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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"The wheels of wealth quill be slowed by all difdculties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—john Beattie Crozier, The Case Against the Independent Bus Owner.

It will be remembered that the case 'against ten independent omnibus owners and the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., for contravening the traffic regulations on the Uxbridge Road was postponed as one of the effects of the general strike in May.

The case was resumed in the Ealing Police Court on September 21st. Evidence for the prosecution Was completed, and Mr. Comyns Carr, K.C., opened the case' for the defence. He raised tha point that the regulations were invalid because the London Traffic Act of 1924 was not fully complied with in various important respects, and he claimed that the regulations . were in little, if any, better position than bylaws which had been made by a municipal authority. He also pointed out that the notice to the bus proprietors was irregular. The hearing was adjourned until to-day (Tuesday).

"National" Capital Increase.

The National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., have called an extraordinary general meeting for to-day (Tuesday) at the Great Eastern Hotel, Liverpool Street, London, for the purpose of considering and sanctioning an increase in the capital of the company from 1300,000 to 1500,000, and of ratifying and confirming the action of the directors in purchasing certain busi nesses. A circular accompanies the notice convening the meeting, and this gives a list of the chief alterations so far as the articles of association are concerned.

An American Accessories Show.

What is regarded in America as the biggest international event of the year in the parts, accessory and equipment division of the automobile industry will take place in Chicago from November 8th to 18th. The occasion is the eighth annual show and convention of the Automobile Equipment Association, Chicago, which is composed of more than 600 of the leading manufacturers and wholesalers in this branch of the trade.

The officials extend invitations to all overseas automobile manufacturers, distributors, dealers and traders. The show is purely a business affair, and only representatives of the automobile trade are admitted, this ensuring that all those who pay a visit to the event are brought into personal contact with officials of the companies who either make or sell the various products exhibited.

Public Vote on Bus Types.

A motorbus company operating from Preston are experimenting with new types of vehicle and have adopted the novel procedure of handing to passengers as they enter the bus a card with particulars of the two types under trial. Passengers are requested to put a cross against the bus preferred, the cards being aiterivards collected by the conductor.

There is no reason whatever why motorbus companies should not more frequently test the feeling of their B29

patrons on such matters. After all, passenger transport undertakiegs have tosplease these on whom they depend for patronage, and although very often it is a difficult matter to get the public to say what it wants, operators of

vehicles are very sensitive to public comment on the nature of the vehicles they have in commission and the services they provide.

Rejoins the Vacuum Oil Co.

' We are pleased to hear that Mr. Albert D. Newton, who from 1893 to 1919 occupied an important position with the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., resigning his post in the latter year in order to become one of the managing directors of the British Motor: Trade Corporation, Ltd., has rejoined the Vacuum Oil Co., and he carries with him to his new post the good wishes of the many friends that he has gained in the motor and allied trades. A London Newspaper's Reliance on Motorvans.

On Monday of last week the proprietors of the London Evening Standard increased the size of the paper to a very appreciable extent, the change involving the preparation ef 32 extra columns of material, but behind this mere statement of fact there lies a highly developed organization in which transport, and particularly the motor vehicle, is destined to play a very powerful part.

The proprietors of the paper appreciate this fact, and have increased the size of their motor-vehicle fleet by onethird in order to secure a speedy distribution of the various editions of the paper. The purchase of extra vehicles has, of course, necessitated the training of drivers, who must have a highly developed traffic sense, for their work calls for the exercise of considerable skill in driving and manceuvring in

thoroughfares carrying heavy traffic.

The Royal Show for Porthcawl?

Although the Royal Agricultural Show is to be held at Newport (Mon.) next year, application is being made for the show to be held again in South Wales in 1929. The Porthcawl Urban District Council and a local committee has applied for the show to be held at Portheawl in 1929. A summer show at the most popular of South Wales resorts is regarded as certain to be a success.

More Guy Ruses for Southampton.

