News and Comment.
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This journal has by far the largest and best circulation—i.e., total of subscribers' orders and actual sales through newsagents. Our circulation is certified and genuine: "The Commercial Motor" is exclusively read by the heads of many wealthy houses.
The concluding instalment of the article on " Bridge Law," from the pen of Mr. II. Howard .Humphreys, will be found on pages 45 and 4.0.
Our United States (•orrespondent, Mr. H. Kerr Thomas, has something to say about the Selden master patent (America) upon motorcars (page 57).
The Surveying Committee of the Bath Town Council has resolved to register all its mechanically-propelled vehicles under the War Office scheme.
Mr. C. H. BaiHie initiated a discrission, at the Royal Automobile Club, on Thursday last; our summary of his remarks, together with a brief report of those which fell from the lips of subsequent speakers, will be found on pages 47 and 4S.
Manchester, 1911.
There was a great " pow-wow " at -Maxwell House last Thursday. Both sides, we understand, 'believe they were conciliatory—each, no doubt, the acme of good taste and courtesy. Will the 1911. show in Cottonopolis be sanctioned:That is the question, but the answer is held in the lap of the future.
R.A.C. Committee.
Last week's elections to the Committee of the Royal Automobile Club show that the following supporters of commercial motoring were successful in the ballot: Colonel R. E. Crompton, C.B. Dr. H. S. Hele-Shaw, FR.S. ; Mr. H. .L. Thomson Lyon; Mr. W. E. Roweliffe ; Mr. E. Shrapnel' Smith.; and the Hon. Arthur Stanley, M.V.O., M.P. The three new members of the Committee are Mr. Granville M.. Kenyon, Mr. Thomson Lyon and Mr. Shrapnel] Smith,
Winnipeg Trials.
The committee responsible fur the organization of the forthcoming trials of agricultural motors. at Winnipeg, has. devided to add three classes for tractors propelled by steam engines. The first oi these :-Iasses will be for motors up to 60 11.11.p., the second for 60-90 huh p., and the third for engines
over 90 providing there are not less than three entries in each class. The committee has also decided to limit the number of entries made by any one maker to one in each class, and that the entrance fee for each engine, whether of the steam or the internal-combnstion type, is to be 25 dollars.
Argyll Vans.
One of the latest sales of a 15 h.p. Argyll delivery van has been to the Glasgow Dairy Co., Ltd. The vehicle illustrated on page 55 may regularly be seen upon its rounds in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, where it has many admirers.
Irish Roads Congress.
It is proposed to divide the work of the forthcoming frisk: Beads Congress inti.) three sections :—Section No. 1, under the chairnianship of Mr. M. A. Ennis, will deal with the laws relating to road construction and maintenance, statistics, etc. : Section No. 2, dealing with road construction and maintenance from the technical point of view, will be presided over by Mr. P. C. Cowan; and Section No. 3 will have charge of modes of locomotion, and will have as its chairman Mr. T. M. Healy, K.C., M.P. It is expected that papers on the following, among other subjects, will be submitted to the Congress :—Maintenance of trunk roads, State contributions towards maintenance of roads, development fund, application to special works of construction, im provement and in tenan ce ; classification of roads; the advantages and economy of maintaining good roads; tree planting along country roads ; suggestions for preserving the natural attractions of our country roads, while at the sante time improving them for traffic; laws relating to— opening roads, iaying pipes, etc. ; extiaordinary traffic; ordinary traction engine traffic; cutting hedges, lopping trees; cols-de-sac; light railways. and tramways on roads ; cleaning outfall drains, side ditches, etc., and to acquisition of land, etc.; the laying out, gradients, curves, etc.; formation surface, foundations, drainage, and superstructure; bridge work, masonry work, ferro-concrete construction, etc. ; footpaths ; general road management; abatement of mud and dust, tar-macadam, binding material; road rolling, scarifying, repairs to road machinery, etc.; footpaths ; construction; maintenance, cleaning, watering, etc. ; various qualities of road materials ; quarrying, raising and breaking, transporting, testing of road materials, direction posts, milestones, and danger signals, speed limits ;
anti-skid devices, etc.; wheels, tires, etc.; dust nuisance; cross roads, corners, etc.; injury to vehicles by defective roads, economy of even surface; future profile, transverse and longitudinal obstructions, necessity for a clear road: modern traffic, light, moderate and heavy; special traffic, tramways, traction engines, etc. Chelsea Borough Council has entered into an agreement with Messrs. 1). Ramsay, Smith and Co., for the maintenanee of a motor van for 12 months
at S.47 1.0s. van in question was
supplied by Messrs. Thornycroft in the year 1900.
