WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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a The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all digculties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Co-ordinating Road Repairs.
The Minister of Transport has issued an order, which takes the form of a voluminous document, and which prescribes the list of streets upon the carriageways of which road works are to be executed during the forthcoming months. In each case the precise nature of the work to be done is set out with the length and width of road affected, together with the dates of the commencement and estimated completion of the work, The list so far published is not to be regarded as final or complete, but may be extended or modified after experience of the practical operation of the provisions of section four of the London Traffic Act has been gained.
Other recent Orders of the Minister dealing with the restriction and control of motorbus traffic are dealt with in a special article in this issue.
Institute of Transport Congress.
The next congress of the Institute of Transport, the fifth of the series, will be held in London from May 12th to 16th, both dates inclusive. The congress will be opened at the Institution of Electrical Engineers at 9.45 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13th, and during that day and the next two, papers will be read uponvarious subjects, road transport being dealt with in the paper by Mr. D. R. Lamb, to be read on the Thursday morning, entitled " The co-ordination of road and rail transport," whilst Mr. A. E. Brookes, 0.B.E., will read a paper on " Arterial roads in relation to town planning," on the Friday.
Visits haie been arranged for members and guests to:—
(a) The works in course of construction for the London Underground Railways. (b) Great-Western Railway goods station at South Lambeth. (e)
The works of the Vacuum Oil Co. at Wandsworth. (d) Metropolitan Railway's new signal cabin at Baker Street Station, etc. (e) Factories of J. Lyons and Co., Ltd. (f) The docks of
London. (g) Carter, Paterson and Co.'s garage at Pakenham Street. (h) Eastern Avenue and New Southend Road.
The annual .dinner of the Institute will be held at the Hotel Cecil on the Wednesday, the president, Sir Lynden Macassey, K.B.E., LL.D., occupying the chair.
Each member attending the congress may invite one visitor to meetings and visits, and requests to bring a second visitor will be considered in priority of receipt. Full particulars can be obtained from the secretary, 15, Savoy Street, London, W.C.
Guy Coach Chassis on Order.
Guy Motors, Ltd., inform us that Keith and Boyle, Ltd., of 37, Harleyford Road, London, S.E., who run a number of Guy coaches, have just ordered three of their motor coach chassis, to be fitted with 30-seater bodies, for delivery in time to cope with the exceptionally heavy traffic anticipated in connection with the Derby.
Car and General Report.
The 21st annual general meeting of the Car and General Insurance Corporation, Ltd., was held a few days ago, vas held
when Sir Edward Manville, the chairman, stated that the net premium income for 1924 amounted to £798,559, a figure which represents an' increase of 151,71.1 over the previous year. Claims paid during the year amounted to £398,715, and the sum of £144,791 was reserved to meet outstanding claims. The net profit was £73,28. The chairman stated that the largest proportion of the corporation's premium income is still obtained from motor insurance.
It is interesting to note that the progress of the corporation has been steady and consistent throughout the 21 years of its 'existence, the premium income in the first year — i.e.; 1904 — being £26,828, and in 1914 £381,210; a figure that was more than doubled in the year covered by the report. It is also interesting to note that the corporation has paid in claims to, or on behalf of, its policy-holders during this period a sum of £4,250,000.
A New Buda Engine.
We have just heard from the Buda Co., of Harvey, Illinois, that they have recently designed a new six-cylinder heavy-duty engine, which has been expressly built for use in chassis intended for bus and coach work. We have full details of this new model in our possession, and will deal adequately with its main features in our next issue, when we shall be in a position to include illustrations showing its general and detailed design.
Saurer Agents in Lancashire.
In our issue for March 10-th last we published a note to the effect that Messrs. Crisp and Co., of 26, Bridge Street, Manchester, had been appointed Saurer agents. We now learn from the Saurer Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd., that the district in which they will handle this agency is an area round Manchester, and running westward to Wigan, Warrington and Chester. Liverpool and the surrounding area eastward to those towns are covered by the company's Liverpool agents, C. W. Donkin and Co., Ltd.
