WHEELS of INDUSTRY " The wheels of wealth will be
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slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Suggested Petrol Tax Tickets.
On Wednesday last, when applying to the East Midland Commissioners for permission to increase fares as a result of the raised price of petrol, Mr. C.E. Bray, of Leicester, on behalf of the Midlands Area Omnibus and Coach Owners Association, suggested that the increase might be met by issuing special petrol tickets of 1d. or 2d, to passengers paying fares of 4d. and over. This would avoid altering the ordinary fares, which had been co-ordinated throughout the area after months of work. Mr. L. W. A. White, of the Barton Transport, Ltd., Nottingham; on behalf of the Mansfield and District Omnibus Owners Association, agreed. Mr. T. J. Lewis, of Scunthorpe, representing various smaller bus concerns in North Lincolnshire, disagreed on the score that on many bus routes there were no fares in excess of 4d., so that the proprietors would get no extra revenue.
Admission Charges to the Show. The charges for admission to the Tenth International Commercial Motor Exhibition, which is being held at Olympia from November 5th-14th, have been fixed as follow :—All days, except Saturdays, 2s. before 6 p.m. and is. after; Saturdays, November 7th and 14th, 1s. all day The exhibition will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The stand to be occupied by The Commercial Motor will be No. 12 in the Grand Hall, it telephone number being Shepherd's Bush 2703.
Dunlop Dividend Decisions. As a result of continued trade depression and the present crisis, the board of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., Ls unable to declare an interim dividend on the ordinary stock; a year ago 6 per cent, was declared. Furthermore, the board has decided that the declaration of the dividend on the " A," " B" and " C " preference shares can be considered only when the accounts for the year 1931 are complete.
A.J.S. Affairs.
A. J. Stevens and Co. (1914), Ltd., of Wolverhampton recently informed creditors and shareholders that a resolution for the voluntary liquidation of the company would be moved at an extraordinary general meeting on October 2nd. The directors have filed with the Registrar of Companies a declaration that, in their opinion, the company will be able to pay all debts in full within 12 months from the commencement of the winding up. The directors point out in the circular to shareholders that they called together 12 of the largest shareholders, who appointed an informal committee to confer with the board. It was decided at the outset to take steps for negotiating, if possible, a merger with a company of standing in the motor trade, and we understand that important negotiations in this direction are proceeding.
An Experienced Salesman Available.
We know of a man' who has had 20 years' experience in the motor trade, who is available to accept a position as salesman. He has good qualifications for the post, speaks French fluently and has spent 10 years abroad.
Letters addressed " Salesman," care of the Editor, will be forwarded to him.
Orderly Loading of Passengers.
Morecambe Watch Committee is to seek sanction to set up a by-law to the effect that when six or more persons are waiting in a street to board a public-service vehicle, they must form a queue not more than two abreast. The penalty for offending against the by-law is £2.
Award to Passenger-transport Chief. We extend our congratulations to Mr. G. J. Shave, M.Init.T., chief engineer of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., who has been awarded the Road Transport (Passenger) Premium by the council of the Institute of Transport for his paper on "Passengercarrying Vehicles."
Lath l Axle Weights.
In view of the Ministry of Transport regulations, it is interesting to note that the Latil B 5-type 6-ton chassis, even when equipped with a 6-cubic-yd. body and. Hydraulic Hoist tipping gear, can carry a pay-load of six tons whilst complying with the regulations as regards gross weight and axle weights. One of the latest machines which has been so equipped weighs as follows:— Unladen. Laden. Pay-load. Tnsocwt.qrs. Tns.ewt-qrs. Tns.cwt.qrs. Front axle 2 3 0 3 3 3 1 0 3 Rear axle 2 19 3 7 19 1 4 19 2
Total ... 5 2 3 11 3 0 6 0 1
The Petrol Engine.
It is interesting to pause a moment and imagine the vast difference to modern life that would have been made had the internal-combustion engine never been invented! Those who wish to extend their knowledge of petrol engines will find just the handbook they require in "The Petrol Engine," published by Temple Press Ltd.
