WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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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 nots."—John Beattie Crozier.
Transport Combine.
On Friday last the subscription Het feu Allied Road Transports, Ltd., was closed, the offer to the publin being for 50,000 7i per cent. CIIMUlative preference shares of £1 each and 25,000 ordinary shares, also of LI, each at par, out of a capital of 100,000 preference shares and 150,000 ordinary shares.
The company has been formed to ac, quire all or any of the shares of the Birmingham and Midland Counties Transport Co., Ltd., the London and Midland Transport. Co., Ltd., and the Liverpool Road Traction Co., Ltd. The first-named concern was established eight years ago by Messrs. Rails, The turnover for the last four years disclosed in the balance sheet hair been steadily increasing, and the profits for the last 12 months ended September 30 last. amounted to £6,351. The other two 'companies were formed during, the autumn, and the directors are confident that, by this amalgamation of interests, profitable working suffieient to pay the preference dividend more than six times over can be foreshadowed.
Hints to Hauliers.
With the first issue in the New Year, a new feature of The Commercial Motor will be specifically addressed to men who have recently entered the haulage and carrying business. It. will be entitled " Hints to Hauliers," and will be an occasional chat on. subjects and problems of interest to those who are already engaged, or about to become engaged, in running commercial motors for a living. It may be remembered that a series of articles appeared in The Commercial Motor in the summer, dealing with a few phases of this subject, chiefly matters concerning running costs, standing charges, and working expenses, with various hints on special kinds of haulage work, dealing also with omnibus, char-A.banes and hackney-carriage work. We have evidence to show us that these articles have been of considerable value, and a large amounfi of eurrespendonce lies resulted. This correspondence we shall be glad to encourage, and in the columns addressed to hauliers, which we shallecommence in our issue of January 6th,-1920, we propose to deal with any problem or trouble experienced by hauliers which they choose to put to us for the general guidance of all.
Opening a Great Air Route.
With much less excitement on the part of the public than was observable during the attempts to fly the Atlantic, the air route between this country and Australia has been opened by Capt. Ross Smith, his brother, Lieut. Henderson Smith, and their two ineelanies, flying a Rolls-Royce-engined Vickers-Timy
Thus, this make of machine has scored its double triumph and bids fair by the accomplishment of the next two stages from eastern Asia to America and across to Halifax to be the first aircraft to encircle the globe. The Australian air route effera real practical possibilities for early commercial development—in which face, probably, it excels the trans
018 AtIantic route, and there now seems no reason for much delay in its exploitation. A saving of three or four weeks on the passage between the home country and the antipodes represents an extremely valuable advance in transport facilities, particularly for mails and for passengers who have business or private needs for such expedition. All hen eur to the British makers of the plane and its power plant and eo our Australian cousins for their pluck and enterprise and the encouragement which the Australian Government gave to their aviators.
Palmer Profits.
The directors' report of Palmer Tyre, Ltd., for the year ended September 30th last shows a net profit of £14,089, enabling the directors to recommend a dividend of 12i per cent, per annum, absorbing 27,500; to place .£7,000 to reserve ; and to carry forward, subject to the payment of directors' fees, a sum of £830, £1,240 having been brought forward as a balance from the previous year.
One Tractor Trial Only Wanted.
In the first editorial article in this week's issue we deal generally with the question of the competition m 1920 of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders tractor trial and the one which will be conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society of England. The Agricultural Machinery Committee of the S.M.M. and T. is of the opinion that one public trial per annum is sufficient, and we think that this will•turn oat to be the general opinion throughout the trade.
The Show Assistant Manager.
The Management Committee of the S.M.M. and T. has appointed Mr. H. W. Hutchinson to be assistant exhibition manager to Mr. Phillips. Mr. Hutchinson was for some time manager of the Register and Information department of the Society. In 1916 he obtained a commission in the Royal Flying Corps, later going out to France with the rank of captain in the R.A.F. The position in the Register and Information department will be taken by another member of the staff whose connection with the department dates back about 10 years.
The proposal to organize, next year, a Roads and Transport Exhibition similar to the one which has recently taken place at the Royal Agricultural Hall, London, is not generally approved by the S.M.M. and T., as it is felt that the control of all motor exhibitions should come under the Society.
