• WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
Page 44
Page 45
Page 46
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
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 rpads over which it runs."—Jokn Beattie Crozier.
The Passing of Lord Bearsted.
We regret to have to record the death of Lord Bearsted (formerly Sir Marcus Samuel), the originator and, for a long time, head and forefront of the Shell Transport and Trading Co, Ltd. He died only a few hours after the death of Lady Bearsted. Both of them had been noted for their charitable works and were much appreciated.
We well remember when, a callow• youth in the City, we used to pass every day an the way to and from the office the small shop in Houndsditch occupied by the Samuels, who were then importers of shell. The window was always interesting, because of its frequent changes of interesting exhibits in shells and curiosities dredged from the depths of the ocean. We recall, in particular, a Greek amphora, heavily encrusted, and from the mouth of which a sponge of large size protruded. This was somewhere in the late 'eighties or early 'nineties of the last century, and one day there appeared in the window a photograph of the first of the Shell line of steamers. This was where Mr. Marcus Samuel, as he was then, broke away from the industry with which the firm originated, and it was some years later before he made his first incursion into the oil industry, -carrying petrol for the use of the motorcars which were growing in numbers in the early days of the present centary.
It is not right to say, as so many journals have said, that early in the 'nineties he foresaw the coming vast motor industry. That could not have been possible, because, in 1899, when Levassor was impressed with the usefulness of Gotlieb Daimler's petrol engine driving a boat on the Seine, even he could not have foreseen the motor development which has since taken place and which arose from the first application of that Daimler engine to a road vehicle.
As a Common Councillor, Alderman and, ultimately, Lord Mayor of London, for -which he received his knighthood, Sir Marcus Samuel played a prominent part in City Corporation affairs. There are probably a few who will remeralier his address to the Royal Automobile Club on the question of petrol supplies and prices when, on being heckled, he gave vent to a remark which has always been remembered, that "petrol was worth whatever it would fetch." 3 Of course, this is perfectly sound in all industries, but the remark was always remembered against him as being rather unfortunate.
He had bad health for a long time and his condition had recently given grave cause for anxiety to his family. He is succeeded in the title by his son, Capt. the Hon. Walter Harem Samuel.
A Severe Test for a Thornycroft. A Bristol company recently insisted upon putting a lorry it anticipated purchasing to an exacting test, and for this reason we are informed that the Thornyeroft agents, the Bristol Motor Co., Ltd., were called upon to demonstrate an Al model up the notorious Bristol test hill recently illustrated in our oolumns—to wit, Summer Hill, with its gradient of I. in 3.6. The Thornycroft chassis, carrying an open lorry body and a deadweight of over 1 ton, tackled the gradient in fine style, causing no little surprise to the residents of the district, who occasionally witness super-sports and high-grade cars soaring up the hill, but who had scarcely dreamt of a large-capacity lorry making light work of the climb.
Inst. A.E. Meeting.
The next general meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers in London will be a joint one with the Royal Aeronautical Society, and will be held on February 1st, at the Royal Society of Arts, John Street, Adelpiri, W.C2, when Mr. A. H. R. Fedden will read a paper, entitled "The Supercharging of Aircraft and Motor-vehicle Engines." Mr. Fedden will also read his paper at the Bristol, Coventry and Wolverhampton centres of the Institution on February 7th, 8th and 15th respectively.
Brake Interests Amalgamated.
We understand that the business and interests of the British Air Brake Co., Ltd., have now been merged with those of the Consolidated Brake and Engineering Co., Ltd. (the proprietors of which are G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd.), in which name the joint business will, in future, be conducted. For many years past both companies have specialized in the production of standard brake materials and, consequent upon the amalgamation of the technical staffs, the company will now be in a position to undertake the design and manufacture of power-braking apparatus and fittings of all types, this, of course, including equipment suitable for all classes of motor vehicle.
A New Danger Sign.
The Royal Automobile Club feels that the ordinary road danger sign is so freely displayed and often with such little discrimination that road users are prone to regard it with indifference. thus increasing the danger at places where special care is really necessary. By reason of this fact, the R.A.C. has decided to issue a special danger sign, which is intended for use only where the danger is hidden and is of an exceptional character. The sign, which is 2 ft. square, is made of enamelled iron and bears the words "Danger. Use Extra Caution," in white letters on a red ground.
