• Home
• Used vehicles
• Product news
• Dealer news
• Compliance
• Buying advice
• Archive

WHEELS of INDUSTRY

" The wheels 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.

Some Interesting Points About This Issue.

This Special Issue being, as it is, very largely devoted to a comprehensive survey of the outlook both at home and overseas, it has been found necessary, in spite of a greatly increased number of pages, to hold over many regular features; these will be resumed next week.

Apart from the many authoritative articles dealing with different branches Of the industry which are included in this number, the tables of chassis specifications will be found of immeasurable value, whilst the considered views of leaders of the trade throw a powerful light upon the progress and prospects of the commercial-motor industry in this country and abroad and give an indication of future developments.

Manufacturers and others will find that the statistical information published in this issue is deserving of close study and it should be filed for future reference.

A Leyland Cub Two-tonner.

Leyland Motors, Ltd., Leyland, Lancashire, has been experimenting for some time with a new design of 2-ton chassis suitable for both goods trans. port and passenger work, and this will be known as the Leyland Cub. A number of proof machines has been on the road in the hands of operators for some time past, and active steps are being taken to enable the works to commence full production about next March.

Green Line Cross-London Services.

On Wednesday last, December 10th, two of the Green Line coach services through north London were linked up with two of the services operating to the south, thus obviating terminal difficulties in the centre of London. The Harpenden-London route was linked with the London-Great Bockhorn route and the Welwyn-London route with the London-Reigate route. It is thought that this step, which at present is an experimental one, will alleviate congestion in the centre of London.

M.H.C.S.A. Committee Election.

With reference to our report on the annual meeting of the Motor Hirers' and Coach Services Association (page 624), the following members were elected to serve on the management committee :—Messrs. It. Baxter (Manor Motor Coaches, Clapham, London, S.W.), W. D. Beaumont (Beaumont Coaches, Enfield), R. Birch (Birch Bros., Ltd., London, N.W.5), Miss C. Culverhouse (Venture Transport (Hendon), Ltd., London, N.W.2), Messrs. C. Dobbs (Skylark Motor Coach Co., Ltd. London, S.W.1), G. Dudley (Acme Pullinan Services, Ltd., London, E.I), F. A. Flin (M.T. Co., London, S.E.4), W. F. French (United Service Transport Co., Ltd., London, S.W.18), Gullmont (Thackray's Way Coaches, London, W.1), E. W. Harris (Highways, Ltd., London, W.1), J. Hearn (P. Ream, Ltd., London, W.C.1), Hillier (Farnham Blue Coaches, London, W.), H. 0. Jones (Turpin Engineering Co., Ltd., London, W.3), A. Kelcey (Orange Coaches, Chatham, Kent), M. Logette (G.B. (Motor Tours), Ltd., London, W.1), 3. H. Lowe (Grey Coaches, Ltd., London, S.E.1), E. Monkman (Keith and Boyle (London), Ltd.), G. Nowell (Great Western Express Co., Ltd., London, W.C.2), C. E. E. Palin (Weald of Kent Transport Co., Tenterdeli), A. E. Tapper (Mayfair Transport Co., Ltd, London, N.W.6).

Our Issue Dated December 30th.

By reason of the intervention of the Christmas Holidays, our issue dated December 30th will close for press

much earlier than usual. Advertisements for that issue must reach our head offices (5-15, Rosehery Avenue, London, E.C.1) not later than the first post on Tuesday, December 23rd. Instructions can be accepted by hand, telegram or telephone up to 10 a.m.

Catalogues Wanted for Portugal.

The Autonaovel Club de Portugal, Largo Do Calharis, 29, 1. (Palacio Paimella), Lisbon, Portugal, requires catalogues of the various makes of commercial vehicles, for both goods and passenger transport. The material should contain not only illustrations, but technical details of the engine and frame, and particulars of the weights of the chassis and of suitable bodies.

Overseas Orders for Thornyerofts.

The Central Uruguay Railway Co. has placed a repeat order with John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., for four 3ton and eight 3k-ton rigid six-wheeled chassis, in addition to 12 3-ton trailers. Another order from overseas has been received from the Shire Highlands Railway, Ltd., of Nyasaland, and is for a 3-ton rigid six-wheeler and three 2-ton standard chassis. The company is also completing a contract, received from the Crown Agents for the Colonies, for seven 2-ton tipping lorries for service in Northern Rhodesia.

More Tramways to be Abandoned.

Ilkeston Corporation and the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Traction Co. have reached an agreement whereby the conipany shall suspend its tramways system and hand over the track immediately the corporation is ready to proceed with the work of road reinstatement. The company is to pay the municipality £1,500 towards the cost of the work.

Appointment of Traffic Commissioners' Chairmen.

