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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

11th April 1922, Page 4
11th April 1922
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Page 4, 11th April 1922 — WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

"The wheels of wealth. will be slowed by all difficulties. of transport at whatever paints arising', as a-carriage is the roughness of the roads over which it runs "—John Beattie Crozier.

A 60-ton Load by Road.

We reproduce on page 229 an illeistra titan of' what is claimed to he the heaviest load ever shoved by road. It shows a portion of an electrical installation trtianttfitetarecl by Itichardsons, Westgarth and Co., Led., of Middlesbrough. The load weighed 60 tons, and eome idea of its bulk can he gained from the fact that it was necessary to take a long circuitous journey by sea to the Manchester docks instead of the cress. country journey by reed. On arrival at the docks, the pleat was transferred to a special 'bogie and safely transported to its final destination by two traction engines, coupled together; in the service of Norman E. Box, Ltd., the well-known haulage centime-tom of Manchester. These machines are ehod with Macintosh solid rubber tyres, the front tyres being probably the largest of their kind, being of 78-in. rim fitting end 9-in, section.

Daily Coach Services Start.

On Thursday of this week, April 13th, the daily motor coach services from Liverpool to Blackpool, Buxton, Macclesfield and Knutsfora will be commenced by the Collingwood Transport Co., Ltd., who were the pioneers of regular service coaches in the Mersey. city. A fleet of Daimler 28-Seater coaches and two 14seater coaches will be in commission this year, and for the above-named destinations coaches will leave the Old Hay Market, Liverpool, daily at 10 a.m. The fares are :—

Swiss Postal Services.

The Swiss Post. Office is considerably extending its passenger service in oute lying districts, and diligencies are now gradually being replaced by motor vehicles. The change from animal to mechanical power has been fully justified, as is indicated in the following table, by the number of passengers carried by each form of transport in the years 1913 and 1921:— Grimsel Pass Forks Pass ... Oberalp Pass Simplon Pass... Aug.., 1921. Aug., 1952. Motorcar. Diligence. No. of No. of passengers. passengers.

... 3,398 2,19 „. 3,719 L383 ... 2,607 1,300 ... 889 439 Spluegen-Misox Pass 3,198 2,081 . It is an interesting fact, says a Depart-. ment.of Overseas Trade report, and to be 'placed to the credit of the.Swiss works concerned (we have good reason to believe it to be the Sewer Co.), who have made a special study of construction for mountain work, that no serious accidents have occurred over the steep passes. Owing to the favourable results of this traffic in 1921, 20 additional cars are to ran in the Alpine service in 1922, A32 and 16 motor omnibuses are also being ordered for other districts.

Three-wheeler electrically driven ears carrying 3 cwt. are widely used by the post office for parcel delivery in the towns. So successful have 'these proved that an additional number has been -ordered. These will be of an improved type constructed to carry loads up to 5 cwt. • The working of the post office service, both petrol and electrically driven, has proved most economical, end whereas the estimate for 1921 was Frs. 2,610,000, that for 1922 is Frs. 2,150,000, of which Frs. 800,000 is for petrol and electricity.

Argentine Oil Output.

The total yield of the Argentine Government's oilfields last year has been declared to be 277,800 cubic metres, ore say, 1,700,000 barrele. This is below the estimated quantity. In'the north successful boring is reported from Jujuy, and it is also said that boring in the vicinity of Santa Cruz has. given good prospects.

The Scottish Railways Bill.

The Scottish C.M.U.A, point out that the postponement until to-clay (Tuesday) of the second reeding of the Scottish Railways Bill in the House of Commons has the appearance of being a device of the promoters to divide the opposition against the Scottish Bill from the opposition to the English Railways Bill. The debate an the Ceeond reading of the latter took place yesterday, and, as it seemed clear that the principle of both Bills will be, or has been, 'decided by the debate on the English Bill, all Scottish M.P.s were urged to be present at the second reading of that Bill.

Bus Tenders Wanted for Spain.

The Department of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, Londen S.W., has been informed that the Magid Corporation has decided to issue a fresh call for tenders for the provision of a motor" bus service for the City of Madrid. The oontract is to be 'given for 20 years.; and ,200,000 pesetas must be deposited bythe competing firms with their tender. The successful competitor will be required to make this sum up to 250,000 pesetas as a guarantee.

