WHEELS of INDUSTRY
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it run."—John Beattie Crazier.
A Big Order Received from the Argentine.
An order for over 60 Morris-Commercial vehicles formed the subject of the first public telephone call over the new direct circuit line from the Argentine to Great Britain, this being made a few days ago from Buenos Aires to the maker's Soho works, Birmingham.
This order, which, in value, represents over £16,000, was put in hand immediately, and within three days after the telephone message was received all the vehicles were on board the S.S. " Upway Grange" bound for South America, a special train having been chartered to take the vehicles from Birmingham to the docks. It is a good augury for the forthcoming British Empire Trade Exhibition at Buenos Aires, where the Morris organization will, we are told, occupy the largest stand space in the motor section.
Fordson-Roadless Tractors.
The Ford Motor Co. Ltd., has approvide the use of Roadiess track equipment in conjunction with the Fordson tractor. The complete machines _ or tracks only are sold through Ford dealers at prices which have recently been considerably reduced ; the standard Roadless-equipped machine sells for £350, whilst the extended type is listed at £385. The track sets only are priced
at £180 and' £215 respectively.
A £52,000 Concrete Road.
In the Isle of Ely a fine new concrete road is now beine-' completed ; its length is five miles and it has only one slight bend. It is classified by the Ministry of Transport as one of the important trunk roads of tbe country, it being scheduled as part of the route from Birmingham, through Peterborough, Wisbech, King's Lynn and Norwich, to Yarmouth. The cost has been over £10,000 per mile, the total expenditure being £52,000.
A Popular Passenger Chassis.
Evidence of the increasing popularity of the Express chassis manufactured by T.S. Motors, Ltd., Victoria Works, Maidstone, is to be found in the number of repeat orders which the company regularly receives from important concerns operating passenger vehicles. For example, the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., of Stockport, has recently ordered a further 63 chassis of this type, and when these are delivered the company will have a fleet of over 300 Express buses in operation.
The East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., has placed a repeat order for 43 Express chassis, bringing the total of vehicles of this type in use to 210. Then, again, the Scottish General Transport Co., Ltd., of Kilmarnock, after experiencing the economies which can be effected by the use of the Express model, has placed a repeat order for 25 machines, and when these are delivered 85 Express chassis will have been supplied to it.
In the middle of the past year the Aldershot and District Traction Co., B20 , Ltd., placed a sample order for seven chassis. So satisfactory have these proved that a repeat order for 12 chassis has recently been placed. The Southdown Motor Services, Lter has, for some time, been a user of Express chassis, and it has this year placed repeat orders for 41 models of this type. One of the most recent orders received has come from the Midland General Omnibus Co. Ltd., of Langley Mill, Derbyshire, Which is buying an additional 15 Express chassis.
A Holder for Insurance Certificates.
No* that it is compulsory for all motor-vehicle owners to be insured against third-party risks, many concerns, particularly in the commercial field, will be interested in ways and means whereby the certificate can be conveniently carried on the vehicle. For this reason the holder Which has recently. been produced by G. T. Riches and Co., Ltd., 19 and 20, Store Street, Loudon, W.C.1, will interest many concerns.
The frame of the holder, which is made of aluminium, is 6/ ins, long and 21 ins, deep, and it has three lugs with countersunk holes for fixing. The certificate can readily be slid into position from one end. The holder, with celluloid front, is priced at 1s. 3d„ special prices being quoted for fleet owners.
A New Bus Owners' -Association?
A meeting of bus owners in the East Midland area Was recently held at Leicester to discuss certain phases of bus operation, and particularly the position of private owners in relation to the Road Traffic Act. Mr. C. B. Jenkins, ehairmau of the Leicester Bus Federation, Ltd., and Nuneaton and Mansfield Bus Associations, presided.
Mr. W. Lindsay Everard, M.P., spoke, and said that he believed it was far better that, in the villages throughout the Midland counties, there should be small business men who are willing to run three or four buses rather than that they should be absorbed in one immense group.
Possibly as a result of the meeting a Midland area bus owners' association willsbe formed.
On page. 671 of our issue dated December 23rd we illustrated the manifold design of an Albion six-cylindered engine : this should have been designated the Viking and not the Valkyrie. An Honour for the Minister of Transport.
