From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Editorial from 'Motor Cycling' magazine discussing the threat of foreign competition in the magneto and motorcycle market.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61\2\ scan0131 | |
| Date | 10th September 1919 | |
| September 10, 1919. MOTOR CYCLING 453 E D I T O R I A L The Danger from Foreign Competition—A Wasted Year. German Magnetos — NOW that restrictions on imports have been removed, it will be well to consider the effect on the motorcycle trade of this country from the point of view of foreign as apart from American imports. We have on several occasions recently dealt with the matter from the American point of view, and expressed as our opinion that the British trade should have Protection, owing to our manufacturers not yet having had time to return to their pre-war conditions of output. What we particularly have in mind this week is the possibility of a “German invasion.” Germany is, of course, famed for her magnetos, which, prior to the war, were admittedly the best. So soon as they were unobtainable, British electrical experts set to work and after a great deal of experimenting, which was assisted greatly by the manufacturers concerned making comparisons and amalgamating, many all-British magnetos have been produced, which are claimed in every way to be as good as the original Bosch. In spite of this, however, we still find a great many people, both car and motorcycle owners, who prefer the original Bosch, and having at one time obtained one of these instruments, insist on retaining it, and having it fitted to any new machine of which they take delivery. We are credited with being a patriotic nation, but it is equally certain that we insist on having the best of everything. Now, the Bosch Works at Stuttgart were not destroyed during the war, as many believe, and there is not the smallest doubt that before very long they will be in full working order again, and that Germany will commence to dump magnetos where allowed. Owing to the high prices now ruling in most countries, and bad conditions generally, there is not much doubt that the German magneto will be cheaper than those produced by other manufacturers. — And Motorcycles. WE now come to the question of motorcycles. Before the war, the only German machines which sold in any quantities in this country were the N.S.U., and to a lesser extent the Wanderer. These machines, although somewhat clumsy according to our ideas, had their good points and a small following. It may be stated that the Germans never took to motor cycling as a pastime as enthusiastically as did the British, French and American; but the war will no doubt change this, as it has changed everything else. As in the case of our own Army, individuals of which have, during the past five years, either been in charge of motor vehicles and cycles, or have noticed the extreme utility of mechanical transport, and have in consequence decided never again to be without a machine of some sort, so will the Germans in all probability take to motor cycling as they never did before. There is no doubt, therefore, that the motor-cycling industry in Germany will receive a distinct fillip, and new machines will be produced. Germany, as we know, is very good at copying, and we have personal evidence of this in connection with internal-combustion engines. To quote a case: The Germans captured some Douglas generating sets and motorcycles. Only a year later we captured from them a small generating set, which, at first sight, appeared to be a Douglas, but which was in reality a very good imitation “Made in Germany,” and one which ran with great satisfaction. Germany will, no doubt, also copy our motorcycles, and being all out for trade, will endeavour to get them sold in this country. What are we going to do about it? The machines they construct, as in the case of accessories, will no doubt be much cheaper than ours, and in spite of the tariff will be able to compete with British makes in the open market. There cannot be many individuals in Britain who would willingly buy a German-made machine, but everybody will have something, and if they cannot get anything else, they may be forced to buy one “Made in Germany.” We may be anticipating but that, in a nutshell, is what will probably happen. The Wasted Year. THE season is drawing rapidly to a close. Perhaps we should qualify this statement and say “the buying season,” for motor cycling is a perennial pastime. In little over two months’ time the Show will be here, and would-be purchasers are naturally holding their hands pending the possible advent of novelties at this function. With few exceptions, the delivery of new machines during October will be limited to those unfortunates who placed faith in manufacturers’ promises, and paid deposits to agents on the strength of contemplated delivery in the spring or early summer. They will now find themselves for the greater part with a machine which will be superseded almost immediately by a later model. And what of the dying season? We cannot help thinking that the finest opportunity the British motorcycle manufacturer has ever had has been allowed to slip for divers reasons. He has had the prospect of almost unlimited cash buyers in an uncompetitive market—at least so far as foreign invasion was concerned. During the war, we were promised revolutionary designs, British four-cylinder machines, efficient large powered two-strokes, and a host of other desirables, so soon as fighting finished. What have we seen? A few concerns—those who talked and promised least—have gone on quietly manufacturing, and if the shortage of raw materials have hampered them somewhat, nevertheless they have a reasonable output to look back on. Others have made a mountain out of the difficulties of changing over from munitions, while the talkers and promisers are now telling us what they are going to do in 1920. Meanwhile, foreign competition is once more with us, and riders and agents are looking back on what can be considered a wasted year. B15 | ||