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 Crozier.
A French Agricultural Motor Show.
Tinder the auspices of the French Ministries of Agriculture and War a "Motor Culture" Exhibition is to be held at Aubergenville from October 1st to 6th next. Sections will be provided for agricultural tractors fitted with producer-gas plants, military lorries similarly equipped, and electrically operated formino. machinery. Full particulars of the exhibition can be obtained from the Ministere de l'Agriculture, Bureau 49 his, Paris.
A Railway's Road Service for Farmers.
The Great Western Railway Co. has introduced a motor lorry service in the Cardiganshire area for the convenience of farmers and traders generally, and it will be operated from Aberystwyth. The lorries will collect parcels of a weight from 7 lb. to 1 ton, a graduated scale of payment per poundage having been arranged. Full lorry loads of two and four tons will be carried at specially low rates. The farm produce and parcels collected will be carried to the railhead at Aberystwyth. The villages and districts which will benefit are, Rhydfelin, Llanfarian, Fiore Foor, Chancey, Llanshystyd, Llanon, Blaenfiywf, Ponterwyd, Goginan, Capel Bangor, Talybout, Taliesin, Trerddol and Llanddeinol.
Bournemouth Passenger Vehicle Results.
The report of the engineer and general manager of the Bournemouth Corporation tramways' undertaking for the year ended March 31st last shows that the
net deficit on the working of the organization in this period was £3,732. Actually, there was a deficit on the operation of the tramcars of £2,880 and on the buses of £2,889, but a surplus of £853 was recorded on the operation of the runabouts and of £1,184 on the working of the tramocars.'
The total mileages covered by the respective types of vehicle in the year were as follow: tramcars, 2,332,267; motorbuses, 94,566; tramocars, 86,967; runabouts, 17,593. The tramcars carried 31,470,043 passengers ; the motorbuses, 925,144; the tramocars, 738,712, and the runabouts, 127,957, these figures being returned on the operation of 131 tramcars, nine buses, six runabouts and six tramcars.
The following shows the average total revenue per mile : Tramcars, 22.30d.; motorbuses. 10.39d. ; tramocars, 16.39d.; runabouts, 27.024.
Freeing Thames Bridges from Toll.
Representatives of the county counclIS of Oxford, Buckingham and Berks have waited upon the Minister of Transport with' a view to obtaining information as to what assistance might be forthcoming from the Ministry towards the cost of freeing Thames toll bridges. It was ascertained that the Ministry would be prepared to consider the case of every bridge on its merits, having particular regard to (1) the statutory provisions affecting the bridge ; (2) the condition of the structure and the potential liability for its maintenance and repair ; and (a) its revenue-earning . capacity.
It was suggested that the county councils should, in the first place, obtain this information in respect of each of the five toll bridges over the River • Thames in which the three counties are concerned, and that negotiations should be opened with the bridge owners with a view to determining the probable cost of purchase. The Ministry could then be consulted as to the best course to be adopted with regard to each bridge.
The deputation was also informed that, although the Minister much preferred that bridges should be freed from tolls when ,bought by local authorities. he •had in certain circumstances agreed to the continuance of tolls for a limited period to enable local authorities to recover a portion of their expenditureIt was also stated that whilst the Minister was not in a position to promise any financial assistance at this stage, the county councils might fully rely upon obtaining any help which the Ministry might he in a position to give. A New 'Ford Truck.
We learn from Detroit that a new truck, embodying the same principles-in motor and chassis design as the new Ford automobile, will be introduced/by the Ford Motor Co. this autumn., The first announcement says that the new truck will replace the present Model T "Ford. It will have double the horsepower of the present model and will be equipped with improved coaling and ignition systerns and new steering and transmission mechanisms.
Tollgates onn-a Common.
