WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth wild 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. .
Glasgow's Fleet of Electric Vehicles.
It will no doubt be remembered by many of our readers that some little time ago the Glasgow Corporation called for tenders for refuse-collecting vehicles affording a large carrying capacity, low loading-line, small turning circle and adequate sanitary protection for the contents.
Many tenders were received from maker of petrol, steam and electric vehicles, and Richard Garrett and SODS§ Ltd, Leiston, were fortunate enough to win' the order for the manufacture of a special fleet of vehicles to meet the requirements, this fleet numbering 36 vehicles, and the first of these, which is illustrated elsewhere in this issue, is now on trial in Glasgow.
The design enables a loading-line of 4 ft. 8 ins, to be obtained, without reducing to any considerable extent the diameter of the wheels. The driver's cab is placed well forward, the front_ axle being unusually far back, so that the vehicle has the large load-carrying capacity of 4-5 tons, or 14 yds., on a comparatively short wheelbase.
The battery is situated behind the cab and is built up of Tudor cells.
An interesting feature of the bodywork is the automatic covers, which are operated by a hand rail along the side of the body. So soon as pressure is applied to the cross-shaft, the covers open, and when released they return to the closed position by gravity ; thus the contents are only exposed during the actual period of emptying the bins into the vehicle.
Six-wheelers for the Yeomanry.
The 399th Oxfordshire Yeomanry Field Battery R.A. is carrying out a trial of Morris and Guy six-wheeled vehicles with a view to testing their suitability for field artillery services over various types of country. The demonstration will be held at Beckley Common, five miles from Oxford, on Sunday, March 20th, commencing at 10.30 a.m. As it is considered that this demonstration may be 'of interest to commercialvehicle users, the battery commander will be pleased if anybody who cares to do so will witness the trial.
More A.D.C: Buses for the Argentine.
The Associated Daimler Co., Ltd., has just received a repeat order for a further 70 A.D.O. Model 409 35 h.p. bus chassis from the Anglo-Argentine Tramways Co., Ltd. It is stated that the buses are for use in Avellaneda, a growing suburb of Buenos Aires. The chassis are to be fitted with single-deck bodies constructed in the Argentine, and will be similar in style to those used on the fleet of vehicles which the company already runs on the streets of Buenos Aires.
An Advocated Type of Bus for London.
In our issue for February 22nd we dealt with the methods employed in overhauling the fleet of 41 Admiral buses which are run in the north and west of Loudon by A, T. Bennett and Co., Ltd. In the course of our interview with Mr. Bennett, we clearly understood that he was of the opinion that the type of bus which would prove able to carry more passengers for a given number of buses over a given route than. a bus of larger capacity was a single
deck bus holding 26 passengers. It occurred to us at the time that the figure was extremely small, but we did not query this expression of opinion. We now understand from Mr. Bennett that the number should have been 36, which, of course, is a much more reasonable figure.
New President of Inst.A.E.
At the recent animal meeting preceding the general meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, it was announced that Major E. G. Beaumont had been elected president of the Institution for the session 1927-28. and Mr. A. J. Hancock and Prof. W. Morgan vice-presidents.
M.A.B. Buying Ambulance Chassis.
The ambulance committee of the Metropolitan Asylums Board recommends acceptance of the tender of W. and G. du Oros, Ltd., of Acton, for' the supply of 13 special low-loading chassis for ambulances at £695 each. The bodies are to be made at the board's works at an estimated cost of £3,275.
A Russian Tractor Exhibition and It is reported from Moscow that the Soviet Government has decided to organize a competitive trial of tractors, motor ploughs, etc., near Rostov, North Caucasia, from June 15th to October 15th next. While the trial is on it is proposed to hold a motor-culture congress and an exhibition of agricultural appliances.
Scottish Motor Traction Report.
The report of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., for the year ended October 31st last has recently been issued, and it shows a credit balance of 151,069, after including the balance carried forward. The directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 10 per cent. (free of tax) on £250,000 for the year, and after this disbursement has been made £26,069 will remain. The actual net surplus on the year's trading was £34,185.
