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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

18th July 1922, Page 4
18th July 1922
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Page 4, 18th July 1922 — WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by old difyicaltie3 of transport at whatever points arisimg, the roughness of the'roads over which it nuns."--John _Beattie Croziw, as a carriage is by

Taxation Returns.

The figures concerning the registration and licensing of Motbr vehicles for the period from December 1st to May 31st, and of the tax collected in that period in Great Britain, have just been published by the Ministry of Transport. They show that up to the date mentioned £9,558,375 has been collected in motor taxation, this sum, however, being subject to adjustment as regards refunds, etc. The number of commercial goods vehicles registered was 144,674, as compared with 135,000 registered on December 1st last, go there has been an increase instead of a falling off, as so many people have asserted to be the case. The number of hackney vehicles registered is less, however, being 74,389 on May 31st, ascompared with 76;000 on December lst. Of road locomtives there were 2,314 and of motor tractors 1,399, as compared with 2,600 and 1,550 respectively on December 1st. The ekempted vehicles, such as fire-engines, etc., totalled 10,747, as against 11,000 in December.

To Avoid the Risk of Delay.

The need for better cross-river traffic facilities on the River Mersey is shown by the following incident. On a recent Friday 24 motor coaches, conveying to Llangollen about e700 employees of a local firm, travelled to Chester from Liverpool via Warrington, thus covering 36 miles instead of 16, the distance by way of Birkenhead. An official of the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., the company which supplied the motor coaches, said that the party had to work to a strict time-table, and as there was always the risk of delays from congestion of traffic on the ferries they preferred the longer route.

Reconstructing an Old Coach Road.

For some time past he Cardiganshire County Council has had under consideration the scheme for reconstructing the old coach road from Aberystwyth. to Hereford, across the heart of Wales, and has been in communicationwith other county authorities through whose area the coach road passes.

Since the construction of the Cambrian Railway, some sixty years ago the portion between Cwinystwyth and Rhayader has been allowed to get into disrepair, but 'greatly increasing road transport has, owing to its geographical situation, caused the road once more to assume great importance. It is the shortest, and only direct, route to Aberystwyth from the Midlands, and is some miles shorter than the roadthrough the Elan Valley, and past the Birmingham Waterworks.

A scheme of repair involving local a-uthorities in from £20,000 to £30,000 has been abandoned owing to the Montgomery and Radnor County Councils backing out of the proposal. However, a mining engineer, who is a member of the Cardiganshire governing body, has brought forward a scheme which. at small cost, will enable the road from Cwmystwyth to the Radnorshire border to be made fit for motor 020 transport. The Rhayader UrbanCouncil is asked by the Cardiganshire County Council to render the road suitable for traffic, and the Road Board and Unemployment Committee are to be asked fot grants to enable the work to be carried out.

Ford Prices Down Again.

Ford prices would not appear to remain fixed for any lengthy period, as another reduction has recently been announced for all models. So far as the commercial models are concerned, the delivery van has been reduced £5, from £155 to £150; the one-ton chassis from £170 to £160; the one-ton truck from £210 to .£185, and the one-ton van from ...210 to £190. Extras include £15 for a starter and £5 for demountable rims.

Refusing Bus Licences.

An application was made to the Merthyr Town Council by Messrs. D. Davies and Sons, bus proprietors, of Dowla.is, for permission to continue with their hus services on the temporary route, via High Street, on the journey from Merthyr to Dowiais. The normal route is through Bethesda Street, and this meant, an increased mileage of 72 per week. Despite this fact adduced and that the company stated that they found no inconvenience from crowds in High Street., and that no accident had occurred, the application was refused. Several applications for licences on new routes or extended services on present routes were also refused.

New Thames Valley Bus Services.

Three new routes are to be worked by the Thames Valley Traction Co. (Reading), all of them operating from Uxbridge, where a garage accommodating 20 cars has been ereoted.

