NEWS of the WEEK
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Giving it the "once over." Lord Nuffield snapped at the Commercial Motor Show, accompanied by Messrs. Oliver Roden (right) and W. G. Graham (left). In the back ground is Mr. E. C. Ruffle.
BIG TRANSPORT COMBINE.
Mr. J. H. Thomas has been made chairman of British Amalgamated Transport, Ltd., Lombard House, Great Charles Street, Birmingham, 3. The other directors are Messrs, C. W Hayward, E. J. Feana, C. S. Love, V. E. Bridgert (the latter two being joint managing directors), and Mr. J Foley Egginton (who is also secretary).
The authorized capital is £275,000,
and there was no public issue. Th,:. company is entirely concerned with the transport of goods by road, and owns and controls a number of road-transport companies. The intention is to provide a network of goods services connecting the Midlands with all industrial areas and the chief ports; also the development of intensive local services.
In an authorized statement Mr. J. H, Thomas said that the growth of road transport has been amazing and there is no doubt that the service it renders to the community entitles it to be —regarded as a public-utility service of enormous national importance with illimitable potentialities.
Close personal touch with the customer and his needs is one of the road haulier's privileges which the cornpany intends to preserve and, if possible. increase.
Statistics show that the ownership of 91,000 A-licensed vehicles is in the hands of 28.000 owners. If road trans port is to hold a fuller place as a public utility, co-ordination is inevitable.
The new company is out to play a leading part in the rationalization of road transport, and Mr. Thomas will be happy to help in a task which should benefit not only the industry itself, but be of value to the nation as a whole.
Impor:s and Exports Ups and Downs.
The Board of Trade returns for October show that the value of commercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories imported during that month was £423,071, compared with £390,768 in the corresponding month of 1936.
The number of commercial vehicles exported was 265, which falls midway between the figures (195 and 301) for the same month of 1935 and 1936. Their value fell from 280,804 in October, 1936. to £67,818 a year later.
82 'fhe number of commercial chassis exported once again showed an advance, rising from 1,483 in October, 1936, to 1,651 in October, 1937, the respective values being £261,390 and £265,680.
" The Show a Great Success.
Figures of attendance alone tell the tale of success achieved by this year's Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court. The paid-for attendance was well up on the total for two years ago. and although not, in itself, a record, when increased by the figure for complimentary and other special tickets, was the highest ever recorded. Most manufacturers were well pleased with the orders and inquiries received, and some of them did unusually good business. The number of foreign visitors was noteworthy, and the staff of interpreters had to be augmented.
The paid-for attendances, day by day, were as follow for the Shows of 1935 and 1937:—
CASE AGAINST P.M.G. FAILS.
A contract for the supply of 16 lorries by G. Scammell and Nephew, Ltd., Fashion Street, London, E.C., to the Postmaster-General, was mentioned before Justices Goddard and Hilbery, sitting as a King's Bench Divisional Court, on Monday.
Mr. P. B. Morle, who appeared for Scammell and Nephew, said that his client sought to set aside the award of an arbitrator concerning the contract. The ground was that the arbitrator agreed to state his award in the form of a special case, but did not do so.
An affidavit read by Mr. Morle stated that the question of law involved in• the arbitration was as to whether, on the true construction of the contract, the Postmaster-General was entitled on the occasion of periodic inspections of the lorries to require Scammell and Nephew not to proceed beyond a certain stage without further inspection.
Counsel submitted that the Postmaster-General's department, under the contract, was entitled either to accept or reject on inspection. By neither accepting nor rejecting, but retaining control over the contractor, the Postmaster-General occasioned delay, dislocation and higher labour costs.
Mr. Justice Goddard pointed out that the arbitrator had found that Scammell and Nephew had suffered no loss.
The motion was dismissed with costs, Mr. Justice Goddard stating that the arbitrator had found that no point of law arose. To have stated his award in the form of a special ease would have been a waste of time.
C-licensees Seek Variation of Drivers' Hours.
The usual application has been made to the Minister of Transport for the variation of drivers' hours during the Christmas peak period. It is by the Institution of British Launderers and the associates committee of the British Road Federation.
The application, which is for a maximum of 12 hours' driving time on not more than two days in each of the three weeks ending December 18 and 25 and January I, and which applies only to C-licensees, will be heard by the Industrial Court on November 26, at II a.m., at 5, Old Palace Yard, London, S.W.1. WILL SCOTLAND PRODUCE OIL?
