WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The whaes of wealth will be slowed by all diffleulties at transport at whatever points arising, as ft carriage is by the rough5OS3 of the roads over which it riess."—.John Beattie Crozier.
Bus Traffic Preparations for the "Royal.'
Durine the period of the Royal Agricultural'Show, which this year is to be held at Chester, about 100 motor omnibuses are expected to be in service in the city of Chester. For some little time the tramways committee, which does not operate any motorbuses of its own, has had under consideration the likely demand for vehicles and reports and estimates have been prepared of the cost of providing an adequate service of Motor omnibuses.
It has now been decided by the corporation to open negotiations with the Crosville Motor Bus Co., Ltd., and Mr. George Taylor, and, if necessary, with other motor omnibus companies, for the provision of a service of motorbuses on the basis of payment to the corporation of a royalty per passenger carried during Show-week..
Vehicle Registration Books.
In connection with the issue of the new type of motor-vehicle registration book, the London County Council made special staff arrangements, and in the course of a few dayssall the new hooka; in replacement of the old ones deposited by applicants for 1925 licences, will have been despatched.
The London Couuty Council is now prepared to issue newbooks in exchange for old books in those cases where vehicles are laid up and licences for 1925 have not yet been taken out, or where licences have been renewed this year at post offices inthe council's area. For this exchange to be effected, users should get into touch with the Public Control Department of the L.C.C., County Hall, Westminster Bridge, S.E.1.
Retail Distributors Transport Conference.
On the occasion of this year's Commercial Motor Show at Olympia, which . will be held from October 29th to November 7th, the Society of Motor Manufecturers and Traders has again invited the Incorporated Association of Retail Distributors to hold a transport conference, the provisional date for which has been fixed as November 4th. The arrangements are in the _hands of a small committee appointed by the council of management, of which the members are Messrs.. Eric M. Gamage, A. E. Cowper and T. Ernest Jackson, • The English Bridge it Shrewsbury.
It is proposed to widen and alter the English bridge at Shrewsbury at an estimated cost of about £76,000. Shrewsbury is nearly surrounded by the Severn and has two bridges, one for entering and one for leaving the town. One of these is an old 'midge rather resembling that of Evesham. It is rather too narrow for the vast through traffic, and its rapidly aseending arches, high pitch and steep gradients make matters worse.
One of the principal 'reasons why the problem of this bridge has not been tackled before has been that the schemes prepared have threatened to destroy the picturesqueness of the old structure, but C20 the present scheme evolved by the surveyor is intended to make the alterations whilst preserving the old stone balus trades. " C.M." Features.
With a special call upon our space this -week in order that full attention may be given to the subject of the use of commercial motor vehicles and powerdriven appliances in the municipal areas, many of the usual features of the • journal are held over. They will,' however, be resumed in the next and following issues. „In the next issue, too, we intend to deal with certain phases of municipal transport, preferring to go into them fully, and to give them the adequate space which was not possible this week.
P. Frost Smith Fund.
• The fund for the widow of Percy Frost Smith, one of the pioneers of the motorbus industry, -which has been organized by Mr. W. T. Sharp, one of the managing directors of Edward Sharp. and Sens, Ltd., of Kreemy Works, Maidstone, has made fair progress, a number of subscriptions (which will be announced later) having been received. The sum required; however, is larger than the subscriptions represent, and further donations will be gratefully received.
A Paper on Recent Developments.
The Editor of The Coinviereial Motor is reading a paPer umin "Recent -Developments in Commercial Motors" before the members of the Institution of Engineers-in-Charge, at St.' nide Institute, Fleet Street, London, tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. Mr. H. G. Burford will occupy .,the chair and a large attendance is expected. Visitors are welcome. The proceedings commence at 7.30 p.m.
Steam Wagons for Leeds.
Leeds Corporation has accepted the followitia tenders for steam wagons for the highways department :— John Fowler' and Co. (Leeds); Ltd., three wagons for £2,250.
Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd., two wagons for 12,295.
Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co., two wagons for £1,566.
Birmingham Licences.
The number of liceuces issued in Birmingham last year for . commercialMotor vehicles was 8,784, a figure which represented an Ifiereale 01' 1,076 over that for the prerieus year.
-- We learn with regret of the death of Mr. W. Williams, who was for many years a solid-tyre representative for the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd.
C.M.U.A. and Water Supply Scheme.
