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.
Our Special Municipal Number.
The next issue of Ties Commercial Motor will he the annual Special Municipal Number, in which a careful survey will be made of the use of power. driven vehicles and appliances in municipal service. The issue will be of special and general interest and will be published at the usual time and at the , usual price.
A Vulcan Price Reduction.
Commercial vehicle users generally will bc pleased to note a reduction in the price of the 3X-type :10-cwt. Vulcan chassis. The prioes are down 130, i.e.; with solid tyres the new price is £365, instead of £395, and with pneumatic tyres £395 instead of £425. A feature of this chassis is that any type of body —even One including hydraulic tipping gear—can be fitted without rendering the vehicle liable to a tax above ns.
A Scottish Company's Report.
The report of the Scottish General Transport Co., Ltd., for the year ended December 31st last, shows that revenue amounted to £30,793. After deducting administration and general expenses and placing £22,847 • to the renewals fund and bringing in the sum of £11,345 from the previous year, there is a balance of £4,789, and this the directors recommend should he carried forward. During the year the capital account was increased by £24,164, mainly in respect of new rolling stock. The company's fleet now consists of about 100 buses, which are run on a number of routes, chiefly in and around Kilmarnock.
A Progressive Bus Concern.
Continued progress is being made in the Darlington neighbourhood by the Express Motors, Ltd., an undertaking founded a little under a year ago by Mr. A. A. Speak. The company, which runs Reo and Guy saloon buses on heavy traffic routes, and 14-seater Chevrolets on routes where there is a smaller but regular flow of traffic, has inaugurated a service between Darlington and West Auckland, and has secured licences from the West Hartlepool Corporation for seven vehicles to be used on a service from that town to Easington. The company now has offices at Darlington and West Hartlepool, which form the centres of operation.
Safety Posts on the Road.
The Automobile Association has recently brought into use a new type of sign which, it is hoped, wilt considerably increase the safety of road users, particularly on arterial and widened roads where there are long unlighted stretches between towns and villages. The A.A. safety posts are constructed on the principle that one naturally overtakes a red light by keeping to the right of it, and when meeting a white light by keeping to the left, The new posts are constructed of sheet metal, are about 3 ft. 6 ins, high, and are fitted with reflectors of high efficiency, which are capable of catching the
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beams of medium-powered headlights at a distance of 200 yards. By the use of red and white reflectors facing in both directions, drivers are enabled to keep a safe course. The posts are merked on the " red " side: with black and white horizontal stripes, which give, under foggy conditions or in a half-light, the equivalent of a red light warning, whilst the other sides are plain white and are seen by drivers approaching from the opposite direction.
A New Dennis Model.
A new Dennis chassis is in course of production, to he known as the F-type. It has a low-level frame end is designed chiefly for passenger work. A description will appear in our next issue.
Road Transport Services in Northern Rhodesia.
By the last South African mail we learn that a 600-mile stretch of the Great North Road between Broken Hill and Abercorn, Northern Rhodesia, is, in the near future, tn have a weekly motor service. The journey will be completed in daily stages of 150 miles each. This will mean a great saving in time, as up to the present native carriers have furnished the means of transport.
Tenders for Merthyr's Buses.
The tramways committee of the Merthyr Corporation has accepted the tender of Leyland Motors, Ltd., for the supply of two Leyland Lion 29-seater omnibuses at a cost of £1,290 each. The following were the tenders which the committee received :—
In his report on the tenders, Mr. D. F. Adey, the bus superintendent, said : "On making our decision, it must be borne in mind that the machine we purchase will have to be our standard for some years until special new models arrive, which will make it essential to change. Any future orders should be merely repeat orders."
The Tax on Farm Lorries.
Farmers are congratulating themselves on the fact that increased taxation on motor lorries does not apply to vehicles between 1 and 8 tons capacity which are used solely for agricultural purposes. Scottish farmers are pleased with the removal by this year's Budget of an anomaly whereby they have been paying a higher tax than farmers in England and Wales. From January 1st next all will pay the same.
For the most part farmers in England and Wake have paid taxes for motor lorries on the scale applicable to locomotives. This was established by a test case fought by the National Farmers' Union in 1922. An appeal to establish the same principle in Scotland was lost.
The phraseology covering the new provision is :—" Vehicles registered in the name of a person engaged in agriculture and used solely by him for the conveyance of the produce of, and articles required 'for, the agricultural land which he occupies and for no other purpose."
