A Book that will Start You Reminiscing T HE story of
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Temple Press Ltd., the organization responsible for bringing to you "The Commercial Motor" and many other authoritative technical journals, is told in a new book,
Bouverie Street to Bowling Green Lane," by A. C. Armstrong, Managing Editor of "The Motor."
This is a book which one should not risk lending to one's friends—they would want to keep it. Old readers of Temple Press publications will find themselves reminiscing at the names of places, machines and men in the news long ago, for this book is not just the story of a publishing house, but a commentary on the past 50 or so years of progress. There are many crisp anecdotes told, not the least interesting of which concerns the conception and birth of this journal. In 'The Motor" of January 31, 1905, there appeared the following notice:— " The Commercial Motor "-the van--the cart—the wagon—the lorry —public service and all powerpropelled utility road vehicles.
Such is the title and description of a new weekly journal. . . . Owing to the matter having only been decided at the last moment, it is impossible for further details to be published in our columns until next week.
In these few words was the announcement of the first journal to be launched into the field of transport by commercial vehicles. In the text of the book is a reproduction of the first humorous cartoon to appear in our pages—a brilliant one by Percy Kemp, depicting a hard-up character in the foreground, with commercial vehicles passing by, and the caption was: " 'Opeless! 'Omeless, 'ungry, and not an 'orse's 'cad to 'old!"
Many other fine illustrations, some of considerable historical interest, appear in this well-bound and beautifully printed book, It is published by Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd., St. Paul's House, Warwick Square, London, E.C.4, at 20s. It is certain to brighten many a winter's evening EXPORTS £10,500,000 IN EIGHT MONTHS
BRITAIN'S exports of 3,527 new commercial vehicles (including industrial trucks) in August brought in £1,410,391 and raised the figure for the first eight months of the year to 27,056 (f 10,425,856). The monthly average for exports in 1938 was 1,190 (£323,597). Shipments of chassis and complete vehicles were approximately equal in numbers.
Exports of used cars and commercial vehicles totalled 262 (£76,516) in August and were well below the 1938 monthly average of 594 (£64,101). The total for the first eight months of the year was 7,486 (£2,251,884). New general haulage tractors exported in August numbered 102 (£0,678), against a monthly average of 99 (£15,299) in 1938 and a total of 606 (£404,789) for the period January-August, 1946.
Agricultural tractor exports brought in £228.689 in August and £1,927,263 in the first eight months of the year. The monthly average in 1938 was £51.796.
A substantial business was also done in the export of parts and accessories.
Imports were in all eases negligible compared with those in 1938.
ALL IN 18 YEARS
IN 18 years W. S. Yeates and Co.has 'expanded from a small firm employing a driver-mechanic and a clerk, to a concern with extensive premises at Loughborough and 100 employees. Recently the company opened a large extension to the coachbuilding works.
The opening ceremony was performed by the Mayor of Loughborough. Afterwards there was a function attended by representatives of leading chassis manufacturers and others. Among the speakers were Mr. C. F .P., chairman of the new private limited company, and Mr. H. Hattersley, of Dennis Bros., Ltd.
In addition to Mr. Williamson. directors of W. S. Yeates. Ltd., will be Mrs. D. L. Yeates, Mr. C. F. Carlisle, F.S.A.A., Mr. A. T. Moseley, M.I.M.1., Mr. V. B. Wilson and Mr. R. C. Yeates. Mr. A. .1. Underwood will continue to control the bodybuilding department.
NEW GOODS VEHICLE FOR TEMPLE PRESS ARECENT recruit to the ranks of vehicles operated by Temple Press Ltd. is a Morris-Commercial 25-30-cwt. boxvan, which was supplied by Stewart and Ardern, Ltd., Empress Place, Fulham, London, S.W.6. It will be used as a maid-of-all-work, but the main duty will consist of the urgent transportation of Temple Press journals from the printing department's loading bays to railway stations and main distributors.
The sturdy van-body is of the standard type, whilst finish is of a nature more conservative than that employed on the well-known streamlined photographic van used by Temple Press Ltd. at all important events. Body colour is olive green, and lettering, of a modern type, is gold.
Each forward door is of the sliding pattern, but those at the rear are hinged. there being no tailboard. A large window is incorporated in each rear door.
AVELING-BARFORD DOES WELL A NET profit of £84,782 was made by
Aveling-Barford, Ltd., in the year ended March 31 last. Deducting £61,199 as provision for income tax and A.R.P. expenditure written off, and adding £48,863 brought in from the previous year, £72,446 remains for distribution. After providing for a dividend on the 51 per cent. cumulative preference stock, and interim and final dividends of 5 per cent, on the ordinary stock, £42.324 remains to be carried forward.
VISIT TO MAUDSLAY WORKS A GROUP of Midland passenger/A and goods-vehicle operators visited the Alcester works of the Maudslay Motor Co., Ltd., recently, by invitation of the company's Midland area sales manager, Mr. L. N. Cooke.
Afterwards the party travelled to Coventry and saw the sub-assembly shops. A production model of the new Marathon HI oil-engined coach chassis was inspected.
SAFETY IN LIFTING GEAR
SAFETY standards for lifting tackle are covered by British Standards Handbook No. 4, which will be issued on November 20 by the British Standards Institution, 28, Victoria Street, London. S.W.1.
BIG DIVIDEND BY B.M.M.O.
AN interim dividend of £654,000 on its ordinary capital of £1,440,000 has been declared by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co„ Ltd.
LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEES: MINISTER'S STATEMENT "'THE discretion of the Licensing
THE in exercising their jurisdiction under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, is, of course. unaffected by the proceedings of these sub-committees. but I understand that they give them such consideration as they see fit in each case." This was said last week in the House of Commons by the Minister of Transport:
Mr. E. Davies asked the Minister to draw the attention of Licensing Authorities and applicants to the misunderstanding that, if a sub-committee objected to the granting of a licence, there was no use in the applicant proceeding further. "I will look into that aspect of the matter," replied the Minister.
VULCANS FOR LISBON
ARECENT visitor to the Maidstone works of Vulcan Motors, Ltd., was Senhor Fernando Nunes de Carvalho, of Lisbon, the company's distributor in
Portugal. All stages of manufacture were closely studied, and Senhor de Carvalho complimented the company on its successful conversion from wartime to peace-time production.
A large number of Vulcan lorries is operating in Portugal, and six more are on their way to a Lisbon flour-milling company. Another 58 Vulcans are on order from Portugal.
G.N.B. PUMPS FOR BRITAIN WE understand that under an agreeVY ment with the Gilbert and Barker Manufacturing Co., U.S.A., a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Co., G.N.B. petrol pumps are to be manufactured by Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., at Crayford.
SCOTTISH CO-OP. BUYS COACHWORKS
THE Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd., has still further expanded its interests in the garage and vehicle-building industry by purchase of a large factory at Perth, formerly owned by the Air Ministry. This will be used for coachbuilding and repairs. Employment will be provided, it is expected, for 100 workers. The factory was controlled by Perth Town Council, which received offers and decided to accept that of the S.C.W.S.