WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
',The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport a whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it rens."—John Beattie Crozier.
Popularity of A.E.C. Buses.
Shanghai Electric Construction Co., Ltd.-, have just placed a further order for 50 A.E.C. trolley,bue chassis, which are to be equipped with 50 h.p. Bull motors. The vehicles are to be of the same type as the 150 vehicles alreadysupplied to the company.
The Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., also have in course of completion an order for six trolley-buses for the Bradford Corporation, the . order being divided between 30 and 37-seater vehicles, as well. as 10 petrol buses of the 30-seater pattern. Another muiiiciial order which they are completing is one for 15 Model 507 52-seater buses with covered-in tops for the SheffieldCorporation.
Amongst recent enters from. 'private users may be mentioned one from. Greyhound Motors, Ltd., for whom six buses are being constructed, four of 36-seater capacity and two to carry 50 people ; and another from the Waterloo and Crosby Motor Services, who have ordered eight Model 409 buses with covered-top decks. We have already referred to the fact that the company aie building 100 Model 415 chassis to take 36-seater bodies for United Auto
mobile Services, Ltd.
A Petrol-consumption Competition.
An interesting trial was organized by the Grosvenor Garage (Bournemouth), Ltd., Poole Hill, Bournemouth, a few days ago, its exact nature being in the form of a petrol-consumption competition. The method employed was a novel one, in so far as the owners of 1-ton Morris vehicles were asked to enter their vehicles in competition with
one another. The idea was conceived by Mr. It. Cullis, the commercial-vehicle manager of the company, and 23 vehicles were entered. A pre-arranged course had been decided upon, and each of the vehicles was supplied with two gallons of petrol and was kept running until the fuel was exhausted. Excellent results, we are told, were secured in spite of the bad weather conditions, and the entrants with the best returns were awarded. prizes of 17 10s., Z. and 12 10s. The vehicle which beaded the list averaged 28.1 miles to the gallon of petrol consumed.
L.C.C. Contract for Lorries.
The L.C.C. have made a contract with 1. R. hfunday, Ltd., for the hire of petrol lorries, its estimated value being £2,112. Thirty-one different firms were invited to tender. New Exide Battery Depot.
The Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd., held.a Press view recently of their new. London stores and assembly depot, at Lexden Road, Acton, London, W. This is but one more instance of the continuous expansion of the company's business rendered necessary by the everincreasing demand for Exide batteries. The premises of the new depot are of considerable size, and well adapted to the company's requirements. They were formerly used as a garage by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., and practically all the floor space of 25,000 square feet is on the ground level.
Although, primarily, the depot is that of a stores and assembly department, there are ample facilities for dealing with every sort of battery work such as repairs and charging, the battery charging department being very large and equipped on the most up-to-date lines. There is 8,000 sq. ft. of fluor spaee in this department alone, and during the visit many hundreds of batteries of every type were on charge ; it it notable that the method of charging used ensures the utmost efficiency.
An interesting demonstration was given of the taking apart and refitting of an old battery, it being a matter of minutes only to reader it equal to new, so extensive are the company's resources.
Very thorough arrangements have been made for dealing with traction batteries. These include a large garage where vehicles can be run in under cover and large departments for overhauling and charging. Some IroncladExicle batteries were, in fact, undergoing overhaul after very long and arduous service. The new depot should prove a very great convenience to electric vehicle users. Our visit proved highly instructive and interesting.
Recent Karrier Orders.
Amongst the numerous orders which Karrier Motors, Ltd., of Huddersfield, have just received are several for passenger vehicles, as well as those for goods transport. In the former category, are a 20-seater bug for Meksre. S. Croucher, of Lyndhurst, and a similar vehicle for Messrs. B. Davies, of Carmarthen, as included.
Goods vehicles are passing through the company's works for Messrs. J. and A. Jackson, of Longsight, who have purchased two 4-ton wagons with hydraulic tipping bodies, whilst a 30-cwt. tipping lorry is under, construction for Messrs. S. and S. Sykee, of Golcar, and a lorry of similar capacity for Messrs. Oates Bros., of Halifax. In addition, Keighley Borough 'Council is buying an R.S.C.-type sweeper, sprinkler and collector.
