AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

News and Comment.

6th March 1913, Page 14
6th March 1913
Page 14
Page 15
Page 17
Page 14, 6th March 1913 — News and Comment.
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This number of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR opens its ninth year of publication.

Hallford Developments.

Dartford L'.D.C. has passed plans submitted by Messrs. J. and E. Hall, Ltd., for the erection of new motor shops at. Priory Orchard.

Inst. A.B.

Messrs. G. W. Watson and D. S. Kennedy will present a joint paper, before the Institution of Automobile Engineers., on Wednesday next, the 12th inst., on the subject el "Heavy Motor Vehicles."

Topical Subjects.

Our leading articles this week deal with the following topical subjects: (1) " More Railway, Unrest: Owners of Commercial Motors are Largely Safeguarded " ; (2) "How to Show at Olympia next. July " ; and (3) "The Plough of the _Future."

Volume XVII.

One of the new series of articles which is started in this issue is entitled " Small Users in Big Cities." The use of the word " small " is by no means employed in a derogatory sense, but merely as a means of distinguishing the owner of one or several vans from the owner of a great fleet.

The Dennis Flotation.

The flotation of Dennis Bros., Ltd., will be made over the coming week-end. The lists will be open on Monday and Tuesday, and they will close for the country on Wednesday. Some particulars have already appeared in this week's issue of "The Motor." The capital is 2300,000 in 21 shares, and the sale price of the business is

i:225,000 in cash, of which the directors of the existing company undertake to re-invest £100,000 in the business. Messrs. John and Raymond I )crinis will remain managing directors for a minimum term of five years. The profits of the past. three years, ended in each case at the 30th September, were : for 1910, £19,000: for 1911, .2:31,000 ; and for 1912, .1:42,000The company's prospects are exceptionally bright, and its newest extension consists of a fine shop of seven 35ft. bays, each 160 ft. long.

Bigger Lacres for Shoolbred's.

The inauguration of a heavier section of its fleet of Laere vehicles, by Messrs. Jas. Shoolbred and Co., the famous house furnishers and stores of Tottenham Court Road, W., is heralded by the putting into service of a 30 h.p. four-ton Lacre pantechnicon. This vehicle is incidentally used to advertise the furniture, decoration, bedding. carpets, curtains and other departments of the firm which owns it. as well as the fact that the appointment. to• H.M. Queen Alexandra is held by them.

A Transport Project.

The Howthall Development Co. writes to say that its contemplated order is for 50 Hallford, 50 Halley and 50 Straker-Squire vehicles.

Two Registrations.

Downer and Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £5000 in 21 shares, by Waterlow and Sons, Ltd., London Wall, E.C., to carry on the business of motor carriers and hauliers, etc., and to adopt an agreement with C. F. Huth, P. S. Huth and H. Huth, who are the first directors.

T. Goodliew. Ltd., with an authorized capital of £5000 in 21 shares, by Busk, Mellor and Norris, 45, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C., to take over the business of a haulage contractor carried on by T. Goodhew at. Crescent Street, Sitting-. bourne. First directors : T. Goodhew, E. J. Goodhew and A. Hinge.

Daimlers for Hancock's.

W. Hancock and Co., Ltd.. the Brewery, Cardiff, which company has been using motor vehicles, both steam and petrol, for a long term of years, has recently had good results from a smart-looking three-ton Daimler van from the Coventry works. We give an illustration of this machine, in order that the manner in which the name of the firm and an illuminated trade device have been embodied with the front of the driver's cab may be noted. The machine was supplied in September last., and it had run 6035 miles, in 83 working days, by the 10th January. Inclusive of driver's wages, insurance, petrol, repairs, tires, lubricants and sundry stores, interest Oft capital arid depreciation, the working cost is 7.3d. per mile.

The Borough Surveyor of Ealing has been instructed to obtain particulars and prices of horse-drawn and _motor ambulances.

Messrs. Denby and Sons have successfully tendered to the Belfast Corporation for the construction of two ambulance bodies for its two motor chassis.

Amongst the earliest orders for Thornycroft subsidy-type threetonners is one for two vehicles from the Kingston-on-Thames depot of Whitbread and Co., Ltd., the old-established brewers, for the transport, chiefly, of bottled ale and stout.

An Engineer for Overseas.

We have knowledge of a wellqualified technical man, 34 years of age, who has been in a responsible position for several years with a well-known owner of commercial motors (vans and motorbuses), who is desirous to obtain an Overseas appointment. He requires a salary of not less than 2300 a year. with passage paid out for himself and wife, and he would like to take charge of a dozen or more vehicles (petrol or steam) in some British colony. Address inquiries to the Editor, in the first instance.

The C.M.U.A. and Bridges.

