News and Comment.
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The authority, circulation and influence of this journal rest upon facts.
An exclusive article upon the motor services in the Malay States is begun in this issue—pages 369 to 371.
Motor manufacturers are invited to consider the unnecessary cases in which enormous tilt covers are fitted to motor vehicles—see page 367.
At a meeting of the Highways Committee of Eastbourne Town Council a letter from Mr. Max Pibel, offering to supply motor road-watering or dust wagons, was read and referred to the Borough Engineer for consideration and report.
Going West.
Mr. Julian A. Halford will sail from England, to identify himself with certhin American interests, about the middle of next month. An interview with him will be found on page 372. His opinion of prospects in America may be gathered therefrom.
Voluntarily Wound Up.
At an extraordinary general meeting of the Central Motor Transport Co., Ltd., held at the registered offices, 18, Smithfield Chambers, 4-5, West Smithfield, B.C., a resolution was passed to the effect that the company had wound up voluntarily. Mr. W. S. Smith, St. Bartholomew Chambers, West Smithfield, was appointed liquidator.
The Price of Petrol.
Petrol has gone up in price 1;(1. a gallon, and we gather that this may not be the final level. In these circumstances, carburetter and engine efficiency, both of which have been greatly improved since the advent of the commercial motor, become of increasing moment to owners. The greatest potential check upon the price of petrol is probably the imminence of adaptations which would allow the widespread use of ordinary coal-gas, in
regard to which the first information to be published was in this journal— issue of the 29th April, 1909.
South-Devon Sales.
Mr. W. M. Port, motor dealer and repairer, of Torquay Road, Paignton, asks us to point out that the chassis for the Lacre vehicle, supplied to Deller's Stores, Ltd., which was illustrated in our issue of last week, was sold by him. We have pleasure in giving space to inform South-Devon readers of Mr. Port's preparedness to take additional similar orders within his immediate district.
Lacre Orders.
We reproduce on this page a photograph of a recently-delivered 18 h.p. two-ton 1910 type Lacre van for the Patent Steam Carpet Beating Co., Ltd., which company already has five of the old-type Lacre vehicles doing satisfactory services on the road. It will no doubt be of interest to many readers to observe this further example of orders for a 1910-model Lacre from one of that London company's oldest customers. We understand that bookings of a similar nature are very numerous, and that the Letchworth works is chiefly occupied upon production to meet the requirements of buyers who have dealt with the Leers Co. for several years past.
Culpable Homicide ?
For seven hours, at Perth, on Thursday last, a jury was engaged in listening to the story of the Kin fauna motor fatality, when William Coutts, motor-lorry driver, of Luncarty, appeared hir trial on a charge of culpable homocide. In our last issue we dealt at some length with the facts of this case, and we are glad to hear that the jury unanimously found Coutts " not guilty."
Another Perthshire Mail Service.
The latest addition to the now numerous Scottish motor-mail services is in the Kenmore district. A few weeks ago, the local inhabitants approached the Marquis of Tullibardine and asked him to use his influence to obtain a motor-mail service between Aberfeldy, Kenmore and Acharn. The result of this application has been that the postal authorities have agreed to substitute a motor service for the existing mail car on and after the 14th of September. The road from Aberrelay to Kenmore is an excellent one on the south side of the Tay, but from Kenmore to Acharn on the south bank of loch Tay the road is not so good. The distance is about nine miles.
S. M.M.T.
The committee of the British manufacturers section of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders met on Thursday last, when Mr. E. M. C. Instone presided, and there were also present Messrs. H. G. Burford, F. Lanchester, E. Lisle, T. C. Pullinger, H. Smith, and L. Walton. Reports were read from Mr. W. G. Williams, the Society's representative at the Brussels Exhibition, and these showed that remarkable interest is being taken in the excellent collective motor exhibits, especially by foreign makers and representatives. We reproduce, on page 368, a photograph of the British exhibit at. the Brussels Exhibition. It will be seen that Ryknield machines are prominently placed. A letter from the Exhibition Committee was received, and this was to the effect that it would not be possible in organise a collective British exhibit for the forthcoming show which is to be held in Paris.