The company have also recently received a number of' repeat orders and, amongst these may be mentioned one for a 4-ton brewer's lorry from Beverley Bros., Ltd., of Wakefield ; another for a 3-ton lorry from Matthew Stuttard and Bros., Ltd., of Todmorden ; and a third for a 65-cwt. chassis from Messrs. Harris Lebus.
A Surrey Bus-service Absorption, A Surrey Bus-service Absorption, Mr. G. Readings, of Guildford, who has been running the Surrey Hills Motor Services since 1920, informs us that his Company have now been taken over by the Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., who run buses over a comprehensive network of routes from their headquarters in Hampshire.
When Mr. Readings' service was first started, he covered a three-mile route with a Ford bus, whereas at the time of the absorption by the Aldershot Co., 44 miles of route were being covered, and five Lancias and five Fords were in regular commission. Last year a service was started to Newlands Corner, a famous beauty spot in Surrey, and it proved most popular during the stunsuer months,
Supplying Hermetic Coupling Discs.
We have just received from the SealTite Piston Ring Co.% 4, South Place, London, E.C.2, a copy of a leaflet which deals with Hermetic flexible-fabric coupling discs, for which the company are wholesale distributors. These discs are constructed of good-quality fabric of maximum tensile strength, inter,seetal by layers of iubber and specially moulded under great pressure. The centre hole, as well as the bolt and rivet holes, is moulded in the disc.
The company can supply special couplings to individual customers' requirements ,or for obsolete vehicles in short time, and also blank spiders for enabling metal couplings to be converted to those of the fabric type. A copy of the pamphlet can be obtained from the address we have given.
Morris Vans for Sheffield.
Finding it necessary to increase their delivery fleet to cope with constantly increasing business over a wide area, Cole Bros., Ltd., the proprietors of a well-known departmental store id Sheffield, have purchased two 12-cwt. Morris de luxe delivery vans through Messrs. F. Kenning and Sons, London Road, Sheffield, who are the main Morris dealers for• that city. The corn pony have had much experience of the problems of transport and delivery work extending over a period of threequarters of a century, and it was only after a consideration of the various types of van which might suit their purpose-that they placed an order for
Morris products. One of their pur chases is shown in en accompanying illustration,. which gives a good idea of the attractiveness of the Morris light van.
Trolley-buses to Replace a Difficult Tramway Route.
The highways committee of the West Riding County Council reports that the tramway of the Doncaster Corporation along a main road to Bentley has been a source of annoyance owing to difficulties in connection with its repair. An arrangement has now been arrived at between. the corporation and the _county' council for the reconstruction of the road with a view to running trolley-buses. The corporation is accordingly seeking the necessary powers to run such vehicles.
A Useful Outfit for Local Authorities,
For certain classes of municipal activity, particularly that concerned -with road works, local authorities make considerable use of trailers fitted with tipping bodies, and an outfit which is finding increasinifavour in this respect is that of the type illustrated on this page. This consists of a patent twowheeled trailer made by the Eagle Engineering Co., Ltd., of Warwick, which is hauled by a Fordson tractor. This type of trailer is fitted with the company's three-way tipping body, which enables a load to be discharged to the sides or at the rear, thus meeting all possible requirements of working. The tractor is fitted with the Muir Hill equipment, and it will be noted that the driver's position is adequately protected by a cab of special construction. The outfit has recently been supplied to the Northern' District Committee of the Ayr County Council.
Thornycrofts for Fuel Companies.
Many of the prominent fuel distributing companies use Thornycroft vehicles, and the list of users of this kind who favour such vehicles has just been added to by the delivery within the last few days of a Thornycroft type J 1,000gallon tank wagon to the Redline Motor Spirit Co., Ltd. Messrs. Thornycroft have also obtained further repeat orders recently from other fuel companies, amongst these being one for two type BX chassis for Shell-Mex, Ltd., and another for a type J chassis for the National Benzoic Co., Ltd..; both these companies run three-figured fleets of Thoraycroft vehicles.
