News and Comment.
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Scotland is setting the pace in commercial motor construction.
The Albion, the Argyll, and the Arrol-Johnston, works arc all increasing this brancn enormously.
All the same, it is found very difficult to keep up with orders, whilst the demand appears to grow at a greater rate than the most sanguine anticipations of six months ago indicated.
The Olympia Exhibition will furnish striking proof of the growth of commercial motoring-. The leading makers ot petrol vehicles will stage either a goods vehicle or an omnibus; there will be not less than 25 types of public service vehicles.
The United Kingdom Motor Tyre Manufacturing Company, Limited, of 23, King Street West, Manchester, is developing a combination tyre for heavy vehicles, A solid rubber tread is employed, with a stout air tube in the channel of the rim. It has been named the " Securitas," and more will be heard about it in the near future.
Those interested in delivery vans should make a point of visiting the works of the Eclipse Machine Company, Limited, of Oldham, and inspect one of a batch of a hundred which are just being brought through. A general description of the van will be found on page 58.
Messrs. J. Marshall and Company, of Mossley, near Manchester. are doing an increasingly satisfactory business in their " K...." motor oils, which have been brought to a stage of great perfection as the result of extended use in numerous types of internal combustion motor. This oil is used on the cars of His Majesty the King.
Mr. T. F. Woodfine, the secretary of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, whose registered office is at Clun House. Surrey Street, Strand, W.C., has already received a gratifying response from members of the industry in respect of the returns invited for the purpose of preparing statistical informntion to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Motor Car Acts. It is hoped that manufacturers will give the returns their early attention, as meetings of the Commission will begin on the teith inst. Evidences of vitality—our advertisement pages. Of all the special numbers which have been issued by us, everything points to a unique success for " THE MIDDLEMAN'S ISSUE."
This issue will provide a means of bringing the advantages of commercial
motors before practically every user of, or dealer in, agricultural implements, portable engines, and general machinery. It will be out next Thursday.
It will also possess many features of interest for owners of garages and en gineering shops; a magnificent opportunity is now presented to them for extending their businesses to embrace the sale and meintenance of commercial motors of all classes.
The proprietors of the "Le Francais" tyre, which we illustrated in our issue
of the 21st ultimo, page 30 ante, have decided to continue exhaustive tests with blocks of rubber placed diagon
ally, as they are satisfied that this arrangement will, after all, possess certain advantages over the rectangular arrangement of the pads as reproduced by us.
A company has been formed with the title of Chassis, Limited, and a capital of .5,000 in one pound shares. Some of its objects are to carry on the business of motorcar, omnibus, van and cab proprietors, and of carriers of passengers and goods. The registered office is at 4, Broad Street Place, E.C.
A new motor mail service, between Hereford, Eardisley, Hay and Glasbury has now been started. The van has been built by Messrs. Connelly and Sons, of Commercial Rood, Hereford, and it was exhibited for several days in their show-rooms.
An ordinary 8-toh.p. Coventry-II umber car has been adapted for the conveyance of six unpacked bicycles, or 12 machines packed ready for carriage. It has a load capacity, where the bulk of the goods carried demands so great a weight, of tecwt. This machine is being used for delivering machines in all parts of London, and its performance is a credit to the Coventry works of Humber, Limited.
Two Straker steam omnibuses, which had been most successfully performing the
service between Shipston-on-Stour and Stratford-on-Avon, have now been laid up owing to the operation of the Heavy Motor Car Order. These vehicles are very suitable for conversion to goods lorries, for three-ton loads.
We described an interesting water motor with direct-coupled dynamo in our issue of September 14th. The Rhodes Electrical Manufacturing Company, of Sunbridge Road, Bradford, Yorks, are marketing a small rotary converter set, suitable for charging motorcar accumulators, which is also worthy of consideration for use in garages.
News reaches us that the tour of the tfih.p. Lacre delivery van is making many converts to commercial motoring. This machine concludes its visit to Manchester on Saturday next, and, from the oth to the teth instant, enquiries regarding it should be addressed to Mr. R. I-Tall, the Birkenhead Motor Company, 27, Seymour Street, Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead.
The following week Messrs. Frank Little and Company of Ward's Buildings, 33,
High Street. Newcastle-on-Tyne, whose activity in this branch of automobilism is of old standing, will be responsible for a series of demonstrations.
The committee of management of the Central Technical School at Liverpool has decided to establish a class in motorcar engineering. This will be held every Wednesday evening during the winter months.
As xve go to press, letters reach us from the engineers and managers of several important water undertakings, in which they convey encouraging offers of co-operation in connection with the penny-in-the-slot water supply proposals.
Our Berlin correspondent telegraphs that there are only fourteen entries for the German A.C. trials, and that only two manufacturers are to be found' in the list. The rest of the entries are made up by private owners and the military transport department of the German Army. All the same, it is understood that the trials will be carried through and not abandoned.
This journal does not give publicity to hare-brained schemes put forward by adventurers. It must be pointed cut that any public service scheme projected over impossible country is best left severely alone, whilst any ornnium schemz. of heavy motor transport requires, first of all the money, and then the men, to render success likely of achievement even after pro:racted °a g-anisation.
The works committee of Willesden Urban District Council reported on Monday that, the council's engineer having examined the storage accomimxiation and being of opinion that this was satisfactory, a license should be granted to the Victoria Omnibus Company to store 1,000 gallons of petroleum at the garage in Carlton Vale. Plans, it was further reported, had been received from Mr. C. W. Stephens for the erection of a motorcar depot at Langdon Road, Cricklewood, for the London Power Omnibus Company. Upon the recommendation of the council's engineer the plans had been approved. Bransom, Kent, and Company, Limited, informs us that the company's wholesale business in motor fittings and accessories will be moved early in the new year to more commodious premises situated at 40, Great Eastern Street and 63, Curtain Road, E.C. Alterations to the new premises are now in hand. The company's engineering works, situated at Frederick's Row, Goswell Road, will be continued as heretofore.
It is possibly profane to call the visiting car of a bishop a commercial motor, but the practical nature of the recent gift to the Lord Bishop of Liverpool (Dr. Chavasse) will unquestionably enable that dignitary to visit outlying parts of his diocese with comfort and in the minimum of time. The car in question is a four-cylinder Argyll, and it was supplied by the Road Carrying Company, Limited, of 27, l_eece Strcet, Liverpool.
The preparation of the circular letter and the form of questions, which are to be addressed to motor van and wag-on users throughout the count r y, is now approaching completion. The information which is sought includes the number of motors employed, and the class of work. The vehicles are again sub-divided according to the power and loads, and separate columns are provided for information regarding both trailers and tractors. Questions as to how the Annual Subscription One Guinea, traffic was previously moved, or whether it is entirely new, together with others relating to the increase of employment resulting, are also asked. A few questions are addressed to the subject of a broad comparison with horse haulage, and it has been determined to leave space On the form for users to state their experiences in respect of third party claims. The concluding questions, which reach a total of 24 in all, deal with the important matter of road and bridge facilities. The secretary most urgently requests that every van, wagon, or omnibus user in the country, who is not a member of the Motor Van and Wagon Users' Association, before whose notice this paragraph may come, will apply to 16, Down Street, Piccadilly, W., for one of the forms, in order to assist the compilation.
The Commercial Motor" is clficiaity recognised by
THE MOTOR VANS
AND
WAGON USERS' ASSOCIATION, . 16, Down Street, W.
The Organisation for all Users and Persons interested in Commercial Motors of every type.
Full part,culars may be obtained on application to the Secretary,
W. REES JEFFREYS.