Tenders will be opened' on April 16th. Particulars of the type of bus required and other conditions are given in the Gaeeta de Madrid of March 16th, a copy of which will he sent, in order of application, to British manufacturers in the provinces who are unable to arrange for its inspection in London.

Lc:eel representation will be necessary, and in this connection the D.O.T. will be prepared to assist firms who are desirous of tendering, and who de not already possess a local agent, to get into touch with likely firms to net for them.

The 'next issue of 'The Commercial Motor, dated April 18th, will be on sale on Tuesday as usual.

An interesting article appearing in the next issice of The Commercial Motor will deal with the Borough of Hackney's experience with-electric vehicles.

A Headlight Test.

'The R.A.C. has just issued the certificate on the trial of a pair of Focus headlights, which was carried out during last month. The lamps are of ordinary parabolic design, the special feat:ale being thatthe electric bulb in each is held in a tubular li,de, so that both may be focused correctly or thrown out of foces at will by means of a. push ,rod operated be the driver of a Car from his seat The lamps, which were tested by the usual methods with the Britiee standard disc, contained bulbs showing cat-idle-powers of 29.6 and 30.7 respectively..

The test showed 'that, with 'the lamps in focus, 3 driver would be able to pick out a pede4str1an so dressed as to be seen with difficulty, at a distance of 346 ft., if the pedestrian were not more than 6 ft. from the centre of the beam of light, while, with the, lamps out of focus the driver would be able to see him 1d0 ft. away, even if he were 37 ft. from the centre of the beam. In a road 30 ft. wide the driver would see a pedestrian stepping off the kerb 225 ft. away with the lamps in focus, or 92 ft.-away with them out. of focus. The lanaps had no daeseing effect nearer than 33 ft. when they were in focus nor nearer than 189 ft when thrown out of focus. The certificate contains some interesting figures showing the detailed results of the various illuminating and dazzling tests to, which the lamps were submitted. "

Weekly or Six-day Licences ?

The matter of seven-day licences for motor omnibus proprietors was discussed at the quarterly conference of confinerMai road users in Barry recently.

The Bridgend Meth'odists wrote 'suggesting, that the parent body should approach the Glamorgan County Council to ask that only six-day licences be granted. Rowdyism was alleged against users of coaches running to Portheawl on Sundays. Portheawl is a seaside resort in South Glitmergan, to which hundreds of miners journey on Sundays for a day's outing.

Any effort to curtail the opportunities granted to the mining population for obtaining a change from colliery surroundings would .be unpopular, and the quarterly conference wisely deferred any decision in the matter and expressed uncertainty. as to the powers of the county council in the granting of licences.

The Binks Directorate.

As there seems to be a misunderstanding with, regard to the directorate of o: Binks (1920), Ltd., we have been asked to advise our readers that the present directors are Messrs. F. E. Crawshaw, E. J. Robson, Harald Binks and -Charles L. finks. In addition to' being directors of the company, Mr. Harold Binks has the position of general manager and Mr. Charles L, Binks works manager. • The decease of Mr. C. Binks will not have any effect on the continuance of the business as it. will be run by the gentlemen mentioned above, wile will constitute thedmard of .directors..

Samuelson Coach Capital.

A general meeting, and separate meetings of the holders of the ordinary and preference shares in the Samuelson Transport Co., Ltd., were held one day last week to consider resolutions increasing the capital to 2150,000 by the creation of 40,000 new 10 per cent. (tax free) cumulative participating preference shares of 21 each, which, with 10,000 of the preference shares created in August, 1921, are to be offered at par, pro rata, to the holders of the existing preferred shares. The Samuelson Co., it will be recalled, was formed in April, 1921, with a capital of 2110,000 to acquire the motor coach business carried on by Mr. Samuelson.

Praise for the Dennis.

