WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever Points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—/ Om Beattie Crozier.
French Gas Producer Trials.
The trials of vehicles equipped with gas producer plant commenced last week. The vehicles left Versailles on Monday, June 13th, and reached Lyons on Saturday, and were on exhibition in that city during the whole of Sunday. On Monday morning the return journey was commenced, and by Saturday next, June 25th, they will again reach Versailles. Up to the time of writing, the vehicles are faring extremely waif, end-general good results are being shown. We intend to deal fully with the trial so soon as it is concluded and the official report is published.
London Independent Bus Scheme.
The movement to bring about amalgamation of the numerous independent bus owners and businesses is still going forward. Up to the present 60 owners, representing about 200 vehicles, have expressed agreement. The idea is to bring about a co-ordinated scheme for working under the regulations which the Ministry of Transport makes with a view to reducing the vehicles on several routes. Negotiations are in progress to transfer the existing licences to the new undertaking, and one of the aims is gradually to replace all the present buses in the scheme by sixwheeled, pneumatic-tyred, covered buses of a type already approved. When the scheme is completed a new company will be formed.
The R.A.F. Display at Hendon.
On Saturday, July 2nd, the Royal Air Force Display will take place at Hendon. Accommodation has been improved by the provision of a new grandstand for 3,000 people, and many thousands of additional chairs, etc. Tickets are obtainable at theatre agents, District Messenger offices and from the Secretary, ILA.F. Display, Uxbridge. Prices for the enclosures are 5s. and 10s., and from what we learn from the programme we believe that the display will be even more spectacular than ever.
The Coming-of-age of a Bus Compar y.
One of the best-known companies catering for passenger transport is the Aldershot and District Traction. Co., Ltd. which was founded on June 1st, 1904, as the Aldershot and Farnborough Motor Bus Co., 'then running tsvo buses with an average speed of 3 m.p.h. The company now owns 140 buses of all types and 18 coaches, and an interesting souvenir brochure has been issued to commemorate the company's 21st birthday. •
Satisfactory Results from Blackpool's Buses.
Blackpool Corporation bus services are on the verge of paying their way. The original estimates for the year ended March 31st last provided for an income of 121,000, with working expenses £23,600, leaving a loss of £2,600. The revised estimates drawn up near tbe end of the financial year showed an income of 138,750, and ,work B20 ing expenses £34,705, leaving a gross balance of £4,045. Against this were set interest and loan charges /5,700, leaving a net loss of £1,655.
The final figures show substantial improvement. The year's income was £38,521, and working expenses 133,268, leaving a gross profit of £5,253. Loan charges come to £5,579, so that actually there is a net loss of £326. The result is that instead of the deficit on the buses representing a rate of over 2d. in the £, the actual cost to the ratepayers is about one-twelfth of a penny in the 1. The Corporatiosi is already responsible for a dozen bus services, and others are in contemplation for the near future.
We regret to hear that Mr. G. J. Shave, Chief Engineer and Operating Manager of the L.G.O.C., has been ordered by his doctor to take a complete rest for about three mouths. He may shortly be taking a sea trip, and he has the good wishes of the directors of the company and_ his many friends fir a complete recovery.
Albions for Sonth Africa.
Albion 13-60 h.p. buses are becoming very popular in South Africa, and are already used by the Pretoria municipality, the Cape Electric Tramways and the South African Government Railways. A repeat order recently received from the last-named was for a number of 32-passenger overlype bus chassis, and these will soon be on the road.
Ransomes' Balance-sheet.
The report and balance-sheet of the directors of Ransomes, Sims and jefferies, for the year ended March 31st last, shows a balance to the credit of trading account of £28,257 19s. 10d. Income from investments and other receipts bring the total to • 130,403 2s. Interest on debenture stock and on deposits absorbs £11,515 15s. 6d., leaving a balance of profit amounting to £18,887 6s. 6d. The dividend on the preference shares to the end of December absorbs £11,000. There was brought into the account at the commencement of the year 158,599 15s. 8d., so that the balance available for disposal is £66,487 2s. 2d. The directors propose to place £10,000 to reserves and to carry the balance forward, regretting the diminution in the profit for the year arid the fact that they do not feel justified in recommending the payment of any dividend on the ordinary shares.
Extra Licences Claimed by Cardiff.