The A.A. Patrol Service.
In view of reports appearing in the Press suggesting that the patrol service of the Automobile Association may be subsidized out of public funds for traffic control at cross-roads, Mr. Stenson Cooke, the secretary, asks us to state that every patrol wearing the A.A. uniform (khaki) is paid, clothed and equipped entirely out of the Association's funds, and that there is no dual control.
Mileage Rates for Road Maintenance.
A special committee of the Glasgow Corporation appointed to consider various proposals for imposing upon competitive transport systems obligations similar to those borne by tramways has decided that, with a view to equalizing the conditions as between tramways on the one hand and omnibuses and other vehicles operating as stage carriages on the other hand, representations be made to the Ministry of Transport to introduce the necessary legislation to provide for the payment annually by the proprietors of . such omnibuses and vehicles, to each local authority concerned, of a mileage rate in respect of the aggregate number of miles annually run by each omnibue in the tired of any such local authority. The proceeds, it is recommended, should be applied pro tanto in relieving tramway authorities of their obligations to maintain that portion of the highways exclusive of tramway lines, on which tramways are laid.
RenoId Chain Drives.
The Ronda standard chain drives are referred to in full in a booklet which lions Reneld, Ltd., Burnage Works, Didsbury, Manchester, have just issued, and it gives details of the bush roller series and inverted tooth series, as well as low power drives which are available at extremely moderate prices. Two types of standard drive are available, and both cover a range of from 1 h.p. to 50 h.p. at various speeds and ratios. Bush roller chain drives are specialle suitable where the conditions demand low cost and extreme quietness is not essential. whereas -the inverted tooth chain drives are particularly suitable where quiet running is necessary and higher speeds are required. A list oftypical applications of Renold standard drives indicates their wide range ef usefulness.
Monmouth Favours Bus Developments.
The Monmouth Town Council has discussed the benefits accruing to the town and its inhabitants from increased bus. services, and also the possibility of giving proprietors increased facilities to encourage such developments. It is proposed to allow buses to park in the Market, on the Embankment, and to improve the riverside for this purpose. In addition, the council is to consider what can be done in the way of cooperation with bus proprietors to provide a parcels delivery service in the town and to encourage the collection and carrying of parcels on the buses.
Piano Transport by Garner Van.
The motor vehicle with forward con trol the valuable feature of roviding the maximum loading space, ind in this factor is to be found one of the reasons for its growing use for passenger and goods service. The merit of this form of control finds ready endorsement from the experience of the Aeolian Co., Ltd., the well-known pianoforte manufacturers, of New Bond Street, London, W. 1. The Garner vehicle illustrated on this page bears this company's name, and, although it is the property of the West Middlesex Engineering and Transport Co., Ltd., Yeading Garage, B22
Hayes, it was expressly purchased for work in connection with a permanent contract with the Aeolian Co.
Until the delivery of this van, th4 basis of which is the makers' model AX. 2-2i-ton chassis, it was necessary to use a 4-tonner in order to obtain the requisite body space for dealing with grand pianos, with the result that the vehicle was often running with much less than its rated load, and this was reflected in high running costs. To overcome this disability, a standard Garner overtype chassis with a capacious van body built by Messrs. Garner was purchased, and, since this gives adequate leading area, the weight of the load more closely approximates the rated carrying capacity than was formerly the case.
The body behind the driver's cab is 14 ft. 3 ins, long and-6 ft. 6 ins, wide and high, while certain loading space for small parcels is available in the roof o'er the chiver's cab. The chassis has a wheelbase of 12 ft., and the wheels are shod with pneumatic tyres, twins being used on the rear wheels. The van possesses a workmanlike appearance and embodies the makers' patent form of driving cab, which enables ready access to be had to the engine. Furthermore, it has a low load-line, which facilitates the loading and unloading of heavy instruments.