In the annual report of the Liverpool Area Committee of the Commercial Motor Users Association, reference is made to the success of the scheme for the supply of water to steam wagons by the lock mechanism device. Specially designed discs to work the device are purchasable from the C.M.U.A. and are. used by the drivers of steam lorries. The Liverpool Area Committee states that the arrangements are now working quite smoothly, and there has been a considerable increase in the number of discs sold during the past few months. During the 12 months ended. May, 1924, 33,951 discs were sold, whilst during the period of six months ended November 30th, 1924, the number sold was 32,914.
The only complaint received has been in respect of the Purchase price of each token, which is 9d. The committee Point out that the scheme, and the price at which tokens were to be sold, were agreed to by a conference representative of the Commercial Motor Users Association, the British Waterworks Association,the Ministry of Transport, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Agricultural Engineers Association. By this agreement it was provided that no alteration in price could take place until after October 20th. 1925.
The erection of an additional waterservice box of the suction type has just been acaanieted on the Liverpool to Prescot road. This new box is fixed on the by-pass opposite .Stockbridge Lane. It is the third installation on the Prescot Road, the others being et Knotty ,Aeli terminus and; tut Dovecot Farm respectively. Within the 'city of Liverpool two new boxes have been recently fixed-one,-of the pressure-type, in King Edward Street and the other; of the suction type, in Regent Road. Further boxes are to be erected in Liverpool, but in some cases delay is being caused by Contemplated road widenings which have not yet been carried out.
• The Ford 2i-ton Truck.
It is stated that the first examples of the new Ford 21-ton truck may be expected to reach this country in the course of a few weeks, New Chairman for .a S.M.M. and T.
• Coinmittee. , We learn that Mr. Arthur Goodwin, oil C. A. Vandervell and Co.. Ltd., has been appointed chairman of the Accessories and Components Manufacturers Committee of the S.M.M.T. vice Mr. W. Peto, who has held dile impertant position for the past four years.
D.P. Battery Agents.
The D.P. Battery Co., Ltd., of Bake
well, , Derbyshire, have appointed Messrs. Kelsall and Parsons, 19, Blythwood Square, Glasgow, as their official agents for Scotland, in place of Mr. W. Scott, who has relinquished the agency, which he held for so many years. The new agents will dealwith all types of D.P. stornge battery.
Thornycrofts in Use Overseas.
John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., have just received intimation from their associated company at Calcutta that they have sold a fleet of 33 type-J. 4ton Thornycroft chassis to the Government of Afghanistan. It is certainly most interesting to learn of British commercial vehicles being put into service in such a remote part of the world, for large areas of Afghanistan are still undeveloped, and the country has scarcely any European population ; in consequence, the vehicles will be driven by natives.
Thornycroft vehicles gained a big reputation for reliability and efficiency in the Near East during the war, when the Indian Government standardized on 3-ton lorries of this make. Many of these „vehicles are still in service, and the illustration on this page shows a transport column of such machines on
one of the passes in North-West India. The performance of these vehicles undoubtedly influenced the Government of Afghanistan in its decision to purchase machines of Tliornycroft manufacture,
Competition Affects Bus Company's Receipts,
Although the Mersea, Colchester and District Transport and Bus Co. incurred a loss last year on the bus services which they run, the company was able to record a net profit of £276 on its complete operations, due to the fact that the receipts in connection with haulage had increased in the year from £1,230 to £2,321.
The lower receipts on the buses, as compared with the previous year, were largely brought about by severe competition and the poor weather of the summer months.
When the company was formed six years ago, there, were very few vehicles in service in the districts which they serve, whereas at the present time there are up to 30 buses running each day between Mersca and Colchester.
Institute of Metals Meeting.
The annual general meeting of the Institute of Metals will be held at the Institution of . Mechanical Engineers, Storey's Gate, Westminster, London, S.W.1, on March 11th and 12th. commencing each day at 10 a.m. Twelve communications are due for presentation at the meeting.
The annual dinner of the Institute
will take place at the Trocadero Restaurant on the first of the dates mentioned. Amongst those who have• accepted the council's invitation to be present are the Rt. Hon, Neville Chamberlain, P.C., M.P. (Minister of Health) ; the Bt. Hon. the Lord Morris, P.C., K-C-M.G. (vice-chairman of the Imperial Mineral Resour&s, Bureau), and the presidents of many kindred societies.
Suspension Bridge Traffic.