A Tribute to Shell Spirit.
The photograph which we reproduce on this page was taken on the occasion of a halt which Capt. Deliguett made on the journey which he is at present attempting to complete from Tangier to Cape Town. The picture depicts supplies of Shell spirit being taken aboard. About the middle of March he had reached Nairobi, from which centre the picture was received.
Capt. Delignett pays a high tribute to the running of the vehicle on Shell spirit whilst traversing the Belgian , Congo and Uganda, and has stated that it is his intention to use spirit of this brand wherever be can secure it along the line of route which is being followed.
Torquay Favours the Trojan.
The Torquay Watch Committee recently inspected a two-seater Trojan taxicab made by Leyland Motors, Ltd., which the representative of the company stated could be run at a fare of 8d. or 9d. per mile. He informed the committee that these vehicles (which would replace the taxi-sidecars) were being licensed to ply for hire in Birmingham and Bournemouth, such vehicles being in great demand.
The representative of the company was informed that the committee is prepared to license such vehicles to ply for hire within the borough, and that when applications are received it will consider revising the scale of charges.
New Commercial Garage in Liverpool.
C. W. Donkin and Co., Ltd., 147a, Dale Street, Liverpool, advise us that they have opened a branch garage and repair shop at 137-141, Vauxhall Road (quite close to the North End Docks), where ample accommodation for garaging about 60 heavy vehicles is available. A large portion of the garage is covered in, and arrangements have been made so that private lock-up bunkers can be provided for steam wagons. As Vauxhall Road is on the main road to the North Docks, this new commercial vehicle garage should be a very convenient halting-place for drivers who wish to put up their vehicles for the night.
Tramway Employees' Wages and Bus Competition.
The dispute between the Lanarkshire Tramways Co. and their employees has now been settled, and the cars, which had ceased running for a couple of days, are now in full operation again. The cause of the strike was an intimation by the company to the men that, in view of a serious shrinkage in revenue, consequent on the recent introduction of motorbuses by different companies, it was found necessary to reduce the wages of all drivers and conductors by id. per hour, or 4s. a week.
An agreement has been arrived at which, fOr the time being, appears to be satisfactory to both parties. There is no doubt that the newly launched motorbus competition is proving a seri ous menace to the tramways company, for it meets them on all the routes on which their vehicles have hitherto run.
The Glasgow-Inverness Road.
The Ministry of Transport has intimated to Sir Murdoch Macdonald, M.P. for the shire of Inverness, that the scheme for reconstructing the Glas gow-Inverness road is still being carefully considered. It is now understood that large stretches which require immediate attention will be proceeded with in the course of a short period. Sir Murdoch believes that operations will begin first of all with the road from ICinloelt.leven to Fort William and Fort Augustus.
Reo Agents in Lancashire.
We understand that Messrs. C. V. Lewis and Co., of 2, John Street, Manchester, have recently been appointed sole agents for the range of Reo commercial vehicles in Lancashire.
A Coach Company's Success.
The annual meeting of Grey Cars, Ltd., who own a fleet of motor coaches, was held at Torquay recently, Mr. R. II! Grost, chairman of directors, presiding. It was reported that the profits on the year's working amounted to £6,406, as compared with £2,699 for the previous year. After allowing for depreciation, interest and bank charges, a net profit of £2,853 was carried forward. Messrs. T. J. Grossman and W. Farrant Gilley were re-elected directors, and a vote of thanks was accorded to the managing director, Mr. W. R. Cutchey, and the staff.
Tractors Make Farming Pay.
