January i, 1906.] 



IHE INDIA RUBBEK WORLD 



125 



TIRES AT THE OLYMPIA MOTOR SHOW. 



THE fourth annual exhibition of automobiles at Olympia 

 Hall, London, occurred November 18-25. The Society ol 

 Motor Manufacturersand Traders, who run the Olympia 

 exhibition, certainly gave the world at large a magnifi- 

 cent show. To even catalogue the great variety of automo- 

 biles, motor omnibuses, tires, and other accessories, would cover 

 pages. To attempt to picture the completeness of the exhibi- 

 tion, the fine workmanship shown in the cars, the excellent 

 taste portrayed in the arrangement of the displays, the great 

 crowds that attended, and the financial success that accrued, 

 would fill volumes, and even then it is questionable if justice 

 would be done to the subject. Certain it is that it was proved 

 that the show was held at exactly the right time of the year, 

 both for purchaser and for manufacturer ; nor can it be doubted 

 that many thousands of pounds that normally would have gone 

 to the Paris show and the American exhibitions were gathered 

 in by the alert Britishers. This paper is, of course, specifically 

 interested in the tires, of which there were a great variety, well 

 displayed, not only in the spaces reserved for the companies 

 displaying, but everywhere throughout the building were vehi- 

 cles equipped with certain types of tires, thus giving really a 

 multiple view of the most important makes. 



At the very excellent exhibit of J. W. & T. Connolly. Lim- 

 ited, there were shown two Goodrich side wire tires, one of 

 which had been run i3,oooand theother iS.ooo miles, on heavy 

 commercial vehicles. The tires were still good, and had worn 

 down with wonderful evenness. A curious feature of one of 

 them was a jagged fragment of flint that had bedded itself in 

 the tire so firmly that it could not be drawn out — an eloquent 

 comment on the sort of roads that the tire had been up against, 

 still remaining intact. 



As was to be expected, cars, tires, and accessories that were 

 approved by royalty were made much of by the exhibitors. It 

 is not, of course, remarkable, for one to be appointed " Pur- 

 veyor to the King," or " Dressmaker to the Queen," but for 

 the first time in the history of the rubber business has one been 

 appointed " Manufacturer of rubber tires to the establishment 

 of his Majesty's stables." This signal favor fell to Mr. J. M. 

 MacLulich, of the Sirdar Rubber Co. A copy of his appoint- 



ment, signed by the Duke of Portland, and handsomely framed, 

 adorned the Sirdar exhibit and undoubtedly had its effect. 

 It does not seem, however, that, in giving this appointment, 

 William John Arthur Charles James, Duke of Portland, bound 

 himself not to use any other tires, and it therefore happened 

 that the Collier Tyre Co. has a picture of a magnificent auto- 

 mobile in which was seated his Majesty Edward VII, and.frorn 

 the look of content on his face, approving the Collier tires with 

 which the vehicle was shod. 



Mr. James Iddon, m. i. m. e., of Iddon Brothers, the rubber 

 engineers, was present at the exhibition, studying the rubber 

 part of it with an interest that too few rubber engineers show. 



The Collier Tyre Co., Limited, had a notable show. General 

 Manager Williams appearing apparently from nowhere when- 

 ever a customer approached the stand. Most of the officers of 

 the company visited the show, among them being Mr. James 

 E. Baxter. 



One of the best exhibits was that of the Continental Caout- 

 chouc and Gutta-Percha Co., the huge tire that half encircled it 

 drawing much attention. Besides the London manager, several 

 of the officers from the Hannover factory were present, notable 

 among them 'leing the Messrs. Seligmann and Tischbein. 



The " Palmer cord ' tire, made by the India Rubber, Gutta- 

 Percha. and Telegraph Works Co.. Limited, of Silvertown, 

 showed up well, the practical demonstration ol the streng' h ot a 

 single strand of Palmer fabric which was shown by its holding up 

 many tons of iron weights appealing to all and not alone to those 

 who are particularly interested in tires. Mr. Christian H. Gray, 

 managing director of the company, was present the last day of 

 the show and evidently satisfied with the wav business was 

 coming to the exhibit. 



David Moseley & S')ns. Limiii-d shi>wtd ihrir irii.ii.r iiir- ^uc 

 drew especial attention to their rim lasiening b> netii t. of a 

 young lady attendant who put on and took < ff tires in a veiy 

 brief space of time. Messrs. David and Oswaln Miselex neie 

 both present part of the time, as was al-'o Mr. Arthur E. Fns- 

 well, superintendent of the tire department at Manchester. 



In variety of tires. The North British Rubber Co., Limited 

 were pree ninent, showing several new types of tires, particular- 



CONTINENTAL CAOUTCHOUC lu o EamibH. 



Nur* ( H onl Vi 



„0.S EXHIBIT. 



