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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all dOl.eulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is bythe roughness of the roads over which it runs."---john Beattie Crozier.

Institute of Transport Examinations.

The particulars of the examinations of the Irstitute of Transport for graduateship and associate membership to take iilace in April next are now announced, full details being obtainable from the secretary, Institute of Transport, 15, Savoy Street, London, W.C.2.

The subjects embraced in the examination for associate membership include the economies of road transport (we are, of course, only dealing with the section which concerns the commercialvehicle industry), the rights and duties of transport undertakings and the modern operation of road transport, the fourth subject covering questions dealing with traffic, engineering, audit and the law relating 'to transport.

The latest date for the deposit by candidates resident within Great Britain or Ireland of forms of application is March 1st.

North. African Gazogene Trials..

The North African Inter-Colonial gazoOne trials will take place, as already mentioned in our columns, from October 3rd to 29th, over a route from Tunis to Casablanca. Ten vehicles will he engaged in the event and five makes will be represented. The vehicles include Panhard and Levassor, Ming the company's own gas machine ; Laffly, with the Rex generator, using Carbonite fuel ; Berliet, :using the maker's own wood-burning generator ; Delahaye, with the Rex machine, and Sown, also with the Res. generator.

Tipping Lorries Prove their Worth.

The -repairing of the first section of Piccadilly, from the Piccadilly Circus end *of this important thoroughfare, was completed 11 days ahead of the contract time. We understand that Messrs. Harald Lee were responsible for removing all the rubbiSh, hard core, loose material and old wood paving blocks, and Messrs. Concrete Aggregates delivered the sand and ballast required on the site. Both these concerns use motor lorries equipped with Bromilow and Edwards tipping gears, so that the vehicles played a noteworthy part in connection with the achievement. Some of Messrs. Lee's vehicles actually at work on this section are shown in an illustration published on this page.

A Show Interpreter Available. If any manufacturing or other firm is desiring the Services for Show or other purposes, of a competent interpreter speaking and writing French, German and Russian fluently, we can put them in touch with a gentleman personally recommended to us.

An Olympia Convention.

On the occasion of the Commercial Motor Exhibition the Incorporated Association of Retail Distributors will hold its third biennial store, road transport and despatch convention on November 21st at Olympia.

The S.M.M. & T. Overseas Delegation.

The delegation from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, consisting of Sir Archibald Boyd-Carpenter, M.P., Mr. A. R. Fenn and Mr. A. Hacking, which visited 'Australia, New Zealand, Java and Malaya, has now returned and a brief statement has been issued of its impressions.

It is hopeful that its efforts have helped to inform the Dominions and Colonies as to the achievements which have been made by the home industry in adjusting commerce to post-war conditions. It says that the public over seas is e to consider more seriously the commercial value of the motor vehicle. It finds that, where commercial undertakings are able to estimate the real costs of mechanical transport, they have realized that the British omnibus and lorry give, in the long run, a greater measure of actual value than those of any other country, and the delegation thiaks that this fact is one of which advantage must be taken by the fullest measure of propaganda. It is convinced that within the next few years we shall see a progressive development of the British export trade in motor vehicles of every description.

Dennis 1928 Prices.

A substantial reduction in the price of the 30-ewt. Dennis chassis is announced in the advertisement of Dennis Bros., Ltd., in this week's issue of The Commercial Motor. The price, which formerly was £350, is now reduoed to 300 guineas, and we understand that, so far as the other models are concerned, no reduction in price is contemplated.

The 30-cwt. Dennis has proved extremely successful. It has now been on the road for three years (for it was thoroughly tested for a whole year before being offered to thepublic), and has given general satisfaction. Some thousands of the model have been sold, many of them having gone overseas.

The reduction in price has been rendered possible by improving facilities for production, the factory at Guildford having recently been enlarged in order to cope, not only with existing demands, • but with the expected increase arising out of the low price announced.

It must be remembered that the Dennis 30cwt. is designed to function on either solid, cushion or pneumatic tyres, and when pneumatic tyres are fitted (at the slight extra cost of £25, which, again, is £10 less than the extra price previously charged for pneu-maties), 7-in. tyres are fitted on the rear wheels, as it is the opinion of the designers of the chassis that a 7-in. tyre is the smallest size that should be used for a 30-cwt. lorry to carry Its full load and to allow for a reasonable overload.

Producer-gas Vehicles in Austria.