One day last week the Minister of Transport announced the following appointments as chairmen of traffic commissioners under the Road Traffi,_ Act, 1930. The chairmen will take up their duties on or about January let.

Traffic Areas in England.

Northern.—Mr. H. Riches, 0.B.E., Chief Constable, Middlesbrough.

North Western.—Mr. W. Chamberlain, General Manager, Belfast City Tramways.

West Midland.—Col. A. S. Redraan, C.B., M.Inst.T., R.E., formerly Assistant Director of Transport and now Assistant Adjutant General, War Office.

East Midland.—Mr. 3. H. Stirk, M.Inst.T., Transport Manager, Birmingham Co-operative Society.

• South Wales.—Mr. A. T. James, K.C.

Western.—Mr. A. F. Nicholson, 0.B.E., Chief Constable, Exeter.

Southern.—Major General Sir R. Ford, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.K.O., formerly Deputy Quartermaster General. South Eastern.—Mr. Rowand Harker, K.C.

-Traffic Areas in Scotland.

Northern.—Sir John Maxwell, C.M.G., after qualifying as a solicitor in Scotrand, has held administrative posts in the Colonial Service.

Southern.—Mr. Archibald Renderson, National Secretary, Road Transport Group (Commercial), Transport and General Workers' Union, Member of London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.

Sir E. Haviland Riley, K.B.E., has also been appointed. He was formerly general manager, New Zealand Government Railways, member Royal Commission on Local Government of Greater London, and chairman Rhodesian Railways Commission.

The country is divided into 13 traffic areas, and, at the time of closing for press, appointments had still to be announced for the Metropolitan, York shire and Eastern areas. The area which will come under the control of Sir E. Haviland Riley has not yet been settled.

Big Orders for A.E.C.s.

Several big contracts for A.E.C. passenger vehicles have recently been placed with the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., amongst them being three orders, each for 20 Regal vehicles, received from Blue Belle Motors Ltd., Keith and Boyle (London), Ltd., and the Belfast Omnibus Co.

A Traveller Required.

A traveller who is already calling upon owners of fleets of commercialmotor vehicles is required to introduce a new product which has every likelihood of attracting customers. Letters addressed "Traveller,' care of the Editor, will be forwarded to the proper quarter.

Personal Pars.

Mr. W. Wilson Hamill, managing director of Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., Birmingham, has appointed Mr. Kenneth L. Anderson to represent the company on the committee of the Birmingham Graduates Branch of the Institution of Automobile Engineers. Mr. Anderson, who is technical secretary to Mr. Hamill, was previously on the staff of the Arrol-Johnston and Aster Engineering Co., Ltd., Dumfries.

When we recently met Mr. A. Whalesby Windsor, general sales manager of Leyland Motors, Ltd., we were extremely, pleased to find that he bad made such a complete recovery from the severe bout of illness which he experienced during May and June of this year —in fact, he looks very much better and, if possible, appears to be even more energetic than he has been during the past few years, and that is saying a great deal.

As stated elsewhere in this issue, Mr. J. H. Stirk, traffic manager of the Birmingham Co-operative Society, has been appointed chairman of the traffic commissioners for the East Midland area, with headquarters at Nottingham. Mr. Stirk has had a lengthy association with the operating side of the commercial-vehicle industry, having for the past 14 years been traffic manager of the Birmingham Co-operative Society. He is chairman of the West Midland Division of the C.M.I.J.A. and vice-chairman of the Birmingham and district section of the Institute of Transport.

Following upon its decision to enter the commercial-vehicle field, Super Suspension, Ltd., has appointed Mr. W. 1). Cavendish to the board of the company. Mr. Cavendish, through his own organization at Dorland House, Regent Street, London, S.W.1, will be concerned with sales of the company's suspension system amongst commercialvehicle users,

Further Drop in American Exports.

A further downward tendency in the export trade in American commercial vehicles is indicated by the official returns for September last. The month's shipments of vans, lorries, buses and chassis numbered 5,312, as against 12,985 in September, 1929, bringing up the total for the first nine months of the current year to 69,722, of a gross value of 19,320,560, as contrasted with 162,451 and £18,296,175 respectively in the corresponding period a year ago.

The exports so far this year have consisted chiefly of vehicles for loads of between 1 ton and 2i tons, these machines being responsible for 38,981 of . the total. This year the principal markets for American commercial vehicles, in the order of their importance, have been Australia, the Argentine, Denmark, Canada, Sweden, Mexico, Spain and the Dutch East Indies, A New Observation Coach.

We reproduce on this page an illustration of a remarkably striking A.E.C. observation coach which Oswald Tillotson (1929), Ltd., the A.E.C. wholesale distributor in the North, has just completed for demonstration purposes. The .chassis employed is the Regal 95 h.p. model. The vehicle has an overall length of 26 ft., a height of 9 ft. 10 ins. at the rear, an interior height of 5 ft. 10 ills. and 't seats 26 people, 12 in the front se ion and 14 in the bseryation compartment at the rear.

