WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficaities of transport at whatever paints arising, as a carriage is bylhe roughness of the roads over which it rans."—John Beattie Crozier.
De Dion Reconstruction.
We are informed that the pioneer French motor-manufacturing concern of De Dion-Bouton has been successfully reconstructed and that new and substantial capital has been fully subscribed. The financial difficulties were gravely accentuated early last year by the fluctuation ia the value of the frane, but business has never been interrunted. The undertaking is now ou solid basis, and in a few weeks the works will be fully. occupied and employing about 2,000 workpeople. It is intended to make only one type of car chassis and to devote chief attention to the JE2 chassis for 20-seater coaches (for which a large number of orders is in hand), the 1-ton, 21-ton and 5-tan chassis, some of which are suitable for bus work as well as for goods carrying. The Marquis de Dion and M. Benton will only act in future in a consultative capacity, the former, however, remaining chairman of the company.
Railway Bias in Australia.
A determined fight is being put up by the Commercial Motor-vehicle Users Association and the Motor Users Association of Victoria, Australia, in connection with the road transportation of goods, because the Government is endeavouring to introduce conditions which shall protect the railways against the competition of the road 'and the road vehicle. Copies of the Government Bills are on the way over to us, and their terms will be referred to in an early issue of TI6e Cornmcreial Motor.
An Interesting Registration.
An interesting company has just been registered in the name of Omnibus Stations, with a nominal capital of £35,000 in £1 shares, for the purpose of providing and operating arrival and departure stations for the use of all types of vehicle used for road, rail, water and aerie transport. We note with interest -that the directors of the company are Messrs. W. WolseY, W. S. Wreatall and L. M. Myers.
Bus Services Demanded.
Earby ratepayers recently held a meeting of protest against the district council's action in causing Messrs. T. Laycock andSots to -withdraw an extended bus service they had instituted between Red Lion Street, an isolated area of Earby and Caine. A resolution was passed unanimously calling upon -the council to take steps to secure adequate bus transport on this route and to help rather than hinder the provision of cheap workmen's fares.
Larger Vehicles and Higher Speeds.
In his annual report Mr. W. P. Robinson, county Surveyor of Surrey, says that although no census of traffic was taken on the Class I roads during lihe past year, it is evident that a considerable increase in the number of vehicles using them has occurred, judging from the increasein the sums received in respect of motor licences. The dimensions of certain thies of vehicle and the speed generally of all
n20 types of self-propelled vehicle appear to be increasing, with consequent increased wear and tear to the road surfaces.
At the request of the Ministry of Transport, a Census of traffic • on the Class II main and district roads was taken for a period of seven' days from August 9th to August 150, 1926, at 110 points. The results permit a CORIpaOson of the traffic in 1923 with that in 1926 to be made: The census disclosed considerable increases at many points, whilst the percentage of horsedrawn vehicles to the total number of vehicles at all points was only 3.38. The highest return at any point was in Paradise Road, Richmond, where the average daily tonnage amounted to 6,746, and the • lowest return in the Frimley urban district, where the average daily tonnage amounted to 246.
Bus Chassis Wanted for Dublin.
The Dublin "United Tramways Co. invites tenders for the supply of 20 Ms chassis for carrying 38-35-seater single-deck bodies, delivery to be made in lots of four within six months. Tenders must reach the general manager of the company before January 31st.
More Buses Replacing Trams.
The tramcars which are at present running between Ashton and Hyde, via Dukinfield, will be superseded next month by a fleet of motorbuses to be operated jointly by the Stalybridge Board and the Ashton Corporation, Vegetables by Road Motor.
The new terms and conditions of railway rates which came into force on January 1st appear to have raised much confusion among market gardeners in the handling of traffic, and will undoubtedly lead to diversion of the traffiC on to the roads wherever this is possible (and where is it not possible?). In all the principal growing districts the companies have been at great pains to explain that growers will not be ..seriously affected by the change, but it has to be remembered that, 'whereas previously there were only eight classes for railway goods 'working on a mileage basis, there ,are now 21. Genera/ feeling among growers is .that the change would not have been made for their benefit or advantage.
An Important Bus Amalgamation.
In our last week's issue we referred to the proposed amalgamation of the interests of Blythe and Berwick, Ltd., of Bradford, with those of the West YorkAbire Road Car Co., Ltd., the latter being the new name by which the Harrogate and District Road Car Co., Ltd., is known and not that which was given in that issue. The amalgamation has now taken place, and we understand that the haulage interests of Blythe and Berwick, Lt., will continue to be controlled as in the past.