Purchases by Co-operative Societies.
The latest addition to the long list of co-operative societies which use motorvans is provided by the " Leigh Friendly." A 28 h.p., four-cylinder, two-ton Dennis. as illustrated herewith, has just been taken over. Complete protection is afforded to the driver, and the vehicle is fitted with swinging and detachable sides and tailboard. A pole to carry a tarpaulin is provided, and the vehicle is primarily intended for the conveyance of greengroceries.
" Commer " Car Sales.
We are advisec: of the following recent sales by Commercial Cars, Ltd., of Luton and London : To the Lanarkshire Motor Co., of Hamilton, N.B., which has undertaken the " Commer Car " agency for Glasgow and district. a 26 h.p., two-ton chassis with lorry body (Brandon type), for demonstration purposes; to Trollope and Sons and Coils and Sons, Ltd., London, a repeat sale of a 32 11.p.. fourton chassis with lorry body (Bridgewister type); to Motories, Ltd., of Sydhey, New South Wales, a repeat sale of a Bridgewater-type chassis; to the Vale of Neath Brewery Co., an 18 h.p., 11-ton chassis with lorry body (Bedford type); to Davenport, Ltd., of Birmingham, rlie first of the company's new Barnet-type chassis, fitted with lorry body and a 24 h.p. engine, and designed for a load of three tons; for shipment to Rossia. as a repeat order for Mr. Bjelonsoff, two tipping wagons; to Seabrooke and Sons. Ltd.. of Crays, Essex. a Bridgewater-type chassis with brewer's body; to J. 3. Drysdale and Co., Ltd., of London, a repeat sale of a Braintree-type chassis with lorry body.
Tower-wagon Wanted.
Following the formal visit to last month's local show, the Tramways Committee of the Manchester Corporation is now inviting tenders for a motor tower-wagon. Mr. .1. McElvoy, the general manager of the trams, whose address is 55, Piccadilly, Manchester, will furnish full details.
Manchester Textile Exhibition.
At the new Exhibition Hall, Rusliolme, Manchester, in September next. a Textile Exhibition will be
held, and we learn that excellent support has been forthcoming for the undertaking; particulars may be had from Mr. IL. C. Montgomery, 43, Essex Street. Strand. W.C. The building in question is the one of which we gave an illustration last week, and w Nell may prove to be the home of the 1911 show at. Manchester. Thornycroft Railway Lorries .
We illustrate, on page 48, a two cylinder, 16 .50 cwt. Thornycroft Chassis, which has been supplied to the order of the Crewe works of the London and North Western Railway Co., through the Thornycroft agent in the North of England, Mr. C. Pemberton Wooler, of 2, Park Place, Leeds. Two interchangeable and easily-detachable lorry platforms are included in the order, and the vehicle is intended for use at the Leeds goods depot of the purchasing company.
Points from Australia.
Messrs. Toohey and Company, a well-known Sydney brewery firm, have recently taken delivery of a 21-ton Halley lorry; the vehicle is intended for use in the firm's city delivery, and is being fitted with an open body with sides. It has been supplied with Polack tires, which were specified.