Mr. A. H. Chapman, who is in charge of the oil-boring operations at Dalkeith, gave some details of the progress that is being made, when he spoke at an informal dinner given by the AngloAmerican Oil Co., Ltd., in Glasgow, on November 12.
Mr. Chapman stated that the well at Dalkeith had already reached a depth of about 200 ft. It was located about 300 ft. from the well drilled by the Government in 1919, and carried to a depth of 1,820 ft, The new well was expected to go to a depth of 3,300 ft. It was hoped to average 50 ft. per day, so that, in a few weeks, it would be known whether oil production on a commercial scale was possible in Scotland.
Red Arrow's Latest Enterprise.
In conjunction with Aberystwyth Carriers, Ltd., Welshpool, that wellknown carrying concern, Red Arrow Deliveries, Ltd., the head offices of • which are in Birmingham, commenced, on Tuesday, a tri-weekly service connecting the Midlands with Welshpool, • Newtown, Llanidloes, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and district. This area is thinly populated, for which reason a daily service is not contemplated, but, despite this fact, it is anticipated that an improved service should be available to and from points which are not on the main railway line.
Conamers on View in Glasgow.
During the course of the Scottish Motor Show, now being held at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, which closes to-morrow, a representative range of Commer commercial vehicles is being displayed at the showrooms of Armour and Melvin. Ltd., 12. .Newburgh Works, Newlands, Glasgow. In addition to two 4-5tonners, there are an NI normal-control van, 10 h.p. and 14 Ja.p. utility vehicles and an LN5 articulated six-wheeler, incorporating the Hands semi-trailer.
Good Salesmen Required.
A well-known concern specializing in commercial vehicles and handling the distributorship for a popular make, requires two or three additional commercial-vehicle salesmen. First-class men, who are prepared to work hard, .are wanted. The company also requires a man to act as assistant to the works manager in its repair depot. Letters addressed " Specialist," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.
Highway Code in Pictures.
Last Monday, Mr. Leslie Burgin, Minister of Transport, opened a pictorial exhibition of the Highway Code at Charing Cross Underground Station, London. Some of the faults of road users and the results of disregarding the Code are illustrated with photographs and by the film of the Highway Code which is being continuously shown There is also a working model designed to encourage the use of dipped head. lamps when meeting oncoming traffic.
In declaring the exhibition open, • Mr. Burgin said that he thought active help from the travelling public would
assist far more in reducing accidents than would, Punishment by severe sentences and fines. I-le also appealed for criticism, NN hicb he promised would receive careful consideration.
British Patents for Development.
Attention is called to a group of small advertisements appearing in this issue, in which the proprietors of certain British patents desire to bring their inventions to the notice of manufacturers and others with the object of developing them commercially, under licence or otherwise.
PERSONAL PARS.
Blatkpool Town Council has decided to nominate ALD. C. E.. Ts raa.f.4„.for appointment as a Traffic Commissioner Glasgow Transport Committee has appointed MR. ERIC R. L. FITZPAYNE, deputy transport manager to Edinburgh Corporation, as deputy manager of the municipal transport department After almost 50 years' service, MR JAMES WILSON, Glasgow Corporation's transport manager, retired on November 12. His successor is MR. ROBERT Smirria, deputy manager, who has had 45 years' service in the department.
Ma. Tiros. H. Craxav, manager for over 20 years of the Manchester depot of Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., has acquired the premises and opened them on his own account, as Thomas H. Clixby and Co., motor engineer, Rugby Street, Manchester, 7.
COUNCILLOR " DICK " ELLIOTT, of Low Heighley, Morpeth, one of the best-known hauliers in the north of England, has found it necessary, on account of pressure of business, to decline the town council's invitation to become the next Mayor of Morpeth.
COUNCILLOR C. HOLDSWORTH, A.M.Inst.T., chairman of the employers' pane/ of the Yorkshire Joint Conciliation Board, and MRS, HOLDSWORTH 'Will receive a presentation from the employers' panel, next week. It will be made at a gathering at the Metropolis Hotel, King Street, Leeds. at 3 p.m. next Tuesday, November 23. Several prominent persons in the industry have promised to be present.
COUNCILLOR CHAS. A. CAVE, one of the newly elected members of Manchester City Council, has been placed on the transport committee. As Managing director of Kemps Vulcanizing Co., Ltd., Hardman Street, Dea.nsgate, tyre specialist and accessory factor, he has been well knoarn for many years to fleet owners. .