Death of Mr. H. P. Boulnois.
It is with much regret that we learn of the death of Mr. Henry Percy Boulnois, M.Inst.C.E., which took place recently. Mr. Boulnois had a long and active association with municipal engiuecring which dated back to 1874, when he first became city surveyor of Exeter. He will be remembered by users of motor vehicles by reason of his expert knowledge of road construction and allied subjects. His connection with the Roads Improvement Association will be known to many of our readers, and it will be recalled that he had acted as chairman of the council of that organization, to which his all-round knowledge of road engineering matters was invaluable. Mr. Boulnois had at various times contributed informative articles to our columns.
London-Bournemouth Service.
With reference to a paragraph in our issue of December 28th, concerning the proposal of the United Service Transport Co., Ltd., to arrange for a motor coach service between London and Bournemouth, we are now informed that circumstances have arisen which will at present prevent the idea from going forward.
A Road-construction Record.
It is stated that road construction in America during 1926 broke all previous records, involving as it did an expenditure of over f1,509,000,000. Part of this huge expenditure was for the construction of 7,500 miles a concrete road. The C.M.U.A. in Dundee.
At the annual general meeting of the Dundee Area of the Scottish Commercial Motor Users Association, which took place a few days ago, the office bearers for the present year were appointed as follow :—Chairman, Mr. C. H. Marshall; vice-chairman, Mr. Thomas W. Watson ; committee, Messrs. John Reid, D. Horsburgh, C. W. Meredith. F. D. Valentine and A. Callander.
A.D.C. 5-type Engines.
The Devon General Omnibus and Touring Co., Ltd., which runs a number of bus and coach services from its headquarters at Exeter, has recently ordered 15 A.D.C. 5-type engines from the Associated Daimler Co., Ltd., for installation in the chassis of some of its buses. As many of our readers will be aware, this model is a four-cylinder unit which develops 45 h.p. at 1,000 r.p.m.
The Leeds-London Bus Service.
Leeds Watch Committee has granted licences to the South Yorkshire Motor Co. for a period of three months for omnibuses to run in the city in connection with services between Leeds and Doncaster, via Pontefract, and between Leeds and London, via Pontefract and Doncaster, subject to the vehicles conforming with the needs of the corn mittee and to the proprietors entering into an undertaking to comply with the conditions attaching to bus licences.
Irish Free State Imports.
Although only nine commercial vehicles were imported into the Irish Free Slate during November last, as compared with ten in the corresponding
month of 1925, the value of the vehicles is officially returned at £4,903, as against only £859 in the previous year. The aggregate imports during -the first eleven months of the past year are returned at 194 Vehicles (£68,338) as contrasted with 149 (f35,418) in a similar period of 1925.
Preventing Bus Overcrowding.
Bus overcrowding is stated to be very prevalent in Worcestershire, and at a recent meeting this matter received the consideration of the standing joint committee. It was stated that where proceedings bad been undertaken in other places it had been done under an e old Stage Coach Act of 1942. The chief constable promised to look into the matter, but he thought one could only take proceedings in places where the Town Police Clauses Act could be enforced.
Rescued From the Deep.
The skipper and crew of the trawler " Merlin " had rather an interesting experience recently while landing part of their catch of fish. While the crew were engaged in trawling near the Galloway Light a lorry was brought up in the net by means of the tackle on board. The position of the vessel was shifted and fishing operations were resumed, and, strange to relate, a second motor lorry was trawled up. The inconvenience which the vehicles caused on board prompted the skipper to make for port, and the two barnacled motor lorries were landed by the aid of a crane at Campbell's Jetty, Grimsby.
It would appear that the vehicles had been lying on the bed of the sea for a long period—probably since the war. It is believed that they were Army lorries carried on a ship that was sunk in the . North Sea.
A. Grimsby correspondent informs us that one of the vehicles is an A.E.C. and the other a vehicle of French make. reason of the watertight nature of the A.E.C. gearbox, the gears appear to be in good condition, but all the other parts of the chassis showed true signs of the mysterious deep.
Bombay's Ambulance Service.
