NEWS of the WEEK
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NEW TEMPLE PRESS BUILDING WELL UNDER WAY.
The foundation stone of a fine new building for Temple Press Ltd. was laid by Mrs. Roland E. Dangerfield, wife of the managing director, on September 28.
Mr. Roland E. Dangerfield, referring to the political situation, remarked that " in spite of everything we had not got our tails down yet." He paid a tribute to the works manager, Mr. C. F. Cook, for the immense effort he had put into the plans for the new building, and was still putting into it. He hoped that if the general prosperity of the country improved, the company might one day be forced to put up an even larger building. • The new building is-a few hundred yards from the south-east corner of the intersection of Farringdon Road and Rosebery Avenue, and will be fronted by a new or widened thoroughfare to by-pass the Farringdon Road traffic. In a few months' time it will provide extensive offices and a printing works designed to give flow production similar to that of the hest-equipped automobile factories.
'Official Orders in August.
A fair number of orders for vehicles and allied material were given out by Government Departments during August. The Admiralty gave one for ambulances, to Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd. The War Office orders included one, for bodies for searchlight chassis, given to Chas. Roberts and Co., Ltd.; others, for chassis, to Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., Guy Motors, Ltd., John I. Thornycroft and p.30 Co_ Ltd., Albion Motors, Ltd., and Rootes, Ltd.; for generator chassis and drivers' cabs to Tilling-Stevens, Ltd., Guy Motors, Ltd., and John 1. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd ; for lorries, to Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., and Leyland Motors, Ltd., and for mechanical horses and tractors to Scammell Lorries, Ltd.
The G.P.O. authorities ordered vans from Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., and van bodies from John Chalmers and Sons, Ltd. The orders placed by the Air Ministry included bodies and cabs from Mulliners, Ltd., and British Pressed Panels, Ltd., chassis from the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., road rollers from Thomas Green and Son; Ltd., cabs from Strachans Successors, Ltd.. andtrailer bodies from Chas. Roberts and Co, Ltd. The Crown Agents for the Colonies also placed an order for motor ambulances with Vauxhall Motors, Ltd.
U.S.S.R.'s Gas.vehicle Test.
A fleet of 12 vehicles, using wood or coal fuel, has just completed a 6.800mile trial run through the Soviet Union. Organized by the Soviet Government, the tour was designed to test the running qualities of new Soviet gas-generator motors.
In 53 days the caravan twice crossed the Urals, traversed the salt marshes of Kazakhstan, the Ukranian steppes and the forests of White Russia. Running costs proved much lower, it is stated, than with liquid fuel, and all five types of gas vehicle taking part in the run were able to climb the steepest gradients. HAULIERS BENEFIT FROM INCREASED CROPS YIELD.
Striking figures of the increase in the corn yield in Lincolnshire were given at a sitting, last week-end, of the East Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. J. H. Stirk, when haulage contractors in Stamford, Boston, Gainsborough and Woodhall Spa were successful in applications for additional facilities, primarily on account of this increase.
Mr. A. T. Pears, representing a Stamford operator (Mr. G. H. C. Hind, of Duddington), said the average yield of wheat, this harvest, had turned out at from seven to eight quarters per acre, compared with four to five quarters last season, and barley and oats had yielded five to six quarters this year, as against two to three quarters last year. Mr. T. J. Lewis, for a Woodhall Spa operator (Mr. J. I). Rose), said the present year had been one of abundance for cereal crops.
Cambridge Level-crdssing Scheme.
To eliminate the level crossing in Milton Road, Cambridge, which forms a serious obstruction to traffic on the London-King's Lynn road, Cambridge Borough Council proposes to carry the road over the railway by means of a bridge 44 ft. wide. The cost is estimated at £3,000 and the work is expected to take 18 months to complete. Milton Road level crossing is frequently closed to road traffic, and the adjacent subway, which has insufficient headroom for large commercial .vehicles, is narrow and steep.
A.E.C. Advertising: An Explanation.
The Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., wishes us to point out that the reference to the C.M.U.A. in its advertisement in last Friday's issue of The Commercial Motor was intended merely as a " tie-up " with the editorial matter of that issue. It was not intended to discriminate between the C.M.U.A. and other associations, all of which are considered of vital importance to the roadtransport industry—and good friends of the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd.
TRACTOR'S MILE IN 5 YEARS.
When Mr. Adam Fulton Spence and Mr. John Spence, both farmers, of Crossgates, were charged in Dunfermline Sheriff Court, last week, with offences arising out of the use of a tractor on the Auchtertool-Crossgates road, Dunfermline, it was stated that the vehicle travelled only about a mile on the road in five years. Accused were charged, as driver and owner respectively, with using the vehicle on the road when a third-party insurance policy was not in force, when it was not equipped with a mirror, and without displaying a 20 m.p.h. speedlimit disc. Mr. John Spence was further charged with failing to have the unladen weight and legal maximum speed plainly marked on the vehicle. Each respondent was fined 5s.