The removal of the stopping points for public service vehicles ft-can positions closely adjacent to road junctions in London causes a certain amount of inconvenience to those individuals who do not desire to be carried so far or who wish to transfer l") a service going in a different direction, but. it certainly relieves congestion. We urged epee the Commissioner of Police that the reform can be overdone.
Londons Passenger Traffic.
Sir Albert H. Stanley, representing the Underground combine which controls such a large proportion of the traffic facilities of the Metropolis, emplained last Thursday to a number of guests the difficulties under which passenger transport, is being conducted and the intentions of the combine to put forward every effort and to take advantage of every opportunity to effect improvements. As. evidence of this, the combine is committed to an expenditure of no lees than .£6,000,000 sterling Sir improvements alone, quite apart from muchneeded extenatons. As a result of the development of the various traffic facilities, London is becoming, if it has not already -become, the largest and heaviest riding city in the world. No fewer than 4,000,000 passengers a day arse carried by the combine, representing 1,300,000,000 a year, which is 000,000,000 a year more than in 191.4. The combiee now employs 2,578 buses, 894 tramcars, and 1,360 railway' carriages, whilst in the conduct of the great organization there are 35,000 employees, all of them, it is claimed, well paid.
So great is the amount of LISC, which the London. public make of travel facilities that., whatever is done, in Sir Albert Stanley's opinion, it will be impossible always to provide seats for everybody—the straphanger, in fact, has come to qay. Yet, curiously enough, with all this rush of custom, the profit has been small, and at the present time is non-existent. Although it. was not so stated, this would seem to suggest that the need has now arisen for a, general increase of fares.
A great deal ia being done at the L.G.O.Co.'s coaelibuilding works in order to place on the streets every possible road vehicle. At the North Road coach works, lorry bodies by the hundred ea-e going through the process of reconstruction, overhauling, and redecoration, and the works are engaged on the first part of an order for 500 bus bodies of the K-type. The London bus, from the introduction of the B-type, has always been a model for rood-passenger vehicles, and the K-type probably sets the standard in lightnees of construction with abundance of accommodation which can scarcely be excelled for a long time to come. The sooner the moulders' strike is settled the better, as, until it is, it will be impossible to get on with the production of chassis to carry the bodies.
It is not going too far to say that a considerable amount of credit and praise are due to those in command at Electric Railway House for what they are doing to improve the lot of the man who is compelled to travel daily to and from his work.
Sir Oliver Lodge said in his lecture to the Royal Society of Arts last week that, all that the human race can do in the material world is to move matter, and that all our physical activities can be suanmed up as the movement of matter. Well, motor transport is doing a very fair share.
Disposal of War Lorries.
Brigadier-General Croft asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions, in the House of Commons one day last week, whether motor lorries and other stores are being withheld from sale in spite of the fact that oilers of purchase havebeen made approximating to the market value; and whether, owing to •unbusin,esslike methods, customers are frequently compelled to purchase similar supplies from private firms who may have previously bought these from the Disposal Board.
Mr. Kellaway, in. reply, stated that no motor lorries or other stores which are available for disposal are being withheld from sale, neither is any offer refused which approximates to the market -value of such stores. Supplies purchased from the Disposal Board are frequently placed upon the market. It is not desirable or practicable to the Disposal Board themselves to sell stores by retail. He also said that sales are being held now as rapidly as the market is capable or absorbing supplies. The total value' of surplus stores disposed of within the last six months, so far as the figures have come to hand, is approximately 237,000,000.
Trolleybus versus Petrol Bus.
A Rotherham Corporation report gives the following working 'coats for a petrol bus and a trolleybus for the month of October :—
• Allen-Liversidge Report.
The report of Allen-Liversidge, Ltd., for the year ended October 31st, 1919, shows that a profit. of £12,507 has been suede, which, with the amount brought . forward, totals £12,521. An interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, disposes of £2,540, and after the deduction of this item and that for excess profit duty and expenses and commission on a• further issue of shares, a balance of 27,355 remains to be disposed of. A final dividend at the rate of 12 per cent. per annum, less income tax, making 11 per cent. for the year on the old shares, and at the rate of 11 per cent. per annum on shares issued since October 31st, 1918, less interim dividend, is to be paid. This will absorb £4,421, leaving a stun of 2766 to be carried forward.