Some months ago the municipal authorities of Southampton put into service certain Guy buses in the town, and after experience with these vehicles the corporation has now sent a repeat order to Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, for three 16-20-seater and three 26-seater buses.

Vulcan DebentUres; The secretary of the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., informs us that on the 6th inst. satisfaction of debentures to the extent of £50,000 was registered at Somerset House, making a total of £400,000 of debentures of which satisfaction has been registered in the past two years.

Fire-engines and Bridge Weights.

When the Bangor City Council purchased a new motor fire-engine some time ago it had to be returned to the makers because it exceeded the weight limit (41 tons) allowed on the Menai Suspension Bridge. A smaller 36 h.p. engine has now been obtained. Whenever the brigade receives a call to Anglesey, a trailer conveying part of the tackle will be quickly detached from the engine when it arrives on the Carnarvonshire side of the bridge, and this will be taken over by some of the firemen cu foot. When they reach the other side the tackle will be taken from the trailer and placed on the engine. The engine which was originally purchased was sold to the Ethyl Urban District Council.

The Scottish Motor Show will take place in the Industrial Hall, Edinburgh, from December 10th-18th inclusive.

Great Britain's All-concrete Roads.

The British Portland Cement Association has just completed an interesting survey which shows that there are now 1,669 all-concrete roads in Great Britain. So far as counties are concerned, Lancashire easily leads the way with no fewer than 931 roads of this type, Yorkshire being the next county in point of number, with 174 roads of this description.

So far as London boroughs are concerned, we note that Southwark claims 128 concrete roads, and that it has nearly double the number of such roads than all the rest of the London boro,ughs put together. There are only 11 concrete roads in Scotland ; Ireland has 92.

We are told that the total mileage of Great Britain's concrete roads does not reach 400, and this must be considered infinitesimal (in spite of the difference in the size of the countries) when compared with the length of such roads in the United States, where, it is claimed, there are some 40,000 miles of alkconCrete road surface.

Heavy Work for a Leyland.

There is a number of Leyland lorries in service in British Columbia, and the arduous work which one of them is called upon to do is indicated by the group of illustrations which appears on this page. This vehicle is in the service of a lumber company in Vancouver, and consists of an example of the makers' A.13 chassis. The load with which the lorry is dealing consists of two long timbers, 38 ft. by 16 ins, by 16 ins. The lumber is Australian iron bark, and the two timbers weigh approximately 51, tons. They were especially imported from Australia for the purpose of making stems required for certain ships being built in Vancouver. The pictures have been received from the Canadian branch of Leyland Motors.

Dunlop's Island Depot.

After two years' trading in Cuba the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., have opened new and extensive premises at Havana as a depot for the island.

Canadian Production Increasing.

During the first six months of this year Canadian factories produced 15,973 lorries, 99 taxicabs and buses and 12,860 chassis. The• figures for the corresponding period of last year were 11,728 lorries, 68 taxicabs and buses, and 8,966 chassis.

Inst. of ALE. in South Wales.

The Institution of Automobile Engineers has founded a new centre, the Western Centre, which caters for Bristol, West of England and South Wales members. The inaugural meeting takes place at Merchant Venturers' College, Bristol, on October 3rd, and later meetings will be held in South Wales towns. At the initial meeting a paper on "The Debt of the Country to the Automobile" will be read by Mr. H. Kerr Thomas.

Albions for New Zealand. Albion vehicles of different types have won considerable popularity amongst Colonial Governments and municipal authorities abroad, and included in a list of chassis which the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, have recently shipped for service in New Zealand are two 2-tonners for municipal work. One of the machines is for the use of the Pahiatua County Council and the other for the Dunedin City Council. A Well-known Transport Personality.

