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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

22nd February 1927
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transPort at whatever 15 oints arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it vans."—John Beattie Crosier.

Leyland's Good Results.

The directors' report and balancesheet to be presented at the eighth ordinary general meeting of Leyland Motors, Ltd., to-morrow (Wednesday) shows that during the year ended September 30th last the gross profits earned amounted to £316,784 18s. 2d.

After deducting interest on loans and on bank overdraft, directors' fees and

depreciation, and adding sundry small receipts, there is a net profit for the period of £191,211 2s. 6d.

In comparison, we will give the figures for the year 1924-1925. The gross profit then was 1349,834 15s.

11d., and after making the deductions for interest, directors' fees and depre .ciation, placing £20,000 to reserve. for

• bad debts, and taking in certain small items, there was •a net profit. of

£198,532 17s. 8d. It will be seen,

therefore, that for the last financial year the net profit was only. £7,320 less than in the previous 12 months:

The adverse balance on profit and loss account had stood at /709,678 10s. 5d.

Aften "deducting the profit earned, it now stands at 1518,467 7s. lid., so that in a period of four years the adverse balance has been reduced by about one half.

The issued capital of the company is £1,819,968. 15s. The bank overdraft and the amount due to trade and other creditors at the close of the financial year was £1,079,000, against which' stock in trade and work in progress were valued at £932,798, whilst there was due to the company from sundry debtors 1470,000, and cash in hand amounted to over £20,000.

Compiling a Log-book for Long Runs.

A comprehensive compendium of all the cars on the British market, giving the specifications of every chassis available, together with particulars as to price, bodywork, dimensions and any special features, will be included in the Annual New Car Number of The Motor, published on March 1st. This special number is double the size of the ordinary issues, containing very interesting articles, one of which, appealing to com raercial vehicle users, is a novel suggestion for compiling a log-book for long runs. The demand for this issue is great, so that it is better to order a copy in advance. The price is 4d., as usual.

Comparing Six-wheelers and Halftrack Machines.

On Thursday last an important demonstration of six-wheeled vehicles and chain-track machines for artillery transport was carried out before the General Staff with a view to allowing it to study

the respective merits of these two transport media. The demonstration commenced at 10 a.m. and proceeded throughout the day, the vehicles and tractors running across open country. We hope to give a full report of this demonstration in our next issue.

Six-wheelers for Edinburgh.

In the course of an address on "Transport," delivered recently by Mr. IL S. Filcher, general manager of the Edinburgh Corporation Tramways, reference was made to the respective merits of motorbuses and tranicars. Mr. Filcher stated that Edinburgh was fortunate in having both types of vehicle in use. He referred to the progress in the use of the motorbus in recent years, and larger vehicles are being introduced. In this connection he mentioned that the corporation had certain 39-seater sixwheeled buses ou order. Exports to Australia.•

In reply to a question raised by Col. Day in the House of Commons, it was stated that the number and declared value of motor.vehicles manufactured in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and exported to Australia during the yearended December last were as follow More Buses for Middlesbrough.

• Now that the Middesbraugh Corporation has sanctioned the proposal of its tramways committee to purchase an additional six 26-seater one-man-operated motorbuses, in order to provide intown services, no time is being lost in putting the scheme into operation. The municipality has decided to invite tenders for •the supply of these vehicles, and so soon as' delivery is effected the new services will be inaugurated, It is proposed to spend approximately. £6,600 upon the buses, and the full scheme for the purchase of a fleet of 18 vehicles may be proceeded with if results justify the step.

The Institute of Transport Examinations.

The Council of the Institute of Transport announces that examinations will be held in London and certain provincial centres on April 28th, 29th and 30th. The last date for the receipt a applications to take these examinations is March 1st. Bequests for the requisite forms should be addressed to the secretary of the Institute, 15, Savoy Street, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.2.

_ Irish Free State Imports.

The official returns just issued show that 44 commercial motor vehicles valued at 120,625 were imported into the Irish Free State during December last, thus bringing up the total imports for the whole of the past year to 238 vehicles (188,963) as compared with 162 (137,583) in 1925.

A Risk to Guard Against.

A new slogan for motor lorry drivers might usefully be "Watch your width," The dangers of overhanging loads is too well-known to need any emphasis, and in some parts of the country, especially in narrow streets, the police are on the look-out for this class of offence. At St. Helens a few days ago a haulage contractor of Billings was fined 11 for allowing the load of his lorry to be In exeess of 7 ft. 6 ins., the maximum width permitted. When a constable pulled up the lorry in a narrow part of the main street, it was found that the load was 11 ins, in excess of that permitted. Defendant said that the ropes supporting the load had broken.