The services will be :—(1) Uxbridge to Great Missenden, via Chalfont St. Peter and Amersham. (2) Uxbridge to Rickmansworth, via Denham and West Hyde. (3). Uxbridge to • Windsor, via Cowley, Iver, Langley and Slough. In addition, the company Will take over the Hounslow-Uxbridge and Uxbridge-Wycombe services now run by the London General Co. In the case of the latter route, buses have hitherto been supplied frotri Acton garage, having

journey of over ten miles before acting "in service." .

We regret the error by which the initials D.S.O. were attached to the name of Lieut.-Col. Frank Garrett, C B • F. , T.D., A.M.Inst C .E. A.M.I. Mecb,F.,, in the group. of caricatures of prominent personalities at the liciyal Show appearing in our last issue, The Daimler Co.,. Ltd., Daimler Works, Coventry, have just. published an interesting booklet on the Daimler sleeve-valve engine, which gives a brief history of the production of this engine, and embodies particulars of the -fmons original test to which • it was subjected, when in April, mg, ft won for the company the highly coveted Dewar trophy.

Midland Roads.

Attention was directed at the first meeting of the recently formed Notts Surveyors' Association, held at Newark, to the great impfovements effected in recent years with regard to roads in that part of the Midlands. There will be general agreement upon the part of users of commercial motors and other mechanically propelled vehicles that No tt6, authorities have in this respect, set a very laudable example, justifying a not unreasonable claim which was put forward, by Viscount Galway at an assembly of the county council that Notts roads may be considered as being among the best in the country.

The recent Newark assembly was attended by Major Cooke, divisional inspector for the Ministry of Transport, and from him the official assurance was forthcoming that all schemes submitted for improving road conditions receive the very careful consideration of the department, it being lack of rnehris alone which prevented the Ministry from carrying out many more projects than it is now able to do, The desire was to co-operate to the fullest extent with the surveyors of all local authorities, and to maintain the cordial relationships which be was glad to say had already been established:

A Capacious Body.

Those users who require a capacious body on a light van chassis will be particularly interested in the body built. by Messrs. Bonallack and Sons, St. George's" Works, Cable Street, London, E. 1, and fitted on a Baico-Forcl chassis. The vehicle which has been supplied to the makers of Star baby cars has a loading capacity of somewhere about 430 Cubic feet, and for laundry and similar trades where a targe carrying capaCity is essential this Bonallack-Baieo combination would appear to be unegnalled. The body is well built and fully maintains the reputation which Messrs. Bonallack have built up for coachwork of excellent design and manufacture. The doors are framed and fitted with grooved panels, the canopy being of sheet aluminium, and the main body of the roof covered with seamless roofing. The vehicle, of which we have seen a picture, certainly presents a very workmanlike and pleaslog e.,ppea'rance.

ItalianBearings for British Users. _ The Ball Bearing Supply Co., 56-58, Eagle Street., Southampton Row, London, W:C. 1, have been appointed sole British agents for the Italian corn pany of ball bearing manufacturers, Messrs. Officine di Villar Perosa, -Villa • Pero,sa, Pineroio. This 'Company have been established for 20 years and employ 1,000 hands in their well-equipped factory at Villa Perosa, a small towil within a. short journey of Turin.. The British company will be earryinglarge stocks of all standard bearings.

-Allen-Liversidge, Ltd.,' have declared an interim dividend for the six months ended April 30th at therate of 7 per cent, per annum (less tax), payable on August 15th.

Testing a Bridge.

An interesting test has been carried out on Menai Bridge (North Wales) to ascertain its weight-carrying capacity. _Eleven vehicles (carts' motor lorries and char-a-bancs, all loaded andscene weighted) were utilized for the trial. They went in slow procession across the bridge, during which time an official of the Ministry of Transport, posted on top 'ef the pillae nearest the span on the Anglesey side, was noting the effect on the chains. It is stated that the total weight of the vehicles on the central span at the same time was approximately 40 tons. Another, and evidently more severe,test, judging by the way the central span shook, was made. A motor lorry was driven over planks laid at the end of the span and at the centre. This caused severe bumping.

The tests occupied the whole of the morning, but were not continuous, so that -traffic was not materially affected.

Company Registrations.