The new concern will run extensive services connecting Harrogate, Bradford, Leeds, Keighley, Skipton, Ilkley, Otley, Wetherby, York, and intermediate places.
Blythe and Berwick. Ltd., has a fleet of about 50 motorbuses and coaches, chiefly Leyland Lions , and Daimlers, Whilst' the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., has about 130 vehicles, principally of the largest type of TillingStevens single-deckers.
The company will be controlled from Harrogate, but it is stated that Mr. W. H. Berwick will remain in Bradford to manage the traffic side of the bust-. /less, and Mr. Vint will remain there in charge of the engineering side.
The Harrogate and District Road Car Co. has incorporated the following businesses during the past twp years:— Messrs. Dibb and Warner, of Tadcaster ; Messrs. Barns, of Baston Spa ; Messrs. Warburton' of Leeds ; Messrs. Gill and Yeoman, of Sutton, Keighley ; the Skiptonian Motors, Siciptan, and Messrs. Smith and Thornton, Thornton and Denhohne, Bradford.
Prestwich Grants Licences. Prestwich Urban District Council has granted the following applications Prestwich Garage, Ltd., to run a bus service between Sitnister Lane, Heaton Park, Sedgley Park and Prestwich.
Stockport Corporation to run buses within the district of Prestwich along Bury Old Road from. Singleton Road and Guest Road in connection with the Bury and Stockport service. • Prestwich Pullman Services, Ltd., 2, St. John Street, Manchester, to run buses within the Prestwich district in connection with a service from Prest to Manchester.
Belfast Bus Bill Lost.
By 64,859 to 30,901 votes the electors of Belfast have decided against the promotion of a Parliamentary Bill which would have given the corporation powers to run motorbuses within two miles from the city boundaries. The -Bi/1 had been approved at a meeting of electors, but a plchescite was demanded and this resulted as stated.
The Bill provided for many matters besides the running of buses, but it was upon the bus clause that the opposition was based, on the grounds, principally, that the corporation should not compete against private operators, and that the prosecution of bus owners and drivers for petty offences within the city has been carried to an extreme degree.
Prices of 1928 Vehicles.
Daring the course of the Commercial Motor Exhibition in November last we issued a booklet giving the prices of 1928 commercial vehicles, and to any reader who is desirous of obtaining a copy we shall have pleasure in forwarding one Amalgamation of Scottish this Companies. In Scotland more and more motorbus companies are amalgamating, and already comparatively few of the
original concerns which sprang into existence 'more than half a dozen years ago •arc left.
The latest interests to join forces are the Comfort, Stirling and the Scottish General Omnibus Co., the headquarterS' f■f: which are at Larbert. The former has had a brief: :but, very .•remarkable career in catering for the needs of the travelling public between Stirling and Glasgow, a distance of 27 miles each way. It was a pioneer venture, but immediately proved a signal success, and soon the number of daily runs was doubled and trebled, until now it amounts to fully two dozen—a good number considering the route mileage.
Other concerns that have united in order to save unnecessary competition are several of those running vehicles in the counties of Lanark and Midlothian. Useful Knowledge for Inventors.
A very interesting and informative little handbook has just been prepared by Kings Patent Agency, Ltd., Wardrobe Chambers, 146a, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4, which should prove of inestimable value to inventors and those who are concerned in any way with trade marks, designs and copyright. Althojigh the matter has been condensed into a few pages, it is lucidly and clearly set out. Inventors are often at a loss to know how to proceed to protect themr. inventions, but by a perusal of this handbook they will be placed in possession of useful knowledge upon this and other matters.
A Glasgow Deputation to tin' Ministry.
In a paragraph which appeared in our issue for last week, it was mentioned that the Glasgow Corporation intended appointing a deputation to wait on the Ministry of Transport on the subject of the control and licensing of motorbuses in the city. We now learn that the three senior magistPates of Glasgow—Baffles Dr. Dunlop, .A rchibald and Brown—have been appointed for this purpose.
Bus Efficiency Certificates.
In connection with all applications for licences to operate motorbus services within the district, Prestwich Urban District Council has decided that each applicant be requested to forward to the council the certificate of a competent engineer stating that the vehicles comply with all Ministry of Transport regulations including the Heavy Motor Car (Amendment) Order, 1927, and are in a fit condition to be put on the road.
A Belfast Company's Taxation Conamitment.