The passengers enter the vehi e by way of a door in the centre of th near side, whilst there is an emergenc exit at the front on the off side. The seats are of the de luxe pattern, with head rolls, and they have double-spring cases ; they are divided by a recessed gangway. Three steps lead to the rear portion, which has a good window space all around, thus affording a clear view of the countryside. The space below the observation section provides ample room for passengers' luggage.

The interior decorative scheme is carried out in inlaid mahogany and a cellulose finish is employed for the exterior.

Additional Entrants for Buenos Aires Exhibition.

In addition to the names included in the preliminary list of exhibitors at the British Empire Trade Exhibition, Buenos Aires, published in our issue dated December 2nd, we learn that the following important concerns are also displaying their products :—Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. (Engineers), Ltd.; Daimler Co., Ltd.; International Harvester Co. of Canada, Ltd.; R. A. Lister and Co., Ltd.; Marshall, Sons and Co., Ltd.; Rootes, Ltd.; Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd.

Extensions to Commer Factory.

Preparations are on foot for extensions to the factory of Cornmer Cars, Ltd., at Luton. We understand that ground has been purchased adjoining the existing factory, all the available space (about three acres) having been acquired. Building operations will commence early in the New Year.

East Kent Report.

The report of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., for the year ended September 30th shows a profit of £32,154, after deducting all items chargeable against revenue. Bringing into the accounts a sum of £22,440 provides a total of £54,594 for distribution. The general reserve receives an allotment of £1,000 and a dividend on the preference shares for the period ended September 30th has absorbed £5,431. A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum on 350,000 ordinary shares will absorb £35,000, leaving £13,163 to be carried forward.

It is mentioned that Mr. Walter Wolsey has resigned his seat on the board.

Standardized Repair Charges.

Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., Soho, Birmingham, has issued a schedule of. standardized repair charges for the benefit of owners of Morris-Commercial vehicles. It gives details of the charges for maintenance, service and repair work, and enables an owner to know exactly what a repair job will cost.

The figures contained in the schedule are maximum charges. The schedule just published deals with the 12-cwt., heavy-duty 1-ton, 30-cwt., and 35-40cwt. models.

Dinner to Members of the Royal Commission.

Viscount Brentford, president of the National "Safety First" Association, is to preside at a dinner to be given by that organization on January 15th to the members of the Royal Commission on Transport. Amongst the speakers will be Mr. Herbert Morrison, M.P., Minister of Transport.

The Hire-purchase Clearing House.

We are informed that since the establishment in October last of the Hire-purchase Clearing House, the membership has extended to every corner of the Kingdom and now embraces every conceivable trade undertaking the supply of goods on hirePurchase terms. Not least amongst its members are the motor traders, including motor hire-purchase 'finance houses, and records of a million agreements have already been promised to the Clearing House.

The register of motor vehicles supplied on hire-purchase, which is being established, will safeguard traders against the possibility of purchasing a vehicle which is actually the property of another trader or of a finance corporation, and will be an effective means for tracing missing vehicles.

A New Emergency Exit for • Double-deckers.

One of the latest emergency exits for double-saloon vehicles is the design of a reader of The Commercial Motor; anyone interested in the idea should write to "Emergency Exit," care of the Editor of this journal, and letters will be duly forwarded. In this case, the exit serves the upper saloon, which is, of course, in the case of emergency, the one most difficult of egress. The design applies to enclosed-staircase buses.

The exit takes the form of a folding set of steps pivoted slightly below the level of the floor of the upper saloon. The whole assembly forming the stairway serves as part of the end of the bus, the stair treads normally hanging vertically and appearing, from the point of view of the passenger in the upper saloon, as lining boards of the body.

When it is desired to effect a rapid exit from the upper saloon, the release lever is operated, the stairway is pushed out and it falls down into position, being retarded by the hoisting rope ; rubber buffers prevent damage to the rear panel of the body. Owing to the arc through which the stairway turns, the treads turn from the vertical to the horizontal position and are ready for use so soon as the staircase has come to rest. The rope which is used for winding up the stairway forms a band-rail for thosP making use of the exit.

A Coachbuilding Expert Availabhs, We understand that the wm_ , Manager of one of the leading coachbuilding concerns in the country desires to make a change, and that he would like to hear of vacancies in similar concerns of the first order. , The gentleman in question has had a thorough training in chassis and bodywork engineering, and has been in an important administrative and executive position for a considerable time, having been responsible for the manufacture of bodies for large numbers of buses and long-distance coaches in service in Great Britain. Letters addressed " Bodybuilder," care of the Editor, will be promptly forwarded.