• The statistical report of new companies registered duripg the half-year January to June, 1922, which has been compiled by Jordon and Sons Ltd., Chancery Lane, London, W.C. 2, shows an encouraging increase in the number of companies registered compared with the corresponding period in 1021, representing rather more than 30 per cent. increase, although the average capitalization declined from £10,980 to £10,766. Two public companies interested in motor vehicles with a capital of £50,000, and 193 companies other than public with a combined capital of £1,487,050, were registered during the period. Five public companies dealing in oil and 34 other than public companies were registered. the former having a combined capital of £915,000 and the latter £157,850.

.Motors versus Railways "Down Under."

Remarks of interest to motor traders were made recently by the Prime Mthistereof New Zealand, Mr. Massey, when dealing with the question of railway reforms. After stating that the railway tariff was being revised, ho , said : "Motor traffic is now competing very seriously with the railways in those districts of the Dominion where roads are good, and there is no doubt that motor traffic has come to stay. An effort will

be made to utilize this traffic to provide feeders to the railways rather than allow It to continue to enter into competition with them. In some cases arrangements may be made for the Railway Department to run its own motors for the purpose of collecting and delivering goods." As an example of this competition, the Levin Dairy Co. are forwarding butter to Wellington by motor lorry, with the iesult that the butter is in cool store at 2 p.m. On the day of shipment, instead of being in the railway trucks all night. On the return trip the lorries carry chiefly benzine:

Devonshire Bus Development.

We briefly intimated in our last week's issue that a, .new bus company had taken over the control of the Devon General Omnibus Co.'s organization. It is stated that it is the intention of the new board to adopt the COIL stitution of the old company, to take over the omnibuses of the Torquay Tramways Co., and to increase the capital of the Devon General CO. by making a public issue of preference shares guaranteed by the Torquay Tramways Co. The general title of the company will be changed to the Devon General Motor Services, Ltd. Under the new arrangement the reconstructed company will have something like 60 to 70 buses under their control, and this will almost inevitably result in an extension of servicesin the various areas in South Devon which are served. The services are well patronized by residents and holiday. makers.

For Karrier Users.

Karrier Motors, Ltd., Karrier Works, Huddersfield, have just issued a new catalogue dealing with the K. and S. K.type Karrier commercial motor vehicle. The book deals very 'thoroughly with the construction of these two types, and gives complete specifications of the various models .produced. A section of the catalogue is devoted to a brief description of bodies Suitable for fitting to Karrier chassis, these including various types of goods bodies as well as bus-and coach bodies of various designs.

Sterns, Ltd., inform us that they have obtained a renewal of contract from the Ford Motor Co. (England), Ltd., Manchester, and are now supplying the company with the whole of their requirements of engine oil.

Alcohol From Molasses.

It is repotted from Melbourne that the Bundaberg distillery is about to undertake the manufacture of power alcohol from molasses, conditionally on one or

two factors proving favourable. The distillery is capable of producing 60,000 gallons a month. Already certain satisfactory experiments in the production of alcohol fuel have taken place, and the distillery's aim is to produce a fuel that will not require any admixture of petrol or benzine. It is hoped to be able to offer the Bundabere* product at a price below that ruling to-day for imported motor spirit.

Rural Councils and Passenger Vehicle Developments.

The annual conference Of the Rural District councils' Association was held a few days ago, when Mr. E. C. Newstead proposed " that in view of the alarming increase in the coat of road maintenance, bepresentation be made to the Ministry of Transport as to the necessity of further grants-in-aid being made to rural district councils out of the roads funds."

Mr. Neville Hobson, on this occasion, read a paper on " Motorbus and CharI-bance Services," and .a resolution was adopted requesting the executive council to consider the practical difficulties of rural district councils with respect to the running of regular motorbus and char-he banes services, and to take steps to get official machinery devised to enable councils to take action whenever nuisances arose in connection with these vehicles.

A Demonstration of Fire Appliances.

An interesting demonstration of Dennis fire-fighting applianos was recently given at the Wisley Hut Food, when some 120 members and delegates of the Professional Fire Brigades' Association watched the new Dennis trailer pumping set working two 3-4-in, jets and pumping 350 gallons per minute at a pres• sure of 100 lb. The machines shown in the illustration which we publish range from the 10 h.p. 100-150-gallon portable pumping set to the 60-70 h.p. 500-6C0gallon turbine motor fire pump, and include a street.. watering and washing wagon,

Reciprocal Rights.

