News and Comment.
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This journal is admitted to possess the influence, the men, the standing and the leading circulation. It is exclusively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses throughout the World.
No Olympia Mixture.
This journal, following its fixed precedent, and in conformity with the policy of distinction which is the rule of the S.M.M.T., will not deal with any of the motorcar er accessory exhibits at next month's private-car show.
C.M.TJ.A. Membership.
We desire to direct the attention of the many fresh supporters of this journal to the announcement of the Commercial Motor Users AsociaLion which faces page 119 of this issue. No better immediate investment of two guineas can be made than is there offered.
Explosives by Road.
The conveyance of cartridges, blasting mixtures, nitro-glycerine, etc., by road, both in this country and the United States, is likely to be extended. Am phi safeguards are adopted by the producers, who attach much importance to the direct, means of transport.
Opinions from Others.
The week's views of sundry readers (pages 124 and 126) convey interesting opinions upon the ft-Ilowing topics of current concern : subsidized petrol lorries ; tire and wheel standardization ; the use of governors; low petrol consumption ; the Express Motor Cab Co.
The:Brewers' Exhibition.
New readers, who are not yet owners, and whose places of business are within reasonable travelling distances from London, should pay a visit to the forthcoming Brewers' Exhibition at the Agricultural Hall, Islington. The dates are given in our diney of coming events, whilst illustrated references to the commercial-motor exhibits will be found on pages 112 and 113.
Motor Ambulances.
The Belfast Town Council has confirmed the action of a sub-committee of its Police Committee, in respect of the purehrie of a motor ambulance.
Petrol Railcars for Queensland.
A Brisbane correspondent writes :—•• We are requiring information of petrol or petrol-electric motorcars suitable for rail traffic of 3 ft. 6 in. gauge between rails, grade 1 in 20, curves degrees radius, the cars to seat from 30 to 40 passengers and cost to he C.I.F. Brisbane about 21,500. Could we ask the favour of an inquiry of you ? We have a knowledge here only of the 60-passenger American cars costing about £1,000 F.O.B. New York, and of these six have been ordered. We cannot see why English firms cannot compete in this regard, and know well that, if such a car as we write of was obtainable, there would he a great immediate and increasing demand therefor. In new countries, the passenger traffic for a time on any newly-opened line is small, and the cost of the present steam service great. If an up-to-date service could be established, the progress of these districts would be more rapid. If you can aid us in this matter we would be very glad."
The matter is one which will no doubt interest some manufacturing supporters of this journal, and we have been happy to communicate information to them.
No Compulsory Requirement of Rubber Tires.
We are in a position to give the most categorical and unequivocal denial to a current rumour to the effect that, on and after the 1st January next, no self-contained motor vehicles will be allowed to use the highways of Great Britain unless they are fitted with rubber tires. This report is wrong. No such drastic regulatiori could be adopted without the fullest Legislative and Departmental consideration ; in fact, we should give it 10 years to come into force-if at all Owners and prospective owners of motor wagons with steel tires need have no fears. Although we hold to our advoeacy of solid-rubber tires, and believe they will be increasingly adopted on the score of ultimate economy having regard to greater performance secured, that view is far removed from the suggestion of Governmental requirement as a sine qua 000.
Petrol Trams for Curacao.
We reproduce, on this page, a photograph of one of two 40 h.p. petrol tramcars which Sidney Straker and Squire, Ltd., has recently constructed for service in Curacao, in the Dutch West Indies. These cars are designed to run on a tramway of metre gauge, the rails for which are of the grooved type weighing about 60 lb per metre. The bodies of these cars, as may be seen from the illustration, are of the open type, with accommodation for 30 passengers. At each end of the car, separating the driver from the passengers, is a glass windscreen ; side curtains are also provided. The cars may be driven from either end, the necessary actuating levers being removable from end to end for that purpose. The gearbox provides for three speeds in either direction, the high speed being 15 miles an hour when the engine is running at its normal speed. Both axles are driven.
The Dundee Motor Lorry Co., Ltd., of 4, South Ward Road, Dundee, is in a position to accept additional orders for motor transport its vehicles are hired on mileage, tonnage or time bases.
