WHEELS of INDUSTRY
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"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.
ROOTES SECURITIES ACQUIRES KARRIER MOTORS.
The assets and goodwill of Karrier Motors, Ltd., Huddersfield, have been acquired by Rootes Securities, Ltd., which also controls three other motormanufacturing companies, i.e., Corntner Cars, Ltd., Humber, Ltd., and the Hillman Motor Car Co., Ltd. Karrier Motors, Ltd., was registered in February, 1920, to take over as a going concern the business of Clayton and Co., Huddersfield, Ltd., which was incorporated in 1904.
Rootes Securities, Ltd., will carry on the business through a new company named Harrier Motors Successors, Ltd., which was registered on August 10. The directors are Lt.-Col. J. A. Cole, 0.B.E., and Messrs. W. E. Rootes, R. C. Rootes, T. B. Keep and R. F. Clayton, the last-named being the only member of the old Karrier directorate to join the new board.
Mr. W. E. Rootes, the chairman of Rootes Securities, Ltd., states that the progressive policy that has been developed in the Gommer, Humber and Hillman companies, both at home and overseas, will obtain in the Karrier organization. It is anticipated that with the strong resources behind the new company, development and production Will proceed more rapidly.
Liverpool-Birkenhead Ferry Revisions.
A revised time-table has been put into force on the Liverpool-Birkenhead goods ferry service. A 15-minute service on weekdays has been instituted, the first boats leavarg at 6 a.m.. and continuing until 10 p.m. On Sundays the hours of operation will be the same, but boats will run as necessary to cater for the traffic.
When the ferry service is suspended, users of existing season tickets will be permitted to pass through the Mersey Tunnel. This arrangement, however, will not apply to tickets issued in the future. The Liverpool-Seacombe goods ferry is now operating at 15-minute intervals, instead of 20-minute intervals, as hitherto.
Mr. Nicholson on the Dangers of . Rate-cutting.
"It would appear that you are working at unremunerative rates, obviously to the disadvantage of other operators," said Mr. A. F. Nicholson, the Western Licensing Authority, to an applicant at Exeter, last Friday. The applicant stated that he had hired-out a 30-cwt. lorry, with driver, for £1 a day.
" Operators doing this are simply destroying each other," Mr. Nicholson added, "and the people who are employing you are taking advantage of the position. No doubt there are hun
n20 dreds of operators in the haulage trade, as in the passenger-carrying trade, who apparently think they are making a living, but who are not, and it is only a question of tittle until they finish. In the meantime; they are doing tremendons harm to legitimate operators relying on carrying for a living."
An Important Metropolitan Sitting.
A particularly important sitting of the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner will take place on August 27. In the main, the carriers' licence applications to be dealt with will concern newcomers to the-haulage industry who have not yet obtained vehicles.
Oil-engine Tests in France.
The series of tests of French-built oil engines which has been in progress for Some time, at the new laboratory, at Cachan, near Paris, of the French Automobile Club, came to an end a few days ago. The laboratory staff is now busily engaged in completing the records of the results of the different tests. Nineteen engines were entered by 11 different makers.
Important Electric-vehicle Development.
The Electric Vehicle Committee of Great Britain has been registered as a company limited by guarantee, without share capital, to promote, develop and protect the electric-vehicle industry in the British Empire.
The following associations and persons are to appoint representatives to the number indicated in parentheses:—
Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association (3), Associated Municipal Electrical Engineers (11, Incorporated Association of Electric Power Companies (1), London Electricity Supply Association 41), Provincial Electric Supply Association (1), British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers Association (4), Electrical Contractors Association (1), Commercial Motor Users Association (2), Tramways, Light Railways and Transport Association (1), Society of Motor Manufacturers 8.111:1 Traders (1), Institute of Public Cleansing (2), General Vehicle Co., Ltd. (1). Electricars, Ltd. (1), Wingrove and Rogers, Ltd. (1), Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. (I), Ransomes, Sims and lotteries. Ltd. (1), A. E. Morrison and Sons, Ltd, (11, Partridge, Wilson and Co. (1), Nelco, Ltd. (1), Mr. A. M. Robertson (1),,Mr. P. W. Taylor (1), Mr. H. W. Tomlinson (1).