At a special meeting of the Cardiff Watch Committee the Lord Mayor stated that, with the corporation's officials, he had interviewed Sir Henry Maybury with regard to the granting of licences to Barry char -a-banes owners for sers vices to Cardiff.

The Ministry insisted that 12 licences should be granted to Barry concerns over this route, the licences being allocated to

three different owners. Cardiff concerns,: continued the Lord Mayor, had been invited to apply for.licerices, but had been very reluctant' to -doso.-It Wassagreed, ,after discussion, to comply with theMinistry of Transport's wish and grant the 12 licences. 4 reservation, however, was made that this derision would only be -carried` out subject to the .Barry. Council granting licences, in rediprocation, to any Cardiff hua-owning companies • Who .chhose • to make application to them for rights of running in Barry over the Barry-Cardiff

route.

Passing the Tramcar. •

With regard to representation by the Deptford Borough Courted as to the " cutting in " by vehicles at tramway stopping-places. the Commissioner, of Police says the questionof vehicles passing stationary tramcars on the near side has been the subject of very careful inquiry for a eonsiderable period. In the opinion of the police, however, the present law is considered strong enough to deal with the point, as if a person driving a vehicle passes a tramcar on the near side, and dries so in a manner or at a speed which is dangerous to the public, he commits an offence, and is liable to

a heavy penalty. The Commissioner adds that the police have instructions to take action in all cases of this kind which Came to their notice.

Derby Transport Arrangements.

Although notable improvements have been effected lately with regard to corporation transport arrangements at Derby, including the introduction of many motor vehicles, the result has apparently not been such as to occasion general satisfaction. Mr. Frank Porter complained at the last meeting of the council that information in relation to the matter had been officially refused, and suggested that upon the total expenditure /15,000 could be saved.

Mr, J. Newton condemned many misleading statements to which the subject c22

had given rise. It had been said that the collection of house refuse cost 11 a ton, but he assured the council that the cost of the mechanical vehicles worked out at 9s. 1d_ a ton at Derby, whilst at Birmingham it was from 12s. to 14s. a ton. The cost of the horse-drawn vehicles was 10s. 2d. a ton in Derby, 10s. 6d. in Sheffield and 9s. in Nottingham.

Evidence of the intention of the council

to bring matters up to data was afforded by its confirsnaticn of the action of the transport committee in ordering the pre. .paration of a complete inventory of c.

informa

tion vehicles, with detailed nforma tion as to the various methods of keeping records and as to the use of hired transport. •

• A Wefsh Outing. •

The staff of the South Wales Commercial Motors, Ltd.; Cardiff and Bridgend, recently held their annual summer outing to Ilfraconibe. As many members as could be spared -without disorganizing the daily inter-town services were taken at an' early hoar in the' company's bilges Cardiff pierhead, and erhbarked for Ilfracombe. Lunch was takenat Southcombe's Restaurant, .Mr. S. B. Norris and Mr. E. Mountain presiding. After an enjoyable day the members of the . party reassembled for tea on the boat on the return journey, and were again conveyed by the company's buses from the Cardiff landing-stage to town centre.

9,000 Vehicles for . America.

The burden of the war-returned lorry continues to exercise a malign influence on the commercial vehicle markets of the world, and that America hsis its own little troubles in this direction is indicated by a recent dispatch from Paris, in which it is stated that there are approximately 7,000 lorries and other heavy motor vehicles in France at the present time, which will be dumped in the United States if it is found that they can be reconditioned and shipped back to the country of their origin. Mbtor Age states that 50 per cent. of this total are serviceable, and will need no reconditioning.

According to the British Liquidation and Disposals Board, them are also close upon 1,800 American war-used vehicles in this country, which will ultimately be sent to the States. For the moment shippers are withholding immediate shipment of the vehicles from .b'rance and England because of the pending leg.ishie tion in Congress at Washington, which; introduced through the instrumentality of motor vehicle dealers in the country, aims at the elimination of competition from war-used vehicles sold at prices far below those at present prevailing, by the imposition of a 90 per cent, reimportation tax on all motor vehicles ro turned to America.