According to a bulletin recently issued by the United States Department of Agriculture the tractor is proving to be of remarkable economic value to American farmers. From data supplied by 267 farmers throughout the country it was found that only four of these relied entirely upon horses for cultivating their land. Tractors only were used by 53 per cent. of these farmers, whereas 45 per cent, used both tractors and horses. The coat of keeping horses averaged 1,076 dollars per farm, whilst the cost of tractors for drawbar work averaged only 341 dollars per farm. From these figures it is shown that the cost of the tractor was only 24.1 per cent. of the total cost.
A Practical Poster.
A very practical poster has just been issued by the National "Safety First" Association, 119, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, dealing with signals to be observed by drivers of road vehicles. Seven different types of vehicle are illustrated, in order to cover all signals which can be used on the road. A wide distribution of the poster should materially assist to impress upon road users the necessity for observing a definite code of signals, and thus avoid confusion which often results from indifferent signalling on the part of those who are altering their course.
Municipal Authorities and Motorbus Powers.
The view of the Municipal Tramways Association that all corporations should have powers to run omnibuses was reiterated at the April meeting of the Accrington Town Council, when the chairman of the tramways committee said that the necessary powers to provide and run omnibuses should be sought in the next Bill to be promoted ' by the corporation. It was not that they would be pledged to run motorbuses, said the chairman; but if they wanted to do so they could, and to safeguard themselves against any undue usage of a monopoly which at the present time companies were aequiring. The position in regard to industrial Lancashire is anything but satisfactory, and on some services the municipal authorities have been anything but helpful to motorbus companies who have initiated services. Some municipalities operate trams only, whilst others operate both trains and motorbuses; but neither case do they provide such a corn prehensive service, linking town with town and village with village, as do the private bus companies. The securing of powers by Accrington may be only an intermediate stage towards a federation with other boroughs, such as Burnley, to secure regional and correlated running powers.
Guy Runabouts Popular.
Some two years ago the Bournemouth Corporation asked Guy Motors, Ltd., of Wolverhampton, to undertake the manufacture of several low-loading vehicles for operating on the Undercliffe Drive. The vehicles were of a special type, ahd were described by us when they first appeared, an outstanding feature being an extremely low-load line. Three machines were originally purchased, and these proved so successful during their first year in service that a further three vehicles were supplied, and, at the end of last year, it was reported that the fleet had been operated at a substantial profit. It is now generally known that other authorities at seaside resorts have purchased vehicles of a similar type, and the Portsmouth Corporation, which has several in use at Southsea, has found them equally successful. The vehicles of this type supplied by Guy Motors, Ltd., are usually arranged to run at speeds up to 12 m.p.h., and there is little doubt that their general
compactness and the handiness with which they can be manceuvred have contributed to the popularity which such runabouts have achieved.
Single-deckers, Yes ! Double-deckers, No!
Stretford Urban District Council has granted 25 additional motorbus licences to the North-Western Road Car Co., Ltd. The vehicles are of the single-deck type. The committee refused to entertain licences for double-deck vehicles.
A 20-year-old Albion's Capabilities.
An interesting case recently occurred in Ceylon where ,a motorbus driver was charged with having driven his vehicle through a trap at a speed of 20 m.p.h. The accused said that the bus he was driving, which was a '20-year-old Albion, was incapable of doing more than 15 m.p.h., and that if it could be driven at a greater speed he was Prepared to plead guilty. The challenge was accepted, and a report subsequently made by the authorities in which' it was stated that the bus could
accomplish a speed of 18 m.p,h. The result of the case we have not heard, but it seems that the authorities were in error in the first instance.
Republic's New Catalogue.
Republic Motor Truck Sales and Service, Ltd., 20, Peterborough Road, Fulham, London, S.MT.6, have sent us a copy of a new catalogue which describes the various range of Republic productions. The loose-leaf principle has been adopted for this catalogue, so that, should any change be made in the specification of the various models or their prices, it will be possible to, detach the old sheet and insert that bearing the new particulars. This system also lends itself to ,the insertion of other pages describing new models as they are put on to the market. The present catalogue deals with nine diV ferent models and is well illustrated, and a copy of it can be obtained from the address given above.
