WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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Bus Reorganization in Northern Ireland.
A. new bus company, the Belfast Bus Co., Ltd., was registered in London as a public company on April 12th. This is the outcome of a meeting on April 9th of local bus owners in Belfast with Mr. H. Merrett, of Messrs. Merrett and Street, solicitors, of Finsbury Square, Loudon. Mr. Merrett has held an option on 34 Belfast companies for some time, and the registration of this company means that the option will be exercised. The object of the company, which will be formed mainly by existing owners, will-be to reorganize and bring up to date all the buses and serviced throughout Northern Ireland. At the recent meeting 30 owners upon whose undertakings an option is held agreed to the proposals put forward for the formation of the company, three deferred their decision, whilst one was not represented.
It is understood that favourable contracts for an additional fleet of buses and for the supply of tyres and petrol have been made. The formation of this company is quite distinct from the Ulster General Omnibus Co., registered on March 31st.
A Regional Planning Scheme and Passenger Road Services.
Reporting on the Lancaster and Morecambe regional planning scheme, Mr. J. H. Forshaw, M.A., says that the bus services within the regional area are rapidly increasing. It is probably no exaggeration to say that the number of buses on the busiest routes is in-_ creasing monthly. It is certainly true that the bus services have been augmented while this scheme has been in preparation, and it is eqUally true that the accessibility of the region, as a result of its motorbus services, is remarkably good. Mr. Forshaw adds that this method of passenger transportation
is at present only in its initial stage and an improved road system will enable better services to be provided in all directions. He makes the observation that, in the majority of eases, the buses offer a better service than any so far provided by the railway.
It is impossible, says Mr. Forshaw, to foresee the extent to which the bus ser vices can be expanded-; much will depend on the conditioning of new and old roads.
Apart from the normal motorbus services, there is a growing demand for an increased holiday-season service. Motor-coach services from Morecambe to the surrounding countryside are becoming increasingly popular during the holiday season and can be considered part of the bus services of the region, inasmuch as the motors leave daily at regular scheduled times on different circular trips. This is purely summer traffic, but, being based on Morecambe and Heysham and moving to and from these resorts, it is distinct from the long-distance day-trip coach traffic coming into the coastal towns with visitors.
The Institute of Transport Congress.
The sixth congress of the Institute of Transport will be held at Birmingham during the period from Thursday, May 19th, to Saturday, May 21st, the president receiving the members and visitors at the Queen's flotel, Birmingham, on the preceding Wednesday evening. The proceedingswill open on the Thursday with a civic welcome from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, a convere ii4azione being held at the Council House the same evening. The two papers to be read on Thursday are : (1) "Traffic Control," by Mr. X. H. Follows, C.B.E., of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway ;-and (2) "Industry and Transport," by-Mr. G. Cadbury, Junr.
On Friday, the two papers to be read are : (1) "Highways Costs per Tonmile of Traffic," by Mr. E. S. ShrapnellSmith, C.B.E., and Mr. W. P. Robinson, County Surveyor of Surrey ; and (2) "Transport in England—a Brief Historical Survey," by Mr. C. Grant Robertson, Principal of the Birmingham University.
On Friday the -annual dinner of the Midland local section will take place at the Queen's Hotel.
Visits have been arranged to the works of Guy Motors, Ltd., the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., Cadbury Bros., Ltd., the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., and the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., and ta the Curzon Street goods station of the London' Midland and Scottish Railway, also to the carriage and wagon shops of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at Derby, and to the works of the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon and Finance Co., at Saltley. Several motorcoaching trips have been arranged for the Saturday.
The Swansea to Shrewsbury Road.
At the April meeting of the Ammanford Urban District Council the proposed construction of an arterial road from Pontardulais to Pantyffynon by the combined local authorities of the area was discussed. It was reported that this section of the proposed Ministry of Transport road from Swansea via Mid-Wales to Shrewsbury would cost E102,000, and that the joint committee of' the council's which recently met at Pontardulais had decided that the scheme must fall throngh unless the Ministry will grant 75 per cent, of the eost. Intimation to this effect has been conveyed to the Ministry.