A Valuable New Road.

Users of motor vehicles of all classes will benefit considerably on completion of the scheme for a. new road from the south end of the town, to connect with Seaton Lane, which has been approved by the West Hartlepool Town Council. The cost is to be 130,688, and the ultimate object is to continue the new highway to the Seaton Carew and Middlesbrough Road, at an estimated additional expenditure of /53,734, This hew outlet from a busy industrial centre will indeed be of material advantage to the district as a whole.

Mud-splash Experiments.

Bradford Watch Committee has witnessed a demonstration of Smith's mndsplaeh prevention apparatus, and now re• ports that it deems it desirable to have extended tests under ordinary working conditions, and has asked the tramways committee to arrange for such tests to be carried out with various vehicles.

What a Ford Saves.

The Works Committee of the Hammersmith Borough Council recommends the purchase of a 1-ton Ford lorry. The committee mentions that in connection with the cartage work it has had a comprehensive report by the borough engineer and surveyor on the advantages of 1-ton Ford motor lorries for this purpose. If one or more of these vehicles were provided they would be of considerable service in despatching road material, etc., to the various parts of the borough without waste of time, and from a comparison of running costs it appears that one of such lorries, on a low computation, would be equal to two horses and carts. The lowest charge at present for the hire of two horses and carts, including, of course, the wages of the drivers, is 35s. per day, and the running cost of a Ford motor lorry is estimated at 28s. 5d. per day, including an allowance for depreciation, this comparison showing a saving of approximately 6s. 7d. per day.

Improving the Great North Road. Work is rapidly advancing in connection with the project for improving the Great North Road, at a point north of Newark, by the construction of a new bridge ova: the Trent at Muskham. The new structure, which is being built in ferro-concrete and the parapets of which will be finished in masonryfrom the Stonecliffe quarries in Derbyshire, is in two 100-ft. spans, with two 25-ft.. flood openings, the bridge being 40 ft. wide between parapets, embracing two 6-ft. paths and a 28-ft. carriageway, the gradient of approach being 1 in 100. The foundations have been placed about 12 ft. below the winter water-level, the abutments being on mass concrete, with a 5-ft. base slab over the whole area at the bottom and with a 9-ft. pier in front, supported by buttresses 4 ft. and 5 ft. thick.

A Bus Company's Preferential Treatment. • Marypart is at present the scene of an interesting controversy with regard to the -right to use one of the streets of the town as a terminus for private bus owners_ The local urban district council, with a view to making for public safety, wish to reserve Curzon Street exclusively for the motor omnibuses of the Cumberland Motor Omnibus Co., and to move private owners to other thoroughfares in the town. This the latter heatedly con-. test., and assert that they have equal rights with a company on the King's highway, and point out that, as previous owners of horse vehicles, they were running over 50 years ago, they have acquired a prescriptive right, to stand in the street named. The council hold. that patrons of the small vehicles will ge to the termini wherever they are fixed, and threaten to adopt the hackney carriage by-laws,. by means of which they

would have compulsory powers. •

A Watson Dynamometer Award. The Watson drawbar dynamometer, which was specially designed by Mr. G. W. Watson, M.I.Mech.E., M.I.A.E., for the International Tractor Trials held at Shrewsbury last year by the S.M.M. and T., was awarded a silver medal at the Royal Show last week at Cambridge. At the tractor trials a number of these instruments were used for testing tractors and tractor-drawn agricultural implements, such as ploughs, cultivators, etc. They are also suitable for ascertaining the tractive resistance of wheeled or chain-track vehicles, and have since been found to be of use for various similar purposes. Full information can be' obtained from Mr. G. W. Watson, 50, Pall Mall, S.W. 1.

Cargo of Lorries Lost. • Messrs. Guy Motors Ltd., have received eir New 'Zealand agents, Messrs. Hughes and Cosser, Auckland, New Zealand, that a consignment of their 25-cwt. lorries were lost in the s.s. "Wiltshire," which ha i been wrecked off the coast of Auckland. 'Needless to say, Guy Motors, Ltd., have received instructions to 'replace these as .soon as 'possible. These lorries were

fully insured . .