Tyne Tunnel Deputation Pleased.
The representatives of South Shields and Tynemouth Town Councils, who have interviewed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, on a plan for a tunnel under the Tyne to connect North and South Shields, stated on their return to Tyneside that the interview was most satisfactory. They had been congratulated on the strength of their case.
The deputation had been led to believe that the Ministry of Transport's technical advisers were convinced of the need for a tunnel east of Newcastle-onTyne, and the question to be decided was in connection with the exact location of the tunnel.
Wouldn't Say " Yes " to Railways.
A £400 warehouse has been pulled down by a concern which refused to accept a railway company's condition that goods should be carried only by rail. The warehouse, owned by W. Sinclair and Son, Ltd., well-known seed merchant, of Boston, Lincolnshire, stood in the yard at Billingborough London and North Eastern Railway station, on land leased from the railway company.
The lease contained a clause that goods stored there should be carried only by rail. When the lease was renewable, the railway company increased the rent, and insisted on the "by rail only" clause. The seed company, .which wished to send goods by road, refused the condition, and offered to sell the warehouse to the railway company. The latter refused, so Sinclair and Son. Ltd., has demolished it!
Bother Over "Sand and Ballast."
The description applied to a quantity of gravel was the subject of a case heard at Thorpe. Essex, recently in which Mr. Dennis Stevens, cartage contractor, Tendring, appeared as the defendant, The Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures for Essex County Council said that the quantity delivered by Mr. Stevens to fulfil an order for 4 cubic yds. of gravel given by Mr. Robert Warner, of Teiadring Manor, was found to be considerably less than the amount stated in the relative invoice.
The managing directer of the Clacton Sand and Ballast Co. said that the defendant ordered 3 cubic yds. of gravel on the day in question. Giving evidence, Mr. Stevens said that he added some grit to the gravel, which previously had reached just below the 4 cubic yds. mark on ' his lorry.
Mr. Stevens was fined £4 • for applying a false trade description to the gravel, 10s. for selling ballast by the cubic yd. otherwise than in a prescribed quantity, and 10s, for failing to deliver a conveyance note to the consignee before unloading ballast.
Selling Agent for Stream-Line Filters.
In our issue dated September 29, reference was made to the Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd., in connection with the Stream-Line oil filter. We have been asked to point out that this concern is a selling agent for these filters. Its works address is Wellington Works, Tower Street, London, E.8, and its offices are at 2-3, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.2. PERSONAL PARS.
MR. J. S. SIMMONS, advertising manager for Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., recently won the singles championship of Henley's Bowling Club and carried off the Sir Montague Hughman Cup.
MR. WILLIAM WALLACE, whose portrait appears on this page, has been elected a director of Chrysler Motors, Ltd. He is well known as director in charge of sales of Dodge Brothers (Britain), Ltd., and he has been with this organization for nearly six years.
COUNCILLOR J. M. BOLTZ has been invited to be mayor of the borough of Bridgwater (Sornerset) . He pursues an active career in public life, being. 'among other things, Somerset district secretary of the T.G.W.U., a member of the Conciliation Board for .road transport, and a member of the Traffic Commissioners' panel of the town council.
MR. C. W. CHAPMAN, technical director of F. Perkins, Ltd., of Peterborough, has been awarded the Derby Gold Medal for.the 1937-1938 session of lectures by the Liverpool Engineering Society.
His paper was entitled " High-speed Diesel Engines," and was read before the Society in November, 1937.
The medal will be presented to Mr. Chapman by Colonel F. Hibberd, chairman of the Liverpool Engineering Society, on October 19.
MR. HENRY SPURRIER, JNR., assistant general Manager of Leyland Motors, Ltd., is to leave England on October 14 for a six-months tour around the world to visit the company's branches overseas. The trip will embrace Canada, New Zealand, Australia, India and Iran, and will include the Leyland agencies in Palestine and Egypt.
This will be one of the most comprehensive trips undertaken by a Leyland executive during the past few years, although, since 1936, MR. A. A. LTARDET, general manager, and MR. C. B. INIxxox, managing director, have paid visits to U.S.A and South America respectively.