A New Commercial Vehicle Jack.
Harvey Frost and Co. (1924), Ltd./ 148-150, Great Portland Street, London, W.1, has just introduced the HE lorry jack (Weaver model) on the market in this country, It is a sturdy appliance which has been specially constructed fon dealing with heavy goods carrying end passenger vehicles. A feature is that it has a long body and can be used under
chassis having a long overhang. Its lilting capacity is 10,000 lb.. and its range of lift is from 6 ins. to 18 ins. The special arrangement of the lever makes it a simple matter to operate the jack in cramped positions.
Road Accidents in 1926.
A return has been issued to the House of Commons -sliowing the number, of accidents 'resulting in death or personal injury known by the police to have been caused by vehicles, and the number of persons Lkillcd and injured by those accidents in Great Britain during the past year. The numbers of accidents occurring in. the different coun
tries were as follow :—England and Wales: fatal 4,236, non-fatal 108,846; Scotland : fatal 567, non-fatal 10,638; the totals for Great Britain being : fatal 4.803, non-fatal 119,484, amounting in all to 124,287.
The numbers of persons killed and injured in these accidents were as follow :—England and Wales : killed 4,307, injured 121,783; Scotland: killed 579, injured 12,105; total for Great Britain: killed 4,886, injured 133,888.
The figures show an increase over the previous year, and whilst, of course, mechanically propelled vehicles are covcerned with more aceidents than horsedrawn vehicles, the surprising fact disclosed by the statistics just issued is the high proportion of accidents caused to or by pedal cycles—roughly one-sixth of the total.
A 5,000-mile Free Maintenance Undertaking.
. Leyland Motors, Ltd. 'the maker of the popular Trojan vehicle, has consistentlyadvertised the machine as beim' "the simplest car in the world," and that it is "the cheapest to maintain." The company has decided to substantiate these claims by the bold and simple expedient of giving an undertaking to all Inirchasers of Trojans that for the first 6,000 miles of their life the cost of running shall be limited to the expenses involved in cleaning and the purchase of petrol and lubricant—in other words, the maintenance costs, for what is generally an average year's running, shall be nil.
Commercial Vehicle Progress in New Zealand.
Some figures recently issued by the New Zealand Motor Trade Association show that the Dominion is well to the fore as a user of commercial vehicles. In the United States, of every 100 motor vehicles (not including motorcycles) 87 per cent. are ears and 12/ per cent, business motors. In New Zealand the ratio is 83 per cent, cars and 17 per cent. vans and lorries, so that the proportion of business vehicles to cars in New Zealand is greliter than in America. • At the end of October last there were 18,713 motor lorries registered in New Zealand, this figure showing a gain of 50 per cent, in a period of 16 months. The motor lorry has been adopted much more generally in the. North Island than in the South Island, the proportion cf the total number of commercial vehicles being 71 per cent. in the former and 29 per cent, in the latter.
America and Canada are responsible for the manufacture of 88 per cent. of the business motors in New Zealand, and England for practically the balance of 12 per cent., for Continental makes do not amount to 1 per cent. of the total. Of the American vehicles no less than 52 per cent. are Fords.
Interchanging Bus Services.
Manchester Corporation has adopted a report of a special sub-committee with reference to the interchange of bus services with the Salford Corporation, and recommending the linking up of the Weaste and Broughton services with Cheethain Hill, Blackley, Newton Heath and Brookdale Park services.
"'Northern General" Report.