The Dennis motor lorry is a popular model with overseas users, and, as typical evidence ' of the satisfaction which machines of this make are giving in many foreign climes, we may quote from a letter which has recently been received by the Guildford company from the general manager of the New Zealand Express Co., Ltd., of Dunedin, to whom the letter was sent by Messrs. Price Bros., of Waimate. Messrs. Price's letter runs as follows:— "We are enclosing a photograph of our 4-ton Dennis lorry, Which we purchased from you some 21 years ago. The lorry has been on the road constantly during that period, and has given us complete satisfaction. We have used it in all classes of country, and have travelled approximately 30,000 miles per year, and have never had a mechanical stop. Our repairs for the period (including cost of annual overhaul) have not exceeded 240. We have at the same time had other makes of lorries on the road, and we are quite satisfied that the Dennis is far the best proposition— hence our purchasing the 2-tonner of the same make recently, and our desire to sell the American lorry we are running to enable us to purchase another 2-ton Dennis."

The Descent of Stanmore Hill.

Having considered an application foi a reduced speed limit of heavy motorcars descending Stanmore Hill, the Highways Committee of the Middlesex County Council reports that there is already a ten-mile-an-hour limit, but owing to the large number of motor coaches using the road in the summer months, in addition to considerable lorry and bus traffic, there is still danger at the 'foot of the hill, where there is a sharp turn. In these circumstances the committee reports in favour of a five-mile-an-hour speed limit, restricted to heavy motorcars only when descending the hill.

A Shaker-Squire Breakdown Wagon.

The motor engineers' breakdown wagon, of which we reproduce an illustration on this page, represents a type of vehicle that is somewhat unfamiliar on the Merseyside; as a matter of fact, this Straker-Squire machine, in the service of W. B. Horn, Ltd., of Birkenhead, is believed to be the only

one of its type available, •

This wagon has been built to their own specification, and the crane, which has a lifting capacity of five tons and is operated by hand, was erected by Herbert and Morris, Ltd., of Loughborough. All the lifting tackle, etc., is ccntained in the capacious locker at the rear of the cab. The machine is always available for service, and is ready to take to the road at a moment'ssnotice. It is capable of lifting a motor char-abanes bodily, so that should accidents occur through coaches or lorries running into ditches, etc., this breakdown wagon will be able to extricate them.

It will be noticed that a searchlight is erected on the roof of the cab. This is an. 18-in. Rushmore lamp, and„ while the wagon is travelling at night, the searchlight can be trained to light up the road, and when on a breakdown job, the rays of light can be directed on the breakdown gang's operations. There is a substantial spring coupling at the real'. This Straker-Squire machine, which has only just been put into oommissioe, has already had one call, when it (Arne to the aid of a 31-ton lorry with a broken back axle.

Newspapers by Tramcar.

Halifax Tramways Committee is entering into an agreement with the local Newsagents Wholesale Supply Co. for the conveyance of newspapers on the tramways at a charge of 280 for 12 months.

Scottish Roads Classified.

According to the anneal report of the general committee of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, the provisional classification of roads in Scotland has now been completed, after very exhaustive inquiry and consideration, the roads scheduled in Classes 1 and 2 having been tentatively agreed to between the Ministry of Transport and the road authorities throughout the country.

As a result, out of 23,936 miles of country roads in Scotland, 4,292 (or 17.8 per cent.) have been included in Class 1, and 3,187 (or 13.3 per cent.) have been included in Class 2. Scottish roads have been somewhat generously treated, and the above 'percentage of 17.9 in Class compares with 11.7 per cent, in the English counties' and that of 13.3 with 7.0 per cent. in Class 2.

Trade in the Gold Coast Colony.

In a report to the Department of Overseas Trade on trade conditions in the Gold Coast Colony, the Comptroller of Customs at Accra states that while trade has suffered from the general depression, present indications are not unfavourable. The transport problem is still receiving the serious attention of the Government. The extension of the .Accra-Tafo Railway to Coomassie is being pushed on with rapidity, and this will tap an important district. Road transport is also developing considerably, and a potential field of wide dimensions is opened to British manufacturers.

A Transport Manager Available.

We know of a man with good credentials who is seeking a post as a transport manager (or assistant) for a business house or for a garage and repair works. He is well acquainted with various makes of commercial motor vehicles, and has had 12 years' practical experience with them. His war-time experience, too, was particularly useful. We shall be pleased to pass on to him any letters that may be addressed to " W.H.," care of the Editor of this journal.

Swiss Petroleum.