Bombay Corporation reports that during the past year the motor ambulance service presented by Bed Jerbia N. Wadia for street and other accidents continued to be very useful. There were 627 accident calls for the motor ambulances and 1,098 cases of hire. The total number of persons conveyed by the ambulances was 1,710 and the distance run 16,182 miles. The cost of maintenance of the service was Rs. 7,544 as against Re. 10,581 in the previous year. The authorities think that greater use might be made of the service. A Well-tried Body-panelling Material.
We have on several occasions in the past drawn attention to the merits of Sundeala mlllboard for panel work on motorvan bodies, and some idea of the use to which this board can he put is indickted by the illustration of a Guy vaii appearing, on this page. 'A special feature of the body of this vehicle is that the side panels are constructed of Sundeala millboard of fin. substance in one piece. Each panel measures a little more than 11 ft. by 5 ft., and is cut from a 12-ft. by 6-ft. sheet.
Sundeala millboard is thoroughly waterproofed and is equally suitable for interior and exterior panel work. It is light in weight, strong and homogeneous, and can be worked in flat sheets or bent to any desired shape. It is the product of G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd., Caxton House, Westminster, London, p.W.1. The body of the vehicle which we illustrate WM constructed by. Messrs. William Dickens, of Loughborough.
Built for Carrying Long Loads.
One of the most interesting vehicles recently to leave the works of Henry Garner, Ltd., Tyseley, Birmingham, is that which forms the subject of the accompanying illustrations. It has been delivered to a Birmingham user, and the purpose for which the lorry was required called for the use of special bodywork.
The chassis is the makers' model AE, with a 12-ft. wheelbase. In order that bar counters and long sections of finished woodwork could be carried, the driver's cab was cut down in width so that trays, forming' extensions of the platform of the body, could be used. These trays extend over the front wheels. By this arrangement woodwork approximately 18 ft. long can be
carried without overhang at either the front or the rear.
The driver's cab is constructed to accommodate two persons only, and the entrance to it is on the near side. A special hinged half-door, which is split and hinged again in the centre, folds back and does not in any way interfere with the load that is being carried on the tray on the near side.
It will be noticed that the lamps are fitted on brackets carried from
the top of the cab, in order that
a clearance of 2 ft. 0 ins, can
be obtained between the trays and the lamps. The length of the body behind the driver's cab is 11 ft. 6 ins, and its width 6 ft. 4 ins. Disinfection of Cattle-carrying Vehicles.
The goods department of the Great Western Railway Co., in its report for last year, mentions that the disinfection of road vehicles containing cattle has been the subject of considerable discussion with the Ministry of Agriculture, both because of its desirability in the prevention of the spread of foot and mouth disease and the unfair incidence of the regulations at present confined to railway vehicles. It is added that good progress has been made and a draft order mutually approved between the Ministry and the railways.
Officers of a C.M.U.A. Area Branch.
The Doncaster and Barnsley Area Branch of the Commercial Motor Users Association held its annual meeting recently, when Mr. Hubert Burrows was appointed president and Messrs. J. Ward, T. Wombwell and A. Robinson vice-presidents. The members of the committee are as follow :—Messrs. IL N. Booker, J. Walker, F. Wilson,
A. Wherein, A. Robinson, S. Astor, B. Lockwood, J. Ward and S. A. Heath.
Thornycroft Tippers for Buenos Aires.
We learn that the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway Co., Ltd., has Just placed, through its London. agents, an order with John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., Smith Square, London, S.W.1, for 12 hinge-sided 'three-way tipping lorries, in which the makers' latest AB-type 3-ton chassis is used, and 12 end-tipping lorries in which its type Al 30-cwt. chassis is employed.
The company is also executing an order for six of its type A2 long passenger chassis for the Rangoon Electric Tramway Co., and upon arrival in India these chassis will be fitted with 20-seater bus bodies. Another overseas order in hand is that for three Elathi four-wheel-driven tractors for the Government of South Africa, which has been placed through the company's Johannesburg agents.
Transferring Bus Licences.
Leeds Watch Committee has promised to consider the applications of J. H. Mouneey and Co. and the Aberford Motor Co., Ltd., for the transfer of motor omnibus licences to the Red, White and Blue Services, Ltd.