WHEELS of INDUSTRY "The wheels of wealth will be slowed
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by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arieing, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crazier.• THE LATEST EVIPORT AND EXPORT RETURNS; The value orecommercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories imported during the month of December, 1933, was 2157,580, the comparable figure for 1931 being 4220,083, and for 1931 2135,810. The figure for the past year is well below that of the preceding two years, being £2,067,827, as against 12,778,644 for 1932, and 13,185,460 for 1931. The decrease for the year is due to a heavy fall in the imports of spare parts.
During December, 1933, exports of complete commercial vehicles again showed an improvement, their value being 151,644, as against 130,793 a year earlier. For the year, the return is 2,296 vehicles, valued at £557,909, contrasted with 2,018 (£518,755) for 1982, and 2,275 (£786,555) for 1931.
Chassis exports continue to be very good, the figure for December last being 1,817, valued at 1208,913. So far as commercial vehicles are concerned, 595 light chassis and 399 heavy chassis were exported, the totals in these two classes for the year 1933 being 4,608 and 3,769 respectively. The value of commercial-chassis exports in December last was £121,265, the year's figure being £1,107,067.
G.W.R. Road-transport Progress.
In a review of the work of its roadtransport department during the past year, the Great Western Railway Co. reports that activities in all sections steadily increased, and that considerable economy was achieved in the cost of collection and delivery services.
The policy of operating railhead distribution schemes and country lorry services has been continued with gratifying results, the number of country lorry services now being 153.
New Registrations in November.
During November, 1933, the number of motor vehicles registered for the first time under the Roads Act, 1920, was 23,815, as contrasted with 20,146 in November, 1932. This year's total includes 5,067 goods vehicles and 280 hackney vehicles, the comparable totals for the previous year being 3,529 and 152 respectively.
In November, 1933, 27 trolleybuses were registered, as against one a year earlier. The chief passenger-vehicle increases were in the 26-32-seater, 32-40Seater and 48-56-seater classes.
Goods-vehicle registrations show an increase of over 42 per cent., the principal rises being in the 2-2I-ton class with 871 registrations, as against 440 a year earlier. There was also a notable increase in the 12-cwt.-1-ton class, the figure of 442 for November, 1932, comparing with 836 a year later, B24 The only goods classes to show a decrease were those for 1-1ietonners and over 5 tons.
The above figures do not include registrations of electric vehicles or agri cultural vans and lorries. Registrations of the former were 24 in November last, as against two a year earlier, and of the latter 25, as against 13 in November, 1932.
Multiwheelers: A New Company Formed.
MultiwheeIers (Commercial Vehicles), Ltd., has been formed to continue the manufacture and marketing of the multi-wheeled commercial vehicles for heavy loads which were previously handled by MuItiwheelers, Ltd., and which embody the Cheiaard and Walcker patented system of coupling motive units and carriers. The directors are Mr. Hamer Russell, M.P., and Major G. Hooghwinkel; the latter represents the Chenard and WaIcker interest.
We are advised that the capital of the new company is 110,000, and that, pending the establishment of offices in the West-end of London, trading will continue from 666-678, Garratt Lane, Tooting, London, S.W .17.
Distributors of Service and Garage Equipment.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has published the second edition of its list of distributors of service and garage equipment, showing general distributors as well as specialists. Copies of the list may be obtained, free of charge, on application to the registers department of the Society, 83, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1. TAXATION AND LICENSING STATISTICS.
The gross amount received in payment for licences for road vehicles during the period from December I. 1932, to November 30, 1933, was 429,201,133, of which £28,401,508 was in respect of motor vehicles. Moto: hackneys contributed 13,005,195, agricultural vans and lorries £49,190, showmen's special vehicles £33,516, and other goads vehicles £9,322,647. Electrically propelled vehicles were responsible for £25,439, and general.. haulage tractors £74,451.
The total number of motor-vehicle licences current at the end of November, 1933, was 2,013,817, compared with 1,926,600 a year earlier. The 1933 total includes 379,592 goods vehicles and 73,022 motor hackneys, the comparable returns for the previous year being 360,195 and 72,390 respectively.
The total number of driving licences issued in the year to November 30, 1933, was approximately 2,947,000.
Remarkable New Foclen Gearbox.