Although considerable deposits of oil sands and bituminous and carbonaceous shales have been located in certain parts of Switzerland, notably in the Canton of Geneva, practically no drilling opera, tions have been undertaken up to the present by the Swiss company Produits Petroliferes S.A., who have obtained a concession for the exploration of these deposits.

A reduction in the price of Nobby Cord pneumatic tyres and tubes came into force at the beginning of the month. From the price list we gather that the reductions bring the cost of these tyres down to practically a pre-war level.

The Automotive Products Co., 3, Barriers Street, London, W.1, have just introduced a patent adjustable door bumper which is supplied in various models. The main feature of these bumpers is their adjustability, which enables them to be fitted very quickly, for the simple reason that great accuracy in positioning is not called for. They enable wear and body distortion to be taken up from time to time.

. New Welsh Roads.

Subject to the consent of the Llandaff end Dines Powizi R.D.C. being obtained, the" Cardiff Corporation will, on the recommendation of the public Works Committee, commence immediately on themaking of two short but important roads. Land is being acquired, sufficient to make a Eke ft. roadway from Cynceed Road towards LlaniShere a distance of

mi'es. The road will he 36 ft. wide, and is estimated to cost 36,000. The second read is from Ely parallel to Green Farm, about 1i miles in length, and estimated to cost £29,000. This road will also be 36 ft. in width.

1921 Motor Traffic Accidents.

According to recently issued statistics, motor traffic in 1921 was responsible for 2,314 fatal street accidents in the United Kingdom. The total number of fatal street accidents which occurred was 2,845, compared with 2,837 in. the previous year. In the metropolitan police district fatal accidents numbered 571, the number of non-fatal accidents in this area being 22,647, 15,045 of which were said to be due to mechanically propelled vehicles.

Mr. F. Ayton on Electrics.

Mr. F. Ayton, the worthy exponent of the electric vehicle, spoke on the subject dear to his heart at a recent luncheon of the Bristol Rotary Club. Mr. Ayton, in his address, said that the application of electricity to road and other forms of transport was his special object. Electric vehicles were. being used to a leonsiclerable extent in this and other countries, and in America the electrically driven taxica.bs were very numerous. The facility of this type of vehicle depended, he said, upon the charge carried, but they found that a 3e-ton vehicle could be taken 30 or 35 miles on a good road with one battery charging. That, however, was not the probable limit, for new inventions in storage batteries were being put forward which would increase the distances covered.'

Ho contended that in towns where. there were electric power stations 'electric vehicles were the most economical. At present petrol vehicles held the field for suburban and Jong-dietaries B2 work, but for collection and distribu tion in towns, he said, the electric vehicle was the cheaper.

He quoted reports of the Westminster City Council, in which the cost for collecting refuse by petrol vehicles worked out at 40. per mile, and at between 2d. and 2i-d. (reckoning at the rate of 2d. per unit) for electricre and the cost of

i repairs was also lower n the case of the electric. The figures supplied from the experience of the Glasgow Corporation were that an electric van was run 35,193 miles with no charge for repairs, except brushes and varnishing.

A New Valve Seat Cutter.

One of the simplest of causes bringing about the loss of engine power is defective and untrue valve seatings, and 3 new necessary designed to overcome this teouble has recently been put on the market by R. B. Hodgson and Co. (Sheffield), Ltd., Sentinel Steel Works, Sheffield..

The tool as supplied consists of three essential parts, (1) the main stem. (2)

three' mandrils of different diameters (o ire of which forms the valve guide centre piece, whilst the other two, when screwed into the top of main stem, become an efficient handle), and (5) three cutters of sizes most generally required for angled err flat eeatings. •

The eutztens supplied with thie novel and time-saving tool are no shaped that no -difficulty is experienced in entering them through 'the engine ports and truing at the correct angle, the entire seating being ground dawn in one operation. The Midland valve seater, as it is called, does away with the process of reducing -the surround of valve Beatings where pocketing has developed due to repeated grindmg-in of valves. The price of the tool complete is 60s.

A Plug7removing Tool.

The Runbaken Magneto Co., of Cheatwood Lane, Derby Street, Manchester, have recently put on the market -a new sparking-plug remover, which _enables a tightly fitted plug, even though it be carboned up, to be removed gently and steadily withoutundue wrenching, and without the risk of distorting the plug body. The Weeny-bar runs through the plug body and gives ample leverage.