The only other fellow-traders on the civic governing body are COUNCILLOR JAS. FITZSIMMONS, of Shudehill, and COUNCILLOR FHEASEY, of Platt Garage, Rusholme.
MR. H. CECIL TAYLOR, the wellknown advertising manager of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., was the guest of honour on November 10 at a luncheon given by the Inc. Society of British Advertisers. Mr. L. S. Amery, M.P., who was in the chair, paid a tribute to Mr. Taylor's work as chairman of the Society, and made a presentation on behalf of the member firms. In his reply, Mr. Taylor said that he fully believed that the British Press is the cleanest and most untrammelled in the world. He added that taxes on motorists have swollen the Road Fund to such an extent that a huge advertising campaign for road safety could easily be afforded. " PERMITTING " CASE FAILS.
" If vicarious responsibility of this kind is to be inflicted upon owners of lorries, it will be very difficult to see how ordinary commerce can be carried on," remarked Mr. W. F. Bracewell, defending a haulage concern summoned at the Doncaster West Riding Court, on Tuesday, for permitting overloading on one of its vehicles, but against which no evidence, other than that the company was the owner of an overloaded lorry, had been tendered by the police.
The prosecution was against Andrew and Henry Morgan, brothers, trading as Cowan and Co., Glasgow, and against one of the company's drivers, Alexander Kirkwood, of Bothkennar. Kirkwood was fined £1, but the summonses against the employer were dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act, on payment of costs (4s. in each of two cases).
Must Not Remove Livelihood.
" Whilst . . . I have not hesitated to refuse a licence where there has been a distinct change in the character of a business, I must not let this be carried to the extent of depriving a man of his livelihood," said Mr. W. Chamberlain, North-Western Licensing Authority, in a case at Liverpool, last week.
Furniture Removers Seeking Uniform Long-distance Rates.
At the autumnal dinner of the National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers, the president, Major W. Taylor, m.c, reminded listeners that the Association had obtained from, the Ministry a classification of• the taxation of lift vans, which has resulted in the saving of pounds to members. He referred to the difficult problem of uniform rates . for long-distance removals, but thought that it was not beyond the sphere of practicability.
Mr. J, E. Evan Cook, chairman at the London centre, tilted at the law and its many requirements.
Mr. A. F. Palmer Phillips, who represented the S.M.M. and T., emphasized the growth of the industry from 4,000 commercial vehicles in 1904 to nearly 000,000 last year. After the armaments programme is completed, be thought that the Government's chief job should be the provision of roads worthy of the transport industry.
Amongst the other speakers was Major H. E. Crawford, president of A.R.O., who made an amusing speech with some witty transport analogies.
Mr. Burgin Defines His Policy.
" What should be the proper policy of the Minister of Transport to-day? " asked Mr. Leslie Burgin, Minister of Transport, when he spoke at the dinner of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, in Glasgow, on November 12.
He submitted that it should be twofold. First, the Minister should proceed with the modernization of the existing road system as expeditiously as circumstances and . funds would permit. Secondly, he should consider 134 on its merits any scheme for new roads which seemed capable of econo mic justification. He was pursuing precisely this policy.
The need for a new Forth road bridge was mentioned by Lord Elgin and Sir Louis Gumley, Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
Mr. Burgin, in his reply, stated that there was recently a recommendation from the consulting engineers to Edinburgh Corporation that certain preliminary work, estimated to cost some £2,000 over the next two years, should be put in hand.
Lewin Sweepers' New H.Q.
Owing to increasing demands for its products, Lewin Road Sweepers, Ltd., has moved from Leeds to larger works at Crossens, Southport.
New Thames Tunnel Proposal.
The highways committee of the London County Council has recommended the building of a tunnel under the River Thames, between Greenwich and Poplar. It would be a duplicate of the Blackwall Tunnel, and the scheme is estimated to cost £3,088,000.
Edinburgh " Transfer " Case.
The Northern Scotland Licensing Authority has received an application from J. R. Carmichael and Co., Ltd., Edinburgh, for an A licence for four vehicles (91 tons), owned by Messrs. Guy's Carrying Service, Old Mill Garage, /41ilnathort.
Transporting Autogiros by British Lorries.
The Argentine Government, which has taken delivery of some British autogiros for experiniental work, recently wanted some lorries to transport them. After considering certain American makes that were available, it decided to order a small fleet of Guy vehicles, and these are now being built at Wolverhampton. HAULIER TO LOSE VEHICLE?
