News and Comment.
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The authority and influence of this journal rest upon facts.
One of the War Department's motor ambulances is now stationed at Edinburgh.
The Oldham Tramways Committee has resolved to invite tenders for a motor tower-wagon.
We are told that Napier's will shortly turn out larger commercialvehicle models.
The Western District Committee of the Haddingtonshire County Council has now finally approved the purchase, at a cost of £550, of a motor ambulance.
The Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., asks us to state that the nine vehicles recently supplied to Joseph Lyon and Co., Ltd., are for 20 cwt. loads and not for 25 cwt. loads.
Mr. J. Veitch-Wilson, of Price's gas-engine-oil repute, and whose fame extends far into those many realms where lubricants are used, was at Coventry on the 8th inst. He lectured to local engineers upon " Fuel and Lubricants for internal-combustion engines." We expect to have space to deal with his address in our next issue.
A South-African Bureau.
The Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade formally notifies the establishment of a Trade Commissioner for South Africa. The office will be at Cape Town, and the address for any intended communications is-H. M. Trade Commissioner for South Africa (Bureau of Commercial Information), P.O. Box 1346, Cape Town, South Africa. Waring's "Commer Cars."
Sififtle detailed references to Waring's motor services, which are exclusive to tins journal, will be found on pages 105-107. They disclose much of interest to users and intmding users.
Acetylene Challenged.
Last week's issue of The Motor," dated the 5th April, describes a petrol head-lamp which is about to be put on the market. When standardized, this lamp should sell well ; cost should be lower, and cleanliness greater, than with any form of acetylene. The Metropolitan Asylums Board invites (supplement, page IV) tenders for the supplyof nine chassis, four van-shaped ambulance bodies, and five broughana-shaped ambulance bodies.
R.A.S.E.
The agricultural-motor trials of th3 Royal Agricultural Society are not to precede this year's show at Liverpool ; they will take place in the autumn. It has been decided that the reaper to be used shall be an " Albion "— manufactured by Harrison, McGregor and Co., Ltd.
The 1912 show is to be held at Doncaster.
"Retrospect and Prospect."
At the Royal Automobile Club, on Thursday next, the 21st inst., Sir ,T. H. A. Macdonald, K.C.B., Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland, and President of the Scottish Automobile Club, will read a paper under the full title of " Retrospect and Prospect, 1900-1910, and After." A large attendance is expected, as Sir John's ability as a lecturer, no less than his vivacity in reply, is unrivalled.
An Interesting Thornycrolt.
We illustrate, on this page, a 16 h.p., two-cylinder, 30 cwt. " type-A " Thornycroft lorry, which was recently delivered to the Ten Acres and Stirchley Co-operative Society, Ltd., of Stirchley. It should be noted that the bar to carry a tarpaulin cover, which is supported by stanchions at each end of the body, is readily removable. Thornycroft lorries are one of the makes which enjoy popularity with co-operative societies.
Road Repairs.
The Borough Engineer and Surveyor of Preston advises us that the main road between the railway bridge (Waterloo Road) and Long Lane, Ashton, is • undergoing remetalling, and that it will therefore be practically closed until about the 7th prox, Water Lane and Tulketh Lane, also Tulketh Brow, offer alternative routes for motor wagons.
A Leyland Removal Van.
Messrs. Ebenezer Smith, an old-established firm of furnishers, warehousers and removal contractors, of Blackheath Village, SE., has had a threeton Leyland running, chiefly for removal work, for two years. Tt can average 60 or 70 miles a day with maximum load, and on occasions has done more for instance, one day recently, it conveyed a load from Black heath to Guildford (45 miles), unloaded, and made the return run the same day without any mechanical stop. Mr. Ebenezer Smith is considering the purchase of a second vehicle.
A Foden Wagon's Record.
A remarkable record is credited to the Foden wagon which belongs to the Isleworth Brewery, and which is shown herewith. This vehicle went to work for its owners six years ago, and it has ever since been kept in service with the exception of only two occasions. These breaks were by no means the fault of the vehicle, or of the Foden design, hut were due to the tramway track over which the machine runs a good deal, and which, in Isleworth, Hounslow and Acton, is frequently in a bad state of repair. A mileage of about 30 miles per day is usually covered, with platform and trailer loads, and this mileage might be a good deal higher but for the time lost in unloading outside hotels. In all, some 50,400 miles have been covered in the six years of service, and, with the exception of the first three months, driver W. Andrews has had the wheel all along. Part of a London fleet A "Pagefield" Van in London.
A " Pagefield " motorvan, from the works of Walker .Bros. Wigan), Ltd., has already done a most-success ful and extensive trial at the hands of John Barker and Co., Ltd. After early use as a lorry, it was finished in Barker's standard style, as shown, These " Pagefieid " two-ton chassis are, under ordinary circumstances, engined with two-cylinder 5-by-51-in. motors, which develop about 20 hp. at 850 r.p.m., but, when prospective buyers prefer it, four-cylinder engines are fitted. Increasing inquiry for them is now being experienced by the makers at Wigan.
