WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheel of wealth will be slowed by ail difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Overseas Trade.
Arrangements have now been completed for the periodical despatch of officees of the Department of Overseas Trade having specialized knowledge of particular trades to the more important industrial centres throuehout the country for the purpose of bringing the department more directly iuto touch with provincial firms than has been possible hitherto. With the co-operation of '.1..he • Atsociation of British Chambers of Commerce the necessary facilities will be provided by the local Chambers of Commerce to enable the representatives of firms desiring to export British goods to interview the officers of the department in their own locality. It is intended that the visits of officers shall be monthly, and will extend in each case over a period of about five days. The following programme has now been definitely arranged ;•—• • Manchester Chamber of Commerce, March 15th-19th. '
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, March 22nd-26th.
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce; March 29th to April 1st. Bradford Chamber of Commerce, April 12th-16th.
North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce (Tunstall), April 26th-30th, The officers visiting the centres named will deal with inquiries cOnnected with overseas trade possibilities and conditions, and as far as may he possible will discuss such matters as the following :— Contracts open to tender; overseas demand for particular goods; importers of various goods in overseas markets ; agencies for British manufacturers ; general conditions obtaining in overseas markets; shipping and transport.' Applications to interview the officers of the department should be addressed direct to the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce at the most suitable centre named above.
Scarnmeli Six-wheeler Tests.
The new Searnmell six-wheeled tractor lorry, which we fully illustrated and de scribed in our issue for February 17th last, has recently afforded some indication of its economy -in operation under service conditions. The following figures, which are very remarkable, are not theoretical, but. are the result of tests,
and the company claim they are obtainable by any ordinary -user. The first day's test was from London to Reading and return, all on top gear. The paying load was 7i tons, the weight of lorry 41tons, the average speed 15 m.p.h., and the petrel consumption 6 m.p.g.
The second run was from London to Watfeed and return with _a irailer, and Rickmaneworth Bill was included in the route with its gradient of 1 in: 9. On. thie occasion the paying. load was 13 ions, the gross weight 19 tons, the average speed 12 m.p.h., and the petrol consumption 4.75 m.p.g. The net miles of paying load per gallon without the trailer was 45, whilst with it the net ton miles of paying load was 64:75.
The figures are, as we have already said, indeed remarkable, and any peec20 sible purchaser who may feel sceptical as to these results may have them confirmed by arranging with the company for a demonstration run.
Railway Rates and Chassis Prices.
The effects of the advances in railway rates are now becomingsapparent in the cost of vehicles corning through sthe
shops commercial-vehicle manufacturers. The reason for this will not be difficult to appreciate if dials realized the number of times that material 'passes up and down the country during the pro cess of manufacture. As i a eresultleof these railway increases the Albion Motor Car Co. Ltd. haye beenareluctantay
compelled. to advance the price of Albion chassis by £50.
Petrol Up Again ?
Reports have gained circulation that there is a proepect of a further rise of lid. a gallon in the price of petrol, making it 3s. 10d. per gallon. Although no definite decision tor further increase the price has yet been made, the alleged justification for it would, appear to be the result of a recent rise of two cents per gallon in the United States.
The American gallon is 20 per cent. smaller than the British equivalent, and at last Thursday's rate of exchange the American increase would be equal to 1.53d. in British money.
Bulk Fuel Storage Depots.
The Angle-American Oil Co. have placed a large 'contract with Messrs. Tarrant, the Meet building concern, for the erection of factories, filling stations, depots and general works all over the country. The scheme is to create bulk se:Liege depots to receive petrol by railway tank cars and to distribute it im bulk. Ocean installations on the east and west coast are being established and facilities for the storage of liquid fuel for bunkering steamers are being completed at Brixham on the Devon coast. The building programme stands at between two and three mils lions sterling.
A Manchester Tyre Depot.
Facing the Mantheiter ahowrooms of Messrs. Leo Swain and Co., in Deansgate, is St. John Street, wherein the firm have a large establishment, weering a valuable site, afor the fitting of commercial vehicle tyres. Mr. Leo Swain showed me over the premises (writes " Mancurian "), and as we went along the avenues of tyree of all kinds and sizes for commercial work it was evident that this must be the biggest stock of such tyres in the North of England. The premises are being reconstructed. Messrs. Swain and Co. -have a big business in contracting for keeping commercial vehicles well tyred.
Owing to the indisposition of the President. the Rt. Hon. Sir Eric Geddes, the Minister of Transport, the inaugural meeting of the Institute of Transport is postponed until Monday next, March 22nd.
Those Thornycroft Lorries.
