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WHEELS of INDUSTRY

'' 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"—John Beattie Crozier.

THE ISSUE OF "APPLICATIONS AND DECISIONS."

The licensing authority for the East Midland Traffic Area, Grosvenor House, Friar Lane; Nottingham, has pointed out that by Article 9 of the Goods Vehicle (Licences and Prohibitions) Regulations, 1934, the authority of each Traffic Area is required to issue, as occasion may demand, a statement to be called "Applications and Decisions," containing particulars of applications received for public (A) or limited (B) carriers' licences, the authority's decision thereon, and the date. on which he will hold public inquiries.

The first issue relating to the East Midland Traffic Area was published on March 21, and it is proposed that subsequent issues will be made weekly on Wednesdays.

Copies may be inspected at the offices of the licensing authority, and obtained free of charge on personal application, or any copy will be pent by post to any person who forwards a 'penny-stamped .addressed wrapper to the Clerk. to the Traffic Area Licensing Authority, Immediately above the address on the .wrapper must be inserted the number of the issue required,

thus=:" A.D.7," , " A.D.23.7 Only this copy of an -issue will be sent in each wrapper: •. . .

The procedure is experimental and will he reviewed after 12-montlis, Conditions in the Road-transport Industry : Conciliation Board Meets.

The first meeting of the Joint Conciliation Board, set up to deal with wages and working conditions in the road-haulage industry, recently met at the Ministry of Labour, when the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Labour both attended. Sir Richard Redrnayne was elected chairman.

The Minister of Labour said that the observance of fair wages and conditions was a condition of the granting of A and B licences, and it would fall upon the Board to agree as to what those fair wages and conditions should be.

The Minister of Transport said that the industry which the Board represented had, in the past 10 or 12 years, made most amazing strides; it had achieved a position of importance in the national. life. Not only in its immediate .task of settling conditions of labour, hours and , wages would the Board be of great assistance to the industry, but it would be in a position to give him authoritative advice as to its desires and needs.

Sentinel's Report for 1933.

The report of the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., for the year ended December 31, 1933,'shows a trading loss, after meeting interest, income tax, etc., of £26,219, which, is reduced to £25,894 after deducting the balance brought forward. When an amount of £9,767 provided for depreciation is added, as well as £7,318 for experimental and development expenditure, and £2,121 for patents, the total debit balance is £45,100.

New East-coast Oil-importing Base.

East Coast Oil Wharves Refineries— a company now in process of formation. —has issued a preliminary announcement of the Freiston Shore (Lincolnshire) Scheme for an oil-importing base on the Wash Marshes near Boston. It is proposed that the loading of coastal vessels and the hunkering and discharging of ocean-going oil tankers shall be effected at Freiston by the use of a floating pontoon. The storage plant, upon completion, will have a capacity of 50,000 tons.

IMPORT AND EXPORT RETURNS FOR FEBRUARY.

Board of Trade returns for February last show that the value of imports of commercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories was £186,856, the comparable returns for the same month of 1933 and 1932 being £224,924 and £279,922 respectively. A larger number of chassis was imported than in previous years, the value for February, 1934, being £18,483, contrasted with £11,734 for 1933, and £3,317 for 1932.

The export of complete commercial vehicles shows a further improvement, the February figure being 216. of a value of £52,325, the returns for February, 1933, being 187 vehicles (£37,510), and for February, 1932, 98 vehicles (£23,450). During the month under review 892 commercial chassis were exported, as compared with 541 in February, 1933, and 469 a year earlier, their values being -£124,0113, £75,086 and £98,072 respectivelY,

Restricting Discount on Vehicle Sales.

The Society, of Motor Manufacturers and Traders advises us that the general body of car manufacturers has mulually arranged to limit the terms on private cars to be allowed to fleet users, and to municipalities, local-government bodies and constabularies, to the following maximum discounts:— Fleet users : —To owners of not less than five vehicles, 5 per cent.; 10 vehicles, 7i per cent.; 20 vehicles or over, 10 per cent.

Municipalities, local government bodies and constabularies : —10 per cent., irrespective of numbers owned.

