The Wheels of Industry.
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This journal, dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with the "Wheels of Industry," is now of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the parcelcar,
the steam wagon and the ambulance.
The annual general meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England will be held at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, on Wednesday next.
New Registrations.
Thomson-Bennett (Magnetos), Ltd. (25000. Office at Arden Works, Cheapside, Birmingham.
Motor Transport (Southern Counties), Ltd. (25000), by J. K Nye and Donne, to take over the business of T. Smith, Bath Street, Brighton.
Proposals and Purchases.
Ilford D.C. has decided to take no action at present with regard to the provision of a motor ambulance.
Bradford Guardians are asking Messrs. Chalmers to tender for a motor ambulance simila-r to those supplied to the M.A.B.
Edinburgh Electric Lighting Committee has decided to purchase an electric motor lorry at a cost not exceeding 2700.
Walthamstow U.D.C. has been recommended to obtain tenders for the supply of two Ford chassis and bodies suitable for the removal of bedding.
The manager of the West Ham Tramways has received nine quotstions for the supply of a chassis for a motor tower wagon, and will accept one of the two lowest offers, namely that from Commercial Cars Ltd., or that from Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd., subject to satisfactory arrangements being made as to delivery.
In Liquidation.
The Haynes Motor Co., Ltd. (.'unningham Motors, Ltd. and the West Lancashire Motor do., Ltd., are to be wound up voluntarily. The respective liquidators are : A. Burrows, 39, Walbrook, E.C. H. Steele, 38-40, Lloyd Street, Manchester, and F. S. Marsh, 13, Hoghthn Street, Southport.
Our Fund.
The "Campaign Comforts" Fund which we started in October continues to receive merited support. Initial consignments of all classes (suitable tobacco, cigarettes, gloves, matches and woollen supplies) are by now landed in France. Large further supplies are on the way to Southampton for shipment. We are confining ourselves to the 14,800 men of the A.S.C., M.T. Pages 248250 tell how the gifts steadily increase, and convey other information of concern to those who give donations. More money is wanted.
We reproduce herewith one of the badges which are issued to the mea of the Dennis factory at Guildford, and of which badges, following our earlier references to the Thornycroft 0.H.M.S. badges, we mad..) passing mention in our issue of the 19th ult.
The Dennis Mez:ing.
Further to our announcement --last week of the Dennis profits for the year ended the Wilt September last, we have now to record that the annual meeting of the company duly took place, and passed off successfully. Mr. Raymond Dennis gave interesting particulars with regard to the lousiness in hand, and particularly concerning orders from the War Office and the L.C.C. Fire Brigade.
British Tires.
Remarkable strides have been made of late by British manufacturers of solid-rubber tires, to the end that they may cope adequately with the enormous demands that are being experienced. From Manchester, for example, we learn of extraordinary activity at the Macintosh and Shrewsbury-Challiner factories. Placed as these works are in the centre of a huge industrial area, the local calls for tire supplies are alone enough to neces
sitate big increases of output capacity, but we are satisfied that the above-mentioned works have deservedly received a wonderful accession of new business from all over the United Kingdom.
Battery Charging.
The Electric Vehicle Committee of the Incorporated Electrical Association, of which Mr. F. Ayton, Electric Supply Station, Ipswich, is hon. sec., is now ready to issue the Committee's standard sign for charging stations and garages where facilities are provided for charging battery vehicles.
Ex Speedometer House.
We learn that Mr. C. A. Smith, a director of S. Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd., who safely went through the bombardment of Antwerp, has received a commission in His Majesty's Forces. There are now 40 of Messrs. Smith and Sons' staff at the Front Cr in training, and one of these, Mr. ManbY, who was wounded during the battle of Mons, is reported to be making favourable progress in hospital towards recovery.
Inst. A.E.
The Institution of Automobile Engineers is keenly alive to the difficulties which surround the motor manufacturer at the present time in respect of his supplies of raw material, notably of steel castings, forgings and stampings. In order to make another• effort to ascertain what the solution of the difficulty is likely to be, Mr. Pomeroy is to read another paper in Birmingham on the same lines as that which he recently placed before the Institution in London. Messrs. Boardman, the wellknown house furnishers of Stratford, have placed_ a further repeat order for a a2 h.p. four-ton Albion, to be delivered as soon as possible a ft& the requirements of the W.D. are satisfied. It is 8 years since this firm placed the order for its first Albion machi en, and when the new machine is delivered they will have ;seven.
Thornyerofts for Ambulance Stores.
One of the photographs we reproduce on this page is of two standard Thornycroft vehicles which have just been delivered to the British Red Cross Society for service in France. They are of the 24 h.p. "ST" type, fitted with sheet van bodies, and capable of carrying 24 cwt. net load. The vans are being used on the Continent for the carriage of hospital stores in connection with a large Red Cross hospital near Paris.
A Commer Tip Wagon.
