The Wheels of Industry.
Page 10
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
This fournal,,dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with tile "Wheels of Industry," is now of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the parcelcar, the steam lorry and the tractor We note with interest that the Armstrong-Whitworth Co. has acquired the Argyll factory at Alexandria, N.B.
The Standard Oil Co., of New Jersey, has acquired various new oil-bearing properties and oil-producing interests in Canada.
Congratulations to Sir George S. Gibb, chairman of the Road Board, on his being added to the Army Council for the purpose of supervising contracts.
The decision of the R.A.S.E. Council to postponezits agrimotoy trials for 12 months was confirmed at the annual general meeting of members on the 9th inst.
We are informed that the Peerless Co,, of America, is delivering 10 lorries a week to the British Government, and as many more as it can turn out. The Peerless is a. type of machine which has given satisfaction to the U.S.A. Army.
The General Electric Co., Ltd., which company has its principal office at 67, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., is ready to take orders for the official type of sign, adopted by the Electric Vehicle Committee, to indicate that traction batteries can be recharged on the premises. In. quiries should be addressed as above.
Proposals and Purchases.
Ashton-under-Lyne has been witnessing demonstrations with a Morris motor fire-engine.
Sheffield Tramways Committee has bought a 45 h.p. DurhamChurchill: three-ton chassis (2650). Bacup Town Council will shortly replace its horse-drawn steamer by an up-to-date petrol-driven motor fire-engine.
.Hornsey and Wood Green Councils have been negotiating in respect of reciprocal assistance with motor fire-engines.
The manager of the Coventry Gas Works has been instructed to, purchase a motor vehicle for the conveyance of coppers which are collected from slot-meters.
The County Borough of Rotherham, through its Watch Committee, wants tenders, on or before the 19th inst., for a two-stretcher motor ambulance, the interior to be so arranged that it can be adapted to carry eight ordinary passengers alternatively, and the ,.,ehiele to be fitted with Rotax lighting outfit and Pulmotor apparatus. The same council is about to purchase a mechanical street-sweeper, through its Highway Committee.
026
The estimated motorbus profit for the services which are run by the Sheffield Corporation, for the financial year ending the 25th March next, is£2149, after all necessary provision for depreciation.
The Hove Corporation is willing to grant Thos. Tilling, Ltd., licences to run 12 petrol-electrie motorbuses, subject to an open undertaking by that company not to eladm compensation in a variety of contingencies.
We in this issue refer to our "Campaign Comforts" Fund in the course of a leading article. This course has not been adopted by us for the past five weeks. We ask all our readers to refer again to the first page of this number, and we hope that they will continue to share with us the duty of looking after "The Men with the Wagons at the Front." Unhelped by them, the necessary success cannot attend our labours in this direction. We are proud of the results, but we merely share the contributory cause with our supporters.
Mr. Arthur du Oros, M.P., presided at the annual meeting of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., on the 1st inst. The total trading profit for the past year was 2404,500—an increase of 233,000 over the preceding year. The outstanding feature of the war, so far as their trade was concerned, was the hastening of th`e development of commercialmotor vehicles.. They were prepared to meet the alterea• (circumstances, and they hoped t. be able to maintain their profit during the current year.
The Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing) has authorized the Harvey Frost Co., Ltd. of 39-41, Great Eastern Street, E.C., to register men who are experienced in carrying out vulcanizing repairs to tires. Holders of Harvey-Frost certificates should get in touch with the company, and especially so if they have neglected to notify any change of address. This new service by the Harvey Frost Co. follows earlier assistance of the same kind.
Whilst several of our largest manufacturers are in the happy position of having orders for betwean 250 and 300 vehicles on their books, from commercial buyers, exclusively, nobody is likely to grumble at the status of W. A. Stevens, Ltd., of London and Maidstone, when we record the fact that in a single week that company received orders for upwards of 140 Tilling-Stevens commercial motors. Typical buyers, who contributed to this big aggregate of contracts, include the Newcastle Corporation, Carter, Paterson and Co.' Ltd., the Bowring Petroleum Co., Ltd., (repeat orders) and the Hovis Bread Flour Co., Ltd. Peek, Freon and Co., Ltd., and the Stretton Brewery Co. Ltd. (new orders\ Limerick and its Roads.
The roads in Limerick arenotorious for their badness. There is a story to the effect that if a man were driven blindfold all over lrelaed, he would still be able to identify the _Limerick roads when he came to them. We see that the Limerick Corporation has been discussing the possibility of enforcing a local tax on commercial motors with an unladen weight of three tons and upwards, but any such course will involve the Corporation in the promotion of a special Bill in Parliament.
Right-of-Way for the Military.
Drivers will do well to bear in mind that A.S.C. Mechanical Transport is entitled to a prior right-of-way at the present time, on any roads in the country, and will be well advised to give way to such traffic. A driver named Arthur Dimaline, in the employ of Sir John Jackson, Ltd., was fined £5 and costs recently, at the Salisbury County Petty Sessions, for obstructing the highway with his motor lorry, and for refusing to move when requested to do so by officers of the A. S.°. Despite the fact that this man was working for an Army contractor, a prior rightof-way was held to attach to the Army Mechanical Transport proper.
Standard Rim-diameters.