German Lorry Prices Up.

According to a. report in a recent issue of the. Frankf urger Zeitung, the prices of German lorries have recently been ire creased, the new average prices lot vebielers of varying capecity. being as follow, the figure in brackets being the price prevailing in December, 1921 :—

2-ton lorries, 370,000 marks (225,000 marks).

3-3i-ton lorries, 390,000 marks (295,000 marks). 4-tun lorries, 410,000 marks (265,000 marks). Considerable surcharges have also been agreed upon.

Welsh Fite-engine Demands.

The Abergavenny Rural District Council has declined the offer of the Abergavenny Town Council to provide the money for the purchase of a motor fire-engine, the loan to be repaid in three years. The R.D.C. has, however, decided to purchase a motor fire-engine that will servo both the town and rural area, and haa applied for urban powers of pur. chase.. • The upkeep of the brigade and engine is to be a joint charge upon the R.D.C. and town council.

The Britigend publio iA urging upon the U.D.C. the advisability of acquiring a motor fire-engine. At several recent meetings of ratepayers the matter has been brought forward, the present appliances being condemned as inadequate, although splendidly manned.

Southport Bus Decision.

The reasons why Southport has decided. not to operate motor omnibuses in substitution for the present tram service are :--(e) Owing to the heavy expen4itura Which would be requiredfor the buses; (b) the extra capital and maintenance cost on the roads in the borough as compared -with the present maintenance of the tramway track; and (c) loss to the Electricity Department in revenue from the traction (day) load. A committee which inquired into the matter reports that, owing to the high cost of running motorbuses, there are no districts in the borough where it would at present pe3r to run such buses as an adjunct to the tramway system. Itshould not be overlooked that there are 15 railway stations in the borough. The committee -also considered summaries of the average statistics of 39 motorbus undertakings for the year 1920-21, provided by the manager of the Blackpool Corporation Tramweys, where the question of providing a ,motorbus service has recently been considered.

Liverpool Buses for Wallasey. In view of the increasing demand on the motorbus service, the Wallasey Corporation Tramways Committee TOODITImends the purchase of four motorbuses at -425 email from the Liverpool Corporation.

Duty on London Cabs.

Mr. Neal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, informed Sir Park Goff that there were valid reasons for a higher duty on taxicabs in London as compared wit,h the provinces', and he did not propose to recommend an

equalization. —

The Commercial Motor Users Association has under consideration, it is said, the organization of a parade in Scotland similar to that recently held in Loudon,

Taxation Reduction.

A deputation including representatives of the A.A., S.M.M. and T., and other constituent bodies of the Motor Legislation Conunittee was received at the Ministry of Transport one day last week by Mr. Arthur Neal, the Parliamentary Secretary, on the subject of motor taxation. Sir William Joynson-Hick, M.P., and Sir Alfred F. Mays-Smith, on behalf of the deputation, urged the revision of the present system with a view to a reversion to the principle of the petrol 'duties az the basis of motor taxation. Pending reconsideration of the -whole problem from that point of view, it vraa asked that amendments shoul-1 be made in the forthcoming Finanee Bill reducing the scale of existing taxes by 25 per cent. and making other allowances with a view to easing the burdens upon road vehicle users in certain eases.

Mr. Neal, in reply, intimated, and repeated on the following day in his apeeoh at the 0.M.U.A. luncheon, that it was the intention of the Ministry to inquire carefully into the question of whether the decision of the Departmental Committee in favour of vehicle taxation should not be altered in the light of experience. The inquiry would be made during the present year. He did not think that there would be much margin for concession this year, but he would net come to a final conclusion concerning the various points raised by the deputation until they had been fully considered.

A Bullion Van.

We reproduce on this page illustrations of a 2-4-ton Dennis van recently supplied to Johnson, Matthey and Co., Ltd., bullion merchants and melters and assayers to the Bank of England, which has been specially built for the conveyance of bullion. The floor is steel lined, and this lining matinees halfway up the sides of the body. The tailboard, which is suspended from two strong chains, and the two-piece doors above it which completely cover in the back of the van, are kted with special locks, which can only be operated from the driver's seat.

