. WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as -a carriage is tiy ' the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Fire-engine Repair Delay.
In the House of Commons last week Mr. Haslam asked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware of the difficulty hi Obtaining necessary repairs and replacements to motor fire-engines, and itt particular of the case of the motor fireengine of Newport (Mon.), which has been in the hands of the Commercial Cars, Ltd., at Luton, for the past four months; and will he, in consideration of the danger of leaving a town and dis h i
riet of over 120,000 nhabitants, where there are several large munition factories, without adequate protection from fire, give directions that the replacements shall be proceeded with-without frirther delay, especially considering that in ord Mary times such replacements could be carried into effect in one week ?--Mr. Kellaway There is no trace of any application having been made to this Ministry for a permit for the repairs in question. Upon receiving the inquiry investigations were made, and as a. result a permit for the executionof these repairs has been issued to Commercial Cars, Ltd., and they have been instructed to proceed With the work.
Sunbeam's New Chairman.
Owing to the death-recently of Alderman John Marston, J.P. at over fourscore years, the chairmanship of the Sunbeam Motor Car Co., Ltd., which he founded at the beginning of the century, became vacant. At the last meeting of the Board/. of Directors, Mr. Thomas Cureton, hitherto rice-chairman of the company, was elected to succeed to the office. This measure is a continuance of the tradition of the firm inasmuch as Mr. Cureton was chiefly responsible for canslug the late Alderman John Marston in embark on the (motor industry by the/
establishment of an entirely separate company in Villiers' Street, Wolverhampton. Mr. Cureton was the first managing director of the company, and steered it through all the inevitable difficulties of a pioneer enterprise, holding that office right up to November, 1914, at which period the company had passed successfully from peace-time production to war work in the most absolute sense in that to-day, and since that period, it has been engaged on nothing else than the produc. tion of Stmbeam-Coatalen aircraft en
gines. Mr. Cureton, incidentally, was responsible for enlisting the services of Mr. Louis Coatalen, the chief engineer of the company.
Machinery Allowances.
A Memorandum issued by the Board of inland Revenue presents in a concise form the regulations governing allowances by the Income Tax. Commissioners for wear and tear and obsOlescence of plant and machinery.. With regard to rates fixed by agreement in ' certain: trades, a schedule of these forms part of the Memorandum, from which it appeals that 20 per cent. v6.rittert down value is allowed for motor omnibuses. The rate of 20 per cent. is to be reconsidered at the expiration of four years, commenc ing with 1916-17. This rate -does not apply to commercial motor vehicles.
American Exports.
The number of lorries exported from the States to the United Kingdom in the eight months ending 28th February last was 4477, of a value of $12,526;576. France took 2093. American lorries in the same,, period, their value being $7,637,a8. The exports of motor vehicles from the States in February Were the lowest for three years.
Petrol Supply to Hire Vehicles
Capt. D. Hall, in the House of Commons last week, asked the President of the Board tri Trade why the Petrol Control Committee are granting . a much larger allowa,mie of petrol in the ease of cars which were licenSecl to ply for lure by a local authority prior to May, 1917, and are still so licensed, than to the cars licensed after that, date?
Mr. Wardle, in reply, said that prick(. to May, 1917, the allowance of motor spirit granted in the case of motor• cabs which were licensed to ply for hire by a police or local authority was largec than that granted for hire cars, in view , Of the local control and the greater public service rendered by the cabs. Since that " date, many owners of private hire cars have arranged for their vehicles to be licensed to ply for hire in order to avoid the restrictions imposed upon hire cars.. He regretted that., in view of the short, age of motor spirit, the allowance or petrolfor cars, the character of which has been so changed, cannot be increased beyond the quantity which they would have received had their character remained unaltered.
Country Bus Services. .
The Tramways Committee of Walthamstew U.D.C. have decided to draw the attention of the Petrol Committee to the resumption by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., of a service to Chingford on Sundays. The committee hold that as this is entirely a pleasure service, the service should not be *Mowed in view of the urgent necessity for economizing petrol. Communications are also to be sent to the Local Qovernment Board and the Road Stone Control Com, mit-tee, pointing out the damage done to the roads by this unnecessary service.
Oil Importation.
