The Wheels of Industry.
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
"The wheel 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
This issue of TEE COMMERCIAL MOTOR Opens the "seventh century" of its publication.
Proposals and Purchases by Local Authorities.
Chorley Town Council has approved the plans for certain extensions of the Leyland Co.'s branch works, off the Bolton Road.
Members of the Watch Committee of the Leeds City Council have been inspecting the motor fire-engines at thestations of the London Fire Brigade.
The Highways Authorities of West Sussex are proposing to make a charge of 3d. per motorbus-mile under the recent legislation, in respect of new motorbus routes.
Mr. J. W. Lupton, surveyor to the Flaxton R.D.C., is engaged upon the preparation of a final report, on the subject of steam haulage by motor tractor v. horse haulage.
The Caerphilly U.D.C. has referred to .ft sub-committee the matter of applying for a Provisional Order to authorize a motorbus undertaking at the hands of the Council.'
The Shoreham U.D.C., at its meeting on the 5th inst., passed a resolution in favour of the taxation of Motorbuses on both new and old routes, and taxation to embrace all classes of mechanically-propelled vehicles.
The Leicester (Holland) County Council has been invoking the aid of the Road Board, in order to obtain an increased petrol allowance, above two gallons each per month, for two of its main-road surveyors, in rcepect of their motorcycles.
The Waterworks Committee of the Bradford City Council anticipates that it may suffer from a temporary shortage of water, and has successfully applied to the Leeds Waterworks Committee for contingent help.
The Walsall Corporation has, through the manager of its tramways, drawn the attention of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., to the practice of issuing tickets at less than the agreed minimum fare.
Dudley Town Council is considering what action can be taken, in view of the fact that, owing to the shortage of petrol, the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., has notified the temporary discontinuance of its service in the Borough.
The Editor of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR has directed the attention of all Municipal Councils in the coun try to likely adverse effects upon their ratepayers of the new motorbus-control proposals of the County Gouncils Association.
Cokhester Corporation has referred to its Roads Committee the proposals of the Essex County Council, in respect of the control of motorbus routes, on the grounds that it is in the interests of the Borough to give all facilities possible to enable people from surrounding districts to visit the town, and that the matter should be considered, not merely qua possible effects on the roads, but qua the general interests of the community as a whole.
The Horsham Rural District Council has refused permission to the Aldershot and District Traction CO. Ltd., to extend one of its motorbus services from Cranleigh to Horsham, and the surveyor to the Council stated that the proposed -contribution of 3d. per carmile, under the scheme of the West Sussex County Council, "would not nearly meet the cost of main, tenance.' The decision to refuse consent was, however, based en the following threepoints : (1) that the road was unsuitable; (2) that the service was not required ; and (3) that the service would cause a loss to the district.
Munitions Mechanical Transport.
Sir Albert H. Stanley is the new Director-General of Munitions Mechanical Transport Supply. The extensive ramifications of his department are such, we gather, that offices in Piccadilly will be insufficient. It is not improbable that the National Liberal Club, or the Constitutional Club, will be requisitioned for the provision of the necessary office accommodation. This is the position, as we go to Press.
It is difficult to follow all the large Departmental moves which are taking place at the Ministiy of Munitions, and in connection with the reorganization of Q.M.G.3, the Inspection branch, and Contracts 3. Major Rose is now in charge at. Q.M.G.3 offices, and we note that Major Shilson has gone to Bulford, after two years hard and efficient work for the C.I.M.T., fpllowing Lt.-Col. Donohue's overseas appointment. Another change concerns Contracts 3, which is now " P.M.4" (Purchase of Munitions), and comes under the charge of Mr Wynne Edwards, of Sir John Jack. son company. Contemporaneous15 with the various changes, plenty ol evidence is reaching us that the bodged lists are being continually combed.
Recent Registrations.
Tyneside Motor Co., Ltd. (23000), to take over •a business at North Shields. Private company: Joseph Marsh and Son, Ltd. (2500), to take over a business at 16, Arbour Street, Southport, as motor builders and engineers. '
Ards Motor Transport Co., Ltd. (23000), with its registered office at Newtownazds, Co. Down, to take over a motorbus business hitherto carried on by Messrs. F. Hamilton and J. O'Brien.
S. G. Sheard and Co., Ltd. (21000), with its office at 158a, Blythe Road, West Kensington, W., to carry on the business of motor engineers, contractors, carriers and garage proprietors.