Similar phraseology provides for the restriction of the preferential duties of £6 and /10 for tractors. Thus farmers and market gardeners only benefit. Contractors working for farmers will have to pay the ordinary rates. The £25, £28 and £30 duties provided for road locomotives used solely in agriculture by the 1926 Finance Act is abolished.
The rates will be :—Not exceeding 12 cwt. unladen, £10; over 12 cwt. but under 1 . ton unladen, £16; over 1 ton but under 2 ton unladen. £21; ever 2 tons, £25.
Good Karrier Business.
During the month a April the business transacted by Karrier Motors, Ltd., of Huddersfield, was very good, and orders for over 200 vehicles of different types and capacities were received. Many of these came from important municipal authorities, and quite a number is for six-wheelers, including a repeat for nine 40-seater single-deckers and six double-deckers from the Liverpool Corporation, and a repeat order for 12 32-seaters from the Salford Corporation. In addition, the tramways authorities of Wigan, Blackpool and Oldham are buying six-wheelers, as well as various commercial users, one of which, the Artillery Transport Co., of York, has ordered five WOO-type lorries. We are told that, in all, 13 municipalities have placed orders for Karrier six-wheeled passenger vehicles.
Licences Granted—on -Conditions.
Harwich Watch Committee has granted six bus licenoes to the Silver Queen Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., on the conditions that local labour in connection with the running and repair of the buses be employed at rates not less than the district rates, that passengers are insured against personal injury to the extent of £1,000 each, and that the company forthwith erects a substantially built garage in Dovercourt.
Camels Ousted by Motors.
For years past camel caravans have been the means adopted in the vast stretches of grazing land in Western Australia, where sheep-raisers number their flocks by the hundreds of thousands, to haul the wool clip to.the warehouses near the,gea. coast. The loads they were able to deal with were considered large for such beasts, but their gait was slow and growers could not always take advantage of rising markets before they were able to make delivery of their wool clips. This condition is rapidly passing, as the camels are now being rapidly replaced by motor lorries, which enable the sheep-raisers to rush their wool clip more quickly to the marketing points and, consequently, convert it into money more readily, High-class Caravans.
We have on several occasions in the past referred to the caravans produced by Messrs. Melville Hart and Co., St. Stephen's House, Westminster, London, S.W.1, which are sold under the name of Flatavans, and details of a number of examples of difterent types of caravan are referred to in a new booklet just issued by the company. From the many illustrations which are published in its pages it is obvious that the modern caravan, whether it be part and Parcel of a vehicle or built in the form of a trailer, is a high-class product embodying most of the conveniences and equipment which are to be found in the
average small house. Some of the pictures show interior views, and these serve' to give an excellent idea of the sumptuous degree of appointment on various caravans built by the company. The company also makes ambulance bodies, propaganda and demonstration vans, horse-boxes, shooting brakes, etc., and each of these is briefly referred to,
Studying Users' Needs.
At One time it used to be said that the American commercial-vehicle builder had a far better appreciation of "service after sales" than the average British manufacturer, but the latter is not now behind in this respect, for to-day all the prominent makers have extensive service organizations in most of the important towns and cities. In some cases the work of supplying spare parts and of undertaking repairs is carried Out through the medium of agents, but quite often direct service is given.
Some indication of the ,arrangements which the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., makes in this connection is given in a folder which the company has just issued, and which contains details of the fully-equipped central_ service depots, branch offices, where expert advice and assistance may be obtained, and of concessionnaires and repairers. A map which is included in the folder clearly shows that the company has built up a useful network of depots throughout the country, and this should be particularly welcomed by the large number of users of Albion commercial vehicles.
A Coachbuilders' Representative.
Morgan and Co., Ltd., of Leighton Buzzard, coachbuilders and 'general engineers, which was established in 1762, announces that it has appointed Mr. L. A. Windsor to be its represen7
• tative for motor bodies in the Midlands. The company has been specializing for the past three years in the mass. pro
&tenon of bodies, and in its factory, which covers 10 acres, is capable of producing 100 bodies per week. Mr. Windsor's headquarters are at 13, Queen's Road, Coventry.
Coach Tours from South Shields.
The South Shields Corporation has now decided to grant licences to the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., for seven motor coaches, the application having been deferred pending a full consideration of traffic conditions in the town. The coaches are tcf be employed for the operation of tours direct from South Shields, instead of from Sunderland and Newcastle as in the past, when passengers had to travel from South Shields to one of these points by ordinary service bus. The list of tours includes half-day and whole-day runs, as well as extended excursions to practically all parts of the country.