Arrangements for the Royal
Meetings of various committees of the Royal Agrichltural Society of England have been held at Newport (Mon.), and parking places and routes of approach for traffic to the Show in July next have been considered and practi-, cally decided oh. Interesting reports are current in South Wales anent the Royal Show. It has been the custom of H.M. the King to visit the Show every other year, and thus his presence at the Newport Show • had not been anticipated. It is, however, strongly represented in South Wales that, owing to both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York being abroad at the time the Show is to be held, a departure from custom will be made by His Majesty, who will visit the Show for the second year in succession.
A Studebaker Appointment.
Mr. F. Milne Harding, who was recently works superintendent of the Citron factory at Slough, has been appointed works manager for Studebaker (England), Ltd. Mr. Harding's experience in the motor industry has been extensive, and includes works managership of the Cale° Hood Co. and of G.W.K. (1919), Ltd. Is 1910 he designed and produced the Cosmos three cylinder air-cooled radial car. Previously he served in the Air Ministry as superintendent of the drawing office. He had three years' service with the R.P.C. and R.A.F., from which he re tired with the rank of captain.
Priory of Wales Ambulances.
H.R.U. the Prince of Wales sent greetings to the annual meeting of the Priory of Wales (Order of St. John) which was held recently, and congratulated the Priory on its work during last year. His Royal Highness especially commented upon the good work of the motor-ambulance service and congratulated the Priory on maintaining a full service throughout the period of the coal strike, despite the fact that subscriptions from the miners, which constitute a large proportion of the income on which the service depends, were not forthcoming.
The annual report shows that during the past year the motor ambulances carried 3,279 cases and covered au aggregate mileage of 63,631.
A Service Manager Free.
We know of a man who is now employed by a well-known commercialmotor-manufacturing concern who does not wish to move his home to follow the concern in its removal to larger Premises on the other side of London. He has had considerable experience in the drawing office and in service inspection and management, and for two years he has filled an important position which aims at giving good service to customers. He wishes to obtain a post in London as a service manager. His age is 26, and he is well recommended by his present employers. We shall he pleased to put inquirers into touch with him. Letters should be addressed " S.H„" care of the Editor.
A French Producer-gas Test.
Under the supervision of the technical department of the French Automobile Club a test of a Dewald 5-ton lorry fitted with an Autogaz gas-producer plant has lately been carried out. The report, which has just been issued, shows that the vehicle was loaded with 5 tons of pig-iron and its total weight in running order was 9 tons 7 ewt. 1 qr. The gas-producer was started from cold and was ready to run the engine within five minutes, after which the lorry was driven over a course measuring 731 miles, during which many steep hills and
descents were encountered. The report states that the vehicle ran very regularly, the net running time being 7i hours, equal to an average of 9.4 m.p.h. The fuel consumption for the 731 miles amounted to 5.91 pints of petrol and 190 lb. of charcoal, equal to 0.077 kilog. per ton-kilometre, or 0.271 lb. per tonmile.
A Bus Inquiry at Newport.
The refusal of the Newport (Mon.) Town Council to grant licences to Mr. Charles Huckson, Penhow. for bus services which he proposes to run between Newport and Chepstow was the subject of an inquiry by a representative of the Ministry of Transport at Newport last week.
The basis of the council's refusal was that the existing two services between Newport and Chepstow were adequate to meet the public demand and that nn-. necessary road wear and competition would result if an additional service was sanctioned.
For Mr. Huckson it was urged that
an additional service was much needed, particularly by the intermediate agricultural communities and by the residents of villages situated laterally to the Newport-Chepstow main road. The matter will be decided by the Ministry on the evidence tendered at he inquiry and its decision will be made known later.
New Irish Trunk Roads.
During the latter part of last year the Irish Free State Government approved a grant of /2,000,000 for road work, and the latest call on this is for a trunk road between Wexford and Enniscorthy, a distance of nearly 12 miles, at an approximate cost of 140,000.