Access to the interior can be had from the driver's cab through a slidingdoor. A folding seat is provided inside the body for the accommodation of an armed guard. The body is mounted on a special short wheelbase chassis of 9 ft. 6 in. dimensions to enable it to negotiate corners and restricted areas easily. The inside length of the van body is 6 ft., its width being 5 ft. 6 ins., and its height 5 ft. 10 ins.

Horse v. Electric Costs.

The report of the Ilford Council on the cost of house refuse collection during February shows that the cost per ton by horsed vehicles. was 9a:. 8.4d. and by electric vehicles 13s. 7.3d.

AWaltham Abbey Bridge.

The Lee Conservancy Board propose to reconstruct the navigation bridge at Waltham Abbey at a cost of £5,300. The new towing path will be under the bridge to obviate the necessity of barge horses having to cross the main road as at present, to the danger of the traffic.

Motor Coach Departure Times.

Cornelis, Ltd. motor transport contractors, have asked the Westminster City Council for sanction to install on the Embankment at Charing Cross and at Grosvenor Gardens notice boards containing motor coach departure announcements. The Highways Committee has replied that the Embankment by Charing Cross is under the control of the L.C.C., but, in regard to Grosvenor Gardens, cannot accede to the request.

Indian Imports.

According to an official analysis of the imports into India during the nine months ending December 31st, 1921, the total imparts of motorcars and wagons fell from 6 to 14 mores. Imports from the United Kingdom fell from 1.45 to .63, Canada from .4 to .07, Italy from .12 to .09, United Stated 3.83 to .26 crores. Considering the congested state of the market, British makers have undoubtedly done well in the past year, during which 565 British vehicles to the value of 63 laos were imported into India, whilst the United States despatched on ly 512 vehicles to o, value of 26 laca.

COMMERCIAL MOTOR Running Costs Booklet.

Pointing out that, in the case of a vehiale running 18,000 Miles per annum, a few pence saved per mile makes an appreciable sum during the course of a year—namely, £75 for each ld. so saved —Pepublic Trucks, Ltd., of 196, Great Portland Street, London, W. 10 impress upon buyers of commercial motors the folly of purchasing vehicles which may be cheap, but which involve heavy expenses in running and maintenance costs. To assist users in keeping a careful watch upon their expenditure, the directors of the company have recently published an 8-page pamphlet on running costs and standing charges, which is issued free to inquirers. The pamphlet gives useful examples of the costs of running 1-ton, 30-curt. and 2-ton vehicles, and a summary of total annual charges on a 2-ton vehicle running average distances of 30, 40, 60, and 80 miles per day, reducing these to cost per vehiclemile and per ton-mile. We recommend our readers to write fer a copy of the pamphlet, as we are sure that it will prove useful to them, whatever makes of vehicles they may employ.

Teesside Rail-less Services.

The receipts of the Teesside rail-less traction system averaged during the past two years ended November 7th last were 19.54d. per car-mile, against 'which operating costs amounted to 17.57d., leaving only 1.97d. to meet interest and redemption charges. As this small net balance is insufficient to meet the charges, the board ha,s brought into operation, 'as from April 1st, an increase in fares, under which the charge for the journey from North Ormsby to Grangetown or Normanby is now &I., as against 4d. previously. In one year the system has carried well over 3,000,000 people, and fares -have amounted to about £30,000.

.Competitive Services.

At a meeting of the Northampton Tramways Committee the deputy town eleek reported result of an interview with directors of the United Counties Omnibus and Road Transport Cm, Ltd., upon the omnibus clauses contained in the Corporation Bill, as a result of which .a clause had been agreed whereby the corporation should not run omnibuses beyond a distance of 24, miles from the Town Hall on routes operated by the company, so long as the company were providing an efficient service on those routes. The company had now withdrawn their petition against the Bill. The committee expressed satisfaction at this result.

Six Weeks to Paint.

The novel body illustrated on this page has been 'built by John Buckingham, Ltd., Birmingham, as an advertising scheme for Messrs. Willer and Riley, the Manchester produce merchants, who make a speciality of naturally dried peas. The cylindrical body is covered with some 15.000 painted imitation peas,

the work of painting having taken two men six weeks, which can easily be imagined when we state that each pea was given five coats of paint.