British Chances in Holland.
That Holland would appear to merit the attention of British manufacturers is evident from the fact that the number of commercial, vehicles in use in the country shows an increase of about 50 per cent. during the past year, the number registered having advanced from 10,180 to 15,375. "Young Australia" Touring by Thornycrofts.
As many of our 'readers may be aware, the Young Australia League, which is open to boys in all parts of Australia, has recently sent a party of about 140 boys and their officers in charge to this country, where they are participating in a six-weeks' educational tour of England and Scotland. To enable the schoolboys to travel by road and to see as much as possible of the towns, villages and centres of historic interest of Great Britain, John I. Thornycroft and Co. Ltd., have placed at the disposal of the organizers their entire demonstration fleet of nine Thornycroft coaches, buses and luggage vans.
The boys arrived in London in January last, and, after visiting the Continent, have returned for the tour which
has just started. The vehicles will cover a big mileage, estimated at over 1,200, and the farthest point north to be touched will be Perth. Some of the largest centres to be visited on the out
:
ward route will be Grantham, Doncaster, Leeds, York, Durham, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Stirling; and, on the homeward journey, Glasgow, Carlisle, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Nottingham, Birmingham, Oxford and Southampton.
Since the inception of the League over 4,000 boys have toured under its auspices, the last party to visit Eng land having arrived in 1912.
Torquay Limiting Coach Licences.
• At a Meeting of the Torquay Watch COmmittee a letter'was reed from the Motor Coach Owners' Association relittiVe to-the limitation of the number of licences granted in respect of motor coaches. A tabulated statenient Was submitted Showing • the 'nufnberr of • licences already granted by the committee 'for the cfirrent year and the number of applications awaiting consideration.It Was decided • that the number of licences in respect of motor coseches be limited to 98, made tin as -follows :— Granted to date, 7l; additional renewals, 6; new vehicles, 13.
Bus Licences and Insurance. Carlisle City Council has asked the watch committee to consider the question of compelling motorbus proprietors who are licensed to ply for hire in the district to take out insurance policies against all risks that may be incurred.
Monthly Motorbus Licences Criticised.
At a meeting of the. Merthyr Tydvil Watch Committee—the bus-licensing committee of the town council—Mr. H. M. Lloyd protested against the continuance of the system of licensing private bus services from month to mouth only. Owners, he said, who invested large capital in companies which were performing a public service should be given greater security and encouragement than short-period licences gave to them. He thought such a policy restrictive of employment, and believed the Ministry of Transport would not approve the system if the bus owners appealed against it.
In view of the fact that no actual complaint had been made to the Ministry, however, it was decided to continue the monthly licensing system. At the same time,i Mr. Lloyd certainly raised an issue which is keenly felt by proprietors in the Merthyr district to be derogatory to the interests of the trade.
At the same meethig, the committee declined to grant licences to Messrs. Phillips, Aberdare, for a daily service between Aberdare, Merthyr and 13recon.
New " General " Garages.
Two new garages to house " General " buses have recently been opened at South Harrow and Edgware, where they adjoin the Underground stations. The former is quite a small structure, and merely gives protection to six buses which are used on local routes.
The garage at Edgware is of somewhat larger dimensions, and is arranged to accommodate 24 buses, and consists of two bays. This will eventually be enlarged to enable 75 vehicles to be housed, and washing bays, workshops, offices and the usual establishments will form part of the building, At this garage storage for 4,000 gallons of petrol' is provided.
Popularity of the Bus in Germany.
The increasing popularity of publicservice vehicles in Germany is giving a long-desired impetus to the motor industry in that country. As an indication of this it may be mentioned that one company alone, the Vogtlandische Maschinenfabrik Gesellschaft, of Plauen, have recently secured a repeat order for 50 buses from the Berlin General Omnibus Co. They have also secured an order for a further 20 vehicles for the German G.P.O. and one for 20 machines from the West German Omnibus Co., whilst no fewer than 130 vehicles are on order for various other public-service concerns. The 'Me of the bus is proceeding apace in all those countries where a well-developed system of roads exists.