In the House of Commons one day last week, Mr. Forrest asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether, prior to the sale of the 666 Thornycroft lorries at Cologne to the Mandlslay Motor Co.,td., for £400 each, the Treasury had received an authenticated offer for the whole of the lorries at the Asehener and Bickendorf aerodromes, including these lorries, at an all-round price of £425 each; and why the Thornycroft lorries were sold at a lo rKatc'ellaCay in reply said that the ikvierr,
price of £400 each, at which the 666 Thornycroft lorries at Cologne were sold to the Maud:slay Motor Co., was the highest offer received for these vehicles. The lorries were sold in situ, the purchasers bearing all expenses in connection with removal, custody, transport, etc. An offer was received through the Societe Commercial Franco-Britannique to purchase 1,626, including the Thornycroft lorries, at an average of £375 per lorry, delivered f.o.b.' Antwerp. The price-offered in this case waa obviously too low, and could not be accepted. After the Thornycroft lorries had been eold communication was received from Mr. Cannier, of Messrs. Baxter and Counter, a firm who state that the Societe Commercial Franco-Britannique constitute a branch of theirs, covering an offer from Mr. Williams, of A. L. Williams and Co. This offer was to purchase the Thornycroft lorries at £425 each on aondition that the firm should be permitted to take the remainder of the lorries at Cologne at a valuation. The teams of this offer were unacceptable to the Board. Lu replyeto 'a further question from Mr. 'Forrest on the following day as to why the Thornycroft vehicles were not put up for auction in Cologne in order to secure the maximum price possible, Mr. Kellaway said that he was satisfied that the highest price would not have been secured had this procedure been adopted, and that anything sold by auction does not necessarily secure the highest price in this country.
Albion Dividend.
The directors of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., have resolved to pay a final dividend on the amounts paid up from time to time on the ordinary sharea. of the ul company e mypacarny. at the rate of 12 per cent. per annum, less tax, making 15 per cent. f
Last year the dividend was 20 per cent.,. les-s tax, but the present dividend is bemgapaid on a capital which was increased by 75 per cent., owing to the clistelibution of bonus ordinary shares in the early part of last year.
A meeting of the. Institution of Petroleum Technologists will be held to-day, March 16th, at the house of the Royal Society of Arts, John Street, Adelphi, W.C. 2, at 5.30 p.m. A paper entitled "Plant Used in the Rotary System of Drilling Oil Wells" will be read by Mr. M. A. Ockenden, F.G.S., M.I.Mech.E., and Mr. A. Carter, A.IsT.I.Mech.E. The chair will be taken by Sir Frederick Black, K.C.B.
The Cippenham Depot.
Mr. Kella,way, in reply to a question from Mr. Inskip in the House of Cornms one day last week, said that while the construction of the Cippenham Depot is practically finieheele completion of it has been delayed by the moulders' strike. It is, however, expected that, provided deliveries of power plant are made according to promise, the expenditure on capital account will cease in about three
months' time. The estimated capital cost, excluding land purchase' which has not yet been determined, is £1,950,000. Accounts showing the financial results of the working of the depot and covering the period from the beginning of repair operations atethe depot to the end of the present financial year, will be completed about the end of June next.
They will certainly make most interesting reading.
French Agricultural Show.
An e•xhileitioi of motor agriculture in the Tuileries Garderis'was opened by the • French President at the beginning of last week, and simultaneously the March :Lyons Fair was inaugurated by the
Minister of Finance... / The Tuileries exhibition, in which Over 50 tractor firms axe taking an active past, has been instituted with the object of giving the farmer who is buying me
• elanic.al equipment for the season an opportunity of judging the merits of the various tractors.
War Motors Associations Again
Active.
In view of the dearth of Government vehicles passing through the heeds of the War Minors Association, 240-241, high Holborn, W.C.1., disappointed applicants have been inclined to think that the Association had become inactive. It. may not be generally :known. that it few weeks ago an embargo was placed on all motor vehicles in view of indications of a railway strike being imminent. This embargo, it is stated, is about to be removed, and the Association will once again be in a position to assist the discharged soldier to obtain W.D. vehicles suitable to his requirements.
The Association have obtained 100 closed cars suitable for taxis or privatehire work, which will be allotted-etrictly in the order in which applications are received. These vehicles may be obtained upon the easy-payment system.
When the Association receives further vehicles for disposal we shall be happy to acquaint our readers.
Aircraft Supply Stations in the Sahara.
The French Government have just organized a long-distance flight across the Sahara from Alger to Tinebuctoo, which, in all probability, will be the first of a regular service. As enormous difficulties have to be met, in case of a forced landing in the desert, the French Government has decided to establish a series of supply stations, where both food and fuel will be found, along the entire route across the desert.