These terms will not be granted on any sale where vehicles are taken in part exchange. Although the information is merely concerned with the sale of cars, we feel that it may be of potential, if not immediate, value to commercial-vehicle manufacturers.

Albion's 1933 Trading.

During 1933 Alhion Motors, Ltd., incurred a loss of £6,463, compared with a loss of £11,902 for the previous year. The directors propose that no dividend should be paid on the ordinary shares, but that the final dividend for the half year should be paid on the preference shares.

PERSONAL PARS.

Col. it G. Llewellyn, 0.B.E., M.C., Neath, who is included in the new list of Justices of the Peace for Glamorgan, is the principal of Neath and Cardiff Luxury Coaches, Ltd., and of C. K. Andrews (Swansea), Ltd., and C. K. Andrews (Cardiff), Ltd., motor traders and hirers. He is also a member of the executive committee of the South \Vales Motor Omnibus Proprietors Association, and an ex-chairman of the SouthWales and Mon. Division of the M.T.A. and M.A.A.

Few men can successfully combine two entirely opposite occupations, yet Mr. F. W. Stokes, the well-known engineer, managing director of the Sheepbridge Stokes Centrifugal Castings Co., Ltd., and several other concerns, writes excellent detective stories under the pen name of "Francis Everton," his latest

production being " Insoluble," which is the selection of the Crime Club for March, Mr. Stokes was born in 1883,• educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, and later at the University College, Nottingham, where he took the degree of B.Sc. in engineering, obtaining London University Honours.

A Fleet of Commers for Eastern Service.

We reproduce on this page illustrations of two of a fleet of six vehicles which have recently been supplied for special service in an Eastern State. The vehicles consist of Coramer Raider chassis and M.C.W. bodies, built by Metropolitan-Cammell-Weymann Motor Bodies, Ltd.

Two of the six vehicles have been equipped with 12-seater saloon bodies, the seats being arranged to tip. The bodies are constructed of teak, with interior and exterior steel panels, and much care has been taken in treating the various parts so that they will be free from troubles caused by insects.

Another two of the vehicles are equipped with passenger-cum-van bodies. In this type the front part is arranged as a compartment for the driver, with seats immediately behind, whilst the rear part is fitted out as a van, The other two of the six machines have been equipped with van bodies.

In all the bodies where windows are fitted they are made to drop, and they are actuated by the Quicktho continuous type of lift. It is understood that the vehicles are to be used mainly for transporting a retinue of servants and for big-game hunting.

South Africa Wants 5-ton Chas'sis.

We learn that the South African Railways and Harbours are calling for tenders, which have to be presented in South Africa by May 14, for the supply of a number of 5-ton chassis. Those concerns in a position to offer products of United Kingdom manufacture may obtain further details from the Depart

inent of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.'W.1, reference GY.13581 being quoted.

Railway Buys Bodies with Transport Moving Floors.

' Transport Engineering, Ltd., 561, Old Kent Road, London, S.E.1, the maker of the Transport moving floor, has received an order from the London Midland and Scottish Railway Co, for three, steel bodies incorporating its power-operated moving floor, to be mounted on Albion 6-ton chassis.

A New Type of Headlamp Bulb.

A new type of motor-vehicle headlamp bulb has been developed by the General Electric Co., Ltd. It is made of cadmium yellow glass, which cuts out the blue rays, whilst retaining the green-yellow portion of the spectrum. It is claimed that, as a consequence, visibility under all conditions is high, whilst the back glare which makes driving in fog, mist or rain difficult is almost entirely eliminated. The Osram cadmium yellow bulb absorbs only approximately 11 per cent, of the light.

INDIA'S IMPORTS DOUBLED.

A survey of the import trade of India for the nine months from April 1 to December 31, .1933, shows that the total trade in motorbuses, vans and lorries was practically doubled, the figures of 3,609 vehicles valued at Rs. 46 lakhs, contrasting with 1,820 vehicles and Rs. 29f lakhs for the previous year. The number of vehicles received from the United Kingdom rose from 355 to 495, their value increasing from Rs. 7.1 lakhs to Rs. 111 lakhs.