Forthcoming European Fairs.

Within the next few weeks four European nations will be holding great commercial and industrial fairs. Great Britain leads off with fairs in London and Birmingham simultaneously. These opened yesterday (February 21st and continue until March 4th. Leipzig Fair opens on March 6th, and the fair at Vienna opens a week later and continues until March 19th. The fourth, the Basle Fair, opens on April 2nd and will run for 10 days.

Reduced Taxation on Producer-gas Vehicles.

For some time past considerable attention has been devoted in France to the development of producer-gas plants to provide the necessary fuel for lorries and tractors and so render the country less dependent on the use of imported motor spirit. The French Government is also assistibg the movement and, since the middle of last year, vehicles run on producer-gas have been taxed at only half the usual rate.

Apparently some industrial vehicle users have been endeavouring to pay only the half-tax without fulfilling the

necessary conditions. We now learn that the French Minister of Public Works has lately issued a notice to the effect that the reduction in the tax is not allowable to vehicles fitted with an, emergency carburetter, if this device enables the vehicle to be normally run on liquid motor fuel. Instructions, therefore, have been issued to the taxation authorities not to grant a licence at the reduced rate if a vehicle capable of carrying a load up to 3 tons has a petrol tank of a capacity of more than. 1.1. gallons, or if a vehicle carrying nfore than 3 tons has a tank of more than 2.2 gallons capacity.

New Record in Canadian Production.

The production of motor vehicles in Canada during 1926 readied a new high record of 205,116 units, an increase of 26 per cent, over the total for 1925 and 55 per cent, above the figure for 1924: The output for 1926 included 68,059 sedans and coaches, 14,282 coupes, 61,472 touring cars, 8,555 runabouts, 23,230 chassis, 29,365 trucks and 153 taxicabs or buses. Eleven plants in Canada manufactured lorries and cars during 1926; all were located in Ontario. In 1926, 28,535 vehicles were, imported into Canada (almost double the number imported during 1925), whilst 74,553 vehicles were exported during the year —161 per cent. in excess of the imports.

Brighton Popular with Coaches.

In his recently issued annual report, the chief constable of Brighton draws attention to the fact that during last summer 15,316 motor coaches visited this popular seaside town, as against 6,969 in the previous season.

An Inspector of Hackney Carriages. Mr. H. T. Piercey, of Birmingham, has been appointed by the Aberystwith Town iCouncil to carry out an inspee-. tion of hackney carriages at Aberystwith for a fee of 163, inclusive, three visits to be made to the town per annum.

Personal Pars.

Mr. Randle Ash, export director of the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., left London last week for Rio de Janeiro and will not be back in England until April 28th.

Mr. S. J. Egerton Banks, who has for some years occupied the position of general manager of the English branch of Automobiles M. Berliet, is leaving England for a business trip to the United States and is expected to be back in a few months' time. He has vacated his position with Berliet and is no longer responsible for the conduct of the English branch. This is not the first trip abroad made by Mr. Banks, for he has, on occasion, visited, on behalf of the Berliet Co., most of the overseas markets. For some time he was general manager in charge of the huge works at Lyons, which employed about 15,000 men. He was a member of the board of management, and he has had charge of the export organization of the company. So soon as he returns from the United States he will no doubt have reached a decision as to his future movements.

We are told that Mr. H. W. Grey has, in his capacity of general sales manager, resigned from active participation in Morris Motors (1926), Ltd.,

on account of ill-health. In the reorganization of the management of the company's sales department, Mr. W. M. W. Thonfas has been appointed sales promotion manager, and as from February 14th will supervise the home sales department, whilst Mr. A. F. Organ and Mr. E. Lewis will continue in their capacities as sales manager (southern area) and sales manager (northern area) respectively.

It is stated that Manchester laid 41,826 super yards of concrete roadway in 19.3, which is a record for any city in one year.

The Pagefield System at Coventry.

At a recent meeting of the Coventry City Council approval was given to a recommendation suggesting the purchase of additional plant for use in connection with the Pagefield system of refuse col

lection. A councillor mentioned that this system had enabled a great improvement in the collection of domestic refuse to be effected, and had brought about a considerable saving. It was stated that the Pagefield system had been in use in 118 streets per week, as against 108 by certain types of selfcontained petrol vehicle which had emptied 7,214 bins as against 8,544 bins by the Pagefield method.

The cost of emptying a ton of refuse by the Pagefield system was given as 10s., as against 15s. by self-contained petrol vehicles. Another councillor drew attention to the fact that in 19251926, before the Pagefield system was introduced, the cost of refuse collection amounted to £14,822, and that, although snore houses were now being cleared of refuse, the estimated cost for 1926-1927 with the Pagefield system in operation was 43.715.

