News and Continent.
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This journal is admitted to possess the influence, the men, the standing and the leading circulation. It is exclusively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses throughout the World.
We reproduce, on page 56, specinien.s of journey-slips and recordforms in connection with the Continental Tyre and Rubber Co.'s system of tire bonuses.
Inst. A.E.
The newly-elected president of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, Mr. L. A. Legros, will deliver his presidential address at the opening of the coming winter session, at Storey's Gate, S.W., on the 11th prox., at 8 p.m.
By Aerial Post.
Brown Bros., Ltd., is to be complimented on its enterprise in sending a postcard to many trade and other friends by the first U.K. Aerial Post, and upon which postcard is depicted the company's new Nvarehouses in King John's Court, Creat Eastern Street, E.C.
1912 Parade.
The conditions for the 1912 C. M. U. A. Parade are published on pages 42 and 43: in our Editorial comment on the first page of the issue, we direct special attention to the new feature of competent. engineering inspection of the vehicles and store-sheds, which valuable adjunct has now been made a definitive part of the scheme.
Commercial Road Carrying.
Mr. T. E Harrison, the chief of the Transport Department of Waring and Cillow, Ltd., amongst other writers who this week have sent in " Opinions from others," contributes some interesting views on the far-reaching subject of Commercial Road Carrying." Mr. Harrison raises the point, apropos the likely impressment of motor wagons by the military authorities, of the lack of ability also to impress drivers. Agricultural Motor Trials in France.
In spite or the labour troubles in the neighbourhood of Lille and Roubaix, the A.C.F. carried out its contemplated programme of trials of agricultural motors, last week. Certain difficulties were experienced in consequence of the postponement which was found to be necessary. Our exclusive report of the trials will be found on pages 44 to 47, and we would direct the particular attention of all readers who are interested in this class of engine to the fact that exhaustive demonstrations and trials will be held, about a year hence, at Bourges (Central France). English makers can arrange to have their expenses recouped.
French Subventions.
As the result of the recent French Military Trials, time following vehicles, with their official numbers in parentheses, have been passed for all benefits of the French Government's subvention scheme de Dion (3 and 4) ; Malieet and Blin (11, 12, 13 and 14) ; Aries (15, 16, 17 and 18) ; Renault (19, 20, 21 and 22) ; Dietrich (23 and 24); Delahaye (25, 26, 27 and 28); Berliet (35, 30, 37 and 38); Vermorel (41 and 42) ; Latil (43 and 44) ; Peugeot (49, 50, 51 and 52) ; Clement-Bayard (53 and 54) ; and Saurer (55, 36, 67 and 58). It is officially announced that the chassis
of Delahaye vehicles Nos. 27 and 28, and Peugeot vehicles Nos. 49 and 50, must be modified in certain respects before December next.
Anonymity Barred.
A typewritten communication, which is headed " Coventry, 11th September, 1911," and signed " Adsum," in regard to the dearth of suitable salesmen for commercial vehicles, has been received at this office. We cannot give publicity, unless we are furnished with the name and address of the writer as a guarantee of good faith.
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A Convincing Record from South Russia.
The accompanying illustration represents the first English goods vehicle—a " Comraer Car "—in Odessa, South Russia, and calls for special comment inasmuch as its performance during the past two years has been the means of converting many firms to adopt mechanical transport as embodied in English construction under conditions hitherto thought to be impossible. The road and climatic conditions are probaby without parallel in any part of the world. The city roads, over which this vehicle travels upwards of 60 miles daily seven days per week, are paved with large kidney stones ; the climatic extremes create miniature earthquakes, the road bursting into long cracks and upheaved patches, and practically little or nothing is attempted in the way of adequate repairs. The tramlines stand four to six inches above road level, the streets dip at the corners where connecting with others, and it is a common thing to see a drop of 18 in. at the junction of one street and another. The roads outside the city are simply paths over the Steppes, formed by the constant " padding down" of the traffic between various towns. When a thaw sots in, the land is like a quagmire, and posts are used to mark where the road should be. It takes four oxen, or seven horses abreast, to pull a load of three tons. When the roads freeze, the ruts are like the furrows in a ploughed field, and these are hard as iron. The low temperature in winter also forms a serious drawback to the life of a car, as steel develops a tendency to crystallize. Under such a,bnLornrmal conditions, it speaks ,nif for the design of and the material used in the car, which has FlOW been in constant service for a period approaching 2?.-, years.