Northern Ireland Driving Licences.

The Minister of Transport having certified that satisfactory provision is made by the law of Northern Ireland for the granting of licences to drive motor vehicles, drivers from there, provided they be not disqualified from driving such vehicles under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, may now legally drive in Great Britain motor vehicles of the type authorized by the licences.

Municipal Purchases and Proposals.

EXETER Corporation has ordered A.E.C. Regent double-deckers.

WALsAmr.. Corporation has ordered eight A.E.C. Regent double-deckers.

WOLVERHAMPTON Town Council is considering the purchase of 12 trolleybuses.

DONCASTER Corporation is to borrow £19,750 for the purchase of six trolley buses. '

STOCKPORT Corporation has ordered six Crossley six-cylinder bus chassis equipped with 32-seater service-type bodies of Crossley make.

The highways committee of STAINES Urban District Council has authorized the purchase of a tipping lorry.

The transport committee of ACCtRINCTow Corporation is obtaining tenders for the supply of 12 bus chassis.

The tramways committee of NewCASTLE Corporation is inviting tenders for the supply of 15 motorbuses.

The stores committee Of BURTON-ONTRENT Corporation has decided to purchase a six-wheeled tipping lorry.

TWICKENHAM Town Council is making application to borrow £2,100 for the purchase of a lorry and five containers for the collection of house refuse. The council is introducing the Pagefield system.

STOCKTON Corporation is to buy two heavy-oil-engined double-deck buses at £2,080 and £1,915 respectively. The corporation has also agreed to purchase three 52-seater double-deckers at £1,638 each and two 32-seater single-deckers at i1,365 each.

A Paper on Oil Engines.

A. paper on "The Development of the Heavy-oil Engine" is to be read by Mr. A. F. Evans at a meeting of the London Graduates of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, to be held at headquarters, on January 13th next.

Latest Oldfield Interior Lamps.

We have received from J. and R. Oldfield„ Ltd., Refulgent Works, Warwick Street, Birmingham, particulars of the latest patterns of Dependence roof light. These are of neat and attractive design and well finished throughout. They are supplied in four standard types and in a variety of finishes to harmonize with the interior fittings of motor coaches, buses, etc. The smallest type, for festoon bulbs, will be found useful for the interior lighting of light delivery vans. It is surprising that the simple provision of interior illumination for the purpose of sorting packages when delivering after dusk ia not more generally made. Model 360, illustrated on this page, fulfils this requirement at low cost. Three styles of switch are available.

Prices of the smallest pattern (MO) range from Is. 9d. to 3s. 6th each, according to finish, without bulbs, which can be supplied for 6 or 1 volts at is. each. The larger patterns can be supplied with integral switch or with Independent switch, whilst a further pattern is constructed for direct flush fitting in the roof.

Safety First in Scotland.

The Scottish Transport Co., one of the most progressive bus concerns in Scotland, announces that 87 per cent. of its drivers have been awarded the diploma of the National "Safety First" Association for freedom from accidents during 1929. It also states that the average number of miles run by its buses for each breakdown which occurs is over 75,000.

• A New Kaye Oil-can.

One of the latest products of Joseph Kaye and Sons, Ltd., Lock Works, Leeds, is a half-pint seamless polished copper oil feeder with an ingenious regulating device. Its price is 6s., post free, from the works or from 93, High Holborn, W.C.1, the London branch of the manufacturer.

When the hinged lid of the filling orifice is raised the sliding cover of the inner orifice moves back automatically ; when the lid is closed the can becomes unspillable without further action on the part of the user. The regulator consists of a threaded collar below the plunger head. When screwed down it allows the plunger to make a full stroke, but when rotated in an anticlockwise direction the plunger travel is limited to any desired extent. Therefore, the amount of oil supplied is cut down; this is particularly useful when dealing with magnetos and dynamos, which require very limited quantities.

An L.G.O.C. 011-engined Bus.

The London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., has just placed in regular service, on route 183b (Golder's Green to Pinner Green), an ST-type four-wheeled double-saloon bus equipped with the A.E.C. oil engine. This oil engine was fully described in our issue dated November 4th. The use of it in service is an experimental step.

Ford Sales in London Area.

We learn that a new company has been formed under the title of Dagenham Motors, Ltd. and it is renting the premises previously occupied by the wholesale department of the Car Mart, Ltd., in Balderton Street, Oxford Street, London, W. It is stated that this depot will be only wholesale, and that the company will be concerned with the exclusive sale of Ford commercial vehicles and cars throughout the London area.

In this well-equipped building, the first floor will he given over to the servicing and repair of Ford commercial vehicles and the sale of all Ford parts, whilst on the top floor will be a showroom for displaying up to 50 vehicles. The arrangement takes effect as from January 1it.