MR. P. C. KIDNER, who, last Tuesday, was inducted as President of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, was born in 1878 and educated at Blundells' School, Tiverton, and the Crystal Palace School of Engineering. He served his apprenticeship with J. Johnston and Co., of Elgin, later becoming a director and assistant works manager of Vauxhall Ironworks, Ltd. (afterwards Vauxhall Motors, Ltd.), of which company he remained a director for 22 years. Mr. Kidner is now a director of Hartwell's, Ltd., Oxford, and of Ricardo and Co. (Engineers), Ltd. Elected a member of the I.A.E. in 1907, and a vice-president in 1934, he has served on .many committees of the council, and has been especially identified with the Repair Certificate movement.
LEYLAND'S LARGEST FOUR. WHEELEDFIRE FIGHTER.
Bournemouth Fire Brigade has taken delivery of the largest Leyland fourwheeled limousine-type fire-engine yet built, It was urgently completed at the works of Leyland .Motors, Ltd., in order that it could be exhibited at Brighton for the last two days of the recent Fire Brigade Conference.
Forward control. a long wheelbase, and the mounting of the 800-1,000g.p.m. pump amidships give a large space aft for equipment and working room for the crew, and leave the rear end of the machine unencumbered tor the mounting of a 50-ft. wheeled escape. This can be released in a few seconds by manipulating two levers in the driver's cab and, including a 30-ft. extension ladder and a 14-ft. ladder, is the only part of the equipment not under cover.
Comprehensive Solex Service.
In view of the large number of vehicles to which the Solex carburetter is fitted as standard, it is interesting to learn that there are approximately 250 official Soles service stations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each carries stocks of carburetter spares to cover replacements needed back to Ino and, in some cases, earlier.
Most of these stations have sent one or more of their mechanics to the Solex works at 223-231, Marylebone Road, London, N.W.1, for a period of special training.
Brigramet Bearing Metal.
The British Graphitised Metals Co., Ltd., Shell-Mex House, London, W.C.2, is manufacturing a lead-base, anti-friction alloy a hich has additions of tin, copper, nickel and antimony as hardeners, and is impregnated with Acheson's colloidal graphite, the graphite being introduced by a patented process which produces a perfect admixture and homogeneous distribution throughout the metal.
It is marketed in various grades for every class of bearing by Johnsteads, Ltd., Whitby Works, Park Royal, London, N.W. An interesting booklet giving full details of the characteristics and results of tests with this alloy is available.
Fordson Dealer's Enterprise.
Adlards Motors, Ltd., 3, Keswick Road, Putney, London, has been established as a Ford dealer in the 5.W.15 district for about eight years, and its speciality has been day-and-night ser vice. Since starting in Putney, the company has added two or three extensions, and at the moment is completing a large commercial repair depot, which is capable of handling the biggest type -of goods-can ying vehicle.
The concern also specializes in maintenance contract work, and full details of this scheme are contained in a folder which the company issues, there being three schedules in operation.
£32 The company has now taken over 43-45, Acre Lane, London, S.W.2, as a main Fordson sales depot, whilst, at 31-33, Acre Lane, it has an up-to-date works organization and carries a comprehensive range of spare parts and replacement units. At this address, too, a 24-hours' service is in operation.
Small British Share of Norway's Imports.
Out of 446 commercial vehicles imported into Norway, during July last, only 11 were British, this number comprising nine Bedfords, a MorrisCommercial, and a Ransome trolleybus. These figures, however, do not include 87 Fords, some of which, doubtless, came from the British factory.
Photographic Trailers for Flying Corps.
The authorities of the United States Air Corps have lately placed an order with the Covered Wagon Co., of Michigan, for the supply of 23 special trailers to be fitted out and used as mobile photographic laboratories, in connection with aerial mapping operations and field photography. Each trailer will be equipped with complete photographic developing and printing apparatus, to enable the work to be carried out on the site of operations.
I.M.T. Examination.
The 26th examination of the Insti tute of the Motor Trade will be held in London and certain provincial centres on November 25. The Council is offering gold, silver and bronze medals for the three candidates securing the highest number of marks in the 1938 examinations (April and November). Full particulars of the examination syllabus and regulations, copies of papers set at recent examinations (price is.) and other relevant literature may be obtained from the secretary of the Institute, at 201, Gt. Portland Street, London, W.1. OVER-WEIGHT LORRY SUMMONS AT BOSTON.
A fine of £5, together with Al 13s. costs, was imposed on Mr. Alfred Murket, partner in a Peterborough garage firm, who pleaded guilty, at North Holland sessions, Boston, to making a false declaration for the pur pose of obtaining a licence. Mr. G. Colam, taxation officer, said that from a revenue point of view it was regarded as a serious case. The vehicle referred to was a heavy cattle truck.
Mr. Adderley Cole Seaton, haulage contractor, of Gedney Hill, said that in February of this year he ordered a cattle truck from Murket's garage at Peterborough. He requested that the vehicle be under 2i tons. He took delivery on March 24 and since the vehicle had been in his possession not the slightest alteration had been made to ft.