The British Rubber Tyre Manufacturers Association, Ltd., as a company limited by guarantee, registered by Messrs. J. B. and F. Purchase, of 14, Regent Street, S.W., without share capital, with a membership of 50, each with a liability of £1 in the event of winding up, for the purpose of watching over, protecting and advancing the interests of rubber-tire manufacturers throughout the United Kingdom.
Dunlop Co. and War Savings.
A Dunlop War Savings Association is to be formed amongst the employees of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd. Model Scheme No. 5 has been adopted. We understand that the Dunlop Co. adopted an almostidentical scheme in the days when the War-loan vouchers for small amounts were issued by the post office. Cards were used, and the company sold Dunlop War-savings stamps to its employees : when the value of the voucherwas covered by the nominal value of the stamps, an exchange was effected for War-loan vouchers. This scheme raised only 2571 in. six months,
despite every effort, in those early days, to make it a success. Under the new scheme, now adopted, the Dunlop Co. means to do even more in order to give the movement a good send-off. A certain number of certificates per month will be given by the company to its War Savings Association, according to the number of members, and free certificates will be allocated by ballot. For every one 6d. which is deducted from the wages weekly, for the purpose of War Savings, a member will have one chance in the ballot for the free certificates, as well as his chance in the ballot for certificates which are purchased out of the subscriptions.
The new scheme, after it had been in force for a fortnight, showed a record of 2100 members, and that certificates had been purchased to the value of 22200. The Dunlop Co. is of opinion that, had the Government issued certificates bearing a lower rate of interest, in Conjunction with a number of free certificates with each £100 worth purchased, the free certificates to be allocated by ballot, there would have been greater support at less cost to the country. The Institution of Automobile Engineers.
The first meeting of the session of the Institution of Automobile Engineers will be held on Wednesday, the 11th October,inthe Hall of the Royal Society of Arts, John Street, .AdelPhi, 'WO., at 8 p.m., when the president, Mr. L, A, Legros, M.Inst.C.E., will deliver his presidential address. The address will contain, among other things, a valuable collection of data
in reference to torque curves of internal-combustion engines. It is hoped that it will be possible this session for the Institution to hold the full number of meetings. A curtailment was necessary last session.
Nota The 13acup fire-engine, illustrated on page 10 of our issue of 31st August, was supplied by Mr. Oswald Tillotson, of Guy Street, Gannow Top, Burnley.
The Armorduct Manufacturing Co., Ltd., of Bathurst Works, Witton, Birmingham, draws attention to an error in its advertisement in our issue of the 24th ult. Tnis should have read Si by 16 Gauge Seamless Steel Tube. Bessemer Lorries in Scotland.
We observe that John Ozoall and Sons, Ltd., of St. Vincent Oposs, Glasgow, and of Edinburrii, has taken up the agency for Bessemer lc rries.
Spencer-Moulton Tires in Ulster.
Spence and Johnstone, Ltd., of Linenhall Street, Belfast, have recently been extending their premises, and have, moreover, been appointed Ulster agents for Spencer-Moulton solid tires.
"Success."
This is the title of a book which we have received from Scottish Commercial Cars, Ltd., Duke St., Glasgow, concerning its Caledon
chassis. It is a collection of two dozen illustrations showing the various uses to which Caledon chassis have been put, and represents almost as many trades as pages.
Leyland Driver Summoned.
A driver in the employ of Leyland Motors (1914), Ltd.' was summoned, at the Manchester Police Court, on the 7th inst., on a charge of driving a motor wagon without having obtained a registered number. Mr. C. H. Spafford, on behalf of the defendant company, explained that these and other wagons were en route for London in course of trial before delivery, under the manufacturer's trade numbers, loaded with Manchester goods for the Government. It was part of the test that the vehicles should be fully loaded, and rather than carry useless ballast the company had been taking goods to London which were required by the Government.
The stipendary magistrate dismissed the summons.
Overseas Trade.
Under the Anglo-Portuguese Commercial Treaty Act, 1916, which comes into operation this month, the duty on various articles imported from the 'United Kingdom into Portugal is reduced. Commercial motors, formerly paying 120 escudos each, will now pay 80 escudos ; incomplete automobiles (chassis with motor), formerly paying 70 escudos each will pay 20; india-rubber and gutta-percha, in the form of protective covers and pneumatic tires for wheels of automobiles and other vehicles, formerly paying 60 cts. per kilog. will pay 5 cts. [Escudo (100 centavos) equals 3s., approximately; kilog. equals 2.2046 lb. avoirdupois.—En.]