In connection with proposals for the reconstruction of the Eye-Wortham roud, the common right owners refuse to agree • to the removal of the gates on MelliS Common unless they receive. 2,000 compensation. The Eartisuierc Rural District Council is not prepared to pay this sum and have asked the East Suffolk •County Council to take over the road with the gates as they stand at the present time. The comity surveyor has interviewed the divisional engineer of the Ministry of Transport. in regard to the matter and, as a comes-. quence, the county council:proposes, in order to secure funds which are available for theroad scheme, to negotiate with other rural authorities with a view to the preparation of a scheme for reconstruction on the understanding that the road will suhsetffiently be taken over by the county council.•
A Morecambe Motorbus Station:
A motorbus station has been established by Lancashire. and West morland Motor Services, Ltd., just off the promenade at the. West End, Morecambe. The.cornpany has had some difficulty with regard to licences to pick up • passengers on the promenade at Morecambe, and the station, which is within a few yards of the bus minus. of the prome.nade services of . thcMorecanthe Corporation, is ata_ very con• venient point. Air open space :has been . b-reiled and asphalted, and•a building erected to serve as offices and information kiosk. The Lancashire and Westmorland. and the Ribble services • start from the station, .and.
movable • indicators • have., been fixed to show the times of departura of vehicles for Lancaster and plaff!s so.far afield
as Keswick. In addition chalked announcements are 'made concerning the service from Morecambe to Blackpool
and Southport. The building has a covered v-erandak running round two sides, and is painted in the bright red adopted for all the " L. and W." vehicles. The asphalted section provides adequate manoeuvring Space.
The A.D.C. Gazette.
As is usual with the house organ of the Associated Daimler Co„ Ltd., the August issue contains much interesting matter. Quite apart from the information dealing with the company's activities, the current issue contains several articles of general interest, one dealing with cost accounts for motor vehicles, and another with' factors which have to be considered in running a motor coach business. There are two articles dealing with the passenger-vehicle activities of two prolninent companies. The A.D.C. Gazette is km informative little publication which we always peruse with great interest. Personal Pars.
Mr. G. J. Shave, operating manager and • chief engineer of the London General Omnibus Cu., Ltd., has returned to duty after his threemonths' leave of absence which has embraced a voyage to the West Indies. He looks fit and well and says that he feels himself once more.
The group from the Underground system which left on Saturday for a two-month trip to America and Canada includes Mr. Pitts, the chief of the combine, and Mr. Owen J. Watson, the research engineer of the L.G.O.C. The railways and the signalling sections each send a representative. Lord Ashfield considers a visit to the other side of the Atlantic an essential part of the education of each of his chief men.
Mileage Charge for Use of an Ambulance.
Preston Corporation has written to the Garstang Rural District Council pointink out that the use of the Preston ambulance in outside districts is becoming so extensive that unless rural authorities will guarantee to pay the charge of is, 3d. per mile run for transporting all accident cases to the Preston Infirmary, the use of the ambulance in the districts of those authorities refusing to -pay must cease. The conditions -of the Preston Corporation were accepted for a period of one year.
Leylands for Newport.
The Newport (Mon.) Tramways and Electricity Committee has decided, subject to the Ministry of Transport sissenting to a loan being raised for the purpose, to buy ten. Leyland buses to replace tramcars on the Malpas-road route. This question of the replacement of trams by buses is the first move in a matter which has been the subject of discussion at meetings of the COID• mittee for two years past.
Carter, Paterson's Purchases.
As is well known, Carter, Paterson and Co. Ltd., runs a large fleet of motor vehicles, amongst which those of Albion manufacture figure prominently. That the company is satisfied with the service which this make of machine is giving is suggested by the fact that it has recently placed an order for ten vehicles of Albion make, theseincluding 30-ewt., 2-ton 'and 4-ton machines. American Exports.
The official returns lately to hand show that no fewer than 6,814 motor lorries and buses, together with chassis, of a value of £894,406, were exported from the United States during June last, as compared with4,580 vehicles, of a value of 1678,638, in the corresponding month a year ago. It is interestito, to learn that the exports represented .about 27 per cent. of the total Anietican -prOduction during utie, and that the bulk, of the vehicles (5,520). had a ',carryingcapacity not exceed; :ing 20 cwt., 1,149 vehicles being in. the 1-2i-ton division, and only .145 in the_. Sileti on above 2i-ton capacity. Australia again headed the list as the principal Market for American vehicles, the ,Coramonwealth being credited with 1,779 of the total. The South Amen
can Republic of Colombia was second in the list with 663, followed by Brazil, with 539; Canada, 451; the Argentine, 403; Denmark, 338 ;South Africa, 280; the United Kingdom, 252; and Belgium, 242.