In the New Year's Honours List the most outstanding name that interests the commercial-vehicle industry is that of Mr. Herbert Stanley Morrison, J.P:, who, since 1929, has been Minister of Transport, the honour. .conferred being that of Privy Councillor. Mr. Henry Howard Piggott, C.B., C.B.E., deputy secretary of the Ministry of Transport, has been made a knight, whilst Mr. George Roberts, who is the chairman of Trojan, Ltd., has been made a baronet. , Tasting a Windscreen Wiper.
During the Christmas holidays we had a depressing but interesting opportunity 'for thoroughly trying a Second Sight windscreen wiper made by Ross, Courtney and Co., Ltd., of Ashbrook Road, tipper Holloway, London, N.19. This is an anxiliarY wiperattached by suction to the windscreen, thereby obviating holes being drilled in the metal, and it is attached by a bar to. the standard wiper. It is easily fixed and has —tamed out eminently satisfactory. By means of the Second Sight two arcs of clear glass are provided in place of the one normally kept clean.
Seammell's Progress.
The eighth ordinary general meeting of Scammell Lorries, Ltd., was held one day last week, when Mr. P. M. Watts, chairman of the company, presided. Mr. Watts said that, although the net profit for the year showed a decrease on the previous year's figures, it was not the result of decreased turnover, which had been: well maintained, but it had mainly risen through the severe competition encountered iii all markets.
In spite of world depression, the company's export trade has shown a considerable increase. Much progress has been made in the Argentineand Venezuela, and, although these markets are temporarily inactive, the conipany is hopeful of securing Much business in them when :conditions again become normal. In passing, it may be mentioned that Scammell Lorries, Ltd., is exhibiting at the British Empire Trade Exhibition, which is being held in Buenos Aires in March.
In addition, Mr. Watts stressed the point that there is some uncertainty as to the effect of the Road Traffic Act and the various regulations which the Minister of Transport is empowered to make, most of which have still to be issued. He pointed out that the welfare of every country must largely depend upon cheap, reliable and speedy transport, and, in his opinion, the economic development of any form of transport should not be cramped because its increasing efficiency is injuring some other and much less efficient method.
Westminster City Council is renarning part of Charing Cross, London, so that the address of Four Wheel Drive Motors, Ltd., now becomes 12, Whitehall, S.W.1.
G.W.R. Orders for 1931.
The list of new works which have been sanctioned by the directors of the Great Western Railway Co. for execution in 1931 has just been published. It includes an allocation of £126,600 for the purchase of 219 new motor vehicles and tractors for use in connection with big rail-road transport developments, the replacement of horses, extension of free collection and delivery areas, extension of country lorry services, the conveyance of livestock by road, through roadhaulage services, and the replacement of old vehicles.
There is also an allocation of £31,000 for new garages at Exeter and South Lambeth, London, and for extension of existing garages at Wolverhampton, Oxford and Westbourne Park, London. In addition to these and other new works, 38 big development schemes, running into over £8,000,000 are now in progress.
East Kent's Progress.
The 14th annual meeting of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., was held a few days ago, when Mr. S. E. Garcke, M.I.Mech.E., chairman of the company, presided. He said that during the year the company had purchased a larger number of vehicles from other proprietors than is usual, and that fact had (,s-terted an influence upon the accounts. A large sum was spent in rebuilding those vehicles which were judged to be fit to be retained in the service of the company, but a large number was broken up and sold as scrap.
Mr. Garcke dealt with the first full year's experience of co-operation with the Southern Railway Co. A good deal of development work was done during the year and it is expected that the benefit of this and the work which will be done in the next few years will be felt by both transport organizations, as well as by the travelling public.
He recalled that it was only a few years since he said the company had passed the point when 10,000,000 passengers were being carried per annum, but now the number being dealt with each year is considerably more than 20,000,000. In fact, the company is carrying the whole population of the part of East Kent which it serves, 66 times over every year.
• Purchasing a Scottish Tramways Undertaking. • A further stage has been . reached towards the acquisition by Dundee Corporation of the undertaking of the Dundee, Broughty-Ferry and District Tramways Co. A sub-committee of the corporation recently bad under consideration reports in connection with the running of the bus service in co-operation with the tramways company.
