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The Wheels of Industry.

26th April 1917, Page 13
26th April 1917
Page 13
Page 14
Page 13, 26th April 1917 — The Wheels of Industry.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

" The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arisioL!, as' a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it rnns."—.Tohn Beattie Crozier.

The M.T., A.S.C. Fund.

We acknowledge with thanks letters. from members of the industry promising to pay their usual monthly subscriptions in future_ direct to Col. Tarver, Hon. Sec. of the A.S.C. Central Comforts Fund, War Office, S.W. We have no space this week for any further reference.

Ford Agrimotors.

As we indicated last week, Ford tractors are, by consent of Mr. Henry Ford, who waives his patent rights, to be made in British-owned works by the co-operation of leading members of the British motor industry. This Anglo-American solution • promises to be both rapidly productive and a happy one in all senses. Mr. Ford's generous attitude, shouldremove memories of certain earlier views about England and the war.

Coalwg is !fuel.

Mr, W. Clark Jackson, engineer and manager of the Neath Corpora-. tion Gas Department, will read a paper upon The uses of coal-gas as a fuel, as a substitute for petrol in motor vehicles," before the -South Wales Institute of' Gas Engineers and Managers, at Merthyr Tydvil, on the 16th May. There is further evidence of increasing interest in the matter of applying Coal-gas as a fuel fer the propulsion of vehicles on common roads. The demand for our issues dealing with this subject, which is of increasing importance, has been such as to run most of them entirely out of print.

In the course of the discussion on the presidential address at the 34th annual meeting of Scottish gas managers, held recently in tho Technical College, Glasgow, we observed that Mr. Alex. Masterton, .of Edinburgh, stated that "Another important development which might have far-reaching effects upon the industry lay in the direction of using coal-gas, either under ordinary pressure or compressed to a high degree, for driving motor vehicles," He also reminded his hearers that some of the London gas companies and the British Commercial Gas Association had appointed experts to report upon the practicability of the scheme, and the conditions under which the best results might be. obtained. The President, Mr. Charles Fairweather' remarked that "personally, he did not see why they should not, within a comparatively-reasonable period, be using gas for driving vehicles." Freight Exchanging.

Proposals for co-operative delivery in the Birmingham and-Midland district, to which we have made several references in • past issues, have now come to a head, thanks to the joint action, of the Chambers of Commerce in the interested cities and towns, acting in conjunction with the Ministry cf Munitions. The scheme, for the tune being, will .concern inter-corn-. munication by road between Birminghash, Coventry, Kidderminster, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, and intermediate places. The charges vary from 6s. an hour for a 10 cwt. to 12s. 6d, an hour for a 5-ton vehicle. It is sought to avoid light running and parallel services of Partly-filled 'vehicles. It is recognized by the organizers, having regard to earlier experiences of freight exchanges, that difficulties 'are to be anticipated, but these will, it-is hoped, pad to cares ful study and treatment. The advantages of such an organization are Manifold in peace-times, ex

ceptionally so during war. Particulars of this scheme of exchange can be had from the Secretaries •of the Chambers of Commerce who are working in the matter, and inquiries should be addressed as above.

Meaning of "Motor Spirit."

We report elsewhere (pages 191 an.d 192) the decision of the Court

of Appeal in the matter of the use

of intermediate petroleum derive, lions (in this ,case flashing at 77 de grees Fahrenheit) in motor chars-aharms. The, decision of the Conway magistrates was adverse in. this matter, as will be recalled by our supporters. and the Court of Appeal has now unanimously. sup

ported the decision. The Lord Chief Justice failed to see any connection between the definition clause of the Finance (1909-10) Act, and the Petroleum Acts, as affecting this case.

The adverse decision clears the air, but, its seriousness is already largely discounted by Orders, actual or potential, under the Defence of the. Realm Act, by the Petrol Control Committee. It is apparent, so far at any rate, unless the decision is challenged, that the definition sub-section of section 84 of the above-mentioned Act .does not in any way rest upon the other sub-section of the same section which made reference either to taxation or tests for the purposes of taxation. Coal-gas now holds the field as a Petrol substitute unrestricted by any kind of war-time rationing. Electric Vehicle Committee.

The next meeting of the Electric Vehicle Committee has been fixed for Friday, the 4th May, at 2.30 p.m., at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Gt. George St., S.W.

Recent Registrations.

A.F.S., Ltd. (i6000), registered by H. I. Jones, of 62, London Wall, E.G., to carry on the business of motor, mechanical and electrical engineers, draughtsmen, vehiclespring merchants, carriage and chassis builders, oil refiners and garage keepers.

Wheel and Wings Association, Ltd. (21000), with its registered office at 33-36, King William Street, E.G., to carry on the business of insurance, financial and general brokers, agents. claim settlers or adjusters, underwriters, re-in surers, etc. First subscribers, A. R. Pole and A. O. Head.