This all-round practical manual deals with the construction and use of this universal power unit.
Lorry Assembly in New Zealand. His Majesty's Trade Commissioner at Wellington reports that a concern in New Zealand is investigating the possibility of assembling motor lorries and buses from imported component parts and accessories. The intention is to manufacture what is possible locally and to import such components as engines, gearboxes, steering gear, rear axles etc. Those interested should communicate direct with the Trade Commissioner, T. and G. Building, Grey Street (P.O. Box 369), Wellington, New Zealand, submitting full particulars and prices of those components and accessories which they are in a position to supply.
Triplex Trading.
The trading profit of the Triplex Safety Glass Co. for the year ended June 30th, 1931, was 178,954, compared with £70,207 a year earlier. Owing to the need for increased provision for depreciation, etc., and to a larger income-tax charge, the net profit is slightly lower at £34,495, as against £36,735.
Hull's Preference for Buses. At a meeting of the tramways committee of Hull Corporation it was indicated that the supersession of trams by motorbuses was one of the most important matters in the minds of several members. The chairman intimated that a preliminary report would be shortly available for consideration, when a special meeting would be called. Tenders for 20 new buses have been presented to the committee. One member of the council suggested that orders should be placed for 50 buses, so that, in the event of the abandonment of trams on certain main routes, sufficient vehicles would be available to meet passenger demands. The corporation operates a fleet of nearly 60 buses.
French Army Gas-producer Trials.
No fewer than52 vehicles are participating in the French Army gasProducer trials, which commenced on September 8th at Versailles, and are to continue until October 10th. Thirty of the vehicles are using wood fuel and many are running on charcoal. The entry list comprises lorries of all types from 15 cwt. up to 8 tons. Six long out-and-home runs will be made over routes radiating in all directions from Versailles. During these runs a great variety of tests is being carried out—speed on the level, speed in climbing a 14 per cent, gradient, hauling a loaded lorry, regularity of running in convoy formation and a particularly careful test of cooling systems. The last-mentioned item is of great importance when using producer-gas in lorry engines, as many troubles have developed in the past through overheating. The routes selected include rough country tracks, whilst at some points streams of a fair depth have to be forded. Finally, all engines are dismounted and given a bench test. The New Leyland Trolley-bus.
To its extensive range of passengercarrying models Leyland Motors, Ltd., Leyland, Lanes, has now added a fourwheeled trolley-bus. This may be described as a development of the wellknown Titan double-decker. The driving axle has S-in, worm centres, fully floating shafts, and the worm pot is offset in accordance with modern principles of transmission layout. The electric equipment is of G.E.C. make. The design includes either an exhauster for empleyment with a Dewandre braking system, or a compressor for a Westinghouse installation. We understand that substantial orders have been received for this new model.
Oil or Petrol?
Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith, C.B.E., is to be the guest of the Oil Industries Club to-day, on the occasion of the usual monthly luncheon in London, and he is to speak on the subject of "Will oil displace petrol for traction and motoring? "
Reduced Taxation of Electrics?
With the object of encouraging the use of electric vehicles in France, thus making the country less dependent upon imported motor fuel, the French Government is being urged to reduce the annual tax on such machines to half the standard rate, as is already allowed in the ease of gas-producer vehicles.
Russia Second in Tractor Production.
Soviet Russia is said to occupy second place in the world in the production of tractors. Last year it ranked third, having manufactured 13,400 tractors, whereas the Fords= plant in Ireland turned out 17,000 machines. During the first six months of the current year the Putilov (Leningrad) and Stalingrad plants together produced 14,344 tractors. The output is, according to a report, to be increased.
Additional Protection for Drivers.
