BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR

Evening Star, Issue 21720, 15 May 1934, Page 6 (Supplement)

BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR

BIGGEST TO DATE OVERSEA BUYERS AT OPENING Great success was realised by the British Industries Fair opened recently at Olympia and the Whit© City, London, and at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. The first fair, organised by the Board of Trade in I9IS, was a modest exhibition arranged to meet a wartime emergency. In fewer than twenty years the enterprise has grown tenfold and has become the largest national trade fair in the world, invitations to visit the London and Birmingham sections of the latest fair were accepted by buyers from sixty-four different countries. . There was no formal opening at Olympia, but at 9.30 a.in., when buyers were admitted, every stand was ready for business. The early attendance was satisfactory, and at midday the Overseas’ Buyers’ Club was crowded with visitors. Up to 4.30 p.m.—before the general public were admitted—l,7l3 oversea buyers and 5,994 home buyers had visited Olympia and the White City, numbers which compared favourably with those of the first day last year, when 1,135 oversea and 5,038 homo buyers were present. At Birmingham the aggregate attendance was 4,130. as compared with 2,330 on the corresponding day in 1933. The largest foreign contingent came from Holland, and a representative. Swedish party were among the early visitors; BUYERS FROM ICELAND. Many buyers from abroad came to England instead of visiting, as in former vears, the Leipzig Fair. Among the countries from which acceptances were numerous were the United States, Belgium, and Spain. Five buyers' arrived from Iceland, and sixteen from Egypt. The Baltic States and Switzerland were well represented. Orders placed on the first day were satisfactory to exhibitors, and in the case of a contract for the supply of a special form of sun hat it was stated tnat the British price was below that of Japan for similar articles. A firm of piano manufacturers during the morning received an order from a Liverpool buyer for the whole of the stock exhibited on the stand. An improvement in the lay-out and display of the stands, which had been steadily maintained in recent years, was again to be observed at Olympia this year. There were still firms which had not fully acquired the ability to show their products to the best advantage, but the standard was very much higher than in the early days of the fair. One of the best, as well as the largest, sections, was that devoted to _ toys and games. The demand for British-made toys lias developed in a remarkable way since the war, and large quantities are j being exported. One firm, Lines Brothers Limited, of London, ace going forward with a four-acre extension of their factory at Merton, and this will bring the area of the works up to twelve acres. ■' SELLING TOYS TO GERMANY. •Formerly most of the mechanical toys sold in Great Britain came from Germany. British manufacturers have npt only captured a substantial part of the home market, but are now selling to Germany. Toy aeroplanes have become a popular feature, and the best models, based on familiar will climb, turn, loop the loop, and spin. Models of motor cars are another British speciality. Toys of the moment are reproductions of the “ Three Little Pigs ” of Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony. Construments Limited showed sets of parts for constructing projection microspoces, which, when put together, are something a little more than a toy. In the china, earthenware, and stoneware section famous makers from the “ Five Towns ” exhibited traditional and many new designs in which the contemporary taste for modern lines and colouring had been considered. The plastics section was again extensive, and shows new developments. The furniture section had been transferred this year from Olympia to the White City, where space was available for a display which has become the largest single section of the fair. The exhibits ranged from fine specimens of handicraft, including “ period ” styles, to the cheaper but well-designed and constructed, machine-prepared and mass-produced furniture of the type widely required for small houses and flats. BIRMINGHAM SECTION. The heavy section of the British Industries Fair at Birmingham was formally opened by the Lord Mayor of the city (Aldeman H. E. Goodby) at a luncheon given by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, over which' the president of ; the chamber (Mr W. L, 1 Chance) presided. In declaring _ the section open the Lord Mayor! said a record had been created both;in respect of size and the variety of British products displayed. The success achieved was due to men who were optimists when it was not easy to be optimistic, and their optimism was being abundantly justified by results. It jvas surely no mere accident that, in a world still distracted with political and economic trouble, it was in Britain that the first signs of trade recovery were to be seen. The Birmingham .section, with its exhibits of metal, hardware, and engineering material, admirably exemplified the solidity and enduring stability of British industry.; In the pioneer days of the fair there were manufacturers who said they could not afford to exhibit. To-day manufacturers realised that they could not afford to remain away. There were Judications now Of better times, and he hoped no trifling differences would be allowed to interfere with the trer.d towards improvement. In proposing the toast of the “ British Industries Fair,” the Lord Mayor expressed a hope that Great Britain was now embarking on an era of prosperity. PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT. The President of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, in acknowledging the toast, said it would be difficult to exaggerate the value of,the assistance given 1 to the Fair Committee by the City Council. Without this the section would hot have been so important, nor would it have been so successful as a national undertaking. The fact that the fair was increasing year by year proved it was doing what it was" established to do—-namely, to encourage British industry and to bring buyers and sellers together. In this way it not only provided employment but encouraged manufacturers to exercise their brains on nev designs, further developments, and better service. They appealed for support, not only to the industrial community, but to the people generally who were all 'dependent upon, the success of industry for their prosperity and the amenities of life. Among the business done on the first day was the purchase of an entire stand of aluminium hardware and of over 1,000,000 hand-made bricks and roofing tiles for housing and public works schemes. Substantial orders were also placed for cellulose lacquers and ornamental fireside sets. A London stores buyer declared thao the outlook for hardware was promising and the public was turning to the better-class article.