News and Comment.
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The authority, circulation and influence of this journal rest upon facts.
The temporary recovery in rubber. which we forecasted for this month, is now in progress.
" Do motorists already overpay for the roads which they use ? page 115.
To-day (Thursday) a deputation of Manchester motor traders will be re_ (1.,ived by the Management Committee of the S.M.M.T.
Sonic particulars about the development and strengthening of the C.M.U.A_ will be found on pages 107, -113 and facing 120.
Usamobile London " is a good telegraphic address, compared with the old one of "Speedway London," ior the Commercial Motor Users Association.
British manufacturers who wish to develop their business in petrol railcars, and who may not be aware of the methods by which such combinations can he turned to account in fire-damp mines, are recommended to peruse the article on page 110.
Additional communications in regard to the treatment of registered owners by the War Office will be found on pages 123 and 124, and other letters on the same topic are unavoidably held over for later publication. We make further editorial reference to the situation on the opening page of this issue.
Mr. F. W. Lanchester, the ingoinr! president of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, was " inducted " by Dr. H. S. Hele-Shaw, F.R.S., the outgoing president, yesterday (Wednesday) evening, at the opening meeting of the 1910-11 session. We are only able to make brief extracts from Mr. Lanchester's presidential address (page 118).
Several correspondents have written to endorse our protest of last, week against the forcing of any steel-tired steam wagon to 90 miles a (lay.
The R.A.C. is taking an appeal, on behalf of a Halifax motorist, in order to sustain the view that, a driver's licence cannot be endorsed on a conviction for driving without a tail light.
Garrett's Nom-skid.
Adverting to the registration announcement on page 94 of our last issue, it should be noted that the number of the letters patent is 12579, not 12759, of 1908.
Continental Tires on a London. owned Municipal Steamer.
The Corporation of the City of London last week placed another order with the Continental Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., for the conversion of wheels belonging to its steam wagons, so that they may be fitted with Continental solid tires. According to " The Yorkshire Daily Observer," proposals are afoot to introduce motor transport into Upper Wharfedale, in conjunction with the existing light railway which links up Grassington and Rylstone to the Midland system at Skipton.
7 Cwt. Unladen Weight Without a Reverse Gear.
The Local Government Board is about to sanction an increase of 2 cwt., viz., from 5 cwt.. to 7 cwt., in the permissible weight of a motorcar in the construction of which a reverse gear ueed not be included. This alteration should aid the low cost of production in parcel-carrier and other miniaturevan models.
Discussion at the R.A.C.
Next Wednesday evening, the 19th inst., at nine o'clock p.m., at the Royal Automobile Club, a discussion will take place on the papers which were contributed by R.A.C. delegates to the Brussels Congress of August last. The subjects, with the writers of the papers, are : On the Construction and Maintenance of the Roadways of Large Towns," by Colonel R. E. B. Crompton, CB.; "Influence of Speed atid Weight of Vehicles on Bridges and other Structures," by Mr. W. Worby Beaumont, M.Inst.C.E. ; "Relative Effect on Roads of Hard and Soft Tires," by Mr. A. Matlock, F.R.S. ; and " Motor Omnibus or Electric Tramcar ?" by Mr. Shrapnel Smith.
In Southern Nigeria.
The illustration on page 121 shows the first. van (a 24-cwt. Lacre) to be supplied to the Government of Southern Nigeria. It was bought in 1906, and its mileage is now in excess of 45,000, about three-quarters of which distance has been run with paraffin as fuel. No alteration was found to be necessary to the standard carburetter, other than the local fitting of a hot-air pipe. In December, 1906, this van took up service between Ibadan and Oyo (66 miles for the double journey). before the road was completed, and under circumstances which damaged it very considerably. As soon as it was put in order again, it entered upon a steady average of 1,200 miles monthly. All the native drivers of the SouthernNigerian vans wore taught on this van, and it was once driven over the side of the road, by accident, into a deep gulley (as illustrated by us in our issue of the 17th June, 1909). The damage was rectified for less than
which is great testimony to the solidity of its construction and the soundness of its design. We understand, in fact, that only the wheels and tires have ever caused anxiety to the officials responsible for the mechanical transport of this colony.
The Comfort and Speed of Motor Ambulances.
At the recent conference of the British Medical Association, in Glasgow, various authorities gave expression to their views about motor ambulances. The great bulk of opinion favoured self-propelled types. It may here be noted that Bromley (Kent) Guardians want a suitable motor-ambulance-type vehicle for the oenveyance of lunacy cases.