It is realized that the development of the Free State necessitates the linking up of chief towns by permanent roads, but if standard-width roads of permanent materials are adopted only a limited number can be laid with the money available. The Wexford road is to be a concrete strip only 12 ft. wide, with haunches of a cheaper and less permanent material, to be used only by vehicles when passing.
Runbaken Electrical Accessories.
The Runbaken Magneto Co., Tipping Street, Ardwiek, Manchester, has recently issued a list of its electrical test apparatus and tools. Many of the large transport concerns now possess their own electrical repairs department, and the company feels that the apparatus which is referred to in the list will be found exceedingly useful in many of these shops. A copy of the list can be obtained by applying to the company.
Inst. A.E. Council Members.
At the recent annual meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, it was announced that the following had been elected to fill the vacancies on the
council of the Institution Herbert Austin, Dr. F. W. Latachester, Col. R. E. Crompton, Et.-Col. T. B. Browne, Lt.-Col. D. J. Smith, Major C. G. Neyatt, Messrs. F. A. S. Acres, A. E. Berritnan, H. G. Burford, G. A. Burls, W. Chater-Lea, N. Endacott, A. H. R. Fedden, B. H. Gregory, W. H. Hingston, A. G. Ionides, L. A. Legros, R. W. Maudsley, H. P. L. Orcutt, L. H. Pomeroy, W. S. Tennant, It. M. Tilling, W. A. Tookey and G. W. Watson.
A Traffic Pool ?
A London traffic pool is suggested in a report of the general purposes committee of the London County Council, which states that in view of important questions which are arising in connection with the London traffic problem, it is of opinion that it would be advantageous to set up a special committee to consider and advise the council on the broader aspects of the problem. One very important matter which has recently been raised by the Londan and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee is that of the establishment of a common fund and common management for London local passenger transport undertakings.
A Shilling Minimum Bus Fare.
At a meeting of the Oldham Watch Committee the chief constable submitted an application from Messrs. John Hirst and Co., Commercial Garage, Itippenden, to ply for hire with a motor omnibus in Manchester Road, Manchester Street, Crossbank Street and Union Street, as part of a service between Halifax and Manchester, being an extension of the present service between Halifax and Oldham, which now terminates in Prince Street and Rhodes Bank. The application was granted on Mr. Hirst undertaking to charge not less than le. in respect of any passenger picked up and set down in the borough on the same journey. Mr. Hirst appeared before the committee and gave the undertaking asked for.
Bus Owners Visit Tyre Works.
A considerable percentage of the members of the South Wales Motor Omnibus Proprietors' Association, drawn from Glamorgan, Monmouthshire and the West Wales counties, visited the works of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., at Ford Dunlop, a few days ago. Included in the party were Mr. W. Gough, Mountain Ash, the new chairman ; Mr. G. Down, Brynmawr, vicechairman ; Mr. T. White, Cardiff, expresident, and now a member of the executive ; and Mr. J. H. Watts, Lydney, who is also a member of the executive of the association. The party was accompanied by Mr. R. Fitzgerald, the Dunlop Rubber Co.'s manager at Cardiff. The visitors were entertained to lunch by the company and were escorted over the works.
The South Wales organization has a membership made up of some 40 of the leading bus proprietors, who control in the aggregate nearly 500 buses. Ultimately, when formalities have been complied w:th, the organization will be known as the Omnibus Proprietors' Federation, Ltd.
Co-operative Society to Develop Coach Traffic.
The Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society intends to develop its motor coach services during 1927. The vehicles will be garaged in the Common
wealth Buildings, as the: society's latest purchase—the Royal Dockyard, at Woolwich—has been renamed, and, in addition to the two new saloon coaches which were in service during part of last season, nine new vehicles are on order.. All the old coaches have been disposed of on satisfactory terms, the committee "having arrived at the conclusiou that for a passenger-carrying service nothing but reliable stock should
be employed." .
Altogether, the society has expended £50,009 on its motor vehicles used in trade and for carrying passengers, the present nominal value being £8,289. Its receipts for the hire of chars-a-bancs for the past six months were £6,507, the expenses being £2,295.
