News and Comment.
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This journal is extensively read by the heads °I many wealthy commercial houses.
A number of interesting particulars with regard to a little-known process, viz., the manufacture of balls for modern ball bearings, are given in an article which has been specially written for this journal ; it appears on pages 86 to 88 of this issue.
Belsize Motors, Ltd., recently offered for public subscription 100,000 six per cent. cumulative preference shares at 21. This money is intended chiefly for replacing the second debentures and loans amounting to 269,600. The dividend on the ordinary capital of this company for the last two years has been 10 per cent. per annum.
The C.M.U.A. Parade conditions for 1913 are published in this issue. Last week we drew attention to several interesting improvements which have been made in connection with these rules. The entry form which is reproduced on page 91 may, if deemed necessary, be used. Other copies can be obtained from the Secretary of the Commercial Motor Users Association, 89, Pall Mall, S.W.
"The Motor Manual."
Owners of petrol-driven commercial motors will find that breakdowns can be lessened, if drivers have a well-grounded knowledge of the working of the internal-combustion engine. There is no better way of acquiring this knowledge than by a careful study of that standard handbook on the petrol vehicle" The Motor Manual," of which a new edition, the 15th, has just been published by Temple Press Ltd. Our leading articles this week deal with the following topical subjects : (1) " Extortion in the Suburbs ; " (2) The Unconquerable Air ; " (3) " Shall the Buses Pay for the Roads ? " (4) "Railway Companies and Passenger Transport by Road ; " (5) "Repair-shop Equipment and Factory Plant."
Lacre Works Extensions.
Elsewhere in this issue we are able to reproduce the architect's plans for extensive additions to the already large works belonging to the Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd., of Letchworth. The contemplated extensions will result. in the doubling of the existing plant. For some time now it has been necessary to run day and night shifts in the Lacre works, and the increased facilities have become a necessity. The output for September, we are informed, constitutes a record for the company. See page 98.
An order of the Local Government Board has been issued assigning the index mark LH to London for motorcar registration purposes.
The index for volume XV is now ready, and can be supplied to those readers who wish to have their copies of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR bound.
We gratefully acknowledge receipt of three votes for the case of the boy O'Hea from H. W. Smoothy. Any votes, boy's or girl's, received by us before the 10th inst. will be most acceptable.
Saunderson and Mills, Ltd. (late Saunderson and Gifkins), of Elstow Works, Bedford, advises us that it is exceptionally busy and that the order book is full for several months ahead. Mr. Gifkins has retired from the original partnership owing to pressure of his other private business.
!Deep Ploughing:with a Marshall. Marshall, Sons and Co., Ltd.. ,advises us that it has been carrying r out some deep ploughing and sub. soiling operations. in the neighbourhood of Gainsborough with one of the F. class oil tractors. Two furrows 22 in. wide, and of an average depth of 19 in., were cut. The plough was fitted with two subsoil tines, which penetrated to a depth of 6 in. below the bottom of each furrow. A combination of this kind is specially designed to prepare waste land for the cultivation
of sugar beet.. The tractor, it is almost needless to add, went through the test without a hitch.
French Agrimotor Trials.
Our Paris correspondent notifies us that the Bourges Agrimotor Exhibition, which opened last week, is largely modelled on that of two years ago, but that the scope of the exhibition has been very largely increased. Amongst new features, he says, one of the most interesting is the model farm, upon which every possible use is made of power derived from internal-combustion engines. A fair of second-hand motor vehicles and accessories is certainly a novelty, and this appears to he attracting great interest amongst. agricultural visitors. The ploughing match, which began on Tuesday last, is to last three days, and there are 17 machines entered for it, At the time of writing, our correspondent tells us that the only notable absentee is Foster of Lincoln.
The ninth annual aquatic gala, held by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Swimming Club, took place on the 24th ult. The very successful event was terminated by a distribution of prizes by Lady Savory.
We hear that Mr. J. H. Knight's wooden tires, of which we gave some particulars earlier in the year, have been fitted to a one-ton Pilgrim van. It is intended to conduct a prolonged trial for several months.
A New Registration.
North-Western Motor Co., Ltd.. with an authorized capital of £2000 in £1 shares, by R. McGowen and Son, 81, Dale Street, Liverpool, to carry on the business of constructors of motorbuses, cars, vans, etc.
Selected L.G.O. Chassis for Sale.
Mr. Stuart A. Curzon advises us that he is offering for sale a specially-selected lot of superseded chassis on Monday, 14th inst., at the Mill Lane depot of the L.G.O.C., West Hampstead, N.W. Those who are on the lookout for secondhand machines will do well to examine the Milnes-Daimlers, Wolseleys, Biissings and De Dions which are then to be offered. An Engine to Examine.
A. sectional model of the single sleeve-valve Argyll engine is to be exhibited at Olympia by Argylls. Ltd., and this will undoubtedly attract a very considerable amount of attention in. view of recent litigation.
Suggested R.A.C. Fuel Trials.
The Petrol Committee of the Royal Automobile Club again met on 'Wednesday last week. A resolution was passed requesting the club to hold a series of tests with liquid, solid and gaseous fuels for both pleasure and commercial vehicles, and to consider the desirability of holding a public competition for vehicles propelled by fuels other than petrol.
Pirelli Solids.
We have received a copy of the new solid-tire list which has been issued by Pirelli, Ltd. This maker is familiar to many of our readers on account of its pneumatic tires. The solid-tire sections have a characteristie outline, the walls being slightly concave. Full particulars of the standard sections and prices are included. We are asked to announce that the new address of this company is 144. Queen Victoria Street, P.C.
The Stewart-Morris Test.
We have received a copy of the certificate which has been issued to the Stewart Precision Carburetter Co., Ltd., in respect of a 2000mile trial of a Stewart-Morris paraffin carburetter. First publication was given to a description of the mechanical details of this interesting vaporizer in our issue of last week. It now gives us pleasure to note the eminently successful nature of the trial. The carburetter was fitted to a 27.3 Isp. Pathfinder car, and paraffin of a specific gravity of .807 was used throughout the trial. The engine was started direct on paraffin 23 times, the longest stop after this was done being 17 minutes. On nine occasions on which the engine was started on paraffin, petrol having previously been injected into the induction pipe, the longest stop was 45 minutes. The total distance covered was over 2000 miles —half on the road and half at Brooklands. The average speed was 19.8 miles an hour, and the consumption worked out at 20.9 miles per gallon, or 35.7 ton-mile:4 per gallon. These figures refer to the road test. During the BrookIsnds 1000-mile run, the consumption was 21.59 miles per gallon. or 26.S8 ton-iniles per gallon.