The right arms of drivers of some commercial vehicles are frequently exposed to the wet, so it is desirable that extra protection should be provided. This is available in the form of the Drysleve gauntlet, which is obtainable from the Jervis Road Garage, Lillie Road, London, W.14, for 4s. (3d., post paid. The gauntlet is made, of black rubbered material, with silk elastic at the wrist and shoulder, and it is soft and flexible, although strong. Drivers of parcelears would find two such sleeves to be an' advantage.
Steel-plate Floors for Workshops.
Bearing in mind recent experiments which have been made with iron plates for roads, particular interest attaches to leaflets which Joseph Sankey and Sons, Ltd., Wellington, Shropshire, has reeently issued. This company is well known as a maker of patent all-steel wheels, chassis frames and general pressings for the motor and allied engineering trades.
The leaflets deal with a patent form of steel flooring-plate which the company has for some time been manufacturing. The plates are built up in square sections, and anchored at adjoining corners by a special pressed-steel member, secured either by nut and bolt or by a rivet, which may be solid or tubular. We are told that the plates have proved their suitability for machine shops, foundries, testing shops, etc., and can be speedily laid down in conveniently handled sections, previously built up from a number of squares.
Suspension of Ferry Service.
A suspension is announced in the double ferry &nice between Devonport and Cornwall, which is the main means
for access to Cornwall. It is anticipated that the work causing the curtailment will be finished in the early spring, when a permanent 15-minute service will be provided by two floating bridges, each capable of transporting 33 mediumsized motor vehicles and SOO passengers. Ad. Per Head for Livestock Transport.
An enterprising concern of Liverpool livestock dealers, Rigby and Co., (Liverpool), Ltd., has doue a public service by calling attention to the fact that it is nnnece;.saryto drive cattle, sheep and pigs from Liverpool landing stage to the local slaughter-houses, because, for a small sum, they can be transported by motor.
• Lambs can be brought to Stanley abattoir from Wallasey (on the other side of the River Mersey) for 6d. per head or from the Liverpool landing stage for 13d. per head, for a minimum of 50 animals.The distance between the landing stage and Stanley is about three miles, so that the rate of 6s. 3d. for the journey is very reasonable.
Personal Pars.
Many members of the trade, particularly those on the bodybuilding side, will be interested to learn that Mr. B. Horntray-Davies has joined Weymann's Motor Bodies (1925), Ltd., of Addlestone, Surrey, where he will act as joint managing director with Mr. E. Cl. Izod.
After an absence of two years in Australia, where he has represented Gilford interests, Mr. 11. R. HoMitch is en route for England, and he will arrive in this country in time for the opening of the Commercial Motor Exhibition, at Olympia. He will be in attendance on the company's stand, and will be pleased to renew old friendships.
Mr. j. Campbell has retired from active management in James Hall and Sons, Ltd., the Rochester concern of engineers, boilermakers, iron and brass founders, but he retains his seat on the board as consulting director. Mr. A. C. Fendick has joined the company as managing director.
Mr. C. Hillier has been appointed chairman and Mr. W. C. Allen vicechairman of Canvey Motors, Ltd., which has been registered to acquire and operate the bus service on the Island of Canvey. The other directors of the company are Messrs. V. Hiscox, P. Myall and W. Hilliker.
Free State Tractor Trade Difficulties.
A marked decline still continues in the imports of tractor parts into the Irish Free State, the total for the seven months ended July last having attained a value of £71,900, as compared with £738,096 in the corresponding period of 1930.
Heavy declines are also recorded in the seven months' exports of tractors and parts from the Free State, those of complete machines having dropped in number from 13,718 to 3,385 and in value from £1,431,126 to £319,489, and those of tractor parts from £758,723 to £115,958.
Good Performance by Fordson Track.
layer.
A demonstration of the new Fordson track-laying agrimotor drawing a fourfarrow plough was held a few days ago on the farm of Dr. Chalmers Watson, Fenton Barns, East Lothian, alongside an ordinary Fordson drawing an Oliver three-furrow plough. The results were B22 regarded by the onlookers as being" highly satisfactory. The fact that all well-known makers arc now producing track-laying models shows that the Popularity of this type is increasing among agriculturists.