The Dennis Make. bpig2 Both new and repeat orders continue to pour into the Dennis works: the first motor vehicle to be purchased by the Leicester Co-operative Society, Ltd.. is a standard three-ton Dennis; a repeat order, for the two-ton model, is from Evans Sons, Lescher and Webb Ltd., the world-renowned wholesale chemists and druggists. The biggest single order during September was for 14 Dennis vehicles, and in this ease the total of that make for this particular buyer was brought up to no fewer than 38.
Fire-Brigade Matters.
Epsom U.D.C. is to spend £2,285 on the erection of a lire station, hut we do not at the moment know whether it intends to buy a motor fire-engine.
Keighley took delivery of its new six-cylinder 75 b.h.p. Dennis engine last week, and the machine was christened. on the 6th inst., in the presence of a large crowd, by the Mayoress, Mrs. Richard Edmondson.
It would be appropriate that Coventry should have a motor fire-engine, and the Chief Officer of the brigade. Captain Armishaw, hopes to be able to obtain the necessary ailthorization at an early date, and without his having to wait for a serious fire to enforce the necessity.
King's Norton U.D.C. has adopted the recommendation of its Fire Brigade Committee, that application he made to the Local Government Board for sanction to a loan of £1,000 to pay for a motor fire-engine. The Chairman of the Committee estimates that the upkeep of the motor fire-engine will be considerably less than that of steamers and horses, and that the possession of one is essential to the adequate protection of out-districts.
Belfast Tenders.
The Corporation of the City of Belfast (page iv of supplement) invites tenders for petrol motor fire-engines. Forms may be had from the Town Clerk, and tenders must be lodged by the morning of Thursday next, the 20th inst. The Council's requirements are ; a petrol motor fire-pump, with fire-escape ; a petrol first-aid machine, with lire-escape; and a petrol chassis, to which some of the plant at present in use can be adapted. Motors at the Brewers' Exhibi tion.
At the 32nd annual exhibition of the Brewing and Allied Trades, which will be opened at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, on the 15th inst., commercial motors will be represented by three petrol machines and four
steamers. and E. Hall, Ltd., will send a four-ton petrol wagon, one of two on order for Messrs. Hoare and Co. ; Leyland Motors, Ltd., will show a five-ton petrol wagon, the 18th re
peat order from Mann, Crossman and Paulin. Ltd., and a three-ton petrol chassis, the 12th repeat order from Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd. Fiveton steam wagons will be shown by Wm. AlIchin, Ltd., Fodens, Ltd. (for the Ashton Gate Brewery, Bristol) and Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd., whilst Alley and McLellao. Ltd., will stage a six-ton Sentinel wagon, the second for Hammerton and Co., Ltd. The exhibition will remain open until the 21st inst. Wandsworth's Second Leyland Steamer.
After having ordered their first Leyland steam wagon as far back as 1905, the Wandsworth Borough Council recently took delivery of a second wagon of the same maker, after veryextensive experience with the first one. The newest Wandsworth Leyland has, as will be seen from the illustration, a comparatively-short wheelbase. It is fitted with the maker's H type of engine., this being compound. wholly contained is one easing together with the two-speed gear and differential, and horizontally placed beneath the frame by three-point suspension. At 450 isp.m.. it is reckoned to give 35 b.h.p. In the illustration, the wagon is shown with a 1,000-gal Ion tank for street-watering purposes. This new vehicle is reported to be doing a lot of good work, and the old one too. Mr. Peter Dodd, the
Borough Engineer, is quite an enthusiast about self-propelled municipal vehicles. Not only does he motor himself on his duties, but anothsr of his departments employs a Laere motors-an. Both the steam wagons are maintained in repair by Leyland Motors, Ltd., of 86, Strain], W.C., for a fixed sum per annum.
Italy's International Trade in Industrial Autos.
In 1901, Italy imported freight automobiles having a collective value of 730,500 lire (129,200), or an increase of 358,750 lire (E14,350) in comparison with the year 1908. The bulk of the increase concerned vehicles of from one to three tons capacity. On the other hand, Italy's imports of cars dropped over a million-and-aquarter lire. Her exports in freight vehicles underwent an extraordinary rise-428,130 -(C17,125) to 1,101,000 lire (C44,040), the car values falling from 28,236,745 (C1,129,450) to 22.941.-135 lire (C917,657).