News of the Week
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
IS IT THE END OF THE R.H.0.?
QTATEMENTS have, this .week, appeared in the national Press to the effect that the M.O.W.T.'s Road Haulage Organization was to end on November 8. We learn, however, that this statement is incorrect. At the time of going AO press we hear that the Minister is in consultation with the R.H.A. on the matter and that an announcement will shortly be made.
AUSTIN ANNOUNCES NEW PRICE SCHEDULE , INCREASES of from £10 to £30, acdording to model or type, are announced in a schedule of new prices by the Austin Motor Co., Ltd. The following is the complete list, the prices quoted, which became operative as from October 8, being now inclusive of the spare tyre:— 2,tonner (long wheelbase):—Chassis, £355; chassis and cab, £390; platform lorry, £430; drop-side lorry, 2435., 5-tonner (long wheelbase):—Chassis, £440; chassis and cab, £475; platform lorry, £530; drop-side lorry, £540.
5-tonner (short wheelbase):—Chassis, £425; chassis and cab, £460; hydraulic tipper, £555.
PROGRESS IN UNIFYING SCREW-THREAD FORMS
THE Ottawa Conference on the U nification of Engineering Standards, held under the auspices of the Combined Production and Resources Board, has adjourned after a two weeks' session which brought together many leading engineers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. During the course of the discussions, which covered screw threads, pipe threads, drawing practice, metrology, and limits and fits, a solid basis for agreement was reached on manyaspects of these highly technical problems. It is anticipated that proposals on specifications will be developed on the basis of the agreements reached by the delegates through the normal machinery which exists for this purpose in the various countries.
The fundamental 'differences between British and American screw-thread forms, which caused big production and supply difficulties during the war, were resolved to the point where the deleg_ates were prepared to -return to their respective countries with a specification for a basic thread form that would provide a unified standard for all countries employing the inch system.
STANDARD MOTOR CO. ENTERS FARM-TRACTOR MARKET
THE factory at Banner Lane, Coventry, of the Standard Motor Co., Ltd., has been allocated to the production of the Ferguson tractor. It is understood that the company will
• make only the tractor, and that the special.instruments used with it, and which are made under Ferguson patents, will be produced by a number of concerns in different parts of the country.
Production of the tractor on a large scale is to be undertaken immediately, and the first deliveries, it is said, will be effected in 1996. It is estimated that three-quarters of the output will be available for export to countries in the East.
We understand that manufacturing requirements for the Western Hemisphere will continue under the existing agreement with the Ford Co. of America. HAULIERS' MEETING IN LONDON
IT has now been decided that the mass meeting of hauliers, which is being organized by the Hauliers Mutual Federation, will be held at Caxton Hall, Westminster, London, S.W.1, on Tuesday. November 20, beginning at 10.30 a.m, and ending at 5.30 p.m., with a luncheon interval from 12.45 to 2.0 p.m. It will occupy one day instead of the two days' mentioned as possible in our issue dated September 28. Mr. E. B. Howes, -the chairman of H.M.F., will preside.
FUEL CONCESSION FOR "GOODS AND PRIVATE " VEHICLES
SOD/IE operators of goods vehicles or cars converted to carry goods and weighing up to 30 cwt, unladen are licensed at a rate which entitles them to use the vehicle for private purposes as well as for the conveyance of goods: They may, in future, apply to their subdistrict manager for a special basic ration of fuel for private purpos:s. Each application will be tonsiderad sympathetically and, where granted. the allowance will be equivalent to the basic ration for ordinary cars. Normally, it will not be issued for more than one vehicle in the fleet of each applicant.
GOOD SURPLUS ON SHEFFIELD' MUNICIPAL BUSES
ACCORDING to the report of the transport department of Sheffield Corporation for the year ended March 31 last, there was a gross surplus of £83,117 on the operation of the municipal buses, the previous year's comparable figure being £83,160. Traffic revenue amounted to £769,444, and to ta 1 working expenses to £674,613. After meeting income tax and other charges and deducting £47,653 for the renewals fund, the net surplus for -the year comes out at £18,674, contrasted with £14,635 a year earlier. There is no loan debt outstanding on the bus fleet, which, at the end of the year comprised 448 vehicles.
