WHEELS of INDUSTRY "The wheels of wealth will be slowed
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by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
THE S.M.M. AND T.'S 1931 EXHIBITION POLICY.
The policy of the Society of Motor Manufacturers. and Traders in connection with agricultural shows, which has operated since 1931, is continued for 1934, but with a variation in the range of the vehicles sanctioned for exhibitioa. The effect is that complete goods vehicles and utility vehicles for agricultural purposes, which have an unladen weight not exceeding 2i tons —a limit which is waived in the case of cattle trucks and horseboxes constructed to meet the requirements of the Transit of Animals Order—may be exhibited at bona fide agricultural shows. There are certain conditions applying to the authorization, one of which is that the display may not ne made by the vehicle manufacturer' or concessionnaire direct, but by a distributor or dealer or bodybuilder.
The same principle operates in connection with goods and utility trailers, but not in connection with caravan or luggage trailers, which may, however, be shown at any six bona fide agricultural events.
To Provide exhibition facilities for descriptions of commercial vehicles excepted from the foregoing arrangements, the following shows are approved, in these cases for direct display by the bondsigner:—May 2-5, Spring Show, Dublin ; May 30J une 2, Royal Ulster Agricultural Show, Belfast; June 19-22, Highland Agricultural Show,_Glasgow; June 2829, Munster Agricultural Show, Cork; July 3-7, Royal Show, Ipswich; July 25-27, Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, Llandudno.
It should be noted that steam vehicles are now identified with the same policy as applies to other types.
Leyland Oiler at Dutch Show.
At the Amsterdam Motor Show, to be held from February 9-18. a Leyland Cub long-wheelbase passenger chassis with left-hand steering and a 4.5 litre Leyland six-cylindered oil engine will be exhibitedan the stand of Naderlandsche Automobiel-fabrielc Schmidt, Ifoofdweg 53, Amsterdam, Holland.
A New Upholstery Material.
The production of a new ,type of fabric, made of wool and rubber, for upholstering motor vehicles is the aim of experiments which are now being conducted at the Leeds headquarters of the Wool Industries Research Asso ciation. The experiments are being conducted in co-operation with certain motorcar manufacturers.
Although the fabric is primarily intended for motorcars, it also has possibilities for use in buses and coaches. The drawback to wool material for B20 upholstery has been its dust-holding properties, but -this disadvantage may be overcome by the use of rubber in the new fabric. So far as initial cost is concerned, the fabric would, it is stated, be cheaper than leather. OSWALD TILLOTSON'S CAPITAL INCREASE PROPOSAL.
An extraordinary general meeting of Oswald Tillotson, Ltd., will be held ou January 15, at Winchester House, Old Broad Street, London, E.C.2, when it will be proposed that the capital of the company be increased to £450,000 by the creation of new shares to the
nominal amount of £150,000. The object of the proposed increase is -to enable the company to have additional capital available for acquiring further transport businesses and for general purposes.
Ban on Mobile Butchers' Shops?
Llandilo Rural District Council is to petition Carmarthen County Council to prohibit the use of Motorvans as travelling meat shops.;
2-tonners Required for Assembly in Irish Free State.
An Irish concern wishes to assemble British-produced chassis that could be used as four-wheelers, articulated six-wheelers or tractors. Letters addressed "Assembly," care of the Editor, will be. forwarded. OIL-ENGINE COSTS.
. The next meeting of the Diesel Engine Users'. Association will be held on January 17, at 3 p.m., at Caxton Hall, Caxton Street, London, SW. 1, when the report of the committee on heavy oil engine working costs (1932-33) will be considered. Copies of the report, complete with the discussion, will be available soon after the Meeting at 10s. 6d, per copy.
' Severn Ferry to be Improved.
It is anticipated that arrangements will . be completed in the • spring for the transport of. heavier vehicles than are at present permissible on the Beachley-Aust ferry service acrosS the River Severn. The ferry avoids a long detour around Gloucester in journeys from South Wales to the West of England. . The service is also to be accelerated.
