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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the STugliness of the roads over which it rues."—John Beattie Crosier.

Recovering Lost Property.

The Royal Automobile Club has just introduced for its members an extremely valuable scheme for assisting in the recovery of property lost from motor vehicles. Each member desiring to be enrolled in the scheme is given a registered number and a supply of ivorine tablets bearing the same number. A tablet is fastened to any piece of loose property that might become displaced from the vehicle while travelling on the road, or inadvertently left on the roadside or at an hotel or elsewhere. The tablet reQuests the finder to write to the R.A.C., quoting the number on the tablet. The Club then acquaints the owner of the property with the name and address of the finder and, whilst not receiving the lost property or making any award for its recovery, merely acts as a channel through which the finder of the lost article is placed in touch with the loser.

It would be rather a good idea if the Commercial Motor Users Association were to become associated with the scheme, so that its benefits could extend to members of that Association.

New Oil-storage Equipment.

The wastage and inconvenience associated with the ordinary types of oil barrel are well known to those users who are concerned with the handling of lubricating and other oils on a large scale. Many storage tanks are available for dealing with this problem, and the latest to make its appearance is an efficient and moderately priced equipment, which has been placed on the market by the Dawson and Mason Gas Plant Co., Ltd., Levenshultne, Manchester. It comprises a steel lank with a semi-rotary pump haying a non-drip nozzle and a pan with a filter to return the surplus oil; recording meters can be fitted.

One of the outstanding features of this equipment is the arrangement for hoisting the barrel over the tank orifice, so that when the hung is withdrawn the barrel may be left to drain itself completely. This overcomes a factor which is responsible for much wastage.

"Pull-ups" for Drivers.

At a recent meeting of the area committee of the Commercial Motor Users Association in Manchester, Mr. P. G. Bristow, the general secretary, briefly outlined a new scheme which is to be launched in the New Year for looking after the welfare of commercial-motor

drivers. This concerns the appointment of "drivers' pull-ups," where it will be possible for drivers to secure suitable accommodation for themselves and their vehicles. This is a good scheme, in so far as many drivers are often without a knowledge of where they can obtain suitable lodgings on reasonable terms.

Scottish Road Improvement. Pew parts of Scotland have escaped the notice of the National Road Bolted, and, in most cases, the improvements carried out are drastic and satisfactory. In the Highlands and the Hebrides, however, there is room far much more work of this nature, and whilst a great n20 deal has been dope on the main thoroughfares, the subsidiary highways are still far from being perfect. In Skye, for example, the "trunk" road from Pertree to Dunreg.an has been rendered safe and in every way suitable for present-day traffic, but all other roads in the island are still in a very defective stale and can only accommodate vehicles of very moderate weight. Yet " Gaeldoml' is a region where mechanical road transport is most urgently needed,

for railway communication is necessarily scanty, and even the steamers only call at iivegular intervals.

South of the Grampians, howeVer, the road problem is beiug rapidly solved in every county and almost every parish by well-directed schemes.

Guy Six-wheelers in Demand.

Guy. Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park. -Wolverhampton, tella us that the War Department has just sent it a repeat order for three six-wheeled 3-5-ton vehicles. Other orders which the company has obtained for vehicles of this type have been received from Burma, Uganda and Adelaide.

Brighton's Coach Problem.

The motor-coach problem at Brighton is One that has for long occasioned the municipal authorities of this popular resort much concern, and the watch committee has now formed a special motorcoach sub-committee, which is to deal with the question of the provision of parking places for the many hundreds of coaches which bring visitors to the towu.

Chesterfield's 'Trolley-bus purchases.

Chesterfield Corporation, which has contracted with Clough, Smith and Co., Ltd., for the supply of 14 chassis for trolley-buses, has now arranged for the company to provide spare parts at a cast of 1500. The corporation has accepted the tender of Reeve and Kenning Ltd., for the supply of bodies for the 14 vehicles at a total cost of £6,338.

Municipalities and the New Taxa tion.

