THE MOTOR SHOW
Tim Motor Show at Olympia, which remains open until October' 17th, is the largest and mast representative exhibition of motor cars that has ever been known. The fact that the great,.
Paris Show has been abandoned this year increases the; importance of the Olympia Show, and it is attracting visitors.
from all parts of the world. The exhibition is not confined to British products ; nearly every important country is represented. America, the home of mass production, with her engines of medium and high horse power and standard coach-' work, shows a number of exhibits ; Italy demonstrates how art can serve the engineer in making the motor car a thing of beauty; France, the cradle of this great industry, gives heri finest examples of speed, vivacity and power. Belgian,' Austrian, Canadian and Anglo-American products are also well represented.
The motor industry has been described, without exaggera- tion, as the eighth wonder of the world. The most optimistic pioneer would never have thought it possible that within such a very few years sound and reliable cars would he within the reach of practically every class and that the number of cars, excluding motor-cycles, of course, would total at the end of 1924 well over 21,000,000. By the end of last year the number of motor cars in the United States was 17,438,000 ; in Great Britain, 771,000 ; in Canada, 639,000 ; in France, 467,100 ; in Germany, 432,000 ; in Belgium, 150,000 ;- in Italy, 100,000 ; and even in Czecho-Slovakia, 12,418. The: number of those licensed to driVe a car in this cotintry. has grown from 534,000 in 1922 to 888,000 in 1925. The indiistry;- great though it is, seems likely to develop enormously during the next few years, especially, when we take into consideration the fact that while in the United States there is one car to everyi: 6 inhabitants, in this country there is only one to every 57 ; in France, 1 to 69 ; in Germany, 1 to 272 ; in Italy, 1 to .409 and in China, 1 to 39,695 !
The keynote of this year's show is price and quality. Prices have pretty well reached their lowest mark, and those few; reductions that have been made are only of a minor character.) When one considers the value obtainable to-day it is a source of astonishment that cars can be sold at their present prices' It would be more understandable if no alterations had been effected. But an examination of the exhibits shows improve-i meats, refinements and lavishness 'of equipMent which ar truly remarkable. In an age when the price of produets has greatly increased it is extremely difficult to realize that cars better made, better designed, better equipped, better in every way, are now marketed at prices bekni the pre-War period. It is true-that the market for cars has greatly widened its boUnda4, that the difficulties attending mass production have been largely eliminated, and that improved machinery has increased output. On the, other hand, labour is more costly, is heavier and expenses are higher. Yet, despite this,;
car value to-day has never been approached at any period of the industry. As an example of the remarkable value which is being offered to-day, special mention may be made of the Clyno car, the prices of which have been materially reduced. It is possible now to buy one of these well-known 11 h.p. two- seaters for £162 10s., or the four-door saloon for 2245. The 13 h.p. model, a completely new car, sells at £245 for the two- seater and £298 for the saloon. Never has better value been offered, particularly when it is remembered that there are no extras, everything—clock, spare can and holder, spring gaiters, driving mirror, rigid side screens, luggage grid, speedometer, wind-screen wiper and calometer—being included in the purchase price.
The four cylinder engine remains the most popular form for medium and low powered cars, but the six cylinder type is making wonderful headway and several very fine specimens are shown. The conflict between the three and the four-speed gear-box still rages as merrily as ever, but slowly the latter is becoming more popular and is likely very soon to become first favourite. The past year has been especially noticeable for the development of the front wheel brake, balloon tyres and the saloon type of body. When it is mentioned that front wheel brakes form a standard equipment in the specification of the majority of cars, and are not classed as an extra, it will be appreciated that their advantages have been realized. That the balloon type of tyre makes for delightfully smooth running and saves the chassis from road strain is undeniable, and although one hears occasional adverse criticism, it is generally due to the driver failing to carry out the manufacturer's instructions respecting the correct air pressure necessary to secure satisfactory service from the larger type of pneumatic.
Great strides have been made during the past year or two in motor-car coachwork, and never has road travel been so luxurious as it is to-day. The finish, quality, workmanship and design of the coachwork are really remarkable. It almost seems sacrilege to subject such cars to rough-road usage and adverse weather conditions. The interiors of the more expensive cars are more luxurious than ever. Dainty inlaid cabinets, walnut fittings, silk curtains, ladies' companions, lamp shades, electric lights, upholstery in delightful shades of materials to harmonize with the bodywork are but a few seductive attractions of the enclosed type of vehicle, personifying luxury, comfort and grace of outline.
The charge laid against the two-seater car of being a somewhat selfish vehicle can now no longer he substantiated. The dickey is not a makeshift, nor are the rear passengers compelled to be perched up in the air on an apology for a seat. The dickey seat fitted to the two-seater nowadays equals many of the four-seaters, both in comfort and legroom. Provision is made for the fitting of a rear hood and screen, both of which are easily folded away when not required. Even the bugbear of access has been overcome in a good many instances.
There is a strong indication that the " all-weather " type of body is coming into its own. It fell out of favour largely in consequence of its being extremely difficult to make it rattle- proof and of light construction. These drawbacks have now been entirely eliminated and many improvements have been incorporated, which will no doubt make the all-weather type a keen rival to the saloon. Ingenious methods of lifting back the windows when not required, rattleproof sash frames, lightness of construction, and a novel method of easily raising and lowering the hood are but a few features of this new and excellent type of body.
The new treatment of coach paint, to which I referred last week, is arousing a great deal of attention, especially among those motorists who have but little time to spend in washing and polishing. The colour is applied by means of a spray and presents a surface which is not only scratch-proof, but also impervious to tar or other stains. Another advantage it possesses is that the more the surface is polished the more brilliant it becomes.
The show of accessories in the gallery is one of the most interesting features of the exhibition. Here the visitor has tangible evidence of the vastness and the ramifications of the motor industry. Things hidden in the complete car are laid bare, furnishing a great education in the construction detail of automobile engineering. Do you want to know how the
magneto functions ; how the petrol is converted into gas by _ the carburetter ; how the self-starter acts ; how the gears engage? Do you want to get the knack of changing a tyre or a rim ? All these and a thousand and one more interesting and valuable things are at your command, for here are grouped on the stands a wonderful array of accessories of all kinds. There are mascots of every conceivable design, axles, tools, speedometers, bumpers, lighting and starting outfits, cat lifting devices, windscreen wipers—in fact every imaginable detail that the most particular motorist can possibly desire.
E. T. BROWN.
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