LONDON OLYMPIA.

Southland Times, Issue 20675, 22 December 1928, Page 16 (Supplement)

LONDON OLYMPIA.

MANY INNOVATIONS. BRITAIN’S REPLY TO HER COMPETITORS. The curtain has been rung down again on the annual motor exhibition at Olympia. | Being, as Is well known, international in character, Olympia provides the most unique opportunity for interested visitors to compare the products of British car manufacturers with those of the manufacturers in the other important car-pro-ducing countries of the world, states the Overseas Bulletin of the Society of British Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd. Indirectly also, the London motor show provides such manufacturers —foreign as well as British—with a tremendously valuable medium for extensively advertising their enterprise and accomplishments, for, in addition to the magnetic attraction of Olympia, the reports as to what Is to be found exhibited are carried throughout the world. By its means the public are able to compare car with car, and improvement with improvement. The latest productions of British manufacturers are displayed side by side with those of their foreign competitors. In addition, too, the potential user is able to consider his own particular transport difficulty in the light of the types and models displayed, and is able to formulate an idea as to which particular make is most j calculated to give him the satisfaction he desires. The exhibition, in addition, has afforded a striking example of the modern trend of automobile construction and a valuable object lesson of the degree of efficiency and perfection reached by designers and constructors. Possibly on no former occasion has so much interest been centred on Brit-ish-made cars, and the result has been that a keener insight has been obtained of the great advance made by Home manufacturers in their efforts to place British motor vehicles in the forefront of the world’s motor markets. There has been, particularly of late, growing appreciation of the difficulties which the British industry has had to face in its fight for a share of those markets and the progress made and ability of British manufacturers to offer an equally attractive range of vehicles as their competitors has been clearly instanced at the recent motor show. A tour of the stands left one with the clear conviction that in regard to design, appearance, efficiency and range of models the British car manufacturer is leaving no stone unturned in his determination to meet satisfactorily the efforts of his rivals, and if in no other respect, Olympia has, in 1928, given abundant proof of the appreciation of Home manufacturers of the requirements of overseas markets, and has shown the result of their efforts to give practical effect thereto. As a result, striking developments have been noticeable in the range of British medium-powered cars. The six and eightcylinder cars exhibited should provide a ready answer to the needs of overseas buyers in this respect while on the important question of price the portents are that the time is assuredly not far distant if indeed it has not already arrived, when the ability of the British manufacturer to offer equal, if not surpassing, value in the matter of general efficiency and appearance will be further strengthened by the elimination of any drawback he may in the past have suffered in the ability of his competitors to undersell him. The field of the small utility car of from 7 to 10 h.p. is one of British conception, and the developments which have taken place in this branch clearly upholds the claim made on its behalf as capable of providing efficient means of transportation at a minimum cost of operation. Many innovations for making motoring ! still further free from trouble are heard of ’ I from time to time, but the correctness of ; the claims put forward in their support is i not always fully established. The motor :• exhibition, however, provides the ready ! means of safeguarding purchasers from un- : sound innovations, while indicating how '■ manufacturers are continuously seelong to ■ eliminate any causes of dissatisfaction that 1 may have existed in the past in connection ; with the vehicles for which they are responsible.

In this connection it is interesting to refer to the improvements apparent among British manufacturers at the recent exhibition in the matter of flexible top-gear performance, wider chassis allowing of more roomy bodies to be fitted the evolution of the “sunshine” saloon”—a closed car, the roof of which slides back for fine weather—and important improvements in connection with the gear-box. One instance of the latter was to be found in the development of the free-wheel device, and another the introduction by a British firm of a device whereby the gear may be selected in advance by means of a small lever placed on the steering wheel, the actual change being effected at will by means of depressing a small pedal which takes the place of the ordinary clutch pedal. Improvements in such matters as the question of springing, ignition and acceleration were apparent, and it is not too much to say that British manufacturers were able to surprise the public with the value and efficiency of their goods, the show representing a fitting illustration of British enterprise and achievement.