Mr. Thomas Andrew Barton is depicted in the illustration below wearing a cap of the type with which we seem always to have associated him; in fact, we cannot recall ever seeing him in any other kind of headgear, even when he has visited London to attend important conferences. He has always been regarded as a live wire, as a man who never allowed a difficulty, to stand in his way longer than, say, ten seconds. When petrol became short in the war he turned to coal-gas as a fuel on which to run his buses and haulage vehicles, and devised the gas-bag and its connection to the intake of an engine securing what turned out to be a master patent on flexible containers. The use of coalgas as an alternative fuel was fostered by The Commercial Motor, and considerable use was made of it during 1917 and 1918, enabling certain services to be maintained which otherwise must have ceased working. Mr. Barton led in the employment of six wheels on his largecapacity buses, and has shown considerable enterprise in the equipment and operation of the bus services that radiate from Beeston, his home town.

The M. of T. and a Ribble Appeal.

On March 25th last the Ministry of Transport held an inquiry at Bury into the appeal of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., against the refusal of the Bury Corporation to grant them licences to ply for hire with buses within the borough. The Ministry has n•Sw communicated its decision to the authorities. It is of opinion that the licences should be granted subject to certain arrangements being made to discourage, so far as possible, the use of the vehicles by short-distance passengers over those parts of the routes which are already served by the tramcars of the innnicipal

authority. This condition applies to four of the five routes on which the company desire to run the buses. The corporation is informing the company that the licences will be granted under certain conditions.

A New L.G.O.C. Record.

The remarkable fine weather experienced on Siniday, September lath, undoubtedly attracted many people to the open roado, and it is not surprising, therefore, to learn that on this day the buses run by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., and their allied companies created a record for a Sunday, when they carried" 4,263,060 passengers, this figure exceeding the previous highest Sunday record by 163,960. Why Not a Motor ?

It is often assumed that the initial cost of instituting a horse-haulage system by municipal authorities is a comparatively small affair, but that this is by no means the case is suggested by a decision made last week by the Cardiff public works committee. The committee had decided to purchase two horses for some of its haulage work, and the city treasurer was stated to be desirous of calling attention to the excessive cost of the animals chosen. The price? £148, or £74 each. The total sum does not include carts or harness. Could not a light motor lorry have met the requirements of the committee?

South Africa as a Tractor Market.

Whereas all but 11 of the 167 tractors imported into South Africa in 1924 were of American origin, out of the 199 machines imported in 1925, the number that came from the United States was 134. The British machines imported increased from six in 1924 to 33 in 1925, in which year Canada sent 25 tractors, France four and Germany three.

Now that tractors are selling again after the setback of 1920, steady developments are expected. Rhodesia and South-West Africa must be regarded as negligible markets, but a fair demand should come from Portuguese East Africa. Ten makes of tractor are represented in South Africa, the bulk of the business being done by those interested in four American makes and one British make.

London-Leeds-London by Bus.

It will be recalled by many of our readers that in February of last year what was deemed to be the longest regular bus service was instituted between

London and Bristol, and since that time other long-distance services have been inaugurated. We do not think, however, that any one of them is so long as that which has just been started by the South Yorkshire Motor Co., between London-Leeds-London. It is hardly to be expected that this would be in the nature of a daily service, although the company are running saloon buses on Saturdays and Wednesday from Leeds, these vehicles returning from London on Mondays and Thursdays. Studebaker saloon buses are being used for the service. They 'are of modern design and incorporate features which make for comfortable travel at high average speeds. The single through fare is 21s, and the return fare 35s., and proportionate intermediate charges are made if a passenger boards the vehicle at Pontefract or Doncaster. When one considers the distance to be covered (which is very little short of 200 miles) and the type of vehicle which is being used, these charges must be regarded as quite moderate.

A Piston Ring Catalogue.

The Clews Petersen Piston Ring and Engineering Co., Ltd., West Heath Works, West Hampstead, London, N.W.6, have sent us a copy of a new catalogue which they have just issued. It points out the advantages they claim for the Clupet piston ring over the ordinary type of ring. The catalogue contains an up-to-date list of the standard sizes of piston ring used on all

the principal types of petrol, steam, Diesel, petroleum oil and gas engines, and also particulars of the company's stock sizes of rings which, it is interesting to note, comprise over 1,000 different sizes. A ,copy of the catalogue

will be sent to any of our readers who are interested on application being made to the company at the above address.