Inspecting Bournemouth's Coaches.

The annual inspection of the motor coaches plying for hire in Bournemouth took place before the hackney carriage inspector and the horse and hackney carriage committee of the town council a few days ago. There are 113 motor coaches of all capacities licensed in the town, and of this number 66 were passed by the inspectors right away. They were chiefly motor coaches, with a liberal sprinkling of the familiar green and red motorbuses running on regular services to outlying places.

The vehicles paraded and passed in succession before the inspecting committee, and each petrol-propelled vehicle was individually examined. Bonnets were thrown up and the engine of each machine observed in running order. The epholstery and general appointment of the coach bodies were also scrutinized, and it says much forethe proprietors, and the care they have exercised, that in no simile instance was a vehicle sent back. Eael driver, before he drove his vehicle tet for inspection, was required to 'hand

in a certificate horn a competent and qualified engineer stating that the mechanical parts had been overhauled and were in thorough working order.

Another point of interest to the travelling public is the fact that each of the coaches was .personally tested by the hackney carriage, inspector on some of the steepest gradients in the town, during which operation hand and foot brakes were tested.

On the back of each motor coach which has been licensed this year for service has been affixed, an -enamelled plate, 6 ins. by 4 ins., which carries the familiar pine tree of the borough arms with the word " Bournemouth,' below which the local registration number appears. This plate is, we understand, an innovation.

C.M.U.A. Doings at Blackburn.

The annul general meeting of the Blackburn area of the Commercial Motor Users Association took place a few days ago. The secretary reported on the work of the past 12 months, and particularly pointed out the efforts made iis connection with the Railways Bill, the Corpora tion Bill, and also with the Divisional Food Commissioners. It was also reported that a great number of legal eases had been successfully conducted.

Mr. Ben Livesey, of Livesey's Motors, Ltd., was appointed chairman for the ensuing 12 months. The following committee was also appointed :—Messrs. J. C. Hindle, Kinder, ,Gillibrand, Kenyon, Ashworth,Caeley, Worsley,Cowell, Ainsworth and .Threlfall, covering the whole of Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington and Clitheree. Messrs. Hindle and Ashworth, along with the chairman and secretary, were appointed the representatives on the North-Western Divisional Council.

Motors for Liverpool.

Liverpool Watch _Committee recommends acceptant* of the following tenders :— Leyland Motors, Ltd., fire-engine, £1,685.

Mesers. J. Blake and Co., two Ford cihneeis for £310,

Messrs. E. and A. Stocker, two bodies for Ford thaSsis, £72 eae.le Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., petrolelectric .'chassis for turntable escape, £1,080 10s.

Messrs. Rimmer, Harrison, end Sutherland, body of the "Wilson and Steekall " standardatype, £240.

Local Proceedings.

Chertsey Urban District Council hat& decided to purchase a motor wagon. ..

Hull Parks Committee has purchased a • seoond-hand motor lawn-mower for £50.

Rochdale Corporation has authorized . the purehase.of-a Ford van for use at the. hospital. •

Kendal Corporation Health Committee recommends the purchase of a motorambulance. • The Merthyr Board of Gifardians has decricied to purchase a Berlict motor ambulance chassis for 2350, Hull Watch Committee recommends the purchase of a 15 h.p. Fiat motor_

tender at a cost of £561 10s. •

Marylebone Borough Council has decided to advertise finthessupply of two more lorries for cartage purposes. .

Rochdale Corporation Cleansing Committee has authorized the, pureha-se of a short wheelbase petrol-driven vehielirfor refuse eollection. • LeYton Urban District Council has asked a sub-committee to report on the question of purchasing a new steam wagon and trailer.

Manchester Corporation proposes to sa.nct.ion the purchase of two motorcar. for the Paving Committee and the Death Committee.

Glasgow Corporation Tramways Committeehas purchased for £500 a 3-ton Albion lorry from a Glasgow firm which is going out of business.

Hull Corporation has now decided to seek the necessary Parliamentary powers enabling it to construct a new bridge across the River•Huil.

Blackpool Traniways Committee has empowered a sub-committee to purchase a double-deck motorbus needed for the Thornton-Clevelyaeservice.

