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News and Comment.

25th April 1907, Page 15
25th April 1907
Page 15
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Page 15, 25th April 1907 — News and Comment.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This Journal has the largest and most valuable circulation amongst users and prospective users:: the regular circulation now exceeds 8,000 copies weekly, exclusive of any extra numbers for special issues.

A further small delay over the corn pletion of the conditions for the R.A.C. oominercial motor trials has to be reported.

Several matters are still occupying the attention of the Club's solicitors as we go to press, and intending competitors must exercise a little more patience still.

We particularly invite the assistance of our readers in respect of the special request at the foot of this page. Our lists are approaching completion, but we wish to spare no pains to improve them.

Amongst the exhibitors of commercial motors at the forthcoming Madrid Show, which is to be held from 41h to igth proximo, we observe the names of only two British manufacturers. These are : Aveling and Porter, Limited; and Sidney Straker and Squire, Limited.

The British public does not appear to be prepared to subscribe money for motor companies just now, and the most recent London motorcab issue was almost entirely provided in France. We believe, in this particular case that the aloofness was due to excess of caution, and that the General Motorcab Company will be a great success.

Tarred Roads.

The tar-spreading competition of the Roads Improvement Association is to begin on Wednesday, the 22nd proximo, along a three-mile stretch of road between Hounslow and Staines, but nearer to the second of these two places. Eight machines have been entered, and nine preparations will be tested in addition. It is hoped that, after the completion of the tests near Staines, further trials will be made on gravel roads in the neighbourhood of Ascot. Although this investigation possesses less interest for makers and owners of vans and lorries than it does for private-car interests, the results should be of value to everyone.

Petroleum spirit may now be carried through the Suez Canal, and it is hoped that the shortening of the journey from the East will improve the conditions of supply in regard to Borneo and Sumatra spirit.

When will the idea die that the red flag Act was not abolished until the year 1896? The last revival of this persistent story occurred at the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall, when Messrs. Thwaite and Thorp read their paper on the Renard road train. This requirement, which was instituted by the Locomotives Act of 1865, was abolished by the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act of 1878.

Swiss Commercial Motor Trials. As readers of " TIIE COMMERCIAL MOTOR" are already aware the Swiss Motor Club and the Federal Military Department have arranged for commercial motor trials to take place from May loth to t4th, as a sort of prelude to the Zfirich Motor Show. These trials fall into five stages :—

I. ZUrich-Btizeberg-Bale.

2. Bale-Langenbruck.Solothurn-Berne. 3. Berne-Kirchdorf-Thoune.

4. Schallenberg-Wig-gen-Lucerne.

5. Lucerne-Albis-Ziirich.

Altogether there are five categories three for the freight vehicles and twi for the omnibuses. These are as fol lows :— FREIGHT VEHICLES.

Class 1.—With load up to 1,5oo kilos Class II.— „ „ from 1,500-3,00i ki Class III.„ „ over 3,000 kilos OmNmusEs.

Class 1.-6-12 seats. Class IL-13-24

Unless represented in Switzerland foreign firms are excluded from th. trials. The awards will be made fron four principal standpoints : i. Reliability and regularity.

2. Consumption of fuel.

3. Speed in taking gradients, 4. Braking, steering and anti-skiddin effectiveness.

Besides the note book of the observe accompanying vehicle, the reports o " flying " observers will also furnisl data for awards. Repairs may b. effected by the driver only, and no outside the travelling limits. Times wil be taken twice over a kilometre on ; mountain road. Agreeably with the de sire of the military authorities, competi tors will leave the road at a definit point and drive over field roads am arable land. Vehicles will be weighei and examined at Zurich on May gth Half of the entry-fee, which amount to ,16 (400 francs), will be returne+ in case of a vehicle's travelling over th+ entire course within the prescribe+ time. Prizes consist of diplomas medals and objects of art. Entries to Richard Stutz (pi-sident de la commis sion du concours de vehicules indus triels), Prasident der Kommission de Wettbewerbs fUr Lastwagen, Seelfeld strasse 7, Zurich.

Yet another change is found to be necessary in the Articles of Association of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and this time in respect of those which govern the method of election of the president.

The Brighton Town Council, at its last meeting, approved the recommendations of the Watch Committee in regard to the licensing of motorcabs, notwithstanding a motion to refer back that portion of the committee's proceedings.

The Walsall Chamber of Commerce, acting in conjunction with the Town Council, is very anxious to attract new industries to the town. We believe that even a motorcar works would be welcome, notwithstanding Walsall's earlier disdain of the new locomotion.

The syllabus of the arrangements for the summer term of the London School of Economics and Political Science contains many interesting particulars, and a copy may be had on application to the director, Mr. H. J. MacKinder, M.A., Clare Market, Kingsway, W.C.

The Albion Exhaust.

In addition to having its 24h.p. engine placed secood in the R.A.C. vapour-emission tests, the Albion Motorcar Company, Limited, of Scotstoun, Glasgow, had its t6h.p. engine placed next in order of merit. Both these results are confirmatory testimony to the value of the Murray lubricator, which was fully illustrated and described in our issues of the 14th and 21st September, 1905. The whole of the London office staff of the Adams Manufacturing Company, Limited, has taken up its quarters in the company's splendid premises at to6, New Bond Street, W.