Newcastle Corporation has had under consideration an application to permit certain motor vehicles the registered axle weights of which (loaded) exceed 6 tons to pass over the suspension bridge when unloaded, on the grounds that when unloaded these vehicles are considerably under 6 tons in weight. Before the corporation further considers the matter it is securing the views of the county council.
The county surveyor of Durham reports that he is strongly of opinion that, in view of the existing condition of the bridge, no relaxation of the rules governing traffic over it should be permitted, although the vehicles in question, when unloaded, would, in fact, be below the maximum axle weight allowed. He points out that a variation in-this particular instance might lead to general relaxatiOn.
Irish Free State Imports'
The imports of commercial vehicles into the Irish Free State during November last numbered 26 machines valued at £9,159, bringing the total for the first 11 months of 1924 to 331 vehicles, representing a value of £100,444. Seven of the vehicles came from foreign countries, chiefly France, the remainder being credited as ports of shipment to Great Britain and Ireland.
Still Going Strong.
The works committee of the Kensington Borough Council reports that in September, 1914, the council decided to purchase a petrol wagon from John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., and an agreement was entered into with the company for the toaintenance of the vehicle for a period of 10 years, This contract has now expired. The lorry is at present in good condition, and the committee does not suggest that a further maintenance contract sheuld be entered into. Any future repairs will be carried Out as required,
A Bus Station for London.
All those people who visited the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley will remember the fine bus station which was provided by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., to facilitate the loading and unloading of passengers, mid the organization of the company undoubtedly served to elucidate the problem of transporting passengers to and from the exhibition.
Another station erected on similar lines is, we are informed, to be laid out in the forecourt of Victoria Station, and a feature of it will be a traffic control tower, in which an official will be stationed to regulate bus traffic. His duties will include the control of the departure of vehicles on all services by means of suitable signals. The existing timber platforms are to be replaced by ethers of concrete, and the means for entrance and exit of the buses is to be much improved. Illuminated signs wi serve to indicate to intending passengers the particular b u s which they require. Victoria Station is the terminal point
for 13 different "General" services, and about 3,000 buses enter and depart from the forecourt on week-days, something like 60,000 passengers being dealt with at this centre daily.
ALbion Subsidy Model Praying Popular.
The 30-cwt. War Department subsidy-type Albion chassis is gaining much popularity in commercial spheres of operation, and many of the leading transport users of the country have added units of this type to their fleets. Amongst recent pnrehasera of vehicles of this make and type are Schweppes, Ltd., the well-known aerated water manufacturers, who already run a large and varied fleet of motor vehicles.
A New Trent Bus Garage.
• Many of our readers will remember that in June last the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., whose headquarters are at Derby, opened a large new garage in the town with accommodation for from 50 to 60 motorbuses. As a result of increased traffic developments in and around Nottingham, the company have now decided to erect another garage on similar lines in that city, and we understand that plans have been approved and the contract already placed with a local company.
This new garage will be arranged to accommodate from 40 to 50 vehicles, and will be completed by the autumn. It will have a span of 90 ft., and commodious offices will be provided at the front of the building.
New Berliet Prices.
Automobiles M. Berliet, whose head offices and showrooms in this country are at 40, Sackville Street, London, W.1, advise us that certain reductions have been made in the prices of some of their commercial models. The company's 15-cwt. chassis is now being sold at 1265, the 1-ton chassis at £295, and the 30-35-ewt..aassis at £360, these prices representing reductions of £10, £15 and £35 respectively.
The 30-85-cwt. chassis is specially designed for passenger work. It has pneumatic tyres, long flexible springs, and the latest model, with its higher gear ratici, is likely to increase the popularity of this make. Two types of bus body are standardized for the chassis, one being a 17-seater known as the Stirling and the other an 18-seater designated the Trafford, the price of the complete vehicle with the •former body . being £565 and with the latter £695. A good, range of coach bodies of the open and enclosed types is also available for use with this chassis.
Bideford Bridge Widened.
Bideford Long Bridge, which was partially closed on the north side in August last, in order to enable certain reconstruction work to be undertaken, is now, we are told by the Royal Automobile Club, open for the full width of the highway. The new roadway is 16 ft. wide, as compared with an original width of 14 ft. 9 ins., and the footpaths, which are now 7 ft. wide, have been increased by 2 ft. 6 ins.
Prospects for the Agrimotor in North Africa.