Most of the early buyers of coinmereial vehicles in Australia seem to have been obsessed with the idea that solid-rubber tires would last indefinitely, and stand any amount of overloading. Most of these people hate recently had rude awakenings, and, as none had made provision for tire renewals, vehicles have been laid up for lengthy periods while fresh tires have been fitted. One firm went so far as to have a set of twin tires put on one hack wheel of a van, and continued to run it for some months with twin tires on one side and a single tire on the other. Although it took eight weeks to have that change made. no provn was made for the renewal of the tire on the other wheel, with the result that the car has again been laid up. One thing is very certain, and that is that the " grip-section " tire has failed to accomplish its work, and that band-section tires need to be Billy large enough to stand the work required of them. Many manufacturers regard the 31 in. band-section tire as sufficiently large for a twoton van, and they may be right as far as English conditions are concerned, but it. is very certain that, if they want their vehicles to appear at their best in Australia. they will he well advised to fit not less than 4 in. tires. Granite Paving.
The Lancashire County Council, as we have recorded from time to time, is consistently voting money for the conversion of macadamized roads to granite paving. There were numerous such additions to an already long list, at the Council's meeting of last month. Those which call for mention are £230 per annum, for 20 years, to Barrowford U.D.C. ; £796 per annum, for 30 years, to Kearsley ; £131 per annum, for 20 years, to Westheughton U.D.C.; and £1,015 per annum, for 20 years, to Whitworth U.D.C.
New Registrations.
Penzance Motor Haulage Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £2,000 in £1 shares, and with its office at Wharf Road, Penzance, to carry on the business of motor hauliers, for the delivery of goods; alsr, proprietors of motor vehicles for that purpose, etc. Directors ; J. W. Taylor and F. W. Taylor, both of 34, West Sunniside, Sunderland ; C. M. Massey and R Kendall, both of 22, Water Street, Liverpool; G. E. Dunnage, 50, The Manor House, Marylebone Road, NW.; and C. L. Taylor, Wharf Road, Penzance.
The Brompton Motor Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £30,000 in £1 shares, by Messrs. Jordan and Sons, to acquire and take over as a going concern and carry on the business of motorcar dealers, repairers and fitters of motorcars and dealers in motorcar requisites and appliances, heretofore carried on by H. A. Arkwright, E. Koecher and L. Williams, under the style of the Brompton Motor Co., at 78, Brompton Road, S.W.
The Motor Union Proprietary, Ltd. This company is limited by guarantee, and does not have a capital disided into shares. It was registered to maintain, support, protect, conduct. and extend an association for the encouragement and development of the automobile movement, etc. Directors: W. L. Bourke, Moneycrower, Maidenhead; C. H. Dodd, Arkley, Holyport, Maidenhead; Rev. F. W. HassardShort, M.A., St. Albans, Dartford ; Dr. John L. Lock, M.D., Sussex Lodge, Uxbridge; C. McWhirter, Long Heath, Langley Road, Watford; H. R. Oldfield, 13, VirTalhrook, E.C.; and P. A. Sharman, 10, Bedford Road, Hitchin. Registered by Dodd and Oldfields, 13, Walbrook, E.C.
For the Highlands.
One of the latest productions of Sturmey Motors, Ltd., is for James F. Fyfe-Jamieson, Esq., of Ruthven, Meigle, N.B. It is an estate-cart, fitted with Lotis patent pedal control, "fool-proof" epicycle gear, and Lynton wheels and tires. The car is intended for use on the rough and narrow roads of the Highlands, doing the general work of a country house. It is built with a short wheelbase, having a turning lock of 25 ft., so that it can be manceuvred in tight places. The body is in varnished natural wood, and as can be seen, is provided with folding seats and removable cushions. With these in position, the car will seat 10 people, including the driver, and it thus makes a useful vehicle for taking beaters to a "shoot." With the cushions removed and the seats folded back, there is a clear run to the body, which is strongly built to carry up to 1.5 cwt. baggage, or produce, so that it will serve as a baggage cart for station work, as well as for general house supplies and market purposes. In addition to its powerful brakes an the back wheels and the transmission, which are equally effective both ways, the car is fitted with a trailing sprag.
Armstrong-Whitworth Lorries.
John Mowlem and Co., Ltd., of 19 and 20, Grosvenor Road, S.W., which company has used steam transport for many years, now has in service a 28-32 h.p. 4-ton Armstrong-Whitworth machine, This vehicle, a snapshot of which, while in Westminster Bridge Road, is reproduced herewith, is reported to be running very well, dealing with all kinds of builder's and contractor's material, such as cement, barrel goods, chippings for road pavement, etc. The body, it will be seen, is of the rim-sided type, which can be hinged down for unloading. Polack tires are fitted to all the wheels.