A few days ago the Belfast Omnibus Co. paid over to the Belfast Motor Licensing Department the sum of £9,224 18s., this representing the taxation on the company's fleet of passengercarrying vehicles, which numbers over 150. The amount is the largest ever paid into the Northern Ireland Road Fund by one concern. A Cautious Municipality.
Before going ahead with its project for the use of motorbuses in place of, or in addition to, tramcars, the Sunder
laud Corporation has decided to carry out experiments with the help of a private passenger-carrying undertaking so as to ascertain the costs of operating buses in the borough as well as their revenue potentialities. To this .ehd it has arranged with the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., which operates extensively in the Wearside district, to run an experimental service in the dock district in place .of trams, which haVe. been .worked in that area at a loss for a considerable time.
Buses Beat the Weather.
Although motorbus services in certain parts of the country have been affected by the -severe weather recently encountered, many instances have come to light. in which passenger road vehicles have Maintained regular and uninterrupted services under extremely gruelling Conditions. A case in point is that of the Reliance Bus Service, . the vehicles of 'which ply for . hire 'between Braughing and -Hertford. When traffic was diverted recently, as a result of a landslide on the Wadesmill road, just, out of Ware, one of this
company's buses, carrying passengers, negotiated many inches of mud in Poles Lane, and made a course for vehicles which followed. It is interesting to know that the vehicles used on this service are Perliets.
Councillors in Doubt.
Londonderry Corporation is greatly perturbed over the question of whether its tins services should be augmented by the purchaseof large or small vehicles. Each type has its champions in the council chamber and the claims of speed and convenience in traffic are being argued extensively.
Gifford Saloons on Long-distance Work.
Another new link in the extensive chain of long-distance services radiating from the leading north-country towns was recently forged when the Leeds-Newcastle Omnibus Co., Ltd., opened up. a new route between Middlesbrough and Leeds, on similar lines to that which it ha worked for nearly a year between Tyneside and Leeds. The route is via Northallerton, Thirsk, Ripon_ and Harrogate, and four journeys are being made daily in each direction.
B22 Connections are made' with short-distance bus services at each of the bigger centres along the route, and, in the near future, it is hoped to extend the trunk service to Doncaster, Sheffield and Scunthorpe. The return fare for the through journey is 11s.
The company is employing comfortably equipped Gilford 24-seater saloon buses.
Leyland Buses in Western Australia.
The Metropolitan Omnibus-Coa Ltd., of Perth, WesternAustralia, is now running a fleet of 23 motorbuses between that city and Fremantle. The chassis, which are fitted with 24-Seater single-deck bodies, are of Leyland Manufacture-. The buses run on pneumatic tyres, twins being used at the rear.
A Time-saving Scheme.
An interesting scheme has just been introduced by the Middlesbrough Carperation on its bus system, blocks of 13 tickets now being sold at the price of 12 separate tickets. Apart from representing. a saving to regular bus users, the tickets will help to facilitate the work of the drivers on one-mancontrolled buses, which are largely employed by the corporation_ In the past the driver-conductor has frequently experienced difficulty in taking money, Punching the tickets, and, at the same time, adhering to his schedule.
A Plymouth Company's Expansion.
W. Mumford, Ltd., the well-knowa automobile engineer and bodybuilder, of Salisbury Road, Plymouth, has just acquired the Abbey Garage, St. An-. drew Street, Plymouth, for use as a town service depot. The premises are centrally located awl are complete with a battery of petrol pumps, including one for the supply of the new Ethyl petrol, pumps which supply all grades and makes of oil, a well-stocked stores and other offices, and a fine machine shop.
A Rumour Denied.
We are asked by Redca.r Services, Ltd., the headquarters of which are at 4S, Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells, to repudiate a rumour which has gained currency to the effect that the company has amalgamated with a local concern running motor services. Linking-up Colliery Valleys..
On. February 3rd the Minister of Transport will open the new road from Cwmpare (Rhondda Valley) to Nantymoel (in the Ogmore Valley). This new road forms part of the huge .scheme for interlinking the colliery valleys of Giamorganshire by means of short direct roads, which will reduce the distance between adjacent valleys by in some eases up to SO per cent. of the mileage now traversed.
-The scheme will go far towards solving the question of congestion of the highways in the valleys. In the House of Commons some time ago the Minister of Transport described this work " as more than a mere road scheme; a work of great social importance."
It is of interest to note that Many bus companies have entered applications with local 'authorities to secure sanction for the operation of buses over the various stretches of road as they are completed.