Poplar Borough Council repoets that under the new method of taxation of heavy motor vehicles the council's motors will be taxed as follow :

1926 Licensing Statistics.

The figures in respect of motor taxation for the registration year from December 1st, 1925, to November 30th, 1926, have just been published by the Ministry of Transport, which this year has accelerated the publication of the figures by about a month. Owing to the fact that the registration figures are analysed so as to show the number of vehicles operating in each area, they have hitherto not been published until late in January. The analysis for 1926 will follow later.

Cars taxed on h.p. have risen from 565,737 for the year ending November 30th, 1925 (which will be the period to which we shall refer throughout this paragraph when we talk about any "previous figure ") to 042,850 in the

year ending November 30th, 1926, an inerea4 in the number of 77,110. Of

these, we assume that 50,000 are em ployed as business motors either in private hire or as travellers' broughams or otherwise. Motorcycles have only increased by 6,817 from 491,438 to 493,255. Of these, we assume 20,000 are employed by tradesmen or as taxicabs.

Commercial goods vehicles have risen from the previous figure of 231,957 to 257,283, an increase of 25,326. Road

locomotives have decreased from 1,733to 1,558, a fall of 175 in -number, Trac tors have slightly increased from 1,20 to 1,298. Motor hackney vehicles hare decreased from 84,444 to 82,677.

• The number of exempted vehicles (which includes ambulances, fire-engines and vehicles belonging to and employed in the Services) has increased from 16,302 to 17,666, an addition of 1,364.

Assuming that a little over 16,006 of these are ambulances or fire-engines, the total number of commercial motors registered and in operation at the end of the year was 429,180, which shows a total increase over the previous licensing year of 24,766.

The amount received in payment of licence fees in respec4 of them totals to

£8,470,632, taking the average receipt

in respect of a whole year's licence at 114 17s. for cars taxed on h.p., 12 14s. for motorcycles, 121 Oa. 6d. for commercial goods vehicles and 133 18s. 6d. for hackney vehicles.

It is interesting to look at the licence figures in respect of trameara and horse hackney vehicles. There has been no increase for a long time in the number of tramcar licences, but actually, last -year, there was a fall from 14,162 in the previous period to 14,130, a loss of 32. Horse hackney vehicles have diminished from 22,467 at the end of November, 1925, to 18,193 at the end of November last.

The total number of licences in respect of motor vehicles (excluding in valid cycles, tramcars and trade licences) issued during the past year was 1,517,892, the amount received in re spect of these licence fees, and also for driving licences, etc., being 118,803,765. To this, of course, must be added 1119,664 received in respect of trade licences, which brings the amount paid by the motor community to the Road Fund to nearly nineteen millions sterling, the actual figure being 118,923,429.

33,000 Inventions in 1926.

It is a singular fact that the figures relating to patent applications in MM. Patent Offiee for the year 1926 are almost identical with those of the Previous year, the number of inventions being about 33,000, and this must be regasded as satisfactory, especially in view of the many industrial difficulties which the year just closing has witnessed.

We are informed by Rayner and Co., the well-known patent agents, of Chancery Lane, London, W.C., that a number of patents has been granted during the past year in connection with motor vehicles, but, as one might expect, wire loss inventions have achieved the prominence of first position. During the year many Germans and Americans have secured patents in this country for their inventons.

Passenger Vehicle Supervision.

Bournemouth Corporation has made titfollowing arrangements for the supervision of motor coaches and buses in the Square :—That in future, when a char-A-banes is standing for hire, only one man, either driver or conductor, be allowed with each coach for the purpose of attending to passengers. That each omnibus conductor must also be a licensed motor driver. That omnibus drivers find conductors of chars-A-banes be required, when applying for a renewal of their licence at the next liceill:ing meeting, to produce their driving licences and to satisfy the hackney carriage inspector as to their driving capn hi'ities. That permission be granted to Elliott Bros. for two supervisors, and to the Shamrock and Rambler Motor Coaches,Ltd., Symes" and Sou, 0. 3. Pounds and A. E. Levis, one supervisor each. That proprietors of only one ,or two coaches be not granted permission fur a supervisor.