C.M.U.A. Worcester Parade. The third annual parade of the Worcester and District Area of the C.M.U.A. is to be held on Tuesday, August 8th, on Pitcheroft, Worcester. There are in all eight classes open to members or nonmembers of the Association, these being :—(1) Champion vehicle (any, capacity), steam and petrol classes; (2) single vehicle,.petrol or electric, not exceeding 15-cwt. capacity;. (3) ditto, 30-cwt. capacity; (4) ditto, 60-cwt. capaoity; (5) ditto, exceeding cwt ; (6) single, vehicle, steam, exceeding 60-cwt.capacity; (7) oldest vehicle; (8) long-service prize for driver with longest term of employment with one .user. The last day for entries is July 29th.

Mr. W. Wakelam, the secretary of the north-eastern division (Sheffield and, Rotherham area) of the C.M.U.A., has relinquished the post of transport manager which he held with Henry Boot and Sons (London), Ltd., 152, Moore Street, Sheffield. He has commenced business on his own account as an agent and factor in Sheffield, and has secured the representation of several concerns of repute.

'The Rotameter.

The Rotameter is an instrument de. signed to measure the rate of flow through a pipe, per minute or per hour, of any gas or liquid in cubic feet, gallons or, lb., or in metric measure. The instrument is made at Aix-laChapelle and distributed hi Great Britain by Messrs. Trost Bros., 20, Little.Park Street, Coventry. The Rotameter gives a direct and accurate reading and is very sensitive. It can be used for oils, acids and' 'alkalies and certain corrosives for which most Meters are unsuitable. Apart from many other uses it: will chiefly interest those in the commercial vehicle industry on mount of the fact that it can m_eatore the petrol and fuel Oil' con. unnotiou ;in internal-ceref‘oation engines • For laboratory and research work, instruments can be supplied to give accurate' readings down ta one hundredth of a cubic foot per hour, and for industrial uses up to one hundred thousand cubic 'feet per hour. The scale on the Rotameter can be graduated to read in cubic feet, gallons, litres, lbs., etc., per nour -or per minute, and pressures up to 120 lb. per sq in. and temperatures up to 220 degrees Centigrade.can be dealt with. The price of the Rotameterais said to be moderate, and its installation is certainly a very simple matter.

New Welsh Bus Services.

New passenger, omnibus services are projected in two of the South Wales mining districts. The Mae,steg TJ.D.C. has deferred decision on the application for permission to run a daily service in the Caerau district made by the South Wales Commercial Motors, Ltd., and the Wynyddislvryn Council has agreed to Mr. W. Phillips putting on a daily service from Blackwood to Oakdale (Mon.). The Wynyddislwyn Council has, how. ever, declined to sanction a service between Blackwood arid Cwmgeluifach on. the ground, that the roads are in such condition that a motor service could not be fun without, danger to -the public.

Pre-war Fares..

Recently the Formby (near Liverpool) Council decided that the hackney carriage fares prevailing in the district should be readjusted to pre-war rates. This has drawn from a proprietor in the district the complaint that with the. increased costa compared with pre-war times, it is impossible to make ends meet. The council has decided that an application for a further revision of the hackney carriage fares be not entertained, and to write to the hackney carriage proprietors in the district, drawing their attention to the revision of the fares and informing them that if the police make any report of any contravention of the hackney carriage by-laws legal proceedings will be taken without further notice.

Bus Licence Fees.

The Lianaly Borough Council has received a reply to its communication to the Ministry of Transport, to the effect that nothing can be done to obtain for the borough a portion of licence fees paid by owners outside the borough running buses into the Llanelly area.

However, the Llanelly Council is now

to appeal to the Swansea Corporation and the Carmarthenshire County Council for an allocation of part of the bus licence revenue obtained by them. From Swansea, a distance of some 12 miles, a large number of licensed buses and chars-' h-bancs run daily into LlanoIly. the South Wales Transport Co., for example, a Swansea, concern, run daily inter-town passenger services, and station some of their machine's at Lianaly, though -they are licensed at Swansea. The clerk told the Llanelly Council that he had taken this matter up with the manager of the company, who had given an undertaking to bring the matter to the notice of the, company, and do his best to get those buses stationed at Llanelly licensed there.