Belsize Motorvans on Contract.
Illustrated herewith is. an interesting snapshot of some of the 14-16 h.p., four-cylinder, 10-15 cwt. Belsize motorvans which D. H. Evans and Co., Ltd., employs on its extensive rounds. .These vehicles, to the number of four, are let to the users by H. J. Chapman and Co., Ltd., of 23, Augustus Street, N.W., and they have rendered good and satisfactory service. They usually cover from 65 to 70 miles a day, right out into Surrey and other counties, with varied loads. Chapman and Co., Ltd., with a garage comparatively near to the West-end, is anxious to secure further oontracts to supply these useful Man chester-made motorvans. We last reproduced a similar van on the 10th February. Shrewsbury and Challiner tires are favoured. The fleet of Dennis vehicles, which belongs to Messrs. Puttock and Sons, jobmasters and mail contraetors, of Guildford, continues to grow. We illustrate the latest purchase at the foot of this page.
One of the Lavre Company's vehicles, while travelling between Barnet and Hatfield, about 7.30 p.m. on Saturday the 2nd inst., lost a " Dependance " tail lamp. If found by any reader of this journal, the owner can now be informed.
"Shell" at Torquay.
The Watch Committee of Torquay has (subject to the usual sanction) granted a licence to the British Petroleum Co., Ltd., to store up to 13,500 gallons of petroleum in an underground tank and store at the Railway Goods Yard, Sackville Road.
"Roads" Issues.
Our contemporary, "The Surveyor," on the 15th and 22nd of this month, will publish two special issues dealing with road matters generally, and the improvement of highways in particular, Many well-known authorities will contribute to the pages of these two numbers.
Roads Improvement.
The annual report of the Roads Improvement Association shows accumulated funds in excess of 2500. Considering that the annual subscription to this body, whose office is at Caxton House, Westminster, S.W., is only 5s. per individual member, the position and work achieved is most creditable.
A Chain-drive Change-speed Gearbox.
One of the illustrations on this page shows the component parts of a. mostinteresting and practical gearbox which has been designed by the engineering department of the L.G.O. Co.
for use on its motorbuses. In his paper, which was read before the In-. stitution of Automobile Engineers last night (see pages 116-118), Mr. A. S. Hill, of the Coventry Chain Co., made reference to this gearbox. The L.G.O. Co. has made the necessary application for protection, by letters patent, for its invention. Another view, showing the assembled gearbox, is given on page 116.
Petrol Cans, The Snles Department of the AngloAmerican Oil Co., Ltd., notifies the adoption of an improvement in the well-known green cans which are used for the distribution of Pratt's spirit.
The faucet is now set in a domeshaped stamping on the top of the can, so that, when inverted, the whole of the contents is delivered.
More Laundry Reports.
The °Treenail Laundry, of Doonfoot, Ayr, which is under the management of Mr. D. Bowie, now has three Albion vans in service, and this gentleman, in a recent communication to us, stated that they were giving every satisfac
Don. The fact that, after experience with a first 15 cwt. van of the Albion manufacture, two additional vehicles of the same make were ordered, speaks for itself.
New Registrations.
The Caledonia Motor Construction Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of 236,000 in 31,000 preference shares of 21 each, and 100,000 ordinary shares of ls. each, to acquire the business of the Caledonia Motor Engineering Co., of Granton, Edinburgh.
Fire-brigade Matters.
Early sanction by the L.G.B. is expected for the Lee& Corporation loan of 2875.
The L.G.B. inquiry, to sanction the loan of £837 for Worthing, takes place -this week.
New Buildings.
Following the purchase of motor fire-equipment, not a few brigades find it necessary to alter their buildings; Harrogate and Northampton, for example, are about to undertake alterations. The complete abandonment of horses accounts for this in a few instances.
Grimsby's Order.
The Fire-Engine Committee of the Grimsby Town Council has recommended the purchase of a Merryweather engine; a visit of inspection had previously been paid to Rochdale. It is probable that a large horse-engine will be taken by .lierryweather's in part exchange, and that a net cash payment of 2950 will be made in respect of equipment listed at 21,250.
Bournemouth Demonstrations, The Bournemouth Centenary Fetes, which are to be held from the 6th to the 16th July next, will be chiefly devoted to the holding of an international aviation meeting. Amongst an elaborate programme of attractions, we observe that the local managers intend to introduce fire-brigade demonstrations. Needless to say, motor fire-engines will probably take a prominent part in this part of the display. The organizing manager is Mr. W. Bowman, and the offices of the Committee are at Post Office Road, Bournemouth.