The Penarth U.D.C. has referred to a joint conference of local authorities the question of the issue of extra licences for buses, to meet " peak " summer trade demand on the routes CardiffPenarth area-Barry, The Cardiff City Council applied for all the extra licences which were recommended for issue by a conference held a short time ago of the Cardiff City, Cardiff R.D. and Penarth, Barry and Pontypridd U.D. Councils. The Cardiff City Council contended in its application to the. Penarth authority that, having bought out certain of the private proprietors, it was entitled to these extra licences. This view was opposed by the remaining private proprietors on the routes, and, moreover, it was adduced that the joint conference had recommended that only two-thirds of the extra issue be made to the municipal enterprise. In these circumstances the Penarth Council declined to art in the matter of licence issue.
British Stone for British Roads.
New plant for crushing and grading stone for roads, and which is believed to be the largest to be put down in this country at one time, is to be opened by Sir Henry Maybury at Cranmore Quarries, Somerset, in the late summer or early autumn. The object of instituting this plant is largely to compete with cheap foreign stone which has hitherto been ousting British stone from its legitimate markets, particularly in the eastern counties.
Hartlepool's New Bristols.
West Hartlepool recently inaugurated a new half-hourly service of buses between Church Street and Port Clarence, using 29-seater Bristol vehicles for the purpose. Reference was made to these vehicles in a recent issue.
It is claimed that the transition from tramcars to trolley-buses and petrol buses has enabled a reorganization of the tramways department which will effect a saving of 13,480 per annum.
Lanarkshire Transport Problems.
It is stated that a big bus combine is being formed in Lanarkshire, and that its purPose is to protect existing bus companies from the effects of some drastic by-laws which have been prepared by the various local authorities in the county with the view to restricting to actual local requirements the bus services within their respective boundaries.
The new rules are hailed with satisfaction from some points of view, for it is felt that they will help to eliminate hazardous competition. Their necessary corollary is, however, the unification of existing hiring concerns, and this task is said to be in process of completion. The new organization will have under its control no fewer than 800 vehicles. Nowhere in Scotland has transport by 'bus attained to a higher degree of popularity than in Lanarkshire, and, within recent years, the county's tramway system has evidently suffered an eclipse in something like an inverse ratio. The report of the Tramways Co., Ltd., just issued, shows a net loss for 1926 of £11,568, and this debit is attributed in no small measure to an ever-increasing bus competition.
In 1920, for example, the tramway system carried 35,584,191 passengers (single journeys) and covered 2,767,449 miles. Last year however, the number of passengers carried was only 20,356,596, although the mileage had risen to 4,483,080.
Fife's New Road Dressing.
There has just been completed an interesting piece of road dressing in the county of Fife, the stretch operated upon being that extending from Dunfermline to Inverkeithing, a distance of about seven miles. The dressing consists of the best granite, or other approved stone, broken, graded and treated with a suitable quantity of specially prepared bitumen.
It is claimed for this composition that it is non-slippery and very durable, and that it can be laid with equal facility over an ordinary macadam surface, wood blocks or stone setts.
The proprietors and manufacturers of the new substance are the Tilbury Con
tracting and Dredging Co., London, and it is stated that it holds a licence for applying it to several large sections of roads "over a considerable area of Scotland."
In addition to other merits, it is said to be capable of being laid with great expedition, the operation interfering to a very slight extent with the customary road traffic, and, as granite enters largely into its manufacture, its adoption by local authorities will not have the effect of throwing quarriers out of employment—but rather tills, reverse.
17 Tons on a Leyland.
A short time ago a 17-ton casting was ordered by a Newton Abbot firm from a foundry in Bradford. The journey was undertaken by an articulated six-wheeler, with another lorry in attendance to assist it up hills. After several days on the road, however, the contractors found that the two vehicles could not deal with the load, and asked their clients if they could transfer' it to the railway, as they were of the opinion that the load was too much for road transport. However, the contract was given to Removals, Ltd., of Birmingham. This company transferred the casting to a Leyland tractor-trailer, which delivered it safely without the slightest hitch. This particular vehicle has carried many extraordinary loads, including a boiler weighing 17 tons: Bus Services in Belgium.
