THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1930.
FORD INTERVIEWED | 1,000 Cars a Day at New Works at Dagenham.
4:
STOUT DAZZLE. A Further Trial of All
Devices Desirable.
For many months past it has been common knowledge that the Minister
THE CHINA MAIL.
IDEAL SALESMAN,
What He Should Be Able To Do.
Of all professions that appeal to times the the adolescent of our
Mr. Henry Ford, who is on a visit to Europe with some personal friends, received a number of re- of Transport has had in preparation motor car industry appears to offer presentatives of the Press a new regulation to reduce the an- the most pleasing prospect to their Claridge's Hotel, London in mail noyance caused by head lamp dazzle. peculiar minds. I say "peculiar" week. He gave some interesting With the evenings rapidly drawing because it la dificult to comprehend tickle the young information regarding the new fac-in we think it likely that it will be why it should tarles at Dagenham, to Inspect promulgated within the next few man's fancy so tremendously, un- less it be that he is attracted by the which was, he stated, the object of weeks. his visit to England, but he de- As to its terms, .one, can but thought that a motor salesman has clined to be drawn into any dis- speculate. Many rumours are cur-fa "soft time," or by the possibility cussion on other subjects.
rent, and it is possible that even of obtaining the use of a car occa Although progress at Dagenham now the final wording of the Order alonally in the course of his duties. is proceeding according to schels under discussion. From sources A visit to the Olympla Show is dule, it is not expected that pro- as a rule moderately well informed often responsible for sowing the duction will commence there for comes the suggestion that the Min-seed of desire to become a car sales- another twelve months, but already later favours the dip and switch man in the breast of youth, for 15 acres of buildings have been method of combating dazzle. If there he sees salesmen, apparently completed. When the new factories this impression as to the Minister's full of beans (or of spirit), and are in full swing the output printentions is correct, whilo a docl-imagines that their lives are com. sible will be 1,000 cars par 8-hour ston based upon it would be wel-posed of one long and glorious working day, while the blast furn-comed by certain lamp manufactur- Olympia. That's where he is 80 aces will be capable of pro- ers, and by many thousands of pri-hopelessly misled, for who knows a ducing nearly 200,000 tons of pig vate car owners whose lamps are motor salesman who in his inmost Iron per year, and the coke ovens of the dip and switch variety, it heart is fond of Olympia-while ho will yield more than 225,000 tons would be a severe blow to the is there? of coke per annum and approxim- makers of special lenses and to ately 9 million cubic feet of gas
those who own forlegn-made cars True it is that most people asso- per day. Mr. Ford stated that con- on which such lenses are fitted as elated with the industry look for siderable difficulty has been experi
part of the standard equipment. ward each year with unabated zeal enced in procuring certain commo-
to the coming of the next Olympla, dities in Britain, for example. We have suggested-and we re and would miss it badly were the sheet, steal, which still has to be peat the suggestion-that it would powers that be to abolish it: bui obtained from America. It has be well, before a new Order is while it is in progress they become also been found impossible to par- issued, to organise another demon-entirely miserable by reason of its chase the right quality of pig ironstration of anti-dazzle devices. everlasting sameness. In the quantities required from Admittedly admirable
as are the
What is more tiring than ten existing British blast furnaces, and for that reason furnaces are being
rected at Dagenham.
In announcing the new prices for Ford products, which are effective Immediately, Mr. Ford stated that the small-engine model is now priced higher than the standard vehicle in order to encourage the (Continued on Next Column.)
LEAD
THE
WAY
B.
ON A
S.
A
Sole Agents:
SINCERE'S
The Ideal Dovice.
Olympia's "Everlasting Sameness,”
dip and switch lamps or reflectors days on the same stand? Of course, now available, they suffer from the the mighty ones spend as little time inevitable shortcoming that the as possible on their own stand (one driver has to bring them into action never looks for them there, does by manual means. It is not diffione?); but the poor motor salesman cult to actuate them-Indeed, it is turns up on the first bright day the simplest of operations--but it with anticipation of the good time would, we think, be unwise to issue in spite of his experience of former an Order definitely specifying any shows. By the following Monday one method of securing the desired his pristine brightness, is dulled 'hrid' result. It is, in fact, the result his anticipation, which was so rosy, that is necessary rather than the is a thing of the past. means of achieving it. The ideal Of course, the would-be salesman to aim at is something which gives the result automatically without calling upon the driver to do any thing, however simple.
knows nothing, of the dark side- he only secs the usually gay exterior and envles the salesman his appar- ently congenial occupation. H2 Hitherto the use of special lenses, imagines the salesman's delight at lamp fronts, cowls, and the like has, imparting information to the en- as a rule, meant that the effective-quirer and dilating on the virtues nens of the driving light has been of the cars on his stand, and knowa curtailed. It may be that all the nothing of the boredom of having special lenses and stationary re-to relate dozens of tlines a day how flectors still suffer from this serious this and that functions, or why this disadvantage, but la the Minister or that model has disappeared this sure that anch is the case?
year from his firm's programme.
The decision he must take is a (It is very aggravating when a serious one, and if he takes it pre-visitor displays no interest in any maturely he will almost inevitably other model but the one which you lay himself open to justifiable criti-used to build and insists on discuss- cism. His best course appears to ing its virtues instead of admiring be to invite all those with anti- the new creations). dazzle devices of a practical nature. One must not assums that the publicly to demonstrate their in-average salesman is not really in- ventions. It several devices meet terested in his work; oh, no! He his requirements he can. specify cften is very keen, especially first what must be done, and leave thing in the morning; but each day motorists free to selcet the precise seems to bring its fresh dis- means of complying with the law.lusionment. He is often apoiled, it If only one type proves satisfactory, is true, by a surfeit of the never- he can make its use obligatory, and neglected and very pleasant side of no one can complain.-The Auto-his job entertaining prospective and actual customers but in most cases failure comes through lack of motoring public to use the moral staying power. The Show is a re- efficient car. The new prices are lief from the tedium of waiting in as follows: touring car, 2185: the showroom for customers to Tudor saloon, $180; standard drop In, but the contrast between coupo $185; Fordor saloon, the two is very great; and while the £210; de luxe Fordor saloon, return to the showroom from the £225;
cabriolet, £210; and Show is, at first, like entering upon chassis, £135. These prices relate a well-earned rest, the slowness of to the larger model, and are In-1 éventa anon begins' to pail, and it ia creased by 5 if the 149 h.p. en-not long after the doors of Olympis 'gine is required,
car.
THE NEW
AIR-ELICHT
PRINCIPLE TYRES
BY
FISK
MEANS MORE
mileage
A SUPER-TYRE WITH
NO COMPETITORS,
Bole Distributors
have closed on him that he com- mences to look forward to the next Show with renewed pleasurŮ.
Essentials to Success,
To be a happy and successful salesman it is "essential that one should possess a workable know- ledge of motor- design and mechanics. It is not enough to be able to handle a car without mak ing an ass of one's self or to memorise data concerning the cars one is trying to sell. One must be able to answer the questions of mechanically-minded customers con- vincingly and with absoluta sc- curacy. Nothing Irritates this class of customer more then to discover.) that the salesman is not so well- informed on the subject as he is himself (unless he be an egoist); and a confession of ignorance is quite fatal to hopes of making a profitable sale.
It is not enough to be presentable and well-mannered, though both of these qualities are eminently desir able. What impresses the average car buyer most is the onthusiasm of the salesman, based upon a sound knowlege of the car. ho fa rooom mending. Above all, že must. possess tact and patience. With all these advantages he may reasonably hope to become, some day, what indeed a rarity, an ideal motor salesman Win the Autocar
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