From Vienna we learn that attention is now being paid in Austria to the question of producer-gas plants for motor lorries, the Rothmuller Gesellschaft of that city having recently introduced a new producer called the Rag.

American Engineers Visiting This Country.

It is interesting to learn that a party. of members of the Society of Automotive Engineers.of New York will be visiting this country in order to take part in the World Motor Transport Congress from November 14th to 16th. While they are in London the party will be the guests of the Institution of Automobile Engineers at its 21st annlver• s'ary dinner and a round of visits to motor vehicle works is being arranged.

There will be a joint meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers and the Institute of Transport on November 22nd, when Captain C. H. Kuline will read a paper entitled "Further Developments in Military Motor Vehicles with Special Reference to Their Suitability for Commercial Purposes," to which the American engineers will he invited. _ Some Big Albion Fleet Owners,

The Albion Motor Co., Ltd., has recently issued a notice giving a list of six well-known concerns in this country which, between them, own no fewer than 1,250 Albion. motor vans and lorries. The Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., heads the list with 328 vehicles, followed by Carter Paterson and Co., Ltd., with 233, United Dairies, Ltd., 213, Shell-Mex, Ltd., 199, Harrods, Ltd., 147, and the Redline Motor Spirit Co., Ltd., 130.

Bradford's Profitable Buses.

As ,a result of the introduction of motorbuses the gross revenue of the tramways department of the Bradford Corporation was considerably augmented during the year ended March 1st last, the actual increase being close on £23,000. After meeting expenses, a sum of £5,122 remained to be carried to the net revenue account. The total receipts from all routes was f611,493.

Eight routes are now operated '-y the Corporation, which owns 24 bus .s, 27 trolley-buses and 251 tramcars.

Programme of the Institute of Metals.

The council of the Institute of Metals has just issued the 1927-28 programme of the Institute, and of its local sections in Birmingham, Glasgow, London, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Sheffield

and Swansea. Over thirty papers are enumerated, these covering such practical subjects as brass foundry practice, permanent mould casting in aluminium alloys, special alloys in relation to the corrosion problem, gases in metals, with particular reference to copper, and some metallurgical problems of the electrical industry. Copies of the programme can be obtained from Mr. G. Shaw Scott, M.Sc., secretary, 36, Victoria Street, London, S.W7.1.

The commencement of the 1927-28 session of the Institute coincides with the opb-ning of new offices and of an additional library and reading room at 36, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1. Darlington Satisfied With .Trolley-buses.

Darlington Corporation, which sines replacing the whole of its tramways by trolley-buses during the past two years has enabled its transport department to show a useful surplus, has now decided to open up new trolley-bus routes. To this end, work will shortly be commenced upon the task of erecting the necessary overhead equipment to run services to the Neasham Road district at the east end of the town, and to

provide an alternative service to Cockerton, which is rapidly growing in importance as a works and residential district-. When this is completed the corporation will be able to run a circular route to that neighbourhood.

The corporation is also proposing t& purchase a number of new trolley-buses at an outlay of over £10,000. It is interesting to note that, whereas last year the trolley-buses carried 2,600,000 passengers in the first five months of the municipal year, they carried 3,063,000 passengers in the five months to August 30th last. The total revenue rose from 114,347 to 116,556.

A Municipal Appointment.

Mr. A. Connor, who was until recently cleansing superintendent and transport manager at Dewsbury, has been appointed to fill the position of cleansing superintendent to the Halifax Corporation, this being rendered vacanE by the resignation of Mr. W. H. Sager. A Leyland World Tour Completed.

Mr. Henry Spurrier, managing directer of Leyland Motors, Ltd., has recently returned from a business trip rouud the world, during which he has been principally occupied in inspecting the company's extensive overseas branches and sales and service organizations, particularly so far as _ Australia, New Zealand and Canada are concerned.

Mr. Spurner has optimistic views as to the future of the British commercial vehicle in the Dominions, and whilst the weight restrictions in Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon, India and elsewhere are at present somewhat of a hindrance to the full develop-. . ment of the. heavier types of vehicle, he is of opinion that there are innumerable opportunities for the introduction of other types of commercial vehicle in such parts the world.

LA.E. Presidential Address.

The opening meeting of the session of the Institution of Automobile Engineers will be held to-day, October 4th, in the Great Gallery of the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall; London, S.W.1, at S p.m., when Major E. G. Beaumont will deliver his presidential address . entitled " The Influence of the Automobile User Upon the Automobile Engineer." Major Beaumont will also deliver this address at Bristol on October 10th, at Wolverhampton on October 18th, at Glasgow on October • 246, at Manchester on October 26th and at Birmingham on November 2nd.