New Index Mark for Notts.
The Ministry of Transport has now allotted the letters VO to Nottinghamshire for use when the present series of motor identification marks is exhausted.
Manchester's Bus Purchases.
In our last week's issue, under the heading of our regular feature "Municipal Purchases and Proposals," we announced that the tramways committee of the Manchester Corporation had accepted the tender of the Associated Daimler Co., Ltd., for the supply of 15 single-deck buses.
The chassis which is to be used as the basis of these vehicles is the Associated Daimler Model 416, and they will be equipped with 32-seater saloon bodies. The outstanding details of this chassis are a 40-70 h.p. six-cylindered Daimler sleeve-valve engine, which has a bore of 81.5 mm. and a stroke of 114 mm. The power is conveyed to a single-plato clutch and thence to a fourspeed-andrreverSe gearbox, which is sn.
pended at three points in the frame. The drive is taken by a two-piece cardan shaft with Spicer joints at both ends to a worm-driven rear axle in which the worm is carried underneath. Hand and foot brakes both take effect on the rear wheels and are of the internal-expanding type.
Allen-Liversidge Dividend.
Allen-Liversidge, Ltd., announces a dividend on the preference shares of the company at the rate of 6i per cent, per annum (less tax) for the six -months ended April 30th last.
Irish Free State Imports. — No fewer than 116 commercial vehicles, valued at £14,745, were im-• ported into the Irish Free State during March last, as compared with 45 vehicles (i16,705) in the corresponding month of 1926. The aggregate imports during the first three months of the present year are officially returned at 166 vehicles (i26,162), as contrasted with 71 vehicles (£21,800) in a similar period a year ago. Motor Taxation in Holland.
Stimulated no doubt by the success that has attended the taxation of motor vehicles in Great Britain, the Dutch Government has introduced an additional tax on motors as from the beginning of this month. This tax, which is known as the Road Tax and which had to be paid an or before May 16th, amounts to 6.00 florins, or 10s. per 100 kilograms of the weight of the vehicle, with a minimum tax of 48.00 florins— the equivalent of £4. Delinquents are liable to a maximum fine of 300 florins, i.e., £25. Motor vehicles provided with cushion tyres are taxed 30 per cent. extra and with solid rubber tyres 60 per cent. extra.
Tenders Wanted for Bus Services.
We learn that tenders are being invited until June 11th next by the Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Vieinaux for the establishment and
• , working of motorbus services between Ghent and Watervliet, and between Elerck-la-Ville and Beeringen. Any British concerns interested in the services may obtain particulars on application to the company at 14, flue de in Science, Brussels, for the Cahier des Charges Special, the cost of which is .1 ft. in respect of each of the services.
Another Bridge for Glasgow.
Glasgow is already well provided with bridges, for the Clyde is spanned by 10 splendid structures of this nature, six of which are in every way adapted, both as regards width and surface, to the enormous vehicular traffic which " they have to bear. The corporation is, however, promoting a scheme for the building of yet another viaduct across the river at apoint much farther west and nearer the sva than any of the
• existing, bridges. It is estimated that it will cost over £1,000,000, and the provisional order, which will authorisu the work to be proceeded with immediately, has received the attention of the competent tribunal and is still under consideration.
As it is proposed to carry the bridge at a high level-76 ft. above that of ordinary spring tides—it will be found necessary to extend the approaches for a considerable distance on each side of the river and much valuable property
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will have to be cleared away. A ferry and a tunnel will also have to be acquired and abolished. The bridge is to be erected on two piers, separated by a clear span of 200 ft., and its width is to be 70 ft. from parapet to parapet.
New U.A.S. Buses.
West Hartlepool Corporation has granted lieenees to the United Automobile Services, Ltd., for 20 vehicles. The majority of the licences will be used for new 39-seater saloon buses, which are to be substituted on a large scale throughout the company's area of operatin for vehicles of older design.
Wants a Sales Appointment.
We know of a very capable man who is seeking a responsible position on the sales side of an established concern in the motor industry. He has a wide knowledge of motor trade matters and has been engaged in the sale of business motor vehicles for more than 20 years. He has been responsible for organizing selling campaigns which have achieved much success. Letters marked care of the Editor, will be forwarded to the proper quarter. The Petrol Pumps Bill.
The parliamentary committee of the London County Council reports that it has had under consideration the Roadside Petrol Pumps Bill. The Bill was a private member's Bill, and its object was to enable highway authorities to permit the erection of petrol supply pumps on the edge of the roadway.