Fodens, Ltd., Sandbach, authorizes us to state that a new preselective gearbox has been produced and is now undergoing teste. The gearbox is of the layshaft type, all gears being in constant mesh and engagement being by dogs with chamfered faces. We have visited the works to examine the new gearbox and we hope a little later to publish a full description of it.
Minister's Visit to Scotland, The Minister of Transport is to attend the luncheon of the Scottish Commercial Motor Users' Association, to be held at the North British Station Hotel, Edinburgh, on Friday, February 9. This will be the Minister's first official visit to Scotland. Those who desire to attend the luncheon may obtain particulars from the Association. 43, York Place, Edinburgh.
Better Business in the Free State.
A distinct revival occurred in the trade in complete commercial vehicles in the Irish Free State during November last, in which month 57 units valued at £11,211 were imported, as against one (£72) in November, 1932 Despite this improvement, a total importation of 96 vehicles (£18,406) for the first 11 months of the past year contrasts unfavourably with the 567 vehicles (£110,625) for the corresponding period of 1932. As previously mentioned in these columns, there has been an increase under the heading of "chassis," which includes those for cars as well as commercial vehicles, hut the advance does not counterbalance the decrease in both classes of complete vehicle. SCAMMELL LORRIES REPORT.
The report of Scammell Lorries, Ltd., for the year ended September 30, 1933, shows a gross profit (including transfer fees) of £42,796, but, after deducting general expenses, including directors' fees and depreciation of fixed assets, amounting to £65,398, there is a loss of £22,602. A sum of 120,000 is transferred from the reserve account, and this, added to the amount brought forward from last year (£3,726) and including £1,451 transferred from the income-tax account, gives a total of £25,177, and, when the lqss for the year is deducted from this amount, the balance to be carried forward is £2,575.
In the company's report mention is made of the "mechanical horse" introduced and developed during the vear. Although this vehicle has been on the market for only a few months, the company has received large orders for it, and is hopeful that, with trade improving, the demand will be continually increasing.
Prominent Scottish Haulier Dead.
The death has occurred, at the age of 57, of Mr. William G. Wiseley, of Messrs. William Wiseley and Sons, haulage contractors, Aberdeen. Joining his father's business many years ago, Mr. Wiseley extended it until it became one of the largest in Scotland, owning a big fleet of petrol and steam wagons.
Producer-gas Fuel Costs.
We are asked by High Speed Gas (Great Britain), Ltd., 26, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, to state that it is now possible to obtain greater economy with this concern's plant than that described in an article on producer-gas developments, which appeared in The Commercial Motor on December 29 last,
The figure we published was eight pay-load ton-miles per penny. A fuel costing £1 per ton is now obtainable, which increases the pay-load ton-mileage to more than 14 per penny. The corresponding figure for a petrolengined 2-tonner, assuming the cost of fuel to be about is. per gallon, would be approximately three pay-load tonmiles per penny.
A Falmouth Brewer's New Dennis.
A picture which we publish on this page is of a Dennis lorry recently supplied to J. A. Devenish and Co., Ltd., the brewery concern with headquarters at Falmouth. It is of interest to note that the vehicle is replacing a 13-yearold 3f-4-tonner of the same make, which has been in continuous service.
The body of the new forward-control 4-tonner was also built in the Dennis factory, and its design is particularly compact—a point of importance when it is borne in mind that the vehicle is principally engaged in the narrow and tortuous streets that abound in many Cornish and Devon towns. It is 13 ft. 6 ins, long—a foot more than the wheelbase dimension—whilst the sides (each of which is hinged in halves) are 8 ft. high. This is the maximum practicable, as, when lowered, the sides must swing clear of the kerb, thus enabling the machine to be brought to the side of the road when unloading.
The tailboard can be used to extend the floor space of the body, and, being supported on chains, carries 4-5-cwt.
Northern Carriers Join Up with • R.H.A.
We learn that the affiliation of the Northumberland and Durham Carriers' Association with the North Regional Area of the Road Haulage Association has now been completed. About 50 members belong to the local association, which was founded early in 1933, its members being country carriers running into Newcastle from outlying districts, The association has its headquarters in Newcastle, and it is stated that it will continue to act independently under the control of Mr. W. S. Peacock, the secretary. PERSONAL PARS, Mr. Graham Cunningham, managing director of the Triplex Safety Glass Co., Ltd., recently sailed for a business trip to the United States, and will be away for two or three weeks.