The French Protectorate of Morocco, ,which has attained such remarkable prosperity under Marshal Lyautey, intends organizing a Motor Culture Week at Casablanca during the month of April next.
The market for tractors and powerdriven agricultural machines in French Morocco iS said to be elready. good, and it is steadily growing, as a result of the rapid development of the country under the present excellent regime. American manufacturers are well aware of the business to be done in North C22 Africa, and their productions are to be found everywhere, practically to the exclusion of those of any -other country. Why?
More Government Orders.
Amongst the orders placed by the Admiralty during December last was one for motor chassis with Guy • Motors, Ltd., one for 30-cwt. chassis with Karier Motors, Ltd., and one for 30-cwt.
chassis with I. Thornyeroft and Co., Ltd. The last-named company also secured a contract for four-wheel-drive tractors.
Road Repairs in Somerset.
Extensive repairs are now being carried out in Bridgwater, on the main Bristol-Exeter road, and drivers should note that traffic is being diverted eastwards from Taunton Road and High Street via King's Square and Castle Street, and thence westwards via Binford Place and Dampiet Street.
We are informed by the Royal Automobile Club that thework will take some time to complete, in so far as the foundations of the road are being remade.
Widening Worcester Bridge.
There is a strong objection locally to the Worcester City Council's suggested scheme for spending £27,000 on the widening of the bridge over the Severn. The objection is raised because it is felt that the council has not endeavoured to secure an estimate of an alternative scheme.
It is felt, too, that merely widening the existing bridge is not paying sufficient regard to the requirements of motor traffic in the future, and there is a strong movement in favour of a street widening scheme and a new bridge oVer the Severn so as to -provide for one-way traffic in Worcester at this spot. The Ministry of Transport will make a grant of 65 per cent, towards the cost, the balance being •borne equally by the two Shropshire and Shrewsbury authorities.
One-way Traffic Powers.
At a meeting of the Northampton Watch Committee the chief, constable reported that several local authorities had obtained powers to deal with the question of one-way traffic in congested areas within their jurisdiction, and he suggested that steps should be taken to obtain similar powers for Northampton_ The town clerk was asked to report if the matter could be dealt with in any way other than by private Bill legislation.
A Tanker for Fuel.
An illustration on this page depicts an A.E.C. tank wagon which has recently been delivered from the makers' works at Walthamstow, the basis of which is formed by an example of the company's 2-ton chassis. The tank, which has a capacity of 590 gallons, is Used by the Crow Carrying Co., Ltd., of Barking, for the conveyance of paraffin or petrol in bulk, -and, as can be seen from the picture, a hand pump is fitted at the 'rear for the purpose 'of filling or emptying the tank. In order to comply with the police regulations; the vehicle is fitted, as usual on a wagon of this type, with an asbestos and iron fireguard to the rear of the driver's cab.
According to an advice from Teheran, motor lorries imported into Persia have been exempted from customs duty for a period of five years. Burnley's Motorbus Project.
The request of the Todmorden Corporation that a clause should be inserted in the Burnley Corporation Bill giving it power to refuse the running of Burnley buses in Todmorden, or on the road between the two towns, so long as it maintained an adequate service, has been turned down by the Burnley General Purposes Committee, as was a similar request from the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., in regard to certain routes outside the borough. The Burnley tramways manager has intimated to the general purposes committee that his estimate of the cost of the corporation's proposals for the provision of omnibuses is £41,500, and the council has decided to make mention of that sum in the Bumley Corporation Bill.
Alpe and Hardy Couplings.
Edward J. Hardy and Co., Ltd., the makers of the well-known Hardy flexible couplings, inform us that they have taken over the patent rights, goodwill and assets of the Alpe Patent Couplings, Ltd., 41, Livery Street, Birmingham, manufacturers of the Cord flexible couplings. The business of the latter company has been transferred to the works of Messrs. Hardy, at Coventry and Birmingham, and in future Alpe couplings will be manufactured under the direct supervision of R. J. Alpe, the patentee.
All Hardy productions will continue to be manufactured under the personal supervision of Mr. E. J. Hardy, and Mr. Joseph A. Oldbury will be managing director of both companies.
New London Tyre-fitting Station.
W. and A. Bates, Ltd., the manufacturers of Bates tyres, have opened a Pew solid-tyre fitting station at 17, Hatton Yard, Hatton Garden, London, E.C. The premises are extremely commodious and provide a straight drivein for motor vehicles. A power-driven fitting press is installed, and strong lifting tackle and tools of all classes are available for the use of motor-vehicle owners.