For this important work the choice has been made of 18 Fiat lorries, these being pne'umatic-tyeed. vehicles of 1i-ton load capacity. These lorries haw already proved their value in difficult army work, and there is no doubt that they will be equal to the 'heavy task imposed on them in the arid Sahara.
In our issue for March 2nd, we illustrated an article on "Electric Bases in Yorkshire" by a picture of a doubledeck trolley bus built by a Viennese Co., and in use at Keighley. Although the chassis was of Austrian construction, the bodywork was British-bnilt, and, as a matter of fact, was manufactured by Christopher Dodson, Ltd., of Cobbold Road, Willesden, N.W. 10.
Lorries for Algiers.
The Continent of Europe is not alone in suffering from lack of transportation. In Northern Africa there has foe a long time been a similar shortage, not only of railroad but of motor vehicle transportation: The latter has just been relieved to a considerable extent by. the arrival of the most important consignment of motor vehicles ever sent to Algiers. These comprised 150 Fiat lorries, half of them having a. load capacity of 4 tone and half carrying q. tons, of one motorbus with a seating capacity for 28 passengers, 8iX Fiat touring cars, and one agricultural tractor.
The shipment was made from Genoa aboard the steamer " Boheme," the arrival of which with this important fleet of automobiles was quite a notable local event. The steamer, being unable to come right into deck, the lorries were brought ashore by means of lighters.
Liverpool Ferry -Tolls.
The ferry tolls far vehicular transport between Liverpool and Birkenhead are to be reconsidered. At the present time a uniform fee of 5e. in charged for all fourwheeled vehicles, be they light or heavy. The Corporation isseeking powers from the Ministry of Health to. revise and advance the tolls, and will probably so amend them to make them more equitable in their operation.
A Broken-down Bridge
e• Some time ago part of Horbury Bridge, over the River Calder, collapsed, and repair work has been in progress. Dur• lug the recent floods the remaining portion of the decaying structere gave way, . and now the West Riding County Council have prepared a scheme for a new bridge costing£50,000. It will'. be a • girder bridge, 45 ft. wide, to carry up to a, load of 40 tens. A temporary bridge for vehicular traffic is being built.
Combination Bodies.
In many parts of the country comlaination vehicles for carrying passengers and luggage are to be found in service, and as a means of serving a double purpose they are very useful. We reproduce on this page an ilhistration of an A.E.C. chassis fitted with a bus body designed and -manufactured by Mr. V47. Mumford, of Plymouth. It will be noticed that there is a Closed compartment at the rear for luggage, which is quite capacious. During wet or. cold weather, waterproof curtains, which are seen rolled up in one of the illustrations, can be lowered. This • vehicle is one of a fleet of similar machines to be placed an the road in various centres through Devon lv the Devon
Motor Transport Co., of Okehampton, Exeter and Bideford.. This class of -body is also being built by Mr. Mumford without a separate luggage compartment. It has detachable seals, which enable any of them to be removed to accommodate a certain amount of luggage; it thus serves solely as a passenger vehicle or can be used to carry both passengers and luggage according to requirentents.
. Leicester Tramway Traffic.
Although for general commercial
poses there has been a marked ex ension of motor traffic in Leicester and district, the Corporation tramway service necessarily serve the Main purpose of passenger transport, in which connection the figures which have just been tabu-. lated afford some interesting inform:Alen as to the result of the past year's working. The total revenue was 2362,566,
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en increase of 267,650; the passengers carried numbered 62,4,34,056, an increase of 11,450,833. The earsran 4,000,604 Jniles, an increase of 274,142 on the previous year. The increase in passenger receipts was 260,028. The working expenses were 2294,300, an increase of 275,794, chiefly due to higher wages and higher plices of materials.
Industrial League and Council.
The Industrial League and Council, in order to cope with the tremendous increase in the work it is called upon to do, has removed into more commodious pre, raises, and a splendid suite of rooms at 82, Victoria Street, S.W. 1, has been acquired.
A -pleasant tittle ceremony took place
one day last week, when the leaders and pioneers of the movement assembled to officiate at the opening of the premises. The Et, Hon. G. H. Roberts, M.P., and the Rt. Hon. J. H. Whitley, M.P., joint presidents of the League, in conjunction with the Bishop of Birmingham, who is president of the Birmingham branch, received the guests and conducted them over the new offices.
Trolley v. Petrol .Bus Costs.