CONTROL OF RUBBER RELAXED
THE Control of Rubber (No. '25) Order, 1945, which has recently been issued, frees from control, under Ministry of Supply Orders, gutta percha, balata and new GR-S synthetic rubber, but this does not mean an immediate increase in the range of articles which can be made for the
home market. Hitherto, the use of these materials has been prohibited for a wide range of goods, which could not be regarded as essential to the war effort, but improvement in supplies and the freeing of capacity from war orders now, makes it possible to relax this restriction. The Ministry of Supply will still remain the sole importer and distributor of GR-S synthetic rubber, and it will now be prepared to release reasonable quantities for incorporation in goods for the export market.
The position in respect of waste and reclaimed rubber is not affected.
Further inquiries in regard to this matter should be addressed to the Rubber Control, Empire House, St. Martin's le Grand, London, E.C.1.
INST. OF T. AWARDS
AWARDS made this year by the Council of the Institute of .Transport include the following:—Institute Award of Merit: Sir Cyril Hurcomb, K.B.E. (past president), for his paper on "Co-ordination of Transport in Great Britain during the Years 1935-44 "; Silver Jubilee Scholarship and F. C. Coleman "Modern Transport " Award: Major Adin
A.M.Inst.T.; Road Transport (Passenger) Medal: Mr. A. B. B. Valentine, M.Inst.T., for his paper on " Passenger Fares: Economics or Tradition? " ; Institute 1944 Award: Mr. M, A. Cameron, M.Inst.T., for his paper on "Personnel Management as a Factor in Transport Efficiency "; " Modern Transport" Award: Mr. P. W. R. Marston-Clark (graduate), for his paper on "Modern Remedies for Road ACcidents."
AVOI..—A NEW ANTI-FREEZE
WITH the approach of winter, attention will soon be directed towards means for preventing radiators freezing up. A new anti-freeze, known as Avol, a product of Auto Vaporisers, Ltd., Froidene Works, New Road, Lymm, near Warrington, has recently been brought to our notice.
It has a methoglycerol base, and it is claimed to be 50 per cent, more efficient than glycerine. The latter, as may be known, increases the viscosity of water to a considerable extent, whereas, alcohols, by reason of a relatively low molecular weight, produce only a small increase in the viscosity of water. This means that circulation of the engine coolant is not impeded, neither is its efficiency impaired.
As Avol is inhibited against corrosion, the radiator and cylinder suffer no ill effects from its use, whilst another important feature is that itdoes not attack rubber.
It is, too, economical, for, compared with glycerine, only half the quantity has to be used to provide full protection. The following figures relate to, the quantities, by volume, of Avol needed to give full protection: 1 pint per gallon-25 degrees of frost; pints per gallon-43 degrees; 2 pints per gallon-64 degree:. At 68 degrees F. the respective :Teethe gravitLs are: 1.021, 1.030 and 1.042.
The retail selling price of Avol is 5s. per pint.
1895 STEAM WAGON WINS RALLY AWARD AA MONGST more than 50 entrants in the rally of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain, held recently at 131ackwater, Hants, was the first
Thornycroft steam wagon built in 1896. The vehicle is shown in a. picture on this page, and it obtained first prize for the oldest machine in the rallyto arrive under its own power at the rallying point.
This wagon was used extensively as a demonstration vehicle. Its engine comprises a double pair of vertical tandem compounds, and the boiler is of the Thornycroft water-tube type, the tubes also forming the firebars. There are 50 sq. ft. of heating surface and 21 sq. ft. of .grate surface. The boiler is fed from a pump driven direct from the main engine.
On the occasion of the rally, the vehicle was handled by its original driver, Mr. T. E. Baker.
MOBILE LIBRARY IN EGYPT
AN Army circulating library in Egypt, employing ninemotor lorries in the transport of books over an area ranging from the Mediterranean to the Assuan Dam, and from Cyrenaica to the Red Sea, is among the activities under the jurisdiction of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Evers, former Dewsbury bus conductor. He is now a Director of Army Welfare, with headquarters 4t Cairo.
