News and Comment.
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This journal is extensively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses.
We are asked to deny a rumour to the effect that Argylls, Ltd., has stopped making commercial. vehicles. The company is continuing to build a number of one-ton and two-ton vehicles.
A highly-important announcement on the subject of dazzling headlights will be found in the current issue (dated the 24th inst.) of our sister journal " The Motor," Pressure on our space does not allow us to deal with the matter here.
Manchester carters have been passing through another period of strife, in regard to wages. The transport arrangements of the city have been disorganized, to a certain extent, and some tranship traffic for and from motor wagons has been seriously delayed.
Topical Subjects.
Our leading articles this week deal with the following topical subjects : (1) " Other People's Costs ;" (2) " L.C.C. Reserved Tramway Tracks ;" (3) The Skidding Controversy: We Join Issue with a Contemporary ; " and (4) "Lifeguards foil all Vehicles "
To Carry Tate's Sugar Boxes.
We publish, on page 87, a, small photograph of a McCurd three-ton lorry which has recently been supplied to Henry Tate and Sons, Ltd., by Messrs. F. W. Berwick and Co., 18, Berkeley Street, Piccadilly, W., who take responsibility for Tate's fleet.
Road Damage.
The Record Court at Lifford (Ireland), on the 17th inst., reversed an award of damages, by a County Court judge, in an action by the Donegal County Council against Mr. Win. Robinson, a farmer, who is the owner of a traction engine. His lordship remarked that no statute affecting the subject must be construed too severely against those who were being penalized. The particular road was undoubtedly cut up by the engine, and a great deal of expense was caused, but before the County Council could recover, it had to be presupposed that the road was kept in reasonable condition for ordinary traffic. He was convinced on the evidence before him that that road was not in a condition for ordinary traffic, and accordingly he held that the Council were not in a position to recover at all. A photograph, specially taken by THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, of one of the Anglo-American Co.'s new Commercar tank wagons was, in our last issue, inadvertently described as being stationed at the Hammersmith depot of another company. The Anglo wagons, of course, do not use any other company's depots.
Burford v. Edge.
Mr. Justice Scrutton, in the King's Bench Division on the 21st inst., gave judgment against Mr. S. F. Edge, for a further i800, arising out of the second action for which Mr. H. G. Burford was responsible, this being brought by the liquidator of British Business Motors, Ltd., whilst S. F. Edge, Ltd., was successful in securing judgment against the liquidator of the company for 21200, on a counterclaim, in respect of shares in British Business Motors, Ltd., for which it applied, but which had never been legally allotted to it. A. stay of execution was granted. Better Roads.
Mr. Shrapnell-Smith, as Hon. Treasurer of the Roads Improvement Association, presided at a Conference at the Burford Bridge Hotel, near Dorking, on Saturday last, with reference to Surrey roads, and spoke, at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, with reference to heavy motor traffic in Lancashire, on Tuesday afternoon last. The Hon. Arthur Stanley, M.P., presided on the latter occasion.
Tested by a Blackburn Millowner.
The photograph which we publish of a Siddeley-D easy 30-cwt. machine is one which its constructors asked William Kay and Sons, ma, Johnston Street Mills, Blackburn, to test over the rough roads in that district, with the idea of discovering any structural weakness in the machine. The test was commenced on the 1st September last, and the Blackburn millowners advised the Coventry works that the machine had not given the slightest trouble in any way up to the time of, writing. The usual loads average 35 cwt. of cotton waste. The average petrol consumption during the trial proved to be 11 and .12 miles a gallon, and after 3200 miles of running, William Kay and Sons, Ltd., was so satisfied with the performance, that it passed its official order for the machine to the Siddeley-Deasy Motor Car Co., Ltd. Youngs and Old, Ltd. (£2000), to acquire the business of motor engineers and motor-garage proprietors, etc., now carried on by J. T. Youngs and R. G. Old, at Folkestone, is a new registration.
We learn that Mr. Felix Owens, late of Welt,: and Owens, Ltd., is developing his practice as a consulting motor engineer, and as an assessor and valuer to insurance companies, at 16, Lord Street, Liverpool, An Insurance Point.
It appears that the business of Messrs_ Harold Townend and Co., motor-insurance brokers, has been formed into a private limited company, with a view to further extensions_ Mr. Harold Townend will act as sole governing director of " Harold Towneed, Ltd."