The Automobile Handbook for 1907, which publication is the joint property of the Royal Automobile Club and the Motor Union, will be issued to members of the Commercial Motor Users' Association within the next three weeks.

Budapest is to have motor taximeters. Given the financial success of the first of these, the horse-drawn cabs, which number some 1,400, will gradually disappear. In order to give the small capitalist a chance of making a living, not more than to licences will be granted to any one cab owner or cab-owning concern, but the man who can afford to purchase to motorcabs can scarcely be ranked as a " small capitalist."

The Royal Agricultural Society of England, whose offices are at 16, Bedford Square, W.C., appears to have entered upon an assured era of prosperity. The parlous state into which its finances had fallen little more than a year ago has been rapidly changed for the better, and the position at the end of December last showed an improvement of ,'4,400, exclusive of any amounts to be derived from the sale of Harewood House and Park Royal. The R.A.S.E. is a national institution, and we feel that not a few of our readers may care to become members, which they can do, subject to election, by remitting to the Secretary, Mr. Thomas McRow, at the address named.

Why Were Horses Ordered?

At the meeting of the Westminster City Council on Thursday, the Highways Committee recommended an expenditure of £i,46a on the purchase of horses. The Chdirrnan of the Committee (Mr. H. Thomson Lyon), in reply to a question, said the report of the assistant city engineer (Mr. A. Ventris, A.M.I.C.E.) on the cost and use of motor vehicles by the Council would be before them in a week or so, and some members of the Committee were of the opinion that the matter of the purchase of the horses should, therefore, be postponed. Councillor Abody moved that the matter be deferred until

• the report re motors was before the Council. Councillor G. W. Smith seconded, and pointed out that whereas an ordinary horse water van would only hold 400 gallons, a motor van would hold t,000. Alderman Everitt pointed out that they could not get the motors for six months by which time the watering season would be over. Whatever was eventually decided, horses would have to be got now to meet imMediate necessities. Colonel Probvn called attention to the fact that an advertisement for the horses had already appeared, and the Chairman, in reply to a question as to why this was so, seeing that the Council had not authorised the expenditure, said the Council had already authorised an expenditure of 4'2,000 on horses or motors, of which this £1,400 was a part. The amendment to defer the matter was withdrawn, and the recommendation of the Committee agreed to. Amongst the recently-elected new Associate Members of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders we observe the names of the Windham Sliding Detachable Body Company, and Drummond Brothers, Limited (Guildford).

The Car and General Insurance Corporation, Limited, has found it necessary, owing to the increase of business, to transfer its Newcastle branch to more commodious premises on the first floor of Pearl Buildings, Northumberland Street, in the Tyne-side city.

The annual meeting of the Roads Improvement Association is to be held to-day (Thursday) at t, Albemarle Street, W. The report shows a credit balance of 4.462, and recounts the leading business accomplished and in hand. The subscription to this association is only 5s. per annum.

The User.' Association.

At the last meeting of the Executive Committee of the Commercial Motor Users' Association, the following members were present : Colonel R. E. B. Crompton, C.B., M.Inst.C.E., in the chair ; Captain R. K. Bagnall-Wild, R.E. (War Office Mechanical Transport Committee); Messrs. E. R. Calthrop ; F. C. A. Coventry (Great Western Railway) • S. D. Gilbert (London Motor Omnibus Company, Limited); Dr. H. S. Hele-Shaw, F.R.S.; Messrs. W. M. Hodges (United Motorcab Company, Limited); H. Thomson Lyon (Westminster City Council and Metropolitan Asylums Board)•' W. G. Lobjoit (Hounslow); Douglas Mackenzie; John C. Mitchell (London Road Car Company, Limited); C. D. Rose, M.P. (Chairman R.A.C.); E. Shrapnel( Smith (Hon. Treasurer); Charles Wheeler (G.P.O. Stores Department); and W. Rees Jeffreys (Secretary). Letters of regret were received from Messrs. L. H. Baxendale (Pickford's, Limited); W. Dalziel (Glasgow); H. Howard Humphreys and L. G. Oldfield (London Omnibus Owners' Federaoffic

tion) ers.---These were re-appointed as follows : Chairman, Colonel R. E. B. Crompton ; Honorary Treasurer, E. Shrapnel' Smith; Solicitor, T. W. Staplee Firth; and ' Secretary, W. Rees Jeffreys.

Additions to Committee.----Captain Wilfrid Dumble, R.E. (London General Omnibus Company-, Limited), W. M. Hodges (United Motorcab Company, Limited), Mr. Iltid Witherington (Reading), and Mr. E. Godfrey Brewer were elected, the last named in place of Mr. E. R. Calthrop who, in consequence of his imminent departure for a long business visit to South America, tendered his resignation. The following committees were appointed :—Extraordinary Traffic and Bridges Committee ; Commercial Vehicles Trials Committee; Traffic Committee; and Finance Committee. The question as to the methods of increasing the membership, and proposals re extending the Association's activities, were considered. It was resolved to prepare a list of users of commercial vehicles, and members and others in a position to furnish names for the list are requested to send particulars to the Secretary.


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