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The Wheels of Industry.

8th April 1915, Page 11
8th April 1915
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Page 11, 8th April 1915 — The Wheels of Industry.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This journal, dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with the "Wheels of Industry,' C aniinues of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the parcelcar, the military tractor and the steam lorry.

General Long's Prom °fiats.

We are pleased to record the recent. gazetting of Brig.-General S. S. Long, A.S.C., as Major-General. His strenuous work, in fact absorbing the duties of another majorgeneral as well as his own, has been —as it remains—one of The outstanding features of the war on the vital side of organization. We congratulate him, and in so doing we merely give expression to a desire which many have held for some months past.

Gamage-Belt.

There was a stormy meeting of the shareholders of the GamageBell Motor Cab Co., Ltd., last week. Mr. A. W. Gamage refused to stand for re-election as a director, and the meeting refused by a large vote to elect Sir Charles Hamilton, Bart., to the Board. Mr. Gamage regards the present time as a very unfavourable one for liquidation, as suggested by certain of the shareholders, and the constitution of the Board for the future is dependent upon the result of a. poll of the shareholders which had not been completed when we went to press.

London Motorbusea.

There seems to be an ample supply of drivers to meet the requirements of the National Steam Car Co., Ltd , and we observe that this company has been successful in overcoming the difficulties which it recently experienced. The London and Provincial Union of Licensed Vehicle Workers endeavoured to impose on the company, early in the present year, a scheme of payment which was not applicable to an undertaking which was operating a fleet of only 200 motorbuses. The directors of the company, we recall, consulted their employees on the situation, and a scheme of working, with three drivers and three conductors per two omnibuses, was -approved by 95 per cent, of the men at the Putney garage, but by only 25 per cent, of the men at the Peckham garage. The company then shut down its Peckham depot, discharging the men who were not prepared to give the new scheme a fair trial, and these old employees were treated by the Union as if they were either " on strike" or " locked out " ; the Union paid them up to the end of March. We understand that some 300 drkrers who had to be discharged by the L.G.O.C. were not similarly treated. That, possibly, was becauee there were no longer any funds available, as all payments ceased last week.

It now appears that some of the principal officials of the Union have

enlisted as drivers in the A.S.C., M.T., and have advised the old employees of the National Steam Car Co., Ltd., to do the same. The company is successfully "carrying on," and has numerous applications from suitable drivers, of good character, who have been rej-ected formilitary service on slight medical grounds, and aleo from drivers and con deetors of the L.C.C. tramcars; whose wages aee distinctly lower than those which the National Co. pays. More Motor Mails.

The Controller, G.P.O., Edinburgh, seeks tenders for extensive contracts, on or before the 30th inst. The work is local, and loads vary from 20 cwt. to 30 cwt. Intending contractors should take warning from the McNamara experience in London. There is a risk, on the mileage basis, of big losses, without an hourly minimum.

The Postmaster, G.P.O., Plymouth, is asking for tenders for the conveyance of mails by motorvan between the G.P.O. at Plymouth -and various post offices and railway stations in the town. The maximum load will be 10 cwt., and the -contract will be let for three years. Full particulars will be furnished on application as indicated, and tenders must be posted not later than the 10th inst.

New American Fire-pump.

Evidence of motor-fire-engine development in America reaches us from one of our U.S.A. correspondents. We reproduce a photograph of a machine which is known as

the Hydramobile. This is equipped with an eight-cylinder V-type engine rated at 115 h.p. This, . of course, serves, in its dual capacity as a power unit for propelling the machine as well as for alternatively driving the pump. It is stated to weigh less than three tons. On a recent test in Rochester, N.Y., during a severe flood, it pumped water from a basement for no less than 37?, hours without a stop, which is claimed to be a record. During most of this performance it delivered at the rate of 581 gallons per minute with a 21-ft. suction. It has also been proved to be able to throw a stream to a height of 115 ft., its normal delivery being 7.50 gallons per minute.