B.A.T. Traffic Receipts.
The traffic receipts for the four weeks in March on the passenger-carrying vehicles owned by the various companies comprising the British Automobile Traction Co.'s group totalled £118,123, there being a remarkable consistencyabout the figures for the individual weeks. This figure represents an increase of £30,463 over that for the corresponding period of 1924. The total. receipts for the first 12 weeks of the year amounted to £350,010, a figure which is £73,734 up on that for the corresponding period of last year. M. of T. and Road Fund Grants.
In a communication which was read from the Ministry of Transport at the last meeting of the Loughborough Town Council the important information was forthcoming that the funds which were made available for assisting highways authorities in expediting schemes of road construction and improvement have, for the present, been exhausted. It was intimated that it would not, therefore, be possible to give a promise of any financial assistance at the present time, but that, in the event of further funds being available by the Ministry at a later date, any application which the council might submit would receive due consideation.
Renewed Application for Lice mas.
At a meeting of the Swansea Watch Committee Mr. John Harris renewed his application for licences to ply for hire with two motorbuses on the route from Pontardulais to Swansea. The town clerk reported that a similar application by Mr. Harris had several times been refused, and that in June last, on an appeal to the Ministry of Transport, the decision of the corporation had been upheld. The committee again refused to accede to the request of the applicant.
Japan Wants Light Fire.eng,ines.
According to a recent report by the British Consul in Osaka there is a growing demand for light motor fire-engines in Japan, especially in the country districts where they would prove of the utmost value.
A Bus Service Purchase. .
We undertsand that Mr. D. Meurig Jenkins, Aberayrou, has sold his Cardiganahire bus-service interests to the Crosville Motor Co., Ltd., of Chester, for whom he will act as local agent.
Not During the Summer Months.
The Aberystwyth Town Council has decided to prohibit the use of the sea front and approach roads as termini for bus services as from May 1st. The town terminus for buses will be at the railway station.
Local Proceedings.
Lowestoft Corporation has authorized the purchase of a motor lawn-mower at a cost of £75.
Torquay Corporation has purchased a motor lorry for the beach committee at a cost of £132.
Kidsgrove Urban District Council has received sanction to a loan of £500 to purchase a motor lorry.
Weymouth Corporation has purchased a 1-ton motor lorry from Messrs. Crabb and Co. at a cost of 1175.
Brierley Hill Urban District Council is considering the purchase of .a motor ambulance estimated to cost £500.
The Doncaster Rotary Club has presented the authorities of the Royal Infirmary with a Vulcan motor ambulance.
The parks icommittee of the Bedford Corporation recommends the purchase, of a motor lawn-mower at a cost of £182.
The parks committee of the Smethwick Corporation recommends the purchase of a petrol lawn-mower at a cost of 197 10s.
Carlisle City Council has accepted the tender_ of Mr. W. T. Moore for the supply of a Bean motor ambulance at a cost of £505.
Sduthampton Corporation invites tenders for the supply of a chassis suitable for ambulance purposes. These have to be delivered not later than April 25th.
The tramways committee of the Hull Corporation is inviting quotations for the supply of two 26-seater one-manoperated petrol-driven buses and one petrol-driven tower wagon.
The sanitary inspector of the Northfleet Council reports that its motor lorry is continuing to give great satisfaction in handling a greater tonnage at a less cost than is possible with horses.
The tramways committee of the Douglas (I.O.M.) Town Council has now accepted the quotation of TillingStevens Motors, Ltd., to supply four remodelled motorbuses at £1,420 each.
Stretford Urban District Council is to inspect motor fire-engines at Hale, Sale and Ashton-upon-Mersey with a view to the purchase of a suitable engine and ladder escape for Stretford.
