WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheel' of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John, Beattie Crosier.
Petrol Down 7d,
On end. from January let the price of petrol in Great Britain will be reduced by 'Id. a gallon in accordance with the agreemeett between the Government and the oil importing pompanies that. the price should be reduced by that amount when the 6d. duty imposed in September, 1915, is taken oft. The difference to commercial motor users, owners of hackney vehicles, and doctors will be 30. per gallon, as in respect of commercial, hire, and professional vehicles 50 per cent, rebate on the duty has been allowed. No. 1 quality petrol will now sell retail at 3s. 51.d. and No. 2 quality at 3s. 30., with the usual additional penny for Scotland.
Splash-guard Tests.
The Borough Council of Camberwell have had under consideration for some time past the question of the immediate necessity of adopting some means to prevent inconvenienc.e, damage, and annoyance caused by the lateral eplashing of mud by motor vehieles. With a view to ascertaining which is the hest device as regards the question of efficiency, low first cost, and low maintenance charges, the Council have decided to hold ademonstration in Camberwell in the early part of the New Year upon the same lines as that recently held in Paris, which extended over a period of two days. Men with practical experience, representing every brench of the subject, will act as judges.
We have a draft copy of the rules for the trials in. oui. posses-gore but until the date for them is deienitely fixed we will refrain from comment:
Bus Company Want to Lower Fares.
Two omnibus .companies have asked for the permission of the Southend Corporation to lower their fares. . The National Omnibus and Transport
Ltd., sought permission to reduceby one-third the fare from Wickford to Southend, pointing out that passengers have been complaining about the excessive fares cei the stages, The Weetcliff
Motor Char-à-banes Co., Ltd., asked to be allowed to increase the length of their stages on one of the routes. The Light Railways Committee of the Corporation reports in favour of granting the permission, being of opinion that the revision would be advantageous to the travelling public and would, facilitate travelling on the routes.
The Research Association of the British motor manufactiiring industry has moved into its new quarters at 15, Holten Road, Chiseeick, London, W.
The Editor and staff of The Commercial Motor tender their best thanks to readers for their good wishes and words of encouragement, and trust that the New Year's difficulties will vanish like mist before the growing power of the SM.
The chief business representbtive of this journal, Mr. J. A. Jackson, has been made a vice.president of the. Society of Yorleshireznen, in London. He is one of the foundere of this flourishing body, and was chairman of the council a few years ago.
It is probable that a joint deputation from several branches of the engineering industry will emphasize to the President of • the Board of Trade the trying need for legislation te deal with imports assisted by the present rates of exchange. This deputation would be the outcome of a meetin,g recently called by the Machine Tool Makers' Association, at which it was urged that legislation of the order named should he regarded as far more urgent than legislation to stop dumping of the ordinary kind..
The Roads Act.
The Roads Act passed the" House of
Lords an Tuesday of last week and duly received the Royal Assent. The Upper House made one or tWo useful amendments, one reinstating the right to drive -an unlicensed vehicle for the purpose of getting it licensed and registered. This is of more importance to the commercial vehicle branch than to any other, because it may often provii necessary in the case of a commercial vehicle that its unladen weight may have to be ascertained before the application form can be filled in.
United States Tractor Production in 1919.
Statistic.e on tractor production in the year 1919 were recently made public by the Bureau of Public Reeds of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The number of tractors produced..by 80 concerns in that year is placed at 164,590. Due to labour troubles, shortage of materials, and discontinuance of tractor business by some concerns which were engaged in that line in 1918, the production fell considerably short of the estimates furnished by manufacturers in the fall of 1918 to the Farm Implement and Control Section of the Departanent. The Bureau obtained its figures from 80 rnanufacturene, whose combined output the officials believe represented 95 per cent. a the total. On this• basis the actual total would be 173,200.
Moro than half of the tractors were machine* rated from 99 to 22 h.p. at the belt. The number, of machines of various sizes is shewn in the follaWing
table :— •. .
Makers' rating. No. of Belt h.p tractors built.