Engine Below Frame in New Oiler.
A new 4-ton lorry with a four-cylindered oil engine mounted horizontally below the frame, just behind the driver's seat, has been introduced by the Hanomag Co., Hanover, Germany. It is claimed that the engine is just as accessible as when located under the bonnet, and that it enables a reduction of 20 per cent, in the wheelbase and an increase of 25-pet cent, in the loadcarrying area of the platform to be effected.
An Opportunity for Manufacturers.
An old-established continental concern manufacturing commercial vehicles and trolleybuses wishes to get into touch with a British concern which will be prepared to enter into an agreement for the sole manufacturing and selling rights of these continental designs. Any communication on this matter, addressed to "Continental," care of the Editor, will be treated as confidential and forwarded to the London representative.
Hereford Hauliers Form Association.
The Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1033, will affect over 600 goods-transport operators in Herefordshire, and at a meeting at Hereford, on Saturday last; it was decided to form a Herefordshire hauliers' association. The meeting was largely, attended, and the Mayor of Hereford presided. Mr. C. Lerry, of Hereford, who convened the meeting, explained the various clauses of the Act.
Mr. G. V. Bennett (goods agent at Hereford for the Great Western and London, Midland and Scottish Railway Companies), said that the railways wished to work in co-operation with road transport, and the only opposition would be with regard to very heavy traffic. He agreed that road transport must organize.
After further discussion, it was decided to form a Herefordshire association, which, in the near future, will probably affiliate with the national Road Haulage Association.
Mr. Lerry was elected secretary pro tem., and the following were elected as the provisional committee :—Messrs. L. Praill, A, Tanner, T. W. Bristow, H. Friend, and J. Tummey (Hereford), J. Gittins (Ledbury), L. Llewellyn (Ross), and E. S. Newman, and S. F. Williams (St. leVeonards). Members from other towns will be co-opted at the next meeting.
Hospital Promotes Anti-road-transport Propaganda.
On Friday last a representative of The Commercial Motor saw exhibited at London Bridge Station (Southern Railway) an amazing poster, which is reproduced on this page. It has been issued by the King's College Hospital, London, S.E.5, and we understand from two sources that copies of the poster have been displayed at King's Cross, Euston and Victoria Stations.
We are informed that the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association proposes to take strong action in the matter, and that at least two members of that organization have discontinued their practice of making donations to .the hospital funds.
A trenchant criticism of the action of the hospital authorities in publishing this poster appears elsewhere in this issue.
Russia's Tractor Imports Declining.
As a result of the increasing importance of the tractor works in Soviet Russia, the imports of foreign tractors into the country during the nine months ended September last dropped to £7,100 in value, as compared with £29,300 a year earlier.
Orders for T.S.M. Bus Chassis.
The Southern National Omnibus Co., Lt.. Exeter, has recently ordered 11 ExPress bus chassis from T.S. Motors, Ltd., Maidstone, whilst the United Counties Omnibus Co., Ltd., Irthlingborougli, is buying five bus chassis of a similar type. PERSONAL PARS.
We are glad to announce thaeMajor T. P. Searight, a joint managing director of H. M. Hobson, Ltd., who recently underwent an operation for appendicitis, is making satisfactory progress.
Sir William R. Morris, Bt., 0.B.E., who, as mentioned in our last week's issue, received a barony in the New Year's Honours List, is to take the title of Baron Nuffield.
As a result of a motor accident at Swansea, last Saturday afternoon, Mr. W. J. Mills, Jun., of the Sunbeam Motor Co., Ltd., Wolverhampton, and son of the general manager of the concern, lies at • Swansea General Hospital suffering from concussion, severe cuts, shock and bruises. On Tuesday a representative of The Commercial Motor learned that Mr. Mills was doing
as well as could oe expected."
Mr. P. J. Sims, assistant to the works manager at the Southall factory of the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., is now occupying the position of technical representative in connection with the development of the A.E.C. oil engine for industrial and marine purposes. Produced purely as a commercial-vehicle unit, the A.E.C. oil engine has attained such success that it is felt it can be adopted for many stationary uses, and it is in this sphere that Mr. Sims's new duties are being undertaken.