The question of the acquisition by the corporation of the tramway company's undertaking has been revived, and it is understood that the company is now willing to negotiate for the sale of the undertaking for a sum of not less than 125,000.
New Bus Station at Falkirk.
Walter Alexander and Sons, Ltd., an associate company of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., Edinburgh, is to build a new public bus station at Callender Riggs, Falkirk. The site for the proposed building adjoins the main Falkirk-Edinburgh road, and the total floor area, including an outdoor parking space, will be between 3,000 sq. yds. and 4,000 sq. yds.
A Bernet Oil-engined Lorry.
We learn from our French contemporary, Le Poids Lourd, that the Berliet Co., of Lyons, is at present conducting experiments with a heavy lorry having a compression-ignition engine of the Acro pattern, and that in the near future the company expects to be in a position to supply vehicles of this type with engines built under Acro licence.
An Anti-freeze Mixture.
Of interest at this time of the year is a non-freezing mixture for the watercooling systems of motor vehicles. It is marketed, under the name Attic Antifreeze, by J. W. Towers and Co., Ltd., of Widnes. One of its advantages is that it raises the boiling point of water ' in the system.
At extremely low temperatures snowlike ice crystals are formed, but it is claimed that these never coagulate into solid ice and, therefore, cannot do any damage. It is asserted that Artie Antifreeze will not damage the cooling system, does not boil off, is odourless and has no injurious effect on metals, rubber, fibre or even leather.
It is also claimed not to deteriorate, so that one filling should last throughout the winter. The retail price of a quart tin is 6s. 6d., and this is sufficient for about three gallons of water.
Official Orders in November.
During November last only a few orders for motor vehicles were given out by Government departments. The Air Ministry placed one for bodies for Crossley chassis with the Gloucester Coach and Sheet Metal Co., Ltd., and ; one for Ford chassis with A. E. Gould, ' Ltd. The Admiralty placed one for Eagle trailers, and the War Department one for Leyland six-wheeled lorries and Crossley chassis. The Crown Agents for the Colonies also . gave an order for Crossley chassis, and divided one for lorries between John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., and the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd. The last-. named concern also received an order for chassis from the G.P.O. authorities.
Growing Transport Importance of the Argentine.
The 1929 Annual published by the Argentine Association of Automobile and Accessory Importers, contains statistics which show that during the year 1929 a total of 68,859 ears and 2,537 lorries were imported into the country, the combined figures representing an increase of 24 per cent. over the total for 1928. A record in vehicle imports was reached in the month of May.'
Whilst America still holds a large proportion of the trade, it is satisfactory to note that the European. share of the lorry business increased by 28 per cent, although a decrease of 20.4 per cent, occurred in connection .with motorcars. The total of British lorries imported was over five times greater than that for Italy, our nearest competitor, thus giving this country the leadership amongst European countries.
A chapter deals with vehicles registered in the capital and certain provinces, and it is pointed out that in the year 1920 the number of buses registered increased by 24.2 per cent, Another chapter deals with duties and taxes on vehicles, accessories, tyres, • petrol and batteries, and indicates the large increase in Government income from these sources.
In another section estimates are quoted which show the importance of the motor industry to the Argentine. It is calculated that there are some 50,000 employees engaged in this industry.
In dealing with buses in Buenos Aires, mention is made of the fact that there are 80 companies running 1,400 vehicles on services totalling 880 kilos.
Berlin's Reduced Passenger Traffic.
During November last the municipal transport services of Berlin carried approximately 82,000,000 passengers, this figure being about 24,000,000 lower than in the corresponding month of the ,
Previous -year. The number of passengers carried by the tramcars was 18,000,000 lower, whilst a decrease of 5,000,000 was recorded in the case of motorbuses. Trade depression and increased fares are held to be conjointly responsible for the reduction in the patronage of the services.
Activity at Newcastle's Bus Station.
