WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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'The wheels of wealth will be slowed 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 Crosier.
Registration Figures to August 31st.
The figures concerning the registration of motor vehicles to May 31st were published in the issue of The Commercial Motor dated July 26th, immediately upon their issue by the Ministry of Transport. The figures are now available for the third quarter of the year, and August 31st is taken as the date for the compilation of the statistics for that quarter.
Between the two dates (May 31st and August 31st) the number of cars taxed on horse-power had risen in number from 727,443 to 778,056; goods vehicles (internal combustion and steam-driven) from 269,217 to 273,243; and electrically propelled vehicles from 1,384 to 1,408. Road locomotives and tractors showed only a very slight increase, agricultural tractors being responsible for a fall from 204 to 187, whilst agricultural road locomotives increased from 1,108 to 1,180 and general haulage tractors from 2,929 to 3,924. Motor hackney vehicles rose in number from 86,488 to 95,676, and exempted vehicles (which include ambulances, fireengines, Government-owned vehicles, road rollers, etc.) increased from 17,187 to 18,259. Motorcycles, of which a certain proportion is used by tradesmen for commercial purposes, showed a substantial increase in their numbers. Motor ploughs increased in number from 14,268 to 15,313.
Deducting the licence fees received by the authorities in respect of tramcars, invalid vehicles and horse-drawn vehicles (which are included in the general total), and adding the receipts for driving licences, fees for lost licences, etc., no less than £21,364,558 has been received from December 1st, 1926, to August 31st, 1927.
Included in the quarterly statistics is a statement regarding the number of new vehicles registered for the first time during the months of June, July and August last. The totals for these were as follow :—Goods vehicles (internalcombustion) 9,079, (steam-driven) 77; electrically propelled, 18; agricultural tractors, 61; agricultural road locomotives, 15; general-haulage tractors, 189; hackney vehicles, 2,706; tracklesstrolley vehicle, 1; exempted vehicles, 987, of which 719 were Government_ owned.
A Conference on Through Services.
At a. meeting of the Blackburn Town Council held a few days ago a resolution was put forward to the effect that the town clerk should be instructed to convene a conference of local authorities to consider the advisability of forming a Tramway and Transport Board for the running of through bus services in the area, the suggestion being that the following local authorities should be invited to send representatives :—Accrington, Burnley Rawtenstall, Darweu, Bolton, dhorley, Wigan and Preston.
Alderman Higham, chairman Of the tramways committee, opposed the resolution. He stated that the main idea was apparently to institute through ser
vices by local authorities from Burnley to Blackburn, from Blackburn to Bolton and from Blackburn to Preston. He said that it could not be done, for the simple reason that none of these authorities had powers for running through services. Burnley possessed powers only Within a radius of 3+ miles from the Town Hall, Accrington had no powers and Darwen PoWers only within a radius of its own borough boundary. The Bolton authorities, did not possess powers to come anywhere near Blackburn at present, unless it was by arritegement with the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., with which they had a working agreement.
n was mentioned that the question of co-ordination has been under the consideration of Lancashire and Cheshire tramway authorities for the past two or three years, and at the present time they were actually trying to formulate a scheme whereby through running could be obtained, but it was said that this idea could not be brought into being without the admission of the large bus companies into any scheme of coordination.,
A Bus Inquiry at Cannock.
The Ministry of Transport recently conducted an inquiry at Cannock into the appeal of Mr. A. P. Sanders, an engineer and motor agent, of Chasetown, against the refusal of the Cannock Urban District Council to grant him licences for buses to run in the council's section of the main toad between Heath Hayes and Chase Terrace. For the applicant it was stated that the only reason given for the refusal was that an adequate service already existed, but mention was made of the fact that after the refusal the council permitted the Walsall Corporation to run an additional vehicle. It was mentioned that Mr. Sanders has been in business as a motorbus proprietor since 1913, and was actually licensed by the Walsall Corporation to ply for bite in the borough and that his vehicles were inspected by the Walsall authorities. As the owner of three buses, who had been operating for 14 years, it was felt that Mr. Sanders was being badly treated.