News and Comment—con. Liversidge Body-work.
It will interest some readers of his journal to know that the striking van-body for the conveyance of Heinz's pickles and sauces, which was illustrated by us a week ago, came from the factories of J. Leversidge and Son, Ltd., of 561, Old Kent Road, S.E.
Westminster Tenders.
In answer to several trade inquiries, we may state that particulars of the quotations for Westminster's last order were given in our issue of the 12th May, 1910.
Another Foden Testimonial.
Messrs. Thomas Harry and Co., of the Upper Cla,pton Repository, N.E., under date the 30th ult., have given a splendid testimonial to Fodens, Ltd., in respect of the running of a Foden wagon for the past IS months. The machine has covered 14,000 miles in that time, and has uot yet cost anything for repairs. It is found that it will regularly do a 50-mile journey on 24 cwt. of coal, and that it is much more reliable than the railway.
Motor Mails.
The Postmaster-General invites I enders for motor-mail services between Liverpool and Congleton (return trip each night, except Sundays), and for the BirminghamCongleton-Manchesteeroad, in both directions, excluding Sundays. Full particulars may be obtained on application to the Secretary's Office, G.P.O., London, or at the head post-offices at Birmingham, Wolverhampton. Stafford, Stokeon-Trent, Manchester. Liverpool. and Warrington. Tenders must be lodged on or before Thursday. the 5th prole., and by not later than three o'clock p.m. that day. Carrying will have to begin on the 1st Anril. 1912. and the contracts will be operative for three years from that date. The Liverpool van must be constructed to carry 18 cwt. of mails; the Birmingham-Manchester vans must be constructed to carry 45 cwt. of mails.
Harrod's Lacres.
We illustrated, in our issue of the 10th August, eight of the latest-type Letchworth-built Lucre vehicles owned by Harrod's Stores. Four additional vehicles from the Letchworth factory have now been delivered, making 12 all told as this year's contribution from that factory to Harrod's fleet of road motors. They consist of: four 18 h.p., 20-ewt,. vans ; four 18 h.p., 25-cwt. vans ; and three 18 h.p., two-ton vans.
Bridge Approaches.
We are glad to see . that the General Committee of the Royal Automobile Club, at the instance of the Berkshire A.C., is about to consider the matter of whitening the walls and fences adjoining the approaches to skew bridges or other bridges by which the highway is carried with sharp or partly-hidden turnings. Many drivers of commercial vehicles are incommoded by the existence of such danger spots, and we feel sure hat the C.M.U.A. will give its support to the proposal to make grants in aid of such indications, by the use of white paint or otherwise, as may be held to he expedient on reports submitted. We shall be glad to put forward to the right quarter any communications which refer to such dangerous corners, approaches, and bridges, and we may remark that the Berkshire A.C. has taken in hand the skew bridge over the G.W.R. Reaching-Dideot line between Tilehurst and Pangbourneby arrangement with the G.W.R.
New Registrations.
Torkington Tires, Ltd., with an authorized capital of £20,000 in 28. shares, and with its office at 11, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in indiarubber, motorcars, and vehicles, repairers and workers of vehicles and tires, etc. ; also, to adapt an agreement with Torkington Tires, Ltd. (incorporated 1908), and E. R. Hatfield. First directors Sir Richard Bulkeley, Bt., R. E. Richardson, A. W. Torkington, and R. W. H. Kane.