Schneider's Interests.
We are informed that Mr. le D. Ledbetter, late of the Alvis Motor Co., is at the present time travelling around the Midlands in the interests of Th. Schneider Automobiles (England), and that he is accompanied by Mr. P. J. Smith, a director of the company.
Four-wheel Brakes for Light Vehicles.
Hydraulic Cable Brakes, Ltd., advise us that they have moved into new premises at Laundry Road, Fulham, London, S.W.6, where they have installed new plant to enable them readily
suppry sets of their four-wheel brakes for Morris, Overland, Fiat and other types of light vehicle.
Linking Up Glasgow and Edinburgh.
A few months ago the first sod was cut for the commencement of operations on what will probably be Scotland's best and greatest road—the direct road between Glasgow and Edinburgh. At the Glasgow end, from Baillieston to Newhouse, a distance of ten miles, the contractors are Messrs. Shanks and MeEwan, Motherwell, who recently completed the Ceatbridge and Airdrie tramway track. This portion covers sections one and two. The contractors use Leylands, Fodens and Sentinels.
Section three—i.e, Polkernmet to Bathgate—has not been let to contractors yet, but offers are beingconsidered, and work will probably commence shortly. The fourth and fifth sections are being contracted for by Messrs. Carmichael, Dunblane, and a firm of Edinburgh contractors respectively.
The work of completing this splendid highway is calculated to occupy two years. There is to be a 30-ft. carriage-way, whilst 15 ft. is to be reserved on the north side and 40 ft. on the south side for expansion. The outstanding points about this road are that it will be perfectly straight from Glasgow to Edinburgh, as level as will be possible, and will have a sound foundation of reinforced concrete surfaced with asphalticroad metal. The approxiMate length from end to end will be 43 miles.
Huge Motor Ships.
Seldom has progress been so rapidly marked as in the motor shipbuilding industry. Motor ships on the stocks have ifOw a far greater tonnage than steamers, and new vessels continue to increase in size and power.
The largest motor ship in the world, the " Saturnia," forms the subject of an interesting feature in the current number of The Motor Ship. Another mammoth vessel dealt with in this issue is the 22,000-ton motor liner "Asturias," and there are well-illustrated articles on many other modern ehips and power units. Keigbley in Two Minds.
The municipal authorities at Keighley. who at present run a fleet of 21. petrol buses and 20 trolley-buses, have had under consideration the purchase of further vehicles. The tramways committee recently recommended that four new low-loading 26-seater petrol buses should be purchased, but certain Members of the council urged that it would be better policy to buy railless cars. One member stated that the cost for fuel per ear-mile on the petrol buses was 2.99d., whereas on the trolley-bus system the cost for electricity was 1.93d. The subject was referred back to the tramways committee for further' consideration.
Saving the Profits of the Middleman.
In view of the statements recently made before the Royal Coal Commission in which the pithead prices of coal were compared with the prices charged to customers, it is interesting to note that the Borden Colleries, Ltd., have dispensed 'with the services of the middleman and are now delivering direct to consumers. It is in connection with this service that the company have given an order for six 2i-ton Vulcan tipping lorries, one of which is shown_ in an accompanying illustration. In this type of vehicle the body is divided into two compartments, each of which has a capacity of 25 cwt. A parti tion is used fpr separating the compartments when loose coal is being delivered, but when bagged nal is being sUpplied this partition can be removed. Horden Colleries, Ltd., already own a number of Vulcan vehicles.
B.A.T. Traffic Receipts in 1925.
The traffic receipts on the passenger vehicles run by the companies comprising the British Automobile Traction Co.'s group for 27 days in December amounted to £140,907, this figure representing an increase of £23,524 over a similar period a year earlier. With these receipts the total for the year 1925 is brought up to £2,285,699. Some idea of the remarkable progress made by the B.A.T. group can be gauged from the fact that this figure is £447,341 in excess of the total receipts in the year 1924.
Personal Para.
