THE STEAM-WAGON DEMONSTRATION.
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Modified Arrangements of Period and Routes Decided at a Meeting of the Steam Vehicle Committee of the S.M.M. and T.
_ti A T a meeting of the Steam Vehicle Committee of
the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders which was held in London on Thursday last, the arrangements for the proposed steam-wagon demonstration were discussed and considerably advanced. In some respects the original plans have been modified, mainly because it is felt that it would be a pity unduly to hurry the demonstration, and that at every town en route a fairly lengthy stop should be made in order to give the representatives of local authorities and of the bg users in the district an opportunity for inspecting the vehicles and of hearing the arguments in favour of the use of steam vehicles. In every case the vehicles taking part in the demonstration will be of British manufacture and consume a home-produced fuel.
The entry list is as follows :—Atkinson Walker Wagons, Ltd.; Clayton Wagons, Ltd.; Fodens, Ltd.; Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd. ; Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon, Co., Ltd.; The Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd.; Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co. Four other steam-vehicle manufacturers have expressed their regret at being unable to take part in the demonstration, and final replies are awaited from the remaining two other makers engaged in the steam-wagon industry.
• The most important modifications, as we have hinted, concern the route and the period over which the demonstration will be held. Despite the fact that in the middle of November the hours of daylight are few and that there is always the prospect of inclement weather, it has been decided to include the whole of the original itinerary through Laneashire and Yorkshire. It is considered advisable that the vehicles should pass through the Home Counties and should parade in London, in order that, in the interests of steam, a diversion should be created during the period of the World Motor Transport Congress and the Commercial Vehicle Exhibition.
It is also felt that it is important to cover, if possible, the Potteries and the chief manufacturing centres in the Midlands. In order to do this and to allow ample time at the stopping places, it has been decided that the vehicles shall assemble at Liverpool on the night of Tuesday, November 8th., a start being made on Wednesday morning, the route subsequently to be followed being as was set out in itineraries numbers one and two which were published in the issue of The Conj.mercial Motor for September 27th, viz. :—St. Helens, Wigan, Preston, Blackburn, Burnley, Leeds, after which the route as set out in those two itineraries will be modified as follows-:—Leeds to Sheffield, Huddersfield, Manchester, Newcastle-underLyne, Hanley, Stoke, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Coventry to London.
Over this route almost seven days' running would be allowed, viz., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the following week. It is probable that the Saturday morning would be devoted to a parade in an important centre. The vehicles would arrive in London early On the Thursday and would be paraded at Olympia_ on Thursday afternoon. By this modification of the route there would be never less than one hour during which to parade at each of the important stopping places and, in some cases, materially longer, whilst each day's running would be reduced to practicable proportions.
Arrangements have been made for the demonstration to he filmed and included in the topical budget displayed at the cinemas, and every effort will be exerted to secure the interest of local authorities and big users. Arrangements will also be made throughout the whole route for parking places and night shelter for the vehicles, for water supplies, and hotel accommodation for those taking part.
It has been decided to limit the entry for each manufacturer taking part to two vehicles, and each maker will be at liberty to have representatives either travelling with the vehicles or meeting them at the 'various important industrial centres.