Rotherham Corporation gives the following details regarding the running of a trolley bus and a petrol bus for the month of January :— Trolley bus Cost per mile, 16.391d. ; revenue per passenger, 3.20d.; working cost per passenger, 3.33d.
Petrol bus : (leet, per Mile 24.1324. ; revenue per passenger, 3.34(1.; working cost per passenger, 3.90d.—
Lorries for 'Spain;
From information received irom Ell Majesty's'Secretary' Madrid, it is stated that it is proposed to establish a motor transport service between Grituada and Motril. Details to band are somewhat scanty, but it is stated that two vehicles of large carrying capacity are required for the transport, of goods over what appears to be an extremely bad road. This is 73;4 kilometres long, and is in a bad state of repair during most of the year, and in the-winter-it is almost impossible for use. In addition, over half the distance between Mottil and Granada the road has is continuous ascent.
Motor vehiee manufacturers can obtain further particulars of thia -inquiry from the Department of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, S.W. 1 Norwegian Traffic Regulations
Norwegian regulations limit the weight on the back axle of all motor, vehicles to 2,000 kilogrammes (approximately 2 tons), the vehicle being fully loaded. Dispensation from this limit of 2 ton's. is; however, obtainable on application to the Board of. Works for motor vehicles with a total weight, fully loaded,'up to 6,000 kilogranuneS, irrespective of weight distribution on front and back a..xles, and in very exceptional cases vehicles Weighing up to 8 tons are permitted to use the
.These regulations apply to Christiania and :the chief towns of Norsvay-ancletheii nearest suburbia.. Country roads are sub ject to special by-laws as._ well as the
State laws for motor traffic. .
It is .understoed that an Act, which will eventually become law, is now, being prepared by the ,Board of Works, which will prescribe the various dimensiens of the solidlor pneumatic tyres to be used. on motor velikles.
Demands for British.F.W.D.. , Lorries:
The increasing: demand for British .-F.W.D. tractor lorries, both for home use and for export, has made it necessary for the British Four. Wheel Drive Tractor Lorry Co. to set up a large and well-equipped factory where they will have room for further expansion, and also where they will be able to deal with. bodybuilding and overhauling of the large numbers of machines acquired by purchasers from the Disposal Board sales. These premises are conveniently situated at 274, .Uxbridge Road, West Ealing, W. 13, under the name of the Super Engineering C.o., Ltd.
Plymouth Eavours Levy.
Plymouth Corporation has considered the use of roads by eominercial vehicles, and reports that the Minister of' Transport should be informed that it is desirable that a charge should he leviable in respect of heavy commercial vehicles. for the use of the public road.s, or that 'the vehicles -should he taxed commensurate with the damage which they cause to the aublic roads.
Birkenhead's Steam Wagons.
The Birkenhead Road Transport Association, which caters far owners of both horse-drawn and mechanically propelled vehicles, has made representations to the' Birkenhead Corporation for the provision of several hydrants in various parts of the town, owing to the large number Of steam .wagons now in use.
Life-guards for Lorries.
At an inquest held a few days ago, concerning the sudden death of a young Woman who was knocked down and rim over by a heavy motor oil tank (without side life-guards) whilst attempting to doss a congested street, the Coroner (Dr, Waldo) said he had held 44 traffic fatality inquests in 1919, 63 in 1918, and 68 (the highest number on record) in 1917. In his annual report for 1919 he had again repeated that the three chief preventives against such deaths—many of which were avoidable—were :—(1) more street refuges, especially in his Southwark jurisdiction ; (2) more police at fixed 'stationary points, on crossings, at which many foot passengers were in the habit of crossing, to assist children, elderly and nervous persons safely across; (3) the provision of ompulsory life-guards on all heavy motors—what ever the construction—similar to those used for some time 'past on all motor omnibuses, ;and which had been the means, of saving innumerable
It was not generally known that the hind wheels of heavy motors without side-guards killed 60 per cent, as compared with 40 per cent, by the front -wheels. Ho trusted the Commissioner of Police would insist on this urgent reform.
The L.C.O. had powers to make a bylaw for the provision of side life-guards on motor vehicles. •
Chassis Prices Down.
The price of something is at last coming down, and-satisfactory to state it, is for no less an essential than a commercial vehicle chassis. The chassis affected are those marketed by General Motors, Ltd., 135-137, Long Acre, London' W.C. 2, and comprise on the industrial side the Oldsmobile chassis and on the touring car side four. Buick models. The company have adopted this policy as they hold the opinion that the cause for apprehension in regard to The late downivard trend of exchange between Ameriea and Great Britain has now diSanneared.
