Fire-Brigade Matters.
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Huddersfield has not yet decided to purchase a motor-driven fire-engine.
Lincoln's new Dennis has been accepted, after appropriate tests and trial runs, by the Watch Committee of the City Council. Councillor C. W. Pennell demonstrated to his colleagues his ability skilfully to handle the machine at high speeds. Leith Burgh has just taken delivery of its second Halley fire-pump.
The Superintendent of the Wimbledon Fire Brigade has, on the instructions of the Watch Committee, drawn up a report upon the efficiency and cost of motor fire-engines and escapes. Copies of the report have been sent to the members of the Committee.
The Ormesby U.D.C. has under consideration a scheme for the re-equipment of its fire-brigade. The surveyor has reported that a motor engine will cost the Council .C1,320.
More Engines for Glasgow.
The four new Halley fire-pumps for Glasgow—to the order for which we referred in our last issue—are of an improved pattern to the original machine that was supplied to that corporation some time ago. They will be of the 70 h.p. type, and the pumps will have a capacity of 430 gallons.
Waltha.mstow U.D.C.
The Fire Brigade Committee of Walthamstow U.D.C. reports that it. has considered a specification prepared by the Superintendent for the supply of additional fire appliances and has decided to recommend that tenders he invited for one motor combination hose-tender, chemical engine, and fireescape.
Powerful Brighouse Machine.
Brighouse Corporation has ordered a 100 h.p. six-cylinder motor-driven lire-pump, from John Morris and Sons, Ltd. of Manchester. This machine is to have a 500-gallon turbine pump, and is to carry a 55 ft. escape. The complete equipment is to cost -£1,020. Horse-hire for the superseded machines cost the corporation an annual sum in excess of £200.
It was at the Motor Club a few Rights ago. One prominent personage in the S.M.M.T. was jocularly reminding a very popular Irishman that some years ago an invitation had been extended to him to go to Ireland for some duck-shooting, but that at the time he was obliged to decline. Re now remarked sententiously "I've still got the same gun," and Ireland's witty representative promptly responded : " Come over, my boy, when you like ;
I've still got the same duck."
It was natural that I should look in at the Engineering Exhibition when I was in Manchester last week, but I hardly expected there to find a host of friends. The first one I met who is associated with the moter business was the secretary of Drummond Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, just on a flying visit.. Drummonda have a very fine exhibit of tools, including the new motor-repairing lathe for garages, a wonderfully-comprehensive tool. I then ran into Mr. Jarvis, of Wadkin and Co., of Leicester, who are showing, amongst other things, the Polyrhoe carburettor, which is growing rapidly in popularity. I also noticed E. G. Wrigley and Co., the gear specialists, of Birmingham, who were showing a good range of work for heavy motors. Cunliffe and Cream,
Ltd., exhibited lathes.
My eye was then gladdened by the sight of Mr. George W. Grimshaw, who will be remembered as the head and forefront of the Critchley-Norris Motor Co., Ltd., of Bamber Bridge ; he is out of the motor trade now, but is as beaming as ever and with a homegrown orchid in his button-hole--he has never been seen without one. I suppose it acts as a kind of mascot. Anyhow it was good to see him there exhibiting a range of pneumatic hammers, manufactured by the company of which he is the managing director-Peter Pilkington, Ltd., of Bamber Bridge. A capital idea at this company's stand was a tiny working model of a pneumatic hammer—not above 6 in. high—the intermittent tapping of which attracted much attention. In conversation with Mr. Grimshaw, I learned that business is prospering, and that his concern is now also making oil or tar burning furnaces which are very suitable for motor manufacturers for the purposes of tempering, annealing, forging and brazing. For a later issue I am promised some details rf these furnaces and illustrations which are sure to prove interesting.
A crowd of spectators was always round the exhibit of the Acetylene Illuminating Co., Ltd., because demonstrations of the new welding process were going on most of the time, and, through a screen of coloured glass, the operator could be observed, wearing a mask with eye protectors inset, and, as may be guessed, looking somewhat weird ; he was engaged in the mending of damaged crankcases, cylinders and general engineering repairs, some jobs of aluminium, some of steel and others of cast-iron. Many apparently hopeless breakages were successfully repaired.
It used to be said of Gladstone that whenever he was at a dinner party the place where he sat soon became the head of the table. This came to my mind as I talked the other day to Mr. Reginald Clayton, the builder of Karrier cars, because without the advantages of central location this young company is undoubtedly rapidly moving along, not yet at the head of the table but making great strides, and it is always a delight to me to observe the energy and enterprise displayed by its chief. As I have said, Huddersfield is not an ideal town for business, the best one can say is that it is practically equi-distant between Manchester and Leeds, but no matter, Clayton and Co., Ltd., is making it a centre, and is identifying it with most excellent motorvans, lorries, etc. I now hear of motor ambulances, and I could see for myself endless work going through, and additional buildings just about ready to receive a large consignment of the latest machine tools. The Clayton concern will get on because its management is proceeding on sound lines.