The number of members is declared to be 50, each liable for not more than ' £5 in the event of winding up.— SCOTTISH WAGES CONCILIATION BOARD FORMED.
At a conference, last week, in Glasgow, between 'the Ministry of Labour and the various' organizations of employers and men concerned, a Wages Conciliation Board was set up for the goods section of the road-transport industry in Scotland. Mr. J. B. Galbraith, chief conciliation officer to the Ministry of Labour, presided. Representatives were present from the Scottish Transport Contractors Federation, Scottish Commercial Motor Users Association, Scottish Horse and Motormens Association, Scottish Carriers mad Haulage Contractors Association.' and the Transport and General. Workers Union.
The Board will consider wage .standards and working conditions, in view of the provisions of Section 32 of the Road .and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, under which A and 13 licence holders must observe a fair-wage clause.
The first meeting of the new Board will take place early in September, when details 'of its functions and constitution will be fixed. It is expected that there will be 24 members, who will govern the wages and conditions of some 6,060 men employed in the road goods-transport business.
Two Further Goods Licensing Appeals.
Last week we announced that the first appeal under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, was to be heard on September 11, 10.45 a.m., at Kings Buildings, Smith Square, London, S.W.L At the same time and place, the appeal of Messrs. E. and H. Ridgewell, of Gravesend, against the refusal of the Metropolitan Licensing Authority to grant them an A licence, will also be heard and will be opposed by the Southern Railway Co.
The date for hearing of an appeal by Mr. Thomas Lucas (and others), of Blackburn, against the refusal of an A licence in the North Western Area, has not yet been decided. The London Midland and Scottish Railway Co. will be the objector.
Another appeal has been lodged by the Ewhurst Haulage Co., Ewhurst. Surrey against conditions attached to a B licence by the Metropolitan Licensing Authority.
45 Railway Objections to 43 Applications.
When Col. A. S. Redman, the West Midland Licensing Authority, holds a sitting in Birmingham from Augast 27-29, he will hear 43 applications for A and B licences. The Great Western, and London. Midland and Scottish Railway Companies will oppose 31 of these applications, and the total number of railway objections will be 45 A SCOTTISH TRADE-PLATE CASE OF INTEREST.
An interesting point in connection with the use of limited trade plates on commercial vehicles was raised in Dundee Sheriff Court, when Mr. John Ballantyne, of Dundee, pleaded guilty to having used a lorry for which a licence under the Finance Act, 1920, was not in force.
It was stated that the licence was for limited trade plates, under which no goods could be carried. At the time, the vehicle, which was being demonstrated, was carrying two lorry wings. The wings in service were in a bad state of repair and the new equipment to be supplied to the purchaser was placed in the lorry so that he might inspect it.
The Sheriff said that a technical offence had been committed. It was pointed out by the prosecution that the lorry had been used for carrying goods and a duty of only £5 paid, whereas the duty payable was £15. A fine of 15s. was imposed.
New Hercules Oil Engines.
A new addition to the range of Hercules oil engines is announced by Automotive Products Co., Brock House, Langham Street, London, W.1, which represents the Hercules Motor Corporation in this country. The new engine is known as the D.R.X. type and has six cylinders with a bore of 41 iris, and a stroke of 5+ ins., giving a piston displacement of 474 cubic ins. The engine develops 125 b.h.p. at 2,500 r.p.m. and is similar in design to the larger D.H.X.B.-type engine, which
as described in our issue dated August 25, 1923.