Mr. Arthur 3. McCormack, 0.B.B., late managing director of Wolseley Motors, Ltd., has joined the board of A.C. Cars, Ltd.
Mr. Morton B. Barnes, who for several years past has been the London wholesale manager of Willys-Overland Crossley, Ltd., has now taken up the position of managing director of the Albert Bridge Garage and Repair Works, 70, Royal Hospital Road, London, S.W. Although he is leaving the Overland Company he will, we are told, still associate himself with Overland,. products, and carry the company's agency for South London.
Tyre Service in Devon and Cornwall.
The joint service depot of the Shrewsbury and Challiner Tyre Co., Ltd., and Chas. Macintosh and Co., Ltd., at Plymouth, has from the beginning of this month been transferred to 9, Sutton Road. Expansion of this well-orgamzed service has rendered such a move necessary, and now, by carrying larger stocks of solid, cushion and pneumatic tyres, it will be possible to give increased benefits to traders and users throughout Devon and Cornwall.
Morris Methods on the Film. A few days ago .a series of interesting films showing the performance of the Morris chain-track truck across broken ground and deep swamps was shown before the Headquarters Staff of the M.T., at Aldershot, and, later, a film of considerable instructional value depicting the methods employed in the Morris factory was displayed. Mr. W. M. W. Thomas, of Morris Motors, Ltd., elucidated those points which were not self-explanatory on the screen.
Thornycrofts in Demand.
An interesting item of news has arrived from Thornycroft (Canada), Ltd., to the effect that they have sold a type Al chassis to the Imperial Oil Co., of Canada, who are a branch of the Standard Oil Co., of America. This, we are told, is the first time the Canadian Co. have purchased a British motor vehicle, , which is encouraging evidence of the headway which Thornycroft vehicles are making in Canada and other British possessions.
,Concessionnaires for Brockway Vehicles.
Mr. A. E. Tapper, of Messrs. A. E. Tapper and Co., 244:Earl's Court Road, London, S.W.5, informs us th4t, having disposed of his interests in the concession for SPA. commercial vehicles,' he has secured the sole concession for Great Britain and Ireland for the Brockway safety coach and bus chassis. There are six different types of this American chassis available to users in this country, these being made up of 2i-ton, 3-ton and 4-ton goods and passenger models. The 2i-tonner can carry 18-20-seater or 24-seater bodies, the 3-tonner bodies of similar capacities, and the 4-tonner bodies for seating 28 and 32 people respectively. The 3-ton and 4-ton models are fitted with six-cylinder engines and four-wheel brakes are supplied on each chassis, those on the heaviest model being of the vacuumoperated type.
Local Proceedings.
Ditchills; Parish Council is raising funds to purchase a small petrol fire pump and trailer.
Littleboroug,h Urban District Council is in the market for a new fireengine and an ambulance.
Luton Corporation has asked the chief constable to obtain prices for the supply of a motor ambulance.
Willesden Urban District Council has decided to invite quotations for a motor fire pump and a new chassis.
The electricity committee of the Coventry Corporation has decided lo purchase a motor cable-drum carrier at a cost of £550, Northfleet Urban District Council has asked its health committee to report on the advisability of purchasing motor vehicles for refuse collection.
The works committee of the Coventry Corporation has decided to purchase motor vehicles for instituting the Pagefield system of refuse collection at a cost of £3,250.
Luton, Corporation has decided to purchase two motor vehicles for refuse collection at a cost of £1,200.
The ambulance committee of the Littlehartipton Town Council has accepted the tender of the Littlehampton Motor Co., •at £485, for the supply of a motor ambulance.
The highways cdramittee of the Bexhill Corporation expresses the opinion that the time has arrived when steps should be taken for the substitution of the existing tramway system by trolleybuses.
The \Toilscommittee of the Bermondsey Borough Council reports that four more motor vehicles will be required to complete the scheme for the reorganization of the council's ' refuse collection system.