6 and less ... 3,760 9, 10, and 12 ... 1,991
16 and 18 ... ... 22,012
20 and 22 ... ... 94,653 24, 25, and 26 ... 15,546 27, 28, 30, and 32 17,597 35 and 36 ... ... 2,453 40, 45, and 50 ... 1,954 60 and over ... 1,624
Not given ... 3,009
Total ... .164,590..
Mr. T. A. McCrea, who has been connected for many years with oil and spirit distribution, has been appointed atoistaut manager of the motor department of C. C. Wakefield and Co., Ltd.
Wallasey Taxi Fares.
The taxicab fares proposed by the newly formed Wallasey Taxi Association have been approved by the Wallasey Watch Committee, and parties of four are now conveyed between the most extreme points in the township of Wallasey, during the hours from 8 a.m. te 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., at the modest charge of is. per head.
In view of declining business, the taxi owners have acted generously to the public, and the new fares, no doubt, will appeal to the business man, who, bent on catching his morning boat to Liverpool, will prefer, rather than wait for a tightly pecked electric tram, to hail a taxi. A number of stands is to be provided, and with 30 cars at the disposal of the public, a good service is assured.
A Sidecar Taxi Scheme for Derby.
It is proposed t6 form a limited company in Derby on a small scale for the purpose of running a sidecar taxi service. This town is badly served with taxis, and the charges are high. The scheme is being universally approved by the authorities, and it is hoped to be able to employ ex-Service men on the work. The estimated running costs will be as low as 6d. per mile as a garage proprietor has offered to store the machines for £9 per year. and to allow a small discount for iyree and petrol. The company will be known as the Rotary Club Service Men's Association.
Richmond Removal.
Richmond Motor Lorries, Ltd., inform us that they have removed from their offices and showrooms at 222, Great Pert land Street, London, W. 1, to larger and more suitable premises situated at 1, Bloemfontein Avenue, Shepherd's Bush, London, W. 12. As the company point out, prospective commercial vehicle purchasers are desirous before deciding upon a particular vehicle of satisfying themselves that adequate service will be maintained after delivery has been accepted, and at their new premises they will be in the position of being able to furnish this assurance. Selling organization, showrooms, parts stores, and works will, in future, -be self-contained. .
A Pyrene Competition.
The window display competition and co-operative advertising campaign organized by the Pyrene Co., Ltd., of 9, Grosvenor Gardens, Landon, S.W. 1, which was held up owing to the coal strike, has been reopened. This competition takes the form of a practical sales promoting scheme that offers close co-operation with Pyrene dealers throughout the United Kingdom, to enable them to secure profitable business and valuable publicity, as well as to compete for one of the cash prizes amounting to £185 which are offered by the company for window and showroom displays of Pyrene fire extinguiehers. The original dosing date for the competition was the end of January, but in consequence of the coal strike that period has been extended until the end of March.
In dealing with the G.O. tractor in our report of the Smithfield Show, which appeared in our issue for December 14th, we stated that the drawbar pull of this tractor was 2,250 lb. This figure is erroneous, as the drawbar pull is 3,300 lb.
Smith Service.
S. Smith and Sons (111..A.), Ltd., have given a good deal of thought to the important matter of service, and they have recently decided to offer a service systern which they say is second to none. Under this scheme, all goods of the company' own manufacture, such as speedometers, carburetters, lighting and starting sets, mechanical horns, and other goods, for which the company have the sole selling rights, are backed by a 12 months' guarantee, covered by the usual wear and tear clause.
Should an article fail through defective material, it will be replaced by a similar article within 24 houreof receipt at the company's head office. The only stipulation made is that the articletmnst not have been manufactured earlier than 1920.
Motorbuses in Cheshire.
It is proposed to extend the Birkenhead motor omnibus services, which, by the way, are stated to be the only ones in the Merseyside district being run on profitable lines, from RoCk Ferry through to Pert Sunlight, where Messrs. Lever Bros.' works are located. The Corporation is to pay 3d. per Car mile for road maintenance to the outside local authorities.