With the opening of the new coveredin. municipal bus station at Marlborough Crescent, Newcastle, the whole of the services radiating from Newcastle to the West Tyne and adjoining districts, as well as a large number of long-distance services running to various parts of the country, have been Concentrated at this point
Eight platforms are provided, and to each is allocated a definite number of services. Illuminated destination iTk(iiCatOrg, " crush" barriers and " leftluggage " and inquiry offices are to be provided, as well as a parcels receiving office for the benefit of undertakings working parcels services in conjunction with their passenger routes.
B22 The leading organizations using the new establishment include Ne*castle Corporation, R. Emmerson and Co., the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., and the General County Omnibus Co., Ltd. In addition, all long-distance-service operators who formerly used the Marlborough Crescent site before the erection of the station are employing it as their Tyneside terminus.
A New One-horse Trailer Horsebox,
Messrs. Raven Caravans, 2, Ravenscourt Square, Hammersmith, London, '4V.6, have recently manufactured a new type of horsebox, which is intended for trailing' behind a '12 h.p. private car. Although it is of light construction and weighs. only 7 .cwt. .ceissplete, it is strong. A wide track ensures stability, whilst law-pressure tyres, detachable Wheels, automatic brakes and a doublespring tow-bar are included in the equipment.
The height of the floor, which is slatted, is onli 12 ins, above ground level and greatly facilitates the loading and unloading of a horse. A door is provided at the front on the near side to enable the groom to reach the horse's head, whilst there is a curtain at the front which can be removed so that the horse can see right through the box when being led in. The body is panelled and can be finished to match the car to which it is to be attached, whilst the top can be supplied in either Willesden canvas or fabric. The price of the horsebox as illuStrated on this page is £75, at which figure it represents good value.
Securing Engine Efficiency.
"The Secret of Engine Efficiency" is the title of an informative booklet now being circulated by Baritear, Ltd., 14-18, Lamb's Conduit Street, London, It contains 14 pages of useful pointers, including a number of interesting illustrations, as well as the prices for general overhaul and repair work. A copy can be obtained from the company at the address which we have given above. London-Sheerness Services Amalgamated.
Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., Knightrider House, Knightrider Street, Maidstone, having acquired Enterprise Motor Services, of Sheerness, an augmented time-table, combining the two services which have been operating between London and Sheerness, has been prepared for introduction this month. All the coaches will henceforth use, at the London end, the Lupus Street coach station of London Coasts] Coaches, Ltd.
New 50-passenger Single-deciters.
Until recently most of the public passenger transport in Vienna was effected by trams, except in the central portion of the city, which was served by small single-deck buses in which the driver collected fares. The municipality having decided to extend its bus services throughout the rest of the city and into the suburbs, a rather interesting type of bus has been adopted.
The new vehicles are also single deckers, but they are unusually roomy buses accommodating 50 passengers. There are seats for 32 persons and standing room, nominally, for 18 persons. Each body has central entrance, and the rear compartment is reserved for smokers. Standing passengers are carried in the central compartment.
The doors are arranged on the left, as at present the traffic in Vienna keeps to the left. The right-hand rule is, however, to be adopted in 1932, and provision for this has been made by designing the bodies so that the 'doors can be changed to the other side. More than 100 buses are already in service, 15 of them with experimental bodies, sonic built of steel and others of various light metals, wood, and of wood stiffened with steel A South Wales Registration.
Llanelli and District (Carmarthenshire) Transport Co., Ltd., is the name of a private concern, registered with a capital of £2,000 in £1 shares, to acquire the coach and bus businesses carried on by certain proprietors in South Wales districts. The permanent directors are Messrs. W. Jones, E. Howell, T. Taylor, J. Jones, C. Isaacs, J. Jones, and W. A. Phillips. The registered office of the company is at • nrynteg, Upper Tumble, near Llanelly. The secretary of the organization is Mr. E. Howell.
increase in Irish Tractor Exports.
The value of tractor parts imported into the Irish Free State during the 10 months ended October last, amounted to £768,690, as compared with £629,203 in the corresponding period of
1929. During the 10 months the exports of tractors from the Free State increased from 5,125 -(£532.255) in 1929 to 15,318 (£1,595,043) in 1930, whilst in the same periods the value of the :tractor parts that were exported advanced from the figure of £701,998 to £892,708. Protecting Luggage from the Weather.