We invite special attention for the article on page 294 of this issue. It is with satisfaction that we learn that the B. F. Goodrich Co., Ltd., which company's London offices are at 117-123, Golden Lane, E.C., is already making band tires in America for the purpose of meeting British requirements to the standards which we advocate. Other manufacturers of American tires, which do so well in their own country, and which have to stand up to " frightful " road conditions, will undoubtedly follow suit—if they have not already done so. Probably at no time has the market in the United Kingdom offered so many distinct attractions to U.S.A. manufacturers of tires as it does at the present moment. There is evidently going to be something in ;he nature of a scramble for the ;rade to which, for an indefinite period, manufactories in Germany are denied access. We are our3elves staunch believers in the exellence of British-made tires, but we understand that parties who handle American examples do not intend to be kept out.
Electric Vehicles.
The electric-vehicle branch of the Society of Automobile Engineers of America has decided that the speed ratings of electric vehicles shall be based on continuous operation with half load over c28 hard, smooth and level roads or pavements at the a,ctual 41.Y erage battery voltages. It has also decided that the mileage ratings for electric vehicles shall be based on the rated five-hour discharge capacity of the battery and a continuous run with half load over hard, smooth and level roads or pavements. The latest development in England, in connection with electric vehicles, is the conclusion of arrangements between Mossay and Co., Ltd., and Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., for the manufacture of "Orwell " chassis at, Ipswich. The range of load capacities will be one ton to 2-i tons.
Independent brakes.
The Dartford magistrates on Friday last, held that a flywheel brake was not to be reckoned independent of the use of the engine in a -steam lorry, and that a second efficient brake, over and -above the use of the reversing capacity of the engine must be provided. A case was stated for appeal, so that the matter cannot be looked upon as finally settled. It remains sub judice. There is likely to be controversy and disagreement, for all future time, so long as any Act of Parliament or Regulation purports to insist upon the holding of both wheels on the driving axle whoa any brake is applied. The locking of wheels is eyed known to reduce the actual braking effeA, and the placing of such a degree of control in the hands of a driver., letialone the requiring of it by statute, appears to us to be dangerous rather than in the nature of a precaution, Experience, both with private cars and business motors, s shown that braking through the differential is unquestionably effective ;_ such a type of brake commends itself, in practice, to the experienced driver, more than a brake which actuates bands or shoes upon drums that are attached to the back wheels. The belief that direct braking on the back wheels is the most effective is one that cannot be demonstrated on the road, although the apparent soundness of the contention cannot be controverted in theory. A fly-wheel brake does act through the differential in effective fashion.
Siddeley-Deasy.
We are pleased to see that the report of the Siddeley-Deasy Motor Car Co., Ltd., discloses a profit of £38,230 for the 13 months ended the 30th September last. The result from the trading of this company, which is doing excellent 'Work on the commercial side, reflects the ability and capacity for development or adaptation felwhich Mr. J. D. Siddeley, the managing director, has secured an admitted reputation in the industry.
It is anticipated that the company's results for the current year will be very considerably helped by the share which they have secured of business for the Russian Government, and in other important direc
tions. We none the less understand, from Mr. Siddeley personally, that his company is in a position to give relativ 31y-early delivery of Sioneleigh two-ton chassis.
C M.U.A.
A meeting of the General Committee was held at 83, Pall Mall, S. W., on the 2nd inst.
Present,—Colonel R. E. Crompton (chairman); Mr. H. W. Wigan (vice-chairman); Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith (hon. treasurer); Messrs. Herbert Cannon, John C. Mitchell, A. Redgrave, Barnard Humphrey, W. Wolsey, Jr., E. P. Beaven, T. E. Harrison ; Messrs. R. C. Reynolds, Leo Swain and Ellis Green (representing the Manchester, Liverpool and Counties C.M.U.A.); and Mr. F. G. Bristow (secretary).
R. i. A.—Messrs. John C. Mitchell and E. S. Shrapnell-Smith Were elected to represent the C.M,U.A., on the R.I.A. Council for the year 1915.
Inconsiderate driving. — The secretary reported that a copy -of the letter received from the Chid Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis dealing with the question of inconsiderate driving, had been sent to every member of the Association in the London area.
Impressment of lorries.—The secretary reported the replies that had been received from the members in response to the letter asking for information on the question of impressment, and instructions were given as to the action to be taken thereon.
Regulating the supply of lorries. —Mr. T. E. Harrison suggested that the authorities should be approached with a view to arranging, if possible, for those firms who sup. ported the War Office Subsidy Scheme prior to the war, and owners of impressed motors, to be among the first to receive replacements of commercial motors. The following sub-committee was appointed to consider the matter :— Colonel R. E. Crompton, Messrs. W. G. Lobioit, H. W. Wigan, E. S. Shrapnell-Smith, T. E. Harrison, J. 0. Mitchell, and W. Wolsey, Jr. Licences.—Correspondenee was reported with. a member in which it was suggested that the association should endeavour to secure, in eases where owners of impressed vehicles were not able to obtain replacements, that a rebate be allowed on the Hackney Carriage Licence Fees paid thereon. The secretary was instructed to communicate with the Inland Revenue authorities.
Finance.—The financial statement was considered satisfactory.
New members.—Fourteen new iiiembers were elected.