Leeds Services Granted.

Leeds Watch Committee has granted the following applications, provided that the omnibus services are run in accordance with the existing time-tables and subject to the proprietors entering into an undertaking to observe the conditions attached to motor omnibus licences :(a) Red, White and Blue Bus Services, Ltd., for licences at present held by the Aberford Motor Co., and J. H. Mouncey and Co. (Licences to commence on March 1st, 1927.) (b) The Cream Bus Service, Ltd., and Mr. S. Ledgard for

licences at present held by Mr. J. Antichan. (Licences to commence on April 1st, 1927.) (c) Mr. S. Ledgard and the Cream Bus Service, Ltd., for licences in respect" of services to Bradford (via Pudsey), Calverley (via Pudsey), Horsforth, Otley and Ilkley (via Otley). (Licences to commence on April 1st, 1927.)

Nearly Three Million Business Motors in America.

A return just to hand shows that there were no fewer than 2,819,770 motorvans and lorries in use in America at the beginning of the present year. The State of New York heads the list with 354,805 vehicles, California being next with 216,290 vehicles.

A Bus Association in Nottingham. Omnibus proprietors in and around Nottingham have just decided to form a local association for the protection of the interests of members. One of its chief functions will be to keep a careful watch on the powers which are sought by various municipal authorities in the county.

Distributors for Morris Products.

Messrs. Drake Motors, an associate company of W. Mumford, Ltd., Salisbury Road, Plymouth, and Messrs. Princess Motors, Old Town Street and Princess Square, Plymouth, have been appointed joint distributors for MorrisCommercial vehicles for Plymouth and large areas of Devon and Cornwall. In this connection Messrs. Princess Motors are opening a new showroom at 16, George Street, Plymouth, for the display of Morris products, for which they are now distributors for all towns in Devon as far as Teignmouth.

Strong Opposition to New.

castle's Bus Bill.

That extensive opposition is likely to be made to the proposals contained in the Newcastle Corporation Bus Bill has already been indicated in past issues of The Commercial Motor. There have now been lodged in the Private Bill Office of the House of Commons petitions from a large nuraber'of bodies asking that when the Bill comes before the select committee they may be permitted to make opposition.

Petitions have been received from the following :—London and North-Eastern Railway Co., the United Automobile Services, Ltd., Blaydon and District Motor Omnibus Proprietors' Association and others, London and National Omnibus Owners' Association, Motor Agents' Association, Tynemouth Corporation, Gosforth Urban District Council, Bedlingtcni Urban District Council, Blyth Corporation, Rothbury Rural District Council, Tyneside Tramways and Tramroads Co., Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., Tynemoutlt and District Electric Traction Co., Morpeth Corporation, Northumberland County Council and Wallsend Corporation The Newcastle Bill has already been read a first time and is now awaiting its second reading.

Inst. P.E. Meeting.

A general meeting of the Institution of Production Engineers will be held in the council room of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 'dd., 83, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1, on February 25th, at 7.30 p.m. Mr. H. Manton will read a paper entitled "The Production of Cylinder Blocks in Quantities of 25, 250 and 2,500 Per Week." The L.C.C. and Road Fund Licences.

The public control committee of the London County Council reports that during the recent " rush " period in connection with the annual and quarterly issue of. motor-vehicle licences,, which lasted from December 17th; 1926, to January 21st, 1927, no fewer than 37,032 licences were issued over the counter, and 70,039 were issued by post, as compared with 33,225 and 55,822 respectively issued during the seineperiod last year. The number of licences issued by post includes the licences issued to owners of fleets.of 'vehicles who, in order to facilitate the work, are invited to forward their applications early in December.

Licences which involve no alteration of registered particulars can be renewed at the principal post offices and the number issued this year in this manner was 15,300, as compared with 18,273 last

year. This reduction is probably due to the alteration in the rates of duty payable in respect of commercial and hackney vehicles. The duty obtained from licences issued by the council amounted to £2,161,378, as against £1,537,789 during the corresponding period last year.

A large number of persons again submitted irregular or incomplete applications, and duty amounting to 1372,353 had to be placed temporarily to a suspense account. The driving licences issued during the period mentioned numbered 13,613, an increase of nearly 11 per cent, over the number issued during the same period of last year.

Bus Progress in the United States.

It is estimated that about 15,000 motorbuses were built in the United States during the past year and that there are now about 80,000 such vehicles in use in America. It is also stated that 344 American tramway undertakings are now running motorbuses in addition to trains, and that between them they have 7,000 buses on the road.