Duties on Motor Parts.

it is estimated, according to an advice from Melbourne, that the transference by the Federal Minister for Customs of a large number of automobile Sparcparts to a new division of the tariff will 'represent an additional

024

annual cost of £200,000 to motor importers. The duty on ,British spare parts was altered from 10 per cent. to 40 per cent., while the general tariff was changed from 14 per cent. to 55 per cent. The. Adelaide Mail, in commenting on the action of the Government, remarks that it does not stop here, as it is also proposed to bring the following :Tares under a higher rate of duty:— Transmission gears, differential gears, chai•ns, sprocket wheels, crown wheels and pinions, worm and worm wheels, ball joints, ball cups and cones, universal joints, steering gears, segments and worms, bolts and nuts, differential housings, wheel hubs, sleeves for Hyatt rollers, bearings and gears of all descriptions.

Anansulated Van.

We illustrate on this page a Leyland insulated van, which is one of a fleet built by Leyland Motors, Ltd:, for Bolton Insulated Transports, Ltd.

The chassis is a reconditioned 4-ton R.A.F. (G type). The body has a frame of ash, with outside mahogany panels and inside lining of zinc, with 14 ins. thickness of cork between, which pro vides absolute insulation. The van is not only insulated round the sides but also the front and the doors at the rear as well as the roof and flooring. The doors are specially rebated so as to make the van fully dust and draught proof. This machine is of very attractive appearance, being painted green with the lettering in gold.

Lieut.-Col. D. J. Smith, 0.B.E., is the president-elect of the Institution of Automobile Engineers.

A new price list of cord tyres has just been issued by the B. F. Goodrich Co., Ltd., 117-123, Golden Lane, London, B.C.

A gentleman, well-known in the in. chisitry, who was until recently associated in a managerial capacity with a company producing one of the most popular light cars, is free to consider an appointment. Letters should be addressed in the first place to "NM.,' care of the Editor, The Commercial Motor, 7-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.G. 1.

Local. Proceedings.

Lewisham Board of Guardians has decided to purchase a Ford chassis.

The Pembroke R.D.C. has under consideration the question of acquiring new steam-roller plant.

Stretford Urban District Council has purchased a Ford chassis from Messrs. Quick, Ltd., at a cost of £211 10s.

Kendal Corporation Highways iCommittee recommends the purchase of a 2-ton Vulcan lorry at a maximum price of £735.

Ossett Town Council has appointed a sub-committee to report as to the provision of motor tfansport for the highways department.

Aa a preliminary to the purchase of a 'motor road-sweeper, the works committee of the Cz.mberwell Borough Council has inspected various makes of machines.

Rochdale Corporation Cleansing Committee reports that it has purchased a 3-ton Leyland chassis fitted with a special body and hydraulic tipping gear.

Sydney (N.S.W.) Municipal Council has adopted a recommendation, of its works committee to purchase a Karrier street-sweeping machine at a cost a £2,600.

The proposed arrangement between the Worthing Corporation and the Samuelson Transport Co., Ltd., for booking motor coaches at the pier has not matured.

The sanitary department of Bangkok invites tenders for four 3-ton motorvans for the collection of city refuse. Tenders must be presented before October 1st, and local representation is essential.

The works committee of the Camberwell Borough Council recommends the purchase of a 5-ton Sentinel end-tipping steam wagon, with detachable 850-gallon water tank, at a cost of £1,150, and a Ford lorry at a cost of 2258.

The Bethnal Green Board of Guardians invites tenders for the supply of a 25-30 h.p. Crossley chassis fitted with standard L.C.C. . pattern two-stretcher ambulance body. Tenders must be delivered not later than first post, on July 25th.

Having been given to understand that the Wimbledon Corporation contemplates the purchase of a road-sweeping machine, International Motor's, Ltd., have notified that they have a vehicle which they would be glad to submit for inspectican The corporation has referred the matter to a committee.