The clerk to the urban district council stated that the only question was whether, the council had refused the licence wrongfully. Under an . agreement with the Cannock Council, the Walsall Corporation provided any service reasonably required in the urban district. After hearing evidence for both parties, the Ministry's representative made an inspection of the route. The Formation of a Road Fellowship League.
A new league, to be known as The Road Fellowship League, is being organized by the National "Safety First" Association as the outcome of an appeal by The Duke of York for the cultivation of a spirit of good-fellowship on the road. Enrolment can be effected at the head office of the Association, 1L9, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, or at any of its branch offices on payment of 2s. 6d.
A Leyland Resignation and Appointnaent.
Many members of the industry will be interested to know that Mr. J. W. Dodds has just relinquished his appointment as assistant chief engineer to Leyland Motors, Ltd., a position which he has held for the past three years. Mr. Pilkingtou has succeeded to this post.
Mr. Dodds was previously works manager at the Chorley works of the Leyland company, being appointed to this position after leaving the Mechanical Transport Inspection Department in 1919. He has now been appointed general manager to Joseph Foster and Sons, boilermakers and general engineers, Soho Foundry, Preston.
East Kent Report.
The report of the directors of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., for the year ended September 30th last shows that after deducting all items chargeable against revenue there remains a profit of L23,70'7, to which must be added the balance of £12,187 brought in from the previous year. Of the total sum of £35,894, £1,000 is allocated to general reserve, whilst a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum absorbs £26,813, leavine' £8,081.
The revenue for the past year was adversely affected by bad weather conditions during the holiday season, and the actual profit for the 12 months is down by over 17,000 as compared with the previous year.
Evidence of a Time-table.
Holding that a time-table which showed that a bus. would cover 100 miles in 4+ hours was prima facie evidence of an intention to exceed the speed limit, the magistrates at Balbriggan (Co. Dublin) district court recently. fined Mr. H. M. S. Catherwood 10s. for aiding and abetting his driver in the commission of a " speeding " offence.
Elephant Motors' Activities.
A paragraph appeared in our last week's issue dealing with the activities of Elephant Motors, Ltd., in which the incorrect address of the company was given. This, as many of our readers know, should have. been Elephant House, 97-101, Newington Causeway, London, S.E.1, from which address the company is in a position to deal with the many requirements of commercial vehicle users in the matter of spare parts and replacements, gear-cutting, accessories, tytes, etc.
Official Orders for October.
Amongst the orders for industrial motor vehicles given out by Government departments during October last were the following :—By the Air Ministry, one for chassis to Crossley Motors, Ltd.; by the G.P.O. authorities, one for chassis and vans to Morris Motors
(1926), Ltd., and Morris-Commercial Cars, Ltd.; by the Admiralty, one for ambulances to the Austin Motor Co., Ltd.; by the War Office, one for tractors divided between H. G. Burford and Co. and Crossley Motors, Ltd. In the same month the Crown Agents for the Colonies placed an order for lorries with Morris-Commercial Cars, Ltd.
Distributor for Simar Rototillers. We are informed by George Munro, Ltd., Covent Garden, London, that the company has been appointed sole distributing agent for the British Isles for Simar Rototillers.
A Diesel-engined Locomotive. Hudswell, Clarke and Co-, Ltd., of Leeds, has recently completed a Dieselengined locomotive for use on a
2-ft. 6-in, railway in Rangoon. The ins nine, is equipped with a 30 h,p. Metaren-Beni Diesel engine of the airless, solid-injection, 'cold-starting type. A Hele-Shaw multiple-disc-type dutch is used, a universal coupling being provided between the clutch and the gearbox. The latter furnishes two forward and two reverse speeds. The final drive is of the worm-and-wheel type. Compared with petrol or paraffin power units, the Diesel unit is claimed to save at least 70 per cent, in fuel costs.
Bus-service Tenders Wanted.