Tenders for Municipal Haulage.
The cleansing committee of Tynemouth Corporation has accepted the following tenders for mechanical transport for a year, the charges given being per hour:—Mr. G. W. Strasshine, ton lorry, 2s. 6d.; Messrs. It. and C. Thudbeck, 30-cwt. lorry, 3s. 2d., and 2-ton lorry 3s. 9d.; Messrs. T. Wakefield and Son, 3-tonner 5s. 6d., 4-tonner 6s., and 5-ton vehicle 6s. GI.; and Messrs. Gray Bros., fi-tonner Is. 6d.
Sets of All-metal Hose.
Titeflex all-metal hose, which is produced by the Gabriel Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Columbia Avenue, Burnt Oak,
Edgware, Middlesex, is now being sold in sets, as well as,in various lengths and as complete piping. Three sets, supplied in packages, are available, Nos. 2 and 3 being of interest to our readers. No. 2, which costs 24s., contains 6 ft.
of single-braided Titeflex with adaptors to make up six pipes, suitable for use in connection with light commercial vehicles. Set No. 3 comprises 6 ft. *in. single-braided Titeflex with adapters for six pipes, and costs 33s.; this is intended for heavy vehicles.
Various diameters of pipe are available, those generally suitable for motorvehicle use being from 5-32 in. to I in., the prices ranging from 2s. 6d. to 7s. 6d., single or double braiding.
Municipal Vehicles Wanted.
The Egyptian Ministry of Public Works, Cairo, is asking for tenders for the supply of five small sprinkling vehicles and three refuse collectors. Copies of the specifications and conditions of tender can be obtained on loan from the Department of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1. Local representation is essential, and the Department is prepared to furnish names of British merchant houses with Egyptian connections which may be willing to deal with tenders on behalf of British manufacturers not directly represented. The closing date for tenders is November 2nd, 1931.
Canada's Falling Production.
During July, 1931, 4,220 motor vehicles were produced in Canada, the .figure including 1,069 commercial vehicles. This output was 40 per cent. below that for June.
The Dominion Bureau of Statistics inslex number of motorcar production, %Mich is adjusted for seasonal variation, and expressed as a percentage of the long-term.,.trend, determined from the period 1919 to 1928 inclusive, reached the lowest for any month of this year when it registered 25 per cent. of the normal in July.
The total production of commercial vehicles for the seven months ended July amounted to 14,343, as against 18,958 in the corresponding period of 1930. Of this year's total 8,760 vehicles fell, in, the. 1-11-ton class and 4,677 had a capacity of undei. one ton.
Morris-Commercials for Estate Duties.
A number of eminent landowners 'has recently ordered Morris-Commercial vehicles for estate work. These include The Rt: Hon. Earl of Winchilsed. and Nottingham, who 'has purchased an L-type shooting 'brake through W. W. Webber, Ltd., 15,. London Street, Basingstoke, and the Duke of Westminster' who has bought a 30-cwt. van through the Grosvenor Motor Co., Foregate Street, Chester. These orders
are in addition to those recently received from Lord Coventry, Viscount Lymington, M.P., the Earl of Kilmorey, the Earl of Bradford asid the Marquis of Downshire.
Associations Combine to Protect Users' Interests.
According to our French contemporary Le Poids Laurel, the three principal French associations of commercial-vehicle users and transport contractors have lately formed a joint body to be known as the Conference des Transports par Automobiles, with M. Ch. Blum as the first president, with the object of the better protection of their interests as regards taxation, traffic regulations, etc.
Tyre Condition and Vehicle Insurance.
A bus proprietor of Trinidon Grange was recently charged at West Hartlepool with permitting the use of a motorbus having defective tyres, action also being taken against the driver of the vehicle. There was a further charge of having permitted the use and driving of an uninsured bus.
