News and Comment.
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The authority, circulation and influence of this journal rest upon facts.
The first published particulars of a new delivery van for loads up to 20 cwt. appear on pages 388 and 389.
A development of the Serpollet system Of steam motors, in the form of a mine locomotive, is described on page 398.
Our 'U.S.A. correspondent, on pages 390 and 391, gives some interesting iigures for the working costs of battery-propelled vans for two-ton loads.
The Highways Committee of the Sheffield Town Council has accepted the tender of J. and E. Hall, Ltd., for a five-ton petrol-driven motor wagon, at a cost of £706 los.
Extension to Mail Service.
An important development in the use of motor mails is the extension of the London postal service served by Leyland vans. Commencing on Monday last, the service was extended to sundry south-eastern suburbs within a radius of 12 miles, the mails being collected at the chief post offices in the various districts, and then taken direct to the G.P.O. by motoryan, instead of by rail and by horse vans from the London termini.
Agricultural Motor Trials.
A.s already announced by us, the Royal Agricultural Society of England has arranged for its trials of agricultural motors to take place on the farm of Mr. C. Edward E. Cooke, Manor Farm, Bygrave, Ba!dock, Herts. The place of trial is about 14mile from BaMock station on the Great Northern Railway, and about seven miles from Hitchin. The trials will commence at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the 9th August. A gold medal is being offered by tho society for the best agricultural motor, and 11 entries have been received from six competitors. A complete list of entries was given in our issue sf the 12th of May (see page 198), Lac-re Orders.
In our last week's issue, we referred to the satisfactory condition of the Laere Co.'s order books, and stated that the Letchworth works was chiefly occupied upon production to meet the requirements of buyers who have dealt with the Lacre people for many years past, but old customers do not entirely monopolize the production facilities at the new factory at Letchworth. Among the machines which have recently bee ii delivered to new customers are the three which are illustrated at the foot of this page, and another smart box van, for Williamson and Co.. Ltd., of High Street, Clapham, has lately been taken over by the purchaser. During this month alone, the Laere Co. has received
orders from a number of neW customers, amongst whom are Harvey, Nicholls and Co., Ltd. ; Messrs. Brown and Poison ; Francis and Sons, Ltd.; Messrs. Hills ; Tillet's Essex Steam Laundry ; Messrs. Shipley ; W. Hancock and Sous, Ltd. ; J. Dickinson and Co., Ltd.; Griffiths and Co., Ltd.; the Penrhyn Laundry ; Messrs. Downey Bros.; Messrs. Foy and Gibson, and the South Suburban Gas Co. The Lacre company now appears to have got over the initial difficulties incidental to the establishment of a new factory, and expects shortly to be turning out one vehicle per working day, but that by no means represents the ultimate extent of the company's facilities for production.
Dairy Produce by Motor.
No class of merchandise requires more expeditious and careful handling than dairy produce. The loads carried are rarely very great, but it is essential that the vehicles should be capable of high speed and should run smoothly. An Argyll van, of which we reproduce two photographs on page 400, was supplied, in March last, to the Glasgow Dairy Co., of 8, West Cumberland Street, Glasgow, and in a recent letter which we have received from that company, the owners refer to the machine's work in high terms of praise. The letter proceeds:' The nature of these goods demands quick despatch anti in this respect we have been delighted with our experiences of the van during the past four months. It has been most reliable, and is sufficiently powerful for ordinary requirements. The engine de velops 15 and runs smoothly and silently. The design of the body is out of the common rut, and the beautiful finish of its paint-work, in cinnamon brown and gold, singles it out as a new departure in the way of making the commercial motor a thing of beauty. It has proved to be a good advertisement to our company, and, I doubt not, also to Argylls, Ltd."
Transporting an Elephant to the Hospital.
A novel use has recently been made oi an electric lorry in Pickwick, Ohio, U.S.A.., where an elephant, popularly known as " Tillie " and weighing seven tons, was transported from the scene of an accident, in which the animal had injured one of its front legs, to the veterinary depot at South Bend, Indiana. The machine, which is illustrated on page 390, was a Studebaker electric lorry, owned by the Studebaker Automobile Co., whose works are near South Bend.
Comfort for the Driver.
The 30 cwt. Dennis van, for Messrs. Peek, Freau and Co., illustrated on this page, is an excellent example of tasteful and practical design. As an advertising medium, it takes a prominent place in the ranks of other smart vehicles which are in daily service, but a new and commendable feature is the
high sides which close in the space between the dashboard and the driver's seat. Seated in the roomy cab, and protected by the side doors from upward draughts, the driver of this machine should be able to perform his daily duties with the maximum of comfort. This van, which is a repeat order from Messrs. Peek, Frean and Co., has been purchased as the result of the success which that company has achieved with a number of Dennis cars supplied two or three years ago.
Motor Sheep Wagon.
Motor vehicles have been used for s wide variety of purposes, but, probably, to no more practical use, so far as agricultural men are concerned, than that of the transportation of sheep to distant country fairs and shows, and one of the illustrations on this page shows such a vehicle, which has recently been supplied for those purposes by the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd. The machine illustrated is one of that maker's 16 h.p. type, with special hinged, high-sided rail body. Where valuable prize animals are exposed to the dangers of delny in tran sitby railway companies, and the considerable. amount of handling which such a form of transport necessitates, the type of wagon illustrated should appeal forcibly to breeders. When not• required for transportation purposes, the high sides may be re moved and the machine may then be used as an ordinary lorry in connection with general estate work ; with a slight modification, the engine could also be used for general farm purposes, such as pumping, churning and
threshing. The vehicle will be exhibited by the Albion Co.'s South of Scotland concessionnaire, Mr. A. C. Penman at the Highland Society's show this month, and another vehicle exhibited at that show will be an Albion nine-seated wagonette suitable for hotel work, or as a shooting brake.
"Notable Flying Men."
A certain glamour will for ever surround the intrepid pioneer aviators who, in these early days of the flying era, are achieving so many triumphs and suffering so many failures. The latest publication from Temple Press Ltd.Notable Flying Men "—will, we feel sure, command attention. It is an album of all the notable aviators known to fame to-day. Their biographies are given, together with their portraits and unique illustrations of the machines they use. The book teems with interest, from cover to cover, because it deals largely with daring exploits and desperate achievements. It is issued at the popular price of sixpence, and it should be on the desk, table or bookshelf of every motorist. The book will be on sale all this week at Bournemouth. If ordered direct from Temple Press Ltd., 7-15, Bosebery Avenue, -London. E.C., 2d. extra, should be sent for postage The Postmaster-General, in response to the requests of residents in the district, has sanctioned the replacement of the existing horse-drawn mail carts by motor-mail services between Aberfeldy, Kenmore and Acharn, in Perth. shire. The new arrangement will become operative on the 14th September.
A Hard-worked Foden Lorry.
This vehicle, which is one of a pair owned by Barclay, Perkins and Co.. Ltd., of Southwark, is the first of the Fodens in that company's service. It has already done five years work, and it not infrequently takes seven tons of beer as far as Southend. According to Mr. T. H. Pechett, the company's engineer, it effects an all-round saving over horse haulage. When the vehicle
shown had done over two years of service a repeat order was placed for a second Foden vehicle. Considering that this gigantic brewing concern is said
to spent. £540,000 per annum in materials, revenue duties and wages, it seems remarkable that more self-propelled vehicles are not employed.