The Flex-edge Seat Cushion.
The General Seating Co., Ltd., 162, Grosvenor. Road, S.W. 1, are the manufacturers of a very strong, simple form of framing for seat cushions, which should offer great attraction to the drivers and passengers of commercial vehicles and chars-bsbancs.
Briefly, non-rusting springs are held between wooden frames of a construction giving great strength, with lightness and flexibility, which, it is claimed, cannot possibly distort. After covering with a special canvas, the cushion is stuffed and covered with the company's special new Indian brand leather substitute, which is impervious to wet, cannot crack or split, and is equal in appearance to leather. For passenger vehicles there can be only one opinion as to the value of the General Seating Co.'s productions. Large cashes have been placed by the British Electrical Federation amongst other firms controlling large numbers of passenger vehicles.
Wolverhampton Buses.
The half-yearly figures in connection with the Wolverhampton Corporation moterbua siervice, wie[h those for the same period last year in brackets, are Mileage, 89,925 (60,551),; ■passeSngers, 827,878 (566,539); receipts, £6,716 (£4,657); and per car mile 17.924d.
(I8.457d.).
Personal Pars.
We reproduce on this page a photograph of Captain N. E. Steeley, late of J. Lucas, Ltd., of Birmingham, who has been recently demobilized after five years of active service. He has now been appointed to the car sales department of that well-known Birmingham motor agent P. J. Evans. Captain .Steeley has had considerable experience in several branches of the motor trade. Before he served withlLucas' Ltd., he was. for some time connected with the
Austin Motor Car Co., Ltd.
An indication of the extreme thoroughness with -which Harper Bean, Ltd., are tackling their entry into car i manufacture s the engagement by them of Mr. T. Conroy, formerly superintendent of equipment and tools with the Willys-Overland C. Mr. Conroy, whose photograph we reproduce, wee born at Pittsburg and has devoted the whole of his career to engineering.After taking his preparatory course at the Mercesburg (Penn.) Academy, he passed to Neti,e Dame University for his primary engineering course, his final course being taken at the Cornell University. Mr. Conroy is a graduate engineer, holding the degrees of A.B. (the equivalent of B.A. in this country) and M.E. (mechanical engineer). He has held with the Willye-Overland Co. the progressive positions of superintendent, works manager and general superintendent.. During the war he was in charge of production in connection with all war contracts undertaken by the Willys-Overlarsd Ca. At the close of the ware M. Conroy iissumed his, former position as superintendent of equipment and tools, which position he resigned on September 1st in order to join Harper Bean, Ltd., whose new and extensive plant is almost identical with that which Mr. Conroy has been controlling in the United States.
Diverting Motor Traffic.
Ashton D.C. is seeking the co-operation of other authorities with a view to a scheme for diverting motor traffic between Liverpool and the manufacturing towns of south-east Lancashire through the less populated districts, and also to make new roads and render existing ones suitable for heavy traffic.
Midland Bus Schemes.
Wolverhampton Corporation asked its tramway manager and the general manager of the Birmingham Corporation Trainevays to report on the question of additional transport facilities, and as a consequence several new bus routes are suggested. As the Corporation has now only limited powers in regard to -hoses it proposes to ask Parliament for wider powers.
A Huge Petrol Depot.
Bristol Corporation Docks Committee has been in negotiation with the British Mexican Petroleum Co., Ltd., for the lease to them cif land at the Avonmouth Docks for the purpose of erecting a depot for the import af petroleum and liquid fuel, and has now agreed to lease to the company a plot of land on the Royal Edward Dock between the Oil Basin and the River Severn, about five acres in extent. The term of the lease is 30 years, and the rental £605 per annurn.
Manchester Developments.
In our issue of November 18th we in dieated a big development imminent in conneotion with motor transport in Manchester. This is . concerned with Etehells, Ltd., a combination of an old carrying concern at Greenheys and Messrs. Bridgens, Stedman and Garfield, the three partners Of the latter being the joint managing directors of the new concern. Mr. J. A. Stedman is also associated with the Dalton Motor Co.
