152 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[January i, 1910. 



The Season's Automobile Shows. 



THE tenth international automobile show under the auspices 

 of the American Motor Car Manufacturers' Association, 

 was opened on Friday evening, December 31, at the Grand 

 Central Palace, New York. The description "'independent" as 

 applied to the great majority of automobile exhibitors at the 

 Palace show is used to distinguish these makers from the mem- 

 bers of the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers, 

 whose annual show at Madison Square Garden, beginning on the 

 evening of January 8, will succeed, with an interval of only one 

 day, the one now in progress. 



The members of the Licensed Automobile Manufacturers build 

 their cars under license from the Selden patent on gasoline auto- 

 mobiles; the others are outside that association. At the Palace 

 show- now in progress, however, the peculiar condition presents 

 itself of half a dozen makes being on exhibit that have been 

 produced under the Selden patent. The reason is that several 

 firms, following the recent decision in the United States court 

 sustaining the Selden patent, joined the A. L. A. M., but too late 

 to disturb show arrangements already made. 



While the scope of this journal does not extend to reporting 

 on automobile types, it may be mentioned here that in the Palace 

 show more attention is devoted to European types than will be 

 true at the Madison Square show. It is this feature which entitles 

 the former to be termed an "international" show. While the 

 exhibits of the importers at the Palace may be less striking than 

 in the recent London show, the display contains many of the 

 features that made the Olympia exhibition the greatest ever held 

 across the Atlantic. It is to be remembered that the lack of 

 automobile shows this season in Paris and in Berlin lent particu- 

 lar importance to Olympia as an exhibition place for novelties in 

 European automobile construction. There are in the Palace 

 show, it is estimated, foreign cars totaling in value nearly 

 $500,000. 



If the makers of motor car tires are introducing decided novel- 

 ties in types of tires at this year's show they have concealed 

 with care any advance information regarding the same. But every 

 evidence exists that the tendency at this moment is toward the 

 use of larger car wheels, and of larger tires, not only in diameter, 

 but in cross section. Not even the higher cost of rubber — and this 

 does not lessen the cost of tires — has checked this tendency. It 

 has been admitted on all sides that too many cars have been 

 equipped with pneumatic tires of too small dimensions for 

 economic or even safe operation. These two considerations ap- 

 peal to the intelligent motorist — when supported by the promi- 

 nent tire makers — and the larger tire comes into use as a matter 

 of course. 



There are cars at the Palace show equipped with pneumatics 

 ranging from 28 in.x3 in. to 40 in.x.4 in., the smaller being ap- 

 plied of course, to the machines of lighter weight. The striking 

 feature of the show is the pronounced use of 36-inch tires, 

 both in the 4 in. and the 4J/2 in. section, there being fourteen 

 exhibitors listing these sizes, both front and rear. Tires of 5 in. 

 section are shown on machines, on wheels with diameters from 

 36 to 39^2 inches. But all the tires of more than 36 inches in 

 diameter are used only on the largest and highest powered cars. 

 The 34 in.x4 in. tire is most common on "popular priced" cars. 



M"re and more the development of commercial vehicles appeals 

 to 'the interest of the rubber tire manufacturer, and this year's 

 shows in New York mark no exception to the rule. Hitherto 

 huge trucks, self propelled and equipped with rubber tires of 

 suitable size, usually have been the center of attraction, apart 

 from automobiles proper. But this season will be exhibited an 

 unusual number of small trucks, many of not more than one 

 ton capacity, and at prices surprisingly low as compared with 



former quotations. There has been noted particularly a demand 

 for commercial auto trucks from merchants who now employ 

 single horse vehicles for their delivery work. But they all in- 

 crease the demand for rubber tires. 



AUTOMOBILES AND TIRES AT OLYMPIA. 



The eighth International Motor Exhibition at Olympia, Lon- 

 don, November 12-20, under the patronage of the King and the 

 Prince of Wales, was unusually notable this season from the fact 

 that it was the only large automobile show in Europe, none being 

 held in Paris or Berlin. In consequence the leading Continental 

 makers were represented at Olympia to an unusual extent, 

 making it a truly international show. A few leading American 

 makes were represented 1 , and particularly American accessories, 

 including The B. F. Goodrich Co., in the tire department. 



The tire exhibits were unusually numerous, representing 27 

 firms — British, French, German, and American. It cannot be 

 said that any real novelties were exhibited in the way of tires, 

 but there were new features in tire accessories on many of the 

 stands. There were new rims, valves, and security bolts ; tire 

 protectors ; repair outfits ; non-skidding devices, and so on, so 

 that the tire department proved one of the most attractive fea- 

 tures of the show to very many of the visitors. 



The Olympic show was, as usual, arranged by The Society of 

 Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Limited, in connection with 

 The Royal Automobile Club. The membership of the society 

 first named embraces most of the rubber tire manufacturers in 

 Great Britain and on the continent, and also The B. F. Goodrich 

 Co., Limited, of 7, Snow Hill, London. 



THE STANLEY SHOW. 



At Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, was held on 

 November 19-27 the thirty-third annual Stanley Show, described 

 this year as devoted to "cycles, motorcycles, motor vehicles, 

 aeroplanes, and accessories." Originally it was a bicycle show 

 alone, but while the bicycle in England still attracts visitors to a 

 show, the newer inventions naturally share larger in the interest 

 of the public. The tire makers were, as usual, much in evidence 

 at the Stanley Show, most of them giving prominence to their 

 equipment for motorcycles, the popularity of which in England 

 is constantly On the increase. 



THE LATEST PLANTATION HANDBOOK. 



nrilE growth of the rubber planting interest is illustrated in 

 *■ an interesting way by comparing the size of the three edi- 

 tions published to date of the important handbook, "Rubber Pro- 

 ducing Companies," brought out by Messrs. Gow, Wilson & 

 Stanton, Limited, tea and rubber brokers, of London. The first 

 (1906) edition was comprised in 62 pages. The second (1908) 

 contained 284 pages. The third (1909) edition embraces no 

 fewer than 551 pages. The increase in size of these successive 

 volumes is due chiefly to the greater number of plantation com- 

 panies reported on, though it must be said that an additional 

 amount of space is necessary year by year on account of the addi- 

 tional information available in regard to the longer established 

 companies, in respect of planting, rubber yields, dividends, and 

 the like. The value of the latest compilation is enhanced by the 

 inclusion in it of particulars supplied by the publishers in the 

 Times of Ceylon in relation to rupee and dollar comparisons, 

 this department of the book being in effect a second edition of 

 the valuable "Tropical Investors' Guide" published by the Times 

 at Colombo, two years ago. 



The book is substantially and handsomely got up and sells at: 

 5 shillings. 