A Bus for Joint Railway Operation.

When we added our description to the illustration, which appeared on page 818 of. our Special Passenger Vehicle Number, of the 32-seater Maulslay ML3 low-level bus with forwarl control, only meagre information . of which was before us at the time, we misread the inities on the bus, and thought it was intended for use by the Irish railway con.pany which 'covers the southern and western portions of Ireland, but we are now advised that it was intended to 'le run by the Great Western Railway Co. and the Southern

Railway Co. -jointly, being One of a fleet of vehicles recently supplied to the Great Western Railway.

Bus Services in Belgium.

The Municipal authorities of Liege are inviting offers until March 11th next for the concession for the establishment and working of motorbus services between the centre of the town and the suburbs of Laveu and Thiers-h.-Liege. Particulars may be obtained for 5 francs from the Bureau Administratit des Services Industriels, Annexe de l'HUtel do Ville,

Motor Trade Medal Winners.

The gold medal of the Institute of the Motor Trade, awarded annually to'the candidate showing the greatest proficiency in the Institute's examination, has been granted to Mr. E. P. Oscroft, of Nottingham, who gained top marks in the 1926 examinations. The Institute's silver medal has been awarded to

Part of a convoy of Renault vehicles, amongst which is a number of commercial models, which is touring England, Scotland and Wales. The tour will take five months to complete and it is estimated that about

120,000 miles will be covered.

Mr. A. S. Edwards, of Egham, and the bronze medal to Mr. A. F. J. Nicholson, of Chilwell, Notts. In the last eXamination, held in November, some 20 candidates were successful in gaining the diploma of the Institute.

Clayton Braking Equipment Popular.

Only a few weeks ago we mentioned that the Clayton braking equipment, comprising Rubury-Alford and Alder front axle and brakes and the Dewandre vacuum servo, had been adopted by certain prominent manufacturers for passenger and good vehicles. We now learn that several more have arranged to equip their vehicles in this manner.

The 2-ton and 3-ton Albions.

"Two Outstanding Successes "is the title of a leaflet which has just been prepared by the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, in which it draws attention to the merits of the 2-ton and 3-ton Albion models. These are both worm-driven machines, the former having a 24 h,p. engine and the latter a 30-45 h.p. engine.

Wants Power to Control Buses.

Lowland Rural Council is to apply for powers giving it control over bus services, which have rapidly multiplied in the district. It is stated that on certain days 70 jdurneys are made by buses between Clitheroe and Grindletbn.

Result of the Eston Motorbus Inquiry.

The decision of , the Ministry of Transport upon the inquiry held at Eaton, which has just been announced, is of much interest. It will be recalled, as reported in The Commercial Motor at the time of the inquiry, that the United Automobile Services, Ltd., appealed against the refusal of the Eaton Urban District Council to renew licences for a number of metorhuses engaged on the company's Redcar to Middlesbrough service—which passes through the Eaton Council's area—unless the company undertook not to pick up passengers on the system of the Teesside Railless Traction Board, in which the local authority possesses a two-thirds interest.

In a letter to the council, the Ministry, suggests that a reasonable agreement should be reached with the omnibus company without further official action. It expresses the hope Aka the

council will reconsider the whole question and grant the licences applied far.

This action may very appropriately be taken to he a precedent, the underlying principle appearing to be that the Ministry is anxious to ensure that local licensing authorities, which operate transport services, will refrain from exercising their powers to the detriment of competing undertakings. As an outcome of the Ministry's letter, the court

has formed ti sub-committee to discuss the question, of stopping places with the United Automobile Services, Ltd.

fl-shaped Wagon-tanks.

The uses to which the fl-type tank made by the ,Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., of Uxbridge, can be put are clearly shown in a book which has . recently been issued by the company. From the illustrations which are published it is obvious that these tanks can be employed on motor vehicle chassis of all types and sizes. Most of the prominent fuel companies have vehicles in use in which the tanks are of the company's manufacture. The merits of the D• form of construction are enumerated in the book, wherein the method of mounting is also defined. The company supplies tanks of this description in various Capacities. ranging from 200 gallons to 3,000 gallons.

Body Features which Promote _ Safety.

In connection with our article under the above ;title, which appeared in our issue for February 8th, we have been asked • to state that the door-operating apparatus referred to therein is the sub': ject of patents held by the National Pneumatic Co., of the United States, and is manufactured by G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd., under licences from it. An Elastic. Weight Restriction.