The company have, in addition, taken a step which we believe-to be without precedent in the history of the motor 'industry in this country. All their bona fide customers who have purchased the standard models sold • by the company, either from their distributors, dealers, or direct from them are to be refunded with the difference between the amount which they actualliy paid and 'the new reduced price lists. As we have said the only Model which concerns our readers is the Oldsmobile chassis, and 'ibisis now being sold at 2545.
Death of Mr. John Kennedy.
A very large number cif motorists will be deeply grieved to learn that Mr., John Kennedy, a member of the Executive Committee of the Automobile Association and Motor TJnion, has passed away. He died last week following upon a serious railway accident. He was one of the oldest members of the Committee of the Motor Union, and' upon the amalgamation of the M.U. with the A.A. became
a member of the present A.A. and M _.U. committee. .
From the c.orninenoement of his associas tion with the motor industry's he haa rendered it valuable and -great assistance in relation to legislative matters. and 'his
valuable assistance as a. solicitor s'and well known Parliamentary lawyer, in Parliamentary work affecting Motoring, has been an important asset to the A. A. and its members. His wise counsel will be sadly missed. .
Loans for Motors.
Newton Abbot and Weston-superMare Town Council 'have' obtained sanefion to raise loans for the purchase. of motor fire-engines, the former council for .21,700 and the latter for £1,980.
Authorities seeking permission to borrow include.—
Teddington U.D.C., 21,353 for a motor -wagon.
Watford Joint Hospital Board; 21,200 for a motor ambulance.
Enfield IJ.DC, £1,400 for a motor tipping wagon.
Barnsley TO, £1,575 for a motor fireengine.
Hastings P.C., £1,223 for a steam wagon:
The Fiat Co., of Turin, have-recently' completed a vast new factory solely far the production of Fiat tractors, which are well-known in this country.
Local Proceedings. ••
A Ford lorry to cost £353 is to be purchased by Lichfield &1).C.
Three 1-ton Ford motor chassis are to be purchased by Wallsend T.G. ata cost of 2200 each Messrs. MerryweatImE are to supply the Sunbury U.D.C. with a motor tire' engine to cost 21,045.
The proposal of the Lincoln T.C. to purchase 11 motor omnibuses (referred to in our last issue) is to cost £17,210.
Manchester Corporation Health Committee is purchasing, at a cost of 23,600, two motor ambulances and, one van.
The practicability of running a service of motorbuses in districts not served by the traroways is being considered by Nelson son TO.' . .
. Glastonbury T.G. is to apply to the Ministry' Of 'Health for • sanction' to borrow £1,390 for the purchase of a.
5-ton steam wagon.' .
Stretford U.D.O..has decided 6–purchase a 2-ton COnarner Car" lorry, 'with
stipPing body, for £1;105. " • .
, lorries. purchased from the Government -by .WeAt Ham Corjaaration are to befitted,, With '1;000 gallon tasks and 'Used for road :watering.
Sheffield 'CorporationHealth Committee has decided to,'purchase a 3-ton Conimer Car: lorry from Messrs.. Sharpe and Clarke-for £750. • -Retherhem Corporation' has asked-the borough engineer to obtain further tenders for the supply of two electric covered vehicles, required for the highways department.
The Lancashire Urban District Councils' Association has deeided to present a petition against the Salford Corporation Bill, which seeks power to run motorbuses outside the borough. Edinburgh C.C. has divided the con,. tract for the supply of 60 motOrbnses between the Leylana Motors, Ltd., and the Associated Equipment' Co., Ltd.,. The total value of the contract will be about
£110,001 •
Wolverhampton Cdrporation has given permission to the -Birmingham and Mid.. land Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., to run a motorbus service between Ettingshall Road and a central peint iii Wolverhampton.
Having 'ascertained that in no other town are fares higher than those now prevailing in Sheffield, the Watch Committee refused to .agree to the increases suggested by the Sheffield Carriage a,rid Motor Proprietors' Association.
The Ministry of Health are to hold in quiries into applications by Basingstoke Bridgend, and Bristol munieinal authori ties for sanction to borrow £640, 21,400. and £6,600 respectively for motor and electrically-driven vehicles.
Lancashire C.C. proposes to consent to the running or a re.gulaii motorbus service by Meh.irs. A. Foley and Co. between Preston and Garstang for a period of five years, on payment of 3d. per eat mile, with an initial foe of £1 Is. per bus per annum.
Hove Corporation has had a petition signed by 44 owners of taxicabs asking for an advance of 50 per cent, on present fares owing to the price of petrol, tyres, oil and repairs being advanced by over 100 to 150 per cent. The Watch Committee, however, decline to recommend the Corporation to assent to the application at the present time,