The aggregate exports during the six months ended with June last are returned at no fewer than 54,725 vehicles, of a value of 16,912,436, as compared with 35,053 vehicles (£4,875,531)in the corresponding period a year ago, an increase of roughly 56 per cent. in number and 42 per cent in value.
Higher Belgian Import Duties on Tractors.
A. Bill recently presented to the Belgian Parliament proposes -an increase in the import duty on road .tractors from 80 francs to 480 francs per 100 kilogs. The Government explains that the increase has been suggested as a -means for giving Belgian manufacturers of tractors the same protection as is afforded to manufacturers of heavy motor lorries, the latter already being protected by a duty of 480 francs per 100 kilogs. .
A Newcastle Coach Station.
The Northern General Transport Co., Ltd.,, which operates motor coach tours on an extensive scale from Tyneside and Wearside to practically all parts of England and Scotland during the summer months, is making an important addition to its coaching facilities by the provision of a. handsome new station situated in Westgate Road, in the centre of Newcastle. This 'will be employed solely for coach work, and the company's omnibuses will continue, as in the past, to operate from a stand in Berwick Street. The new station, which
c22 is practically finished, provides accommodation for six vehicles. An inquiry bureau and booking office are included in the arrangements.
Lorries Oust Camels in Persia.
It is reported from Teheran that the Persian Caravan Co. has recently decided to replace some of its camels by a fleet of 15 motor lorries. Whereas camels. can only carry about 4 cwt. and travel .20 .miles p.er day, 3-ton vehicles can .cover 50 miles per:,clay,-even Over the difficult roads Which', exist in the country.
Lincolnshire Farmers and Road' • Maintenance. • Lincolnshire agiieniturists.; are resorting to condemnation of the alleged excessive expenditure on main highways, . which it is suggested have, in many in stances, been dealt with to the neglect of district ,roads. The matter 'recently engaged the consideration of the,,gpilsby Farmers' Union, the operations • Of which cover one of the most fertile territories in the Fen country: The suggestion was made that, as the roada are largely used by users from other districts, their upkeep should be a national and not a local charge. This line of argument ignores, however, the consideration that • a large proportion of the money devoted to road maintenance is already derived *from the fund to which motor users contribute.
Irish Free State Imports.
During July last 92 commercial vehicles, valued at 121,863, were imported into the Irish Free State, as compared with only 18 (£3,423) in the corresponding month. of 1926. The aggregate imports during the first seven months of the present year are officially returned at 467 Vehicles (1106,453), as contrasted with 138 (149,902) in the corresponding period a year ago.
Coaches for Paris Police.
The recent communist riots in Paris showed the necessity for greater mobility on the part of the police. The Paris Prefecture of Police maintains a very fine motor fleet—all Panhard atal Levassor vehicles—including a number of fast 30-seater coaches. The recent troubles, however, broke out in many different parts of the city simultaneously and there is little doubt that, had there been a bigger reserve of police coaches, less damage would have been done.
M. Chiappe, the new Prefet de Police, has asked the Paris Municipal Council for a credit of two million francs for the purpose of augmenting the police motor fleet and to increase the personnel
of the force. This credit will undoubtedly be granted and, in the mean time, as a temporary measure, M. Chiappe-is arranging with the-municipal omnibus concern for the hire of several of its large-capacity•coaches.
Narrow Roads and Damage to Tyres.