The Secretary of the C.M.U.A. appeared, at a Local Government Board inquiry, on the 26th ult., at East Worlington, Devon, to oppose an application by the Devon County Council for an Order prohibiting the use of motor vehicles with an unladen weight in excess of two tons upon Drayford Bridge, Witheridge. This bridge is on the main road from South Molton to Crediton. The chief point of the C.M.U.A. oppesition was this: that if the bridge is in fact insufficient to carry a two-ton motor vehicle, it is therefore unfit to carry a loaded farm cart., and the authority responsible for it should forthwith put it into suitable condition. The result of the opposition is not yet known. Tin announcement that the Benzote Sub-Committee, one of the results of the many sittings of the Petrol Committee, which committee was formed by the Royal Automobile Club, has changed its title to the Petrol Substitutes Joint Committee, has to be noted. The appointment of Mr. Stenson Cooke as secretary to the Joint Committee is a guarantee that work will still be keenly prosecuted. The membeiship of the Joint Committees is as follows : Representing the Royal Automobile Club, Messrs. W. Worby Beaumont, Bertram Blount and E. S. Shrapneil-Smith ; representing the Automobile Association and Motor Union, Messrs. C. H. Dodd, W. Ballin Hinde and Charles Temperley ; representing the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Messrs. E. Manville, D. Citroen and S. F. Edge.

Damages Against a Tramway Undertaking.

Thomas Sykes, the driver of a motor wagon, successfully brought an action against the Salford Corporation last week, lie was stopped by the police, who alleged that he was driving too quickly, and, while getting down from his driving seat, was struck by the tramcar, the wheels of which !passed over his right hand, with the result that all the fingers and a portion of the hand had to be amputated. For the defence, it was alleged that the driver sounded his gong and applied his emergency brake. The plaintiff. in cross-examination, said he knew it was a little risky to get off without looking, because the clearance between his wagon and the passing tramcar would be very little when it was overtaking his standing vehicle. He also admitted that the car had a bright light, in front, and that if he had looked behind him he could have seen the tram coming. but that his attention was fixed upon the constable.

Judgment was given for the motor-wagon driver for 2410, but counsel for the Corporation intimated in possible appeal.

Fire-Brigade Matters.

Bingley U.D.C. will shortly expend 21000 on a. motor fire-engine.

Mr. Reginald Downing becomes a director of Dennis Bros. (1913), Ltd. 'We congratulate him.

The Loughborough Council is now considering tenders for a motor fire-engine. We last referred to its intentions on the 30th Jany.

The decision of the Budapest Corporation to remodel the vehicles of the Fire Brigade on a motor basis begins to take effect early next year.

Stratford-on-Avon Town Council is considering the purchase of a motor fire-engine, and it is believed that the Stratford R.D.C. will contribute.

The Cork Corporation has decided to inquire whether the insurance companies who do business in the city will contribute to the cost of a motor fire-engine.

The Gelligaer ti.D.C. has decided to reorganize the Bargoed brigade. It is hoped that a motor fire-engine will be purchased, to be stationed at Bargoed, which is the centre of a prosperous colliery district.

Heavy Damages.

The Lanark County brigade has been east in heavy damages, in an application for a new trial which was heard by the First Division of the Scottish House of Session at the last sittings. It appears that during a run to a fire in June, 1911, one of the Council's fire-engines knocked down a boy, four years of age ; the boy's arm had subsequently to be amputated. He claimed, through his father, for 22500, and a jury had awarded 2400. A new trial was refused, the Lord President bolding that the jury was entitled to come to the conclusion that the engine was travelling at such a pace thatit was. under the circumstances, impossible for the man in charge to draw up with sufficient celerity to avoid the accident, and which pace was an unreasonable one. The tender of the Addison Alotor Co. has been accepted by Wallasey Town Council, for the supply of a two-ton Allday tip lorry with canopy, for 2495, and of a 13-cwt. lorry, for 2340.

The Baroda Tramway Co., Ltd.. has placed an order for Simplex petrol tramcars, to supersede horse-cars, with the Motor Rail and Tram Car Co., Ltd., of 79, Lombard Street, London, B.C.

More Albions.

Harrods, Ltd., of Brompton Road, S.W., has given a further order for six 16 h.p. 25-cwt. Albion chassis, and that latest order brings up the total of vehicles with Albion chassis which are owned by this great London stores to 69.

At Newport (Mon.).

We learn that the Newport (Mon.) Taxicab and Motor Car Co., Ltd., of Adelaide Street, Crindau, Newport (Mon.), has recently opened showrooms at 84, High Street, in the centre of the town, and that the company is open to act for commercial-vehicle manufacturers.

For Electrical Breakdowns.

The Corporation of Blackburn has ordered a motorcar for the use of the Electricity Department. Its main use will be to enable workmen and officials to get to the scene of repairs as soon as possible, but it is hoped to be able to devise such a body as will admit of the machine being used for passenger work also.

A Venezuela Opening.

According to the American Consul in T..e Guaira, Venezuela, the advisability of adopting motor trucks for carrying produce to market is under consideration by a good many owners of cocoa and coffee plantations there. Projects are also on foot for the establishment of public motor services for both goods and passengers.

Keeping the Driver Cool.

Mr. Thomas Spence, of Recreation Place, Leeds, reports that he has run a Mann five-tonner no less a distance than 1000 miles in three weeks. For a vehicle on steel tires, this points to steady going throughout. Four journeys, from the extreme east to the extreme west of EngLand made up the total.

In communicating this report, Mr. Spence adds that he "attributes this splendid mileage record to the fact that, owing to the outplate of the machine being at the side of the boiler, the driver is much fresher and cooler, and can therefore stand longer hours than when cooped up in a well at the back of the boiler."

We can imagine occasions on which the driver is glad to have the protection which is afftrzded by the location which is here criticized.


comments powered by Disqus