Chesterfield Corporation has accepted the tender of the Henley Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., for the maintenance and supply of motorbus tyres at a price equivalent to 4d. per bus-mile per set of six tyres for the year ending March 31st, 1926.
Pontypridd Urban District Council has instructed the 14.0.11. (Dr. E. J. Griffiths, Council Offices, Pontypridd) to obtain quotations for the supply of a motor ambulance, the expenditure involved having been provided for in the current estimates.
The Darlington Fire Brigade is augmenting its fleet by the purchase of a new Leyland 500-gallon turbbfe fireengine, together with first-aid ;tank and water-tower escape, at a cost of 11,878. The tender of Messrs. George and Jobling, of Blackwellgate, Darlington, has been approved for the provision of this machine.
0.4 Chorley Town Council is to purchase a motor vehicle for the sanitary department.
Harrogate Town Council is to obtain a motor turntable fire-escape at a cost of 12,400.
Cambridge Town Council suggests the provision of a new ambulance at a cost not exceeding 11,000.
A proposal for the purchase of a motor travelling dental surgery is under the consideration of the Holland (Lincolnshire) Education Committee.
Islington Council's works committee recommends the purchase of two 3i-ton refuse-collecting electric vehicles from Electricars, Ltd., at a cost of £1,763.
' A Dennis "Down Under."
The Dennis vehicle which is illustrated on this page is engaged on heavy haulage in New South Wales, where, according to the company's Sydney
agents, the Davies and Fehon Motors, Ltd., it is giving very reliable service. In the picture it is to be seen carrying a load of four huge tree-trunks which have just been transported from the spot at which they were felled to the railhead. As these logs are of considerable length as well as weight, a two-wheeled trailer is used in connection with the 5-6-ton Dennis lorry, which renders the test of transport a comparatively easy one, despite the somewhat excessive overhang.
Renfrewsbire Road Costs.
The surveyor for the Upper District of Renfrewshire reports that the roads continue to be well maintained. He has prepared some interesting statistics with regard to road traffic, of which a carefully planned census is taken annually. Last year's returns show a steady increase in mechanically propelled vehicles and a decrease in those drawn by horses.
Comparing the tonnage revealed by this census with the cost per mile for maintaining the principal highways in the district it is found that in 1924 it amounted to .30d., in 1923 to .31d., in 1910 to .28d., and in 1890 to .86d. It is thus seen that maintenance expenditure does not fluctuate very much, despite the greatly augmented traffic.
New Concrete Roads.
Concrete is now very largely used in America for road-construction work, and it is also securing an increasing vogue in this country, recent evidence for this contention being found in the schemes of road improvement which are now being undertaken at various holiday resorts along the South Coast. In Weymouth, for example, nine streets are to be constructed with this material, following the satisfactory results obtained from a short stretch of the esplanade which was laid with concrete two years ago. In fact, the results have been such that, we are told, it has been decided to lay concrete surfaces on all streets carrying heavy traffic.
At Portland, too, the local district council has embarked on the construction of a new concrete road from the old prison stone quarries, the present highway having proved inadequate to stand the strain of heavy lorries era ployed on the transport of Portland stone.
The worst part of the road between Bognor and Littlehampton is also being relaid, and, in order to avoid a diversion of traffic for a prolonged period which might result in damage to the surfaces of side streets, it has been decided to use Ferrocrete, a new cement which possesses special quick-drying properties.
Inst. P.E. Meeting.
A general meeting of the Institution of Production Engineers will be held on April 22nd at the Engineers' Club, Coventry Street, London, W. On this occasion Mr. F. P. Turner, of Messrs. E. W. Bliss Co., will read a paper on " Prees Tool Work," illustrated by lantern slides.
Considering Central Purchasing.
Stretford Urban District Council is obtaining information from its health, highways and electricity departments as to their requirements in the matter of motor supplies, including petrol, oil, tyres, etc., with a view to ascertaining whether any advantage could be gained by purchasing bulk supplies through a central purchasing department.