The Wheels of Industry.
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This journal, dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with the "Wheels of Industry," continues of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the parcelcar, the military tractor and the steam lorry.
Proposals aad Purchases by Local Authorities.
Crewe Town Council is likely to favour motor-scavenging at an early date.
Lichfield City Council has rejected a proposal to spend 2950 on a motor fire-engine.
The Bowland R.D.C. has deferred purchasing a steam-wagon until after the war.
Ilford U.D.C. and Finchley U.D.C, are probable buyers of battery-equipped vehicles.
The Godalming Corporation is considering a report on the. subject of horse v. mechanical transport.
St. Pancras Borough Council states that it finds it virtually impossible to get delivery of motorsweepers.
Following the completion of a new station for the Glasgow fire brigade, additional motor fireengines are likely to be wanted later in the year.
Rotherham Corporation is about to make additional purchases of motor lorries, for more than one department. The latest purchase is a two-ton Daimler for £096.
Battery-equipped Vehicles.
Readers of this journal may be interested to know that Electromobile (Leeds), Ltd., of. 30, Bath Road, Water Lane, Leeds, is in a position to quote for electric vehicles to suit loads varying from 10
cwt. to 3. tons. Particulars will he supplied on application to Mr. F. E. Popplewell, the director of the company that is giving pair tieular attention to thefl development of this branch of trade. The makers of the chassis are Greenwood and Batley; Ltd., a company with a good reputation in electrical engineering.
R.A.S.E.
The Finance Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society of England has recommended as one of the decisions in connection with this year's Show at Manchester, that there shall be no competitions for gates, timber fences, etc. This is partly due to the prevailing circumstances as to timber shortage, but also in part due to the high prices which are ruling for timber of all kinds. The Show, at the end of June, promises to be exceedingly well supported by the motor industry. We may point out that entry forms and regulations for the Implement Section are now available, and that the latest date for receiving applications for space is
Monday, the 20th prox. The Society has decided not to proceed with the proposed trial of agrimotors, owing to the war.
Discharged A.S.C., M.T., Men.
We learn that bad results have already been experienced by users who have employeddischarged A.S.C., M.T., men back from the war, owing to the. fact that the men. have . proved notto be qualified drivers. It is highly .expedient that the discharge papers should state whether a man has been in the A.S.C. as a driver, a mechanic, a loader, or in any other
specific. capacity. If nunibers of men are discharged without any such specific statements on their papers, there will undoubtedly be unnecessary trouble for employers.
Reserved Occupations.
Any driver, second man or loader, who goes before a local tribunal, in order to obtain a certificate of exemption, should not fail to take with him a letter from his employer stating the capacity in which he is employed, and that such employment is the calling which he follows regularly. It is as well that a copy of this letter should be sent direct, by the employer, in ample time, to the local recruiting officer for the district. Unless a local recruiting officer contends, before the local tribunal, that the man is not in fact so employed, or that it is no longer necessary in the national interests that he should remain employed in civil work, the local tribunal must issue a certificate of exemption, and so put the case of the man back for consideration at a later date. Will "Ineligible" (Peckham) who wrote to us recently concerning the purchase of a taxicab pleased send his name and address.
We make further reference in this issue by way of reports of proceedings to the activities of the Manchester, Liverpool and Counties C.M.U..A., and of tho North and East Lancashire C.M.U.A.
Ariel Motors, Ltd.
We are asked to point out that the voluntary liquidation of Ariel Motors, Ltd., is a formal arrangement for the purpose of amalgamating the businesses of Ariel Motors, Ltd., with Ariel and General
Repairs, Ltd. All liabilities will be paid in full.
Business Assistant.
Mr. J. A. Jacks-on, the chief business representative of this journal, has .A vacancy on his staff for a competent and energetic assistant. A gentleman is wanted who is preferably known to members of the industry, and one who is for a valid reason unable to join the forces of the Crown.
Inquiries should be addressed to the Manager, Temple Press Ltd., 7-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.„ with the envelope marked "Commercial Motor."
Adaptation of Control to Suit Wounded Soldiers.
Apropos our leading article of a fortnight ago on this subject, we note with interest that the Home Secretary has appointed a committee to consider whether, having regard to the conditions of traffic in the Metropolis, licences to drive taxicabs, Motor omnibuses, or tramcars should be granted to men whosuffer from some partial physical disability by loss of alimb or other similar cause, and, if So, within what limitations.
The members of the Committee are :—Mr. F. L. D. Elliott, Assistant Commissioner of Police (chairman); Mr. C. W. Bowerman, M.P. ; Major A. Tudor Craig (secretary Soldiers and Sailors Help Society); Sir Frederick Eve (vice-president Royal College of Surgeons) ; Mr. J. W. Orde (secretary Royal Automobile Club); Mr. R. J. Simpson (Local Government Board); and Sir Albert H. Stanley (managing director, the London General Omnibus Co.). The Secretary to the Committee is Mr. H. A. Tripp, and any communications should he directed to him at the Metropolitan Police Office. New Scotland Yard, London, S.W. We learn that the Dunlop Rubber Co., of Australia, has coinpleted the installation, at4 oourne, of a splendid manufacturing plant. The mills provide employment for 1400 hands.
An Unusual engine Position.
We frequently hear of engines, originally designed for service on road vehicles, being engaged on other work, more or less arduous, as the case may be. Often this takes the form of employment in the capacity of a stationary engine, driving a, small dynamo, pump, or otlier machinery. A. very unusual instave indeed, however, is that brought to our notice on a recent occasion by Brainco, Ltd., of 1, Ellys Road, Coventry, which concern is the agent in the 1,7pited Kingdom for the Wisconsin engine, a power unit manufactured, as its name would imply, in the United States of America.
In the particular case noted, and of whiCh we publish an illustration. the engine--a four-cylinder, of 41 in. by WI in. bore and. stroke respectively, stands on end, with the crankshaft vertically placed, and drives a centrifugal water yamp, delivering 750 gallons per minute..
The special feature of this in
stailation is the fact that the engine can be operated in this pysition without encountoxing difficulties due to faulty lubrication. The oiling is taken care of by the standard type of nump, the only alteration needed being the substitution of a new reservoir for the customary one in the bottom of the crankcase, the latter, of -course, being useless whilst the machine remains in this novel position.
The fact that this engine is working 10 hours per day, and giving off, during that time, a normal output, speaks well for the thoroughness of its construction and the soundness of its design. Such a feat would be impossible, of course, in a unit employing splash lubrication, instead of, as in this case, the oil being pressure fed to all main and bigend bearings.
Petrol Prices.
There appears to be some exeitement in the petrol-importing world. The Anglo 'American Oil Co., about a fortnight ago, issued a notice that " so far as we are concerned, there is no shortage of spirit." The same company, however, put up the price last week by 4d, a gallon, at least so far as its supplies fpr private consumers are concerned. The Shell Co. had not followed this lead up to Monday last. We wonder if it is possible that the Shell Co. will be able to stand by consumers, despite the awkward situation which is created when one big importer endeavours to do business, with difficulties of supply in existence, at lower prices? We must point out, of course, that commercial buyers may in some eases be directly interested in these price-changes.