Presentations to a Fuel Company's Employees.

Members of the Cardiff branch staff of Shell-Mex, Ltd., assembled at the Grand Hotel, Cardiff, recently to make presentations of gold watches to Mr. J. B. C. Richardson and Mr. H. Webb, who have been associated with the Cardiff branch for a number of years and have now been promoted and transferred, Mr. Richardson to Bristol and Mr. Webb to South London.

Mr. R. J. Tipple, the company's divisional manager in South Wales, made the presentations on behalf of the Cardiff staff.

Six-wheeled Buses for Spain.

Spain is not going to be left behind in the employment of the rigid-frame sixwheeled vehicle, and an accompanying illustration depicts one of a number of Renault 20-22 h.p. single-deck buses recently supplied for service in Spain.

The bodies were constructed by Breteau Freres et Cie., Rue Championnet, Paris. They are of a special design, the interior being divided into two compartments, one having seating accommodation for 10 first-class passengers, and the other for 15 second-class; in addition, there is room fur two passengers at the side Of the driver.

It will be noticed that the mounting steps are enclosed within the body, and that the latter extends over the four bogie wheels at the rear, hinged flaps being provided to give access to these wheels for dealing with the tyres.

A Lorry and Bus Demonstration.

From Salzburg comes the news that, with the object of popularizing the use of motor trucks, vans and buses in Austria, the Salzburg Automobile Club is organizing a propaganda tour of such vehicles. The event will commence with a day's exhibition in Gratz, after which Klagenfurt, Rottenmann, Wels, Salzburg, Zell-am-See, St. Johann and Innsbruck will be visited. The participating vehicles will stop at the leading places visited for one or more day's display, the event concluding with a three days' show in Innsbruck on October 8th, 9th and 10th.

Cardiff's Fire-fighting Equipment.

Following the recommendations of the chief constable of the city that additional fire-fighting equipment be obtained, the Cardiff City Council has now purchased a new Morris-Magirus turntable water tower, similar to that already owned by the council. The brigade is now equipped with five motor pumps with escapes, two turntable water towers and one fire float. The newest acquisition of the brigade was necessitated by the possibility of two large fire outbreaks occurring at the same time.

Smith Batteries.

S. Smith and Sons (M.A.), Ltd., Cricklewood Works, London, N.W.2,' have just issued a new booklet which deals with the latest Smith batteries for automobile starting, lighting and igni

tion purposes. The various types of battery which are available are illustrated and described, and two special models are obtainable for use on motorbuses and lorries.

S.D. Freighter Deliveries.

A number of interesting S.D. Freighters has recently been produced in the works of Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd., Letchworth, Hefts, and of these we illustrate two on this page. One has been built for the transport of Shell lubricating oils, and is of the type of which Shell-Mex, Ltd., have several in use in various parts of the country. Apart from its utility as a transport medium, the machine possesses a useful publicity value. The tank has a capacity of 300 gallons, and is provided with internal baffles, delivery of the oil being effected through a pressure pump.

The other machine illustrated is one of the company's new water-carts which has been designed for municipal use, and is similar to the machine in use by the Fulham authorities. The tank of this appliance has a capacity of 750 gallons, and the sprinkler heads, which are of the Warwick type, are fed by a centrifugal pump and give a spread of 60 ft. Incidentally, the body is so designed that it can be readily removed from the chassis, and a dust-cart body with a capacity of 7 cubic yds. fitted in its place ; the latter body is arranged for hydraulic end tipping.

Municipal authorities figure very prominently in the list of users who have recently ordered S.D. Freighters, amongst these being Croydon Corporation, which has ordered 18 machines, and Leicester Corporation, which is buying six machines, as well as a number of others which already have machines of this type in regular service.