In consequence of a notice received from Mr. Colam he produced the vehicle and it was then found to weigh much more than 21 tons. As a result he had to pay additional tax, take out a provisional licence and undergo a test, and was confined to 20 m.p.h.
Mr. Murket told the Bench he had no option but to admit responsibility. He had been in the habit of signing a batch of papers and trusting his men to fill them up correctly. In future, he would sign no more declarations for lorries but leave it to the purchaser.
Egyptian Call for Tenders.
The —Egyptian Ministry of Public Works, Mechanical and Electrical Department, is calling for tenders for the supply of an oil-engined endlesstrack-type tractor and a 5-ton fourwheeled trailer. Tenders have to bedelivered to the Director-General of the Department, Cairo, by noon on November 3. Fuller details may be obtained from the Department of Over • *seas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1.
PENNY FINE FOR LICENCE OFFENCE.
"We impose a fine of one penny,'' said the Kendal magistrates last week, when Mr. John Dixon, contractor, of Church View, Old Hutton, was summoned for using a vehicle otherwise than under a goods licence on September 15. Defendant's lorry was seen by a traffic examiner, on that occasion, to be loaded up with cattle for exhibition at the county agricultural show.
Defendant explained that, on August 27, he sent an application to the Licensing Authority with a view to his B licence, which did not expire until October 31, being transferred to a new vehicle, as the old vehicle was no longer safe. He supplied the Authority with full details, and on September 2 received an acknowledgment. The application, was made before the new lorry was delivered, and the two vehicles were never on the road at the same time.
Mr. J. Little, the traffic examiner, said that the delay might have been due to the fact that the new lorry was heavier by 9 cwt. and time might have to be given to other operators for an opportunity of objecting.
A " Prismatic Penetration " Fog Lamp.
A new principle of prismatic penetration, which is claimed to give effective visibility even in the densest fog, is incorporated in McNaught fog lamps, which are produced by MeNangtrt Lamps, Ltd., Lawson's Road, Thornton, near Blackpool.
The coloured glass louvres, the secret of the lamp's efficiency, are so blended as to produce a prismatic beam containing over 2,000 shades, including those colour rays which will pierce fog. Means for adjusting the 'beam are provided at the back of the lamp.
By means of interchangeable fronts, a fog lamp can, in a few minutes, be converted to a normal head light giving a powerful, flat beam with absence of dazzle.
The prices of the fog lamps range from 22 5s. to 23 7s. 6d., and of the interchangeable -fronts, 12s. 6d. for the 5-in. size and 15s. for the 7-in. size.
Inst. of T. Awards for Papers.
The Council of the Institute of Transport has awarded the Road Transport Medal, in respect of the session 1937-1938, to Mr. C. T. Brunner, of Shell-Mex and B.P., Ltd., for his paper on " Rates Agreements and Rates Regulation in the Road-haulage Industry."
The Institute's Graduate Medal was awarded to Mr. A. Stone, of Leeds Transport Department, for his contribution on "Road Passenger Transport: Relationship between Municipal and Private Enterprise."
Following the presentation of the awards on October 10, Mr. Gilbert S.
• Szlumper is due to deliver his inaugural address as president of the institute for the year 1M-19:39. AN AID TO TRACTOR TYRE INFLATION.
A new device which is likely to have an important bearing on the operation of pneumatic-tyred farm tractors is the Schrader sparking-plug tyre pump, marketed by A. Schrader's Son, 829, Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham. This comprises a neat fitting which is hand-screwed into a plug hole and, on
the engine being ran slowly, clean air is pumped into any tyre to which the pump may be coupled. What is of special importance for land work is that the tyre pumping, being mechanical, will facilitate the changing of pressure when needed by varying conditions.
Buying More Guy Vehicles.
Among the orders recently received by Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, are many Irons. important operators who have consistently used Guy vehicles for some years. Some of the better-known concerns for which Guy vehicles are now being built include Timothy White and Taylors, Ltd., Lewis's, Ltd.. Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd., Rustless Steel Co., Ltd., Lloyds Packing Warehouses, and Rotherham Corporation. Export orders are in hand for Singapore and Nyasaland.
Latil Road-rail Tractor for Paris Show.
At the forthcoming Paris Motor Show, which opens on October 13, a Latil road-rail tractor will be exhibited by the French associated company of Latil Industrial Vehicles, Ltd. Latil road-rail tractors have been in operation by the small railway companies and private undertakings in France, which, we are informed, are well satis • tied with the efficiency of the vehicles.
The vehicle to be shown at Paris is being sold to the National Railway Co. —the largest of the French railway concerns. This model, incidentally, is offered with a petrol, oil or producergas motive unit.