After the war, Mr. Sims was appointed chief mechanical inspector to the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., and in February, 1928, he joined the A.E.C. concern as technical assistant to the general manager, whilst be has been assistant to the works manager for four years.
Opportunities forAalesmen.
A prominent British commercialvehicle manufacturer requires salesmen for Bedford and the surrounding counties, and Berkshire and adjacent territory. In each case, those who apply must reside in Bedford and Reading respectively, and must be experienced. Letters marked " B," care of the Editor, will be forwarded
Death of Vauxhall's Chief Chemist.
We regret to learn of the' death of Mr. J. B. Hoblyn, A.R.C.S., F.I.C., M.r.P:T., chief chemist and metallur gist to Vauxhall Motors, Ltd. He joined the company in August, 1915, when he held the position of senior science master at Luton Modern School. He gained many important chemistry honours, and in 1905 obtained, by examination, the associateship of the Institute of Chemistry, to be followed in 1912 by the Fellowship; this is the chief chemical qualification recognized by Government Departments for public analytical work.
Mr. Hoblyn did valuable work in regard to the standardization of British steels.
NEW MEMBERS OF INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT.
The following have recently been made members of the Institute of Transport :—Messrs. W. Buckley (transport manager, Joseph Rank, Ltd.), L. Bygrave (manager and secretary, Grand Union Canal Co.), W. W. Clark (engineer and manager, Mansfield District Omnibus Co., Ltd.), W. H. Curtis (chairman, Grand Union Canal Co.), A. T. Evans (secretary and traffic manager, United Automobile Services, Ltd.), and F. Lyda11 (consulting electrical engineer).
The following have been made associate members :—Messrs. A. Armstrong (transport manager, Pontypridd Urban District Council), J. J. H. Brace (London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. [Derby]), G. Hatcher (assistant manages. Grand Union Canal Co.), D. E. Lyddou (director and secretary, Bence Motor Services, Ltd.), J. Newton (traffic manager, Northern Motor Utilities, Ltd.), and N. A. Scurrah (works superintendent, Bradford Corporation Tramways).
South Wales Top in Benzoic Sales.
The South Wales branch staff of the National Benzoic Co., Ltd., held, on January 5, a complimentary dinner, at Cardiff, to mark the occasion of having gained the premier award for 1933 in the company's competition for progress and sales in the divisional areas.
Those present. included Mr. A. Hittinger (general manager), Mr. R. J. Smith (sales manager), Mr. J. C. Jones (South Wales divisional manager), Mr. P. G. Somerville (assistant general manager), and Mr. E. Wautier.
To Aid Coachbuilders' Institution.
The Alan Turner Operatic Society is presenting, from January 31 to February 3 inclusive, the first amateur performance of "Die Fledermaus " (" The Bat ") . in English. at Rudolf Steiner Hall, 33, Park Road, London, NW., in aid of the Master Coachbuilders' Benevolent Institution and other prominent charities.
The prices for reserved seats range from 2s. 4d. to 21s., and may be obtained from the Institution mentioned at 157, Great Portland Street, London, W.1, and the Alan Turner Operatic Society, Northdown House, Northdown Street, London, N.1.
Electro-chemical Deposition for Repair Work.
A big saving in the cost of repairs can often be effected by building up worn parts, by the deposition of metal, to compensate for the wear that has occurred. A specialist in this process is Thomas Try, Ltd., Cambridge yard, Hanwell, London, W.7.
By this concern's system, which is known as the Tryposit building-up process, nickel or iron is deposited, by electro-chemical means, to produce a surface claimed to possess wearing qualities equal to those of air-hardenen steel. Nickel can be deposited to a thickness of in. and iron to .01 in.
