WHEELS of INDUSTRY "The wheels of wealth will be slowed
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by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roods over which it runs."--John Beattie Crosier.
PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS ON TRAFFIC SIGNS.
Regulations and Directions under Section 48 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, on the subject of traffic signs have now been issued. In general, they give effectitto the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Traffic Signs, whilst a circular letter has been sent to all highwayauthorities drawing attention to certain features of the Regulations and Report.
Copies, entitled "The Traffic Signs .(Size, Colour and Type) Provisional Regulations, 1933," can be obtained at 7d. net from U.M. Stationery Office, Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, or through any bookseller. A sheet entitled "Directions issued by the Minister of Transport in pursuance of Section 48 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, 1930" is obtainable as above, priced 1d. The provisional Regulations comprise 27 pages, of which 20 are devoted to illustrations of various signs.
• Liverpool Chamber Forms Co-ordination Committee.
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has an active road transport section, and it has just been instrumental in bringing into being a new committee, which is intended to co-ordinate the efforts of the various transport associations and interests of the port.
An equal number of nominations from each Association (the Commercial Motor Users' _Association, the Road Haulage Association and the Liverpool Cart and Motor Owners' Association, as well as the road-transport section of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce) will constitute the committee of co-ordination for road transport. Mr. Arthur D. Dean will be the chairman, and Mr. A. E. Masheder, chairman of the Liverpool area committee of the C.M.U.A., vice-president..
A resolution has been passed recommending the constituent Associations to impress upon their members the necessity of raising their standard charges for goods transport by road,
A New Morris House for the West
End.
We understand that the forecourt site of Lansdowne House Estate, Berkeley Square, London, W., has been acquired by an important syndicate, in which Stewart and Arclern, Ltd., the Morris distributor for the Metropolis, is interested. On this site important buildings are to be erected, which will comprise showrooms, offices, flats, etc.
A noteworthy feature will be the spacious showrooms of Stewart and Ardern. Ltd., which, together with the administrative offices, will occupy four floors of the Berkeley Street wing, having a total area of 40,000 sq. ft.
B18 The Lewin Sweeper Demonstrated.
Last Wednesday, Lewin Road Sweepers, Ltd., Jack Lane, Leeds, gave it demonstration in Islington, London. of its interesting product, the Lewin sweeper-collector. Some 20 engineers, surveyors and cleansing authorities were present. The device was installed on a Bedford chassis, and its outstanding feature is that the sweepings are lifted by mechanical means into the receptacle, whilst dust and light matter are drawn into largebags by suction. The machine was successfully demonstrated by sweeping streets Which had been strewn with refuse.
BUS OWNERS' ASSOCIATION FORMS GOODS SECTION.
At a meeting of goods-vehicle owners and haulage contractors, sponsored by the committee of the Northwestern Area United Bus Owners' Association, which was recently held in Wrexham, it was unanimously decided to form a haulage and goods section of the Association. Mr. K. Hugh Dodd was elected vice-chairman of the branch, whilst a provisional committee, consisting of the following operators, was formed, in addition to the vicechairman : Messrs. W. Jones, J. Lloyd, G. Turner, W. FL Whitley, W. H. Williams and F. H. Williams.
The meeting had been called by the secretary of the Association, Mr. C. T. Tooth, and the chairman of the Association, Mr. J. Price, explained the formation and development of the organization. -After dealing with the manner in which bus operators were affected by the Road Traffic Act, 1930, he expressed the view that the Road and Rail Traffic Act was a threat to the business of every owner of goods vehicles. Mr. Tooth gave a brief résumé of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, and explained in brief the way in which different classes of licence would operate.
Another meeting is to be held on January 15, to which all operators in North Wales are invited.
NEW YEAR'S HONOURS.
The most outstanding name of interest to . the motor industry in the New Year's Honours List is that of Sir William R. Morris, Bt„ O.R.E., who is made a baron, the honour being conferred upon him for. public and philanthropic services.
Another name familiar to most people on the commercial-vehicle side is that of Mr. P. J. Pybus, C.B.E., M.P., who was Minister of Transport in 1931-1933; he is made a baronet for . political and public serviCes, Amongst the list of names of knights bachelor is that. of Alderman J. S. Quarmby, J.P., Traffic Commissioner for the Yorkshire Area, and RearAdmiral M. F. Sueter, C.B.„ M.P., a pioneer of British aviation.
In the civil-awards, list, a C.B.E. has been conferred on Mr. J. S. Buchanan, 0.B.E., F.R.Ae.S., Deputy Director of Technical Development, Air Ministry' whilst Mr. W. T. Symons Butlin. assistant engineer, Roads Department, Ministry of Transport, and Mr. A. J. Camm, staff officer, Air Ministry, have each become M.B.E.s.
London's Busiest Traffic Centres.
According to a traffic census taken by the Metropolitan and City Police betweed 8 asii. and 8 p.m. on , a day in July, 1933, Hyde Park Corner was London's busiest traffic centre, 81,857 vehicles passing this point in the period mentioned, as compared witb. 69,011 in 1931, and 29,286 in 1904.
