The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-13
HOW FORDS UPSET ---
BRITISH PREJUDICE
Climbing Ben Nevis Was the
stunt That Won
BritOns Over.
EARLIEST OF ALL TAXIS
First i'm Russia and Other Coun-
tries. Says English
Builder.

DETROIT, April 12.--'Tt takes the com
bned outputs of the Ave next largest
motor car manufacturers in this country
90 equal Ford sales" p. L. u. Perry,
managing director Of the Ford Motor
Company Of Manchester. England. writes
In an article on the growth Of the bust
ness in England In the April issue Of
Ford Times, monthly magazine pub
lished by the Ford Motor Company.
Mr.. Perry tells of the organization Of
the Manchester company in October. 1909.
He talks OF the prejudice against Ameri-
can automobiles which formerly existed.
saying that tho American built Ford was
regarded at first In much the same way
as was the American built bicycle, i'm
practicable for English users. He de-
scribes the many contests and races In
which the Ford proved its merit to the
British public and names as the turning
point OF public opinion the year 1911.
when Henry Alexander. dealer. drove
Ford to the top of Ben Nevis-<.600
feet-the highest point In the British
Isles.
The ascen, and the hardly less diff
cult descent made a story which was
eagerly seized upon by all newspapers
throughout the islands," says Mr.. Perry.
AT Fort Williams the town made holi-
day. Highland pipers made triumphant
reception for the car IN the city streets.
began TO give II serious consideration. The
result was that in this year moro than
400 cars were sold In the British isles"
Many persons do not know that the
Ford was the original taxi In England.
As in ST. Petersburg. Russia. New York
city and other big cities Of the world
the Ford was the first public taXicab In
London. Mr.. Perry says:
at was In 1906. The only means OF
cab conveyance was the horse drawn han.
som. The advent Of the automobile euE-
gested the possibility OF change. Many
experiments were made with various forms
OF more or less weird vehicles: but II
vas left to the Ford to place on the
streets of London that form OF convey
ance which has since some into general
use. The chauffeurs of these original taxis
had to be recruited from the ranks OF
cab,nen bred for generations upon the
knowledge of London. and II IL worthy or
special note that the simplicity Of the
Ford control. then as now. was such that
these cabmen could and did pick up the
art of driving with almost no difficulty"
In closing. Mr.. Perry says: with the
opening OF the Manchester factory which
took place In 1911 We produced and sold
the first year more than 5000 cars. while
last year more than 5000 cars came
through and were purchased in tho
United Kingdom alone. The car 10 es.
tablshed. All the portents for the future
are propitious."
The factory in Manchester II the small.
est in volume of output OF any Of the
three Ford factories. the parent plant At
Highland Park. Michigan. being largest
and the factory at Ford. Ont. from which
the British maritime possessions are sup
lied with Fords. being second.
r. lie Roy Pelletier has not yet made q
Definite arrangement to become adver-
Using manager for the Dodge brothers Of
Detroit. who are planning to bring out a
new low priced car. Pellet!er has had
several interviews with them on the sub
iect. but his present plans are to conf1ne
himself to his work with the Lozier
Motor Company. and what time that Is
not occupying him to work on his farm
At Orchard Lake.
Tho Bureau of Efficiency and Economy
NJ Albany is reputed TO be responsible
for the delay in the matter Of the 1914
automobile license plates. This bureau.
after the Secretary Of State had decided
70 let the contract for the plates to hrm
that had done the work the preceding
year. and had done 1t well. ordered the
contract given to n Arm that would do II
cents cheaper by the set.
The concern was unable to get the work
out on time, no, having the facilities. Fur
thermore. the plates that were shipped in
70 the Secretary OF States ONCE In many
cases We're Clipped on arrival. 80 that the
enamel comes ilakinE off before they are
attached to the cars.
II is TO be wondered II they have any OF
this brand Of efficiency on exhibition at
'ho efficiency show In town. II there L..
they'd better keep Secretary May away
from there.
The city of Toledo has taken its first
step toward motorizing its police and fire
DEPARTMENTS by buying five Willys.KniGht
cars. These are two five passenger tour
ing cars and three two passenger road
sfers. The former are for the use OF the
'wo principal police stations ms "hying
squadron machines. The roadsters are
cars for the battalion chiefs in the fire de-
rartmen,. They are the first of the WHY'S
Knight cars 10 be sold for municipal
equipment, and as far as Is known are
'he only Knight motored cars In such
service in the United States.
The now Toledo ears are the regulation
willy knight product. with sleeve valve
motor, Manchester spring suspension, un-
beneath worm drive and other European
features The motors have four inch
bore and Ave and a half inch stroke, de-
yeloping 40 to 45 horse power.
Ore great problem in the matter OF
portable garages which SO many motorists
with small suburban properties are con-
siderlng adding. Is to get ono that will
oe slightly and at the same time com
Portable with varying weather conditions
II Is objected against the ordinary shee,
iron garage, that although It " fire proof
4 Is not an artistic adjunct and further
more that there Is great conductivity
% heat and cold in the nat sheet metal
walls.
pioneer in the unit or portable sys.
fem OF construction is the Knapp system
me shaping OF the metal for the walls
provides air chambers between the outer
walls and the inner lining, making the
Buildings impervious TO heat. cold and
damp. II is commended, These buildings
efe designed and detailed by Horace @
Knapp inventor Of the system, who IL
IN architect,