Henry Ford and Sons, Ltd. (£100,000), registered in Dublin on the 17th inst., With its registered office at, 36, South Mall, Cork, to carry on the business of manufacturers of all kinds of machinery, agricultural and other implements. engines, motorcars, aeroplanes and airships, shipbuilders, etc. First subscribers : Joseph Len Dewhurst Perry, Queen Anne's Mansions, London S.W. ; and Reginald J. White, 5, Thavies Inn, E.C.

Daimler Tractors.

The accompanying illustration is of a Daimler agricultural tractor which has a somewhat-interesting history. This machine was built in the spring of 1911, and was exhibited at the Royal Show of that year, at 'Norwich. Demonstration and test ploughing was performed at various farms after the exhibition, and the tractor was again exhibited at the Smithfield Show, in December, 1911. It was used for ploughing, cultivating, threshing, straw pressing, and haulage, etc.,

during the spring of 1912, and it then took part in some cogripetitive ploughing machines. It next did ploughing for the Duke of Sutherland, at Newport, Salop, and worked a saw bench, after which it was returned to the Daimler works at Coventry, fitted with flanged wheels, and used for shunting purposes on the works sidings. About

2.1 years ago it was allowed to go into disuse,. but the demand for agrimotor plant this spring has seen it brought into active commission again, and the photograph was taken while it was working in Warwickshire last week. Numerous applications are in hand for its early services,

The Hemel Hempstead. T.C. is pToposing to purchase a motor tractor for tLe fire brigade.

The Willesden Works Committee, asked to replace shop windows broken by. stones thrown up by motorbuses, repudiates all liability.

The Shoreditch B.C. has been recommended by the Lighting Committee to buy a second-hand 5-toit laden steam wagon and two 4-ton trailers at a cost not exceeding , _

The Willesden ffouneil." has granted a certificate underthe Factory and Workshops-Act in respect of factory premises in Cumberland Avenue, Park Royal, for the Fellows Magneto Co., Ltd.

In consequence of complaints, tho Chatham T.C. has decided that in future stopping places for motorbilses shall be endorsed on the back of drivers' licences, and that regulations 'are to be strictly kept.

The Arbroath T.C. has arranged to use a motor char-a-bancs to tow a fire-engine on occasions when a fire. occurs in a-djoining rural districts. We hope precautions will be taken to see that the brakes on the fire-engine itself arc adequate, and at all times in good order.

The Metropolitan Asylums Board invite tenders, to be lodged net later than 10 a.m. on Monday, the 7th May, for the supplyof four motorv.an chassis. Particulars can be obtained from the Clerk to the Board, together with forms of tender and specifications, at the .olfices, Embankment, London, E.C. 4, According to the report of thesanitary inspector of the Accrington T.C. the cost of refuse collection with an Edison electric wagon is 2s. 4.6d. per ton, as against 2s. id. per ton with team labour.

At a recent meeting of the Market Drayton R.D.C. it was stated that heavy tractors and motors are playing havoc with the roads, and that an appeal should be made to the .County Roads and Bridges Committees with regard to increased highway expenditure.

The Surveyor of the Burton-onTrent Corporation_ reported that the weight of Messrs. Allsopp's -traction engine, licensed by the Corporation .on, the 7th January, was 15 tons 12 cwt., and for this weight a fee of £22 was payable, instead of the 218 received. It Was decided by the Corporation that a licence should be granted to the traction engine, but as it etceeded the weight of 14 tons there should be a condition that the owners should be responsible for any damage to roads, etc., resulting from its use in the borough, and also that the additional sum of 24 should be paid for the licence.

Gazette.

A meeting of Bomar Lorries, Ltd. (in voluntary liquidation), is to be held on the 22nd May, at noon, at Bush Lane Rouse, Bush Lane, Cannon Street, EQ., for the purpose of receiving an account concerning the disposal of the business and 'its winding up.

Road Rol/era in Australia.

We are indebted to Messrs. A. H. McDonald and Co., of " Imperial " Engine Works, Stawell Street,

Richmond, Melbourne Victoria, for the interesting photograph from which we have prepared the illustration on page MI. •The three rollers which are shown were supplied by Messrs. McDonald and Co. to the Hampden Shire Council of Camperdown, Victoria. The value of such equipment is well known to British and Colonial road' surveyors. The purchase price of each roller, with all adjustments, was £872 us. •Paraffin oil is, the fuel, and the machines are called the " Imperial." A power pulley is fitted, to enable the breakage of road metal to be undertaken in a crushing mill, or similar external work to be carried out. We are informed that the rollers are wholly made in Australia. The engine is a 15 h.p., and the maximum weight of each machine, with the waterballast space full, is Eqtons.

Formation of New Company.

Messrs. W. F. Adam and E. G. Grimaldi, who have been associated in the management of Brown, Hughes and Straehan, Ltd., for the last two years have formed a new company called "Adam, Grimaldi and Co., Ltd.," and are now installed in their new premises at Albert Works, Glasshouse Street, Albert Embankment, S.E. 11, near Vauxhall Bridge, on the south side of the river.

Mileage Recorders.

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of any lately-constructed types of British-made mileage recorders, and particularly of types which are suitable or use on steam wagons. Evidence of use for owners should be supplied,


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