Airless Resilient Wheels, Ltd., with an authorized capital of ,C20,000 in Li shares, and with its office at 1, Broad Street Place, B.C., to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in wheels, pneumatic and other tires, etc. ; also to acquire from F. W. Margetts and W. H. Margetts the benefit of certain existing inventions relating to spring wheels for vehicles, and to adopt agreements with the said vendors, and W. L. Mitchell. First secretary, A. .T. Gully.
13urrelli, Ltd., with an authorized
capital of i:5,000 in shares, by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., to acquire the business carried on at 2, Albany Road, Cardiff, as Burrelli and Co., and to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in motorcars and vehicles of all kinds, etc. The Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., has now delivered practically the whole of the fleet of 30 mail vans under its contract with the G.P.O.
Saurer Military Wagon.
The latest type of Saurer truck, as presented in the recent French military trials, and accepted as suitable for army subsidies, is fitted with a motor-driven capstan and a device for taking another vehicle in tow. In the chassis itself there are but detail changes compared with previous models. As may be seen from our illustration, the rear springs are recessed within the frame, thus avoiding an increase of the track of the rear wheels. This is a feature which was applied to the five-ton models about a year ago. The rear platform is considerably strengthened, and on it is mounted a motor-driven capstan. The capstan shaft is driven by worm gearing off the countershaft, and, as the arrangement allows of the use of the four gears, the usefulness of this accessory is considerably augmented. The capstan is so low that the length of the army type of body, with complete canvas cover, is not interfered with, the capstan being lodged in the space between the top of the chassis frame and the bottom of the body, while, being at the extreme rear of the frame, it is fully accessible from behind. The strengthened rear frame has also a connection for a trailer ; this consists of a steel housing within which is a connecting link mounted with buffers. It is interesting to note that the trailers supplied by the Saurer Company for use with these trucks are also fitted with solid-rubber tires and are as carefully finished as the main vehicle. The brakesrnan is carried on the forward portion of the trailer and is shielded from dust thrown up by the first vehicle by means of a leather apron between the two. Four of these vehicles took part in the recent military trials, and all four, representin,g two different models, accomplished the journeys without incident and were accepted as army types—see, also, page 50.
Transporting a Statue.
When bulky and fragile articles have to be transported, the motor truck has advantages over the rail way, although the distance to be covered may be considerable. Thus, recently, a French firm had to deliver a large statue from Paris to one of the public squares of Nerac, 380 miles away to the south-west. Most careful packing would have been necessary before this delicate piece of work could have been entrusted to the railway, and in the eight distinct handlings which it would have to undergo the risk of breakage was considerable. It was therefore preferred to mount it on a motor truck in the sculptor's yard and deliver it direct to the public square it was intended to adorn. The journey of 380 miles was made without an incident by the Panhat ci 24-ton truck.
" Prowcdnik " Advancemknt.
Mr. Ernest E. Gleich, who for the past 12 months has been sales manager for the Prowodnik" tires in this country, has now been appointed managing director of the Russian Tyre and Rubber Import Co., Ltd., of 1.62, Shaftesbury Avenue, W.C., owing to the considerable success which he has achieved in advancing the sales of these well-known tires.
Purr eyExshaw Steamers.
Mr. David M. Turner, the manager of the London branch of Messrs. J. H. Exshaw and Co., the manufacturers of the PurreyExsha,w steam lorries, has now put into circulation a conciselyarranged catalogue of the Purrey generators, engines, wheels, and complete steam wagons and railcars. Hundreds of Purrey vehicles are running with great success in France and elsewhere, and Mr.
Turner is now making an impression upon the English and Colonial markets. Purrey-Exshaw steam lorries have been found to show great economy in various classes of employment.
The Winnipeg tenders for two o h.p. fire engines, each to carry an S5 ft. escape, close on Monday next the 25th inst.
County Progress.
The 3,Ierryweather engine for the Upper Renfrewshire Fire Brigade Committee arrived in Pollokshaws on the 13th inst. This powerful machine cost £1,400.
Bradford Satisfied.
To-day (Thursday). at Bradford, Mr. W. H. Collin will inquire into the Corporation's application for sanction by the L.G.B. to a further loan on fire-brigade account.