The line of the new roads is such that none but the; easiest gradients is incorporated, which is notable in view of the fact that the roads all traverse hilly country.
A Handy Supplement.
The annual supplement to The Motor, in which' prices and condensed specifications for all models of all cars on the British market are incorporated, is presented with this week's issue of that journal. The infuriation is published in a handy form for the pocket.
Increasing the Value of a Wellknown Recorder.
• The value of the Ripault recorder for keeping a check on the running of commercial vehicles is well known to many of our readers, and the information which it provides will be of even greater value now that Ripaulta, Ltd., King's Road, London, INT,W.1, has recently devised two sheets for use in conjunction with it. One is a daily recorder chart and the other a monthly recorder chart, and when these' forms are completed they provide useful information relating to the use of, and service given by, a vehicle, much of which is of value when setting out to secure data concerning operating costs. 'Coach Services on the Riviera.
The Paris, Lyons Mediterranean Railway Co. has announced that during the present year a daily motor-coach service will he run between Marseilles and Nice and vice versa. Besides this, until April 30th, there will be an additional service on this route by which the journey is completed in Is day and a half instead of in a day, passengers having the option of staying the night either at Hyeres or Toulon. A daily service is also being run until April 30th between ,San Raphael and Marseilles.
G.W.R. Road Motor Activities.
The Great Western Railway Co. has introduced its system of collection and delivery by road motors for the benefit of residents in the
agricultural areas of Pembrokeshire. The fleet is available in the Haverfordwest, [tech, Newgale, Penyewm, Solva and St. David's districts, which are regularly served, and in other parts of the ebuntry by arrangement. Reduced rates for the.transport of agricultural goods have been fixed.
The cothpany has opened a largo goods
depot • at Clyda.ch .(Swansea Valle y), and a. weighbridge for motor and other vehicles is here available for dealing with general traffic. The company has just commenced to operate the bus services taken over from the Dare Valley Omnibus Co., Aberdare.
Solid-tyred Vehicles Prohibited.
News is just to hand from Austria to the effect that the municipal authorities of Vienna have lately issued an order proscribing the use of solid tyres on motor vehicles as from January 1st last. The regulation stipulates that motorvans and lorries of a carrying capacity up to 3 tons must be fitted with pneumatic tyres, and these of over 3 tons capacity with cushion tyres.
Anti-vibration Tail Lamps.
It will be remembered from details which we have already published in our columns that two models of these lamps are marketed to suit commercial vehicles. There is the No. 1 type, which is constructed for use with the ordinary tongued bracket or the round bracket which is employed on the majority of commercial motors, and the No. 3 pattern, which is specially intended to be fitted to Morris Commercial machines and to other vehicles having their tail lamps attached through the number plate. It is stated that the latter model is also suitable for use with many commercial motors of American manufacture. The No. 1 model is sold at 10s. 6d. and the No. 3 at 7s. lid.,and both of these can be supplied in either bright-enamelled or dull-black finish.
The main advantage with these lamps, which are of a special rubber composition, is, of course, the manner in which they insulate from vibration the filaments of the bulfis used with them, this feature rendering them particularly suitable for heavy commercial work. It is also claimed by the manufacturer that these fitments are ordinarily unbreakable. Irish Exhibition Proposal.
It is being advocated by a number of Dublin agents that a road transport exhibition should be held in the Irish Free State capital during the coming year. It is suggested by those who are organizing opinion in favour of the scheme that the proposed exhibition
should be in three sections, one for commercial motor vehicles, one for roadconstruction machinery and materials and one for farm transport appliances.
Another Joint Bus Committee.
There has just been formed a SouthWest Lancashire Joint Motorbus Committee fa the purpose of co-ordinating the bus interests of various councils. Manx Owners Fight for 28seaters.
A piquant situation has arisen in the isle of Man, where, 12. months ago, Manxland Bus Services, Ltd., inaugurated services with 28-seater buses, the continued operation of which is threatened by the Highways Amendment Act, 1927, under the terms of which vehicles of above 20-seater capacity cannot be used. Owners of vehicles seating more than the number of passengers will be allowed five years' grace.
An endeavour was made in the Legislative Assembly on January 10th to legalize the use of 28-seater vehicles, but was defeated. Manxland Bus Services, Ltd., presented petitions signed by 8,260 persons in favour of 28-seater buses, and is now publicly advertising Its case for consideration.
