THE SCOTTISH MOTOR SHOW.
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A Complete Report, Including Special Notes on Passenger Vehicles, Those for Goods Transport, Municipal Motors and Safety Devices.
OONE OF the outstanding dates on the Scottish of notable events is that which marks the opening of the annual show of motor vehicles at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow. This year the date has been advanced by two months, so that barely ten months have elapsed since the 22nd show of the series organized by the Scottish Motor Trade Association, Ltd., closed its doors.
The 23rd event was opened last Friday by the Earl of Home, and will remain open .until next Saturday, and, despite the 'early date, several newmodels will he found. in the large section devoted to commercialvehicle, exhibits, these including the 30-cwt. W.D. subsidy Thornycroft, the 20-25-ewt. Bean, the Q.X.type' Halley, and the Pentaiota-tyrie Lancia. Apart from these, the Show is well worth a visit, for it includes vehicles of some 26 different makes, representing the competitive products of Britain, America, France and Italy, and as there has been no show of commercial vehicles at Olympia this year, it affords the only opportunity to prospective buyers to make a comparison of the points for and against the various designs.
'From the point of view of bodywork—particularly tor goods vehicles—there is much to be learnt. by a study of the products from the Scottish works. Tans fitted out for the carrying of large quantities of bread may be looked upon almost as a speciality, and there are requirements which show distinct differences from the purely English market. We deal with some of these under the appropriate heading.
The general feeling at the Show is one of quiet, balanced optimism. Trade conditions in the commer
cial-vehicle market have recently shown a decided upward tendency, and there is a steadily increasing realization amongst traders, both large and small, as to the great value of the industrial motor vehicle, not only as a means of transport—important though it may be as such—but as a business getter." A smart, well-serviced fleet of modern, motor vehicles is an outstanding advertisement showing enterprise and stability.
There is.a considerable potential market in Scotland for all types of commercial vehicle, and' present present hardly the fringes of the market in lighter , types (from 15 cwt. to 25 cwt.) have been touched.
It is hoped that, by bringing the date of the Show so far forward, buyers will place their orders much earlier than usual, so that the manufacturers will have an opportunity of gauging more correctly the requirements of the Scottish market. In previous years, and particularly when there has been a commercial exhibition at Olympia, the majority of the early deliveries have been obtained by purchasers on the southern side of the border ; consequently, the North has had to wait for, in some cases, long periods for the delivery dates, and this is of almost vital importance in the case of the coach trade, where an early start is essential, for the season is all too short at the best of times.
There appears to be no reason why: buyers should hesitate in placing their orders, for prices in the commercial-vehicle industry are now practically stabilized, and there are hardly likely to be any considerable modifications in chassis design during the next few months.