International Highway for South America..

After prolonged deliberation, the engineering commission appointed by the governments of Argentina and Uruguay to consider and report on the best methods of connecting the states—by rail and river or by road and river— have decided in favour of the construction of a broad highway combined with

an international ferry service.An alternative project calling for an extension and improvement of the present railand-river service has been abandoned. Montevideo lies 125 miles east of Buenos Aires, and the journey between the two points is now done by night

Safeguarding Glasgow's Tramcars.

The development of motorbus services in and around Glasgow has created many difficulties for the local authority and it is not surprising to learn, therefore, that an emergency committee has been appointed by the Glasgow Corporation Tramways Committee with the

object of safeguarding the interests of the tratuways department in catering for the street-passenger traffic in the city r ud suburbs.

It has been a cause for complaint that the authorities have not compelled those owners plying for hire to and from the city to obssrve the conditions in the

licences issued by the magistrates. The committee has asked that a summary of the irregularities reported by the tramways departmeat be sent to the magistrates' committee for consideration, More Buses for Leicester.

The tramways committee of the Leicester Corporation has decided upon the inauguration of further bus services between the city and suburbs, and to put this plan into operation has decided upon the purchase of 14 new vehicles. The corporation has proved the suitability of the six-wheeled bus for certain work in the city, and now proposes to obtain 10 new Guy chassis fitted with Brush bodies. The one-mancontrolled-type bus has also given satisfaction for linking up surburban areas, and it is stated that four new 26-seater Guy vehicles of this type are to be acquired. The new vehicles are to be used to open up two new routes.

A Bureau of Information on Nickel.

Nickel is now so .largely used on various types of motor vehicle that we feel sure many of our readers will be interested to learn of the formation of the Bureau of Information on Nickel, Ltd., which has been established with offices at 2, Metal Exchange Buildings, London, E.02. This Bureau will collect, correlate and place at the disposal of British industry reliable, practical and technical information concerning the nature and uses of nickel and its innumerable alloys. It will serve as a clearing house for information on the subject and, while in no way constituted to Act as a sales organization, will distribute technical literature.

The Bureau is under the management of Mr. A. C. Sturney, B.Sc., A.R.S.M., who, until recently, was employed as research assistant in the metallurgical department of the National Physical

LP bOrat1117. .

Rournania's Improvised Buses.

According to a ,recent return there were 660 motorbuses registered in Roumania at the commencement of the present year, this representing an increase of 265 on the figure for a twelvemonth earlier. . It -is stated, however, that the majority of the vehicles consist of old chassis of light lorries and touring cars converted lag buses by the addition of locally made -bodies, mostly of the char-à-bancs type and generally of cheap construction: Except in Bucharest the• bus services are not well defined and are largely in the hands of private persons with too little capital for their efficient exploitation.

Coal-gas for French Lorries.

During the 'war, when petrol became scarce for other than military uses, a good' deal of progress was made with the use of. compressed coal-gas as a sub stitute fuel for the engines of motor vehicles. Since the war, however, little has been beard of coal-gas in the motor world. It is, therefore, interesting to learn that the subject of its use as a . fuel for motor lorries has recently been raised again in France, owing to the introduction of a new and improved form of bottle for storing the gas in compressed form. An Efficient Washing Plant For Business Motors.

We recently had an opportunity for giving details of • the B.E.N.-Myers appliance, which is largely used for washing motor vehicles, and we now learn that the B.E.N. Patents, Ltd., 92, Tottenham Court Road, London, W.1, has equipped a Morris-Commercial van with it& plant for demonstration purposes, the washer being driven by a Petter's engine.

An indication of the efficiency of the B.E.N.-Myers washing plant can be obtained from the experience of the Red Motor Cab Co., Ltd., -which has installed a system of three four-gun plants at its Brixton works. The appliance deals with the washing of between 350 and 400 cabs nightly, and its use has resulted in the company

being able to reduce its piece-work rate per cab from 1s. 5d. to Is., which represents a saving in actual wages paid per week of approximately £55. In addition, the company finds that the cost of washing materials is being reduced by nearly 50 per cent. The current consumption of the three plants is approximately £15 per month, the price paid per unit being 21d.

I.M.T. Opening Meeting.