Mr. Frederick Leach, deputy chairman of Leeds Corporation's transport committee, has been appointed by the Minister of Transport to be a Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the Yorkshire area.
Leeds Corporation's transport committee has reorganized its staff, as follows:—Mr. H. H. Lancaster is to be chief traffic officer, Mr. T. Thackrah to be deputy chief traffic officer and Mr. A. Statham to be first traffic officer.
Lord Herbert Scott, C.M.G., D.S.O., D.L., has been nominated to succeed Sir George Macdonogh as President of the Federation of British Industries for the coming year, and will probably enter upon his new duties in April. He is a director of many important companies, including Rolls-Royce, Ltd.
Mr. J. L. Gunn, transport manager to Aberdeen Corporation, has been appointed transport manager at Nottingham. Educated in Leith, he entered the service of Leith Corporation tramways department, later on joining the Edinburgh department. Ire 1926 he became manager of Greenock and Port. Glasgow Tramways Co., going to Aberdeen in 1929. During his regime the corporation fleet of buses has been almost doubled.
The many friends of Mr. W. E. Guy, sales director of Guy Motors, Ltd., will be sorry to learn that he is at present in a nursing home as the result of a serious illness which he contracted early in December last, but they will be pleased to know that, following a critical period, he is now out of danger. and is making good progress towards complete recovery. It is not anticipated, however, that he will be able to resume his business interests for some considerable time.
Lieut.-Colonel H. G. Gilchrist, D.S.O., M.C., has resigned his appointment as managing director of Halley Motors, Ltd., Glasgow, and will terminate his engagement at the end of January. He served in France throughout the war in the Royal Engineers and Royal Corps of Signals, joined the board of Halley Industrial Motors, Ltd., in 1921, and in 1924 was appointed joint managing director, becoming sole managing director when the present company was formed in 1926. During the past six yeaxs he has redesigned the entire Halley range of models for passenger and goods carrying, municipal and special purposes. Since 1928 he has been a member of the executive committee of the North-west Engineering Trades Employers' Association. 1933 COMPANY-REGISTRATION STATISTICS.
Company-registration statistics circulated by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., 116-118, Chancery Lane, London, W,C.2, show that the year 1933 broke all records for the number of new companies incorporated in England, the total being 11,384, of which 11,054 were private companies. The previous year's figure was 10,204, including 9,949 private companies.
The past year's total includes, under the heading of motors, four public companies with an aggregate capital of £50,100, and 514 private companies with a total capital of £1,700,480. Under the heading of oil, two public companies and 90 private companies were registered, the capital being £300,000 and £236,100 respectively.
It is interesting to note that 281 private companies were registered in the class for carriers, their aggregate capital being £736,450; there were only two public companies in this class, their capital being £1,000.
The capital figures for the past year are far from constituting a record, but they show an advance on those for 1932, especially in connection with public companies.
Hereford Association's First Meeting.
The first meeting of the recently constituted committee in connection with the Herefordshire Road Haulage Association, was held at Hereford, on Saturday last, when there was an ex cellent attendance. Discussion took place with regard to affiliation with a national body, following an address by Mr. Oglesby, representing the National Road Haulage Association, who explained the many advantages that hauliers would derive from association with a national body.
Eventually, it was unanimously agreed to recommend that a general meeting of operators be called, and that members be advised to join the national R.H.A. The meeting will be held at the Market Tavern, Hereford, on January 25, at 7.30 p.m, A Parcels-service Development.
In pursuance of their policy of expansion, Messrs. Hurst and Payne, the well-known hauliers of Hay Mills, Birmingham, recently registered a subsidiary company under the name of Red Arrow Deliveries, Ltd. The directors are Messrs. C. J. Hurst, J. Payne and C. S. Dunbar, the lastnamed also being manager. The object is to develop a small-parcels business' in connection with Messrs. Hurst and Payne's heavy-haulage services.
The vehicles of the latter will provide certain of the trunk services, whilst the local collections and deliveries in Birmingham and the Black Country will be carried out by the Red Arrow vehicles. A number of other carrying concerns is co-operating with Red Arrow Deliveries, Ltd., to provide atlditidnal trunk services, and, of these, probably the most important is the n22 direct Birmingham-Manchester-Blackburn daily service.