United Automobile Services,. Ltd., has written to-the East 'Suffolk" County Council-pointingout that it is -anxious to fit its .buses with pneumatic tyres, but that the width of the 1Vratford Lock Bridge, between the herbs at Oulton Broad is insufficient to allow . it to . do so without endangering the conditionOf the tyres. The company urges the council to approach the London and North. Eastern Railway Co. with a view either to having the width of the roadway between the kerbs increased, or an alteration made to the shape of the kerb in order to prevent the-sharp edges fromdoing -damage to the tyres. The county council is to ask the railway company to widen the bridge. Guaranteed Repairs. , A revised list of the concerns registered under its guaranteed automobile repairers' scheme has just been issued by the Institute of the Motor Trade, 157, Great Portland Street, London, W.1. The list is arranged alphabetically under place-names, so that a user can ascertain at a glance whether there is a guaranteed repairer in any particular district. The sCheme -of the Institute provides motor vehicle owners doing business with firms'-. registered with the assurance that they will receive satisfactory treatment.
It should be explained that the scheme is only available to those garages and service stations in which all repair work is carried out under the direct supervision of a member of the Institute. A copy of the list can be obtained on application to the secretary of the Institute at the address given.
Nottingham's Growing Bus Traffic.
Because of the rapid rate at which motorbus traffic has been developing in Nottingham, it has been suggested, in view of the necessity for enlargal park-. lug places for vehicles coming into the city from outside places, that something in the nature of a fixed charge should be imposed for accommodation. Several of the streets in central parts of the city have -already become congested through constant additions to the number of vehicles which is used to connect up rural areas with Nottingham. It hasbeen propounded that, as accommodation -for private trading is being utilized at the expense of the municipality, sonic tax should be imposed on
bus owners relief of local burdens. • Swansea's New Powers.
The important new powers relating to traffic regulation conferred on the Swansea Borough Council by its recently passed Act of Parliament were explained at a recent meeting of the 'watch committee. Amongst other things the committee is empowered to test the ability of all persons applying for licences to drive taxicabs or motorbuses, and the acting chief constable was instructed to devise practical tests
for drivers and submit his proposals for the committee's approval. In addition the power to fix minimum ages for drivers of passenger-carrying vehicles is given the committee, and is to be decided upon.
Further clauses empower the council to test taximeters for accuracy, to refuse licences for motorbuses unless
third-party insurance has been effected by the applicants, to specify streets in which vehicular traffic may only i pass one way, and to prescribe stopping places for omnibuses.
Atnerican'Bus and Railway • Mileages.
Although ten years ago motorbus services were practically unknown in the. 'United States and are still in their infancy, there are to-day, according to a report lately issued by the American Automobile Association, more miles of motorbus services than railways in America. Buse« are . now operating over 270,000 miles of route, whereas the mileage of the railways is 257,000.
A Tipper for Overseas.
Amongst those makes of commercial vehicle selected by the Crown Agents for the Colonies as being suitable for working under the conditions prevalent in countries overseas is the Dennis, and for many years past Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, has supplied large num
bers of 2i-ton chassis fitted with hydraulically operated tipping bodies., in addition to larger modelS for official use. An illustration on this page shows the first 30-cwt. chassis of this make ordered by the Crown Agents for Service at Selangor, Federated Malay States.
In the main the chassis is an example of the maker's standard pneumatictyred model, which is shod with Dunlop equipment of 33 ins. by 5 ins, dimensions on the front wheels, and 34 ins. by 7 ins, dimensions on the rear wheels. The customary electric lighting set is not fitted in this ease, its place being taken by five Lucas oil lamps.
The mudguards, which are, to all appearances, of standard design, are, however, constructed of sheet brass, so that there is no possibility of rust resulting if the enamel is chipped off.
The chassis is fitted with a steel endtipping body which is operated. by vertical screw gear disposed behind the driver's cab. This gear is handoperated from either side. The body has a slight taper outwards to the rear so that the discharge of the load is facilitated, and the special contour of the wheel arches also assists in this dii-ecton. The capacity of the body is 2.6 cubic yds., and the loading height is 4 ft. 1 in.
Another Rouse Magazine.
The latest addition to the list of magazines and house organs which are issued by concerns in the motor trade is !` The Specialloid Gazette," which is to be published monthly by Specialloid, Ltd., Friern Park, North Finchley, London, N.12. The first issue is bright and interesting and contains a well-balanced proportion of technical, news and humorous items. The company is prepared to send a copy to any reader writing its publicity department.