News and Comment.
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This journal is admitted to possess the influence, the men, the standing and the leading circulation. It is exclusively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses throughout the World.
Despite rumours to the contrary, it is now practically settled that next year's North of England Show will, after all, be held at Rusholme.
"The Reverse."
The use of " the reverse " as a brake appears to be associated with possibility in the minds of some drivers of petrol vehicles. We direct the attention of all owners to our comments on the first page of this issue, and would invite their serious consideration of an unexpected source of risk.
The Liverpool Trials : An Anniversary Dinner in London. Mr. Walter Long to Attend.
Acting upon the expressed wishes lif many who were associated with the Heavy Motor Trials of 1898, 1899 and 1901, the Editor of this journal has consented to act as Hon. Sec. to a Liverpool Trials Dinner Committee. The first annual dinner will be held at the Royal Automobile Club, on Thurs day, the 26th October, at 8 p.m., this being the tenth anniversary of the presentation of the judges' report on the third series of trials. Fuller particulars will be announced next week, but the Editor will be pleased to hear from parties who attended any of the trials.
The Rt. Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., who was present at the meeting in Liverpool when the judges urged the abolition of the old threeton limit of tare and of other restrictions which the Act of 1896 failed to remove, has promised to be present as the guest of the evening. An influential committee has charge of the arrangements. C.M, U. A.
The monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Association was held, on Wednesday, the 20th September. There were present: Colonel R. E. Crompton (in the chair); Captain R. K. BagnallWild ; Mr. W. G. Lobjoit, J.P. ; Messrs. J. C. Mitchell (London General Omnibus Co., Ltd.); E. Shrapnell Smith, Hon. Treasurer ; Chas. Wheeler (General Post Office); T. B. Browne ; F. R. de Bertodano (F.I.A.T. Motor Cab Co., Ltd.) ; A. Spurrier (Leyland Motors, Ltd.) ; F. C. A. Coventry (Great Western Railway) ; L. G. Oldfield (London Omnibus Owners Federation) ; and Fred. G. Bristow (Secretary).
1912 Parade.Capt. BagnallWild (Chairman of the Parade Committee) reported the steps that had been taken in connection with the 1912 Parade. It had been decided to hold the Parade on WhitMonday morning, the 10th june,
1912, and to inspect the store-sheds, the drivers and the vehicles prior to the Parade. The report was adopted.
Storage and Transport of Petroleum Spirit.—Mr. Shrapnel! Smith drew attention to the subject of facilities and licences for the storage of petroleum spirit, and submitted that the Association should take action to lessen the existing difficulties in the matters of both storage and transport of petroleum spirit in bulk. It was resolved that the following Storage and Transport of Petroleum Spirit Committee be appointed :—Messrs. E. Shrapnel! Smith, John C. Mitchell, F. R. de Bertodano, T. B. Browne, and Arthur Spurrier, to report re the possible improvements in the methods of storage, transport., cost and regulations concerning liquid fuels, and with power to co-opt.
Traffie Obstruction.—It. was resolved to act in concert with the re congestion and obstruction caused by the close running of tramcars and by track repairs of both up and down tracks at the same time.
Bridges.—The report of the meeting of the S.M.M.T. and C.M.U.A. Joint Committee on Bridges, held on the 26th July, 1911, was received. A Bridges Bill was at the present t ime being drafted.
Water Supply Committee.—The report of the Water Supply Committee was received. Permission had been obtained from the Corporation of London for the erection of a water stand-post in the. centre of West Smithfield, immediately facing Giltspur Street, and from the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney for the erection of a similar stand-post in Philpot Street, by Commercial Road. Negotiations were proceeding with a firm of engineers for the supply of the two stand-posts. The report was adopted.
Legal—The Chairman reported that the Association was assisting the Basalt Roa.dstone Co., Ltd. (members) in an action brought against them for damages caused by their steam lorry slipping down a hill at Buxton and crashing into a cab-stand. The judge was disposed to hold that because their lorry had not two independent brakes (the lorry had a band brake acting on the back wheels, and_ for its other brake depended on the engine) the defendant was guilty of negligence in bringing it on to the road. Cot Crompton and Mr. Shrapnell Smith had promised to
isit Buxton at the adjourned heariag, for the purpose of giving evidence.
New if embers. —The following new members were reported :Westminster City Council ; Parke Davis and to.; Clear Starch Laundry; Geo. Bell and Co., Ltd. ; Currie and Co. ; Mutter Howey and Co. ; A. J. Volk ; ChiSlehurst Mineral Waters Co. ; C. Hebblethwaite John T. Lawton ; J. H. Randall ; Warwick and Richardson, Ltd. ; Cleeve Bros., Ltd. ; T. W. Brookman ; E. P. Siggers ; Aron Taximeter, Ltd. ; P. W. Crossley ; Garnet J. Oswell ; Barnsley Motor Co. ; Wedge Wheels, Ltd. ; Mark Brient ; Fullers, Ltd. ; Jas. Calder and Co. (Alloa), Ltd. ; H. J. Heinz Co. ; Salop Steam Hauling Co. : J. and H. Kenyon, Ltd. ; and the Universal Carrying Co.