Worn bearing surfaces, tapers, splines,
key-ways, etc., can all be given a new lease of life. The deposited metal is guaranteed not to peel off, the crystalline structures of the metals becoming interlocked. The process does not involve the use of heat, and, when nickel is used, the parts treated are immune from corrosion.
G.W.R. " Container " Traffic Increasing.
The goods department of the Great Western Railway Co. reports that a steady increase in the use of containers was maintained during the past year. The necessity has arisen still further to augment the stock of containers, which now amounts to approximately 1,400, including a number specially insulated for the conveyance of meat.
With those in course of construction, the total number of containers owned by the company will shortly reach 1,673. A new type of container primarily intended for furniture has been introduced.
A Patent Tappet: Maker's New Address.
We learn from Self-adjusting Tappets, Ltd., the maker of an ingenious automatically adjusting tappet which was described in our issue dated December 22, 1933, among recent patent specifications, that this concern has now changed its address to 36, Berkeley Street, London, W.1.
The device is designed to replace the existing adjustable tappet top, and to maintain itself in correct adjustment.
Motor Fuel from Coal in Australia.
Benzole at the rate of nearly 1,000,000 gallons a year is now being produced from coal by a private company at Newcastle, New South Wales, says a message from Australia. It is hoped, in the near future, toqincrease production to 2,000,000 gallons a year. The new industry has been encouraged by the remission of lid. per gallon in the excise duty on benzole-petrol-fuel mixtures. A 3,000-MILE JOURNEY ON CHARCOAL FUEL.
Two Ford 1-ton vans, having ordinary petrol engines, which left Ealing on October 6, have arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan, having travelled more than 3,000 miles over mountain and desert without using any petrol as fuel The vehicles ran throughout on charcoal gas. Each was equipped with a British Koala producer-gas plant, and generated its own supply of gas, picking up charcoal in villages en route.
The 1,300 miles from Ealing to Baghdad were completed at a saving of 60 per cent. on the estimated cost of petrol for the journey. In all, 1,188 lb. of charcoal were used per van at a cost of £3 17s. 6d. per vehicle, and we are told that, for the same distance, 97.3 gallons of petrol, costing £10 12s., would have been required.
The figures for the stage from Baghdad to Kabul have not yet been received.
The journey across the Syrian Desert from Damascus to Baghdad—a distance of 516 miles—was covered without difficulty.
The Act Explained to Lancashire Hauliers.
The elucidation of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, the intricacies of which have been the subject of a large number of questions and answers published in The Commercial Motor, was the object of a meeting organised by Nathan Fine, Ltd., in Manchester, on Monday last.
The meeting was attended by hauliers and others from a considerable area around. The chairman, Col. Jerrett, of Lewis's, Ltd., introduced the speaker, Mr. Aled 0. Roberts, M.P. for the Denbigh Division and joint secretary of the Parliamentary Road Group. Mr. Roberts dealt with the Act in great detail and afterwards gave concise replies to numerous questions that were put to him. MINERVA ADOPTS BRITISH OIL ENGINE.
The Brussels correspondent of our French contemporary, Le Poids Lourd, reports that the Minerva Co., Antwerp, has acquired a licence to manufacture a British oil engine, which, although unnamed, is said to have been successfully used in Great Britain for a long period. Minerva lorries and tractors with the new engine are now being regularly produced.
The Minerva Co. is known to have been experimenting for some time with an oil engine on the lines of its wellknown sleeve-valve petrol unit. It is stated that tests of this, both on the bench and on the road, are continuing.
A Valuable Reference Book.
The publication of "The Motor Ship Reference Book for 1934 " is announced by its publisher, Temple Press Ltd., 5-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.1. The price of this useful work is 5s., or 5s. 6d. by post.
BID FOR LOWER TAXATION ON PORT VEHICLES.
Councillor R. J. Hall has been appointed to represent Liverpool Corporation at the proposed deputation to the Minister of Transport to discuss the taxation of heavy .transport vehicles used exclusively in the port area. The deputation will endeavour to secure an interview in February or March, just before the Budget proposals for this year are considered by the Chancellor of the Excheqaer.