Tbe annual report of the directors of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., of Chester-le-Street, which operates about 250 miles of motorbus routes in the North Durham neighbourhood, states that the net traffic revenue for the 12 months ended December 31st, 1926, together with dividends and other revenues, totalled £75,640. After allowing for adminstration expenses, makiug a provision of £26,055 for renewals and setting aside £2,255 for loans and debenture interest, there remains £34,099, which, together with the sum of 17,112 brought forward from the previous account, leaves a divisible surplus of 141,211. The directors recommend that this should be applied as fellows:— To sinking fund for redemption of debenture stock, 12,172; to dividend at the rate of 6 per cent on preference shares respect of which 3 per cent. has been paid), £9,000; to dividend at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum on the ordinary shares (in respect of which 2/ per cent. has been paid), 127,599. This leaves the sum of £2,440 to be carried forward to the next account.
Motors to Displace Bullocks.
Bombay Corporation is asking the Commissioner to report as to the practicability and feasibility of carrying away refuse, etc., from the houses in dust-tight vehicles, so as to prevent the refuse from escaping, and of substituting motor vehicles for the bullocks used for the purpose of collecting it and conveying it to the, railway siding; stating the cost which will be entailed by the substitution.
Buses and Lorries in Sweden.
A feature of the transport developments in Sweden during the past year was the large increase in the number of motorbuses in tho country, a return just to hand showing that there were 1,608 such Vehicles in service at the beginning of 1927. Similar progress is reported as regards niotor lorries and vans, of which there are now 22,863 in use.
The Autocar Electrical Equipment Co., 115, Old Street, London, E.C.1, advises us that it has been appointed sole concessionnaire for Waltham speedometers and clocks, and it is undertaking the repair and servicing of these accessories.
Producer-gas in Belgium.
A meeting of the Belgian Commission on Motor Fuels was recently held in Brussels, when State-Major Stasse presented a report on the use of producergas plants on motor vehicles. As the result of many experiments, Major Stasse expressed the opinion that producer-gas has now all the advantages of petrol, whilst he considers the extra weight of the plant as unimportant, being only from 4-6 cwt. on a lorry weighing from 3i tons to 5 tons. Moreover, the power output of an engine using producer-gas is Claimed to be only a little less than with petrol.
-Producer-gas plants for motor vehicles have, he considers, reached a point when ranch further technical progress or reduCtion in weight cannot be expected. The chief problem is that of the supply of the necessary fuel, in which connection Major Stasse expressed the view that• attention might be devoted to the use of Belgian coal or by-products of such coal of which the conntry has ample supplies. M a result of the report the, commission adopted a resolution urging the Belgian Government to give every encouragement to the use of producer-gasequipped vehicles.
Woking's Way with Bus Owners. At a meeting of the omnibus committee of the Woking Urban District Council, complaints were received as to omnibuses not leaving various points in the district at the scheduled times. The proprietors are to be informed that the buses must move off to time and keep to their schedules and that owners must obey instructions of the inspector. The committee is determined to recommend the granting of licences only to proprietors who run their omnibuses in a way which it considers satisfactory.
Bournemouth and Poole's Bus Powers. •
At a meeting of the tramways committee of the Bournemouth Corporation the town clerk reported that he had ascertained that the Ministry of Health will not now grant a orovisional Order amending a section in a local Act for the purpose of allowing the running of omnibuses outside the district. In view of this, and the fact that the Poole authorities have, at present, no power to run omnibuses, it Was decided, after discussing the whole, position, to recommend that Poole should promote a Bill in the ensuing session of Parliament to secure powers to run omni buses. In the meantime, it is suggested that the Lower Parkstone tram track should be put into such a state of repair as to enable it to be used until
buses can be substituted. The town clerk of Poole will prepare a scheme for the running of buses by the Poole Corporation from Poole to Bournemouth Square for consideration by the Bournemouth Corporation.
A Big Road Reconstruction Scheme.
The Austrian Government is planning extensive reconstruction of the whole network• of State highways in Austria, the total length of which amount to some '2,300 miles. The estimated cost of the scheme is 150,000,000 schillings, nearly £4,500,000. The necessary money for the reconstruction will be provided by the issue of short-, term highways loans. The work is expected to take a number of years to complete.