The number of vehicles imported from the United States rose to a much greater extent—from 1,165 to 2,233, with values of Rs. 164 lakhs and Rs. 22ilakhs respectively. A big increase took place in the imports from Canada, the figure of 274 for AprilDecember, 1932, comparing with 849 for the nine months of 1933. Of the total number of vehicles imported, 378 were shipped with bodies and 3,231 were received as chassis.

A New 12-cylindered Oil Engine.

The Daimler-Benz Co., of Tinterturkheim, Germany, has recently completed the first of a new series of 12cylinder heavy oil engines designed for

use in express rail motor coaches. The• 12 cylinders, which have a bore and stroke of 138 ram. and 170 mm. respectively, are arranged in V form in two Sets of six mounted at an angle of 60 degrees. The engine is stated to develop 300 b.h.p. at 1,500 r.p.m. and 330 b.h.p. at 1,700 r.p.m., and to have passed through its tests with satisfactory results.

America's Second-hand Vehicle Exports.

During last year no fewer than 239 second-hand motorvans, lorries and buses, valued at £=530, were exported from the United States, as compared with only 127 and 214,323 respectively in 1932.

A New 7-8-tonner.

A new company, entitled Tradermotives, Ltd., Trading Estate, Bath Road, Stough, has recently been formed by Mr. H. Auger, the designer of Trader lorries, and Mr. A. A. Gare. It is at present concentrating on the development of a new 7-8-tonner, full particulars of which will in due course appear in these pages.

A REMARKABLE OIL-ENGINE PERFORMANCE.

An event destined to become historic in the annals of motoring took place at Mon tlhery, on Monday last, when G. E. T. Eyston covered four laps of that track at over 115 m.p.h. with the famous A.E.C. oil-engined car. The fastest lap was made in 49.39 seconds, representing an average speed of 115.74 m.p.h. on the official measurement line. Actually, the speed was greater, as Eyston went high up on the banking.

This performance was witnessed by a distinguished company of French engineers and representatives of the automobile industry, whilst Col. MooreBrabazon and other well-known personalities of the British industry were present.

American Exports Nearly Doubled.

A distinct improvement took place, last year, in the overseas demand for American commercial vehicles, for 43,616 vans, lorries and chassis, valued at £4,022,560, were exported from U.S.A., as contrasted with 24,960 (22,342,560) in 1032. The bulk of the vehicles (32,325) were of 20-30-cwt. capacity, 4,941 between II ton and 2i• tons, 4,779 up to 20 cwt., 1,306 over 2i tons and 265 miscellaneous.

Peerless Trading Company Developments.

On March 2 last we published a paragraph concerning recent changes in connection with the Peerless Trading Co., Ltd. This paragraph did not precisely explain the situation ; the position concerning Peerless Motors (1933), Ltd., Trading Estate, Slough, is that this company has acquired the goodwill and assets, together with the right to manufacture and sell, Trader and Trader-Six lorries.

The activities of Peerless Motors (1933), Ltd., include the servicing of Trader lorries (the concern possesses a large stock of spare parts), the sale to special order of new Traders, and the marketing of Studebaker Pierce-Arrow lorries, for which it is a distributor.

Drawing and Handicraft Competitions.

Particulars of the prize drawing and handicraft competitions for 1934, arranged by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers of London, and the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers have now been announced. There are six competitions, two of which have a commercial-vehicle interest.

B22 In one of these the first prize of £20 is offered for a working drawing of a double-deck trolleybus, either of composite or all-metal construction ; there is also a second prize of £10 and a third prize of £5. In the other, prizes are offered for a tinted or coloured drawing for any type of motor vehicle.

Entries have to be sent to the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers, care of the Polytechnic, 309, Regent Street, London, W.1, by May 12.

British Trade Delegation Returns from Poland.

Sir Eugene Ramsden, M.P., chairman of the British trade delegation which has been on a visit to Poland, said in a farewell statement before the delegation left Warsaw that its mission naturally linked up with Governmental discussions shortly to take place in London. He said that, if these results

lead the way to concrete improvements in our export trade, the work of the mission will have been fully justified and conversations between the Governments greatly facilitated. He said that, in the motor industry, certain difficulties must be faced, but, with goodwill, they could be overcome.