Money-saving Rail Coaches.
It is stated that, as a result of the successful experiments which have been made recently with Sentinel steam coaches over certain branch lines in the north of England, the London and North-Eastern Railway Co. is contemplating the introduction of further
vehicles of this type. These coaches provide adequate services at a cost which sho.ws a considerable reduction as compared with ordinary steam trains. The company hopes that by employing such vehicles over branch lines, where traffic is not particularly dense, that it will be able to reduce fares. In the Newcastle district Sentinel rail coaches are already giving good service and gratifying results over the Ponteland section.
Char-a-bancs Garaging at Eastbourne.
At a meeting of the Eastbourne Watch Committee a letter was submitted from Mansfield, Ltd., stating that, in the event of its taking over Messrs. Chapman and Sons' vacant garage and workshops in Pevensey Road, it is prepared to offer the corporation full facilities for the garage of chars-a-banes and cars in accordance with the space available and to make a charge not exceeding 2s. 6d. per day for each vehicle garaged. It will be necessary to leave sufficient space for easy access to the company's workshops for the purpose of its ordinary business, but it will require no payment from the corporation for the facilities referred to, all fees received being payable to it. The offer was accepted and the chief constable has been authorized to make the necessary arrangements. Such a plan should
More Buses in Darlington.
The continued growth of motorbus traffic in the Darlingten district is demonstrated by figures given in the annual report of the local hackney carriage inspector. In this he states that in December last there were 264 omnibuses licensed as compared with 207 in December, 1925, an increase of 57 in the 12 months.
Report on French Trade.
• A short report regarding French foreign trade in motor vehicles has been prepared by the Department of Overseas Trade from information furnished by the Commercial Counsellor at Paris (Mr. J. R. Cahill). United Kingdom firms desirous of receiving a copy of this report should write to the Department at 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1.
A Foamite Fire-engine for Bermuda.
Foamite Pirefoam, Ltd., of 24-26, Maddox Street, London, W., has recently supplied a Foamite motor fire-engine to the municipal authorities of Hamilton, Bermuda.
Efficiency Certificates for Hackney Carriages.
In his 1926 report the chief constable of York states that the scheme for in specting the mechanism of hackney carriages (which includes taxis, chars-abanes and omnibuses), brought into force in 1925, has proved very successful. The arrangement was a timely one, as during the last 12 months a large number of omnibuses, which convey passengers to and from other towns and country districts, has been licensed to ply for hire in York, where they take up and set down passengers.
The responsibility for the safety and fitness of these vehicles is now amply discharged by the appointment of a competent and independent engineer to examine every vehicle before it can be licensed. A certificate of the examination of each vehicle is given by the engineer.
York's Fire Brigade.
A report of the York Corporation mentions that the principal equipment of the brigade is as follows :—Three motor engines, two of which can deliver 600 gallops per minute and one 450 gallons per minute. There is also one steam engine, which delivers 500 gallons per minute. The Morris engine carries a 65-ft. telescopic fire-escape, whilst one Dennis engine is fitted with a 35-ft. extension ladder and the other Dennis engine (used for country work).
with a 45-ft. extension ladder. pier ladders ladders and scaling ladders are also carried on two of the motors.
The Newcastle to Leeds Bus Project.
Further details are now available of the proposed inauguration of the first long-distance motorbus service in the north—between Newcastle and Leeds. Six local owners are interested in the project, and the new company, the Leeds-Newcastle Omnibus Co., proposes to make a start with a fleet of a dozen luxuriously equipped saloon buses. The route will be over 100 miles long, and the buses will make calls at Darlington and Ripon.
The promoters of the scheme have experienced set-backs from two of the largest licensing authorities along the ro-ute, namely, Gateshead and Darlington. When application was made to the Gateshead Corporation for licences, the company was met with a refusal, and, in addition, the authority declined to give permission for the establishment of a bus station as a terminal point, in the event of the Newcastle Corporation declining to give the necessary sanction for the erection of the building in that city. When the company's application came before the Darlington authority, railroad members of the council vigorously opposed the proposal, with the result that it was sent back to the licensing committee for further consideration.