Two smaller off engines are to be announced later this year, and we ufiderstand that these will also be of the six-cylindered type. Whilst full particulars are not yet available, we are able to state that the first engine, which it is hoped will be ready in the autumn, will be known as the D.J.X. series, and will develop apprbximately 65 b.h.p. at between 2,500 and 3,000 r.p.m.
The second engine to be ready later in the year will be the D.W.X. series and is expected to develop approximately 100 b.h.p. at 2,500 r.p.m.
Controlling Traffic Congestion.
A few days ago what is termed a " congestion meter" forming part of the system of. vehicle-actuated traffic signals, was put into operation in the vicinity of the Mansion House Station, London. The meter is an interesting device, whicautomatically counts the number of vehicles entering a controlled zone end, so soon as they become too numerous, giving rise to the risk of congestion, it prevents more vehicles from passing a certain line. A master controller works in conjunction with three local controllers.
It is intended to install similar automatic signals at the Bank junction, at which point a number of thoroughfares carrying a heavy volume of traffic converges.
Armstrong-Saurer Eight-wheelers for Pickfords.
A tribute to the capabilities of the Armstrong-Saurer Samson rigid eightwheeler has recently been paid by Pickfords, Ltd., which, after extensive inquiry and test, has ordered some chassis of this make as . the basis of new oiltankers. The stainless-steel tanks will have a capacity of 3,300 gallons, and it is believed that the vehicles, when completed,will be the largest tankers on the road. PASSENGER CROSSINGS AND • ZONES OF SILENCE.
On August 14, the Ministry of Transport made the Road Traffic Act, 1934, (Date of Commencement) Order (No. 1), 1934, to bring into operation on August 18 certain provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1934.
The chief are Section 9 concerning the zones of silence, which enables regulations to be made as to the use of warning devices by day or night, generally or in particular localities; and Section 18, which provides that local authorities may propose, and the Minister approve, schemes for crossing places for pedestrians_ , The Minister may make regulations as to the precedence of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at these crossings.
Altered Hours for Mersey Tunnel Branches.
In future, the Rendel Street (Birkenhead) entrance to the Mersey Tunnel will be open at all hours, both on weekdays and Sundays. New Quay entrance at Liverpool will be in use between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.
Vaporizer Trial in Sweden.
A trial of vaporizers for motor vehicles is being organized by the Swedish Royal Automobile Club, of Stockholm. The trial will comprise a consumption test at full load with both petrol and oil fuel, a 1,250-mile run on the road, a slow-running test, a test of starting-up facility and the time occupied in changing over from petrol to oil, and an examination of the exhaust gases.
Personal Pars.
Mr. W. N. Jordan, who represents Armstrong-Saurer Commercial Vehicles. Ltd., in the Midlands, was married on Wednesday last.
Mr. H. F. Applegate, M.I.A.E., who, for four years, has been manager of the Manchester branch of Oswald Tillotson, Ltd., and was formerly a member of the engineering staff at the A.E.C. works, has joined the special Foclen department staff of G. W. Smith and Co., Stockport.
Mr. E. H. Arnott has relinquished his sole agency for Centric superchargers, in order to become a director and commercial general manager of Centric Super-Chargers, Ltd., Ribble Bank Mills, Preston. His headquarters will be at the works at Preston; therefore his Loudon office will be closed as from to-morrow.
Mr. W. E. Gough, the Mountain Ash and Cardiff bus proprietor, who is also chairman of the Motor Omnibus Proprietors Association (South Wales), and Mr. John Williams, of Llantrisant Motors, Ltd., were included in the Cardiff trade delegation which has been touring Holland and visiting industrial centres in that country. ARMSTRONG-SAURERS IN AUSTRALIAN GOLDFIELDS.
Armstrong Saurer Commercial Vehicles, Ltd„ has just shipped a second Active oil-engined lorry to North Kalgurli (1912), Ltd., Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, for operation in the goldfields, the first vehicle of this type bought • by the company having been delivered about four months ago.