After our last issue had closed for press we received information to the effect that the Manchester Union was seeking tenders for the 'supply of four new motor chassis suitable for ambulance work, and although tenders have to be delivered during to-day (February 2nd) it may be possible for some manufacturers to get their tenders in in time. The guardians' requirements call for chassis of about 25 h.p., fitted with four-wheel brakes, a wheelbase of not less than 11 ft. 10 ins., and a body floor-level height of not more than 2 ft. The tenders have to be delivered to the Clerk to the Guardians, Union Offices, All Saints', Manchester.
The health committee of the Croydon Corporation proposes the purchase of another motor ambulance at a cost of about £600.
Brighton Corporation has authorized the purchase of a motorvan for conveying workers to outlying districts at a cost of £245.
The electricity committee of the Hackney Borough Council recommends the purchase of a new chassis for the mains breakdown car at a cost of about £150.
Guildford Corporation has received tenders for the supply of four different types of motor-broom and authorized the borough engineer to arrange for demonstrations by each type of machine.
Cable Drums by Tractor-lorry.
A very interesting tractor-lorry has just been completed in the works of the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., Shrewsbury, to the order of 0. Baker and Sons, Ltd., of Southampton and London. It is designed for carrying cable drums, and although the tractor portion of the vehicle follows standard lines, the trailer portion has been specially designed to give an extremely losv loading line at the rear. Furthermore, the tailboard, as the illustration on this page clearly shows: is of massive construction, and is of such height that it can be let down to form a gradually inclined ramp, up and down which the drums an be rolled.
The requirements of users dealing with the transport of cable drums call for particularly strong construction, for concentrated loads up to 10 tons are often applied at one point of the vehicle, yet so carefully has the design of this Sentinel tractor-lorry been carried out that it weighs, we are told, less than the standard machine.
. Darlington's Simonis-equipped Fire Engine.
In our issue dated January 10th we referred to the purchase by the Darlington Fire Brigade of a 65 h.p. 500gallon Leyland fire engine, and we should have mentioned that this vehicle is fitted with a patent detachable water tower escape of the type produced by Henry S. Simonis, Willesden Lane, London, N.W.10.
Mr. W. K. 0. Shepherd, D.S.O., Royal Bank Buildings,. Leven, who Stets as honorary secretary of the Leven centre of the St. Andrew's Ambulance Aseocias tion, is prepared to receive offers for the supply of a motor ambulance. A Comparison of Exports.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has just circulated a very instructive tabulation which deals with ths exports of motor vehicles and parts and accessories frem the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France and Italy to the chief markets of the world. The figures deal with the six months ended Julie, 1925.
So far as complete commercial vehicles are concerned, the figures show that British makers have still a lot of ground to cover in order to catch up with their American rivals in some of the principal markets. For example, during the period under review, 1,875 American vehicles were shipped to Australia as against 27 from the United Kingdom, whilst 534 vehicles were imported from America into India as against 462 from the United Kingdom. Americau manufacturers hold almost complete sway in the South American Republics, the only shipment of any size from the United Kingdom being 12 vehicles to the Argentine, although in the same period 417 American vehicles were imported into that country. For Brazil the respective figures are one British vehicle and 1,847 American vehicles !
Refuse Collection at Newport.
A sub-committee of the Newport (Mon.) Corporation, appointed to consider a report upon the Pagefield system Of refuse collection and the question of the ssiggested purchase of a combined sweeping and collecting machine, recommends, that the borough engineer' and the borough treasurer be instructed to submit a report and estimate of the costof adapting the Pagefield system of refuse' collection throughout the western division of the borough, and also instructed the borough engineer to arrange for an inspection. of a combined sweeping and collecting machine at Cardiff. The subCommittee has also authorized the, borough engineer to send the inspector of transport and cleansing to make some inquiries in one or two of the Metropolitan boroughs.
Amongst the illustrations accompanying our article dealing with the transport system of Schweppes, Ltd., and showing the various types of vehicle employed, No. 5, on page 815 of last week's issue, should have been referred to as a 5-ton Kerner, and not as stated. Also, No. 2 is a 4-ton Dennis, and not a 21-tonner.