The insurance policy covering the vehicle, it was stated, contained certain clauses, one of which made it clear that the insurance Company would not be liable if the bus was in a defective condition. The case for the police was that the buswas in such a state because of the tyres.
For the defence, however, it was submitted that there was an additional arbitratory clause to the policy providing that any claim disputed by the company on the ground of the vehicle being defective should be decided by an arbi trator. There had been no claim, and It was contended, therefore, that the bus could not be considered defective and uninsured unlesssisthe arbitratory clause had been satisfied.
The Case against the owner was dismissed and that against the driver withdrawn.
Specification for Street Lighting.
The British Engineering Standards Association has just issued a revision of the British Standard Specification No. 307 for street lighting. Five new definitions, covering the highway, carriageway, footway, margin and kerb, have been included, but the chief points in the revision are contained in the specification itself.
A Transport Board's Bus Progress.
The Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Joint Board is rapidly replacing its tramways system by bus services and the latest reports indicate a large increase in the number of passengers carried by bus. During 1930-1 the total number of passengers carried by the undertaking was 16,904,367, a decrease of 509,257 on the returns for the previous 12 months. Of these, 12,208,921 passengers travelled by bus, as against 10,447,725 in the previous year. The tramcar passengers numbered 4,695,446 —a decrease of 2,370,452 in the year. Receipts show a drop of £18,699, a large proportion of which is due to unemployment in the area.
A "Container" Competition.
In view of the growth of container traffic, which enables goods to be packed in a factory and dispatched direct by road or other transport niethods to the customer, the international competition, recently arranged by the International Chamber of Commerce and leading transport and tourist undertakings, is of special interest.The event took place one 'day last week in the harbour sta tion at Venice, and the adjudicators included representatives of • British railways. • Model containers were entered by English, German and Italian makers.
The Reading-Newbury Appeal.
At a watch-committee meeting of Newbury Corporation a letter received from the Ledbury Transport Co., Ltd. was read stating that the Minister of Transport has dismissed the appeal of the company against the decision of the Traffic Commissioners authorizing die company to make only 12 journeys per day each way between Reading and Newbury.
Solid Tyres in Belgium.
The steadily increasing use of pneumatic tyres on motor lorries and buses is affecting the sale of solid tyres in Belgium. From a return lately issued we learn that the value of such tyres imported into the country during the six months ended June last amounted to only £9,537, as compared with £24,086 in the same period of 1930.
Municipal Purchases and Proposals.
DAGENHAM COLIDCil is to buy a new ambulance.
• The highways committee of Monr.,c4susx Corporation is to defer the purchase of a gully-emptier.
Messrs. H. Pye and Sons are supplying a Morris-Commercial 15-cwt. van costing £174 to Mniesram...o Corporation.
The watch committee of MANSFIELD Corporation has obtained sanction to borrow £1,195 for the purchase of a fire-engine.
The health committee of Dutumv Corporation has authorized the purchase of a Morris-Commercial 30-cwt. lorry at a cost of £287.
The transport committee of MORECAMBE Corporation has decided to obtain quotations for the provision of sunshine roofs for its double-deck buses.
Provided sanction can be obtained for the necessary loan, Sol-tuneL Rural District Council is to purchase a Thornycroft-Eagle refuse-collector at a cost of £600.
The electricity committee of CROYDON Corporation favours the tender, at £235, of Moore's Presto Motor Works, Ltd., for the supply of a Morris-Commercial 1-ton van.
The Ministry of Health has sanctioned loans of £824 and £1,595 respectively, required by CROYDON Town Council in connection with the purchase of a motor ambulance and a fire-engine.
The works committee of EAST HAM Corporation has obtained sanction to borrow £2,228 for the purchase of an Electricar vehicle and two lorries for refuse collection.
ACCRINGTON Corporation has obtained sanction from the Ministry of Transport to borrow £5,715 for the purchase of buses, on the understanding that within a reasonable period licences have been granted.
DUNDEE Corporation is seeking tenders for the supply of a six-wheeled fireengine carrying an extension ladder. Tenders have to be sent to the Town Clerk, City Chambers, Dundee, by October 10th.