Pumps for Pneumatic Tyre Users.
Now that pneumatic tyres are being used on so many types of business vehicle it is essential that suitable tyreinflator apparatus should be available, in order that the pressures can be main
tained at the proper level. For this reason we feel that many users will be interested in the latest types of garage pump which have been placed on the market by Reavell and Co., Ltd., Randlagh Works, Ipswich. The company has made a hand-driven set for many years, but the electrically driven pump is a comparatively new product. It is fitted with an efficient air cooler and oil separator, and is unique in that it
delivers cold, dry air to the tyre. Both the garage and hand-driven pumps are briefly described in the leaflet which the company has recently issued, and which can be obtained by applying at the above address.
Irish Free State Imports.
During January last, 15 commercial vehicles, valued at £3,427, were imported into the Irish Free State, as contrasted with seven (£1,323) in the opening month of 1926.
Eyesight Tests for Drivers.
All applicants for a licence to drive a motor vehicle in the State of New Jersey have now to pass a special eyesight test. Included in the examination are tests to ensure that the applicant's distant sight reaches a certain standard, as well as a test for colour vision. This new regulation has been brought into force because of the alarming percentage of motor accidents and the potential danger of allowing people with defective sight to have control of highpowered vehicles.
A Croydon Tram Route Abandoned.
One day last week the Croydon Borough Council confirmed its decision to abandon the Addiscombe section of its tramways as from March 31st. The council has resolved to accept the offer of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., of a service of 'buses between High Street and Woodside Railway Station.
Lorries Aid Australian Sheepraisers.
From Australia comes the news that during the recent period of drought in the Commonwealth many sheep-raisers used fleets of motor lorries with specially prepared bodies to move the sheep from the drought-affected areas to green pastures. It is stated that 10,000 sheep were moved in this way for distances up to 220 miles. Furniture Removals by Motorcycle Trailer. .
Furniture removals by motorcycle is one of the latest ventures of an enterprising Liverpool tradesman, Mr. John Ridland, of 59, Smithdown Road, Liverpool, who, having acquired a 4.99 h.p. Rud,ge-Whitworth motorcycle and sidecar, uses it in conjunction with a very commodious trailer running on two wheels. At the present time this is the only turnout,of its kind in Liverpool. This outfit is kept busily employed on furniture collections and deliveries within a few miles of Mr. Ridland's business address, and, having regard to the fragile nature of loads, it has given
extremely satisfactory service. Delicate furniture and crockery are transported almost daily as a matter of course, and the trailer load shown in
our illustrations gives a good idea of the class of work undertaken. The trailer is 7 ft. 3 ins. long, 5 ft. 3 ins, wide and has sides 23 ins. deep.
• On a recent contract, which involved two journeys each of two miles (outward), the following goods were loaded at a private house and delivered at the other address in just a little over an hour, including loading and unloading : two easy chairs, seven kitchen chairs, two kitchen armchairs, three wicker chairs, two bedroom chairs, stool, table, coal box, kitchen table, two chests of drawers, meat safe, wool mattress, two bedsteads and paillasse, 12 pictures, oilcloth for three floors, fender and irons and crockery.
The chief attractiveness of this turnout, of course, lies in its low operating costs and the low tax, the latter being only £4 per annum, the same as for a motorcycle and sidecar. Mr. Ridland informs us that when hauling a full load the outE : will do 30-35 miles on a gallon of petrol.
Report on the Montreal Show.
A short report on the Montreal Motor Show, which was held from January 22nd to 29th, has been prepared by the Department of Overseas Trade from information furnished by His Majesty's Senior Trade Commissioner in Canada (Mr. P. W. Field). -United Kingdom firms desirous of receiving a copy of this report, together with particulars of the special register service of information and form of application for registration, should communicate with the Department of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queea Street, London, S.W.1.