Lacre Policy.
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Rapid Progress with the New Factory at Letchworth.
Readers of THE Com.liEncrAL MOTOR are no strangers to the original and pioneer work of the Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd., or to the remarkable success attained by that concern : its progress is .writ large in the pages of our nine volumes which are now completed. Mr. Claude Browne, the chairman and managing director of the company, is one of a comparativelysmall band of men who—in the earliest days of the movement —properly appreciated the scope for the business vehicle; his judgrnent in matters of type and policy has proved correct. For that reason, if for no other, his considered programme for the future should be a matter of general interest, and we are happy to be able to announce a few particulars. He is convinced that the requirements of the commercialmotor industry are such, that it will be absolutely necessary for the leading companies to have all their facilities for production complete and self-contained; the company's policy is now being rapidly shaped in accordance with the views which he holds hereanent. The arrangements for the manufacture of the new Lacre models furnish step No. 1, and these are well advanced. Letchworth—the First Garden City--is the location of the new works, details of whose output will be published by us in a few weeks from now. Suffice it to state, for the moment, that this will embrace a full range of vehicles, with two-cylinder and four cylinder engines, and that all will be chain driven.
How Business was Built Up.
The expansion of the Lacre Co. is, perhaps. the most interesting of all developments on the heavy side of the industry. In its first phases, the energetic cultivation of business, by means of bold advertisement backed with a good machine and ample confidence in the " demonstration trial," laid the foundation of a connection which has—if we except the annoying circumstance of inability to deliver—never suffered a check. Expansion, both at home and abroad, has been continuous, whilst the successful development of Colonial demand has been equally satisfactory. We put down the growth of export trade to two chief causes: first, Mr: Claude Browne's exact personal acquaintance with conditions all over the world, which enables him to impart to his correspondence those marks of evident knowledge which carry weight and convince; second, to the " discovery " of many buyers by means of our carefully-prepared Export Special Numbers, of which we may quote more especially the
" Indian and Colonial Supplement " (23rd March, 1905), " ,Japanese Supplement " (30th November, 1905), " Spanish and Dutch Supplements " (2441 May, 1906), " First Great Van Number " (18th October, 1906), " All-World Motorbus Issue " (20th June, 1907), and " Tractor Special" (18th March, 1909). Some members of the industry, who are now reaping the benefit of increasing export orders, are chary to admit that much of it can be traced to the " missionary work " of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, but Mr. Browne has no small ideas of that kind, and be willingly gives credit where credit is due. This, however, is rather by the way.
The Lacre Manufacturing Advantages.
The accompanying illustrations convey a good idea of the form and extent of the Letchworth factory; they present the general outlines of the " shell " which will soon contain one of the best-equipped plants in the world for the purposes in view—certainly, the latest, and the one which will he set to produce in conformity with the dictates of unique experience. Everything will be complete and up to date. There are neither old tools nor old parts to be " scrapped " the new works makes a clean start in all respects, and that premises both perfection and economy. It may here be noted that the factory is being built on a scale to allow the Lacre Co. quickly to triple its turnover, whilst the four acres of land at its disposal provide ample room for extensions in due course. The company, therefore, has no reason to fear that it will ever again be in the position of having to refuse orders through inability to give convenient delivery. Letchworth has been advisedly chosen by Mr. Browne, as he explained when the writer met him earlier in the week. He believes in healthy conditions for his work-people, who will be able to obtain good, substantial, well-ventilated houses, with gardens and baths, at 5s. or 6s. a week, but he is by no means a visionary. Utopian schemes are not fount; in the code which he uses, and he has made the fullest in vestigations in order to assure himself that the commercial and industrial needs of a self-contained factory will not be detrimentally affected. He is supported, in the wisdom of his decision, by the fact that neighbouring works include these of Messrs. W. H. Smith and Son, the Heatley-Gresham Engineering Co., J. M. Dent and Sons, the Arden Press, the Garden City Embroidery Co., etc.
Two points remain for inclusion in this preliminary note. The Lacre extensions must appeal to good agents, and we recommend all such who want to be in touch with a live house to write at once : there is, of course, no room for hangers-on. Applications mage be from live men, or relations—if ever begun—will be hopelessly incongruous. We give this hint to readers all over the world, and we anticipate that numerous additional Lacre agencies will result. As to the Lacre staff, we can only say that Mr. Browne has had a plethora of choice. The services—in response to advertisements—of managers and designers to some important competitors were offered to him, and others wanted to come over from America, Austria, France and Germany. It is a natural consequence that all positions are filled by men whose experience is ripe. In combination with the Lacre Co.'s own special experience, this careful selection of personnel is a guarantee of proper design, good material, sound workmanship, and progressive administration. We forecast the rise of this corn party, as a large manufacturing concern, toan eminence which may even surpass the greatness of our leading shipbuilders and Admiralty contractors. This is no idle view. Is net the commercial-motor industry destined to be the greatest in the world? We think it is.