Institute of Metals.
The summer meeting of the Institute of Metals was held on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd inst., at Newcastle-on-Tyne. An excellent programme of visits to works, instituions and buildings in the locality had been arranged and was carried out, the members and their friends being received on the opening day by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Sir W. H. Stephenson, D.C.L., at the Laing A rt Gallery, and subsequently being entertained by him. A very useful and interesting selection of papers was read and discussed during the meeting, but of these only two are of direct interest to users of commercial vehicles. One of these papers, on "The failure of a btazed joint," was presented by Professor H. Louis, M.A., B.Sc., the subject of the other paper being "The alloys of aluminium and zinc," which was presented by Messrs. Walter Rosenhain and S. L. Archbutt, both of the National Physical Laboratory. The first of these two papers gave a brief account of the investigr.ition into the cause of a failure in
the brazed joint of ,a steam pipe, and was undertaken at the instance of the Board of Trade. The author showed that the failure was due to corrosion following certain welldefined lines in the brass, and he traced the cause of those lines to the presence of small quantities of lead and tin in the original brazing spelter. The lead-tin alloy separating out between the crystals of brass formed planes of weakness that gave access to the corroding solutions, and this brought about the gradual corrosion of the entire brazing material. The other paper described a detailed investigation of the constitution of the alloys of aluminium and zinc, which investigation was undertaken in connection with an extended research on the light alloys of aluminium, the latter research being carried out by the authors on behalf of the Alloys Research Committee of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The paper described the detailed thermal and microscopic study of the alloys, and a long series of cooling and equilibrium curves are given. Any reader to whom these subjects directly appeal may obtain a copy of either of the papers on application to the Secretary, Mr. 0. Shaw Scott, M.Sc., at the office of the Institute of Metals, Caxton House, Westminster, S.W.
No Speed Limit for Streatham.
In reply to a notice given by the Local Government Board, Wandsworth Borough Council have decided to state that they do not consider it desirable that any reduction should be made in the speed limit for motor traffic along Streatham High Road or Tooting Bee Gardens.
Through Farnborough (Kent).
The Kent Automobile Club, which progresses under the able secretarial guidance of Mr. Granville M. Kenyon, asks publicity for a warning to drivers of the necessity for their travelling slowly and considerately through the village of Farnborough, and othervillages, in the county of Kent. Failing this compliance with reasonable demands on the part of the authorities and residents, a ten-mile limit may be imposed. A Splendid Manchester Depot on Offer.
A gentleman in Manchester, who is well known to this journal, is in a position to negotiate for the letting of excellent premises which are specially adapted for the purposes of a commercial-motor depot and repair shop. The premises are situated on a main thoroughfare, about 1,000 yds. from the Manchester Town Hall, and the ground area is 760 sq. yds. There are splendid entrances, with ample head-room, and the whole is offered at a moderate annual rental, for occupation and administration either in conjunction with the present owner or by the lessee solely.' We shall be glad to give further information about this likely place to any interested maker.
War Office and Petrol Vehicles.
The first-published information about the War Office's new scheme for the registration and subsidizing of petrol vehicles will be found on pages 66 and 67. The scheme is stated to be a preliminary one, and is evidently in the nature of a ballon d'essai. Meanwhile, the War Office is proceeding with its efforts to secure a reasonable measure of standardization, when It may legitimately hope to secure a large accession of support, from both makers and owners, if its terms are sound and commercial, and particularly if the Treasury can be persuaded to sanction cashdown payments to the makers to hurry along the necessary modifications in existing models.
We have little space at our disposal to criticise the new particulars which are now issued, and we do not think they are worth it. They have, we feel sure, not been submitted to any owners in advance. The scheme is obviously one which cannot be remarkably successful, and we do not think that its failure will matter much.
Owners who care to register will no doubt do so, and we have no desire to influence them in the exercise of their judgment. The meanness of the scheme, to our minds, lies in the fact that it professes to offer a bonus of 25 per cent. upon the value of the vehicle, but really does not do so. In short, we fail to see the semblance of inducement to an owner, who may
have had to wait for six or eight months for delivery of his vehicle, to sign a contract which. requires him, amongst other disabilities, to turn over his machine to the War Office, at any point in the United Kingdom which they may select, with no bonus whatever upon the figure which he has paid for it.
We admire the pertinacity of the officers who are concerned in the efforts to secure the nucleus of mechanical transport for the nation, and we eommiserate them upon their helolessness in the face of an uninformed, unintelligent and clearly-impervious group of officials at the Treasury. It is a. pity that some strong man in the House of Commons does not get up and expose the farcical manner in which the Treasury niggardliness is being applied to combat, if not to destroy, the well-intentioned recommendations of those who know something about the essentials of any military transport which shall be effective and of value. It is easy to play.