A Van with Special Side and End Doors to Facilitate Loading.

The photograph on this page is of an interesting 30-cwt. Albion van, recently delivered to Messrs. J. J. Williams and Co., of Worcester, grocers and provision dealers. It will be noticed that good use has been made of the coachwork to secure as much publicity as possible on the machine, which is tastefully

lettered and coloured, a rarity in these days of universal grey. The body, as will be seen, is of a special type, being built for side as well as end loading. The lower portion of the rear door is hinged to open downwards and to hang on chains, and the sliding doors at the sides are ingeniously fixed to prevent scratching of the paintwork when pushed back. Skids are carried, which can be secured by the rails of the side door for loading barrels of sugar, etc..

Volunteers by Motor-lorry Convoy to Brighton.

Long before the commercial. motor vehicle became anything like an undisputed factor in the transport arrangements of our industrial life, the problem of the possibility of transporting troops by motorbus had engaged the attention of the military authorities, and the writer recalls the first experiments in December, 1908. There have been since this, of course, several trials

in the same direction, but the actual operations at the Front have of themselves settled the suitability of the independent motor vehicle for employment in such connection in overwhelming fashion.

In connection with the Mechani

cal Transport Column of the City of London National Guard Volunteer Corps, its first practical employment consisted of a preliminary run to Brighton, in which a body of members of the Guard was carried, as well as its equipment. A small convoy of seven lorries, consisting of one National steamer, one cokefired steamer, one Hanford W.D.type lorry, one Belsize W.D. lorry, one Albion van, one Commercar station bus, and one Commercar lorry, as well as several cars, paraded in the courtyard outside the Guildhall at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday the 31st ult. Some little delay was caused by the non-arrival of the ammunition wagon, but after the preliminary arrangements had been carried out, the convoy moved oft in good order. The officers of the Mechanical Transport Section were presented to the Lord Mayor of London, while on parade, before the departure of the convoy : Messrs, F. G. Bristow, F. Churchill, T. Clarkson, R. A. Dagnall. F. J. Field, J. C. Moth and K. Willi:Trott were the officers on duty. Mr. Shrapnell-Smith took charge of the column after its arrival at Brighton, when two Garrett steamers, lent by the Southern Motor Transport Co., Ltd., and a Foster tractor, lent by Dagnalle, Ltd., also joined for a portion of the manoeuvres.

We hope, in our next issue, to

draw some general inferences from the experiences which were gained. Two photographs, taken at the Guildhall at the time of departure, are reproduced on page 111. The convoy was led through the Cityby mounted police.

Gazette.

Auto-Trailers, Ltd., is now being wound up voluntarily. Mr. Robt. B. Tyler, 1, Queen Victoria Street, B.C., is the liquidator.

Star Dividend.

The Star Engineering Co., Ltd., of Wolverhampton, has declared its usual dividend on the preferenceshare capital, at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum, for the year ended the 31st December last, and an interim dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the ordinaryshare capital, Tramway Losses.

The London County Council has been successful, on appeal to the House of Lords, in securing an order requiring the Assessment Committee of the Islington Borough Council to take into account for rating purposes, within the period of the usual quinquennial assessment, the reduction in value of the L.C.C. electric-tramway undertaking within the area of the Borough of Islington.

Fortunate Middlesex.

It was announced, at the monthly meeting of the Middlesex County Council, on the 25th ult., that the ratable value of the County has now increased to 27,628,576, a penny rate yielding £31,620. The increase of the ratable value durmg the past financial year was no less than £146,856, yet this is the county which cadges for fractions of a penny per motorbus-mile, and these fractions altogether in excess of legitimate recoupment cost, in respect of motorbus traffic on a Freat State highway, constructed in up-to-date fashion, of new materials, with wood blocks on 6 ins. of concrete, and as to three-quarters of its cost out of the proceeds of motor taxation.