Five New Republic Models.
We learn from the Republic Motor Truck Co., Inc., of Alma, Michigan, U.S.A., that it has recently introduced two improved series of chassis, consist-. lug of five models. The first series ranges from 25-cwt. to 30-cwt. loadcarrying capacity and the second from 30-cwt. to 2-ton.
The changes made are not radical in the main units, but the chassis embody many refinements, including newly designed polished aluminium radiator top tanks, spoked-steel wheels and pneumatic tyres, an instrument for purifying the fuel before it enters the carburetter, an air cleaner and new type of tyre carrier. Bevel-gear axles of increased strength are now standard on all these models.
Lally Fire-fighters for Roumania.
We publish on this page a picture of a fleet of Laffiy high-speed first-aid fire pumps, the basis of which is the maker's 21-ton chassis, which has recently been delivered to Roumania. These vehicles are capable of travelling at 60 m.p.b. and each carries a crew of eight men. The rotary-type pump has eight pistond anti is driven independently from the gearbox. 'No priming is required. A by-pass from the delivery outlet connects to the motor cooling system, thus enabling the engine to operate for long periods whilst the vehicle is stationary.
The pump has a capacity of 26,400 gallons per hour. It can -draw, from 30 ft. and will maintain a , head of
200 ft.. at 87 lb. pressure. Portable hose reels are fitted at the rear and on either side, with a creel for spare hose on top.. Various-sizes of hand branches are. carried in racks. Other equipment is housed in lockers beneath the seats.
The Modern Village Blacksmith. Owing to the scarcity of village blacksmiths in England the Ministry of Agriculture has had to take steps for instructing young people in this oncefamous art. This is carried out by motorvans,. which visit various centres with instructors and equipment. The Ministry has several such vans in use, and for the next three months one of them is making a tour of Worcestershire.
Coach Stands at Eastbourne.
At a meeting of the Eastbourne Watch Committee two deputations from the Small Owners' Association, one representing the majority and the other the minority of the views of that association in regard to stands for motor coaches, were received. The majority object to any restriction of hours„ but agree to there being one stand only for each firm irrespective of the number of coaches owned. The minority object to any restriction of hours, but suggest that each owner of one char-it-banes should have one stand only, each owner of more than one, but not exceeding five, chars-A-hancs shall have two stands only, and each owner of more than five vehicles shall have three stands only. The committee decided that each owner be allotted one stand only on the Parade between the pier and Halton Road.
Bus-service Inspection in South Wales.
At the April meeting of the Penybont (Warn.) Council a letter was received from the secretary of the Association of South Wales and Mon. Bus Proprietors, complaining that one of its members, Air. L. Thomas, Coychurch, was being victimized by unfair trading on the Llantrisant road and l3ridgend-Coychurch routes and asking the council to secure fair play for him. It was alleged that other services trespassed upon his time-table. The attention of the police is being called to the matter.
In the general supervision of-bus services in the area, the council decided to communicate with the Ogmore, Garw and Maesteg urban district councils, suggesting that the three authorities should act together in the appointment of an inspector of bus services for the three areas.
Trams to be Abolished.
At a meeting of the Gravesend Corporation the town clerk reported that he had received a letter from the Ministry of Transport stating that the Gravesend, Rosherville and Northfleet Tramways Provisional Order would be granted subject to satisfactory arrangements being made between the tramways company and the town councils con earned as to the removal of the track. We intimated in our issue dated April 19th that the Ministry had held an inquiry into the company's application.
More Tractors for Russia.
It is reported from Moscow that the Soviet Government has lately placed orders for a further'3,500 Fordson tractors, which will bring the number of such machines purchased since 1921 up to 25,000.
• Petrol Tax Foreshadowed in New Zealand.
According to an advice from Wellington, New Zealand, the imposition of a petrol tax for the purpose of improving the arterial roads has been foreshadowed by the chairman of the main highways board.