Bolton Parks Committee has arranged to get a 24-in, motor lawn-mower and a' triple =ewer on approval from Ranspines, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd.

Bolton Corporation Tramways Committee has decided to purchase a 1-ton Ford chassis. A body will be made in the tramways department workshops.'

Hull City engineer has been asked to prepare plans for petrol storage at the disinfecting station. He has reported that a saving of 11d. per gallon would be possible by purchasing petrol in hulk.

Kendal Corporation has had a report on the question of motor transport, more especially in regard to the position in towns where. 1-ton lorries are in use. • Further information is to be obtained on the subject.

. In his annual report the Hull chief constable mentions that the motor ambulance coutinu_es to be in great demand, and during the year the service answered 303 calls and conveyed 309 persons to the infirmary for treatment.

The Essex County surveyor recommends the purchase of two 5-ten steam tractors with two tipping trailers ; one 5-ten steam wagon ; seven 10-ton Steam rollers and one 8-ton roller at a .total estimated cost of about £16,000.

The Cleansing Committee of the Islington Borough Council recommends the purchase of four 21-ton electric vehicles, for refuse collection, from' the General Vehicle Co., Ltd., at a total cost of £5,200, and a 4-ton petrol lorry from Commercial Cars, Ltd., it a cost of £877.

A Three-ply Mudguard.

The appeerance of any vehicle can be made or marred by attention to smell points, and many a well-finished body has had its value almost destroyed by cheap fittings or shabby and batteeed mudguards. Users who pay attention to detail will be; interested int the new type of mudwing which Messrs. Strachan and Brown, the enterprising eroachbuilders, of 14, Leonard; Place. High Street, Kensington, London, have recently invented, Which represents a radical departure in fittings of this kind.

As one of the !largest builders of omnibus and other types of bodies, this company have been impressed by the preference shown for wood wings by many users, owing to their light weight and paint-retaining properties, in spite of their natural weakness and tendency to split. The new wing, for which a patent is _pending. has been invented by Mr. J. M. Strachan, and while retaining the advantages of the old wood wing, entirely does away with its drawbacks.

Strength is obtained, and freedom from splitting obviated in the new wing by substituting good quality waterproof three-ply for the ordinary solid wood. Additional strength, as well as enhanced appearance, is obtained by binding the edges of the wing with metal channelling of -O.-section. This is securely attached by rolling the metal edging on both sides at regular intervals with indentations. The wings have rounded ends, while

domed as well as flat wings. can be supplied.

The new wing certainly combines the qualities of strength and gaorl appearance, and may for this reason eventually bust the easily dented metal type and the old-fashioned wood wing. It should certainly make special appeal to motor coach and other passenger vehicle users, who often owe much of their patronage to the smart appearance of their machines.

Messrs. Clayton-Wright (Desme) and Sons, sole selling agents for Desmo accessories, of Desmo House, 264-265, Broad Street, Birmingham, inform us that they have now opened a London depot at Portland House, 415, Oxford Street. W., under the managern4nt of Mr. W. J. Harvey.

Newcastle Traffic Growth.

Some idea of the growth in popularity of the passenger motor vehicle in Newcastle is provided by the annual report of the chief constable, which has been recently issued. In the city there are about 106 registered hackney carriages, of r which 24 only are horse vehicles; whilst of the 125 licensed' omnibuses, etc., only about eight are horse-drawn. There are 132 hackney carriage drivers, 222 omnibus drivers, and 178 conductors licensed and special licences were issued in addition to 315 omnibus owners, 315 drivers and 278 conductors for race traffic. The condition of the licensed vehicles was regarded as satisfactory. There have been licensed to ply for hire 82 taxicabs, and a revised scale of fares is at present awaiting approval.

Removals by Road Motor.

As is evidenced by our centre-page article this week, road motors for removals are the modern means employed by householders, and although this type of transport is becoming increasingly popular, a journey that was recently undertaken by a motor vehicle from Aberdeen to Sheerness must surely constitute'something in the. nature of a record. The-total distance was just over 500 miles, and the cost of the journey was said to be substantially less than the ordinary charge for removal by rail; moreover, the work was carried out more expeditiously and with a greater degree of safety to the articles transported. '


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