THE STEAM WAGON DEMONSTRATION.
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THE work of organizing the Steam Wagon Demonstration first proposed in an editorial article in The Commercial Motor, and later discussed and approved at a meeting of the Steam Vehicle Committee of the Society of Manufacturers and Traders, is progressing steadily, the Steam Vehicle Committee being responsible for it in conjunction with this journal.
The following makers have expressed their willingness to enter vehicles for the demonstration :-William Allchin, Ltd., of Northampton ; Atkinson-Walker Wagons, Ltd., of Preston ; Clayton Wagons, Ltd., of Lincoln ; Fodens, Ltd., of Sandbach ; John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., of Leeds ; Richard Garrett' and Sons, Ltd., of Leiston; Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd., of Leeds; Sentinel Waggon 'Works, Ltd., of Shrewsbury, and the Yorkshire Steam Wagon Co., of Leeds. Some makers who manufacture more than one type will probably send more than one vehicle, so that about a dozen vehicles are likely to take part in the demonstration. The period agreed among the ,entrants for the demonstration is Wednesday, November 9th, to Thursday, November 17th, both dates inclusive, the run of 390 miles concluding in London on the Wednesday evening, so that on the Thursday, when the Commercial Motor Show opens at Olympia, the vehicles may be available for inspection. The route and times of starting from and arrival at each of the towns is set out in the accompanying table.
Each vehicle will carry a display hoard upon which will appear a trenchant statement in support of the claim that the steam wagon should at this juncture receive special attention, not only in the interests of a very valuable transport medium, but in that of home-produced fuel. We illustrate a typical display board. Arrangements have been made with Judd, Budd, Ltd., of London, Cardiff, and Swansea, to supply all the vehicles with Ferndale •" Record" Welsh smokeless coal, and it is probable that company will send with the demonstration a lorry carrying ti-larg,e block of this coal recently mined without being broken. A strong effort is being made to enable the' Welsh colliery owners to show their appreciation of the effort now being exerted on behalf of British coal.
The Commercial Motor is preparing a 24-page hredhure which Will deal with the aim and purpose of the demonstration and will contain a fund of information about steam vehicles generally. This brochure will be an expensive production and will be issued free amongst the most important users and potential employers of transport in the northern and midland counties. It is intended to be a very substantial contribution towards the success of this demonstration.
We have received and are grateful for a large number of offers of personal help at the various stopping-places. We shall be very glad to hear from readers who can do useful work on the reception committees, ode of which is being organized -at every town en route. As a matter of fact, this is our only anxiety in connection with the demonstration, and the appointed organizer is now starting upon a journey over the whole of the route in order to establish the committees, as well as to arrange for supplies of water for the wagons.