WHEELS of INDUSTRY
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"The wheels of wealth will be 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.
R.H.A. ANNUAL REPORT:. GOOD PROGRESS BEING MADE. Some idea of the work which is being carried out by the Road Haulage Association can be gathered from the annual report, issued a few days ago. The registered membership at March, 1933, was 1,488; by March, 1934, it had increased to 4,122; and a week ago was 5,035.
The Association expresses a debt of gratitude to Mr. F. F. Fowler for the extremely hard work he has done on the finance committee. Major E. C. Thomas presides over the committee established to deal with clearing-house members, whilst Mr. E. H. Saunders is chairman of the rates committee, which is an uphill and thankless task dealing with what is, perhaps, the most difficult problem confronting the Association.
Political work has been carried out to a great extent in connection with the British Road Federation, but individual members, and especially the late Mr. E. C. Marston, took a leading part in the fight for justice.
Members in various areas have attended a large number of bridge conferences and submitted the views of road-transport contractors.
It is satisfactory that Mr. J. S. Nicholl, vice-president, is one of the two representatives of hauliers' interests on the Transport Advisory Council ; he is also on the committee dealing with the keeping of records.
In February, the Association learned that the Traffic Commissioners were looking to it and other bodies, not only to advise members in respect of licence applications, but actually to be responsible for their preparation and submission. This involved a tremendous task, and less urgent matters had temporarily to be laid aside. Much of this work was done by Mr. H. Norman Letts.
The relationship between the Association and other transport organizations has never been more cordial.
Fine for Delivering Goods Under Trade Plates.
A fine of £10 was imposed on Mr. Harry Haines, of the Garage, Witney, at Pontardawe Police Court, in connection with the use of a vehicle and trailer under trade plates to carry manufactured goods. The police submitted that the vehicle and trailer were loaded with 11 tons 4 cwt. of tinplate at a Pontardawe works, the goods being consigned to a Worcester firm.
The defence was that the load was carried during a. demonstration of die outfit under working conditions. It was arranged that the goods should be carried from Pontardawe to Landore, Swansea, and if the lorry and trailer a20 were not then purchased, the load was to be returned to the former place and the prospective purchaser, South Wales Roadways, Ltd., Swansea, would send one of its own vehicles to pick up the tinplate. At Landore, however, the lorry was sold and Mr. Haines left it with the purchaser.
The magistrates held that when the outfit was sold, the freight should have been returned to Pontardawe.
H.M. The King's Birthday Honours.
Included in the list of those receiving honours on the occasion of the 69th birthday of H.M. the King are the names,pf Lord Wakefield, who is made a viscount for public services, especially to civil aviation, Sir Hugo Hirst, Bt., chairman and managing director of the General Electric Co., Ltd., who becomes a baron, and Commander C. W. Craven, 0.B.E., managing director of Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., who figures amongst those who are made knights bachelor. The M.B.E. (Civil Division) is conferred upon Mr. L. C. Jackson, staff officer, grade II, Ministry of Transport.
Rotary Club Interest in Traffic Act.
At the invitation of the Dartford Rotary Club, on Tuesday, the Editor of The Commercial Motor gave a halfhour lecture on " The Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, and Its Effects on the Operator," following which he replied to numerous questions concerning points which had puzzled users of various classes of commercial vehicle.
Road-accident Returns.
The Ministry of Transport returns of persons killed or injured in road accidents during the week ended May 26, 1934, show that, in England, 96 persons were killed and 4,751 injured, whilst 30 were reported as having died through previous accidents. In Scotland 12 persons were killed and 282 injured, and in Wales 7 persons were killed and 244 injured. A NEWCOMER TO THE BRITISH CHASSIS MARKET.
A new commercial vehicle is about to make its appearance in this country. This is the Diamond-T chassis, which is already well known outside the British market. Manufactured by the Diamond-T Motor Car Co., Chicago, Illinois, the newcomer is to be distributed in this country by Messrs. Diamond-T Motors, of Slough, of which concern Mr. G. L. Gunn is managing director.
The new vehicle will reflect, in a most effective manner, the modern streamlining tendency. Full details of the Hurricane Six engine, with which it is equipped, and other details, will be published at an early date.
The appointment of Messrs. Diamond-. T Motors as distributors for the United Kingdom was made by Mr. William Berriman, representing the Diamond-T Motor Car Co. in Europe.
L.M.S. Places Big Orders.
It is announced that the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. hag placed orders with British manufacturers for 1,072 new motor vehicles and trailers, and when these .are delivered the strength of the company's roadtransport fleet will be nearly 3,000 vehicles.
These -orders form the L.M.S. roadtransport programme for 1934, a special feature of it being the purchase of 294 mechanical-horse tractors and 540 trailers. The other types of vehicle ordered include live stock lorries, horse-boxes, tippers, shunting tractors and works trucks.
Brakes on Trailers: Important Decision.
Sheriff McDonald, of Edinburgh, has issued his decision in a case of considerable importance to commercialvehicle users. Three owners of lorries and trailers, and the drivers, were charged with failing to maintain the trailer brakes in good order. Objection to the charge was made on the ground of relevancy and the case of Mr. David West, Dunfermline, and his driver was taken as a test case.
The Sheriff said: "It was contended that the owner (who pleaded 'guilty '), and not the driver, was the • user' within the meaning of the Road Traffic Act, and that he might commit the offence either personally or by causing or permitting the vehicle to be driven by another person. In my opinion, the complaint against the driver is relevant."
Pleas of " guilty " on behalf of the three owners and "not guilty" on. behalf of the drivers were tendered, and submission of proof was fixed for Thursday, July 19. 39 ENTRIES FOR OILER TRIALS.
Our French contemporary Le Poids Lourd, reports that 19 entries have been received for the reliability and efficiency tests of oilers which are being organized by the Automobile Club of France. The entries, which are divided into four groups, comprise four Renaults, three Unics, three S.G.C.M., two Berliets, two Saurers, and one each of Alsthom, Lorraine-Dietrich, RochetSchneider, Panhard and Bernard (Gardner).
The tests of the engines in the 100150 b.h.p. category have already commenced, but those of the bigger units arc not due to begin until October next.
All Home-produced Petrol Visualized.
Speaking to the members of Glasgow City Business Club, last week, Professor W. M. Cumming, of the Royal Technical College, declared that of the 1,000,000,000 gallons of petrol used annually in Britain, only 43,000,000 gallons were produced at home. '
He foresaw hydrogenation plant for the distillation of oil from coal being erected beside every large coalfield. Imperial Chemical Industries had constructed a plant costing £2,500,000 which would produce 100,000 tons of petrol each year. The cost of the process was estimated at 7d. per gallon and a Government subsidy would, he said, enable British fuel to compete with imported petrol.
Cattle Conveyed Quicker by Road.
At a sitting of the Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, in Aberdeen, last week, interesting statements were made regarding the desirability of conveying cattle by road, instead of by rail. An application by Mr. John C. Eirldes, Aberdeen, for licences for two vehicles and permission to acquire a third, was opposed by the railway com panies. ,
The applicant stated that he conveyed cattle to Glasgow and brought back Irish cattle to Aberdeen, and he claimed that he delivered them quicker
than by rail and in better condition. On his behalf a large number of letters was submitted from 'cattle dealers, testifying that the cattle conveyed by road arrived fresher than by rail.
Mr. H. Riches, the Licensing Authority, granted licences for two vehicles, but refused permission to acquire a third.
Success of the Royal Ulster Show.
All attendance records were broken during the Royal Ulster Agricultural Show, which was opened last week by the Duke of Gloucester. On the opening day, 16,952 persons attended, and during the first three days 84,392 visited the grounds, as compared with last year's record figure of 82,428 visitors during the three days.
The largest section in the trade exhibitors' classification was that devoted to mechanical road transport, where 19 stands represented as many manufac turers and Northern Ireland distributors. Makes exhibited included Albion, Armstrong-Saurer, Austin, Bedford, Commer, Dennis, Foden, Ford, Guy, Leyland, Morris-Commercial and Reo. Wallis and Steevens rollers and tractors attracted attention, whilst Fordson, Massey-Harris and International Harvester agricultural tractors were also well represented. Raleigh three-wheeled vans, Petter trucks and tractors, and Lodemor trucks were on view.
The Belfast Omnibus Co., Ltd., and the Great Northern Railway Co. (Ireland), in conjunction with the London, Midland and Scottish (N.C.C.) Railway Co., exhibited representative vehicles from their passenger and goods ffeets.
Bid to Make Gas Fuel Compulsory!
The fact that some of the South Wales local authorities are urging the Government to make compulsory the use of coal gas as fuel for commercial vehicles in place of petrol, was referred to in speeches at the Welsh Industries Exhibition, at Greyfriars Hall, Cardiff, when the Wales and Mon. Association of Gas Engineers visited the exhibition.
PERSONAL PARS.
We are advised that Mr. Harry Allen, well known in the lubricating-oil world, has been elected to the board of Mixtrol Oil Products of Great ''Britain, Ltd., and is operating as sales director.
The road transport section of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has elected Mr.. W. J. Comes, of Garlick, Burrell and Edwards, Ltd., Liverpool, as vice-chairman of the section for the ensuing year.
Mr. C. R. Charles, who is well known in the commercial-vehicle industry, has been appointed general manager at the Basingstoke motor-vehicle works of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd. He will take up his duties at an early date.
Amongst those who have been reappointed to the Board of Management of the Birmingham section of the 1935 British Industries Fair are Mr. Peter F. Bennett, 0.B.E., JP., and Alderman H. J. Sayer, Jr., both of Joseph Lucas, Ltd. A new member is Mr. C. R. F. Engelbacb, of the Austin Motor Co., Ltd.
Mr. IN. M. W. Thomas, who has recently taken up the position of director and general manager of Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.. at Birmingham, was the guest of honour at a dinner at the Colmore Depot Recreation Club, where Mr. E. C. Paskell had invited the motor traders of the Midlands to meet him.
There were about 100 people present and, in proposing the health of their guest, Mr. Paskell said that Mr. Thomas would be a great acquisition to the industrial life of Birmingham. In his reply, Mr. Thomas expressed pleasure in his return to Birmingham, where he served his time as an articled pupil of the engineering concern of Belliss and Morcona, Ltd.
More Credit for Industry.
United Dominions Trust, Ltd., Regis House, King William Street, London, E.C.4, informs us that a new company with the title of Credit for Industry, Ltd., has been formed, with Mr. J. Gibson Jarvie, chairman of United Dominions Trust, Ltd., as chairman and managing director. The other directors are Messrs. R. B. Pearson, C. Bruce Gardner, D. Carmichael, M.A., LL.B., and Captain C. E. Benson, D.S.O.
Assistance for Licence Applicants.
Mr. C. S. Goad, clerk to the Eastern Licensing Authority, interviewed at Peterborough, last week, certain applicants for A and B licences. The interviews had been arranged with the object of assisting the applicants in the completion of their application forms, which were defective, and to ascertain the actual districts in which the applicants for B licences had carried goods during the year 1932-33. About 30 goods carriers attended, and a further meeting of a similar character was held at Wisbech later in the day.
AN OIL-FUEL CARBURETTER DEMONSTRATION.
Production of the Claude] Atomisor has begun on a substantial scale, and' on Tuesday last a demonstration of this device was given at the works of the maker, Gladwell and Kell (1932), Ltd., Ampton Street Works, Gray's Inn Road, London, W.C.1. The sole selling agent for all countries, outside France, is Mr. H. Boswell Reid of the same address.
The Claude' Atomisor was fully described in our issue dated July 7, 1933, and it will be remembered that the engine starts up and idles on petrol, the change over to oil fuel being automatic as the throttle is opened.• During a short run on an ordinary saloon car, that has recently completed a 2,000-mile test, it was impossible to detect the point of c'hange-over, and there was no flat-spot throughout the speed range. The car during the test has been running on oil fuel produced from British coal.
Remarkable hill-climbing power was demonstrated, the car surmounting a gradient of about 1 in 12 on top gear, starting at a speed of about 8 m.p.h.
The Claudel Atomisor is easily fitted in place of the ordinary carburetter, and no alterations to the engine are required.
British Cross-country Vehicle for a German Electrical Concern.
Scammell Lorries, Ltd., Watford, has recently booked an order from the well-known electrical contractors, Messrs. Siemens Bauunion, of Berlin, for one of its pioneer-type cross-country rigid six-wheelers. The company has been producing this type for the past seven or eight years, and it has been supplied for use in a number of undeveloped and semi-developed areas throughout the world. hlany of the vehicles are engaged in oilfield service, working under extremely arduous conditions.
The vehicle being bought by Messrs. Siemens is to be used on their various contracts in undeveloped countries, where the transport of plant, stores, etc., presents considerable difficulty.
Oswald Tillotson Results.
The accounts of Oswald Tillotson, Ltd., for the year ended January 31, 1934, show a net loss of £67,301 (as compared with a net profit of £6,181 in the previous year), after charging all expenses and income tax and writing down stock in trade. After deducting the preference dividend of £4,898 paid in November last, and including the credit balance of £6,152 brought forward from the previous year, a debit balance of £66,047 remains to be carried forward.
The report states that, of the loss, £25,556 is attributable to the writing down of spare parts, £19,306 to the writing down of used vehicles, and £15,422 to loss on repossession of vehicles sold on hire-purchase terms.
Reorganization of the business at Burnley and branches of the company
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is now being carried through. Mr. E. Leslie Bouts, managing director of Bouts-Tillotson Transport, Ltd., • is joining the board.
Mr. Stirk on Wage Rates.
Some scathing comments on the inadequacy of the wages paid by some road-transport operators were made by Mr. J. H. Stirk, the Licensing Authority for the East Midland Area, at Derby. Mr. Stirk had before him about 60 applications for licences, the majority of which was granted.
Mr. Stirk said that he could not understand the wages question in Derby. Although he had heard of some very bad rates paid in the passengertransport industry, he was now hearing of worse examples on the goods side. He told several applicants to increase the wages of their employees.
Dennis Tankers for Fuel Transport.
The National Benzole Co., Ltd., has just 4dded to its fleet of road vehicles 18 tankers, in which the Dennis 40-45cwt. chassis is employed. With this type of vehicle it has been possible to incorporate a steel tank of 600 gallons capacity, with an unladen weight of under 2i tons.
Early Volumes of "The C.M." Available.
Percival Marshall and Co., Ltd., 13-16, Fisher Street, Southampton Row, London, W.C.1, informs us that it has bound volumes of numbers 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 of The Commercial Motor available and would welcome offers for these.
BIG DROP IN RAILWAY FISH TRAFFIC.
In 1930, 8,000 tons of fish were carried by rail from Aberdeen to Glasgow, whereas last year the tonnage dropped to 1,000. This statement was made on behalf of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. at a sitting of the Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, when Messrs. Elrick and Hutcheon applied for licences for fish-transport vehicles. A railway representative stated'that all fresh fish, as well as most of the partially cured fish, could be delivered to the station by 5.30 p.m.
In summarizing the evidence, Mr. H. Riches, the Licensing Authority, remarked that apparently the loss of traffic by the L.M.S. was entirely due to cut rates for road haulage. Whilst he granted licences for vehicles in possession, he was not satisfied, at present, with the case made out for licences for two additional vehicles (amounting to 12 tons), or for the amended application for a licence for one 6-ton vehicle.
Yorkshire Commissioner Refuses Licence Applications.
Two applications for licences under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, have been refused by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority (Mr. Joseph Earndale). Mr. IL H. Tomlinson, of Hunslet Road, Leeds, acquired a Bedford 30-cwt. lorry last July, since when he has been occupied in doing haulage work for his brother, another Hunslet haulage contractor, who has been granted licences. It is understood that the reason for the refusal of Mr. H. H. Tomlinson's application is that there are too many hauliers in the Hunslet district. It is anticipated that an appeal will be lodged.
Another Yorkshire application which as been refused is that of Mr. E. oyes, of Bradford, a motor engineer and carrier, who wished to transport general goods where required.
A Kippur haulier and coal merchant, who wished to carry goods within a 30-mile radius of Kippa.x, particularly to enable him to take coal to Harrogate and Knaresborough, has been restricted to 10 miles.
Stellite Valve Seatings.
The Harold Andrews Grinding Co., Ltd., tells us that Stellite cannot satisfactorily he fused on to cast iron, therefore the insert rings supplied by the company, and in which Stellite forms the actual seating, are made of special steel. The retail price is 16s. 8d. per seating, subject to a trade discount.
Leyland's Southern Sales Office.
Leyland Motors, Ltd., has decided that it would be to its customers' advantage if its southern-area sales office were situated at its south-of-England factory at Kingston-on-Thames. The sales staff is, therefore, to be transferred to Kingston, and after June 9 the offices at 47, New Kent Road, London, S.E.1, will be closed.