The next centre of importance was Trafalgar Square, with 64,735 vehicles, and, in this case, the advance in two years was comparatively small; the figure for 1931 was 62,542, and . for 1904 27,768. 'Next in order were Marble Arch and Piccadilly Circus with 52,197 and 51,160 vehicles respectively.
Anglo-American Oil Co. Retirements.
Eight men who collectively have served the AnglorAmerican Oil Co.. Ltd., for nearly three centuries, were recently entertained at dinner by Mr. Frederick J. Wolfe, chairman of the company. All of them are retiring under the company's pension scheme, and two directors are included, these being Mr. J. Wilkie Frye, in his 40th year of service, and Mr. A. Maclean, who has been associated with the company since 1890.
Industrial Transport Association Examinations.
It is now annotInced that the 1934 examinations for the Industrial Transport Association will be held in London and at a number of provincial centres on Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2. Exemption in whole or in part is possible for certain candidates under conditions rigidly laid down in the scheme. Applications for exemption must reach the secretary of the Association, Dudley house, Southampton Street, London, W.C.2, by February 3. Applicatiops to sit must be made on an official form not later than April 3, Full detail's as to tuition in London and the principal cities can be obtained from the secretary.
Recdgnition will be given to possessors of appropriate certificates gained from well-known tutorial and examining bodies, also the possessors of general commercial certificates from these, and to holders of diplomas in industrial transport management granted by the schools of commerce in Birmingham and Hull.
Willys Overland Spares and Repairs.
We are advised that Mr. Frank S. Price, 3, Frederick's Place, Old Jewry, London, E.C.2, has recently been appointed liquidator of Willys Overland
Crossley, Ltd. We are authorized to state that, for the present, service and repair work is being carried on as usual at the company's factory at Heaton Chapel, Stockport, and at the service depot in Lots Road, London, S.W.10.
In our issue dated December 15 we nia.de it clear that the company is in no way connected with the well-known Manchester concerns of Crossley Brothers, Ltd., ,and Crossley Motors, Ltd. PERSONAL PARS.
Warrington Corporation has approved the recommendation for the appointment of Mr. J. Newton as tramways manager.
Mr. E. N. Blackstock, solicitor, Dumfries, . has been appointed local secretary and organizer for the Scottish Carriers and Haulage Contractors Association, Ltd.
Mr. R. A. Murray has been appointed a director of the India Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd. For the past two years he has acted in an advisory capacity to the company.
Mr. Charles Morton Lomax, chairman and managing director of Chrysler Motors, Ltd., and Dodge Brothers (Britain), Ltd., sailed on Wednesday last for the United States on the R.M.S. " Acquitania." He is visiting the Chrysler Corporation at Detroit to confer with it on the activities of the British company. Amongst many other important negotiations which Mr. Lomax is to carry out with the Chrysler Corporation will be that of endeavouring still further to increase the British activities in this country. Mr. Lomax expects to stay in America for a fortnight or so, and on his return it is expected that some important developments will have come to light.
We reproduce on this page portraits of Messrs. J. A. Daniell and W. E. Sparrow, who have been appointed to the board of Hardy, Spicer and Co.. Ltd., the well-known manufacturer of universal joints, propeller shafts, couplings, etc. They will be actively engaged as directors in close association with Mr. John Hardy, the managing director, a son of the founder.
Mr. Daniell gained his early experience with D. Napier and Son, Ltd., and, after eight years' service with that company, joined, in 1910, the Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd. In 1911 he transferred to the Rudge-Whitworth organization, and remained there for 15 years, until, in 1926, he joined the Hardy, Spicer concern as chief engineer.
Mr. Sparrow served his apprenticeship with the Lanchester Motor Co., and later spent several years in America. When he returned to England he became general superintendent of Component Munitions, Ltd., a concern later absorbed by the Rover Co., with which he served as planning engineer for a period of seven years. In 1026 he joined the Hardy, Spicer concern as works superintendent, later becoming general works manager.
Big Increase in R.H.A. Northern Membership.
About I00„ haulage contractors attended a meeting of the Road Haulage Association, t'Bishop Auckland, when the Association's objects were explained. Mr. M. C. Vickers, divisional organizer, who presided, said that during the past few months the membership of the northern section had increased from 50 to over 350.
A NEW FIRE-FIGHTER FOR LYMINGTON.
We publish on this page two illustrations of an interesting fire-fighting appliance that has recently been delivered to the Borough of Lymirigton for the equipment of its new Milton section. The chassis is a Thornycroft Bulldog 2+-tonner, equipped with drawbar gear for hauling a trailer pump. The fire equipment as supplied by Sinaortis, Ltd., 32, Alfred Place, London, W.C.1, comprises the corn-. pany's 250-300-gallon self-priming turbine pump (this being accessibly mounted at the rear) and a body of its New World wagonette type.
A large box is mounted across the chassis behirial the driver's seat, whilst a number of men face each other on longitudinal seats, where they are well protected against the weather, overhanging branches, etc. The seats are reached from each side of the pump. A Park Royal ladder is carried on the near side, and three lengths of suction hose on the off side. The tank for first-aid requirements is disposed under one of the seats, and feeds the hose reel through the main .pump.