A new company has recently been formed with a capital of 21 million francs, under the auspices of the Cornpagnie Generale des Tramways d'Anvers, to run motorbuses in Antwerp. The new concern, which is known as the Societe des Autobus Anversois, has taken over six single-deck vehicles from the tramways company and a number of vehicles of the Societe des Autohus Beiges.
Fuller Batteries.
The Fuller Accumulator Co. (1926), Ltd., Woodland Works, Chadwell Heath, Essex, has just issued a revised price list of types of battery which are suitable for use on motor vehicles, some of these being supplied in wood boxes and others in ebonite cases.
Will Motor Vehicles Replace Shops ?
At a recent meeting of members of the Laundry Industry a suggestion was made that the development of road transport is likely to lead to a reduction in the number of shops. Point is given to this idea by the fact that in the modern housing estates there is less provision for shops than was formerly the case and that great main roads, like that of the Kingsway, which now connects Manchester with the roads to the south, are devoted mainly to housing the peop!e instead of providing frontages for retailers.
According to Mr. Ian Brown: of the Young Launderers League, the experience of many of those engaged in the industry shows that transport costs are less than the cost of receiving offices, for customers became accustomed to have their linen and other goods for the laundry ready at the hour of collection. The idea apparently is that the housewives, knowing the time the laundry van will call, have their goods ready and are saved the trouble of taking them to the receiving offices that 'are a feature of some industrial districts.
At the Co-Operative Congress at Cheltenham hundreds of the delegates made inspection of a travelling shop which was on view. The particular vehicle shown was intended for the butchery trade. Some Co-Operative societies have motor shops for greengrocery and other branches and find their use very profitable in the scattered areas. Most of the societies organize motor delivery services before establishing branch shops in villages, and the purchase of travelling shops is now a familiar item of expenditure.
This has opened up a new field for motorvan builders, who should study the design of their fittings to ensure distributing the weight as well as the stocking of goods.
Some of the big retailers in the county and larger towns are similarly reaching out to the villages and to the outskirts of their own localities. The result will, in time, lessen the number of shops, for the institution of the motor shop will reduce overhead charges and the cost of retailing. Cardiff's Bus Schemes.
The Cardiff City Council has made formal application to the Ministry of Transport for sanction to ply buses on new routes out, of the city. The routes are in the areas of the Pontypridd, Barry and Caerphilly U.D.C.s and the Cardiff R.D.C. It is intended, if sanction can be obtained from the Ministry and the local authorities concerned, to run buses to Cardiff-Nantgarv,-, Morgansbiwn, Taff's Weil, Dines Powis, Barry, Pontypridd, via Whitchurch, Tongwynlais, Upper Boat and Rhydfelan. These proposals embody the extensions foreshadowed in The Commercial Motor and are the subject of negotiations for the out-purchase by the council of certain private bus. enterprises.
'Dodge Brothers' Service.
We are informed that although International Motors, Ltd., has discontinued its Dodri Brothers' service work, it has made arrangements for the transfer to ;Tomlinson (Marylebone), Ltd., 42, High Street, Marylebone, London W.1, of the spare parts, goodwill, etc., of that part of its activities relating to this particular service. spare parts for Dodge Brothers' and Graham Brothers' vehicles and for North-Bast electrical equipment has already been transferred to the stock parts which Tomlinson (Marylebone), Ltd., carries as authorized Dodge _ Brothers dealers.
Thornycrofts on Order.
Amongst a large batch of orders received by John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., during the week ended May 14th, was one, in the nature of a repeat, for 20 type-A3 rigid six-wheeled chassis from the company's Johannesburg agents, the machines having been ordered by the South African Railways. Another repeat order from a railway company is that for two 30cwt. subsidy type Al chassis for the Great Western Railway. The company is building a 3-5-ton six-wheeled chassis for Shell-Mex, Ltd.. as well as a type A3 lorry of this pattern which is to be sent to Dar-es-Salaam. Other orders received by the company in the period mentioned included one for two type Q 6-tonners and three type KB 3-ton platform lorries from Angus Watson and Co., Ltd., and another for a 20-seater all-metal 'xis from the proprietors of the Hamsterley Colliery, Co. Durham. The ,company
also has under construction two type A2 2-ton chassis for Nairobi and three type J 4-ton chassis for shipment to Singapore.
Sitting by the Driver: In connection with the practice of allowing a passenger to sit by the side of the driver, the Woking Urban District Council bus committee has now decided that licences of drivers will not be renewed if they persist in this practice.
