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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0908.PDF
I/SII) COMPANY MATTERS. Sunbeam Motors. AT the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Sunbeam Motor Car Co., Ltd., held at Wolverhampton, Mr. John Marston (chairman of directors) presiding, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said the company was now a con trolled establishment, and since last March their energies had been entirely at the service of the War Office, the Admiralty and the Allied Governments. They had supplied a very large quantity of cars and ambulances to the War Office and large numbers of aviation engines (the Sunbeam-Coatalen) to the Admiralty. This engine had been the result of many months' experimenting by their brilliant engineer and designer, Mr. Coatalen, and they believed they had succeeded in producing an engine that could not be beaten, having regard to the work it had to accomplish. At the further request of the Admiralty, the company had taken up the manufacture of waterplanes. All the departments had been kept during the year in full work, and the result was a handsome profit of ,£240,000. The company a year ago contributed £500 to the Prince of Wales' Fund, and this year they had contributed numerous sums of money to various relief funds, and in response to an appeal from the French Red Cross Society had sent them a fully-equipped ambulance similar to those supplied to the War Office. Mr. W. M. Iliff, in seconding the motion, said they could con gratulate themselves upon a remarkable balance-sheet. In fact, a financial paper had called it " romantic." Since their incorporation they had strengthened their position year by year, had never paid dividends which they could not afford ; and to return an average of about i6| per cent, by way of dividend, build up reserves by more than equal to the capital (paying the shareholders a bonus of 10s. a share early last year, thus utilising £60,000 of the reserve), to show the turnover and profit they did on capital taken with the other growths from the small beginning in 1905 did approach the "romantic." This year's result had not been attained by sitting down and waiting for Government orders. The profit also had not all been made out of the Government. Early in the season they supplied a good number of cars for private trade, both at home and for export. They had also supplied quantities of cars for Russia, and had supplied and were supplying their aviation engines to that country and France, in addition to our own Government. The making of seaplanes was an entirely new departure. They had built and were equipping the new factory entirely out of their resources, without appealing to the shareholders for additional capital. When the company was formed in 1905 the works covered approximately an acre of land, but the total area now amounted to about 30 acres. Their cars and ambulances gave every satisfaction, and many unsolicited testimonials from the Front had been received. While the war lasted they anticipated having to send all their products either to our own Government or to one of the Allies, but when the time came they would not be behind hand in energy and resource to grasp the private trade both at home and abroad. When the war broke out they had export contracts and orders amounting from ,£60,000 to £70,000 cancelled. In every way the year's work had been very successful, and he acknow ledged the loyalty of the staff, but for which the labours of the management would often fail. Mr. Louis Coatalen (joint manager), in supporting, said the com pany would shortly put on the market another aviation engine of 300 h.p. It had only been possible to produce this engine through the lessons learned by their long experience in producing racing engines, so it was a vindication of the racing policy adopted by the Sunbeam Company. Not only had the racing policy secured the company priceless advertisement, but the experience gained with the highly efficient motors had enabled the company to supply aviation engines one month after war was declared. It was the opinion of all experts that the next war would be fought in the air, and there was nothing surprising in this statement considering the extraordinary progress which had been made the last two years, and undoubtedly all nations would have to have big air fleets to protect themselves against air invasions. As aviation progressed more and more horse-power was required by the makers of flying machines, and now they had reached the stage at which engines were required to give 300 h.p. This new industry of the Sunbeam Company had been extended beyond all expectation, and represented a far bigger business than had ever been done in motor cars, so it would be realised what a valuable asset this would be. Even should there be a big slump in the motor car trade the company could still easily maintain its rate of profit on aviation engines alone. Moreover, they had a third string to their bow in the building of complete flying machines. The first waterplane had been delivered and had made a successful flight. The company had in hand from the Admiralty orders for NOVEMBER 19, 1915. complete machines worth thousands of pounds, and this in itself would prove a very remunerative adjunct. Needless to say, the dividend, bonus and other recommendations were agreed to, whilst the directors were voted a remuneration of ^•4,500 by way of a small recognition of their whole-hearted work on behalf of the shareholders. NEW COMPANY REGISTERED. L. Adams, Ltd., Heath Works, South Hill Park, Hampstead,. N.W.—Capital £1,000, in £1 shares. Mechanical and electrical engineers, metal workers, manufacturers of aeroplanes and other aircraft, &c. Under agreement with Alfred Emil Voss. ® ® ® ® The S.M.M.T. Aero Committee. Ms. J. E. HUTTON having resigned the chairmanship of the Aero Committee of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mr. H. White Smith, of the Bristol Company, has been elected to the position. Death of Lady White. THE full sympathies of the industry will go out to Sir George White, the head of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Co., and other " Bristol" concerns in the great bereavement he has suffered in the death of his wife, which took place on Monday. Lady White took a keen interest in aviation, and had laboured hard since the start of the war in connection with Red Cross work. Anti'Aircraft Risks. CONCLUDING a lecture on "War Risks to Property" before the Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute on the nth inst., Mr. Sydney A. Smith expressed the opinion that as war was a national disaster, and aircraft and bombardment risks followed from it, the fairest plan would be for the nation to compensate owners fully ; and he believed this was the opinion of a good many people. However, the Government insurance scheme had been prepared to meet an emergency, and it was the duty of estate agents to use their best efforts to insure its success. Dealing with the question as to who was responsible for insuring leased properties against aircraft damage, Mr. Smith said responsi bility as between landlord and tenant depended upon the express or implied covenants between the parties. Express covenants to repair and to maintain the property and to deliver it up would, it was thought, include this responsibility, and tenants who were not under covenants for the maintenance of the property would still find the position unsatisfactory to them, as it was generally assumed that any tenant would, in law, be liable to continue to pay rent, even though the premises were rendered uninhabitable. The cost of insuring rent was so small that it should never be neglected by tenants. Messrs. F. Sage and Cos.' First Machine. It is pleasing to hear of the success which has attended the flying of the first aeroplane issuing from the works of Messrs. Frederick Sage and Co. at Peterborough. The machine was taken to the air-station, erected, and flown straight away. It is not permissible to give figures, but it may be stated that the machine came through all tests with flying colours, and that its climbing powers were remarkable. Congratulations. A Sign of the Times. It is not without interest at the present time to notice that auctioneers and estate agents in detailing the advantages of the properties which they have to offer, wherever possible include an allusion to the effect that it is situated outside the danger zone of Zeppelins. ® ® ® ® PUBLICATION RECEIVED. With the Grand Fleet. By L. Cope Cornford. London: Williams and Norgate, 14, Henrietta Street, W.C. Price 6a?. net. FLIGHT. 44, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C. Telegraphic address: Truditur, London. Telephone: 1828 Gerrard. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. " FLIGHT " will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates :— UNITED KINGDOM. ABROAD. s. d. s. d. Months, Post Free... 39 3 Months, Post Free... 5 o „ ... 7 6 6 „ „ ... 10 o „ „ ... IS o 12 „ „ ... 20 o Cheques and Post Office Orders should be made payable to the Proprietors of " FLIGHT," 44, St. Martin's Lane, W .C, and crossed London County and Westminster Bank, otherwise no responsibility will be accepted.
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