. The Yorkshire Licensing Authority proposes to delete a vehicle of 2 tons 19 cwt. unladen weight from the A licence of Mr. J. G. Osborne, 744. Prince of Wales Road, Sheffield. A public inquiry into the case will be held at the County Court, Leeds, on November 29, at 10.30 p.m.
Higher Speeds for Track-layers?
It has been proposed by the Special Orders Committee of the House of Lords that vehicles of the track-laying type should be permitted to travel at 12 m.p.h., in the case of an unsprung vehicle, and 20 m.p.h., where springs and tyres are fitted, as in a combined track-layer and wheeled machine.
Holding Company to Take Over?
British Amalgamated Transport, Ltd., Birmingham, has applied to the East Midland Licensing Authority for an A licence for six vehicles (29 tons 171 cwt.) to be based at Easton, Lincolnshire. The application is made as the holding company of H. C. Thomas, Ltd., of Easton, the licence of which will be surrendered if the application be granted.
Guy £50,000 Vehicle Show.
Guy Motors, Ltd., is holding a display of passenger and goods vehicles at its works at Wolverhampton on November 24 and 25. It will include all its vehicles which were on view at the Earls Court Show, their value being in excess of £50,000.. Transport operators who wish to attend are invited to apply for tickets to the ownpany at Fallings Park, Wolverhampton.
G.M.C. Address.
The present address of General Motors, Ltd., concessionnaire for G.M.C. vehicles is 3, St. James's Square, London, S.\-V.1, and not as stated in our Show Report, in which a former address of the company appeared. DEMONSTRATION VAN FOR CASH REGISTERS.
Two pictures are published on this page of a well-designed demonstration vehicle, which has recently been commissioned for service by the National Cash Register Co., Ltd. The basis of the machine is a Bedford bus chassis, whilst the modern and well-balanced body was built at the works of Duple Bodies and Motors, Ltd., The Hyde, London, N.W.D.
The shell of the body is the standard Duple 26-seater passenger model, but it will be seen from one of the pictures that .the interior, has been completely rearranged to enable an effective display, to be made of the special equip
mein produced by its operator. All the cash registers, which are fixed along the sides, are operated electrically from a special switchboard and separate batteries, whilst, at the rear of the body, are double seats for prospective customers and a sliding table and cabinets.
New Goodyear Tyre Branch.
The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., has opened a new branch at Parry Street, London, S.W.8. Good stocks of all sizes and types of Goodyear tyre and accessory are being carried, including the new Goodyear RI tyre for commercial vehicles. The entire south-eastern and south-western London postal districts will be served from the new branch, as well as Kent. Surrey and parts of Sussex.
British Vehicles to Carry Cyprus Mails.
Mr. Nicos Solomonicles, the Comma.: distributor for Cyprus, who journeyed to England for the Commercial Motor Show, recently received a cable stating that one of his subsidiaries—The Safety First Motor Co.—has been awarded a contract by the Government of Cyprus for carrying mails on the island. Comrner vehicles will be used exclusively, and Mr. Solomonides is considering the question of employing ail auxiliary fleet of the new Commer l'14" tenders for an express service. He thinks that this robust and speedy model, with its independent front wheel suspension, will prove particularly suitable for use on the rough and mountainous roads in Cyprus, which in places rise to more than 6,000 ft. above sea level.
No Law Against Extending Business.
" I am not aware that Parliament has ever said that hauliers should not extend their btisiness," said Mr. Henry Riches, Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, at a sitting in Dundee.
When Is An Aeroplane Scrap?
Apparently an aeroplane which has crashed, however damaged, is not scrap until certified as such after inspection at the works to which it has been removed. The point has caused some concern, because the scrap merchant cannot deal with it under a C licence until after certification.
To meet this and kindred difficulties, Mr. Henry Fish, of Clayton, Manchester, was granted an extra vehicle on his B licence at a Manchester inquiry, last Friday, with authority to travel all over the country to dismantle damaged aeroplanes and convey the parts to the nearest railhead for dispatch to the works of A. V. Roe and Co., of Newton Heath, Manchester.
/ 775 Vehicles Stopped: 102 Overloaded.
A report by Cheshire County Council shows that, during a certain period, 775 Vehicles were stopped in various parts of the county, of which number 456 were weighed. Overloading was detected in 102 cases. HAULIER WHO TOOK EVERY PRECAUTION.
" I have taken every step since my last fine to see that my vehicles were in order with regard . to brakes, and everything else," said Bernard M'Mahon, contractor, Gray's Lane, Lochee, at Dundee Sheriff Court, when he pleaded not guilty to having caused or permitted a lorry to be used with inefficient brakes.