Helping Retail Trade.
The value of commercial vehicles in the 'development of the distributive trades has been amply proved by the experience of the Colne Co-operative Society. It recently put a motorvan on the road to deliver bread from the bakery to the branch shops, and a second vehicle has just been purchased to extend the service. A. delivery motor vehicle has been acquired for the business of the butchery department, and, in consequence, the takings have, it is said, increased by 50 per cent.
A Heavy-duty Garage Jack.
Joseph Bradbury and Sons, New Street Works, Braintree, has just placed on the market , a new heavy garage jack which is expressly designed for commercial vehicle service. It is known as the M.A.228, and has an effective., lift of 10 in, together . with 31-in. extension adjustment,. which is sufficient to cone with the largest section giant pneumatic tyres. It can be easily
and quickly operated, and a feature of the design is that the head of the loading crutch can be placed 21 ins, from the wheel.
Bus Stands at Clitheroe.
With a view to overcoming congesfion caused by motorbus traffic in the Clitheroe market-place, the local watch committee has just introduced a system under which motorbuses, instead of using the market-place as a stand on which to pass waiting intervals, are allotted positions in the Chatburn Road district for making halts between inward and outward journeys. Passengers are picked up and set down at various other points in the town,, but long stops are not permitted at other than the recognized stands.
Coaching from Southport, Messrs. W. Manning and Sous, of 6264, Compton Road and of Kew Road, Birkdale, Southport, is organizing a series of trips to London from May to September. They will start on Thutsdays and the coaches will travel via Matlock and the Peak District, two days being allowed in London and the return made via Oxford. The fare is £2 return, and the proprietors are offering £100 to charity "on proof being provided that the ReoPullman allweather safety coaches are not only the safest but the easiest-running coaches on the road."
Repeat Orders for Thornycrofts.
Recent repeat orders which have been received by John I. Thornycroft and Co.,Ltd., include one for a 30-cwt. type Al boxvan for Messrs. Potter and Clark, and another for a similar chassis with a hinged-sided body for the Cuckfield Rural District Council. A vehicle of the same type, in the form of a platform lorry, is also being constructed for the British Cotton and Wool Dyers'
Association, Manchester. The London and North Eastern Railway Co. is purchasing a further two type Al long wheelbase chassis on which 20-seater bus bodies are to be mounted, and similar chassis have been ordered by Morecambe Motors, Ltd., and Messrs. Alexander and Son, of Falkirk. The company's Yeovil agent has recently secured an order for two type J 4-ton chassis from Russian Oil Products, Ltd.
Storing Fuel and Oil.
A couple of small errors crept into our short article dealing with the storing of fuel and oil which appeared in our issue of last week.
In referring to the Bywater system of fuel storage, we said the water lies above the petrol. It is, of course, obvious that the petrol is above the water, a " head " of water being provided by a small external tank; and as regards the fuel tanks manufactured by Thompson Brothers (Bilston), Ltd., Bilston, Staffs, which are used all the way along the desert on the Cairo-Karachi air route to India, these were supplied to Imperial Airways, Ltd. Empire Markets.
Dorland Advertising, Ltd., Dorland Rouse, 14, Regent Street, London, S.W.1, is issuing a series of interesting brochures under the heading of "Empire Markets," and number 5, which has just reached us, deals with Newfoundland and the West Indies. The booklet contains a number of tables drawing attention to total external trade and imports. In the section on the West Indies the trade of each country is shown in detail, so that manufacturers can secure a ready appreciation of the importance of these markets.
Commercial Vehicles in Rolland.
An official return lately issued 0101V21 that 385 motor lorries and buses, valued at approximately 159,300, were imported last year into Holland, as compared with 276 vehicles (£56,060) in 19215. Of commercial chassis, however, the imports declined from 4,655 vehicles (1463,000) to 4,250 (£408,750). The bulk of the trade is controlled by Belgian makers, French and German makers being a poor second and third.