Passenger-Vehicle Topics.
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A 30 h.p., Tillings-Stevens petrol-electric bus will be shown at the Exhibition of Tramway Appliances to be held from 24th to 27th September, at West Ham.
An L.G.O. Appointment.
The gentleman who has been appointed as works manager at the Vilalthamstow works of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., is Mr. G. Shave, who, until recently it will he remembered, was connected with the S.M. Car Syndicate, Ltd.
Selling "B-types."
The directors of the Associated Omnibus Co., Ltd., announce that an arrangement has been entered into with the L.G.O.C. for the purchase of 55 of the latest B-type buses, complete with all accessories. The L.G.O.C. will undertake the control and running of these buses, and it will pay the Associated Co. a proportion of the total pooled earnings. Part of this fleet will commence running almost immediately.
Sustained Opposition to Trams in Birmingham.
At a meeting of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, held on the 18th inst., several speakers referred to the strong and growing feeling that the Council should pause before embarking on further large capital expenditure on tramways. It was stated that no public authority, at present contemplating the starting or developing of public street or road traffic, would adopt the system now in general use. It was further stated that 100 per cent, of the inhabitants in Broad Street, 96 per cent. of the residents in Hagley Road, and 80 per cent. of the residents in side streets had signed a petition protesting against the introduction of trams along the Hagley Road.
Speed-Limit Checks.
We are told by an official of the L.G.O.C., that the plain-clothes speed controllers, whose duty it is to report instances of the company's motorbuses' exceeding the speed limit of 12 m.p.h., are proving satisfactory in service.
Ramsey's Necessity.
Following certain inquiries which have been made by the Ramsey (Isle of Man) Town Commissioners, there is a probability that either small motorcars or petrol railcars will be purchased to convey visitors along the Queen's Pier, for embarkation and disembarkation.
A New Lifeguard.
We are enabled to reproduce, by the courtesy of the inventor, photographs which show a new lifeguard which is proposed for attachment to motorbuses and taxicabs. It will be seen from the illustrations, that this device has. in any event the merit of simplicity and it should not be expensive to manufacture.
It has yet to be proved, however, that this contrivance is an improvement in practice on the many similar devices which have appeared during the last few years. The bugbear of this class of invention lies in the uneven and badly-repaired road, and no appliance of this nature has yeti to our knowledge, successfully maintained its claims when tested under bad road conditions. It remains to be seen if the guard under notice is able to overcome the difficulty. The inventor of this particular device is Mr. C. W. Garth, of 170, Old Street, Henry Square, Ashton-under-Lyne.
Two-shift Owner-drivers' Cabs.
It is now the general practice for owner-drivers and firms with small fleets of motorcabs to keep their cabs out for as long as possible, and to have two drivers to each cab. If a driver prefers to be out early in the morning, another driver can easily be found who will relieve him, at say six o'clock at night. It is found that the takings in a six-day week are very equally divided between the two drivers. The day man may have a little better mileage. as he does not loiter, but the night man often makes good by a long waiting job, or a long journey. We were informed by an ownerdriver a few days ago, that he met his relief in the West End at six o'clock at night, and generally put up at about 3 a.m. He always expected to take at least £1 during the time he was out, and with a similar amount from his fellowdriver he was making the cab pay. A fleet of 15 cabs is being conducted on these lines in Page Street, Westminster. This was originated by an owner-driver named Mr. C. Lyons. All the drivers, of which there are 30. are co-partners in the enterprise, the first six cabs being acauired nearly three years ago, .each man finding the sum of 210. The income derived from these was so apportioned that additional cabs were bought from time to time, until all the 30 members were employed. The fleet is being increased by individual holders investing in other cabs, and the members have rec.ntiv acquired a large ssqrasre in Clapham Road, near Stockwell.