PERSONAL PARS
MR. W. G. ALEXANDER, secretary and treasurer of Glasgow Corporation transport department, has retired after 45 years' service.
MR. HARTLEY TURNER, of Currie and Co., Ltd., has been elected chairman of the. recently termed Leeds Sub-area of the Road Haulage Association.
MR. G. OUTHWAITE, of Horbury, was elected hon. secretary of the Wakefield Sub-area of the Road Haulage Association at the recent inaugural meeting.
MR. L. S. Ammtv has been appointed a director of the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co (Great Britain), Ltd. Ile was formerly. Secretary of State for India.
MR. R. E. MANNINGHAM-BULLER, M.P. for Daventry, and formerly Parliamentary Secretary to Ithe Ministry of Works, has been appointed to the Board of Brown Bros., Ltd.
DR. ALEXANDER DAVIDSON FORGIE, chief medical officer of the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., Dagenham, has had the degree of M.D. conferred upon him by Aberdeen University, the honour being awarded for his thesis, " Some Aspects of Dermatitis Associated with Engineering."
MR. B. HOMFRAY DAVIES, managing director of Metropolitan-CarnmellWeymann Motor Bodies,, Ltd., is, we are glad to learn, making satisfactory progress after his recent motor accident. We feel sure that his many friends will join with us in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.
MR. S. WALKER, joint managing director of Laycock Engineering Co., Ltd., Sheffield, together with MR. ROBERT WALKER, garage-equipment expert, and MR. T. R. CHARLESWORTH, chief designer, recently left for the
United States, The object of their visit is to obtain new ideas on garage equipment.
MR. HARRY HINCHLIFFE, Director of Public Cleansing at Bradford for the past 10 years, retired on October 4 after 47 years' work in the corporation's 'service, which he entered by joining the clerical staff of the cleansing department. A notable feature of his direction of street cleansing was the introduction of the " beat " system, whereby street refuse in the city's central zone is, unobtrusively removed by, men who, with hand-propelled and pneumatic-tyred orderly trucks, are each responsible for a particular " beat," and work in conjunction with the motor-collection vehicles which make contact with them at intervals. During the war he rendered eminent service in a wider field by his furtherance of war-time salvage as honorary district adviser for Yorkshire to the Ministry of Supply. The M.B.E. was conferred upon him in 1,941.
CALL FOR STATEMENT ON NATIONALIZATION
'THE Road Transport Section of the 1 Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has passed a resolution suggesting that the Association of British Chambers of Commerce should enter into discussions with all branches of transport, commerce and industry, with a view to collating a concensus of opinion relative to the foreshadowed nationalization of inland transport and drafting an authoritative statement thereon.
MORRIS-COMMERCIAL SPARES WORTH £14,000,000
DURING the war period, MorrisL./Commercial Cars, Ltd., produced 60,000 tons of spare parts for MorrisCommercial vehicles. Over 10,000 part numbers were involved, and the total value of the components came to L14,000,000.
The company realized at the outbreak of war that the question of supplying replacements would become of first importance, and steps were taken to ensure an adequate flow. There were times when the demands of the Services put certain civilian parts in short supply; the Service Parts Department handled over 18,000 M.O.S. Spares Shortage Certificates.
No fewer than 34,500 replacement engine units were also supplied, apart from many thousands of gearboxes and rear axles.
MOTOR TRADE GOLFERS WIN PRIZES
SOME silver goblets were reCently presented by our associated journal, "The Motor," or competition by members of the Automobile Golfing
Society. We learn that one of the winners of these was Mr. C. T. Skipper, joint managing director of Dennis Bros., Ltd. Another was Mr. J. C. Woodall, formerly of the Standard Motor Co., Ltd. The Hobson Trophy was won by Mr. P. C. Chase, and the Scratch Prize by Mr. Eric Mobbs, TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATORS BUSY IN SCOTLAND
THE inaugural meeting of the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Centre of the Institute of Traffic Administration was held recently -in Edinburgh, It was well attended by local members and a notable visitor from the London Centre was Mr. J. A. Dunnage, M.I.T.A„ A.M.Inst.T. He is a vicechairman of the National Council of the Institute, and he outlined its aims and objects, following which a healthy
discussion took place. It was freely admitted that much requires to be accomplished in respect of transport management and research.