The opening meeting of the 19271928 session of the Institute of the Motor Trade will be held at the Holborn Restaurant, London, on October 5th. "Morris Methods" will be the title of the .address to be given by Mr. A. A. Rowse, the .production manager of Morris Motors (1926), Ltd., and his lecture will be preceded by an informal dinner.

Cardiff's Popular Buses.

The Cardiff Corporation bus undertaking is shown to be flourishing. The receipts from passengers and parcels carried in the period April 1st to September 3rd last amounted to £63,388, as against £44,898 in the same period of last year.

The Dangers of Overcrowding.

Isle of Wight Standing Joint Committee has received complaints as to the practice of overcrowding oinnibuges and other public-service vehicles, and in its opinion this is now being carried on to such an extent as to endanger the safety

of the passengers. Owners of omnibuses and similar vehicles are to be warned that legal proceedings will be taken M the' practice be continued.

Lower Peruvian Duties

According to an advice from Lima the Association of Automobile Dealers has approached the Government of Peru on the question of the new tariff, with a request that lower duties be adopted on motorcars, lorries and parts for them. As these do not come under the Emergency Tariff Bill for: the furtherance of borne industries, it is thought that the Administration will grant the request.

Good Service From Municipal Electrics at Warrington.

In a report to the Warrington Corporation with regard to the working of the Orwell electric vehicles, Mr. Chas. Parfitt, the cleansing superin, tendent, says the five vehicles engaged on the collection of nightsoil successfully completed a third year's service on July 9th last. The past year has been one of the most satisfactory from a no-trouble point of view since their The following table shows the number of loacla carted and mileage run per vehicle during, the past twelve months ;— The total current consumed from July 100, 1926, to July 9th, 1927, equals 43,894 units. The cost of current per mile run equals 1.9d. The total mileage run by the fleet shows, an increase of 4,551 miles over the return for the previous year.

The committne may consider in the near future whether it would be advisable to purchase an additional 'vehicle, when some of the more congested areas could be dealt with twice weekly or, alternatively, to recommend to the council the urgency of considering some scheme of assisting the owners to convert gradually to the watercarriage system.

Hoyal Body Development.

We learn that Major C. F. Dingwall, late director of Barker and Co. (Coachbuilders), Ltd., has joined the Hoyal Body Corporation, Ltd., the works of Which are at Weybridge. He is taking charge of the development of the department dealing with special coach-work for all makes of high-grade chassis, in connection with which inquiries should be sent to the company's London office at Pollen House, Cork Street, London, W.1.

Straying Cattle: Fines Increased. The county magistrates of Somerset have, • in view, of the ever-increasing motor traffic, passed a resolution in favour of the increase of the maximum fine of 5s. for animals straying on the

highway, to after the first offence, and for the increase of the maximum fine for six or more animals for so straying to £5.

A Kentish Council Upheld.

At a ineeting of the Herne Bay Urban District Council the clerk reported that, following the inquiry by the Ministry of Transport in respect of the appeal by Mr. A. Davis against the refusal of the council to grant him licences, no Order had been made by the Ministry.

Co-operative Traffic Control. Eston Urban District Council has had letters from the boroughs of Thornaby and Redcar and the rural district councils of Guisborough and Stokesley agreeing to the proposed confEerence concerning traffic control. B23 A New Book on Bodywork.

Those concerned in any way with the design and construction of bodies for motor vehicles will be interested to learn of a new work on the subject which has recently been published by Messrs. W. It. Howell and Co., P.O. Box 147, 42, Theobald'e Road, London, W.C.1, the technical publications of which are already well known in the motor trade. The new work, which is entitled "Motor Body Drawing," is by Mr. H. J. Butler, an authority on the bubjeet.

Typical body outlines are summarized in. the first chapter, and subsequently the author deals with the kind of instruments and materials to use and how to obtain the various parts of body designs. A feature of the new publication is a portfolio consisting of 16 plates of drawings covering the whole process of producing working drawings for the bodybuilder's use These drawings are made to a generous scale, door and standing pillar sections being shown full size. The plates are mounted on linen.

Rye Toll Gates Removed.

Por upwards of a century the toll gates which have been in existence on the Royal Military Road to the east and west of Rye have caused road users certain trouble. We are interested to learn that the gates have been removed . and the upkeep of the roadway—nearly seven miles long—which was previously borne by the military authorities has been taken over by the various highway authorities concerned.