For Food Transport.

The requirements of the authorities with regard to the distribution of food in a clean state, which apply particularly to butchers, fruiterers, etc., have led J. H. Jennings and Son, Ltd., of Crewe Road, Sandbach, to place on the market a new type of van body. This is shown in an accompanying illustration fitted on a Bean chassis, and the dimensions of the body are 9 ft. by 5 ft. 4 ins. by 5 ft. 6 ins. On each side of the body are twodoors, which are so arranged that they can slide behind one another. One of these doors, when run behind its neighbour, provides room for a cratch or lattice door, the hinges of which are on the rear pillar. This enables a butcher to collect live stock, the entrance for which is by way of a door, 4 ft. by 2 ft., at the back of the van.

The body is so constructed that it is possible to convey food without it being contaminated in any way by dust.

The driver's cab is mainly constructed of mahogany and is fully enclosed. The doors are fitted with frameless lights which slide in Beclawat channels.

A Leyland Depot in Belfast. Leyland Motors, Ltd., inform us that they have now established a depot at Dunbar Street, Belfast, where a large and comprehensive stock of spare parts is available and a range of models is on view.

Messrs. Alister, Kirk and Co., Ballarat Street, Belfast, are the company's sole selling and service agents for Belfast, and their works are well equipped.

An Effective Rust Remover.

We have recently had an opportunity of testing a new rust remover sold under the name of Defroxite, which Bramco (1920), Ltd., St. Nicholas Street, Coventry, have just placed on the market. It is claimed—and the claim appears to be justified from tests which we have made—that the preparation will remove even deep-seated rust from all steel and iron surfaces. The chemical effect of the preparation is such that

rust is removed in a very short time without any more work on the part of the operator than applying the solution and washing the surface clean a f:,,w minutes later. The preparation is put up in a Is. size, which contains sufficient solution to treat 15-20 sq. ft. Weight Limit on a Main Road.

Owing to repairs to a bridge in Fenny Stratford, the main London to Coventry road is restricted locally to vehicles weighing less than three tons. A bypass route for heavy vehicles is signposted by the Automobile Association, and is by way of Newport Pagnell. The ends of the detour are at Stony Stratford in the north and Efockliffe in the south.

Wakefield's Branches Abroad.

C. C. Wakefield and Co., Ltd., 30 and 32, Cheapside, London, E.C.2, inform / us that the rapidly increasing demand ,for Castrol motor oils from all parts of the world has necessitated the establishment of new branches at Toronto, Canada, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These branches, together with those which already exist at Bombay, Karachi, Calcutta, Penang, New York, Johannesburg, Buenos Aires and Melbourne, form an extensive distributive organization for the company's products.

Sauren's New Catalogue.

We have received from the Saurer Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd., 21, Augustus Street, London, N.W.1, a copy of their new catalogue, number 866, which is an excellent, well-illustrated production, and will give readers a really good impression of the remarkable cleanliness of Saurer design.

A copy will be sent to those interested on application to the company at the address given above.

Municipal Bus Activity at Leicester. A new omnibus garage has recently been opened at Leicester to accommodate the municipality's growing fleet of vehicles. The building, which has been erected at a cost of about £16,000, provides accommodation for 30 buses, the .actual floor space available being 13,000 sq. ft.

The municipal bus service in Leicester was started in July, 1924, and, in spite of the fact that a loss has been recorded during certain periods, the authorities have persevered with the vehicles until the receipts are now equalling the expenditure. This suggests that the time will come when the system will reveal a useful working profit, From the commencement of the service until August 31st last the city's small fleet of buses had covered an aggregate mileage of 557,831 and carried close on 5,000,000 passengers.

Wigan's New Bus By-laws.

Proposed new by-laws governing the conditions under which motor chars-a _ banes, buses, etc., are to be permitted to use certain stands in the town when plying or standing to ply for hire have been under the consideration of the Wigan Corporation, and it has been decided to hold a special meeting of the watch committee to• deal further with the question. The draft of the by-laws has been approved for submission to the Ministry of Transport.