Four Foden steamers, four Karriers, three Baileys and a Scout lorry are already beirt used and contracts for ten petrol lorries with interchangeable bodies are being placed. A garage for 100 commercial vehicles is being esta
blished, the Charges for which will be 3s. 6d. per night or 10s. per week, and so rapid is the development of motor trans"port in the city that all the available space will be quickly let.
Plymouth's Co-operative Passenger Vehicles.
During the past six months 350 trips have been made by the motor chars-abancs of the Plymouth Co-operative Society, which have carried 10,168 passengers. The average number of pasxngers carried was 28.5 per vehicle, and the
i total amount taken n fares was £3,804. After allowing fully for depreciation, there was a profit of £2,000. The total mileage run by the vehicles was 40,000. No Sunday trips were run.
• Thornycroft Report.
The report of J. I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., for the year ended July 31st, 1919, shows a profit, after deducting estimated liability for munitions levy, excess-profits duty and income-tax, of £108,775. After deducting directors' fees and adding 249,903, the amount brought forward from the previous account, a balance of £154,078 remains. After deducting debenture interest amounting to £13,500 and interim dividend paid on the preference and ordinary shares, an available balance of £119,638 is left. A final dividend of 3 per cent. on the preference shares, making 6 per cent, for the year, and 7 per oent. on the ordinary shares, making 14 per cent. for the year, is to he paid; this will absorb £28,440. After transferring £34,250 to reserve account and making a contribution of £5,000 to the benevolent fund a balance of £51,948 is to be carried forward.
• Star Service in Manchester.
A Star service of overhauling and keeping lorries sold to clients in good running order is being maintained by Jack °Ashcroft., Ltd., of 37, John Dalton Street, Manchester. This is organized in conjunction with the company's works at Littleborough. Business firms are appreciating the monthly reports they give on the running of their commercial vehicles; and many a heedless driver is thus brought to recognize his duty of running his lorry carefully and economically.
"Correct Lubrication."
"Correct Lubrication," a 60-page booklet issued by the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., is considerably more than a mere statement, of the excellence of -Gargoyle Mobilo*, It is a real help, to motor vehicle users, explaining in clear Iangu.age the imperativeness of scientific lubrication and emphasizing the reward of this practice—economy of repairs, of depreciation, and of fuel and oil. Engine and chassis troubles are delineated and t'qeir remedies stated, and a lengthy chart, embracing most types of motors, passenger and commercial, British and Imported, shows the exact grade of lqobiloil to be used on each. Anyone v;bo read* this booklet will gain an extension of knowledge that cannot fail to wive profitable
Ipswich Municipal Garage.
The annual report of 1918-19 of the Ipswich Corporation recalls that the Electricity Department has a municipal garage of electric vehicles. The revenue for the year shows an increase of £537, or 173 per cent.. It does not, include the electricity sold for charging vehicles-" this cornea under "power" in the statement of electrical energy sold, the quarttity being 58,065 units, which netted an amount of £380.
At the present time the corporation is regularly housing 13 cars with, at times, random vehicles in addition, but the accommodation is very inadequate. The space used as i garage is part of the wood-working and coachbuilding shop, temporarily expropriated for the purpose. With the urgent need for rebuilding many of the tramcars, it will be necessary, in the near future, if that work is to be tackled in the way it ought to be, to adopt some oiler means of housing the electric vehicles as the space will be required for this work.
The Tarring of Roads.
A sub-committee appointed by the joint committee of the Road Board (now Ministry of Transport., Roads Departmem) and the Board of Agriculture and
Fisheries has during the past six months conducted research work with a view to obviating damage tothe fisheries through the tarring of roads.
The experimental work of the subcommittee includes the production of a road tar which could be recommended for use in the neighbourhood of fishing treama. The South Metropolitan. Gas Co. have produced a synthetic tar which is row under examination, in comparison with a standard Road Board. tar.