Opportunities have been taken to keep a watch on the performance of the first vehicle to ascertain whether any modification was desirable in vehicles subsequently supplied, particularly in view of the tropical conditions under which the work is carried out. The first lorry was fitted with an Armstrong-Saurer lubricating-oil cooler and a special radiator of increased capacity. We are informed that no changes have been found necessary and, for that reason, the second Active lorry is the same as the first, except that it has an hydraulic end-tipping body instead of a three-way-tipping body.
We understand that these oil-engined vehicles are the first of their kind to be put into active work in Australia. The average ton-mileage per vehicle is approximately 7,000 per day, and the loads consist of gold ore and quartz from the inineheads, which are taken to a special treating plant where the material is crushed to enable the gold to be extracted. The operator is particularly pleased with the performance of the first vehicle, which has effected distinct economies.
Road-accident Returns.
The Ministry of Transport returns of persons killed or injured in road accidents during the week ended August 4, 1934, show that, in England, 102 persons were killed and 4,940 injured, whilst 25 died asa result of previous
accidents. The figures for Scotland were 11 killed and 466 injured, whilst in Wales 7 were killed and 222 injured.
The Ministry has also issued a return of the numbers of persons reported as having died as a result of road accidents which occurred during the B212 August Bank Holiday period. From the Friday to the Tuesday inclusive the figure is 117 for 1934, contrasted with 144 for 1933.
When Accidents Need Not Be Reported.
Under the advice tendered to him by the Stipendiary Magistrate, a Cilfynydd van driver withdrew, at Pontypridd Police Court, his plea of guilty to a summons for failing to report an accident within 24 hours, and substituted a denial of the offence. The case was dismissed.
The van collided with a cyclist and no report was made by the driver. Subsequently, however, in consequence of a statement by the cyclist, he was summoned for his omission, and, whilst admitting the accident, said that he thought there was no need to report. He had not formally given his name and address to tl,le cyclist, but they knew one another quite well.
The Stipendiary advised the van driver to plead not guilty, as, he said, he had no belief that the law was intended to apply in a ease of this kind, where the parties were well acquainted with one another.
RUSSIAN OIL-ENGINE TRIALS NOW IN PROGRESS.
On July 24 the Diesel Engine Contest organized by the U.S.S.R. was started in Russia. Its object is to test and compare the capabilities of modern oil engines, which the Soviet Government is confident constitute the source of power for transport in the future.
Twenty makes of oil engine are cornpeting, the power units being installed in Russian-built chassis varying from ton to S tons in capacity. Amongst British makes, the Perkins, Crossley, Thornycroft, Beardmore and National are represented.
The trial began with a 5,000-kilometre journey from Moscow to the Caucasus Mountains and back. Only 2,000 kiloinetres of the route is metalled road. The steepest gradient being climbed is 1 in 5.6. One hundred miles is run daily, and the average speed scheduled is 24 m.p.h. for the lighter machines. Subsequently, 100-hour testbench trials are to be carried out.
The Perkins engine has been installed in a li-ton Ford and leads the column, being the smallest oil-engined vehicle of the 42 competing machines.
Including observers, drivers, mechanics, attendants, etc., the total number of people attached to the trial is 250. it is expected tha,€ the road portion of the trial will be completed by about the middle of September.
In connection with this contest, Mr. Perkins, of F. Perkins, Ltd., Peterborough, travelled some 2,000 miles in Russia and Finland in the Perkins oilengined Hillman car, which has been described previously. He informs us that its performance surprised certain prominent members of the Russian automobile industry, who were not aware of the advances tnade in small compression-ignition power units.
Arran Dieselet Distributorship for London and S.E. England.
Arran Motors, Ltd., Bridge Road East, Welwyn Garden City, Hurts, announces the appointment of M-T-MLtd., trading as Diesel Autos, as distributor, covering London and South-East England, for the Arran Dieselet range of vehicles, the registered othce being at 33, Great Tower Street, London, E.C.3, whilst service facilitiez are provided at 2, Kilburn Park Road, Maida Vale, London, N.W.6.