A Weil-equipped Mobile Shop.
In an article dealing with the transport of foodstuffs, which appears elsewhere in this issue, we have used an illustration of a Morris-Commercial van equipped with a special body built by G: Scarnmell and Nephew, Ltd., Fashion Street, London, &I.. The machine is one of six to be employed as mobile shops by Lipton, Ltd.
a Visitors to the Commercial Motor Show may remember seeing the first one to be made, which was on view at Olympia.
Internally, the bodies are equipped with shelves, racks and cupboards for groceries, etc. Every shelf is provided with a hinged front, to prevent its contents from falling as a result of the motion of the vehicle; these are normally secured by ball catches.
Similar fixings are used for the cupboard doors. Racks for jam jars are divided up into shallow square compartments by partitions. At the rear there is a folding counter, and on each side a display case, the contents of which are, of course, visible from the outside. All interior woodwork is oak.
Customers standing at the counter are sheltered by a canopy, which; when not in use, is housed in a recess above the door, in which it is a flush fit.
R.H.A. Activity in Scotland.
Many hauliers in the south of Scotland attended a meeting, last week, in Dumfries, which was addressed by Mr. G. A. Hotter, general secretary. of the Road Haulage Association. The speaker dealt with the Road and Rail. Traffic Act, and stressed the necessity
of unity amongst hauliers to obtain further concessions. He intimated that the Association proposed to set up local committees to deal with rates, in order to prevent undercutting.
Welsh Ambulance Charge Reduced.
The ambulance committee of the Priory of Wales has reduced, as from January 1, the ordinary rate for the hire of a Priory ambulance from is. 6d. to is. ad. per mile.
Steel Barrel Equipment on Thornycroft Tanker.
We omitted to mention in the caption to our recent illustr-ation of a Thornycroft tank wagon supplied to the Distillers Co., Ltd., that the tank equipment was manufactured by the Steel Barrel Co. (of Uxbridge), Ltd., Phoenix Wharf, Uxbridge, Middlesex. The design called for two separate 500gallon tanks, and a special pump was mounted to permit quick filling and discharge. UNITED SERVICE TRANSPORT REPORT.
The report of the United Service Transport Co., Ltd., shows that the net profit for the year ended September 30, 1913, after charging £12785 for depreciation, amounted to £8,902, as against £7.822 a year earlier. In addition to the usual dividend of per cent., the preference and ordinary shareholders are to receive an extra payment of 1 per cent. and 2.805 per cent, respectively, leaving £125 to be carried forward.
Young Accumulator Progress.
The annual general meeting of the Young Accumulator Co. (1929), Ltd., was held a few days ago, when Mr. B. E. Ronaasen, the chairman, presided. In reviewing the accounts, he said that the loss on trading in the year under review was £3,103, to which had to be added £1,944 in respect of depreciation and £585 for interest. He said that the extra expenditure incurred upon an intensive sales effort was some £5,000 greater than that expended upon sales efforts in the previous year, but that the result of it was now bearing fruit, the first three months of the current year's trading having wiped out the trading loss and placed the company on a satisfactory net-profit earning basis.
With the help of its agents, the company launched its special exchange scheme, which has met with success.
The company is now able to offer its products and service for them in every part of Great Britain and in many parts of the British Empire.
A Dennis Distributor's Success.
W. S. Yeates and Co., Derby Road, Loughborough, informs us that it has in hand 20 orders for Dennis vehicles, including four Lancet 36-seater buses with Willowbrook bodywork, for Cooke, Robinson and Co., Ltd., Burs
; four 2-21-ton Luton vans, also with Willowbrook bodywork, for Messrs. W. C. Nutt and Sons, Harpole, Northants ; a 2-2i-ton chassis with a dust-collection body by Reeve and. Kennings, for Worksop Borough Council, and a Lancet 32-seater luxury coach with a Willowbrook body for Wye Valley Motors, Hereford. A SCOTTISH MERGER.
Mr. Ronald M. Mason has, we understand, acquired the motor and garage business carried on at Drymen by Mr. T. M. Kerr. Mr. Kerr is continuing the garage business at Balmaha, and will operate the school bus services, as before.
Skefko's New Depot.
In order to improve existing arrangements in the North for dealing with the increasing demand for SHF bearings and power-transmission accessories, the Skefico Ball Bearing Co., Ltd., Luton, has opened a new stocks and service depot at 31, Mosley Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Mr. J. E. Potts is the company's local representative.
U.S.A. Expects 47 per cent. Sales Rise.
According to an estimate of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce of U.S.A., it is expected that the 1934 sales of commercial vehicles will be approximately 47 per cent. higher than those of 1933. THE M.T.T.A. CONFERENCE.
This year's annual conference of the Municipal Tramways and Transport Association will take place in Glasgow from June 27 to June 29.
France Restricts Foreign Lorries.
According to our French contemporary, Le Poids Lourd, the French customs authorities have decided that lorries and vans bearing a foreign registration plate and lc aded with goods for a third country will not be allowed to pass through France.