With regard to the Turin Exhibition of 1911, correspondence with the Board of Trade was considered, and it was resolved to obtain the views of the manufacturers on the subject of a collective exhibit. Packing Motors for Shipment.
We have, on several occasions, drawn the attention of our readers to the necessity for the careful packing of motors intended for transportation over seas, and several companies who have specialized in the packing of such vehicles are doing extensive business. The West End Motor Car Packing Co., of Portland Wharf, 132, Grosvenor Road, S.W., is ono of the best known, and that company has just secured the contract for packing the whole of the vehicles which are to be shipped to Rio de Janeiro in connection with the order for Lotis vehicles, announced in our issue of 23rd June.
Fruit by Motor Vehicle.
One of the largest fruit growers at Swanley is regularly using a motor wagon for conveying field strawberries to Covent Garden. Another large grower of forced fruits informs us that by the use of motor vehicles he can get the fruit to Covent Garden more than an hour earlier than by train.
Each year witnesses the extended employment of motor vehicles for the conveyance of fruit direct. from the grower to the salesman, and one of the machines which we show on this page is of a Milnes-Daimler lorry which was httrriedly converted to meet the requirements of the strawberry season for service between Banning near Maidstone and Spitalfields Market. Loading operations commence with this machine about three o'clock eaeh morning, and, about 5 a.m., the journey to the market commences. After some three or four hours delay at the market—for unloading the fruit, and collecting empties for the return journey—the vehicle leaves for the Milnes-Daimler depot at Tottenham Court Road, and the return journey for Maidstone generally starts between four and six in the afternoon, and is completed on top gear. On the up journey, with a full load of five tons, the machine negotiates Wrotham Hill, as far as the chalk pit, on third speed, and the remainder of the climb is completed on second gear. The design of the body is certainly somewhat crude, but it originally served as a brewer's dray. It was then converted into a demonstration wagon with sides, and fur that purpose the floor was filled up with planking, and sides were fitted as shown in the photograph ; then, when the vehicle was pressed into service for the strawberry season, an unpainted openwork erection was added at very small cost. The awning over the driver's seat was the work of the driver and one of his mates, and was made out of two pieces of wood and an old tarpaulin, rigged up and stayed with a few pieces of old clothes line. The Milnes-Daimler Co. refuses to father the design, but we think the driver is to be complimented on the ingenuity which he displayed in improvising the canopy for his own comfort during the recent wet weather. This machine belongs to the _MinesDaimler hire department, and is now in the service of E. Jones, Esq., of Orpington. The daily mileage is approximately 70, and the petrol consumption works out at about 5.7 miles to the gallon. Messrs. Bruce and Co., of Spitalfields Market, to whom the fruit is conveyed, have expressed to Milnes-Dainder, Ltd., their complete satisfaction with the machine's work. Motor Pantechnicons.
Since the order was placed for the furniture van which is illustrated on this page, Maple and Co., Ltd., has issued a repeat order for another fiveton chassis; this makes a total of three repeat orders received by Dennis Bros., Ltd., from Maple's within the past three weeks. The particular machine illustrated is probably the first self-contained motor pantechnicon which has been fitted with a large well at the back. The well is about 5 ft. long by about 3 ft. 3 in. wide and 2 ft. deep.
Saturated Vapour Thermometers_ The Fournier instrument for the indicating, recording and regulating of all degrees of temperature, etc., will be exhibited at the Naval, Mercantile, Marine and General Engineering and Machinery Exhibition at Olympia from the 1st to the 26th September next, by Messrs. F. Mellin and Co., of 60, Salusbury Road, Kilburn, N.W., who are the sole representatives for Messrs. Fournier in this country. It may be remembered that one of the most-useful features about the Fournier devices is that the indicator or recorder may be placed at any distance from the chamber whose temperature is under observation. Mr. Ebenezer Smith, removal contractor, of Blackheath, S.E., is obtaining good results from the three-yearold, three-ton, Leyland, petrol lorry which we illustrate. It has travelled some 55,000 miles to date. With a trailer, the lorry frequently takes loads of five tons. It is stored, along with other removal vans, at the old Blackheath fire-station, which pre anises Mr. Smith occupied when the L.C.C. opened its new all-motor station at Charlton.
