working for some 15 months on an entirely . new " steamer," and, although we came to Olympia with an order for " No. i," based on the guarantee that we would give our client (who had one of our petrol machines) something better, yet we are more than satisfied with the way purchasers have recognised that we have something good to offer, and which they are quite prepared to try. This is all we ask.
As to the suggestions for the 1909 display, enthusiastic as we are over the possibilities of steam, since we have been " lying low," so we may expect another "dark horse " for that show.—Yours faithfully,
For THE CRITCULEY-NORRIS Marox COMPANY (Branch of Peter Pilkington, Ltd.),
W. NORRIS.
Bamber Bridge, near Preston.
A Wide Distribution of Free Admission Cards Suggested.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :--We are not in a position to make any comparison between the 1907 and tyoS shows, as we were not exhibitors at the former. So far as the latter show is concerned, the impression we gained as exhibitors was that there prevails at the present moment very considerable apathy on the part of the business world towards commercial vehicles. We are optimistic enough to believe that there is a great futule for the commercial side. of the business, but it appears to us that manufacturers have for the moment anticipated too much in this direction. We certainly had a fair number of enquiries, and trust that some of these will result in business during the ensuing twelve months. The show, in our opinion, should furnish a complete answer to those who have any doubt as to the soundness of the commercial vehicle as a business proposition, and the time and money which has been spent by manufacturers should be sufficient guarantee of good fith for possible users.
We are quite of the opinion that the continuance of the show is both necessary and advisable, in the interests of the trade and the user alike, and the only suggestion that occurs to us for next year's show, is, that probably a greater attendance of possible purchasers might be ensured by a very wide dissemination of free tickets for admission, amongst the class of tradesmen and business men most likely to become purchasers.—Yours faithfully, For A. R. ATKEY AND CO., LTD., A. R. ATKEY, Managing Director. Trent Street, Nottingham.
Not There in 1907.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—We cannot give you any comparison between 1907 and 1908 shows, as we were not showing at the former, but we are pleased to say that we have every reason to be satisfied with the business done and enquiries received this year, and are anticipating doing a good amount of trade during the coming season.—Yours faithfully, AMBROSE SHAR.DLOW AND CO., LTD., C. Moore, Director. Ealing Works, Attercliffe, Sheffield.
Good Business Done.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir ;—Our speciality is solely the manufacture of commercial vehicles, and, as such, we may say with confidence that this second commercial vehicle exhibition has most certainly and conclusively been the means of showing to the public, and users generally, what great strides the industry has made, even since the first exhibition was pronounced by all such a success. It is now generally recognised that the field for a good commercial motor is practically unlimited in the United Kingdom. London, and other large cities and towns in the kingdom begin now to appreciate this, as witness the number of vehicles in use, and particularly is this emphasised in the North of England, in the large manufacturing centres, where we are glad to inform you that " Berna " motors are obtaining quite their share of attention and support so far as the lesser-powered lorries are required ; but it is in the 5-ton lorry, which is the " Berna " speciality, that we look forward to a large volume of business.
The show proved most satisfactory to us in this connection, as we secured orders for a large number of our 5-ton and 21ton chassis, and, in addition, we received many serious enquiries from which business will, we have no doubt, result
shortly. When we inform you that the actual orders secured at the show represent a net profit of to per cent., calculated upon the capital of £5o,00o of our company, this may even surprise you, as it has many others.
In conclusion, we may say that we are ourselves agreeably surprised that the Olympia show should have been such a profitable piece of business for us, which is quite contrary to the prevalent opinion, viz., that shows do not secure actual orders, and, moreover, we intend showing again in 1909.
Wishing your valuable paper every success.—We are, dear sir, yours faithfully,
BERNA COMMERCIAL MOTORS, LTD., Eric W. Goslett, Manager. 3, Lombard Street, E.C.
Mostly Existing Users Present.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Dear Sir :—With reference to the Olympia show, we find that enquiries were about as numerous as in the 1907 exhibition, but they came principally from people who were already users of motors, and we particularly noticed that the number of enquirers who were dot using motors was very much fewer. The orders placed were less than at the previous show, and we must say that, after the recent trials, we had anticipated that the actual results would have been greater. It is, of course, quite impossible to estimate the benefit derived from the oxhibition, as our experience has been that orders mature, in many cases, a very long time after any exhibition.
We think that it would be to the advantage of the cornmercial vehicle trade in general not to have their special exhibition held annually in London, as more interest would be shown then by the public generally. It might be advis• able, however, to have shows in the provinces filling up the gaps between the London exhibitions.—Yours faithfully, J. LIVERSIDGE AND SON, LTD. 561, Old Kent Road, S.E.