He admitted that reciprocity was the slogan of the mission, because it was essential that " those who sell to us must buy from us." He hoped that a result of the visit would be the narrowing of the gap between exports and imports.

Birmingham-Grimsby Night Freight Service.

A regular nightly goods service is now operating between Birmingham and Grimsby, which provides a nextday's delivery in the whole of Lincolnshire north of the city of Lincoln for goods collected daring the afternoon in Birmingham. Similar facilities are, of course, given in the reverse direction. The service is being run by Grimsby Roadways, Ltd., with Red Arrow Deliveries, Ltd., as the Birmingham collecting and delivery agent.

British Aluminium Co.'s Trading.

The profit of the British Aluminium Co., Ltd., for the year 1933, including the amount brought forward and after providing for taxation and debenture interest, as well as placing £50,000 to the depreciation reserve, amounted to £162,830. The ordinary shares receive a dividend of 5 per cent., whilst £52,778 is to be carried forward.

DEVELOPING THE ROAD TRANSPORT OF STRAWBOARD.

The well-known road-haulage concern of Carey, Davis and Thomas, Ltd., which has headquarters at 141-153, Kingsland Road, London, E.2, in conjunction with Messrs. John Gilroy and Sons, was recently responsible for the appearance of a motor ship at the latter's Wisbech wharf, where it unloaded a cargo of strawboard. It would appear that between 4,000 and 5,000 tons of strawboard are imported per week into Great Britain from the Continent, and much of it is distributed from Goole and King's Lynn by the road vehicles of Carey, Davis and Thomas, Ltd. As the tonnage has been increasing, it has been necessary to look around for further facilities. and this was the reason that it was decided, in co-operation with Messrs.

Gilroy, to bring several of the ships to the Wisbech wharf with a view to testing its suitability for handling the traffic.

Although as the parent company of several transport organizations, Carey, Davis and Thomas, Ltd., can call upon a big fleet of vehicles, there is every likelihood of-the services of local haulage contractors being required if the trade develops from Wisbech.

Road-closing Proposal Successfully Opposed by C.M.U.A.

Mr. C. Dudley Whitnall, secretary of the Liverpool section of the Commercial Motor Users Association, has advised members of the successful opposition by the Association to the proposed closing of Brandon Street, Birkenhead, The application was made by Birkenhead Corporation on the ground that the noise outside the police courts and offices was caused by heavy commercial traffic.

The C.M.U.A. led the opposition, supported by other transport associa tions. That it should have proved successful is a matter of much satisfaction. In future, in Brandon Street and Mortimer Street, traffic will pass in one direction only—as in the past.

A Free Book on Patents.

King's Patent Agency, Ltd., 146a, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4, has brought out its 19th edition of " Patents and Trade Marks," by•Benjamin T. King, C.I.M.E. It should' be Of real help to the would-be patentee.

THE SUCCESS OF THE BEDFORD.

At the 20th ordinary general meeting of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., held this week, Mr. Leslie Walton, chairman, presided. After reviewing the accounts (which were referred to in our issue for last week), the chairman reviewed the events of the past year. He said that commercial-vehicle registrations during that period reached a total figure of 58,754, an increase of 15 per cent. compared with the previous year.

He went on to refer to the introduction by the company of a 3-ton forward-control model at the Olympia Show in November last, and said that a big demand was anticipated so soon as regular production was possible. During 1933 the company sold 27,636 commercial vehicles and cars, this figure comparing with 16,329 for 1932. Its home sales show an increase of 82 per cent, whilst the overseas sales are up by_33 per cent. The overseas section has developed into a substantial part of the company'slusiness.

A New Motor Scythe.

Designed primarily for the rapid cutting of long grass, weeds, and so forth on road verges, golf courses, parks, etc., a new self-propelled scythe has recently been introduced by John Allen and Sons (Oxford), Ltd., Cowley, Oxford, a concern well known in connection with its range of petrol-engined rollers.