Mr. J. Graham Reece, the head of the firm of Messrs. J. Blake and Co., of Beaumont Street, Liverpool, was in constant attendance on his stand at the recent Royal Show. Mr. Graham Reece was one of the first in Liverpool coach-building circles to take an active interest in commercial-motor traffic.
Coal Transport by Steam Wagon.
A novel system for the transportation of coal has been developed by Alley and MacLellan, Ltd., of Glasgow, one of which maker's Sentinel six-ton. steam wagons, in the service of the Aldbridge Coal Co., Ltd., of Walmer, is shown in a. series of photographs on this page. By the method employed, the ordinary form of colliery truck can quickly be filled, accurately weighed and wheeled on to the wagon for transport to any given point. On the wagon illustrated, each truck contains one ton, and it. may
be hauled on to the wagon platform from an incline ky means of a Spanish windlass, or may be wheeled direct from the level of a loading clock. The windlass may also be used for tipping the trucks and returning them to their normal position on the wagon.
New Registrations.
Mossley Transport Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £3,000 in El shares, by Jordan and Sons, Ltd.
116-7, Chancery Lane, W.C., to carry on the business of transport and haulage contractors, van and motor owners, etc.
W. and G. Ltd., with an authorized capital of £100 in £1 shares, by J. B. and F. Purchase, 14, Regent Street, W., to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in and proprietors of motors, motor and other carriages, cabs, vans and vehicles, etc.
Coro Oil and Rubber Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £1,000 in El shares, by Waterlow Bros. and Layton, Ltd., Birchin Lane, E.C., to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in lubricating and illuminating oil, petrol, motor spirit, rubber and other accessories for motor and cycles, etc.
Teignmouth Motor Car Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £2,000 in Ll shams, and with its office at 2 and 3, Orchard Gardens, Teignmouth, to take over a motorcar and accessories agreed to be purchased by
W. H. Bonner and others from Commercial Cars, Ltd., and to carry on the business of proprietors of motorcars, char-a-banes, omnibuses and carriages, etc. First directors, W. H. Bonner, W. J. N. Burden, A, P. Dell, M. Fraser, J. S. Furler, G. Rossiter, and C. Stooke.
Warren and Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £5,000 in El shares (4,000 10 per cent, cumulative preference) by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., 116-7, Chancery Lane, W.C., to take over the business of motor carriage and coach builder carried on by T. Warren at Wrecclesham, Surrey, as Warren and Co.
Bricks by Motor Wagon.
Our Berlin Corespondent writes:— " Some time ago I called attention to the use of automobiles for certain purposes in the Berlin building industry, and I now see that firms are adopting lorries for the. transport of bricks from yards to building sites. Building operations being more or less dependent upon weather, I can conceive that, in sonic cases, the rapid transport of bricks to the site might
perhaps save days of delay in the .
completion of any given building. The brick-transporting lorries I have seen carry a high tonnage, and cover the ground at some 10 miles an hour, whereas the horse-drawn wagons do not exceed three miles."
A Neat Speed Table.
We have received from Mr. A. A. Remington, chief designer to the Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Co., Ltd., a useful little pocket-card speedindicator. This is quite the neatest thing of its sort which has come to our notice, as it is possible, owing to the ingenious arrangement of suitable time and distance scales, to read, direct from the card, the speed at which a vehicle is travelling, providing that a mile has been timed with some degree of accuracy. The speeds on this calculator are only those between 30 and 60 miles per hour, and it is, therefore, with its present range, not useful to the commercial-motor user. The same principle, however, might well be adapted to enable lower speeds to be read.