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M.C.W. Celebrate Their Majority
CONGRATULATIONS to Metropolitan-CammellWeymann, Ltd., on their 21 years of progress— and real progress it has been. They were established in July, 1932, as the sales organization of two older concerns—Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage a n d Wagon Co., Ltd., of Birmingham, and Weymann's Motor Bodies (1925), Ltd., of Addlestorte. They pooled their resources, with M.C.W. handling sales.
The Birmingham concern was actually founded over a century ago and pioneered the steel-bodied railway coach, which has added so much to safety in that sphere of transport. The building of bus-bodies started in 1929 and, naturally, metal was preferred.
Meanwhile, Weymann's, who had hitherto specialized in bodies comprised of a light wooden framework covered with leather cloth, developed others using metal panels, but retaining the light
framework. Later they produced composite bodies of stronger construction which gave. therri a lead in double-decker design.
Now Weymann's are building M.C.W. steel bodies based on designs from Birmingham. In these are incorporated the most up-to-date practice in respect of protection from all forms of corrosion and a happy combination of steel and light alloys which give them great strength, combined with reasonable flexibility and long life, culminating in the Olympian, a chassisless model. This embodies the constructional features of the successful Olympic combined with Leyland Tiger Cub running units.
The exhibition of the company's products held on November 12 in London was attended by a gathering representative of passenger transport interests from all over Britain. The chair at the luncheon was taken by Sir Archibald J. Boyd, chairman of M.C.W., supported by Mr. B. R. A. Homfray Davies, managing director, Mr. J. Don, chairman of Weymann's, Ltd., and Mr. John Elliot, chairman of the London Transport Executive. All concerned with the M.G.W. organization must have been both pleased and impressed by the spontaneous acclamation with which their majority was received.
An S.M.T.A. Veteran
THI year marks The jubilee of the Scottish Motor Trade Association. It was founded by 13 motor traders, who met in Edinburgh on April 4, 1903, and five later held the office of president, but of them all only Mr. J. D. Brimlow is alive today. He is still actively engaged in the motor industry after nearly 60 years, a record difficult to find elsewhere. A presentation was made to him at the S.M.T.A. Show dinner.
Brains for a "Brains Trust"
FOR the first "Brains Trust" to be held on November 25 at Durham by the North East of England Group of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, a notable panel has been assembled. It includes Mr. N. Tattersall, M.I.Mech.E., Leyland's chief engineer; Mr. J. C. H. Lovelock, M.I.Mech.E., joint Diesel sales manager of C.A.V.; Mr, W. R. Good, A.C.G.I., M.I.Mech.E., technical manager of Michelin Tyre Co.; Mr. W. S. Newham, chief designer, Plaxtons (Scarborough), Ltd.; Mr. E. C. Tuff, M.I.R.T.E., chief engineer, United Automobile Services; and Mr. G. Higham, M.I.R.T.E., senior vehicle examiner, Northern Traffic Area, Ministry of Transport. The question-master will be Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, Q.C., We recently appointed Northern Licensing Authority. The varied nature of the questions already submitted promises a most informative evening and a controversial discussion. To accommodate as guests any road transport engineers who are not members of the Institute, a large room has been booked at the Royal County Hotel, where the meeting will start at 7 p.m.
I.R.T.E. Progress in Scotland FOUNDED in 1946, the Scottish Centre of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers is making excellent progress, and at its dinner-dance held in Glasgow recently, over 200 members and guests were present, amongst the latter being many well-known trade personalities.
The popular chairman of the Centre, Mr. W. Martin of the Ministry of Transport, was unwell and unable to attend, but the chair was ably taken by the vice-chairman, Mr. F. Harrison. The toast of the Institute was proposed by the late Mr. D. M. Greenshields, D.S.O., and seconded by Mr. W. F. Quin, J.P., M.Inst.T., the Scottish Licensing Authoritir. References were made to the friendships which the Institute had promoted and to its rapid growth. The response was made by the president.
Founded by Instalments
APROUD legend on the tailboard of a lorry operating in London proclaims that the owner has been in business since 1891. The headboard, even prouder, puts the date at 1890. The explanation of this apparent discrepancy is thought to be that the founder bought a horse in 1890, but business did not really begin until the cart was delivered in the following year.