An Early Garner Delivery.

Amongst the first sales effected by Henry Garner, Ltd., of the machine which was illustrated and described in our pages recently. is a special vehicle that has been turned out for Mr. Barrow Cadbury, of Bournville, who is presenting the lorry to the Society of Friends Relief Committee for work in France. Mr. Cadbury, Junr., will drive the machine, and special attention has therefore been given to the comfort of the driver's compartment. The Society of Friends, as many of our readers will be aware, is rebuilding farms and cottages in France, and helping sufferers in every possible way. Whilst this organization does not believe in war, it is concentrating its attention on assisting those who have been left destitute as the result of military operations. The Garner lorry will bear its share.

A Useful Booklet.

A useful little book has reached us from Mr. R. C. Warren. It is a map guide to the London motor trade, and we have the testimony of friends of ours that it is of the

greatest possible service to people engaged in the trade, being complete and containing very excellent maps. The book is published by Carpenter and Warren, Ltd., Bank Buildings, Kingsway, W.C.

Albion Lectures.

We observe that the management of the Albion Co., both at Scotstoun and at 203, Deansgate,. Manchester, has made itself responsible, since the commencement of the war, for the conduct of lectures and tests to help applicants who desire to qualify for A.S.C., M.T., duties or other War-Office work in connection with iitotor transport. A Belgian manufacturer, who is married, and whose works have been destroyed by the Germans, is desirous of ocuring an agency for mechanical accessories and motor vehicles. In a note to us from the Belgian Relief Committee, we learn that this gentleman "could make an interesting suggestion to heavy motor-vehicle manufacturers." Any letters with reference to this application should be addressed to the Editor, and marked " Dachsbeck." Join the C.M.U.A.

Members of the C.M.U.A. are reminded that the annual general meeting will be held on Wednesday next, the 14th inst., at 4 o'clock, at 83, Pall Mall, S.W. The annual subscription will be raised, after that date, from 21 is. to 21 lls. Gd., the entrance fee of 21 Is. remaining unchanged. Increased legaldefence benefits will be provided.

With the L.G.B. Committee sitting, and with a Taxation Committee of both Houses of Parliament about to be appointed, it behoves every user to join forces.

London and Suburban Traction.

The Rt. Hon. C. B. Stuart Wortley, K.C., M.P., presided at the ordinary general meeting of the London and Suburban Traction Co., Ltd., on the 26t1i ult. The total receipts of the electric-traction power and omnibus companies in which interests were held had proved to be 21,303,912 during 1914, against 21,152,494 in 1913. Of the 4186 employees of the company's three tramway and electric-supply undertakings, no fewer than 1010 had joined His Majesty's Forces. They were only able to pay a dividend on their ordinary shares for the first half of the year, and at the rate of 1 per cent, per annum ; the carryforward was 22286, against 28597 in 1913. The report was seconded by Mr. Emile Garcke, and adopted.

Roads Improvement.

The annual report of the Roads Improvement Association, for the year ended the 31st December last, is an interesting and comprehensive book of 34 pages. The Association is able to do a great deal of useful work on a relatively-small income (21585 for the year under notice), and it deserves well of every undertaking and Association that is dependent upon the maintenance of our highway system in as high a state of perfection as can be secured. The R.I.A. is supported by collective annual grants from the Royal Automobile Club, the Automobile Association, the Commercial Motor Users Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the National Cyclists Union, the Cyclists Touring Club, the Incorporated National Union of Horse and Vehicle Owners, and other representative bodies which are concerned with road and traffic matters : it also enrols individual members. It may in future be known as "The Roads and Road Traffic Association."

We may content ourselves for the present by expressing the hope that some readers of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR will become individual members of the Roads Improvement Association, which they can do at a cost of only 5s. each per annum, by addressing their first annual subscription to Mr. Wallace E. Riche, the Secretary, at 15, Dartmouth Street, Westminster, S.W.


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