At the last meeting of Wimbledon Town Council, the Chairman of the Electric Lighting Committee and the Borough Electrical Engineer weie instructed to report as to the prime and running costs of a motor vehicle suitable for use by the Electricity Department.
Fresh G.P.O. Approval.
The Postmaster-General's annual report this year again contains pleasing references to the extensions ;Ind reliable performances of motor-mail services, of which there are now more than 100 in force.
The Argyll Worm.
Argylls, Ltd., of Alexandria, N.B., has become so thoroughly convinced of the superior qualities of the overhead worm drive that it has adopted it as standard for practically all its range of models —pleasure cars included.
Dennis Dispatches.
Almost simultaneously, during the past week, typical deliveries from the Dennis factory at Guildford were : two 13-cwt. machines and one two-ton machine for Adelaide; one 30-cwt. machine for Christiana; two more 2i-ton machines for Carter Paterson and Co., Ltd. ; and two more 25-30-cwt machines for MeNainaras.
Daimler Commercial Motors.
The intention of the Birmingham Small Arms Co., Ltd., to place Daimler conneereial motors upon the market, to which intention we have made incidental references from thee to time, was confirmed by Sir Hallewell Rogers, at the annual general meeting last week. He announced that commercial vehicles were leceiving the company's most-serious attention, and that he felt sure the shareholders would be pleased to know that
within a very short time Daimler lorries of different capacities would he put upon the market.
Selling Polacks.
Messrs. Leo. Swain and Co., of 2,37 and 239, Deansgate, Manchester, who hold the Polack representation for the North of England, fancy that our reference, of a fortnight ago, to their preparedness to fit rubber tires at short notice—to vehicles which may have to run on snow to be slightly indefinite, owing to the fact that we did not mention the make of tire which they are prepared to fit. The unintentional omission is now remedied.
From Huddersfield.
" Karrier cars from the works of Clayton and Co., Huddersfield, Ltd., have recently been purchased by the following parties :--Peter Wood, Esq. (Western Australia), four-ton and five-ton machines: Bennett and Wood, Ltd., Coventry, machines with load capacities ranging between 30 ewt. and five tons; Keighley Co-operative Society, Ltd. H. Dewhurst and CO., Ltd., Batley ; Messrs. B. and U. Dunford, Normanton ; and the Bradford Dyers' Association, Ltd. The last three are " repeats:'
Liverpool Trials Anniversary.
The arrangements for the holding of the first anniversary dinner to commemorate the Liverpool Heavy Motor erials of 1898, 1899, and 1901 are proceeding satisfactorily. The following gentlemen, most of whom will be present at the Royal Automobile Club on the 26th inst., have been constituted a committee : John A. Brodie, Esq. ; H. G. Burford, Esq. ; E. It Calthrop, Esq. ; Colonel R. E. Crompton, C.B. ; Henry Fowler, Esq. ; Dr. H. S. Hele-Shaw, P.R.& ; Anthony G. Lyster, Esq. ; Sir Boverton Redwood,. Bart. ; Sir David L. Salornons, Bart, Henry Spurrier, Jun., Esq. ; and Sir John I. Thornycroft, F.R.S. The Editor of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, who was responsible for the organization of the trials in question, is acting as Hon. Secretary to the Committee. As we announced a fortnight ago, the Rt. Hon. Walter IL Long, M.P., will he present as the guest of the evening, and it is probable that two or three additional guests will be invited, but there will be no other departure from the rule that tickets can only be supplied to those who were connected with the organization of the trials, or who participated in them.
The Bridge Garage, Ltd., of Leeds, now has its third Lotis mail van. This runs on the LeedsBradford route.
Mr. C. E. Sale, of 23, Wa'brook Road, Derby, has been elected Hon. Secretary of the Derbyshire centre oi the Roads Improvement Association.
We have received from an Australian correspondent a cutting from " The Herald," in which a ponderous internal-combustion-engmed tractor is illustrated and described. The tractor has been built by a Mr. Bottrili, and is one of the Pedrail type. All the wheels are provided with heavy, hinged feet, much after the style of the original Pedrail tractor built by Burrell's, of Thetford. nearly 50 years ago, on which lines many experimenters have since spent considerable sums of money without practical result.
Motor Accidents.