A. fine of 10s. in each of two cases was imposed on a Liverpool user, in a prosecution heard at Birkenhead a few days ago, for allowing a vehicle exceeding four tons in weight to go over the floating bridge at Birkenhead without obtaining the consent of the Dock Board. It was stated that no vehicle exceeding four tons in weight was allowed to go over the floating roadway. Four tons was the statutory figure, hut the board allowed that limit to be exceeded up to 12 tons. Defendant's steam wagon, however, loaded with lean ingots, exceeded the 32 tons by just over cwt. The summonses were taken nut in respect of the wagon and trailer. Defendant said it was difficult to gauge accurately the weight to a pound or two. Ho had no intention of exceeding the loading limit.

Plymouth's New Buses.

Improvements in weight and appearance are the main features of a fleet of 16 commodious new motorbuses which has just been added to the Plymouth Corporation transport undertaking. The chassis were supplied by the Associated Daimler Co., Ltd., and the bodywork embodies a number of the practical ideas of the general manager of the municipal undertaking, Mr. H. P. Stokes. The weight of the body has been reduced by a further ii cwt., mid it is claimed that the vehicles are the lightest 26-seater buses in use at the present time. With a view to economizing in weight the whole of the panelling has been carried out in Honduras mahogany. A heavy protective rail runs throughout the length of the bus on each side. The customary wooden wearing slats are dispensed with and the floor is covered instead with a heavy-quality cork carpet lVfoquette is employed for the upholstery instead of leather. The bodywork is finished in the natural colour and grain of the timber used.

Important to Live-stock Carriers.

A case of interest to stock owners and live-stock carriers was heard at Norwich Police Court recently, when a farmer and three of his servants were summoned for casing alleged unnecessary suffering to 25 sheep by the manner of their conveyance in a motor lorry to Norwich Market The summonses, which were dismissed, were taken out at the instance of Inspector Hawkins, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. P.C. Rix said that some of the sheep were standing on others and one was dead. Veterinary evidence showed that the deathof one of the animals was the result of an unfortunate accident.

The point of interest to haulage contractors and others is the reference to the capacity of the lorry, which was 12 ft. 6 ins, long and 6 ft. 3 ins, wide, giving an area of 78 sq. ft. The R.S.P.C.A. inspector contended that 14 sheep was the right number to carry on

a lorry of this size. .

Mr. W. E. Platten, manager to Mr. Henry Overman, of Weasenham, said that he frequently despatched 30 medium-sized sheep to King's Lynn, a distance of 16 miles, in a 4-ton lorry having a body 13 ft. 6 ins. by 6 ft. 6 ins. He had never.hnown an accident, and his experience was that sheep travelled better by lorry than by rail. A railway servant giving evidenee had shown that small trucks used for the conveyance of sheep during the thickfleeced period—October to March— measured 13 ft. (3 ins. by 7 ft. 4 ins. on the inside, and he said that 30 to 33 sheep were packed into such a truck.

Users Visit Dunlop Works.

Some ■40 of the coach and bus proprietors and motor traders of Monmouthshire and East Glamorgan visited the works of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., at Fort Dunlop, on February 14th, to avail themselves of the invitation of the company to

inspect the works and become familiar with the various processes in the manufacture of tyres. The visitors were entertained to lunch by the company and their thanks were accorded the company by Messrs. John Parsons (Cardiff) and Robert Bevan (Cardiff).

It is the intention of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., tO provide opportunities for all motorbus and coach traders in Wales to visit its works during the course of the next few months, and the party which toured the works last week was the first from that part of the country.

Trolley-buses in Singapore.

The Singapore Traction Co., Ltd., reports that it had 35 trolley-buses in service on a route of 61 miles at the end of September last, at which time a further 20 vehicles were in hand. Result of a Welsh Inquiry.

The decision of the Ministry of Transport in the case of the appeal. made by the Cardiff City Council against the refusal of the St. Mellon's Rural District Council to issue licences for a municipal bus service extension into its area has now been announced. The Carcla council had sought sanction to ply for hire between Castleton and Cefn Mably in the St. Mellon's area. At the public inquiry into the matter the rural district council was supported in its decision by the inhabitants of Michaelstone-y-Vedw, the Cardiff Rural District Council and private bug proprietors. The Ministry's decision is that the refusal of the St. Mellon's council is not unreasonable and cannot be set aside.

Traffic Growth in Eastbourne.

In his 1926 report, the chief constable of Eastbourne says that, from a police point of view, perhaps the most difficult question throughout the year has been that of the regulation of motor traffic. He adds that street accidents are a distressing feature of modern civilization. Most of these accidents could, in his opinion, be obviated by a greater appreciation of " Safety First" principles.

Glass's Used Motor-Vehicle Show, which is approved by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders under certain conditions, will be held at the Royal Agricultural Hall, London,. NZ from April 11th to April 30th.


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