Having regard to the resolution of the council on .Deceinber. 11th, 1917, expressing the opinion that it was undesirable to permit in London the supply of petrolenha spirit or petroleum oil from fixed standpipes in the streets, the committee gave instructions foraction to be taken to secure, if possible, the rejecfion of the Bill, which is awaiting second reading.
Recent Orders for Thornycrofts.
During the week ended April 30th last, John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., received a number of. orders for passenger and goods models, one of the most important being for five type Al chassis to be equipped with van bodies, this coming from the pollee department of the Glasgow Corporation. Hinge sided lorries lorries in which the company's 30-cwt. subsidytype chassis is used have been ordered by the Holbrook Motor Co., of Richmond, the Coneyg,re Foundry, Ltd., of Tipton, Crummaek and Co., Ltd., of Manchester, and Cutlack and Harlock, Ltd., of Ely. Three type KB 3-tormers are being built for the Anglo-American
Co., Ltd.
Several orders for buses and coaches were received, as well as one fOr eight type A2 chassis from the makers' Singapore branch, and another for six type KB 3-ton chassis for its Australian company.
A Shopping Week Parade.
In connection with the inauguration of the Empire Shopping Week at Nottingham, when the formal ceremony in relation to the event was performed by Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, President of the Board of Trade, one of the most attractive features was the display of decorated motor vehicles, which, prior to a tour through the principal streets of the city, were assembled on the embankment contiguous to the Trent. Competitions had been arranged for decorated cars in four classes, and forty entries had been received, the four classes related to British Empire food, British Empire beverages, food manufactured in Nottingham or within a radius of seven miles of the city, and a miscellaneous class. Some of the most attractive vehicles were paraded by the National I3enzole Co., Ltd., Boots Pure Drug Co., Ltd., John Player and Sons, and Messrs. Shipstone, local breWers, which possesses one of the largest fleets of commercial vehicles in Nottingham.
The judges were : Mr. A. N. Sullivan, Miss N. V. Ramsden and Mr. P. Norman; the organizing committee comprising Mr. J. 11.
Trease, of Nottingham, secretary of the East Midlands branch of the Commercial Motor Users' Association ; Capt. C. Davenport, chairman of the East Midlands branch of the C.M.U.A.; and Mr. V. D. Thomas ; the latter acting as chief marshal, assisted by Messrs. B. K. White, C. W. Cullen and H. Davieson.
Protecting Ratepayers' Interests.
In a letter to the Bolton Watch Committee with reference to the application of a proprietor to ply for hire in the borough on a service from Blackpool to Manchester, the secretary of the Bolton Motor Coach Owners' Association intimates that if the application is granted it would be prejudicial to the interests of the Bolton ratepayers who have sunk large sums of money in order to provide road facilities for Bolton people. The council is urged not to grant the licences.
Orders for Sheiflex Chassis.
Amongst the orders which have just. been received by the Sheffiex Motor. Co., Tinsley, Sheffield, is one from the South Yorkshire Chemical Works, Ltd., of Rotherham,' for a 30-40-cwt. model on pneumatic tyres, this being a repeat order. Mr. Fred Sillett, of King's Lynn, is buying a 30-40-cwt. Shefflex
chassis, and a similar model is being constructed for the Triard'Motor Co., of Edmonton. The company also has under construction a 40-50-cwt. van for the Lancashire Confectionery Co., Ltd., of Liverpool.
Buses for Bilston ?
So soon as a decision can be reached by the Bilston local authority Wolverhampton Corporation will substitute buses for trams on the Easton route. It is seven months since the matter was -first taken in hand, but, so far, Bilston itself has not moved in the matter.
Monthly Bus Licences.
The Barry Urban District Council has instructed a committee to examine the qestion of bus licences to see if an
alteration can be made to ensure greater, control of buses. A proposal put to the council, which is to be considered by the committee, is that licences should be issued for periods of one month only. It is contended that the liability to the suspension of their service at the end of any month would result in proprietors conforming with the council's rules. It might, however, be stated that the monthly licence system has been tried by other South Wales authorities and found to be unsatisfactory.
Big Orders for Passenger-vehicle
Seats.
We are informed that G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd., has recently secured two large orders from municipal authorities for seats for passenger vehicles, one being from the London County Council T:-arnways for 4,900 seats, and the other from the Edinburgh Corporation
Tramways for 2,210 seats. As our readers well know, this company makes a wide range of seats which are suitable for use in all types of passengercarrying vehicle.