Traffic in the Isle of Wight.
Isle of Wight County Council has received a letter from the Ministry of Transport in connection with the council's application for an Order under Section 7 (4) of the Roads Act, 1920, restricting the use of certain types of mechanically propelled vehicle on various highways in the county. The Minister has now decided to make an Order for practically all the roads in respect of which application was made. As regards the roads known as Hillway Road and Howgate Lane, Bembridge, the Minister has decided that no Order should be made. So far as the road from the Brightstone-Shorwell road (A.3055) at Limerstone Farm is concerned the Order will apply to eastbound traffic only, and the Minister has decided that no Order shall be made regarding the branch road from Pyle to Chale Street.
The Order will only be made upon the conditions (1) that the county council will assume responsibility for the erection of the necessary warning boards, and (2) that it arranges for the publication of the Order in the local Press. In this connection the county council has given undertakings.
Fisk Tyres on a Six-wheeler.
We have been asked by the Fisk Tyre Co., Ltd., 101, Grosvenor Road, London, &W.1. to point out that the first six-wheeled double-deck bus, which was recently supplied to a Dublin user and described in The Commercial Motor dated May 3rd, is equipped with Fisk 36-in. by 6-in. Transportation cord tyres, lihich are specially designed for heavy commercial-vehicle work.
New Services for Middlesbrough.
The first of a series of internal bus services which the Middlesbrough Corporation is to inaugurate has been put into operation between Cambridge Road and the Acklam Garden City. The route is a circular one, and other parts of the town, not at present provided with passenger transport facilities, will similarly be linked up as more of the Guy and Dennis buses are delivered.
Another Guy Six-wheeler for India.
An illustration on this page shows a Guy 5-ton six-wheeler just supplied to the Chulsa Tea Co., of Assam, India. The body is designed to carry chests of tea, and the sides are hinged to facilitate loading and unloading. A towing attachment on the back allows for a further load to be carried on a trailer.
The vehicle is capable of carrying 3 tons across country, and, as a matter of fact, it will have to do a lot of crosscountry work in low gear. In view of this, and of the hot clitnate, the area of the water-cooling surface has been doubled. This vehicle is of the same type as those coming under the new W.D. subsidy scheme.
Rejected Services at Leeds.
Leeds watch committee has refused the following applications :—Messrs. Bartley Brothers and Rhodes, for permission to augment a motorbus service between Leeds and Kippax ; the' West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd. for permission to augment a motorbus service between Leeds and Castleford, via Carforth; and Mr. Richard Fox, Junr., for licences for motor omnibuses to run within the city in connection with proposed services between Leeds and Castleford, via Swillington, and between Leeds and East Ardsley, via Bothwell, Leadwell Lane, Robin Hood and Thorpe.
The New Usk Bridge.
The new bridge over the River Usk at Newport (Mon.) is to be formally opened on June 22nd by Col. Ashley, Minister of Transport. The bridge, which cost something like a quarter of a million pounds to build, is enhanced in utility by the widening of the main Newport-Cardiff road to give a carriageway fa() ft. wide.
Bus Licensing in Watford.
At the suggestion of the Watford watch committee the bus proprietors running services in and through the town have come to an amicable arrangement regarding co-ordination, and, ag a result, the _ watch committee has granted the following licences: London General Omnibus Co., 75 vehicles ; National Omnibus Co., 84; Mr. E. G. Hewitt (Premier), 5; Mr. F. Lewis, 5; Mr. G. Biggerstaff, 1; Co-operative Omnibus Co., 4; Mr. C. Ashton, 2; Mr. R. Tucker, 2; Metropolitan Railway, 4. The committee granted the licences subject to the applicants undertaking to operate services strictly in accordance with mutual time-tables and schedules of routes, to be approved by the committee, and to their agreeing to the endorsement upon the licences of conditions to effect this, and to prevent chasing and interference. The committee further recommends that, in order to facilitate the arrangement of such co
ordinated routes and time-tables, the embargo placed by the Council upon certain roads last year be removed, as under such co-ordinated services the , necessity for such embargo will cease to exist, but should the necessary undertakings not be given the committee may be compelled to reconsider thematter.
