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 by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier;
Petroleum Problems.
An Inter-Allied Petroleum Organization has been formed to consider and to deal with the petroleum problems of the Allies in connection with the war. A conference was recently held in Paris at which the following delegates were present:—
British Government: Professor J. Cadman (chairman), Mr. G. H. Ashdown, Mr. J. Graham.
United. States Government: Commander Paul Foley, U.S.N., Mr. L. I. Thomas. • French Government : Senator Berenger, the Marquis de Chasseloup-Laubat, Col.
Dive Lieut. Benard". . .
Italian Government 'Commander Tiani, Lieut. Farina, Lieut. Pozzo.
Secretary : Mr. Alexander Fraser.
The headquarters of the Inter-Allied Petrol Conference are in the offices of the Petroleum Executive, at 12, Berkeley Street, W. 1.
Tractor Attachment Sales.
Morris, Russell and Co., Ltd., 75, Certain ,Bead, London, E.G., have had, we understand, instructions to ship no less than 500 of the Eros tractor units for converting an ordinary Ford car into a farm tractor. The Ford, as is well known, is used very extensively in New Zealand, and this conversion set provides farmers with a ready means of acquiring a machine to do the work of a tractor. It will also be of passing interest to mention that during the first 15 days of May the sales of the Eros attachment reached a total of just over 1050.
Economical Transport.
The Metropolitan,Asylums Board has proved by experience the economy of motor transport in comparison with horse haulage. The goods carted in the past twelvemonth to a certain asylum totalled 5100 tons. The cost by motor," after allowing for depreciation, etc., comes out at £748. The cost of horse haulage, at the rates formerly ruling, but now increased, would have been £1336.
The date on and after which effect will be given to the new restriction, which makes it imperative for each reader to place an order for THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR with his newsvendor or to subscribe direct, is 24th ,lime.
We have learnt with much regret that the 20-year-old only son of Mr. Jac. Pedersen, of Firestone Tyres, was killed recently whilst fighting in Belgium. According to the chaplain's letter conveying the sad news, "his action at a very critical time largely helped to save the situation and enable others to form a good trench behind." Our sympathies are with Mr. Pedersen
More Lead for Batteries.
The Electric Vehicle Committee, acting in conjunction with the Accumulator Makers Section of the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers' Association, having represented to the Controller of the Priority Department of the Ministry of Munitions the desirability of increasing the amount of new lead allowed to be used in the repair and maintenance of batteries under the special battery permit issued to the accumulator manufacturers, where batteries for electric vehicles are concerned the Controller has now consented to an addition to clause 15 of the special battery permit held by members of the Accumulator Makers' Section of the 13.E.A.M.A., to come after the words; "not exceeding one cwt.," the words " or in the case of electric storage batteries used as the motive power for propelling electric vehicles 3 cwt., and provided always, etc."
This addition has been designed to enable accumulator manufactnrers, who are makers of electric storage batteries for use on electric vehicles, to repair and maintain the same without the necessity of individual application for permits being made to the Priority Department.
No Priority for Sparking Plugs.
The Ministry of Munitions (Priority Department) has just issued an order which will enable sparking plugs up to the value of £10 to he obtained when required in connection with motor vehicles and cycles, provided the machines are utilized in any of the permitted classes, without a priotity certificate, provided a signed declaration is obtained from the user.
Tractor Ploughing Figures.
The Government tractors are being put to a variety of uses in addition to ploughMg. In Cornwall, for example, during the week ended 26th April, 227, acres were ploughed, 526 acres cultivated, some rolling of wheat land done,' some threshing and circular saw driving for timber work.. A statement of the work done to date in Cornwall by the Government tractors shows 52414 acres ploughed and 1262 acres,cultivated—or a total of 5842 acres. ploughed.
Tim winning tractor in Yorkshire for the competition last month was a Fordson, which did 86 acres. Six tractors of the York unit averaged 19.16 acres in the week ended 3rd May ; -one tractor cultivated 110acres in 47 hours.