The Cardiff Corporation has decided to call for an estimate of the cost of reconstructing and repairing the roads Of the city. The whole question of road condition generally in the area was debated at the last watch committee meeting, and a move for improvement is certain.

The London County Council invites tenders for the supply of seven petroldriven motor fire-engines for service with the London brigade. British manufacturers who have not already received particulars of these requirements may be in a position to quote immediately, although it must be stated that tenders cannot be received later than II a.m. to-day (Tuesday).

The Saurer vehicle in the service of Messrs. Pickfords, which was illustrated in our issue of July 4th was erroneously described as a 31-tonner,whereas the vehicle is actually a 51-tonner.

Burnley Cab Charges.

The Ministry of Health has given provisional approval to the draft by-laws framed by the Burnley Town Council in respect to hackney carriage& The following scale of fares has been fixed: For distance.-Not exceeding one mile (one or two passengers), Is. 6d.; (three or more passengers), 2s, Exceeding one mile, for the first mile of the distance (one or two passengers}, Is. 6d. (three or more passengers), 2s. For any part of• each succeeding quarter-mile the charges are 4y. and 6d. respectively.,

For time (any number of passengers).Net exceeding one hour, 6s.; exceeding one hour, for the whole time, 6s. and for each quarter of an hour or part thereof in bXCess of the first hour, 1s.

Extra charges.-Waiting at the hirer's request (when the carriage is hired by distance), first tee minntes of such waiting, no charge ; each succeeding quarterhour of such waiting or part thereof, is. Journeys (wholly performed) between 12 midnight and 7 a.m., half-fare extra.

Delivery of Lubricating .Oils by Tank Wagons.

We are informed by Sterns, Ltd., Royal London House, Finsbury Square, E.C.2, _that they have now made. arrangements for the delivery of their Well-known brands of lubricating oils by tank wagons direct to customers. The advantages of this will be obvious to large users of lubricating oils, as they will be able to have oil pumped direct from the tank wagons into their own tanks, thus saving considerable expense in . the matter of barrels and •handling charges, as well s' reducing all risks of

leakage. Inquiries should be addressed to bulk delivery dept., Sterns, Ltd., Royal 'London House, Finsbury Square, London, B.C. 2.

Hauling and Preference.

Swindon Corporation has decided that any hauling work required shall be given only to haulage contractors resident in the borough.

A Licence Duty Point.

Glasgow Corporation Magistrates' Committee recommends court proceedings to settle a point with regard to the motor licence duty payable on vehicles used by the education committee for the conveyance of crippled children.

A " Light " Liability.

Having considered representations by the Bradford Taxi Owners' -• Association on the subject of liability for breach of the by-law relating to the illumination of taximeters, the Bradford Watch Committee has asked the town clerk to take steps so to amend the by-.law as will impose the liability for offences on both. owner and driver.

Displacing the B Type. .

The London General Omnibus Co., Ltd,, are elowly but surely replacing the last of the 13-type. buses running on the London streets, and before-many weeks are past many lareer buses of the S-type will he in coMmis.sion. It is stated that the fleet of S-types will he augmented by 125 buses by the end of August, and that two months later • a further 260 vehicles of the same type will be put into service.

Petroleum Production.

The American Petroleum Institute has recently issued some informative figures dealing with the productien of petroleum in various countries, and, although they do not deal with one or two of the largest producers, such as Mexico and Roumania, the figures are worthy of perusal. They deal with the production of crude uotroleurn in 1920 and 1921: Shaker-Squire Repair Service.

Special repair shops exclusively devoted to the repair and., overhaul of motor vehicles, arrespective of 'make, have recently, been , opened at the Edmonton factory of Straker-Squire, Ltd., and some idea of the extent of these and the class of work undertaken is given in an attraetive folder which has just beer issued by the company. Examples. of the more import-nut work undertaken-crankshaft and piston grinding, cylinder bloc' welding, etc. -are illuatrated, and some. interesting facts concerning the extent of the Straker-Satiire repair service zee, given. Copies of the folder May be had on application to Angel Road Works, Edmonton, N.18.


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