We publish an illustration this week of a tipping wagon, a type which is being increasingly used by municipalities and building con tractors ; this example is from the Luton works of Commercial Cars, Ltd., and is destined for abroad. This company has constructed quite a considerable number of similar machines in the past. The tipping mechanism is operated by a vertical telescopic screw, driven by totally-enclosed worm gear placed abaft the gearbox ; the front part of the main shaft is extended to accommodate a steel arm, driving' a phosphor-latonze worm keyed to the screw spindle. The gear is thrown in and out of action by means of dog clutches operating alternatively from the ground or from the driver's seat.
Position of Salesmen.
Salesmen who are engaged on the heavy-motor side of the industry are at, the present time not placed very advantageously. The one big 'customer of many manufacturers, and in some casesthe only customer, is the Government.. Difficulties have arisen, as a result. of this state of affairs, in keeping salesmen and members of the sales staffs fully occupied. We are advised of certain material reductions in salaries, but we ourselves believe that the leading makers, by reason of their' remunerativeoccupation upon production for the War Department, have only in comparatively-few instances enforced reductions upon good men who have been with them for any length of time. It is certainly not a propitious time for men to seek to change round.
We have before us, at the time of writing, several examples of good men seeking employment in the tire trade. The conditions in that branch of the industry are unique. e26 A few of these applications have been lodged with us for personal assistance concerning responsible employees of companies which relied upon Germany for their sup plies. If, therefore, any of our friends in the British tire trade are looking at the moment for representatives who are possessed of the requisite experience, we are in a position to help them to fill those requirements Inquiries should be addressed to the Editor, and marked "Personal." One gentleman, who is anxious to take up new work in this capacity, has covered the whole of the ground in the north and north-west of England with great success, and is well known to many of the principal users of both large and small fleets of commercial vehicles.
, The present steam fire-engine belonging to Southampton Town Council is to be converted, for 4750, by Messrs. Merryweather from its present horse-drawn state to a self-propelled one. "Signalling and Map-reading Made Easy."
A further addition to The Regiment" Library dealing with the important subjects of signalling and map-reading will be published immediately, price 6d. net or 7d. post free from this office. Splitdorf Magnetos.
The Splitdorf Electrical Co., makers of the Splitdorf magnetos, etc., whose works are at, Newark, N.J., are removing their London offices to 162, Great Portland Street., W.
U.S A. Standards.
The Standards Committee of the American Society of Automobile Engineers is to recommend a number of new standards for acceptance at its next national meeting, the 6th and 7th January. The standards affected include those of ball and roller bearings, carburet. ter fittings, commercial-motor road wheels, electric vehicles, elec trical equipment, springs, and "truck standards."
New Thornyeroft Catalogue.
An interesting publication just to hand is the new Thornycroft catalogue of commercial vehicles. Artistically got up and admirably arranged, it forms a handy reference and complete guide to the various models now standardized by this old-established maker. Loadbearing capacities of from 15 cwt. to five tons are covered thereby, and a table of running costs is also included. Interested readers should ask for a copy.
National for Hammersmith.
The Cartage Committee of the Hammersmith Borough Council is taking advantage of the opportunity which has been created by the impressment of 16 horses and vans by the W.D. to initiate its own experiment in connection with motor haulage. Of three types of motor vehicles submitted by the Borough Surveyor as being the most suitable in his opinion for the Council's work, the Committee has settled upon the offer of the National Steam Car Co. as being the most economical. The running costs as stated by that company are 6.2d. per mile, as against 8.6d and 9d, in other offers.
Continental Tyre Co.
In the House of Commons last week, Mr. Arthur Stanley asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he was aware that all the shares of the Continental Tyre Co. were held in Germany with the exception. of two, one of which was held by the manager who was now fighting for the Germans' and whether he would consider the advisability of appointing a receiver to collect and hold the money due to this company from firms in the United Kingdom. Mr. Runciman : I am aware that practically all the shares of the Continental Tyre and Rubber Co:, Ltd., are held in Germany. An inspector was appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act, and as soon as his report is received I will consider whether any further action by the Board of Trade is necessary.
In the House of Commons last week Mr. Watt asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Anglo-Portuguese Commercial Treaty now before Parliament would solve the difficulty, so long experienced by British motorcar manufacturers, of getting these articles and parts thereof into Portugal on the same terms as French manufacturers under the Most-Favoured-Nation Clause.
Sir Edward Grey : The answer is in the affirmative, but the Treaty has not yet been ratified.
Hora's Trai/er.
The actual photograph repro, duced on this page is of an interesting type of aeroplane trailer, of which large batches are being built for the Admiralty by E. and bra, Ltd. Other trailers have been built with box sides, open tops and ends, and wire wheels with W.arland rims. The platform and axle width of the latest type is stated to be ample to carry two biplanes in sections. The photograph shows one of the first batch.
D. Napier and Son, Ltd., is the recipient of an agreeable communication from Colonel Sekreteff, the chairman of the Russian War Commission which was recently purchasing material in this country. This officer speaks of the " quick, accurate and special "execution of the order given to Naniers by the Russian War Minister. In the Course of four weeks, five days be
fore schedule,the complete order for 112 machines was delivered. These included heavy transport vehicles, ambulances, headquarter staff cars, and travelling workshops. A further large quantity of Napier light lorries has been orclerea by the Russian Government. The first consignment of these machines is shown in the photograph which is reproduced on page 253.