A Titan working in the Holland area of Lincolnshire in four successive weeks did 3 acres of heavy harrowing, 100i acres of cultivating, 20 acres of heavy duckfoot harrowing, 186k acres of double disc harrowing, 15L acres of 6 in, ploughing, and 14 acres of 8 in. ploughing—a total of 338i acres, or an average of sq acres per week. The hours totalled 326L an aver-age of 84 hours weekly.
Mexico's Petroleum Possibilities.
According to reports, not one-tenth of the petroleum produced in Mexico is nailized—or rather that could be produced by already existing wells. There are many wells that have a capacity of ten, twenty and thirty thousand barrels daily, yet 'which are only utilized to about 10 per cent. thereof. This is due to lack of means for conveying the oil by pipe line, etc., topoints of embarkation, as well as to lack of shipping for carrying it to points of consumption in various portions of the world. Many of the smaller companies have as a result been obliged to offer their product for as little as 10, 12 and 15 cents per barrel, when at the same time it was worth in the American market from a dollar per barrel upward. Various companies with producing wells have preferred to store their oil or to shut off production in the hope of better prices which will _follow better facilities for shipment.
Another new oil well has just been struck in the Alamodistrict, near Panne°, which at a depth of 2115 ft. yields about 10,000 barrels daily. The first, indication of .oil was encountered at 1860 ft. This is only one of many wells 'being drilled by foreign concerns, and is regarded as •proof of the belief of the owners in the stability of conditions and • -satisfaction with the petroleum laws.
Land Women. and Tractors.
Six new women tractor drivers have recently begun work in the Isle of Ely, and the tractor representative reports most favourably upon them. A new tractor training centre for women has beemi started at Oxted. The work of the women on! the Fordson tractors in the Holland area of Lincolnshire is "spoken highly of." The chairman of the Labour Committee reported that the women had given great satisfaction, and other members of the committee stated that their land had been ploughed " splendidly" by the women and the Fordson.
At. the end of this month one of the motor companies of The Hague is beginning a service of electric taxis, which will be continued during the shortage of petrol.
Bradford Education Committee is arranging classes in motor mechanics for disabled men, it being understood that the remuneration of the instructor Will be fixed by the National Service Committee.
' 'Wolverhampton T.C. has passed building plans • for the Goal Square Motor Co.. (Stafford) for alterations and to build a petrol store in Blister' Street,' also building plans for the Briton Motor Co., Ltd., for a dope store and sheds in Walsall Street. '
COMMERCIAL MOTOR Italian Motor Lorry Parks.
• It is quite reasonable to suppom that a motor vehicle just turned out from the factory is in the best Mechanical condi
tion, and in all respects fit for immediateservice. It is not in accordance with
the military ?system,. however, to sendlarries---or for that matter, touring cars --direct from their home of production to the Front. 3logt of the Army authorities prefer to attend to the detail equipment of the motor vehicles themselves, rather. than to leave this matter in the hands of the firms building the chassis or fitting the body.
• After thOmachines are delivered to the Army authorities a branch of the ALT. service is entrusted with the task of completely equipping the lorries, this equipment comprising the lamps and lampbrackets, tools, spare parts, spare tyres, reserve fuel tank, pick, shovel, rope, jack, etc.
After being equipped and individually inspected, the lorries are formed into groups or columns, a travelling kitchen and a workshop are attached to each unit. An officer's touring car, and in • some cases a motorcycle also, is allotted ion the group, and finally the officers and men take over the group of lorries thus formed into a self-contained and independent unit capable of going into the field and maintaining themselves for a considerable length of time.
In order to do this work vast numbers of motor vehicles have to be gathered together' in a central open-air park. The more important of these parks often contain more than a thousand vehicles of several different makes, and in various stages of preparation. These huge openair parks provoke a deal of interest, the lorries, ambulances, tractors, touring cars, mobile kitchens, trailers, workshop lorries, etc. being neatly aligned according to make and type. As fast. as. one completely equipped column moves away, another one takes its place to he equipped, and in its turn to move off to " somewhere at the Front."