More Express Buses. .
The Lancashire United Transport and Power Co., Ltd., is seeking licences in respect of an express service of motorbuses between Manchester and Bolton.
New Man.xland Services.
Subject to the consent of the Douglas (Isle of Man) Corporation having been obtained, the subsidiary company of the ' Cumberlaid Motor Services, Ltd., which bas taken in hand the deVelopment of motorbus services in the Isle of Man, intended to inaugurate its venture yes• terday (May 16th). Two routes have been drawn up---Douglas to Peel, and Douglas to Port Erin, between which places there will be hourly journeys throughout the day from 7.30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The company has adopted the name of " Manxland " to identify the vehicles, --which are of Associated Daimler make. Other Isle of Man concerns are stated to be forming a company to operate Thornycroft 20-seater motorbuses.
The Manufacture and Application of Bearings.
The Ransome and Marks Bearing Co., Ltd., Newark-on-Trent, has just issued a new catalogue which contains much useful' data regarding the manufacture and application of ball and roller bearings. The catalogue is divided into a number of sections, particular reference to any of which can quickly be made by the useful thumb index provided. Several types of bearing, which have not previously been listed by the company, are referred to in detail in the catalogue.
Popular Associated Daimler Models.
The Associated, Daimler Co., Ltd., tells us that during the two months ended April 27th last, it received orders for a large number of chassis of various types, 56 per cent, of the orders coming from companies already employing Associated Daimler chassis. One of the largest was from the Anglo-Argentine Tramways, of Buenos Aires, for 70 bus chassis, whilst another big order was received from the Glasgow General Omnibus Motor Services for 25 Model 416 'bus chassis and two 2-21--tonners. The company also has under construction 13 Model 416 bus chassis for Autocar Services, Ltd., of Tunbridge Wells, and 10 chassis of the same type for the South Wales Transport Co.
On the goods-carrying side the company received, during the period mentioned, an order for 15 chassis from the London and North Eastern Railway Co.
Royal Show Arrangements.
In connection with the Royal Agricultural Show, which this year is to be held at Newport (Mon.), from July 5th to 9th, arrangements have been made for extensive advertising of the show on South Wales bus routes. The local arrangements are far advanced, and include the provieion of special local bus services. A. "talk" on the show will be broadcast from the Cardiff broadcasting station on June 25th by Alderman Moxon, Newport. The new Tick bridge was opened to tramway traffic on May 3rd, and will be opened for general traffic shortly before the show commences.
Fines for Non-adherence to Schedules.
The Swan Motor Co., Ltd., which rune buses on the Swansea-Bishopston route, has suggested a novel arrangement to the Gower Rural District Council to ensure adherence to timetables by the rival services operating on the Swansea-Gower route. The company submits a time-table to which it would be prepared to agree, and asks that an interval of fifteen minutes be
tween the departure of rival buses from termini be insisted upon by the council. As a shorter interval would result in the infringing company gaining passengers at the expense of a rival the company proposes that a fine of 1s. per minute be paid by the owner of the offending bus to the company which owns the bus due to leave next. The proposal is being considered.
Useful Compressor Equipment.
The latest type of compressor equipment marketed by Lacy-Hulbert and Co., Ltd., 91, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, for use in garages, service stations, tyre depots, etc., is referred to in a leaflet which the company has recently issued. This gives a good idea of the capacity of each compressor and of the uses to which it can be put.
A Leeds-to-London Service Abandoned.
Leeds Watch Committee reports that the South Yorkshire Motor Co., which in December last obtained licences for a. service between Leeds and London, has notified its inability to commence the service.
Bury's Bus Bill.
One day last week a committee of the House of Commons declared proved the preamble of the Bill conferring powers on the Bury Corporation to run motorbuses outside the borough boundary within an area of five miles of the centre of the town. The corporation originally sought powers to run services in an area of 10 miles. The Bill, which has already passed the House of Lords, gives the authorities power to run through services between different boroughs by arrangement with other corporations.
Bournemouth to Torquay Daily.
Torquay Corporation has received a letter from Elliott Bros. (Bournemouth), Ltd., stating that it has had under consideration a proposal to run a daily service between Bournemouth and Torquay, via Exeter, leaving Bournemouth each day at 10 a.m., and Torquay at 10 a.m., and asking for licences to be granted to pick up passengers in the borough. The application was acceded to provided that the vehicles are used on the proposed service only.