The Red Arrow services will deliver twice daily in Birmingham and the Black Country, and will thus give a same-day delivery between any two places in that area. In the Birmingham area alone 150 receiving agents have been appointed.
For the work of the Red Arrow concern, striking Bedford 30-cwt. and 2-ton vans have been purchased.
LCI. Coal-oil Plant.
We understand that work has just commenced on the erection of the £2,500,000 coal-oil plant of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., at Billingham-on-Tees. It is expected that the plant will be ready in about a year's time and will produce 100,000 tons of petrol annually.
B.R.F. Guide to Goods Vehicle Licensing.
A very useful and informative summary of the provisions of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, as it affects commercial-motor users has been compiled by Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.B.E., Barrister-at-Law, and is being issued by the British Road Federation. 50, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1., free of charge on receipt of postage.
Shropshire Hauliers to Organize?
An invitation has been extended to Shropshire hauliers by the Shropshire Omnibus Association, Ltd., either to join the bus organization or to organize themselves into an allied body. The secretary of the existing body, which has recently altered its status from that of a private limited company to a public limited company, is Mr_ Leonard Ross, F.C.A., F.S.A.A., Walker Street Chambers, Wellington, Shropshire.
Good Accommodation for Drivers and Vehicles in South-west London. Economy Garage, Ltd., 18-24, Union Road, Clapham, London, S.W.4, advises us that it has garage accommodation for over 100 large lorries, and that it provides meals and lodgings for drivers. The company informs us that it has spent £20,000 on this development, and has erected five modern garages on a two-acre site.
Coaches and Components New Address.
Coaches and Components, Ltd., has removed from 28, Westminster Bridge Road, &E.1, to 471a, Holloway Road. London, RT. The company operates as automobile engineers, bodybuilders and agents, and its depot is an authorized reconditioning and service station
for Gilford vehicles. The new telephone number is Archway 2647.
Fewer Street Accidents in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Safety First Council received its annual report last week. During 1933, 55 persons were killed and 741 injured, compared with 78 and 814 respectively in the previous year. SENTINEL AND GARNER REPAIRS.
An item of interest to owners of Garner vehicles and to garages which undertake the overhaul or repair of these machines is forthcoming from the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., which has recently acquired the Garner business. The works at Tyseley, Birmingham, where Garner vehicles have hitherto been produced, will be closed as from January 31, after which date the manufacture of new Garner vehicles will be undertaken at the Sentinel works at Shrewsbury.
All repair work, together with the supply of spare parts, are now under the direction of Mr. J. A. Burns, general depot manager for the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., and Garner Motors, Ltd., at the Sentinel service depot at Srnethwick.
Until further notice, repair work for London and the Home Counties vifl continue to be carried out at the Garner depot at Wells Street, London. W.C.1, where spare parts can also be obtained.
The Tyseley repairs department has been transferred to the new Sentinel petrol repair depot at 35, Windmill Lane, Smethwick.
B.H.A. Metropolitan Area Meeting.
A meeting of the Metropolitan Area Regional Committee of the Road Haulage Association recently took place under the chairmanship of Mr. J. F. E. Pye, at the offices of the Gordon Transport Co., Ltd., Stamford Brook Road, London, W.6. The following members were appointed to be representatives of the committee at the conferences to be held,,in connection with weak bridges :—Messrs. J. F. E. Pye, Allan Simpson, E. G. GordonPoggi and L. Haybittel. Two of the four representatives will attend each conference,
At the meeting, arrangements were made for a regional organizer -to be permanently attached to the area.
Worldwin Piston Progress.
Worldwin Pistons, Ltd., which has acquired the WorIdwin piston patents from Messrs. W. L. and F. M. Treseder, Wharfside Works, Pontypridd, is to have a new factory at Cyfarthfa, Merthyr Tydfil, next to the works of the Ayedeecee Metals (Parent) Co., Ltd., maker of Brilhun, the metal used in the construction of the pistons. It is stated that a large number of the passenger-transport companies in South Wales have adopted this type of piston and that the demand now exceeds the capacity of the Pontypridd works. The Worldwin piston is of the internally ribbed type, but differs from other makes in the formation of its internal supports from the gudgeon bearing surfaces. The bosses are rigidly held by the ribs, which not only carry the bulk of the load, but form an integral part of the piston body. This design, it is claimed, practically eliminates uneven heat distribution.