Tenders are being invited until December 28th by the Socike Nationale des Chemins de Fer Vicinaux, of 14, Rue de la Science, Brussels, for the concession for the establishment and working of motorbus services between (1) Hoeylaert and Boitsfort ; (2) between Malines and Heyst-on-den-Berg; (8) between Malines and Louvain, and (4) between Gonval and D.elles.
Tramway Traffic Decreasing.
The Ministry of Transport has recently issued a return which gives statistical information relating to tramway undertakings in Great Britain for the year ended December 31st, 1926, for companies, and March 31st, 1927, for local authorities, the latter being the period at which the municipal year usually terminates.
According to the return, there were 235 tramway undertakings then operating, 168 of these being the property of local authorities. The total route mileage covered was 2,554, and it is an interesting sidelight on the trextd of passenger-trans, port developments, to note that this figure shows a decrease as compared with the previous year. The number of passenger journeys made was also down by 4.47, per cent., whilst the number of car miles run showed a decrease of 2.34 per cent, as compared with the return for the previous year. These reductions undoubtedly provide evidence of the influence of the motorbus on tramway undertakings in general.
Mention is made of the fact that 19 municipalities and one private concern work trolley-buses the length of the routes • over which the vehicles run being 87 miles, this being an increase of 19 miles on the previous year's figure.
Farm Produce Transport: A Joint Scheme.
At a recent meeting of the Carmarthenshire branch of the National Farmers' Union, the agricultural cooperative societies in Carmarthenshire and the Carmarthenshire branch of the National Landowners' Association, a joint scheme fca• the collection of farm
produce , and its marketing was discussed.
It was stated that the prospect of a national scheme in these directions was remote, if not unlikely, and it was resolved to proceed with a county scheme and to invite organizations in Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire, similar to those represented at the meeting, to join in the scheme and to contribute towards the cost of organization and transport. 1321 Big Order for Six-wheelers.
One of the most interesting orders which Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, has received recently is that, in the nature of a repeat, from the India Office. This is for 78 six-wheeled vehicles, some with Eon r-eylindered engines and others with six-cylintlered power units, similar in design to those subsidized by the War Office for commercial users in -this country.
In addition the company received, in a recent week, orders from many important business concerns for over 80 vehicles, the contracts being for goodscarrying vehicles of a capacity ranging from 25 cwt. to 7 tons and for passenger vehicles seating from 16 to 72 people. The value of these contracts is given as £135,000.
Service for Austin Users.
It was announced one day last week that the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., has purchased the freehold and leasehold interests of Holland Park Hall, Laudon, W.11. The total floor area, including the gallery, of this hall, which has of recent years been used for exhibitions, is nearly two acres, and the Austin company will use the premises for the wholesale distribution of its motor-vehicle products and as a service depot for London and district.
Sealing Taximeters.
Birmingham Watch Committee reports that in June, 1925, the council approved general by-laws relating to motor hackney carriages, but some difficulty has arisen with respect to the construction of the by-law which was intended to require all taximeters to be sealed by the corporation. Further conferences have taken place with representatives of the Ministry of Health, with the result that it has now signified its provisional approval of amending by-laws which will empower the corporation to require all taximeters to be sealed by.it.
A Serviceable Cleansing Outfit.
Crawshaw's Chemical Colander is the name given to an interesting appliance which, in conjunction with a chemical known as Crawshawpol, effectively removes dirt, oil and grease from metal parts without the use of paraffin, petrol, benzine or caustic solutions. The apparatus has been specially designed for use with this chemical, which dissolves oil and grease very rapidly, but has no harmfrit effect on the structure of the metal dealt with.
B22 The apparatus is available in three sizes, one being a circular pattern, another a square model and a third of rectangular shape, and each Colander can be provided with steam or electric heating arrangements, either in addition to, or in substitution for, gas
heating. The floor space occupied t,y the apparatus is quite small.
Further details of the apparatus, which will undoubtedly appeal to many engaged in the engineering and allied trades, can be obtained from Brown Brothers, Ltd., Great Eastern Street, London, E.C.2.