Scottish Users and the New Forth Bridge Suggestion.
At the annual meeting of the Assodation of Scottish Commercial Motor Users, the question of a new road bridge across the River Forth, near Queensferry, was referred to. As was stated in our last issue, the new structure will rest about £4,000,000 to construct, and Mr. E. Graham Guest, J.P., chairman of the association, said that, whilst all road users would like to see the new structure erected, until something definite ma
terialized, it was the duty of the association to concern itself with conditions of traffic as they are and the existing ferry, and to urge for every possible improvement on a system which is at present considered unworkable.
He admitted that the position was a difficult one so long as the possibility of a new bridge existed, and that until it was decided one way or the other, it could hardly be expected that the railway company would do much to improve existing facilities.
New Rotax Agent.
Rotax (Motor Accessories), Ltd., Rotax Works, London, N.W.10, who are establishing service agents throughout the country, inform us that they have appointed Messrs. E. Lander, 100, Castle Street, Luton, as their official service and battery agents in the town.
Patent Devices for Ventilators.
We have been asked to point out that the special devices used for securing the ventilators on the bus body recently built by Short Bros. Ltd., on an A.E.C. chassis for Buenos Aires, and which we illustrated in our article 'entitled, "De
velopments in Passenger Vehicle Coachwork," which appeared in our issue of January 27th, are patented by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd.
Chesterfield Bus Regulations.
Motorbus proprietors in the district who have received licences from the Chesterfield Corporation are being advised that, as from October 1st next, no vehicle with its main passenger exit at the front will be licensed unless an emergency door is fitted at the rear. in cases, however, where the only exit on a bus is at the rear, no additional exit will be called for.
"Why Pneumatic Tyres?"
A paper entitled "Why Pneumatic Tyres?" will be read by Mr. R. Marks before the London Graduates of the Institution of Automobile Engineers at Watergate House, London, W.C.2, at 7.30 p.m., on February 27th.
L.C.C. Hiring Lorries.
The London County Council has made a contract with the United Service Motor Transport Co., Ltd., for the hire of petrol lorries for a period of six months, the estimated value of the contract being £2,256.
Iliebarcl Garrett and Sons, Ltd.. are supplying a further twelve 5-ton endtipping electric refuse-collecting vehicles to the Birmingham Corporation.
Local Proceedings.
Wigan Corporation has authorized the purchase of a motor ambulance at a cost of £700.
Bolton Corporation has authorized the purchase of a new motorvan for the electricity department.
Wallasey Corporation is seeking Parliamentary powers to enable it to run trolley-bus services.
Stoke-on-Trent Corporation is setting aside £2,000 for the purchase of motor vehicles for refuse collection.
Willesden Council's Works Committee recommends the purchase of a steam gully-emptying machine at a cost of £1,150.
Durham Standing Joint Committee suggests the purchase of a light prison motorvan and a 2-ton vehicle with a double-purpose body.
Halifax Town Council is applying for sanction to borrow £6,300 for the purchase of six motorbuses and £3,150 to meet future purchases.
Carnarvon Watch Committee is calling upon owners of buses which have naked lights inside the vehicles to provide wire protection for the globes.
Manchester Watch Committee is allocating a sum of £1,500 for the purchase of motor ambulances.
Manchester Corporation has purchased two standard Ford trucks from IL and J. Quick, Ltd., for the tramways department.
Manchester Corporation has accepted the tender of Crossley Motors, Ltd., for the supply of two motor ambulance chassis for the watch committee.
. The Health Committee of the York City Council recommends the allocation of a sum in the next estimates for the purchase of a new motor ambulance.
Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council is seeking tenders for the supply of a motor ambulance. These must be delivered not later than February 14th.
Wimbledon Corporation Watch Committee recommends acceptance of the tender of John Chalmers and Sons, Ltd., of Redhill, for the supply of a motor ambulance at a cost of 1822.
A town's meeting has rejected the proposal of the Hull Corporation to seek Parliamentary powers to run motor omnibuses outside the city, and this part of the Corporation Bill will, accordingly, be withdrawn.
The Board of Guardians of Belfast Union are seeking tenders for the supply of a British-made ambulance capable of carrying two stretcher patients and a nurse or of conveying eight passengers. Tenders have to be delivered to the clerk's office, 51, Lisburn Road, Belfast, by February 17th.