The Ministry of Transport will consent.to a loan. of £10,000 tO' MORECAMBE Corporation .for. the purchase of :buses, so long as road-service licences are obtained. The vehicles are to replace older types.
German Imports. Down: Exports UP.
• During the six months ended June last Germany imported 52 goods vehicles valued at 120,600, as contrasted with 221 and £69,700, respectively, in the corresponding half of 1930. There was, however, an increase during the same period, in the exports of vans and lorries from Germany, from 142 vehicles (£54,000) to 282 (£66,750).
Enforcement of Speed Limits.
Devon County Council has decided to request the standing joint committee to ask the police to keep a close check on the speeds of heavy lorries and coaches, and to urge the Ministry of Transport to reduce the maximum legal weights and speeds of heavy motorcars.
New Windscreen with Diagonal Panels.
Diagonal panels constitute the leading feature of a new two-piece windscreen that has been introduced by the British Steel Frame Co., 193, Cambridge Road, London, E.2. As will be seen from the accompanying drawing, on the off side the lower edge of the movable glass pane would be well below the driver's line of vision, so that the advantages of the single-panel and divided types are provided.
It is possible to fit two windscreen wipers, both covering a useful expanse of glass. Should the screen be partially open in wet weather, moisture collecting on the lower edge of the upper panel drains away to the off side.
'The company markets this new type of windscreen in a variety of standard sizes and the price for a black-finished model is £2 2s. If safety glass be used, the prices are £3 5s. and 14 15s. for sheet and plate glass respectively. The Iap-section channel employed extensively by the British Steel Frame Co. is used In the new windscreen.
Qualified Salesman Available.
We know of a first-class salesman of component parts, etc., 35 years of age and particularly well informed on pressed-steel work, hating also a practical knowledge of the design and manufacture of frames, axle casings, wings and 'panels. He is well known in the industry. Letters, addressed "Components," care of the Editor of this journal, will be forwarded.
A Transport Exchange Registration.
With the object of consolidating the Interests of road-transport users in the district, a new company, with the title Derby Commercial Transport Exchange, Ltd., with offices at St. Mary's Chambers, Derby, has been formed. The nominal capital is £1,000, and the directors include Mr. G. R. Stuzgess and Mr. G. L. Artless.
Institute of Metals Programme.
The Institute of Metals has recently issued its full programme of meetings for the session, both of the parent Institute and of its six local sections, which are located at Birmingham, Glasgow, London, Newcastle, Sheffield and Swansea. In each of these centres there will be given from October to March a series of lectures dealing particularly with
local metallurgical and engineering problems. In all, over 40 meetings have been arranged.
Copies of the programme can be obtained from the secretary of the Institute, 36, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S.W.1.
Economies in Refuse Collection. Bexhill Corporation's engineer has submitted a report on refuse collection, with suggestions for effecting economies.
As a result of his recommendations, the highways committee has advocated experiments with two 10-cubic-yd. low. loading refuse collectors having footoperated covers. The engineer considers that the tests will Drove that house refuse can be efficiently collected for Ss. 6d. per ton, as against averages of Us. 5d. and 9s. 6d., respectively, with two other systems. Auxiliary Front Springs for Fords.
In addition to the Helper springs for the rear suspension of Fords, marketed by R. M. Papelian, Ltd., Trico House, Edgware Road, London, N.W.2, there has now been introduced an inrerted semi-elliptic model for mounting immediately below the transverse spring supporting the front of the chassis. It is secured by the existing U bolts.
The free ends of the spring bear upon rubber cushions carried in brackets clipped to the axle beam. The price of this fitment is 12 2s. and it is supplied in -three types. F5 is 11. in. wide and is for use with 10-leaf or 12-leaf main springs; F6 is of the same width and operates with 18-leaf springs ; whilst FT is 2t ins, wide and is used with 13leaf and 14-leaf springs.