A York Bridge Restriction.
York Corporation has authorized the chief constable to institute proceedings against the drivers of heavy vehicles over a certain weight for passing over Skelderg-ate Bridge.. A more conspicuous notice board is to be placed on each side of the bridge, notifying that vehicles passing over thebridge should not exceed a certain weight, and this will be illuminated at night.
A Popular Vehicle-washing Plant.
Amongst reeent orders which the B.R.N. Patents, Ltd., 92, Tottenham Court Road, London, W.1, has received for B.E.N.-Myers vehicle-washing plants can be mentioned one for a four-gun outfit for the proprietors of The Everting Standard, and ' another for three four-gun outfits from the Edinburgh Corporation. An Attractive 2-ton Van.
Distinctive finish is a notable feature of a van of 2 tons capacity recently supplied _ to Messrs. Lockwood and Bradley, 226-228, Old Street, London, E.C.1, the well-known tailors, by J. H. Wilson, Ltd., Sussex Place, Kensington London, S.W.7. The body of this vehicle was constructed by the North London Engineering Co., Ltd., 109, Cobbold Road, Willesden, London, and is mounted on a Graham Bros. standard 2-ton chassis.
This spacious body is of the plain box type, is provided with three rails in the roof for the purpose of carrying suits on hangers, and access to it is by two wide swing doors at the rear. Its interior is approximately 13 ft. 4 ins. long, 5 ft. 6 ins, wide and 6 ft. 6 ins. deep. The forward compartment is roomy and comfortable and can accommodate two persons beside the driver. The seat and back rest in this compartment are upholstered in leather cloth.
As is shown by an illustration of the van which is reproduced on this page, the appearance of the vehicle is greatly enhanced by the large hand-painted pictures which occupy the whole of the side panels. In order to secure clear pictures these panels have been constructed of single sheets of aluminium, and measure approximately 13 ft. by 6 ft.. 6 ins. It is stated that the paintings took over 12 weeks to complete and cost in the neighbourhood of £150.
A Reading Amalgamation.
We learn that an amalgamation has been effected of the businesses of John Harris and Great Western Motors, Ltd., of Reading, and, in future, the concerns in question will carry on business under the name of John Harris (Reading), Ltd., with its registered office at Station Road, Reading.
_A Paris Ticket Experiment.
The Prefect of the Seine has signed an order authorizing an experiment to he made in the issue of books of tickets in order to avoid so far as possible the handling of money on the motorbuses t..trol tramcars in Paris. Each of the tickets will represent the sum of 25 centimes, and the books will be sold at the omnibus and tramway stations., tobacconists' shims and the newspaper kiosks. Two motorbus services and one tram route have been selected for the experiment.
Motorbuses for Stockholm. Centrala Omnibusaktiobolaget, of Stockholm, in which the town of Stockholm holds the majority of shares, will buy a large number of motorbuses for Stockholm routes during the next ,six months, and invites offers from Swedish and foreign makers. The first vehicles used at Stockholm were British, but later machines have generally been constructed in Swedish workshops.
A Useful Range of Equipment.
The Wilcot (Parent) Co., Ltd., ',Morley House, Regent Street, London, W.1, has just sent us a copy of a new catalogue it has issued, which gives an idea of the various motor accessories and garage equipment which the company markets. One of the most widely used products made by the concern is the Wefco spring cover, which has several interesting features, noteworthy amongst these being the -interlocking joint and invisible lacing. Other goods 'referred to in the catalogue include non-drip oil pumps, steering-wheel envelopes, steering-joint covers and radiator muffs, certain models of the last-uamed being speeially built for use on commercial vehicles; Swansea Bus Matters.
The annual. inspection of hackney carriages at Swansea. has been fixed by the watch committee for December 23rd, and Mr. A. S. T.-Lucas, of Swansea, has successfully applied to the committee to demonstrate on this occasion e a device of his invention in the nature of a mechanical traffic-direction' indicator, which is intended to facilitate the work of point-duty constables.