In the House of Commons last .week, Mr. Watt asked the Minister of Munitions whether the Director of Petroleum Munitions Supplies has set up a commit: tee to deal with the import of oil into this country, whether this committee has on it two representatives of large Amen, can oil producers and has only one Scots, man representing the oil trade of that country; whether this committee has ars • ranged for an allottedspace for oil hitports in the vessels arriving in this coon; try ; that this allotted space is sYstematis cally given to the larger importers. of oil, viz., those who in -1915 imported 100 , barrels and upwards per-. nienth • that these large importers are practically the committee themselves and their immeshate friends, resulting in the allotted space being given to 50 importers, while 350 are entirely excluded, not being allowed any space at all; and whether he will see that a fair method ia adopted whereby all importers will be treated
proportionately ? . • .
Mr. Kellaway, in reply, said that the committee referred to was set •-lip in
. March, 1916, by the then Minister of Munitions, and has satisfactorily discharged the -task .committed to it. The committee consists of 11 members, who
• were chosen at a general meeting of the whole of the lubricating oil importers of the country. The Ministry had nothing to do with the selection of the members: The suggestion that the importation of lubricating oils is practically confined to the members of the committee and their immediate friends is-without, foundation. It was decided on the 12th April to hold a meeting this month, when the constitution of the committee will be open to discussion.
Cleaning Clothes by, Steamer.
It is a well-recognized fact that never in history has the health of an army been so good as that of the British Army, or Armies, engaged in the various theatres -of war since the fateful August, 1914, but it is not widely known. that motor transport has done its share in preventive hygiene.
In the provision of clean, healthy clothes, Foden steamers fitted with dis infector s have taken a leading phrt in this work. How many Foden ferries have been specially built for this special duty it is not possible to say. Yet on the various fronts—or rather just behind the fronts—they are virtually here, there and everywhere. Portability is a necessity in the case of such apparatus, and as steam is used in the disinfectors, steamers are used in preference to petrol lorries, which would • need a separate steam generator. The clothing used by the men in the trenches is placed in two huge receptacles carried on the wagon body, steam is passed into them from the boiler, and when the process is corn-pletgd.all verminous matter, either parasite or germ, is rendered hors-de-combat.
The lorries are sent to the works of Messrs. Summerscaltis, engineers Keighley, to be fittedout, „and our picture shows a convoy of four completed for active service.
Road Transport Board and a Conversion Unit.
In the House of Commons last week, Sir H. Nield asked the Presidentof the " Board of Trade whether he is aware,that on 21st February, and again on let March last, letters were addressed to the Road Transport Board by the British represeirtatives of the Commercial Car Unit Co., of Philadelphia, the manufacturers of the " Truxtun ' truck unit, ant invention whereby certain types of motor touring cars can be inexpensively, converted into sotind and serviceable one-ton. transport trucks, and that no reply has been received to these letters or any indicationS given as to the facilities which the Road Tronspoist Board would give to enable the suggestion contained therein to be developed; and whether he will cause the subject to be examined into and considered with a view to the relief of the present congestion in the transport of goods?--Mr. Wardle: Three letters have been received by the Road Transport Board relativesto the " Truxtun truck unit from the London representatives of the. Commercial Car Unit Co., to each of which a reply has been sent. The question of tonnage is an obstacle to the im-` portation of these units, and in the present circumstances special facilities for their manufacture in this country would hardly appear to be possible.
Belgian •Trade.
In -view of the critleal situation which will result for Belgium throUgh the disasters caused by the .depredation of the enemy, an organization having for its object the economical reconstruction of Belgium entitled.. " Comptoir National pour la Reprise de l'Activite Econornique en Belgique" (Societe Co-operative) has been formed with the -co-operation of and under the control of the Belgian State.
ss'In order to enable the Comptoir National to place Orders, the .English manufacturers and merchants are advised to send their catalogue's and tariffs in triplicate to Comptoir National pour la Reprice de l'Activite Econornique en Belgique (SocieteCo-operative), 110, .Caniion Street, E.G. 4,.
De Dion' Spares.'
In Barimar's advertisement in our issue of the 18th April reference wasanade to a broken De Dion shaft, and details were given of a speedy repair •in which only a few hours elapsed between the breakage and the 're-creation of the fractured part by this established, welding concern. Incidentally, it was remarked that De Dion-Bouton, Ltd., could not supply,a spare to take its ! We are asked to make it clear that De DionBouton, Ltd., although not -in a position in this instance to supply a new part from stock, carry considerable stocks of spares „of most descriptions• ',
Clincher -Premises..
