The Motor Omnibus World.
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The Mersey Railway Company's motor omnibuses are being fitted with Royal Sirdar Buffer tyres. The business of White's Carriage Co., Ltd., of Bentley Road, Liverpool, is to be extended largely, for the purpose of taking up motor cabs and motor omnibuses. There are certainly many paying suburban routes around Liverpool which are not properly served by any form of passenger transport at the present time.
The inadequacy of the omnibus service between Worcester and Callow End is giving great dissatisfaction to the inhabitants along what is known as the Powick route. No vehicle leaves Worcester after 7 o'clock, and the Powick Parish Council, to which Mr. W. H. S. Brickell is clerk, is seriously considering the question of mechanical transport. " The Times," in commenting on our recent editorial on the subject of the motor omnibus position, remarks that the state of trade looks "decidedly healthy and hopeful for British industry, and it is plain that those whir are already in. the trade must be prepared either to extend their works considerably or to face competition ; for 14 months is an unconscionable period of patience to ask of a customer."
The service of Milnes-Daimler omnibuses which is being conducted by the Bath Electric Tiamways, Limited, formed the topic of a discussion at the last meeting of the Chippenham Rural District Council. Some re-actionary members suggested that the omnibuses should be taxed for road damage, but the general opinion was that the vehicles were the " poor man's motors," and that nothing should be done to harass them.
At the meeting of the Southwark Borough Council on Thursday last the works committee reported that, on Janu ary 22nd of this year, a motor omnibus belonging to Thomas Tilling, Limited, was being driven towards the Elephant and Castle, along the Camberwell Road, when it ran into and knocked down the electric light column situate at the corner of Grosvenor Terrace and Camberwell Road. An account for the damage was forwarded to Tilling's, who, however, denied liability for the accident, but offered, with out prejudice, half the amount of the account in settlement. This offer the commitee refused, and a summons was issued in the Southwark County Court. This came on for hear ing on 'October 23rd, when, after a hearing lasting the whole day, the judge gave a verdict for the defendant com pany, with costs, on the ground that the accident was in evitable owing to the breaking of the steering gear of the motor omnibus through a latent flaw in the steel material in the principal connecting rod of such gear. The council's solicitor informed the committee that, when the defence was opened in Court, the theory was propounded that the acci dent was caused by the breaking of the steering gear ; al though, in answer to interrogations, the defendants had stated that the omnibus (so far as its machinery was con cerned) was in a sound condition of repair, and that the part that broke was a hollow steel connecting rod, which gave way owing to a latent flaw which was absolutely un discoverable. It was also shown that this bar, even if sound, was inadequate for its purpose, as there was considerable strain upon it. It was a hollow bar, about i sin, in
diameter, the thickness of the metal itself being a bare i.in.—too thin to admit of the well-known milling process, which, had the metal been thicker, would have been applied before the bar was used, and would, in all probability, have disclosed the latent flaw.
The solicitor suggested that, in view of this fact, and that the manager of the company which built the motor omnibus slated he had built 70 other motor omnibuses running in London all with precisely similar connecting rods, that the licensing authority should have their attention drawn to this source of weakness, in view of the great dan ger both to passengers and to I he public which might arise from the breaking of the steering gear, depending wholly on such a slight bar, and considering that the bus weighs nearly seven tons, carries 36 passengers, and is capable of working up to a speed of nearly 15 miles an hour, The committee was of opinion that the suggestion of the solicitor was a very desirable one, and recommended—" That the attention of the licensing authority be drawn to the inadequate nature of the steering gear on the motor omni buses in London, and to the great danger to passengers, and the public generally, likely to arise from the breaking of same." The recommendation was adopted by the council.
[We reported the facts of the case on page 107 of our issue of October 26th. The decision of the Southwark Borough Council savours strongly of spite, and of chagrin at its loss of the half cost offered by Thomas Tilling, Limited. All engineers know how slight the risk of such a flaw is, and the experts who pass the material at the Milnes-Daimler works, at Marienfelde, near Berlin, where the machine in question was made, are scrupulously careful. The odds against a repetition of this accident are very large.—Eni
Says the " Daily Mail " in its issue of the Toth instant :— " New times, new customs; new customs, new men. And so it is that the era of the motor omnibus has created a new type of man in our modern London. He is the man who drives the motor omnibus. Sharp as a dart, keen, Arguseyed, alert for any emergency, he is the Mercury of the twentieth century. Obstruction is to him an interesting problem easy to solve. He has the speed of the hare where it only seems possible for the tortoise to move. He scoffs at the dense traffic of the London streets, and darts through it with a cynical laugh of his motor horn. . . . Shaving past within seven or eight inches of the off wheels of dilatory horsed omnibuses, flashing along a row of stationary electric tramway cars, spinning round carts, drays, and the like, the Vanguard man never for a mot-tient hesitated or made a mistake. And that, too, despite a thick fog which gave everything a shadowy, indefinite appearance. All other classes of vehicle were passed, except private motorcars. The horsed omnibuses looked foolish as they blundered stolidly along. But there was no suggestion of risk in this speedy, agreeable method of locomotion. Keen, intelligent watchfulness was depicted on the Vanguard man's face as it peered steadfastly through the fog. Not for a moment during the nine-mile journey did he turn his head. Before him was a little mirror which reflected the interior of the omnibus, and enabled him to see when a passenger wished to alight should the conductor be collecting the outside fares. At his left hand was a pinion brake, under his right foot. another brake. Within his hands he held the steering wheel. Guiding the great throbing car, applying one or other of the brakes, blowing the
hooter, attending to a dozen lubricators so arranged that he need not divert his glance from before him, the hands and feet of the Vanguard man never rested—and they never erred." The Hove town Council has decided that there shall be fixed stopping places for all omnibuses in the borough from May, 1906.