We may add, in conclusion, that the compulsory purchase of vehicles can be of little avail in the absence of a scheme which pro vides an adequate personnel. There must, in our opinion, be :
(a) definite and liberal rates of pay to engineers, mechanics and drivers, with allowances for wives and children in the event of wounding or death, and other emoluments ; (b) a subsidy in respect of .solidrubber tires, in order to insure their maintenance in a fair and average condition of durability ; (e) prompt steps for the standardization of tire and wheel fittings (see second leading article this week).
Relative Maintenance Costs.
At the last meeting of the Esher and Dittons District Council, the surveyor submitted statements showing the cost of maintenance of the council's horses and carts during the year as compared with the steam wagon purchased in August, 1910. In the case of the former, he stated, the cost of maintenance was 21,810, while for the motor it amounted to 2342. The wagon had run 2.785 miles, loaded (average load 5.8 tons), and 2,456 unloaded. Concluding, the surveyor states iliat he is of opinion that, whilst it is difficult to give an exact figure of the saving affected by the wagon owing to the varying circumstances , of the work carried out each year on the highways, yet after allowing for all wear and tear, extra loading, extra weight on roads, interest and depreciation, a minimum saving of 2300 had been effected, besides very considerable reduction being effected in hired horses and in the council's own staff of horses.
Argylls, Ltd., has in hand a new edition of its commercial-vehicle catalogue, and intends to make a special feature of body designs.
The Cape Town authorities are now requiring a licence fee of 21 Sc. per annum, in respect of every motor vehicle kept or used within the city for trade, business or professional purposes, with a few special exentptions.
A new tin and copper enterprise in the Okehampton district, at Whiddon Down, is about to undertake mining work upon an extensive scale, and it is reported that it will purchase motor vehicles for the purpose of making road connection with the L. and S.W.R. at, Bow Station.
An Improvised Ambulance.
At Cardiff, one day recently, a Milnes-Daimler vehicle which belongs to the Electric Light and Tramways Department of the Corporation, and which carries an extension tower for overhead-repair purposes, was on its way back to the depot after an emergency call, when the driver observed a man— who had fallen from a ladder and received very serious injuries— lying in the roadway. As no proper ambulance came along to carry out its duties, and as the crowd was expressing angry comment to the effect that "It was a disgrace to the city," the driver of the MilnesDaimler vehicle volunteered his
assistance, and the man was promptly conveyed upon it—but not before lie had lain in the street for something like 35 minutes, which is an almost-incredible reflection upon the city in which the mishap occurred. The motorman gave his aid without delay.
War-Office Hooks.
Page vof our advertisement supplement bears testimony to the extreme smartness of the Western Iron Works, Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, W., for it will be observed that this firm is already prepared to supply owners with the standard draught hooks, etc., in connection with the newly-published conditions of the War-Office subsidy for petrol vehicles.
New Registrations.
Dunkleys, Ltd., with an authorized capital of 25,000 in 21 shares, by Newman and Sons, 65-66, Chancery Lane, W.C., to take over the business of motor-vehicle manufacturers, etc., formerly carried on by Dunkleys, Ltd., Jamaica Row, Birmingham, 76, Houndsditch, E.C., and Central Arcade, Wolverhampton, and recently by W. H. Dunkley. First directors : G. Potter and C. Vane.
Cans, Ltd., with an authorized capital of 27,500 in 21 shares, by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., to carry on the business of motorcar engineers, dealers, and repairers, etc., as formerly carried on by W. Carr, at 52, Fleet Street, Bury, as Carr and Co. First directors: W. Carr (sole
in director), C. Greenhalgh, J. Entwistle and W. Rawson. — An Albion Record.
Orders during the month of September, both for 16 h.p. and 32 h.p. models, have created a record for the sales department of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., and the recently-completed extensions to the Scotstoun factory are already taxed, as we forecasted would be the case, to their utmost capacity. Orders are simply "pouring in " from all parts of the world.
Dennis Deliveries.
Amongst the more important of the deliveries from the Dennis factory, the following have recently been made: two 25-30 cwt. and two 24-ton vehicles to Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd. ; one two-ton and one 30-cwt._ vehicle to the Civil Service Co-operative Society, Ltd. ; two 253!) cwt. vehicles to Peek, Frean and Co., Ltd. The above-mentioned three owners have upwards of 40 machines all told of the Denni+ make.
Leeds-Manchester Mails.
The trial runs of the mail vans which are to carry out the Manchester-Leeds motor-mail services will terminate on Saturday next, the 30th inst., and the contract service will begin on Monday. Mr. W. Duffield, managing director of the Bridge Garage, Ltd., Briggate, Leeds, which company holds the contract, advises us that Saturday's trial trip will be undertaken in the company of a few post-office officials and other gentlemen. The route is extremely hilly.