Agricultural Tractors in Ireland. According to the official returns lately to hand, a total of 74 agricultural tractors were imported into the Irish Free State during the nine months to the end of September last, as compared with 53 in the corresponding period of 1925. The machines were, however, of a cheaper kind, the value of the imports declining from £17,163 to S8,206. Of the total, the United States is credited with 62 of the machines, as against only 11. for Great Britain.

London-Bournemouth Service.

We learn that the United Service Transport Co., Ltd., is arranging for a motor-ecrcdi service between London and Bonrnemonth.

Deferring a Bus Proposal.

In connection with the proposal of the Crsydon Corporation to abandon the Addiscombe tram route and arrange with the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., for a lms service, the Ministry of Transport is suggesting that the proposal should be deferred for the time being. Recent Lorry Deliveries.

The transport vehicles which are shown in the group of pictures published on this page have just been supplied from the works of prominent manufacturers. The first picture is of a 4-ton R.C.-type chain-driven Commer lorry which has been supplied to a Croydon user by Commer Cars, Ltd., Luton. The body is of the sided type, and a _special folding rack is used so that loads of hay or other light and bulky goods can be carried.

In the second picture all Albion estate wagon supplied to the Rt. Hon. Lord Forteviot, Dupplin Castle, Perth, is shown. The basis of this vehicle is one of the new 3-ton worm-driven chassis eonstructed by the Albion Motor Gar Co., Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, and the vehicle constitutes the third repeat

order received from this particular

source,

Henry Garner, Ltd., Tyseley, Birmingham, is the maker of the vehicle shown in the third picture, which is of a sided lorry supplied to a dairyman at Brighton. The chassis is the standard Garner 11-ft. wheelbase model, and it is shod with Dunlop pneumatic tyres. The body sides are hinged and the tailboard is arranged to drop. This vehicle is used for the transport of dairy produce, and also collects and delivers milk in churns.

Describes the Fowler Steam Wagon.

A descriptive account of the outstanding features of the Fowler undertype steam wagon is contained in a booklet which John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., of Leeds, has just issued. A short summary of the advantages of steam wagons for certain classes of work is given, and special types of body which can be mounted on the Fowler chassis are referred to. In this connection one should not overlook the fact that the company markets a gully emptier and resealer which has achieved much popularity in municipal circles.

A Tyne Coast Short-cut.

We are informed that rapid progress Is being made with the new concrete highway. between Heaton and Tynemonth, which is being laid down at a

cost of £175,000. Three reinforcedconcrete bridges have already been built to carry the roadway over colliery lines. When finished, the road will be ft miles long and have a carriageway 30 ft. wide. Great difficulties have been caused by the colliery workings at Tynemoutb, but they have been overcome by blocking up the workings and surfacing with a mass of reinforced concrete.

The Motor's Part in Coal Delivery Work.

The coat situation has lotaned so much to the fore of into that we are sure many of our readers will peruse with interest the group of illustrations which appears on this page, indicating. as it does, the value of the mortar vehicle for effecting deliveries as against the old method of using horsed carts. The lorry shown is a 3-ton Leyland and it is fitted with an end-Upping body operated by Rromilow and Edwards gear. The vehicle can be used as an ordinary fiat platform lorry, or detachable sides and tailboard can be brought into use. The vehicle is em ployed in the former guise for transporting coal in sacks (when a weighing, machine is also carried), and in the latter when coal or coke is being dealt with in bulk. The vehicle is shod with Dunlop pneumatic tyres, twins being fitted on the rear wheels, and a spare wheel and tyre are carried in a special bracket on the top of the driver's cab.

in the delivery of coal to retail ens-tamers, the users of the vehicle, Messrs. William Rawcliffe and Co., of Preston, find that three journeys, on each of which 30 sacks of coal are carried, can be made in the time which was formerly occupied by a horsed cart carrying 20 sacks.

Double-deckers to Displace Singledeckers.

Leicester Corporation has signified its intention of buying four new disabledeck buses which, it is said, are to displace contain single-deckers now in use. The type of bus which the authorities favour has not yet been agreed upon, but after a deputation has visited various cities and reported on the dif

B22

ferunt classes of vehicles in use, a selection will be made. Use for the singledeck vehicles will be found on new routes where, for the moment, the traffic is of comparatively small proportions.