A new device that will be of interest to motor-coach proprietors and bodybuilders is the Essar triple-expanding luggage carrier which is marketed by Messrs. Sidney Russell and Sous of Brace Street Works, Walsall, and bears the provisional patent No. 36,548. The carrier takes the form of a rectangular box, which may be fitted on to the roof. It has a domed cover, which is automatic in operation and opens and closes on the principle of a well-known make of head—that is, it folds up in sections.
The height and, at the same time, the capacity of the box may be increased by merely operating a handle. The standard size of carrier is 4 ft. 4 ins. by 3 ft., and its capacity is 28 cubic ft. The height of the luggage compartment
when closed is 10 ins. The cover 'is kept taut by two eccentric centre fasteners, and after disengaging these all that is necessary to gain. access to the interior of the carrier is to give a slightpush with one hand to the sliding mechanism.
The box is claimed to be proof against dust and the weather. It is constructed of three-ply birch, English ash and stout fabric. The Essar device has a neat appearance and avoids the need for sheets that tend to flap about when a coach is in motion.
A Low-built Cleansing Tank.
Mann, Egerton and Co., Ltd., 5; Prince of Wales Road, Norwich,, has _ recently introduced a new clean sing tank, which is built so low that_ it will pass under a commercial chassis of normal height. Although its height is only 1 ft. 10 ins., it retains the familiar features of the taller M.E. paraffin cleansing tank, these including a footoperated semi-rotary pump for spraying the paraffin, a long length of Petrollex hose and nozzle, a removable sludge tray and a filter chamber. The tank is aSailable in three sizes.
An Offer to Purchase a Bus Company.
The directors of the Sunderland District Oranibne Co., Ltd., have received an offer to purchase for cash the whole of the issued shares of the company at the price of 11s. per 5s. share. The offer is conditional upon its being accepted by holders of not less than 75 per cent, of the issued shares, or such less percentage as the purchaser may elect to accept by January 6th'. The name of the prospective purchaser has not been disclosed, although rumour associates the London and North Eastern Railway Co. with the offer.
For Solving Jointing Problems.
We have recently had iin opportunity for testing a jointing solution known by the name of Josol, which should heftaittly find a ready sale amongst users of road-transport vehicles. It is a quick-drying solution and when set it forms a sound oil,---water or gas-tight joint. It will also withstand great heat, and, by reason of its elastic properties, does not crack or chip when applied to dissimilar metals possessing a different co-efficent of expansion. The solution has high insulating properties and can, therefore, be used in connection with electrical apparatus, being of value for waterproofing magnetos or dynamos which are mounted in exposed posi
tins. It is, of course, invaluable for making induction and cylinder-head joints.
A point of importance is that Josolmade joints can be quickly broken and the faces easily cleaned by the use of a cloth moistened with methylated spirit.
Josol is sold in tins at is. and 3s. each, the former being intended for the tool kit and the latter for garage use ; it is also supplied in half-gallons and gallons. The solution is made by Josol Products, Ltd., 7, Eastwood, Mauston, Lancashire.
Cardiff Expects Bigger Bus Profits.
Mr. William Forbes, the manager of the transport services operated by Cardiff Corporation, estimates that during the year 1931-32 the bus undertaking will shoW a net profit of about £7,000, . as.' contrasted with'nn . estimated profit . Of £2,105 iii. the current financial year
arid a leSs of £4,871 laat year. Mr. Forbes has been formally thanked for • his Wotk in effecting ecomimies.
Another M. of T. Inquiry in Wales.
The Ministry of Transport has intimated its intention to bold a public inquiry at Ammauford Into the appeal made by Messrs. Rees and Williams against the decision of Ammanford Urban District Council to attach special conditions to licences issued to. the firm.
One of the special conditions objected to provides for the prohibition of bus operation on the Llandilo-AmmanfordSwansea route, which, the firm alleges, has for some years been covered by them without any objection from the council.
British Chassis in Lima.
Six Morris-Commercial lerries were recently imported for auxiliary services in Lima by one of the largest railway companies in the country. If the use of,motor vehicles in conjunction with the railways proves successful, large orders may be placed. It is believed that British makers will obtain most of this business, as the controlling railway interests are English.