j ULY 20TH, 1907,
THE AUTOCAR B Journal publtsbeb in tbe interests of tbe mecbanicalll? propelleb roab carriage.
EDITED BY H. WALTER STANER.
No. 613. VoL. XIX.
SATURDAY, JULY 20TH, 1907.
[PRICE 3D.
Tlf E A UTOCAR.
(Publis'.1ed Weekly.)
Registered as a nt":wspaper for transmissio:i in the United King Entered ~s second-cb.ss m3.tter in the New York (N.Y . ) Post Office. EDITORIAL OFFICE : COVENTRY. PUBLISHING O??ICES : 20 , TUDOx STREET, LONDON, E.C., ENGLAND. CONTENTS. NOTES . • lN PARLIAMENT • • • • USEFUL HINTS AND TIPS., • • • , , . • • THE $HELSLEY WALSH HILL-CLIMB (ILLUSTRATED) THE PHOENIX 8 H.P. Two-CYLINDER LIGHT CAR (ILLUSTRATED) 94-96 97 , • • • ON THE ROAD. BY OWEN JOHN • • . • A STATIONARY AIR-COOLED MOTOR (ILLUSTRATED ) MIRACULU111 • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • I0,000 MILES TRIAL OF THE SIX-CYLINDER HOTCHKISS CAR PAGE 91 92 93 98 99 99 (ILLUSTRATED),. . • • , • • • • • , • , 100 THE ELPHINSTONE-HOLDEN DASHBOARD ENGINE STARTER THE SOUTH HARTING HILL-CLIMB {lLLUSTRA'tED) • • IOO • • 100-102 THE IRISH TRIALS AWARDS • • • • • • • • DllSIGN OF FLOAT FEED CHAMBERS (ILLUSTRATED) AN EFFECTIVE BLOW-LAMP (ILLUSTRATED) • • • • 103-105 • , 106-107 107 DETACHABLE MUDGUARDS {ILLUSTRATED) . • • • 107 MORE OPINIONS ABOUT BROOKLANDS • • • , • , Io8-109 FORTHCOMING RACE MEETINGS AT BROOKLANDS • • 109 How TO SEE THE LAKES BY CAR • • I I O·I I2 IGNITION EXPERIMENT1; • • • • • • , • • . • • , • I 12 CONTINENTAL NOTES AND NEWS: THE NEW RACING RULES- THE PARIS SALON-THE GRAND PRIX RACE-THE VENTOUX HILL-CLIMB-CIRCUIT DES ARDENNES AND COUPE DE LtEDE· KER KE • • , . • • • • TESTING A HOME-MADE FUEL • , CORRESPONDENCE , . • • • • • , . • • • WELLINGTON'S CAR TESTING MACH,.NE (ILLUSTRATED) • • , , l 13-114 II4 .. IIS-ll9 • • 120-121 LADY MOTORIST IN THE MALAY STATES , • 121 SCOTTISH RELIABILITY TRIALS-THE MOTOR UNION MEET AT SOUTHPORT • • • • • • • • . • THE ONE TO TWENTY-FOUR HOURS 0 RECORDS FLASHES • • CLUB DOINGS • • • • • • • • • • • • THE LUBRICATION OF PETROL ENGINES (CONCLUDED) 122 122 • • 123-124 , • r25-r28 • • 129-130 "THE AUTOCAR" SUBSCRIPTION RATES : St! . 1 e1· d111111111 . Looking Ahead. Just now there is a tendency to discuss the future of the motor industry. Although there are more cars on the road to-day than ever before, all sorts of rumours are abroad as to firms being overstocked. On investigation we have not been able to find that these rumours amount to much, though there is no doubt that a few firms have not disposed of such a large number of cars as they anticipated. At the same time, anyone who is firmly convinced that the supply of motor ca rs is greatly in excess of the demand has only to order a car, and he will not find that, in the majority of cases, he can obtain it very quickly. It is true he can walk into a depot and buy one of the cars standing there, but he will almost invariably find that unless he is prepared to take a car just as it stands, he will have to wait weeks, or even months, for a new one. We do not refer to buyers who ask for such deviations from the standard specification as to necessitate the building of a car throughout. We merely refer to the man who, for example, visits a showroom, and sees a car which meets his approval in eve ry way, save that is it painted green instead of red. It would be imagined that it would only be necessary to telegraph to the works to obtain a red ca r immediately, but this will very often be found impossible, and a very considerable wait will be necessary before the red car can be obtained. Now, if the makers were overstocked, there would be no difficulty of this sort. At the same time, looking ahead, we consider that 1:iy far the greatest danger of the industry is over-production.
We have no misgivings whatever as to the future of the industry, but it is quite easy to see that if all the makers continue to extend their factories in the way so many of them are doing, there must come a time-and that very soon-when the supply will exceed the demand. Foreign competition and all other difficulties a re nothing compared with the danger of overproduction. The reason over-production is so dangerous is because it leads to price-cutting. Stacks of cars accumulate which must be sold at a figure little in excess of cost price. Tothing of the sort has occurred up to the present time, nor is it likely to occur unless, as we have said, the supply is so greatly increased that it exceeds the demand. It may be urged that, although this would he bad for the industry, it would be a good thing for motorists in general, as they would obtain their cars at bargain prices. This, however, is an incorrect view to take. Just at the moment a comparatively few buyers would benefit, as they would undoubtedly seize the opportunity of securing ca rs at below their fair retail price, but this would only be a momentary benefit. Direc tl y things were readjusted and the surplus stock had been cleared, there would be no more bargains. It would simply mean that the price. having been reducerl , would remain low, and to protect the maker from loss cars of inferior quality would be thereafter supplied. It has always proved so in other industries . and the motor car industry would assuredly be no exception to the rule. That is why we consider th:it the one thing to be avoided, on the part of all who have the stability of the motor industry at heart, is over-production, which not only brings ruin to the manufacturer, but lowers the standard of excellence. Circumstances may. however, arise which would render a reduction in price consistent with satisfactory maintenance of quality, but this state of things would also necessitate the sacrifice to a large extent of individualit\· in matters of taste. Motor cars in course of time will probably become so standardised as to be, comparatively speaking, much less expensive to produce than they are now. thus bringing them within the range of a greater number of probable users, and providing an outlet for increased production.
