One Hears
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That London motorbus companies may shortly be facing the problem of how to " wrap up " their profits.
That the first. Gamage-Bell Napier cab has got its licenceplate.
That the du Cros cab garage at Acton is probably the finest establishment of its kind in the world.
That a French motorcab company, which talks about ru ming 1,000 French cabs in London, has carefully selected ar AllBritish title.
That H. J. Randall, the Paddington coppersmith, is turning out 250 sets of motorcab mudwings and 100 metal weatherscreens every week.
That one never hears the speed-alarms on London'.5 new motorbuses—that the alarms, in other words, don't alarm anybody but the drivers.
That Mr. Edward Manville, the genial chairman cf the Daimler Co., inadvertently drove right over a cyclist noe long ago, that the cyclist didn't mind a bit, but that the cycle did.
That the way in which THE COMMERCIAL Mo-roa now leads every other motor journal, in the matter of extract g and quotations from its pages, is making a considerable impression
throughout the industry.
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That this year's output of " Sentinel " wagons from Alley and McLellan's works, at Polmadie, is likely to exceed that of any other maker save one, and that the pre-eminent one has his works at Sandbach.
That the Editor did not go back to Liverpool after the publication of our Royal-Show issue because so many of the exhibitors were thirsting for his blood, but that lie sent one of his assistants instead ! [This is a mere showyard rumour. —En.] That the Kensington Borough Council, which is irviting residents to promise to make affidavits about noisy motor wagons in the Royal Borough. has been rather taken aback by offers with reference to an offending wagon which belongs to one of its own departments. That several of the old Vanguard staff are now learning to fly.
That if more motors were registered in the borough of Bolton there might be fewer prosecutions for trivial technical infractions of the Heavy Moter ('Sr Order.
That several Bolton police constables frequently lie in wait all night long, in the hope of catching a few wagon drivers during the early hours of the morning, that they " bagged " cases—on one such occasion—which added £50 to the borough treasury, and that the hearings (sic) did not occupy the magistrates for more than 15 minutes !
That certain people who have for several years unsuccessfully laboured to cause trouble and black times for the C.M.U.A. might well take to heart the passage in Mr. Roosevelt's Romance lecture where he remarked that no man is more apt to be mistaken than the prophet of evil !
That the designs of some new implements " at Liverpool indicated that their sponsors are either not capable of making intelligent observations of other makers' practice, or are reluctant to profit by other builders' experience, and that bearing springs, notwithstanding the protestations of parties who do not fit them to their machines, really are necessary for agricultural motors and tractors.
That more makers of tractors than one disregard the fact that the Hon. W. A. Deane had virtually to adhere to the London-York-London line of travel, that the time at his disposal for visits was strictly limited, that his initial purchases are primarily for the purpose of testing distinctive types, that intended South-African developments will mean numerous large orders later on, and that he is now well on his way Lack to the Cape.
That some of the drivers of the " W. and G." motorcabs erroneously came to the conclusion that our " Points for Taxicab T7sers " were produced under the segis of Messrs. W. and C. du Cros, because we had included a picture of a Napier cab on the front page of the leaflet, that steps were taken officially to undeceive them without delay, and that they now realize that THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR does these things "off its own bat," and does them well.
That new tramway construction is virtually at a standstill.
That motorbus finance is more attractive than that of the motorcab at the moment, That " The Liverpool Daily Post " referred only to this journal's Royal-Show issue, That the Manchester Ship Canal Co. should extend through rates in connection with growing motor-borne freights.
That, their apparent quietness notwithstanding, Sidney Straker and, Lionel Robert Littler Squire are selling vans and lorries in satisfactory numbers.
That the percentage of rubber put into some solid-rubber tires nowadays is not what it used to be, and that nobody knows the ratio to the 1908 figure.
That the new general manager of the Brussels General Omnibus Co. paid a "flying " visit to town early last week. hut thathe really crossed and recrossed the Channel by boat.
That the hydraulic tipping gear that is fitted to one of the " Sentinel " wagons which was at the show filled with envy many an old driver whose vehicle has a tipping gear of the " back-ache " type.
That one of London's principal motorcab companies is about to secure publicity for its services by means of a navel advertising dodge, and that the L.G.O. Co., the tubes and the L.C.C. are not to have things all their own way in this direction.
That some people are keen to see the Motor Union maintain its present separate existence, that there cannot he an amalgamation with another body if both sides adhere to preconceived and fixed ideas of terms, and that if personalities are introduced an intellectually-honest discussion will be as far removed from the attainable as inflexible attitudes make one an impossibility in polities or religion. That the C.M.U.A. will not continue to pay away half its income to the Motor Union.
That both Sir George Gibb and CM. Crompton intend to give a return for that 10. a gallon.
That efforts to imitate our old-standing feature of " Answers to Queries " have produced little but " That London Borough Councils might with advantage copy the excellent lead of the Barnes U.D.C. in the matter of woodpaving r;ce macadam.
That Scotland Yard should let notices be put inside taxicabs to inform " fares " that the driver should either " clock the extras " or not collect them.
That Mr. Arthur Spurrier represented (?) heavy-vehicle interests in the recent procession of 10,000 suffragettes through London, and that he looked very nice.
That not all the kicking against the petrol tax was genuine, and that Mr. William Stanway, of Manchester, was not, given credit for what he did in the matter.
That, when Mr. Fred. Lanehester—the " L " of the Daimler " K.P.L." motorbus—enters the Coventry drawing office, all the draughtsmen immediately lock up all their loose plant— especially pencils.
That, outside Hamilton's garage at Highclere, on the Newbury-Andover road, in Hampshire, there is a large noticehoard displaying the words " Repairs to the Berkshire Automobile Club," but that, as that club is both strong and wealthy, it really doesn't need repairs, That it is time Newbury bought a motor fire-engine, since, during a recent heavy thunderstorm, in answer to a false alarm arising from an alarm-post's being struck by lightning, a fireman, who had been to fetch a horse from somewhere in the town, was, together with his mount, incapacitated by a succeeding flash.