The new machine has two wheels, being controlled by handlebars at the rear. The 3-ft. cutter bar at the front is built up of standard knives and sections, and, being centrally placed, exerts no side thrust. Working at high speed, the knives are driven by balanced gearing, which is enclosed in an oil-tight case, as is the propulsion gear. Power is provided by a Villiers 147 c.c. air-cooled engine. The depth of cut can be varied according to irregularities in the ground ; one twist-grip operates the large-diameter clutch and the other the throttle. The scythe travels at 3' m.p.h. to 4 m.p.h., it cuts a width of 3 ft., weighs 2I cwt., is 6 ft. 6 ins, in overall length, and costs £47 10s. Incidentally, this price was incorrectly given in the abridged specifications of municipal appliances that appeared in our issue dated March 9.

Big A.E.C. Fleet in Canada.

Withthe purchase of five A.E.C. Ranger 31-seater single-deck city-type buses, the Montreal Tramways organization will soon have the largest single fleet of British-built passenger vehicles in service in Canada. The latest order placed with the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., indicates the company's appredation of the merits of the Ranger chassis for overseas service, and when the new vehicles are delivered, the Montreal undertaking will have 22 Southallbuilt vehicles in commission.

United Dominions Trust in South Wales.

A new South Wales area office of the United Dominions Trust, Ltd., was opened on March 16, at N.P. Bank Buildings, Bute Street, Cardiff. The new office will be under the supervision of Mr. S. Alan Rees, who has for some time represented the company in this area.

A luncheon was given by the directors of the company to celebrate the opening. Mr. A. Gibson Jarvie, chairman and managing director, stated that the company, which commenced with a head-office staff of four in May, 1919, now had over 400 employees. In January last it financed motor vehicles of a value of over £525,000, and its annual volume of business was now between £30,000,000 and £40,000,000. R.H.A.PROGRI3SS IN LANCASHIRE.

On March 19, the annual general meeting of the West Lancashire and North Wales Section (North Western Area) of the Road Haulage Association was held at Liverpool. Mr. L. B. 0. Heilbran, who presided, gave an account of the progress of the R.H.A. in the area and a review of subcommittee's activities. New area committees, he said, had been set up at Warrington, Chester, Preston and Wigan.

The following were elected to the committee :—Messrs. Fred Bromley, A. E. Handscombe, T. Hargreaves and L. B. 0. Heilbnm. Mr. R. B. Stockdale was re-elected a delegate to the Council of the R.H.A.

Free-advice Scheme on Licensing.

By arrangement with Wallace Carr and Co., 33, 43, 45, Acre Lane, London, S.W.2, Captain E. H. B. Palmer, honorary organizing secretary of the Alliance of Owner Drivers, is giving free assistance in filling up A, B and C licence-application forms, etc., on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the • above concern's offices. Any haulier is welcome, without obligation, to take sdvantage of Captain Palmer's services.

Death of an Eminent Metallurgist.

We regret to learn of the death of Dr. Walter Rosenhain, F.R.S., Fellow and past-president of the Institute of Metals, who died on March 17, age 58 years. He was recognized as an eminent Metallurgist, and, in 1908, was appointed first superintendent of the department of metallurgy and metallurgical chemistry at the National Physical Laboratory—a post which he held for 23 years. In 1913 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society and he was president of the Institute of Metals from 1928 to 1930.

BRIGHTON'S REFUSECOLLECTOR CHOICE.

fhe works committee of Brighton Corporation recently considered 11 tenders for the supply of three rearloading vehicles for refuse collection, ranging in price from £465 to £750 per vehicle. The committee inspected the chassis submitted by G. Newman and Co. (Brighton), Ltd.—Dennis—and Vulcan Motors, Ltd., as well as a Karrier Bantam vehicle submitted by Mann's Motors, Ltd. The committee accepted the tender of the first-named company to supply three Dennis rearloading 8-cubic-yd. collectors, two of the vehicles to be fitted with movable rubber floors and one with a movable steel floor.

Pembroke's Agricultural-motor Distinction.

The local taxation committee of Pembroke County Council .reports that at the last census there were 62 agricultural engines of the 5s. class in the cdunty. This figure, which includes threshing engines and farm tractors, is the highest in Wales.

• It is added that many farmers are under the impression that they are exempt from payment of licence duty and liability to insurance covering third-party risks in respect of an agricultural tractor. Such is not the case when it is used on the public highway. The fact that a tractor crosses the road from one field to another renders the owner liable to both.