Messrs. Pemsel and Wilson, automobile engineers, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, are conducting a public service between Hemel Hempstead and Boxincx)r.
The fact that steam-propelled motor omnibuses have to be reckoned with as a serious factor in the problem of road locomotion is testified to by the further orders placed with Clarkson, Ltd., of Chelmsford. Fifteen more Chelmsford steam omnibuses have been ordered for London.
The Rev. T. W. Tapper, of the Rectory, Stoneham Parva, has written to the East Anglian papers advocating a motor omnibus service along the old turnpike road between Ipswich and Norwich. He points out that such a service would be remunerative, and would confer exceptional benefits upon the intervening villages.
A critic of the Isle of Wight motor omnibus service has been asked in the local papers to find a few purchasers for shares in the island's railway undertakings. The gentleman who issued his challenge adds—" I fear I shall have to sell at a very large discount, and to invest at a very big premium. (in spite of amateur direction)."
-' The New York Herald " illustrates a single deck ManesDaimler oinnibus with the following informing text beneath it :—" Since the introduction of automobiles their use has become widespread. One of the latest novelties in this line is a motor bus which retains as much of the characteristic features of th..tse quaint old London vehicles as possible. 1 he bus in the picture herewith has rows of seats on top. the ideal viewpoint for the tourist. The inside is arranged in two compartments, and at the back a narrow stairway ascends to the upper deck. These buses are much in de. mand for racing, theatre and holiday parties."
The works committee of the Willesden Urban District Council reported, on Monday last, having decided to issue a license to the London General Omnibus Company to keep 1,395 gallons of petroleum spirit at their stables at Dellis Hill, Cricklewood, the engineer having reported that the method of storage was satisfactory. In a further report the committee stated that, having received a communication from the engineer upon the application of the London Power Omnibus Company for permission to store 6,000 gallons of petroleum spirit at the new works in Langton Road, Cricklewood, the Committee had decided that the license be granted. Plans lodged by Mr. C. W. Stevens, on behalf of the London Power Omnibus Company, in respect of a proposed battery house at Langton Road, Cricklewood, were considered by the committee, hilt were not approved.
The Newport (Mon.) Town Council has granted the application of the Alexandra Docks and Railway Company for a license to run a service of motor omnibuses from Dock Street to the pier head of the Alexandra Docks.
A movement is now on foot to provide a service of road motor omnibuses in one of the most important industrial districts of the county of Denbigh, and there is every promise of the system of travelling between Chirk and Johnstown be revolutionised in the near future. It ls intended to erect a large motor garage at Rhosymedre, at the instance of Mr. Isaac Richards, the well-known Welsh racing cyclist and motorist, who states that the management will be in hands of an influential syndicate of Welsh and border gentlemen. As the route of the service passes through several populous cents-es, including Newbridge, Cefn Bychan, Rhosymedre, Ruabon, and Johnstown, it ls estimated that should the proposals be effectuated, at least 400,000 persons will be benefited. . The advantages are numerous. By the utilisation of elaborately, fitted light motor omnibuses the motive power requisite will be cheapened, and the cost will be less than a penny a mile. The cars will run to the very doors of passengers on the line of route, an undoubted con%enience. The cars will have double decks, and may be acquired by private parties for use on circular tours, such as visits to Ellesmere through Chirk and returning via Overton. untold possibilities are certain, as the general public feel that with the developments of motive power travelling should be cheapened and made more convenient.
Our fortnightly census of motor omnibuses in operation in London discloses a net increase of 12 vehicles between October 3oth and the 13th instant. There are now 175 of these vehicles in service, and we give the distribution, severally, as between owners, makers, and routes. The omnibuses are owned : By the London Motor Omnibus Company, 5o; London Road Car Company, 39; London General Omnibus Company, 17; Thomas Tilling, Limited, 15; London Power Omnibus Company, ; London and District Motor Bus Company, io; Associated Omnibus Company, 6; Star Omnibus Company, 4; New London and Suburban Omnibus Company, 4; Birch Brothers, 4; 'Henry Turner, City and Suburban Motor Omnibus Company, Midland Railway, Victoria Omnibus Company, Melluish and Boffen, and Great Eastern L.S.T. and 0. Company, 2 each; and French Limited, Garle, and Jenncry, I each. The manufacturers prove to be representated in the following numbers :—Milnes-Daimler, 81; Durkopp, ig; Straker and Squire, 18; Germain, 14; Stirling, ti; Leyland, 8; De Dion-Bouton, 6; Thornycroft, 5; Orion, 5; Wolseley, 4; Brillie, 2; Clarkson, ; Scheibler, I. The routes upon which the vehicles are distributed are—Cricklewood and Elephant and Castle, 37; Putney and Charing Cross, 29; Peckham and Oxford Circus, 21; Cricklewood and Law Courts, 20; Hammersmith and Charing Cross, 20; Finchley Road and Eburv Bridge, 12 Cricklewood and Marble Arch, it ; Chalk 'Farm and Charing Cross, 6; Chalk Farm and Law Courts, 4; Finchley and Oxford Circus, ; St. Pancras and Victoria, 2; Walthamstow and Stratford, 27 Ealing Station and West Eler's Estate, 2 ; Brixton and Oxford Circus, 2; Kilburn and Marble Arch, ; Kilburn and Victoria, 1; London and Brighton. m.