The watch committee has also decided to refer -to the Ministry of Transport the long-standing dispute as to the allocation of a number of licences to rival bus proprietors on the Swansea route, and to permit an extension to Cam] of the South Wales Transport Co.'s bus enterprise.
America's Foreign Trade in Farm Tractors.
In many quarters in this country the opinion seems to be held that there is a waning demand for agricultural tractors. Some official figures which have recently come to hand indicate, however, that this is far from being tile case and that, on the contrary,American manufaCturers are enjoying an export trade of 4very considerable magnitude.
We learn that during the nine months ended September last no fewer than 41,324 agricultural tractors of the wheel type, of a declared value of f5,361830, were exported from the United States, as compared with 43,861 machines (£4,898,790) in the corresponding nine months of 1926. During the same periods the expOrts of American traaklaying tractors increitsed from 953 (331,616) . to 1,342 machines (465,960).. During the past two years the exports of 'American tractors for farm use have thus attained a value of over ten millions sterling. _ " Six-cylinder Taxicabs.
TheChicago Yellow Cab Co.' is about to place a new fleet of 500 six-cylinder taxicabs in operation in the city of Chicago, U.S.A.
The Motor Sweeper's Economy.
The cleansing superintendent of the Tynernouth..„Corporation has recently reported upon the work carried out during a period of 14 weeks by -a Karrier motor sweeping machine. He submitted a statement of the comparatiVe cost of sweeping by the present method and the former practice of horse and hand sweeping, showing that during the 14 weeks a saving of £41 2s. 10d. was effected by operating the Karrier sweeper. He says that the period was too short to permit of a definite conclusion of the value of the appliance to be made, but adds that it is giving satisfactory service and a better brush mileage is now being obtained than in the
early stages. Moreover, the expenditure on spares in the statement included certain reserve fittings which had not yet been used.
Cleansing Superintendents' Meeting.
The next meeting of the Institute of Cleansing Superintendents will be held in Birmingham in February, 1928, during the course of the British Industries Fair.
Buses Replace Trolley-buses.
At its last meeting the -West Hartlepool Corpora-Ion resolved to purchase four new one-man-controlled motorbuses to replace trolley-buses on the Foggy Purse route. The council also decided to place orders for four Bristol chassis at a cost of 808 each and four 32seater bodies by Charles H. Roe, Ltd., at £406 each. It was stated that the trolley-bus losses on the route were brought about by the growing Competition from private buses, which were taking the traffic formerly held by the railless vehicles. It is hoped that the introduction of speedy buses will assist the corporation to meet this competition. Trolley-buses Link Up Suburbs.
The tramways company of Marseilles, the municipal system of which extends for a considerable distance to a number of outlying districts, has recently taken delivery of two electric trolley-buses. These vehicles are built to carry 41 passengers, 20 seated and 21 straphangers, and are of about the seine dimensions as those of the ordinary petrol-propelled buses already plying in the city.
The service on which the trolleybuses are in use has recently been established to link up two suburbs—Aubagne, Gemenos—and may be regarded as of an experimental nature. The distance is about four miles and the road is level and fairly easy to negotiate.
The place for standing, passengers is immediately behind the driver, who collects the fares, the buses being of the one-man-controlled type. The only door to the bus is on the right-hand side, just behind the driver, who is provided with an automatic device for its control.
The chassis are type M.V. Renaults. The motors, electric gear and bodies were provided by the Ste. des Vehicules Electriques, Faubourg St. Hotter& Paris, this being one of the branch companies of Thomson-Houston.
Some Desmo Specialities.
We have just received several folders from Desmo, Ltd., Desmo House, Stafford Street, Birmingham, which 'describe a number of new lines which the company has recently introduced. One Of the most interesting is a fixedvane air cleaner which controls the air flow into the carburetter and extracts the particles of dust before the air reaches the cylinders. The vanes at the front of the cleaner give the air a rotary movement and the particles of dust are thrown outwardly ; they are caught and fall from the cleaner through a hole in the reverse end.