Radiators of All Types.

Some idea of the comprehensive range of radiators which is made by the Spiral Tube and Components Co., 12, Pembroke Street, London, Ni., is to be found in a booklet which the company has just published. The types of radiator which are illustrated have been built for use on prominent makes of commercial vehicle and tractor, and the company's principle of manufacture is re

ferred to in the booklet. A section deals with radiator repairs and refers

to •the fncilities which the company possesses for dealing with damaged components. Another section gives much data relating to radiators. A page is given over to the publication of a selection of reports which the company has received from users of vehicles on which its radiators are employed. The booklet is prepared on the loose-leaf principle, and it is the company's intention to keep it up to date by issuing further pages from time to time.

Cardiff's Bus Purchase.

The Cardiff City Council has formally approved the decision of its tramways committee to purchase, for the sum of £19,000, the bus services operated by Mr. J. Rich, Rhubina, reference to which was made in our issue for last week. Tractors for Territorial Units.

Pembrokeshire Territorial Army Association will decide in January upon the number of mechanical tractors to be purchased to replace horses at present with artillery units. This is a suggestion by the War Department,' to which the association agreed at its meeting held early in October, reference to which was made in our issue dated October 19th.

Buses Preferred to Trams.

Evidence that the public prefers to travel by motorbus rather than by tramcar was forthcoming at a recent meeting of the Gabalfa (Cardiff) Ratepayers' Association. The purpose of the meet

jog was to consider the proposal of the city council to extend the tramways to that area. The ratepayers passed a resolution assuring the council of their preference for bus services.

To Visit America Again. .

Mr. W. L. Cross, the well-known sales director of Harris and Hasoll, Ltd., the coneessionnaires in this country for Reo vehicles, will leave far the United States again early in January, wiled' he will be a delegate to the third World Motor Transport Congress, which is taking place in New York on the 10th and 11th of that month. •tr. Cross will alsovisit the New York Motor Show which takes place at the same time, and thus obtain a good idea of the latest transport developments in America. Manuals on -German Motors.

We have received from Deutsche Verlagswerke Strauss, Vette)! and (10., Berlin C2, Breite Str. 8-9, Vol. 2 of its " Manuals of the Association of the (:;.ernian Automobile Industry " (Reichsverband der Automobilindustrie). These manuals are most useful publications Lit those who wish to obtain full particulars of German-built vehicles. There aro, actually, four volumes. Vol. 1 is devoted to passenger cars, excluding buses ; "Vol. 2 to trucks, buses and spevial vehicles; Vol. 3 has the contents of Vols. 1 and 2 in an abridged form; Vol. 4 deals with motorcycles. These volumes are priced at 2s. 6d.. 2s. 6d., 3s. Ga. and 2s. respectively, including postage and packing.

Working Costs for Passenger Services.

l'he tramways committee of the Middlesbrough Corporation has appointed a sub-committee to obtain particulars of the cost of working of bus and tram services in a number of important towns throughout the country, and until this is presented to the committee and it has had an opportunity for denting with it, certain proposals for extending the bus system iu the town will he deferred.

Vehicle Regulation 14 Truro.

Timm Corporation has appointed a sub-committee to consider and report noon suitable schemes for the regulation of traffic at the new parking place at Linton Bridge and 08 to the accommodation, regrilation and distribution of motor and other vehicles visiting or plying from the city and, at present, accommodated elsewhere.

Will Help to Keep the A.D.C. Works Busy.

le our issue dated November 16th,

Published fl paragraph indicating thin the Associated Daimler Co., Ltd., hod received a large number of orders over a period up to the beginning of No-seri-111er, and we how learn that since that time until December 4th the company has received orders for nuother 169 vehicles. Of this number, 34 vehicles are " being ,built for overseas markets, principally Australia and South America. An analysis of the ord;rs motive(' sliows that, out of 31 comp:mins which have placed them, no fewer tbalt 12 are new buyers of A.D.C.

liz the present list of orders the followiug, amongst. those for passenger vehicles, are noteworthy :-38 'Model

409 double-deck, covered-top buses for the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd.; 33 Model 416 chassis for the London General Omnibus Co„ Ltd., for use as motor coaches; 30 Model 414 singledeck buses for the Plymouth Corporation ; 10 Model 507 double-deckers for the Birmingham Corporation; 6 Model 416 singli'i-deekers for Messrs. Amos Proud, Co. Durham. .