A Transport Address in Manchester.

Mr. G. H. Ayres, A.M.I.Mech.E., A.M.I.E.E., the district engineer representative of British Bock Bearings, Ltd., in Manchester, has been elected chairman of the North-Western Section of the Junior Institution of Engineers, and, as his opening address for the coming session, he has chosen the subject "Road Transport—Past, Present and Future." The address will be delivered on October 4th in the lecture hall of the Manchester Geographical Society, 16, St. Mary's Parsonage, Manchester, at 7.30 p.m., and will be illustrated with lantern slides and numerous photographs.

Municipal Machines for Varied Uses.

The motor-propelled vehicle or appliance has found its way into all branches of municipal activity, and special types of machine have been produced to meet unusual needs, whilst the standard products of many prominent makers are also extensively employed. Some of the uses to which such machines are put• are indicated by the group of illustrations appearing on this page.

The first picture is of a special Albion tower wagon recently supplied by the Albion Motor Car Co„ Ltd., of Scotstoun, Glasgow, to the lighting department of the Glasgow Corporation. The tower superstructure of this machine can be elevated so that the platform is 29 ft. 9 ins, from the ground, thus enabling some of the extremely high lamps in use in Glasgow to be reached. When -the tower is lowered the height of the platform is only 32 ft. 6 ins., and the machine presents quite a compact appearance. The platform, it should be added, is 5 ft. square, and thus provides ample room for the men engaged in inspection or repair work. Lockers for carrying tools and spare gear are fitted behind the driver's seat, as well as to the rear of the tower. The tower is of the triple-expansion type, and is so constructed that by the winding of a single handle at the rear all sections are extended simultaneously.

In the second illustration a 30-cwt. Guy tipping wagon is shown, and this has been supplied by Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, to the West Riding County Council in conjunction with three 3i-tonners, two other 30-cwt. tippers and a 1-ton van.

The trio of tippers are all fitted with hydraulic gear supplied by Bromilow and Edwards, Ltd., of Bolton, and the bodies are designed to tip to eithea side or at the rear, the operation of tipping being controlled by hydraulic rams placed centrally below the body.

The third picture is of a type of sweeper for which Karrier Motors, Ltd., Karrier Works, Huddersfield, are experiencing a good demand. This is what is known as the RSC type, and the particular vehicle shown has been built for the Tilbury Urban District Council. As may be generally known, this type of machine performs several operations, these being spraying the -road with water, brushing the surface and gutter, collecting the sweepings and, finally, carrying the refuse to the dump. The complete control of the machine can be undertaken by one man, and the company tell us that the total cost of operations is approximately 2s. per brushmile, although this figure varies slightly according to local conditions.

Local Proceedings.

The Carmarthen Town Council is to purchase a new motor fire-engine.

Porth Corporation reports a profit of £638 on the motorbus services for the past year.

Crewe Corporation has referred the suggestion for the introduction of railless services to a sub-committee to report upon.

The Lampeter Town Council is to ask the Lampeter Rural District Council to join with it in purchasing a motor fireengine for the area.

Bradford Corporation has given consent to the proposals of the Halifax Corporation for the institution of a motorbus service 'between Halifax and Bradford and Halifax and Leeds.

Exeter City Council is prepared to receive tenders for the supply of a road roller of about 10 tons weight when working. Tenders have to be delivered to the city engineer and surveyor not later than October 9th.

, The sub-committee appointed by the tramways committee of the Glasgow Corporation to consider the question of running bus services within the city now recommends a service to the Knightswood housing estate as an experiment.

Stretford Urban District Council is considering the possibilities of arranging for a bus service, instead of relaying the tram track, across the reconstructed Park Road Bridge, residents in the vicinity having raised objections to tramways.

The North British Rubber Co., Ltd., inform us that they have secured a first order of merit for their exhibit of motor tyresat the recent New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition.