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News and Comment.

8th August 1907, Page 11
8th August 1907
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Page 11, 8th August 1907 — News and Comment.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This journal fosters, represents, and chronicles commercial motoring in all its branches : our regular' weekly circulation exceeds 8,000 copies, exclusive of any extra mailings of special issues.

R.A.C. Trials.

If anyintending competitors have not yet made arrangements for the nomination of observers, we are acquainted with a few young engineers who would be prepared to undertake the duties.

The cancellation of the entry of a Straker-Squire, petrol-electric, omnibus chassis, which we reported last week, is not to reduce the aggregate of entries, as a 2-ton delivery van (class D) has been substituted by the makers. Several more entries are due.

It has been decided that Thorny_ croft's works at Chiswick shall be the starting-point for these trials, and this site is, by the courtesy of John I. Thornycroft and Company, Limited, being put at the disposal of the trials committee as the London depot for the examination and start.

It has been found necessary, owing to the fact that the intended date of the visit to St. Albans clashed with the local fair week, to substitute Biggles wade for the first-named place. No suitable accommodation was available at St. Albans. While on the subject of arrangements for storage, we may say that the Club hopes to have the whole completed within the next few days.

Legislation.

The Cab (Fares) Bill, which it is hoped to pass into law before the end of the present session, wilt probably abolish the system of privileged cabs at railway stations, as well as getting rid of existing difficulties in regard to the applicatioa of the taximeter to horsedrawn cabs in London, where the twofare basis, i.e., within and without the four-mile circle, has proved an insuperable difficulty in the war of the mechanical recorder.

County Courts and Extraordinary Traffic (Jurisdiction).

Further to our report of last week (page 527) of the decision of His Honour Judge Gywnn James, sitting at Bath County Court, in the case of the Bath Rural District Council against the • Midland Railway Company, L.C.J. Alverstone, with Lol J. Darling and Phillimore, sitting as a divisional court, in the King's Bench Division, have granted rule nisi, calling upon the County Court judge to show cause why a maliciaimiS should

not issue ordering him to hear and determine the action in question. We shall report the result in due course.

New Premises.

The premises of Halley's Motors, Manchester, Limited, at i and 3, Bridgewater Viaduct, Dean sgate, are new open to deal with all enquiries for Halley commercial motors, under the management of Mr. Ralph E.

Kensington and Heavy Traffic.

The action of the Kensington. Borough Council, in regard to the passage of heavy vehicles through the Royal Borough, which was supposed to be aimed only at the carrying-on of such locomotive traffic in purety residential streets, appears to be of a much more far-reaching nature, as the Council has instructed its solicitors not to accept an undertaking for the withdrawal Of certain tractors from particu_ lar residential roads. Having regard to the nature of the ordinary traffic along Kensington High Street, and to the importance of that street as a main thoroughfare, we lee( confident that the Executive Committee of the Commercial Motor Users' Association will offer the most active opposition to the attempt of the Kensington Council to cause heavy motor traffic to be diverted therefrom. The attempt is an impudent one, the outcome of pure agitation, and it by no means reflects the real views of important or responsible ratepayers in the neighbourhood of Kensington High Street. Lacre Orders.

Recent orders tor Lacre 16h.p. vans are front Messrs. Duncan, Flockhart and Company, Henry. Finch, Burroughs vVelicome and Company, Limited, itoluday and Sons (Birmingham), and John Walsh, Limited (Sheffield).

Swansea's Ambulance.

We are advised by Captain J. Coiquhoun, Chief Constaote or SWansea, that no make of motor ambulance has yet Oeen adopted, as the Committee. will receive tenders until the 15th instant. IL appears that specifications have been issued to six different .firms, three of these being local, and that a large number of donations have beenreceived

towards the cost of the vehicle.

M.A.B. and Motor Ambulances.

At the meeting of the Metropolitan Asylums Board on Saturday, the Amhulance Committee submitted a report stating that in May last it was authorised to obtain tenders for the supply of two motor ambulances. The Committee, however, did not consider it advisable to obtain the second ambulance until further experience had been gained with the first. Accordingly, on 2151 July last, it recommended the Managers to accept a tender for one ambulance only. the Committee was now of opinion that a chassis for a light ambulance of the brougham type stmuld be purchased and the oody should be constructed by the coachsmith at one of the ambulance stations. It, therefore, issued advertisements for "a suitable: chassis, and received the following tenders :—Argylls, London, Ltd., 17, Newman Street, W. : (I) with tires, 4323.

; (2) without tires, £298 ws. Douglas, Cox and Co., Thomas Place, W. Norwood : (f) :1,,;;;323 195.; (2) .4.29819s. S. A. Marples, staple Inn, 385; (2) -...C350. Dennis Bros., Ltd., Guildford, Surrey : (I) £35; (2) ,4;357. J . I. Thornyorof t and Co., Ltd., H ogarth Lane, Chiswick, W. : .4.475 ; (2) k45a. "I he Committee recommended the acceptance -of the tender of Argylls, London, Ltd., for one of its standard tz.-411.p. -chassis, for 4298 ros. without tires. Upon the motion for the adoption of the report and recommendation,. Mr. Cornell moved a reference back, so that the Committee could bring up full information as to the running costs of the motor ambulances which had been purchased. Mr. Bates, in seconding the reference back, said the Manriers. should have a full report up-on the whole subject of motor vehicles. Mr. H. Thomson Lyon, Chairman of theCommittee, said that a reference back. would mean a -considerable delay on account of the vacation ; it would mean. that the matter would be left over until late in October or November. The Committee hadfully considered the subject, and was satisfied of the desirability of increasing the number of motor vehicles. On a division the referenceback was carried by a small majority.

After 50 Years.

An interesting souvenir of the Dinmend Jubilee of Price's Patent Candle 'Company, Limited, which occurred a little more than two months ago, has been issued by this well-known manufacturing company, whose oils and greases are so widely employed by -owners of commercial motors. We are indebted to Mr. J. Veitch Wilson for its arrival at these offices.

For Heavier Fuels.

A new paraffin carburetter, which promises to give good results, and which appears to work well with vary'ng mixtures of paraffin and spirit, has been introduced by Mr. William S. Sete geant, of Zacary House, Strand-on-theGreen, Chiswick. Full particulars may be had on application to the in. ventor, or to Mr. Thomas Parker, jun., M.LA.E., A.M.I.E.E., 217, Piccadilly, London, W.

German Trials.

The German Motor Manufacturers' Association, in co-operation with the Imperial Motor Club, is arranging to -hold a six-daYs' trial during the late autumn. The vehicles are to be ,divided into six classes as follows : Class I.—Omnibuses to seat not less than 12 passengers; breadth of seat not less than i51 inches.

„ Delivery vans and lorries for 15-cwt. loads.

„ III.Ditto. I a, to 2a-ton loads, „ -Ditto. 4,to 4-ton loads.

„ V.– Ditto. 4-ton loads. „ VI.– Motor road trains.

The loads will consist of bags of sand, and i r stone will be allowed for the observer. Vehicles in classes I and II are required to run x 52 miles each .day; in classes III and IV, 75 miles ; .and in classes V and VI (if fitted with rubber tires), 62 miles. Vehicles in ,classes V and VI, if running on steel -tires, are only required to make a daily

journey of so miles. The entry fees are : Class II 4:ro, and for all other classes i:is for each vehicle.

Makers may enter three vehicles in any class, and any kind of fuel may be used. The judges' decisions will be determined by : (a) reliability ; and (b) economy of running. Marks will be deducted at the rate of one for each

minute's delay on the road. Speeds will vary from 12.1 to 7e1 miles an hour, and iron-tired vehicles will only be expected to do 6o per cent, of the speed for rubber-shod vehicles.

Small Vans.

The illustration (see next page) of a 10-1211.1. Clement inetoryan serves to show how such a vehicle may prove both useful for delivery purposes and as an advertisement, This vehicle has a very smart appearance, and its proprietor, Mr. H. Appenrodt, who bought it through the Wimbledon Motor Works, finds it a valuable means of taking goods from Coventry Street to his various branches, as well as to individual customers. The amount of tinned goods and hampers that can be stored in this van is really remarkable, and the saving of time has proved to be a most important factor in its work.

Renard Train Prospects.

The statutory meeting of the Renard Road and Rail Transport Corporation, Limited, was held, on the 3ist ultimo, under the presidency of the Right Hon. Lord RibblesdaIe, Chairman of the company. It appears that the public subscription was only a. little in excess of the .4:mo,000 whvih was underwritten, and that the company has an available working capital of L:3o,000, with a further total of 4.:24,000 odd unissued shares. Encouraging reports have been received from various parts of Europe, and the company has been able to conclude a fresh manufacturing agreement, with the Daimler Motor Company (1904), Limited, upon improved terms. A number of trains have already been sold for export.

Belfast Strike,

Apropos the references and illustrations in our previous three issues, the fohowing extract from last hursday 's issue of the " Northern Whig '' may be noted " The motor vans and wagons which. have been brought over by the English railway companies were engaged all day, and a considerable quantity of goods was delivered by tnem. The motors were protected by strong police escorts, under the direction at District-inspector Regan, of Carrickmacross, an old and esteemed Belfast officer, who is theroughly acquainted with the city and its people. h he vehicles have now ahnost ceased to be noticed in their passage through the streets, and no attempt was made to interfere with them or with those in charge of them."

South Africa's Market.

Dr. T.Ieeltzel contributes to the organ of the Imperial Motor Club an instructive article on the motor market in South Africa, meaning, of course, in the British Colonies. In spite of the lack of suitable roads (which exist in the immediate vicinity of towns only), during the :financial year ended 3oth June, 1906, automobiles valued at ..175,000 were imported, and the writer predicts a material rise, especially for Johannesburg and the whole Witwatersrand. " Here, however," he observes, "no vehicles de luxe come under consideration ; rather, for every successful business concern in the mining district, the self-propelled vehicle is an indispensable auxiliary." In the case of a mining engineer, for instance, his automobile must, in an emergency, transport machines and spare parts of machinery. The hilly nature of the country—gradients of i in 15 are no rarity—render it imperative that the automobiles should be first-rate hillclimbers, nor must they be veryheavy compared with their horse-power. Speed is no decisive factor ; as a rule, the state of the roads do not admit of high speed. There are no steam-driven vehicles on the Rand. Dr, Hoeltzel pronounces against chain transmission, particularly against the use of a central chain driven, on account of the sand, numerous blocks of stone, and other obstacles lying about the roads. He recommends a chassis clearance of at least i foot. Four speeds and a reverse are usually expected. Under the rays of the tropical sun wood rapidly dries and warps, hence, aluminium should be utilised where possible for chassis and body. Air-cooling is useless. Special attention must be paid to the tiring. In South Africa, five years at the outside constitutes the life of an automobile. Dr. Hoeltzel deprecates the periodical flooding of South Africa with catalogues; one might as well throw one's money into the street. The seller must personally demonstrate the efficiency of his make of car—on the Rand people are but little disposed to buy a pig in a poke—they want to test the thing they are asked to purchase. Consequently, the seller must be more than a mere salesman; he must also thoroughly understand the engine he desires to sell, and be prepared to answer straight questions.

Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society.

This year's exhibition of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society was held at Great Lever, near Bolton, and the daily attendances were thoroughly satisfactory. The arrangements were generally under the control of Mr. Edward Bohane, secretary of the society, and his efforts were rewarded by a conspicuous financial success.

One of the most attractive motor exhibits was that of the Lancashire Steam Motor Company, Limited, of Leyland, which company showed a standard 5-ton steam wagon, this vehicle being one of a fleet for the Man_ chester Motor Transport Company, Limited. The Leyland composite wheels, with cast-steel centres and wooden fellies, are fitted, and the engine is of the company's improved cornpound type. The same makers exhibited a 35-4oh.p., 4-cylinder, petroldriven chassis, designed to carry loads of from three to four tons, and fitted with a -char-a-bancs body for 32 passengers. This machine has Shrewsbury and Challiner tires on all wheels, and it bears evidence to the fact that the Leyland Company has made as satisfactory advances in the construction of omnibus chassis, during the last twelve months, as it did, during the year raw, in respect of steam lorries.

Merryweather and Sons, Limited, of (;reenwich, SE., had a well-equipped fire station on the ground, including a steam fire-engine of its " Fire King " type, with a pump capacity of 500 gallons per minute. A high-speed, " Hatfield" pump, with a discharge capacity of 200 gallons per minute, fitted to a petrol-driven car, was also included on the stand_ The Mann Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Company, Limited, of Pepper Road Works, Hunslet, Leeds, the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Company, of Vulcan Works, Hunslet Lane, Leeds, and Fodens, Limited, of Elworth Works, Sandbach, also had conspicuous examples of up-to-date steam-wagon practice in position, and the representa_ tives of these makers appeared to be as busy in chatting with old customers as in furnishing particulars to would-be purchasers. All these .makes possess creditable records in the hands of users, and are thoroughly standardised.

The Pratchitt steam wagon, of Carlisle, was also shown, whilst tractors were represented by machines from the works of Charles Burrell and Sons,. Limited, of Thetford, and Ruston, Proctor and Company, Limited, of Lincoln. Our readers will remember that the Thetford builders have entered a powerful, compound tractor in the forthcoming R.A.C. tests, which course show's confidence in the results of a public test.

The exhibit of Messrs. Barford and Perkins, of Peterborough, whose waterballast motor rollers have received full attention in this journal, attracted considerable attention from the numerous visitors, and we understand that several important orders were taken at the stand.

It was decided, on Friday last, at a general meeting of the members of the society, under the chairmanship of Lord Ellesmere, the president, who was supported by Lord Derby, to accept the invitation of the Manchester Corporation to hold next year's show in that city, the Platt Hall estate having been promised as a site. A record prize-list is expected for next year's show, and a. record gate.


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