" The Economist," in its issue of the 7th inst., at the conclusion of a long article on the subject, of the increase in motor accidents, asks the following question, amongst others " Would the nation as a whole be richer and happier if motor vehicles of all kinds had been absolutely prohibited'!" Our contemporary's article appears to have been inspired by that almost-defunct body, the Highways Protection League it borders on the sensational.
Whilst we deplore the undoubted increase in the total number of street accidents, due to the general speeding-up of traffic of all kinds, and in 110 small measure, so far as London is concerned, to the extra congestion which has been caused by tramcar obstruction, we cannot believe that any true economist would wish to see this country handicapped by panic legislation. International competition is but one of many factors which are forcing this country to develop motor transport., and improve
ments in methods of internal communication are vital to our continued commercial prosperity. Experience presages that use will soon accustom pedestrians to changed traffic conditions, in support of which contention we may cite records of tramcar accidents in all large provincial cities. London may want another year or two ; then the curve will droop.
Purrey.Exshaw Steam Lorries.
Adverting to the report from our Paris correspondent, which was published in our issue of the 3rd August last, and to our statement the following week that we should look into the records of the participation in the trials of the Putrey-Exshaw steam lorries, we now find, after careful inquiry in Paris, following the conclusion of the French Army manceuvres, which kept the military officers concerned away from the French capital, that these vehicles did not take part in the French Military competition, but that they were withdrawn by the makers before the tests started.
It is common knowledge, both in this country and on the Continent, that the conditions of trial which different military authorities impose are really framed to suit internal-combustion-engined vehicles anti are wholly unfavourable to steam vehicles It is, therefore, only fair to the makers (Messrs. J. H. Exshaw and ('o., Bordeaux) to refer to the fact that, whilst they did enter four machines, these machines did not participate in the trials, and that no statements about them in that connection can be put on record.
We learn from Mr. David M. Turner, the firm's representative for the United Kingdom, of 18, Shaftesbury Avenue, W., that very good results are being yielded in this country by the Purrey-Exshaw five-tonners which have already been shipped over here, and we shall look forward at an early date to publishing a typical "One day's work" upon one of these machines. Westminster Registers.
The Highways Committee of the Westminster City Council is in favour of the registration of the Council's newest Leyland petrol lorries, eight of which have been supplied subsequently to the 1st January, 1910, under the War Office's new subsidy scheme. it seems to believe in the bonus.
New Registration.
Premier Greer Cycle and Motor Manufacturing Co. (Japan), Ltd., with an authorized capital of £30,000 in El shares, by Messrs. Ward, Bowie, Porter and Co., 7, King Street, E.C., to carry on in Japan, Manchuria, Korea and China the business of manufacturers of and dealers in motorcycles, carriages and vehicles of all kinds, etc. First directors : A. Robotharn, H. Greer and J. Shirley.
Inst. A.E.
The Inst. A.E. opened the 10111912 session under auspicious circumstances last night. We give practically the complete text of the presidential address, by Mr. L. A. Legros, on pages 107 to 110. The secretary, Mr. Basil H. Joy, has been able to secure promises of further excellent lectures, etc., for the coining winter months, and we hope there will be an increased participation of members in the discussions. As we have had occasion to point out, it becomes a bit monotonous to hear the same men at every meeting—no matter what the theme. Particulars of membership of the Institution may be obtained on application in writing to the offices, 13, Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, S.W.
A Useful Radial Drill.
In our issue of the 17th December, 1908, it may be recalled that we illustrated and described an entirely new form of small radial drilling machine manufactured by Drummond Bros., Ltd., of the Ryde's Hill Works, Guildford. This drill may be operated either by power or by treadle, and it is capable of being used for a very large variety of work. With this machine, holes up to one inch in diameter can quite easily be drilled at a speed of about one inch in six minutes in cast iron, without having previously drilled a small diameter hole through the metal. Holes much larger than one inch in diameter can easily be machined with a pin drill, if a hole t. in. in diameter is first drilled to take the pin stem. It is interesting to note that in connection with the mechanical transport department of the Army Service Corps, the War )epartment has recently purchased eleven of these radial drills ; they are to be fitted in the Mechanical Transport Section's movable work shops,