In our issue for Decensber 14th, page 601, we published an illustration of 16-seater 'Vulcan motor coach which was to the order if Messrs. A. P. Beal, of 72, Regent Street, London, W., for Messrs. Oliver and Curtis, of Paignton, Devon. We learn with interest that the body was built by the Chelsea Motor Building Co., Ltd., of 164, King's Road, Chelsea, S.W. 3.
West Conntry Transport.
The question of the development of road transport facilities in Newport in Monmouthehire, has recently been. agitating the minds of three leading bodies in the town—the Chamber of Trade, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Newport Development Association.
A bigtscherne has been discussed in detail by representatives of these bodies, and within the next month important developments are anticipated, including the establishment of a local clearing station. In the meantime, the .Newport Chamber of Trade has gone ahead with a smaller scheme in an attempt to solve the problem—at least, teniporarily. .
At a recent meeting, Mr. E. P. Lawler, who has been an active member of a deputation inquiring into the matter, explained that the original idea had been to adopt scene forni of hiring out vehicles, with room to receive parcels, etc. A young ex-Serviceman had been found willing to make a start and a garage had been seemed. Mr. Lawler added that at times many vans would be mequired for the work, and, when a job was urgent, he hoped traders would assist by the loan of vans of their own. They would receive a tariff corresponding to that received by the man himself, less 10 per cent.
If the scheme ware a suecess, added Mr. Lawler, there would be little trouble in starting a limited liability company. The venture, which is known as the Newport Road Transport Service Co., has fixed on the following tariffs: Parcels delivered, 12 lb. for 2s. 6d.; 28 lb., 3s. 6d.; 56 lb. 6s.; and 112 lb. 8s. 2d.
New Legislation for Old.
The Crosville Motor Co., Ltd.,. who operate a big fleet of motor omnibuses from Cheater' has written to the Nantwich Rural Council asking for an. expression of opinion as to whether, in view of the fact that the new Imperial taxation would be imposed from Jemeery 1st next, and was intended, except in the case of third-clam roads, to take the place of the road payments at present being made in respect to omnibus routes under the Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1916, such paymehts would cease from that date. It was not possible, the letter stated.
for them to pay twice, and if the road payments were to be continued, some of the routes would have to be abandoned.
The Clerk to the Nant/wieh Council said that the question was being considered by the Ministry of Transport, and it was expected that a. definite announcement would be issued shortly.
A Motor Lorry Earth-bor:ng Machine.
An earth-boring machine which can he quickly detached from the motor lorry on which it is mounted, thus leaving the lorry free for other uses, is a feature in the transport world or the United States of America. The accompanying illustration shows a Ma.rwill earth-boring machine, Class B, mounted on a Winther four-wheel-drive motor terry and ready for use. It, is claimed for the machine that it is the "missing link of efficient installation" in the boring of holes for the setting up ol poles for telegraphs, telephones, electric cars, tree plantieg, etc. The power for operating the earthboring machine is supplied from the lorry engine by means of a power takeoff shaft.
The engine develops sufficient power to carry an excess load caused by the auger, wherever extreme soil conditions
are encountered. The frame of the earth-boring machine is rotably arranged on a turntable, which makes it possible to bore holes on either side, or at the rear of the vehicle. A self-locking device holds the frame with the auger tower in position. The turntable is operated by power, and it requires but 30 seconds to turn it from one extreme position to the other. For boring inclined anchor holes, the tower is tilted by a special arrangement into any de
sired angle. In transport the auger tower is tilted towards the driver's seat.
Standard machines will 'bore holes from 2 to 30 ins, in diameter and up. to 8 ft. deep; for greater depth, extensions of auger must be employed. The apparatus is manufactured by the Winther Motor Truck Co., of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Littleborough (Roelelale) Urban District Council has purchased a motor vehicle for use in the sanitary department., at a cost of about £400.
Rochdale Tram Losses.