Logging by Commercar.
The accompanying illustration shows one of a. fleet of Commercar lorries engaged in hauling logs from a forest to railhead nine miles distant. This vehicle shown is a 41-tonner which carries a full: load of 20 ft. legs, and the men are members of the Canadian Forestry Corps. The lorries belong to COMmei.cial Car Hirers, Ltd., 3unction Road, Highgate, N., the contractors for the work, who are doing larger contracts of a similar kind tji a considerable mimber of rural districts. The lorries employed are all 1908-9 models and each vehicle makes six trips a day, the full fleet delivering a steady average of 80 tons of logs per day. The whole operation of felling the trees and loading the sawn logs shown on the fully loaded lorry is a matter of a few minutes only for eight men.
A Food Fleet.
A fleet of 60 wagons, representing a tonnage capacity of approximately 350 tons, has been grouped together by the North and East Lancashire C.M.U..A. at the request of the Divisional Food Commissioner of the North-west Area, to cope with the congestion of foodstuffs arriving by convoy at Manchester and Liverpool Docks. This fleet will considerably assist the railway companies which are mit en tirely able to cope with the traffic. The rapid removal of a large tonnage to the distance of 31) miles from the ports facilitates even distribution and prevents waste.
Murphy Concentrates on Cylinders.
We are advised that Mr. S. J. Murphy, the inventor of the " Safe " gas storage cylinder for motor vehicles, will in future devote his whole energies to the management of the Murphy Submarine Pipe Line and Flexible Tube Co.' Ltd., of Drogheda, Ireland, paying particular at tention to the " Safe " cylinder developments. He was for some time the guiding spirit of the.Tonlode Manufacturing Co., of Drogheda, the introducers mid makers of the Tonkde chassis adapter, the Tonlode safety tractor coupling, etc. His new duties, however, have compelled him to relinquish his connection with this latter concern.
There is a milk-trade boom in West Wales. More milk is being produced in the Western Counties than ever, and there is great competition for the sup plies. Difficulties of transport of this commodity are being overcome in country districts by the use of motor lorries.
30th May, 1918.Tractor Competition.
The following is the result in order of output or equivalent acreage ploughed (cultivating being , reckoned as thres acres to one ploughed) of the tractors which took part in the Food Production Department's second monthly competition. The bracketed figures denote the acreage ploughed in each instance :— Ferdson (1.43), Lincolnshire Emereon {mop, Lincolnshire; Overtime (1341), Hereford; Titan (12511, Norfolk; Titan (1181), Essex; Titan .(117), Oxford; Parrett •(104D, East Suffolk; Emerson (971), Isle of Ely; Mogul (97), Dorset; and Parrett (96), Hants;
Ford Tank.
There is one thing about the Feed people that marks them as progressive— they are always doing things. The latest curiosity which emanates from the Detroit marvel-factory is the Ford "Twoman Tank," illustrations of which are given on this page. The first model of this strange vehicle, -numbers of which be produced by the Ford Motor Co. if tests prove satiefactory, was revealed to public gaze at Springfield, Mass., re• cently, and is illustrated herewith. Experimental work on the tank hae been prognessing for eome time under the supervision of C. H. Martin' of the Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Co., Springfield, its inventor, and it is understood that three machines are now being constructed for the Ordnance Department and Quartermaster Corps.
Neither armour nor armament is shown, and it is understood that details have not been elecided as yet. It is likely, however, that the tank, when in fighting trim, will carry about 1200 lb. of armour and two machine guns. It is to be manned by two men, and it speed will be about 12 m.p.h. on smooth going and slightly less on rough going. In construction all the essential elemeats of the Ford chassis are retained with the exception of the running gear. In place of wheels there are two endless 'belts running over a series of idler pulleys and driven through sprockets which in turn are driven off the Ford rear axle. The method of steering and other details are not disclosed.
It is stated that the little tank will do practically anything its big brothers will do in the way of climbing obstacles in proportion to its size, and that it will succ.essfully negotiate almost any kind of bad going.
Laundry Transport.