His drivers were instructed, in the event of any brake fault developing, to return immediately to the garage and have the brakes adjusted by a skilled mechanic, Following this, the drive' took the vehicle out for a road test, returned to the garage and completed a form to the effect that the brakes were in order. Every vehicle was jacked up in the garage each Friday and subjected to a brake test, the method used. being the crowbar test.
M' Mahon was found not guilty, but the driver was fined £1.
Converting Tractors for Row-crop Work.
Recognizing that many operators of agricultural tractors require a machine for row-crop work, but have no immediate use for two tractors, the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., Dagenham, has made available a limited number of complete conversion sets, with which the Fordson agricultural tractor can he adapted for row-crop work. • . . • The parts comprise special extension axles, enabling the rear wheels to be
adjusted to the right widths foi different crops; and independently operating rear-wheel brakes, permitting pivoting on either wheel. Twin front wheels, steering arm, and a front-aide bracket, which provides for _carrying a specially designed cultivating tool, are included: The complete set-of parrs is available for £25.
£170,000 Trolleybus Order for Sunbeams.
One of the. largest orders placed for Sunbeam trolleybuses has lately been received by Sunbeam Commercial Vehicles, Ltd., Wolverhampton, from the Capetown Tramways Co., and is for a fleet of 60 six-wheeled trolleybus chassis. The 66-seater bodies will be of M.C.W. patented .metal construction. The total value of the order is about £170,000 and is one of the largest overseas trolleybus orders ever placed. NO MOTOR EXHIBITS AT EMPIRE • EXHIBITION?
English motor manufacturers, through the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, have turned down a proposal to build a "Pavilion of Motoring " at next year's Empire Exhibition in Glasgow. There is a ban on any individual manufacturer exhibiting. The only motor concern likely to be represented will be the '.Ford Motor Co., Ltd.
Big Bus Order from •India.
One of the largest single orders placed for buses for Use in India has been received by Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton. It is for 28 26-Seaters for the Karachitramways authorities, and follows a trial order for buses of the same make, which were put in service some time ago.
Dodge Has a Good "Show."
Dodge Brothers (Britain), Ltd., Mortlake Road, Kew Gardens, -Surrey, reports a marked expansion of business in Dodge commercial vehicles at the recently held Show at Earls Court, To date, the' orders received by the company exceed by over 130 per cent, those received at the Commercial Motor Show of 1935.
"Red Arrow" Renewal Application.
To-day (Friday) Red Arrow Deliveries, Ltd., Birmingham, is appearing before the Metropolitan Licensing Authority for the renewal of licences for four collection and delivery vehicles which it has in London, and for the addition of four vehicles. The application is in the name of its parent company, Hurst and Payne, Ltd., and is being opposed by the four railways.
Outfield Haulage Change.
Messrs, H. and G. DutheId, the wellknown haulage firm, of 95, Westminster Bridge Road, London, S.E.I, advise us that they have transferred their business to H. and G. Duffield. Ltd.,
a private company. The firm has been established for nearly 100 years. The business will remain under the same management, the present partners continuing as directors. •
" Licences Will be Revoked or Suspended."
I was recently referred to by a local solicitor as the Most autocratic man in this country. I look upon that as a great compliment, because it means that the job which Parliament commissioned me to do is being done,' remarked Mr. J. H. Stirk, East Midlands Licensing Authority, at a Traffic Court held at Boston on November 11.
Mr. Stirk said that he had arranged the sitting at Boston that day because he was becoming alarmed at the large number of prosecutions which he found it necessary to bring before the Boston magistrates. During the past six months 291 cases had been dealt with by the magistrates in that district, B6 and, in addition, 45 operators had been warned.
The time for warnings and educative talk was past, he said. Licences would he revoked or suspended, in future, when he was satisfied that any of the 'conditions of a licence had not been complied with.
Flexion Extensions Move.
Flexion Extensions, Ltd., the maker of rigid six-wheeler conversions, articulated trailers, etc., has recently taken over more commodious premises at Whitcher Place, London, N.W.1.
SCOTTISH ROAD GRANT OF 100,000.
The Minister of Transport has made a grant of over £100,000 for the reconstruction of the road from Durness to Hellam, on the northern coast of Scotland. The road, which extends for 18 miles around the banks of Loch Eriboil, is part of the popular tourist route from Cape Wrath to John o'Groats.
A tender for the work has been accepted and the scheme will be put in hand at once. It will probably be completed by the autumn of 1939.