Pub licity Motorcycle Carriers. illustration on this page. shows one of a fleet of nine commercial motorcycles ordered by a concern of tea maimfaeltil'er:L. for special publicity work. They are of Royal Enfield manufacture, the "'totemic:1es being of 9.76 h.p. and equipped with 'Lucas electric lighting

sets. Tb. whole of the work on the bo carriers has been completed in the Enfield factories. Each of the carriers is painted in brilliant yellow, the lettering mid the stencilled pattern being in black and white. The machines are to he used for the distribution of prizes in cominetion with a competition. A Demonstration Scheme.

A subsidiary company of John 1. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., known as Thornycroft Scandinavia A/S, is using in a very interesting way an Al 30-cwt chassis, which, as is well known, was

produced at Basingstoke to comply with the subsidy requirements of the British War Department. It was desired to show several sets of Thornycroft marine engines to ship and boatbuilders in Northern Europe, and the opportunity was taken for using the 30-cwt, platform lorry to carry the power units, each mounted on a stand, and at the Same time of showing the vehicle to' likely buyers and giving demonstration runs under full load. Our photograph reproduced on this page was taken at Odense, in the course of the vehicle's trip round .Denmark, and we are informed that satisfactory results were obtained in both branches of the business.

Municipal Buses for Pembroke.

At a meeting held recently the Pembroke Town Council decided to proceed with its investigation of the scheme for founding a municipal bus service. There were some opponents to the suge'estion of the council taking any move in the matter, and one member said it was true that a municipal service bad not been thought of before private proprietors introduced buses into the area. however, it was partly in view of the differences existing between some of the private owners that he moved the resolution that the council should institute such services.

India's Vehicle Imports.

According to a brief survey of the outstanding features of the import trade of India during the six months from April to September inclusive, which has been made by H.11. Trade Commissioner at Calcutta and recently cir-* ciliated by the Department of Overseas Trade, the total number of motorbase.s, vans and lorries imported into the country during that period was 2,956, to a value of Rs. • 57 lakhs. Of the total, 1,455 vehicles came from Canada, 1,214 from the United States, the share of Great Britain being only 180 vehicles of a value of Rs, 10 lalth.s. This total may possibly be increased slightly by reason of the fact that taxicabs are included under ordinary private cars. Local Proceedings.

Truro Corporation has called for a report in regard to a suitable motor fire: engine for the city.

Croydon Corporation reports a loss of 135,837 on its tramway system for the past six months.

Chesterfield Corporation has decided to invite quotations for the supply of tight large motor omnibuses.

Truro Corporation is endeavouring to arrange for trials of mechanical vehicles suitable for refuse collection.

The Ministry of Transport proposes to make Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, a one-way traffic thoroughfare.

Chesterfield Corporation has authorized the purchase of a second-hand motor for the electricity department.

The works committee of the Croydon Corporation recommends the purchase of a 80-cwt. Burford lorry for 1395.

Marylebone Borough Council is arranging for wtuite lines, for the guidance of pedestrians, at traffic junctions.

Stretland Urban District Council has asked its fire committee to report as to the purchase of a motor fire-engine.

Croydon Corporation has purchased a second-hand Dennis saloon omnibus from the East Ham Board of Guardians for £280.

The Ministry of Transport is discussing with the Marylebone Borough Council a proposal for making Chapel Street a one-way thoroughfare.

Kensington Borough Council has accepted the tender of Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd., at 1589 for the supply of an S.D. freighter dust-van.

The electricity committee of the Islington Borough Council recommends the purchase of a 1-ton van, a 30-cwt. lorry and a five-seater saloon at a total cost of 11,000.

Chesterfield Corporation has made contracts with the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., and the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., for the maintenance of motorbus tyres.