A rather startling picture of the Memcial position of the local tramways -undertaking was given at a meeting of the Rochdale Town Council. In spite of increased fares and the carrying of a larger number of passengers, the expenses of the undertaking have advanced so much that it, is estimated that there will be at the prenti rate of outgoing,
surplus of only between £300 and £400 at the close of the financial year, and this estimate takes no account whatever of .the case of renewals and the "wasting assets," which are put down at a further sum of £12,000.
If the demand of the employees (12s. per week for those over 18 years of age and 6s. per week for those under) is granted by the Arbitration Court, it means that there will be an addition to the wages bill of £13,000, so that assuming the estimate tG be correct, and that no further increase in, fares will be made, the council, on a full yeax's working, will be faced with a deficit of something like £24,000, which is equal roughly to a subsidy from the rates of about 13d. or 14d. in the el.
This is, indeed, a serious situation, but undoubtedly much expense has been incurred in the laying of double tracks, 'whilst an addition of 12 new cars also adds materially to the Tramway .Cominittee's bill.
A flexible system of passenger transport is wanted at Rochdale' , and the employment of suitable motorbuses would without doubt meet local needs much better than the present system of tramways.
Road Transport in Danzig.
A Polish-American. company was recently' established at Wersaw, with a capital Of one million dollars, for the purpose of organizing a transportation /service by motor lorries on the route Danzig-Bromberg-Thorn-Warsaw-Cracow. A licence for the Ilracow-Warsaw-Dirsobau line has already been obtained from the Polish Government, while negotiations are pending with the Free State of Danzig for permission to run between Dirschau and Danzig. Ten American motor lorries are reported to be en route for Danzig, and an order for a further 20 lorries, together with trailer wagons, is to be placed in Germany. The company plans the erection of large repair shops in Danzig.
A.A. Road Enrolment.
To meet the convenience of motor vehicle users desirous of becoming members of the Automobile Association whilst on the road, its road patrols have been authorized to enrol new members. The patrols are provided, with a specialreceipt for members' subscriptions, which, upon production to other patrols, will entitle them to roadside assistance, and in the event of summonses or contraventions of the Motor Car Act, will entitle them to free legal defence. Such new members will receive their badges with the least possible delay from the heed office or the nearest A.A. area. office.
A £200,000 By-pass Road.
The IVIinistrv of Transport is arranging to proceed immediately with a bypass road from East, Ham to Barking, at a cost of £200,000. The new road will enable traffic to avoid the greater part of the Barking Road and the busy central streets of Barking Town.
Tractor Show in America.
The sixth annual National Tractor Show and Educational Exposition will be held at Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A., from February 7th to the 12th. The show is supposet to be the biggest-and most practical exposition of its kind that American agriculture has ever witnessed. All types of power farming machinery will be shown.
Eight huge buildings will be packed with exhibits. There will be lectures, entertainments, and many new ideas on Foiling, maintenance, and service. It is expected. that 100,000 farmers and dealers will be there.
Fords or 8 Types?
The Bed-was District Council, near Newport (Mon.), are seriously discussing the question of running buses from Caerphilly, Bedwas, and Machen. A committee recently recommended the council to purehaze three Ford cars to seat 20 persons each, at a cost, of £500 each. Some discussion followed, and it was urged that the financial position would not allow of the proposed purchase.
Eventually the clerk stated that he understood discarded London omnibuses (double deck) to seat 34 persons could be purchased at £500 each, and the matter VIM referred back to the committee to make further inquiries on that point.
Presentation to Mr. Frank Lanchester.
In recognition of his services as President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 1219-1920, a presentation was made to Mr. Lamehester at a luncheon at the Criterion on December 16th, when most of the meanberS of the council were present.
In making the presentation, Mr. MaysSmith referred to the tactful manner in -which his predecessor had avoided possible internal difficulties by negotiating the agreement with the Association of British Motor Manufacturers. Also, when other schemes to meet the difficulty caused by lack of room at Olympia had been rejected, how he had found a solution in adapting the buildings available at the White City.