Once more the Government have found it necessary to take pOssession of an importantblock of business buildings and leave the ex-tenants to find a new home. It is but a week or two since the .Air Board took over half of Kingsway, and to-day we learn that the North British Rubber. Co.'s Great, Portland Street premises have been chosen as a home for a further Government extension.
The new address of the London tyre department will be 111-113, Great Titchfield Street, Oxford Street, W. ; whilethe export department, advertising and general manager's London office will be situated at 257-259, Oxford Street, close to Oxford Circus,
An Ambulance Gift.
The illustration 'which we reproduce herewith depicts. a Star motor ambulance which was recently presented by the members of the Bristol Liberal Club to the local branch of the British Red Cross Society.. The car, .which is equipped for
8 stretcher or 12 sitting cases, was constructed to Government specifications, and' needless to say, has proved a welcome addition to the local fleet. The idea of the presentation originated with the. chairman of the club, and was taken up so enthusiastically by the members that the president was able, in addition to presenting the bar, to hand to the Duchess of Beaufort a substantial cheque for the General Purposes Fund. The ambulance was supplied by Measias Barris and Resell, Ltd., the West Country commercial-motor specialists, of 141, Victoria Street, Bristol.
American Aeroplane Engine.
The President of the Packard Motor Car Co., of New York, has authority to state that the Liberty air-plane motor. now being produced in America in such large numbers, is the outcome of thive years work on the part of Packard engineers.
When the company undertook the development and production of a twelvecylinder automobile engine three yeses ago,. they also took up the manufacture of air-plane motors.: In June of last year this engine was offered to the Government. The power unit weighed about the . same as the present motor, but developed only 200 h.p.. French and British experts pointed out that far too great a factor of safety has been provided for, thereby adding onnecessarv weight to the engine. The engine had been constructed to pass the Government test, that is, a 50-hour block test running at a maximum load, or, in other words, that it should develop a maximum lip, for 50 consecotive hours without a stop.
When the French and British criticism was put before the company, it was pointed out that if they were allowed to reduce the -factor of safety they could produce an engine that would develop a greater h.p. per lb. They were instructed to go ahead on these lines, and as'a result a new engine which gives 1 h.p. for
1328 every 2 lb. was produced. In the re
designing of this motor it was necessary to alter some of the components embodied in the original engine, such as the oiling system, but in reality tbe., engine was of Packard manufacture. If. the Liberty air-plane motor is compared
with the Packard engine, the similarity
will at once he apparent. The redesigning was carried out in the matter of five days, which goes to prove that very few modifications were deemed necessary. The American Aircraft Production Board felt that it would be inadvisable for the furtherance of their war plaus to put this motor out in the name of the Packard Co., but, the credit for its design falls to this company.
Last quarter the L.C.C. had to pay £185 compensation in connection with tramway accidents..: Glasgow Corporation is considering the question of revising charges at its municipal motor garage.
Yorkshire Roads.
At the annual meeting of the Yorkshire Federation of Horse and Motor Vehicle Owners held at Keighley, the President (Mr. G. T. Tuke, of Leeds) stated that a deputation appointed by the Federation with instructions to interview the West Riding County Council with regard to the state of the roads in the county had been in communication with the County Surveyor, who had stated that, the time was most inopportune for the interview, and advised that the deputation should not trouble the Council at present. The Chairman said they had decided to follow. that course. 'En Leeds they. had quite a number of complaints " bottled up," but they did not 'mean to hamper the authorities any more than they could help. They knew the condition of affairs, and unless a place had become absolutely dangerous he thought it was their duty to put up with things. It was stated at the meeting that the Leeds Motor Hauliers and Contractors Association had joined the -Federation, their object, in doing so being in order that steps might be taken by the Federation and the Association to form a branch of the Federation of Motor Vehicle Owners.
Mellifluous Albions.
The Albion. Motor Works choirs have been faring well in the recent competition choral festival held in Glasgow under the auspices of the Scottish Engineering and Munition Worker.' Benevolent Institution, the motive of the festival being to assist in securing a fund of £50,000 to build, equip, and maintain a Sir Douglas Haig Field Hospital. The festival will be continued on 4th May, when the winning choirs will again
appear. So good were the three leading male-voice choirs that all three were selected for the final festival, these being the chairs at the Albion Motor Works, Singers, and John Brown and Co. In the class fir mixed voiced (male and female) the Albion choir took first place, the Fairfield. choir being second. . We are wondering if we cannot be there on 4th May !