The tramways committee of the Chesterfield Corporation has decided to establish a bus service to the St. Augustine's estate and to run an experimental bus service to Newbold.

Chesterfield Watch Committee has granted licences to Mr. Richard Wetton, of Birmingham, for a service between Chesterfield and Birmingham Common, and to Mr. S. M. Machin, of Barlow, for a service between Chesterfield and Barlow.

Penge Urban District Council is in the market for a motor fire-engine and escape, and particulars of the council's requirements can be obtained from the surveyor, Town Hall, Anerley, London, S.E. Tenders have to be delivered not later than January 8th.

Bus Matters at Newport.

At a meeting of the Newport (Men.) Town Council a few days ago the question of substituting buses for tramcars on certain routes was again brought forward. It was meutioned that improvements to the tramway service in one district were likely to coat 120,000, and members thought it would be better to spend this money on the extension of bus services. It was decided to consider the question before definitely embarking on an extension of the tramway services.

B24 The Newport Parliamentary Committee has received a deputation from the Risen and Abercarn Urban District Councils, which seek to make arrangements whereby opposition to their Bill, in which power is sought for the joint plying for hire of omnibuses, will not be forthcoming from Newport. The com mittee has reserved its decision. '

The Newport Council has decided that the number of buses now plying for hire on certain routes between Newport and mining areas is sufficient, and it has, for this reason, resolved to restrict the number of licences issued.

A Special Body for Carrying Gas Cookers.

The Hampton Court Gas Co., which uses a number of Dennis delivery vans, has just added to its fleet the vehicle illustrated on this page. All the vehicles now in use have been supplied through the agency of Mr. E. A. Turner, London Road, Kingston. The class of work which is undertaken renders it imperative that the floor level of the body should be as low as possible, in order that heavy gas cookers and the like can be loaded and unloaded without it being necessary to resort to cumbersome tackle.

The type of body which is used, and which has been designed by Mr. Turner, is so arranged that the floor level is only slightly above the height of the frame, and although this method results in the wheel arches extending into the body they have not been found to hinder operations or affect the loading capacity to any appreciable extent. Compressed fibre sheeting with aluminium mouldings are built up on an ash framework, wooden slats protecting the interior of the panels from damage. By following this form of construction a light body is secured, and the unladen weight of the complete vehicle is less than 2 tons.

We learn that one of the earliest of the 30-ewt. Dennis vans delivered to the company has now covered some 18,000 miles without repairs having been found neceesary, and we are told that the company is 90 well satisfied with this type that it has decided to standardize on this particular make and model. The "Highland Road."

Operations in connection with the widening and strengthening of the great Highland Road," from Perth to Inverness, are advancing rapidly, and already two sections have been practice ally completed—that immediately outside the town of Inverness and that embracing the beautiful village of Newtonmore. Other stretches, for different reasons, are much less forward and cannot, probably, be reedy for traffic fcr another twelve months.

The minimum width of the road, as now transformed, is 18 ft., and a very

flue surface is being obtained. Two elegant and substantial bridges have been built over the River Spey—one at Newtonmore and another farther north —and these alone have cost over £6,000.

When all the contracts are finished, the improved highway will open up for motor coach and other traffic some of the most enchantiug scenery in the Highlands, including Killiecrankie, the mighty Cairngorms and the lovely valley of the Spey.

A Guaranteed Road.

Owing to the heavy cost of maintenance of Commercial Road, Penryn, Cornwall, the county council has decided to reconstruct it of concrete, the contractor having guaranteed to keep it in repair for ten years.

State-supported Public Services.

A supplementary estimate for £95,000 has just been introduced in the German Parliament to enable the Government to increase the State investment in the Wiirtemburg, Westphalian and Rhenish Motor Transport Co. from 15 per cent. to 25 per cent, of the total capital.

Solid Tyres in the Irish Free State.

During the nine months to the end of September last, 4,329 solid tyres, valued at £36,867, were imported into the Irish Free State, as compared with 7,156 042,746) in the corresponding period of 1925. All but 132 of the tyres (£702) are credited as coming from the Unfted Kingdom.