The committee points out that, in its opinion, it would not be proper for the Council to undertake to grant no more licences, as suggested by the proprietors.• It is bound by law to hear applicants and to deal with their applications judicially. At the same time the Committee is of opinion that the number of licences now recommended is sufficient for the present needs of the Public, and that unless satisfactory routes and time-tables be adhered to this number should be reduced.
Bug Development in Northumberland.
Further interesting motorbus developments in East Northumberland were foreshadowed at a meeting of the Wallsend Town Council, when . an application was received from the Tynemouth and District Electric Traction Co., Ltd., for permission, so far as the Wallsend neighbourhood is concerned, to run services between Newcastle and Blyth, via the New Coast Road, which will be ready for traffic shortly ; between Wallsend, North Shields and Whitley Bay ; and from Wallsend into Newcastle via Shields Road, an alternative route to that over the new highway.
The company stated that fares would be non-competitive with existing tramways. It was mentioned that the Newcastle Corporation had refused the company sanction to run alongside the Corporation main track on the New Coast Road. The application was adjourned for three months to allow the Corporation an opportunity of conferring with other authorities in the area.
Cylinder Heads for Morris Engines, We have been asked by Morris Motors (1926), Ltd., to point out that the fitting of cylinder heads that are not of the company's own manufacture invalidates the guarantee that is issued in respect of every vehicle sold by it.
Fares at Oldham.
At a meeting of the tramways committee of the Oldham Corporation the general manager submitted a letter from the Royston and Crompton Trades and Labour Council asking for a revision of the tram and bus fares and the introduction of a system of cheap
,the tickets. The general manager stated that he had replied that, in his opinion, the time has not arrived for a complete revision of all tram and bus fares, especially as the deficit arising from the industrial disturbance of last year has not yet been wiped out. The committee approved his action.
A Comprehensive Fuse Service.
A useful type of fuse cabinet containing 99 fuses, covering practically every type of commercial vehicle in the world, has recently been brought out by Auto-Bulbs, Ltd., Sphinx House, Hatton Garden, London, E.C.1. This cabinet constitutes a comprehensive fuse service, and should prove particularly useful to traders, refilling stations, etc. It is surprising how often such a small article as a fuse can hold up a commercial vehicle, and it will be to the interest of users if replacement fuses—which, incidentally, are of British make and guaranteed— are thus rendered readily available.
A Valuable Compendium.
One of the 'most useful text books for those in the motor trade is "The Motor Transport Year-Book and Directory," the 1927 edition of which has recently been published. This directory is the only comprehensive record of the industry. It contains a mass of commercial and financial information, technical data and operating statistics. It gives particulars of about 3,000 commercial-vehicle transport undertakings, including compa'nies, municipalities and others, which are concerned with the operation of approximately 26,000 vehicles. The activities and financial position of over 1,000 manufacturing concerns are also described, and the directory of officials shows the names and addresses of over 6,500 officials engaged in all branches of the industry, and this information is packed into some 700 pages.
The book is published by the Electrical Press, Ltd., Fisher Street, Southampton Row, London, W.O.
A Battery-charger for Alternating Current.
The Runbakeu Magneto Co., Tipping Street, Ardwick, Manchester, has brought out an extremely simple accumulator charging set for alternating current. It has magnetic action, and all that is necessary to do is to connect it up and switch on. The instrument is guaranteed for two years. It is priced at 75s., or with meter 7s. 6d. extra. ' Another outfit for h.t. wireless batteries is priced at 39s. 6d.
A Useful Bulletin.
R. Cadisch and Sons, 5 and 6, Red Lion Square, London, W.C.1, have sent us a copy of their current bulletin, which contains details of a number of articles of interest to commercial users. For instance, there is a new Black and Decker portable electric drill and attachments for grinding valves, cleaning out carbon, etc. a Tecalemit portable lubricating tank, Zenith air _cleaners, petrol-pump-hose protectors, and trolley drip-trays into which engine sumps can be emptied.
Bus Stands at Plymouth.
Plymouth Watch Committee has met the proprietors of buses using St. Andrew's Cross terminus with regard to the proposed use of Taviatock Place as a terminus for certain bus routes, in view of the congestion at St. Andrew's Cross. Following the meeting, it has recommended that as from July let next and until further order, stands for buses be fixed in Tavistock Place for use as a terminus by buses operating on the Plympton and Cornwood routes.