Luggage Trailers.
The illustration we publish on page 218 depicts a new type of light luggage trailer which has been placed on the Market by Cox' S Light Trailer Co-, 6, Lansdowne Hill, West Norwood, S.E. This handy little trailer should be of great utility, more especially to private ear owners who are desirous .of turning their cars to aPcount for hauling' light but bulky goods. This should also prove of considerable use to farmers, allotment holders and market gardeners, and owners of country houses. It will enable a tradesman to convert any type of passenger ear, in a short space of time, into a load-carrying vehicle. The model illustrated 1.4 7 ft„in length, and is priced at 18 guineas, while two other smaller sizes, 5 ft. 6 ins., at 16 guineas, and 4 ft., at 12 guineas; are also being made. This latter size will perhaps be of more avail to haul behind the motorcycle .combination. The three sizes can be delivered ex stock.
Alldays and Onions Tangent Spoke Wheel.
A new type of steel wheel, introduced by Messrs. Alldays and Onions Co., Ltd.. of Birmingham, primarily for their General Purpose agricultural tractor, is regarded by them as also being quite suitable for employment on motor lorries, and in due course the production of wheels of the required sizes will be developed. It will be seen from our illustration that the rim of the wheel is built pp of a T-section steel, and that the spokes consist of strip, steel of suitable section. The spokes are" in one piece, from one side of the wheel to the other, and that they are arranged tangentially on each side of the wheel in three parallel pairs. The spokes cross, each other on the edge of the hub, where they are riveted to the hub. '1'he spokes are all bent to a template so As to be absolutely interchangeable, and no doubt the holes are also drilled to a template so as to secure this encl. In ease of spoke breakage, it is claimed that replacements can readily be made. As will be' seen, the wheel is essentially a tension wheel, the weight being borne by 10 spokes from the upper side of the wheel rim, whilst the driving strains are 'transmitted tangentially from hub to Tinl through a set of straight spokes.
The Leeds Corporation Tramways have commenced a parcel carrying scheme with a central depot in Swinegate, and 10 branches in the suburbs. For three years the Corporation has carried on the tramways the raw material of a fireclay company whose works are on the south " side of the city and mines and on the north.
The Bradford Corporation Tramways Parcel Carrying Department during the year ending 31st March, 1918, carried. 598,902 parcels, a decrease of 45,162 on the number carried in the previous year. The receipts amounted to £13,130, an in. , Crease of £2382.
Local Proceedings.
Sutton-at-Hone (Dartford) Parish Council is to purchase a motor fire-engine tender.
The L.C.C. has lent a motor fire escape , to the Tottenham U.D.C. at a charge of Ll a day.
In view of increased charges by carriers,-the L.C.C. has hired another twoton motor van.
Crawley's Agrimotor Co. have had building plans passed for additions to their works at Saffron Walden.
Richmond (Surrey) T.C. is applying to the Ministry of Munitions for a priority certificate fdr a steam wagon.
Ilford ILT.D.C. having been refused permission to to purchase a Ford ambulance, are now seeking to olitain a second-hand chassis .or ambulance vehicle: Morcambe Corporation has got a Provisional Order passed by Parliament authorizing the Council to .run an electric motor omnibus service.
Kirby Moorside (Yorks.) R.D.C. is considering a proposal to convert a, steam roller into a road tractor, and to purchase transport wagons.
Dora and Road Damage.
In the House of Commons last week, Mr. George Lambert asked the President of the Local Government Board if his at. tention has been directed to heavy motor liarrie,s damaging country roads, when labour and material are so deficient ; and whether any action can be taken-?—The Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board (Mr. Stephen Walsh): Attention has from time to time been directed to this question, and the difficulties Which road authorities are finding in maintaining roads under present conditions are. fully realized, although the department do not appear to have re-cently received complaints from such authorities with reference to heavy motor lorries. I may, at the same time, ref er.my right him friend to the recent Defence of the Realm Regulations Nos. 5a and Sc, and also to the circular issued by the War Office an the 9th ult. dealing with damage. to roads by timber and munitions traffi