One Way of Carrying Heavy Loads.
Labour in loading heavy bales of cotton upon a motor truck is reduced to a minimum by a new type of body known as the cotton saddle. This is built outside the wheels and hangs to within a few inches of the ground, just the height of the ordinary hand trucks. In this way, the bales of cotton can be removed from the hand trucks and set upon the wagon without being lifted. The carrier as illustrated has a capacity of 25 bales, which is approximately six tons, and it carries this load at a speed of eight miles an hour. This device, the invention. of Mr. John Mitchell, who is superintendent of the world's largest cotton compress, in Galveston, is in use in that city, mounted upon an electric truck. It is planned to use a fleet of ten in the near future, as it operates with far greater speed and efficiency than the other types which are in use.
Co-operation in New York.
Several department stores in New York have combined together in forming a company to be known as the Public Service Express, Ltd. to undertake the delivery of goods from the establishments concerned. Two three-ton motor lorries have been ordered, and those will be used in collecting the parcels from the delivery rooms of the 12 stores. The parcels will be taken to a central "clearing house," where they will be sorted and loaded on 20-cwt. motorvans for carriage to their destination'. This plan will, it is considered, eliminate the duplication of routes that is caused by the operation of a delivery system by each store individually. For the use of the system, a total of 50 motor vehicles has been ordered. Of these, 24 of one-ton capacity and two of threeton capacity are for immediate delivery. Experience will he allowed to. dictate as to the remainder.
o6 C.P. and Co. Again.
An interesting booklet dealing with the transition of its fleet from horse-drawn to motor vehicles has just been issued by Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd. The fleet of motors, which comprises 16-cwt., 20cwt. and 30-owt. vehicles, is being rapidly increased, and no fewer than 13 garages have already been established in London and district, while others are in course of construction. The company is building the bodies for the chassis at its own works, and a large motor-repairing depot is being fitted up at Walthamstow. In addition to employing a large number of motor
vehicles in the Metropolis, all the "Home Counties" traffic is now being dealt with by motor ; daily services are also run to Margate, Brighton and other places.
Continental Tire Sales.
Mr. H. Hooton is about to join the staff of the Continental Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd. Mr. Hooton is well known amongst users and manufacturers. While mentioning the Continental undertaking, we may remark that the profits of the company for the year ended the 31st December last amounted to 2735,091, which sum is in excess of that for the previous year by £137,229. Gaulois Tyres (1909), Ltd., advises us that of 112 solid-band tires fitted to the tractors and trailers competing in the recent severe military trials in France, 64 were of Bergougnan make, the balance being shared by four other brands. We have received a oopy of an interesting new pamphlet, which deals fully with the management and control of the Dennis motor fire-engine. This is illustrated with capital drawings and very full instructions as to the proper treatment of the well-known Dennis turbine fire-engine. On Saturday afternoon last a party of 16 I.A.E. graduates visited the Acton works of D. Napier and Soli, Ltd. Amongst special plant which attracted attention were the hydraulic test rigs for gearboxes, crankcases and cylinders, and the Norton crankshaft balancer. These works visits are a regular feature of the I.A.E. graduates' programme and are much appreciated.
More Motor Mails.
The Postmaster-General is inviting tenders for the conveyance of mails between London and Cambridge. The distance is approximately 63 miles, and it is proposed to let the contract for a. term of three years from the 1st September next. The vans will be used for letter and parcel mails as required, arid they must be constructed to the scheduled requirements of the Department--a copy of which will be furnished on application to the G.1'.0.---to carry a net load of 45 cwt. Tenders must be lodged on or before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the 31st inst., addressed to the Controller of the London Postal Service, King Edward's Building, G.P.O., London, E.C., in a sealed cover, marked " Tender for Motor Mail Service."
New Registrations.
The Omnitractor Syndicate, Ltd. (22005), by Paines and Co., 14, St. Helen's Place, E.C. Signatories : H. P. Dakin, 24, Bungalow' Road, South Norwood, S.E., and J. Bennett, 14, St. Helen's Place, E. C.
The Indestructible Tyre Syndicate, Ltd., (215,000), with its office at Avenue Chambers, Southampton Row, W.C., to carry on the business of manufacturers and dealers in tires, etc. First directors: E. .R. Devereux (governing and managing director), and R. L. de Vinne.