Some time ago the public were informed that the time was fast approaching when laundry prOprietori throughout the country would be compelled by the increasing restrictions and demands on transport to adopt simultaneous collection and,delivery of all hou4ehold laundry goods. That time has now come, as by an order issued by the Road Transport Board (Northern Division), owing to the urgent necessity of reducing the use of petrol, horses and labour the laundry industry is to make only one journey per week to customers for household work.
Volunteer Drivers Wanted.
Middlesex Motor Volunteers have organized the heavy transport in the county which they represent, and have met with a most patriotic response on the part of owners of mechanical transport, who have freely allowed their cars and lorries to be enrolled. An Army Council instruction makes it necessary to provide two drivers to each vehicle' so that although the drivers are usually furnished with their lorries, there is still a shortage of drivers. As practically every man UP to 50, if not in the Army, will be expected to take up some form of national service, the suggestion offers the best means for an ewnet-driver to make use of his ex
perience. The drills are few and the duties light, so that the men will not find the work onerous.. No. 3 Company of the Central Group (.11 M.V.) is not yet lip to the full strength in drivers. Captain Regnart, care of Messrs. Maple and Co. Tottenham Court goad, W., will be glad to furnish further particulars to any owner-drivers who may be interested.
"Practical Flying."
The first impression of "Practical Flying " was disposed of entirely to the bookselling trade before the Whitsuntide vacation and is now being rapidly sold out. A second impression was immediately put in hand and is now ready, but the price has had to be increased to 5s.
Since the price of 3s. 9d. was decided 'upon the contents of the book were considerably increased by the inclusion of additional matter and illustrations. The result was that the amount and cost of the Paper consumed rose by 30 per cent. In order, however, to keep faith with announcements regarding the book, the first impression was sold at the original price, but the correct price of 5s. net will be charged for the second impression. If prompt application is made it will be possible to secure copiea of the first impres
sion at 3s. 9d. from booksellers who have a stock..
" Practical Flying "is the first instructional manual on the Service course of tuition for the R.A.F. It is very lucidly written in simple terms and gives the ordinary reader an excellent explanation of why an aeroplane flies and how it is flown.
Copies may be obtained from any bookseller or direct from our offices, price 5s. net, post free 5s. 3d.
Ambulance Presentation.
The illustration we reproduce herewith shows a Hupinobile ambulance recently supplied by Mr. W. Munford, automobile eeeineer and body builder, of Ply mouth. The engine is fitted with a selfstarter, and electric light, is employed throughout. A fire bell is also fitted-. The internal arrangements are, we understand, very complete. The body is arranged to accommodate four stretchers, and is fitted with Carter's elevating gear. A flag day was partly responsible for a large portion of the purchase price of the machine. The ambulance was recently publicly presented and a demonstration. was carried out, H. Edmonds and Co., 123, Southampton Street, Camberwell, London, SE., have recently issued g new list covering a large range of goods which can be supplied ex stock.
Local Proceedings.
Stratford-on-Avon T.C. is to purchase a motor fire-engine.
Newbury R.D.C. has decided in favour of purchasing a tractor and two trailers.
Derbyshire C.C. is to purchaSe two steam wagons at a cost not exceeding £2000: A special coininittee of Chelmsford T.C. is to inquire into the question of mechanical v. horse traction.
A sub-committee of the Aberdeen T.C. is to consider the advisability of procuring a motor turbine fire-engine.
Walthamstow *C.D.°. has accepted the tender of Clayl.w.. and Shuttleworth, Ltd., at £993, for a five-ton Clayton steam wagon, fitted with mechanical tipping gear, and constructed to take a 1000 gallon watering tank.
. New Tyre Depot.
We are asked by Chas. Macintosh and Co., Ltd., to announce the establishment of a depot for Macintosh band tyres at 9, Colston Avenue, Bristol. This we have pleasure in doing and have no Zoubt that the many users of this well-known brand of tyres who are located in the West of EnFland will much appreciate the extra facilities offered by this latest opening-not less useful will it be to prospective purchasers.