A site has been secured in Hampshire, where, on land adjacent to a stream, a series of fish ponds will be excavated, prepared and stocked with trout, Special attention will be given to the drainage of the road before it istarred, and its -influence, if any,, on stream life. A definite stretch of this road will be surfaced with tar, and the drainage therefrom will be passing through the circuit of ponds containing -fish.
Upkeep of Disposal Board
KelLaway, answering Brigadier-General Croft in the House of Commons one day .last week, said that tlie total number of persons employed under the Disposal Board at home and abroad is now 1,992, including the lorry establishmeat iii France of 479 persons; whose -services a-re loaned to the Ministry by the War Office in connection with the work of disposals. The annual cost for salaries to this staff is approximately 4557.000, Lorries for Ex-service Men.
Captain Brown, in the House of Commons one day last week, asked the Parliamentary Secretary to, the Ministry of Munitions, if his attention had been drawn to the Lot that-the War Motors Association, through whom the Disposal Board sell motor lorries, cars and cycles to ex-service men, sell these vehicles in infinitesimal numbers only and that there 18 dissatisfaction throughout the countryat their 'failure to supply the demand and if he would take 'stepsto render sales through this association more efficient.
Mr. Kellaway, in reply, said that the Disposal Board do not sell motor vehicles through the War Motors Association. The association purchases vehicles. from the Disposal Board for resale to ex-service men: So far as supplies are available the Board is willing _to make similar arrangements with any other approved organization acting in the interests of ex-service men, No Virtue in a Central Garage.
Sheffield Corporation does not think a
central motor garage is of value. It askA its Tramways and Motor •Committee to consider the auestion of establishing and maintaining a central garage from which motor vehicles required from time to time for the official use of the various committees and departments could be supplied. The .committee now reports' that it has made inquiries as to the requirements of the several Corporation departments, and also made inquiries from -a number -of the towns where the experiment has been tried, and, after taking the whole of the circumstances into consideration, it is un able to recommend the Corporation to establish a central motor garage,' as it is convinced that no saving would be effected thereby.
Sheffield and Rotherham Amalgamated Transport Services.
Reporting upon the benefits derivable from the proposed inialgarnation of Sheffield and Rotherham, the town clerk, of Sheffield says the tram and bus ser-''' vices in Rotherham will be placed under Sheffield management, and the condition as to fares, services, and general administration will he the same as in Sheffield. It is believed that this course will ensure a cheapening of fares in Rotherham.
R.A.S.E. 1920 Tractor Trials.
The Royal Agricultural Society has decided to hold its tractor trials during the first week of October, 1920. The part of the country decided urTori for a -site is the Midland Counties. The reason for the choice failing upon the Midlands is because of the importance-of the place of the trials being accessible. The comniittee would like the site to consist of light, and heavy and, if possible, hilly land, ils well as some level land for comparative tests.
The latest date for the receipt of entries is March 20th.
Transport of Meat.
Leeds Corporation Health Committee has expressed the opinion that it is desirable that a general regulation on the subject should be adoptedthroughout the country, in order to secure uniformity, and to obviate so far as possible the present risk of meat becoming contaminalted through exposure to or contact with injurious elements, that the Ministry of Health be requested to give early consideration tothe matter with a view of the transit conditions of meat intended for human food_ being adequately safeguarded and that the Ministry of Food be also communicated with on the subject..
A School for Leyland Employees.
The Leyland Motor CO. is arratiging with the Lancashire Education Committee for the establishment of a day continuation school for its employees. Permanent premises cannot be obtained, and meanwhile the company has secured a capacious Army hut, which will be maintained withont cost to the County Committee, an the understanding that the other principal item of expenditure, namely, the salaries of teachers, shall be borne by the county. At present the number of boys to be dealt with is about 170, but it is anticipated that this number will -be increased within the next year. Boys will be liberated for one day each week.
These proposals are not intended to do more than meet the present needs of the employees of "Leyland Motors. When circumstances permit, 4 general scheme for providing day continuation schools of the Urban District of Leyland will be formulated.
Errata.
