William Thorburn Lord
1907 December. Interesting Experiences.[1]
Mr. W. T. Lord, who is well known the town (Wigan), is at present in India, representing the Argyll Motor Company. British motor companies are at present trying to systematically institute a campaign dealing with the overseas market, and the “Indian Sporting Mirror” states that “in connection with their scheme in this direction an interesting visit is to be paid to India, Malay Peninsula, Siam, and China by that well-known motorist, Mr. William Thorborn Lord, who is taking with him a smart 14-16 h.p. Argyll touring car, and also an interesting commercial vehicle.
Mr. Lord has had a distinguished career as motorist. A decade ago he was of the pioneers of the petrol movement in the Midlands, and since then he has motored no less than 130,000 miles, which is probably a record.
Mr. Lord has won laurels on the Brooklands track, but as an all-round tourist he is a real enthusiast. Some years ago he was connected with Hon. C. S. Rolls, and latterly with Messrs. Straker and Squire and the Argyll Company in managerial capacities.
It is not Mr. Lord’s object to sell cars during the tour, but to appoint agents in various districts in the Far East. His headquarters in Bombay will be the Bombay Motor Car Company's premises, which firm, by the way, has just arranged for the delivery of no fewer than 30 of the new model 14-16 h.p. Argylls. Mr. Lord was exceedingly popular in motoring circles at home, and on the eve of his departure he was entertained by a circle of friends at the Trocadero and was presented with a handsome silver-mounted dressing case, as token of their goodwill and esteem. Mr. Lord’s tour will occupy about six months and meets with the success he deserves he will re-visit every centre of civilisation in the Far East at least once a year.
In a reliability trial trip 600 miles from Bombay to Kolhapur and back via Mahableshwar, the 14-16 Argyll car, driven Mr Lord, was the first to arrive of the six cars entered. A writer in another paper states that “he was accommodated with a seat on the car, and for smooth running the Argyll is a hard car to beat. The car had never been used before and was newly taken out from the Bombay Motor Car Co., Limited's showroom only 24 hours before the trial trip, and was placed at the disposal of Mr. Lord, who took the car as the representative of the Argyll Company, Limited. The car ran perfectly throughout, and despite the fact that it did not always start first, Mr. Lord had the satisfaction of invariably arriving first at each control, and on the last day it was the first car to return to the Motor Union rooms. Up hill and down the dale the Argyll hummed merrily, and although higher h.p. cars occasionally tried to beat her, in the long run she always arrived triumphant at the end of the day's journey, which was a great credit, not only to Mr. Lord, who drove her admirably throughout, but satisfactory the hon. secretary and myself. It made the run most enjoyable, and devoid of any of those little motoring experiences not altogether unconnected with the passage cars over Indian roads. It was the combination of both the excellent car and very admirable driving that carried us through over the whole 600 miles run without any hitch and in the greatest comfort."
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser - Tuesday 17 December 1907