Result of Cardiff Bus Appeal.

The Ministry of Transport has announced its decision in the matter of the appeal heard at Cardiff on July 26th last into applications made by the Cardiff City Council for wide powers in connection with extra boundary bps services. The appeal was reported in our issue dated August 9th. The city council then sought licences to inn buses on the following routes e-L-Cardiff-Barry, Cardiff-Taff's -Well-Pontypridd, CardiffPentyreh. The opposing parties were White's Motors, Ltd.,Cardiff and Barry, which plies for hire on all the routes subject to the inquiry, and the Great Western Railway Co. It was stated, in evidence for the city council, that, subject to assent being obtained to the Barry-Cardiff route, the council proposed to buy out certain services.

The Ministry's decision is adverse to B24

the (ay council so far as all routes are concerned.

On September 26th the Pen arth Urban District Council refused licences to Messrs. Ilarfoot, Barry, for services from Barry to Cardiff, via ,Llandough, on account of the unsuitable state of the Llaudough road for additional bus traffic.

A Robey Tractor Does Well in • New South Wales.

It is always pleasing to hear of the success of British motor vehicles overseas, because all too often are transport and haulage units shipped abroad and then lost sight of entirely so far as their working is concerned. Where a maker has branch offices or is directly represented, information of individual performances is more readily secured, and sometimes the user will -proffer details of the working of his • machines.

A ease in point comes from Wagga, New South Wales, where Mr. ;fames Dunn, a produce merchant, has in service an 8 rt.h.p. single-cylindered Robey tractor which was sold to him through the agency of Arthur Leplastricr and Co., Pty., Ltd., of Sydney, over 21 years ago. It was the first tractor put into use in the district, and, although others have come and gone since that time, the Robey continues to give every sails

faction. The user says that the boiler is as sound as ever, and carriers the same pressure now as when new, a Government certificate being held to this effect. The user speaks in very high terms of the working of the tractor, and states that all the original shafting is el-ill sound, the only replacements oiecesary being a few pinions.

A Battery Replacement Chart.

C. A. Vandervell and Co., Ltd., Acton, Loudon, W.3, has just issued a battery replacement chart, which should be found useful to all garage owners and motor traders, inasmuch as it gives details and prices of suitable batteries. for fitting to almost every type of English and foreign commercial vehicle and touring car.

New Wigan By-laws.

Wigan Watch Committee has ape proved a draft of new by-laws in connection with the future regulation of motor traffic in the town. The bylaws relate to the fixing of stands, parking and starting places for motor vehicles and have been submitted to theMinistry of Transport for approval_ Bus Results at Preston.

The annual report dealing with the tramway and motorbus services of the Preston Corporation during the financial year ended March 31st last shows that the revenue on the motorbus services amounted to £19,348 and the working expenses to £15,406, the gross profit being £3,942. Capital charges of £4,089 converted this sum to a deficit of £146, reducing the balance brought forward to 1200. The reserve fund of £1,183 was reduced to £783 by expenditure on the reconstruction of motorbuses.. The number of passengers carried during the year was 13,066,008, and the average income per bus-mil( was 17.913d.

3,700 Miles in Six Days by Lorry.

Details have recently been received from New York of a long run recently carried out by a G.M.C. Buick-engined motor lorry. The journey, which was actually 3,693 miles long, was completed in less than six days, and was made from coast to coast of the United States, this being, it is said, the firet time that a commercial vehicle has performed such a feat. The average speed of the lorry throughout the run was 213 m.p.h., and it carried a load of more than 2+ tons. No mechanical trouble of any kind was experienced, and,

furthermore, it is authoritatively stated that it was not found necessary to change the tyres.

Belfast's 13us Powers.

A special meetingof the Belfast Corporation was held yesterday (Monday) to consider the promotion of a Parliamentary Bill under which powers are being sought to run bus services within a radius of 20 miles from the city boundary. It is said that a similar proposal was made some years ago on the part of the corporation, but did not then secure Parliamentary sanction.

Uses for Villiers Engines.

The Villiers Engineering Co., Ltd., Marston Road, Wolverhampton, has just issued a booklet . dealing with Villiers two-stroke engines for industrial and stationary purposes. These engines are equipped with a cast'nit:minium fan and cowl, and are successfully used for driving garage pumps, dynamos, lathes, etc. Details of several types which are marketed are referred to in the booklet, which also contains illustrations of many of the uses to which Villiers engines are put.