Another useful device is the company's hydraulic jack, which has a lifting capacity up to 2 tons. It is constructed from aluminium die-castings and steel parts, and the reservoir is a one-piece job. The full extent of lift of
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the jalak is ft ins. Amongst many other accessories one that is worthy of mention is the Flexi-plug cover, which has been designed to protect the sparking plug against the effects of wear and tear and the tendency to short-circuit.
A Useful Link in Cumberland.
A new road between Penrith and Wigton, which will provide a useful new connection with North-West Cumberland, has been completed at a cost of £40,000. The Ministry of Transport is bearing 75 per cent, of the cost.
Proposed Motor Road to Constantinople.
In view of the fact that the Hungarian Government ig proposing to devote 100,000,000 pengoes (£3,500,000) to the construction of new roads, the Budapest Chamber of Corn" merce has decided to arrange a special roads section at the next International Samples Fair, showing the most up-todate methods of road construction and the materials employed.
At the same time a National Roads Congress will be held which will consider the linking up of Hungarian highways with those of other countries for motor-vehicle traffic, and especially the prolongation of the Vienna-Budapest road to Constantinople by the way of Nish and Sofia. Road specialists from all countries will be invited to attend.
Tramways Association and Bus Services.
In connection with the promotion of legislation for the running of bus services by local authorities, the tramways managers of municipal undertakings in the North of England have arranged for conferences, under the auspices of the Municipal Tramways Association, to consider the matter.
Bodywork Survey.
Owing to considerable pressure on our space this week we have been compelled to hold over the continuation of the article surveying bodywork progress, the first portion of which was published in our issue for last week. It will appear at an early date.
Traffic at Chelmsford.
At a meeting of the Chelmsford Corporation a letter was considered from the Essex County Constabulary in which it was stated that the time was rapidly approaching when some stringent steps must be taken to prevent streets being overcrowded by motor vehicles and to enable easy access to be obtained to shops and business premises.
It was suggested that a committee should discuss with the Essex Constabulary-the following suggestions:— The provision of municipal parking places near each main entrance to the town ; the allocation of certain roads or parts of roads in which cars may be left at owners' risk ; the prevention of loading or unloading of goods in certain streets at specific times, or on definite occasions; the starting and stopping places for buses and the stands for hackney carriages; the routes for cattle.
A Spark-gap Device.
A new device which should interest commercial users is the Lepel highfrequency converter which is marketed by the Cooper-Stewart Engineering Co., Ltd., 136-7, Long Acre, London, W.0.2. This useful little instrument is intended to be fitted to the plug terminals, and, owing to the fact that the converter causes the electrical energy to pass through the plug in strong, abrupt impulses during each ignition period instead of in the form of a comparatively weak but.steady current, a marked improvement is noticeable in the sparking of a plug equipped with this device.
The Speed of Heavy Motors.
A report of the law committee of the Kensington Borough Council states that it recently reported having considered a petition signed by a number of residents in Warwick Road, calling attention to the nuisance and annoyance occasioned by heavy motor traffic pass-. lag along that thoroughfare, and asking the council to take steps to secure the imposition of a speed limit which should he applicable to that description of traffic. The committee reminded the council that it had no powers for dealing with heavy motor traffic, the matter being one which should be dealt with by the Ministry of Transport or by the Advisory Committee constituted under the London Traffic Act, 1924, under the powers vested in it by that Act, and the petition was forwarded to the Ministry of Transport.
A communication has now been received from the Ministry stating that the maximum legal speed for heavy motorcars at the present time is 12 m.p.h., and it does not appear that any useful purpose would be served by imposing a lower limit. It is added that the Minister bee no power to impose restrictions on the speed of heavy vehicles on the grounds put forward.
A Lancashire Express Service.
A new express motorbus service was instituted last week between Warrington and Manchester as a result of arrangements made by the Lancashire United Transport and Power Co., Ltd., and the tramways department of the Salford Corporation. The service is an hourly one hi both directions and halfhourly on Saturdays.