DUNLOP TYRES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3326, 6 January 1898, Page 4

DUNLOP TYRES.

Everywhere a bicycle is ridden—and where is it not ?—the name and fame of these tyres has penetrated. All over the British Colonies the big Dunlop Company has established its branches, and from it have been evolved the French Dunlop, German Dunlop and Canadian Dunlop, these latter having purchased for countries in which they operate the patent rights of the former. The sensational financial operations of the gilded Mr E. T. Hooley, at a period when the cycling boom was at its height, in connection with the Company’s purchase and re-flotation at the phenomenal figure of -£4,000,000, has become a matter of history. This sum was quickly subscribed, and when it is mentioned that last year’s balancesheet exhibited a profit of £900,000 it will be apparent that the judgment of the public who had invested in the stock was not misplaced. From Mr James, the newly-appointed representative of the Company in New Zealand, who is at present in Wellington, some interesting particulars have been obtained as to the business transacted in Australasia. Melbourne is, of course, the headquarters, and there a factory has been erected for a special class of ■ tyres suitable for the colonial climate and roads, fully a hundred hands being employed. Some IS months ago the rapidly growing trade jih New Zealand rendered the establishment of a branch in this colony imperative, and Christchurch was selected as thelocality therefor, and at the same

time depots were opened in South Australia and New South Wales. During that period the output has gone on with gratifying speed, until up to six months ago it had aggregated 3,000,000 pairs of tyres, the sales daring the past half year having increased 300 per cent. The question of suitable standard rims on which to fit this particular make of tyres had long been considered, and as a result the Dunlop-Welsh rims (late Westwood), now manufactured by the Company at Coventry, England, were adopted. These rims have an established reputation, which is being added to year after year. In addition to the manufacture and sale I of tbeir patent, the Dunlop Company in , Australia do everything in their power to popularise cycling by employing pacing teams, whose aim is the fracture of records at all distances, and organising tours in unfrequented parts of the Colonies. Murief, the first man to ride across the sunburnt deseit between Adelaide and Port Darwin, rode a machine fitted with Dunlop tyres, as also did Mather, who accomplished the same task shortly afterwards. Arthur Eichardson, who first negotiated on wheels the journey from Western Australia to Adelaide, was similarly equipped, and the same is to be said of W, Snell, who holds the record for the distance. No cyclist has yet attempted to accomplish the trip on any other brand of tyres than the Dunlop. This speaks eloquently of the strength and durability of the article, besides which all of the foregoing riders have added testimony to its worth. Cycling racing, says Mr James, has been terribly overdone in Australia, and as a consequence is losing its interest for the public, though the Great Austral Race maintains the popularity it has so long enjoyed. The visiting riders from England and America have been greatly sur prised at the turn of speed shown by the Australians against whom they have been pitted, the latter having so far shown themselves immeasurably superior. Touring is gradually taking the place of track riding, and there is every indication of it increasing in popularity. Meanwhile the Dunlop keeps increasing in favour, the large warehouse in Christchurch being fully stocked with all sorts and sizes. So great is the demand becoming that it is possible a branch may be established in Wellington, so that dealers throughout the North Island may be more expeditiously supplied.