At the Aero Show I found an old motoring friend. Mr. A. C. Wright. who is now interested in selling, amongst
Flying. other things, aero planes. Such machines interest me only in the abstract, although I would take my chance tomorrow if I were offered a passenger's seat alongside Farman or Ctxly. I had a chat with the last-named gentleman at the Show, and formed quite a. good opinion of him. He was introduced to me by my effervescent friend Mr. A. E. Newton, of the Vacuum Oil Co., who assured Inc he had seen Cody take seven passengers, for short trips, at Aldershot, one after another, with the same certainty that. you would take country friends out for successive motorcar trips ; but, there! I was talking about Wright, who represents Leo Ripault and Co., and he tells me that they are shortly putting on the market a device which will intensely interest manufacturers and users of business vehicles. It is claimed that it will secure complete comblistion, increased power, cleaner valves and plugs, and effect a saving of at least 25 per cent. in the consumption of petrol. It will certainly be interesting to hear further of this epoch-making invention. . Attractions of Saving of Petrol.
My first visit to the new premises of Martin Motors Ltd., at Burghley Road, N.W., was in
A Live Person. teresting because I had an absorbing talk with Mr. L. J. Martin on trade prospects in general, and Martin motors in particular. What a live energetic person he is to be sure—no chance misses him. He has been over to the United States this year, and he confirms, in every particular, the impressions of American trade sent to me by Mr. H. Kerr Thomas a short while ago. According to all accounts there is a fine chance for English commercial vehicles over in the United States for anyone with the requisite knowledge, enterprise and energy to go there, and commence manufacturing, because obviously the duty on imported vehicles
is almost entirely prohibitive. Mr. Martin has since then—and the year is yet very young—found time to visit Italy on most important business and then, in addition to all this, his com
pany, not being content with dispensing second-hand vehicles, is busy constructing a new cornAnd a New mercial motor which Vehic:e. is to be put on the market very shortly. Altogether E judge that Mr. L. J. Martin is a shrewd judge of the requirements of the motor user, he has the eagerness. the keenness, and the enthusiasm which make for success. I think it will not be long before we find him claiming. and justly ton, one of the front seats in the theatre of eimmercial motoring.
The information reaches me that Mr. C. J. Jenkins has resigned the post tic
held with W. and
Two Changes. T. Connolly Ltd., of Wharfdale R o a d, King's Cross, and has joined the stall of the Avon India Rubber Co., Ltd.. of Melksham. Wilts. I gather that Mr. Jenkins will be working the London district for the justly-celdwated Avon solid-rubber tires and his headquarters will be 35, Long Acre, W.C. Mr. N. Gunn, of 46, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., informs me that he has severed his connection with the General MetalEngraving Co., and he is carrying on a name plate business on his own amount under the title of the " Gunn " Metal Engraving Co. The latter name signifies a. good admixture, and I hope that
vehicle makers will find this a useful address should be duly noted.
Mr. Raymond Dennis, of Dennis Bros., Ltd., tells me that his company now pays wages to 485 people, and, when I looked in recently, he had the plans before him for the settlement of an extemive addition to the Woodbridge factory. One thing, there is plenty of room for extension at Woodbridge. A photograph of some vigorous young fellows, who represent the second " Dcnnis football team, was put into my hands, by a member of the stall, for reproduction on this page. but it grieves me to the heart that lack of space precludes this.
Always Increasing.
Turner, Miesse and Co., Ltd., of Wolverhampton, has now supplied seven steam vehicles
Odd Berns. to Aden; these are fitted with garden seats suitable for passengers; they may be converted into lorries, for the conveyance of goods, in five minutes. It is claimed that. kerosene or paraffinmay be used as fuel.—Quite an appreciable saving may he effected by the use of Messrs. C. C. Wakefield and Co.'s new preparation " Carbic " for acetylene headlights: this company is at present pushing that material in enterprising fashion.