We regret that in our article on the Boviee-Delville engine, which appeared in our issue of last week, the description of the ailing system was not made clear. This should have read:
"The oil is conveyed to each crankshaft hearing ; it then passes through holes drilled in the crankshaft to the big-ends; from thence to the gudgeon pins by tubes fixed on the connecting rods. The low-pressure oil is fed tothe bolt= bearing of the vertical shaft and conveyed through the hollow shaft to the centre bearing of this shaft and then to the top bearing. From this bearing the MI passes through a lead pipe to the front camshaft bearing, and through the hollow camshaft lubricates all the cams and the other bearings, the surplus oil being led back to the sump." Also we stated that the ratio of the length of the connecting rod to the stroke is five. to one. This should have read : "The ratio of the compression in this engine is five to one.'
In our article on the Straker-Squire Atype chassis, which appeared in the Same issue, owing to a compositor's error, a paragraph in the article read "With a full load the vehicle has averaged just over seven miles per hour on straightaway runs, Whilst unladen, as much as 10 miles per hour has been secured." In each case, "milts per hour hour should have read "miles per gallon."
• Higher Trolley Vehicle Fares.
The application by the Rotherham Corporation to the Transport Minister for an order to increase the present authorized maximum. train fares by 50 per cent., has been limited to the trolley vehicle system of the corporation.
Does This Interest You ?
We know of a gentleman who has had much mechanical and electrical engineering experience, both in South Africa and in this country, and who is desirous of securing a responsible position in the motor trade. He-has bad experience in many branches of the industry, including constructional work, salesmanship, workshop stipervision, etc. Letters marked "F.," care of this journal will be forwarded to the right quarter.
"The Winged Arrow."
House journals are becoming very popular with commercial vehicle works organizations.
Wood-Milne, Ltd., and George Spencer Moulton and Co., Ltd., are the latest people to issue a publication of this sort, which contains news and views of the amalgamated companies. No. 2 of the first volume is just to hand, and contains much matter of interest.
Reid and Evans, New North Road, Exeter, have been appointed agents for Macintosh and Shrewsbury and Chatliner solid tyres for Exeter and district, and lave installed a tyre-fitting pr In the Nobby Cord pneumatic truck tyre advertisement in our issue of December 2nd the half-section a( the cover was described inadvertently as 8 ins., whereas the size should have been 7 ins. We are not apportioning the blame for this error of description; all we can say is that it is not our fault; but we think it will be interesting to our readers to give the exact size.
Local Proceedings.
. A motor lorry is to be purchased by Royton U.D.C.
Batley T.C. has decided to purchase a motor road sweeping machine at a Cost of £577.
Battle R.D.C. is to purchase a steam roller, convertible into a tractor, at a cost of £1,695.
Inquiries are being made by Brainsgrove R.D.C. with a view to purchasing a steam wagon.
• The borough surveyor of Wallsend T.C. is to report on the question of providing motor wagons.
Batley Corporation are to apply• for sanction to borrow £1,585 for the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
The tender of W. Balaam, Edgware, for the erection of a garage at £4,790 has heed accepted by Willesden U.D.C.
• Sheffield Corporation is purchasing a second-hand double-deck omnibus body from the Walsall 'Corporation for £200.
Sanction has been given to the Aethwy R.D.C. to borrow £742 for a steam tippine wagon, and £1,258 for a steam roller, etc.
An inquiry is to be held with regard to an application of lichen U.D.C. to ' borrow £5,000 for the purchase of a steam Wagon, etc.
'
Stretford U.D.C. has asked its health -sub committee to consider the question of the purchase of a large motor wagon
for the collection of refuse.
Sheffield Corporation Tramways Committee has decided in favour of seeking Parliamentary power to enable it to run a motorbus service to Worksop.
• Rotherham Corporation proposes to seek permission to borrow £2,636 far the purchase of four petrol lorries and one petrol roller for the use of the highways departanent.
Negotiations are proceeding between Hull dock authorities and Sheffield Corporation with a view to reorganizing the South Yorkshire Canal system by running motor barges.
Morecambe Corporation is again asking municipal authorities to urge for ,legislation to promise for the payment to 11;ail authorities of a fair mileage rate by private motor omnibus proprietors.
Hendon R.D.C. is considering two schemes for refuse collection at Pinner, One of the schemes for mechanical traction is estimated to cost £1,335; the ether, which is £1,447, is for horse-drawn vehicles.