The company points out that it has carried 903,634 passengers in absolute safety and without complaint, employs 90 persons, pays £240 in weekly wages and is spending £20,000 on garages and stations. Services had been provided that were unthought of .12 months ago.
All-weather Coaches in Demand.
was our pleasure recently to spend a very enjoyable evening with the principals, employees and friends of London Lorries, Ltd., the occasion marking the opening of the company's new building at Kentish Town. Over 200 guests attended the dinner, dance and entertainment, and it was obvious that a most harmonious relationship exists between the company and its staff.
Several interesting speeches were made and we were reminded of the steady progress this concern has made since it came into existence in 1917. As is well known, Loudon Lorries, Ltd., has specialized in high-class passengervehicle bodywork—it was early in the field with a design of all-weather coach, B24 and it is a remarkable tribute to the excellence of its product that, at the present moment, orders are on band for 120 all-weather coaches of the latest pattern.
The toast of London Lorries, Ltd., was proposed by the chairman, Mr. C. 3. H. Mules, the response being in the capable hands of Mr. P. Cursons, the popular managing director, who briefly dealt with his experiences during the 30 years he has been associated with the conchbuilding industry.
Bus Services and Road Adaptation.
Mr. W. H. Budgett, northern divisional road engineer of the Ministry of Transport, recently held au• informal inquiry at South Shields in regard to a request of the Durham County Council to determine under Section 58 of the South "Shields Corporation Act—in order to provide for the running of a bus service over part
of the Sunderland-South Shields main road—whether it was necessary to adapt, alter or reconstruct such road, and what sum of money (if any) per mile of road so to be adapted shall be payable by the corporation to the county council.
It is now • intimated that, after due investigation of the facts, the Minister has determined that it is not necessary to adapt or reconstruct the road in order to provide for the running over it of the corporation buses, and, consequently, no contribution along the lines suggested will be payable by the corporation to the council.
Guinness Choice.
After exhaustive experiments with steam and petrol-driven vehicles Arthur Gni-1101ms, Son and Co., Ltd., the Dublin brewing concern, has arranged to acquire a large number of International tractors and trailers for delivery work in the Dublin area. The company is also increasing its fleet of S.D. Freighters.
Traction Engines and Road Damage.
The Kington Council has discussed the proposal which is being brought to the notice of local authorities to the effect that they should press for legislation under which heavy traction engines are held responsible for the damage which they do to roads.
The clerk said that local authorities already had remedies for dealing with extraordinary traffic. although they were difficult to put into force, and members supplemented this statement by observing that traction-engine owners were already very heavily taxed. It was decided not to support the proposal.
New Showrooms in Nottingham.
A notable addition to Nottingham's new buildings has been made . by the recent opening of a finely designed structure which has been erected not far from the Midland Station in Carrington Street as motor showrooms for a well-known local concern, T. Shipside, Ltd., of Daybrook. The premises, which present an imposing appearance, are claimed to constitute the largest motor showrooms in the Midlands, for they cover nearly half an acre of ground and afford space for the display of a ghat variety of vehicles, amongst which Morris-Commercial models are conspicuous.
Ground Transport for Air Services.
Flt.-Lt. R. E. H. Allen will read a paper before the Royal Aeronautical Society, with which is incorporated the Institution of Aeronautical Engineers, on February 2nd, entitled "Ground Transport for an Air Organization." The importance of efficient ground transport in order to make civil aviation a success cannot be over-emphasized, and Flt.-Lt. Allen will go very fully into the problem and will illustrate his lecture with a number of slides. The lecture will be given at the Royal Society of Arts' 18, John Street, London, W.C., at 6.30 p.m.
Making Wild-Barfield Furnaces Abroad.
We learn that an agreement has been entered into between Automatic and Electric Furnaces, Ltd., North Road, London, N.7, and the Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellschaft, Berlin, whereby the latter company will now manufacture and sell Wild-Barfield electric furnaces in Germany, Austria-Hungary, Jugo-Slavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Roumania, China, Finland and Luxemburg. The agreement will not in any way affect the former company's existing manufacturing and selling arrangements. We learn that the former concern has also entered into an agreement for the manufacture and sale of its electric furnaces in the United States and Canada.
A Salford Protest.
Prestwich -Urban District Council has received a letter from the Salford Corporation tramways manager protesting against the council granting licences to any company or person to operate bus services within the district other than existing or established operating authorities which are legally entitled to interchange bus or tram traffic. The urban district council has referred the matter to a committee.