The directors of the new company have had many years'. experience of the commercial-vehicle trade, and have a demonstration lorry available.
New Wellworthy Fitting Agents.
Wellw or thy , Ltd . , 89, Blackfriars Road-, London, S.E.1, advises us that the following concerns have recently been added to the list of official Weilworthy-Simplex fitting agents:— Alexander and Sone, Ltd., 139, Ckpharn Road, London, 8.W.9; Messrs. Ashford Garage, Ashford Road, Cricklewood Broadway, London N.W.2; Messrs. Deansbrank Garage, Hale Lane, Edgware: Lankester _Engineering Co., Ltd., 39, Eden Street, Knigston-an-Thames; Messrs. A. Macfarlane and Sons, Southwall Road, Blackheath, London, S.E.3; Messrs. A. .C. Stanton, 301, Morland Road, Addisoombe, Surrey: Messrs. Vale Motors, Strawberry Vale, Twickenham; and the Universal Ball Bearing Co., 111115, The Grove, liammersinith, London, W..
ANOTHER LIVERPOOL TUNNEL PROPOSED.
A saving of three miles on the 4imile journey across Liverpool, between the head of the Mersey Tunnel and the beginning of the East Lancashire road, will be possible if the plans that have been drawn up for a tunsel connecting the two points be carried through. They were completed some years ago, but, owing to the economy campaign, the Government would not give financial assistance to the project ' It is now hoped that the necessary grant will be forthcoming at an early date. Besides reducing the distance, the tunnel would provide a through route in place of difficult and congested streets.
A New Battery Terminal.
Brown Brothers, Ltd., Great Eastern Street, London, E.C.2, has sent us a specimen of a new battery terminal which it is marketing at the retail price of Is. 9d. It is known as the Croxa, and comprises a main collar bored at the ends to receive a bolt, the one end of which consists of a collet to take the cable. The nut, exerting a pull, closes up the slots, thus producing a firm grip on the cable, and, at the same time. giving the necessary hold on the battery post. The terminal can quickly be fitted, and has been specially made effectively to resist acid fumes and corrosion.
Progress of J. L. and S. Motor Services.
Owing to increasing business, J. L. and S. Motor Services, Ltd., has removed from 17, Jacob's Wells, London, W.1, to larger premises at White Hart Garage, Greenford. We understand that the company will shortly be opening show-rooms and a service depot at Canon's Park Station, Edgware; its head office is at Greenwich House, 10-13, Newgate Street, London, E.C.1. The company is an agent for Ford products also handling Bedford lorries.
Morris Facilities Extended in Blackburn.
Mr. Ewart Bradshaw, governing director of Loxham Garages, Ltd., Preston, and its allied company, Loxha.m's Morriservices, Ltd., announces that another Morriservice house will be opened on August 22 at Simmons Street, Blackburn, for come mercia.1 vehicles and cars. ISLE OF SKYE NEEDS ROAD TR ANSPOR T.
Sir Godfrey Collins, Secretary of State for Scotland, met a deputation at Portree, last week, on the subject of transport in the island of Skye. It was pointed out that unless adequate transport facilities were made available, the population Would still further decrease. Medical services and the attendance of children at school were being affected by the lack of facilities. The provision of new rural roads was, it was submitted, a responsibility which the Government should shoulder.
A £200,000 Lincolnshire By-pass.
Negotiations will shortly be proceeding for the acquisition of land in the I-3rigg district of North Lincolnshire for the construction of a by-pass road around Brigg. The scheme has been in the air" for two years.
It is now learned that the Ministry of Transport has approved the layout of the site and it is hoped that a grant of 60 per cent towards the cost will be forthcoming. The proposed road, which, it is estimated, will cost nearly £200,000, will be one of the final steps in the construction of a first-class road from Doncaster to Grimsby.