Mr. A. R,. Atikey, M.P. as one of the first agents who had joined the society, spoke as to the support which MT. Lancheater had always given to Agents' See.tin, Ltd. He referred to the work of the Empire Parliamentary Associa,tion, which maintained cordial relations amongst vast territories over great, distances, and drew a parallel between that and the manner in which the society under presidents like Mr. La,nebester had always tended to promote similar healthy relations amongst the various bodies in the motor industry.
In replying, Mr. Lanehester referred to the appeal which had been made a former president, the late Mr. Edward Powell, for unity in the industry. It had always been his endeavour to work towards that end, and so hand over the position to his successor stronger than he had found it.
Partnership Dissolved.
We understand that the partners in the firm known as the British American Motor Co. have-recently dissolved partnership, F. Jackson and A. S. Jones having retired. The business will continue associated with Ferguson and Turner, general brokers, and H. D. Barnitt will carry on the motor and engineering departments under the name of the British-American Motor Co., as hitherto, and act as their general manager.
Giant Pneumatic Experiments.
The Council of tile Institution of Municipal and County Engineers has approved a proposal to conduct a trial of giant pneumatic tyres, and his appointed a sub-committee, consisting of Mr. E. J. Elford (City Engineer, Cardiff), Mr. A. Dryland (County Engineer, Middlesex), Major Leslie Roeeveaae (Borough Surveyor, Eastbourne), and Mr. H. P. Basilmole (London), to endeavour to arrange tests.
A Souvenir from Ireland.
An, interesting sidelight on the present state of affairs in Ireland presents itself in the form of a censored envelope which has recently been forwarded to us by Karrier Motors, Ltd., of Huddersfield. The company state that the letter inside was very badly burnt, and looked as if it had been rescued from a bonfire. The envelope bears the Limerick postmark, and other marks upon it include one written in indelible pencil, " Opened by Censor I.R.A.," whilst another, which was apparently used to seal the envelope, after it had been rent, reads: "Stolen and opened by raiders."
For Petro! Transport,
The British Petroleum Co., Ltd., who are loyal supporters of Karrier Motors, Ltd., have taken delivery of a, largo number of chassis for transport of fuel, both in hulk and cans. The illustration on this page shows a 1,000 gallon spirit tank mounted on the model K4 chassis produced by the company.
A special fire screen, in conformity with the regulations of the L.C.C., shows up clearly in the picture. This screen extends from thetop of the cab to within a. few inches of the ground. and is absolutely fireproof, being made of sheet steel and asbestos
Local Proceedings. .
Hawick T.C. requires a steam wagon, to cost about 21,500.
The surveyor of the Annnauford. U.D.C. requires tenders for a two-ton petrol lorry.
A motor lorry for the purpose of hauling the steam fire-engine is required by Louth T.C.
Consideration is being given by Bradford Corporation to the purchase of motor wagons.
Gainsiborough Council has secured permission to borrow 21,390 for the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
Further consideration by Banbury R.D.C. of a proposal to. purchase a steam wagon has been postponed for a couple of mouths.
The proposed purchase of a. further steam wagon by the Whiston RD.C., as reported. en our issue of December 7th, has been decided span.
Inquiries have been held by the 'Ministry of Health into the applications (1) of Cleethorpee U.D.C. for sanction to borrow £1,710 for the purchase of motor lorriee, and (2) of Grinieby T.C. for sane Mon to borrow £9,500 for the purchase of six electric vehicles.
The question of replacing worn-out motor vehicles is the subject of a report to be prepared 'by the Leeds Corporation Tramways Committee.
Highways Committee of Barnes Urban District Council suggests the purchase of a Lacre motor road-sweeping machine, at a. cost of £650.
The is of a new motor ambu
lance s being considered by Carlisle TO., and Lichfield Corporation is considering the purchase of a motor fireengine. , Southend Corporation Highways Committee recommends the purchase of two trailer wagons, one rubber-tyred and the other steel-tyred, from the Motor Sales Co., Piccadilly, at the price of £350.