The New Zealand Customs Department has issued an Order giving decisions relative to the classification of accessories for motor vehicles under the Customs Duties Act. They will be allowed to enter at the following rates :—Petrol gauges for motorcar tanks (a) B36
foreign, 20 per cent. ad val., (b) British, 10 per cent. ad val. ; rubber bumpers (a and b) free • shock absorbers (a) 20 per cent, ad val., (b) 10 per cent. ad.val. ; under-carriage springs, not including shock absorbers or similar appliances (a and b) free.
Actual Experience of Daimlers.
It is a truism that the best argument that a salesman can bring in support of his statements concerning the goods he wishes to sell is unsolicited testimony from a satisfied user.
The prospective buyer of a commercial vehicle, once he has a leaning towards any one particular make, immediately begins to make inquiries of users of similar machines. A useful purpose is, therefore, served by the latest pamphlet issued by the Daimler Co., Ltd., of Coventry, entitled "Actual Experiences." Within its 16 pages are comprised over a score of testimonutli to the services of Daimler business machines. They are carefully selected, and most users will be able to choose from one of the writers someone with whom he can get into touch, and whose experiences he can ascertain before coming to a decision concerning his own purchase. The pamphlet is neatly bound and well illustrated ; the trades dealt with are as diversified as the districts from which the letters have been received.
The Petrol Situation.
Prospects of more petrol continue to be good. There are, in fact, not a few well-informed people who consider that a percentage increase on the existing licences may even be within range of practical polities. For example. an all-round increase, upon the present monthly allocations to the extent of, say, 40 or 50 per cent., might easily be sanctioned by some form of proclamation. We fear that these reports are too good to be true, and we are ourselves basing both calculations and recommendations upon our original estimate, so far as commercial-motor users are concerned, that the 60 per cent. now in force will be increased to 85 per cent. before Christmas. If an increase of allocation is sanctioned sooner, so much the better.
The United Kingdom Commercial Travellers Association has been successful in its representations to the Petrol Control Committee. It has been announced that motorcars which are used by commercial travellers for business purposes are to be allowed 50 per cent. of their normal consumptions, with a maximum of 30 gallons per car monthly ; motorcycles which are similarly used by commercial travellers for business purl:irises, are to be allowed the same proportion of their requirements, with a maximum of 10 gallons per month per machine. Char-a-bancs Restrictions, The Llandudno Motor and Garage Co. Ltd., was summoned, at the local police court, on Monday last, the 11th inst. for using motor spirit in its char-a-bancs. The fuel was a petrol substitute which, under test; flashed at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The magistrates imposed a fine, but consented to state a case. The matter is to go before the C.M.U.A. The specific gravity may be the deciding point.
Kicking a Tire.
A correspondent has taken exception to a "One Hears" paragraph in our issue of the 24th ult. This read :—" That a kick on a solid tire gives some idea of its resiliency —or want of it—to the kicker." We certainly agree that no reflection on solid tires can have been in the mind of the writer of this para. graph. The resiliency of a solid tire is provided in relation to the im posed load in service, and not to the kick of a human foot. If solidrubber tires were made with such a degree of softness that an impression could be made on them by a kick, it is obvious that their wearing qualities under a heavy load could scarcely be satisfactory. We certainly do not suggest the exten. sion of a rough-and-ready pneu, matic-tire test to solids.
Obituary.
Many readers and supporters of this journal will have learned with regret of the recent death of Mr. William -911day, the managing director of -9.11days and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co., Ltd., of Birmingham. Mr. Allday has been associated with motoring from its earliest days. and the engineering resources of "his company, in their applications to the manufacture of commercial vehicles for loads between 5 cwt. and 5 tons, have been in no small measure successfully directed because of his old-standing confidence in the future of the utility branch. Mr. Allday was one of the first in the country to realize, the scope for theJighter types of -vans. The business was originally founded by his father, Mr. William Allday, and the amalgamation with Messrs. J. C. Onions and Co. took place in 1885. Mr. Edmund Allday, a brother of the deceased gentleman, has been similarly associated with the business for nearly as long as his brother.
We are sorry to hear that Mr. Thomas H. Clarkson, managing director of the National Steam Car Co., Ltd., has lost his eldest son, Mr. Norman Clarkson, who was flight-sergeant in the Royal Flying Corps. The commander of the squadron in which Mr. Clarkson's son served is of opinion that both the pilot and the observer were killed in the air by the explosion of a shell. Mr. Norman Clarkson was only 22 years of age. Much sympathy will certainly be felt.