A comprehensive educational syllabus has been compiled by the national' Council, covering grades ranging from studentship to fellowship, and fuller details will shortly be available.
The following office-bearers were elected for the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Centre:—Chairman, Mr, Henry Bryce, M.I.T.A. (S.C.W.S., Ltd„ Leith); press officer, Mr. Stanley C. Patterson, A.I.T.A. (Edinburgh Corporation Transport Department); secretary, Mr. Jas. W. Harper, M.I.T.A. (43, Sighthill Park, Ediia.burgh) .
The next meeting of the Centre ,takes place at the Royal British Hotel, Edinburgh, on November 14, at 7 p.m.
TALK ON RETREADING AT I.T.A. LONDON MEETING
-rim next meeting of the London I Branch of the Industrial Transport Association will be held on -Tuesday, October 16, at 6.30 p.m., at the Institution of Automobile Engineers, 12, Hobart Place, S.W.1, when Mr. G. W. Calvert, technical manager, Tyresoles, Ltd., will speak on the subject of "Can Retreading Reduce Transport Costs? "
A.E.C. 'DIARIES FOR 1946
WE are advised by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., that its motorist's diary, pad 'diary and wall calendar for 1946 will be available for distribution towards the end of this year. They can only be supplied to those concerns and individuals who have received copies in past years, and requests must be accompanied by the payment of id. per copy for each, so as to conform to Government order. Applications should be made to the nearest A.E.C. depot, or to the publicity department of the company at Southall, Middlesex.
We are advised by Wellworthy Piston Rings, Ltd., that it has opened a new branch at 67, Chichester Street, Belfast.
TRANSPORT MEDIA IN SUMMER EXHIBITION THE Government has accepted a pro1 posal from the Council of Industrial Design to hold, next summer, a national exhibition of-design in all the main ranges of consumer goods, including vehicles for civilian transport. It will be held in London and will open not later than July 1. No goods will be excluded on the ground that they are not on general sale or in quantity production, but they must be of good design, and no good ones will be crowded oirt.
As the exhibition is to be fairly comprehensive, it will certainly attract attention from commercial vehicle manufacturers, but it remains to be seen how much space could be allocated to such vehicles.
RELEASING REQUISITIONED FACTORIES
IT is important to acquire the orderly release of factory space requisitioned for war purposes, and to control this the Government has appointed Lieut.General Sir W. G. Lindsell. Information regarding the derequisitioning of storage space should still be obtained from the Control of Storage Premises, Board of Trade, Millbank, London, SAVA, or from the Board's regional controllers.
RANSOME AND MARLES TRADING RESULTS
I N the year ended June 30 last, Ran
some and Marks Bearing Co., Ltd., made a net profit of £123,227, after providing for all revenue charges, including taxation and depreciation. The amount for appropriation is £174,865, after deducting £31,500 in respect of a 9 per cent, interim dividend and £2,210 for war damage premiums, and adding £85,348 brought forward from the previous year. A transfer of £50,000 is made to contingencies reserve, and a final dividend of 11 per cent., less tax, will absorb £38,500, leaving, after deducting directors' remuneration, £83,365 to be carried forward.
ROAD-ACCIDENT FIGURES FOR AUGUST
D OAD casualties in August totalled
14,758, including nearly 4,000 persons killed or seriously injured. The figures were deaths 488, seriously injured 8,452, slightly injured 10,818. Compared with August of last year, there were 13 fewer deaths, but 626 more cases of serious injury. Accidents during the hours of darkness were considerably higher than in the black-out at this time last year and more than double the number in July of the present year. Fatalities among child pedestrians and child . cyclists numbered 95.
The following table is an analysis Of the number of deaths according to the types of vehicle primarily involved:—