WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport al whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness
of the roads over which it rww."—John Beattie Crozier.
The Licensing of Petrol-electric Vehicles.
An extremely interesting decision was given by Mr. Justice Clauson in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice on Wednesday last, which affects the question of the licensing of petrolelectric vehicles.
The case was brought by TillingStevens Motors, Ltd., as a test action against the Kent County Council and the Minister of Transport, the former because it is the licensing authority for the county of Kent, to which TillingStevens Motors, Ltd., applied for a licence for a particular vehicle and the latter because he was entitled to a certain portion of the slain passed to the Exchequer by the Kent County Council.
The argument for the plaintiff, who was seeking to recover one half of the licence fee that had been paid on the vehicle, was that the vehicle was driven by electricity generated in the vehicle itself and there was no mechanical connection between the internal-cornbustion engine and the back axle. As the vehicle owed its motive power to an electric motor, it was an electrically driven vehicle.
The Attorney-General contended that the source of energy was petrol, which was the primary motive power through the internal-combustion engine.
Mr. Justice Clauson. decided that as the wheels went round because the electric motor made them revolve, it was impossible to say that such vehicles were not electrically propelled, although it was true that petrol had some work to do. He held that the claim of the plaintiff had been established.
Haulage Firm's Absorption.
We are given to understand that the business of Messrs. E. Box and Co., of Bootle, has been taken over by Road Service, Ltd., transport contractors, of Liverpool, which will now control a fleet of between 25 and 30 vehicles, several of them multi-wheeled petrol lorries employed on long journeys.
The vehicles taken over from Messrs. Box and Co. include three tractors of 35-tons haulage capacity and seven lowbuilt bogies, such as are commonly used for carryingheavy machinery, guns, etc., a branch of transport in which Messrs. Box have specialized. Their business, established in 1870, will be conducted under the same name as heretofore.
A Tramways Company's Trolley-bus Rill.
Notts County Council has lodged a petition against the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Tramways Co. (Trolley Vehicles) Bill, under which powers are sought to use trolley-buses in place of existing tramways where the latter are now laid along county main. roads, and to prohibit bus competition along such and other roads.
The Bill has been referred to a committee of the House of Lords and the county council is taking all proper steps effectively to present to Parliament its
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objections to the proposals contained in the Bill with a view, to obtaining adequate protective provisions in respect of the numerous points invoived.
Guy's Staff Dinner.
Guy Motors, Ltd., held its annual staff dinner at Wolverhampton on April 27th. Mr. S. S. Guy, tile chairman and managing director of the company, occupied the chair and was supported by Messrs. J. H. Bean (director), G. F. Addison (general works manager),
D. H. Cadwallader (commercial manager), Ewart Guy (sales manager), and EL Mason (repairs and service manager).
An enjoyable evening was spent, an item of particular interest being a cinema show given by Mr. I. H. Bean, depicting the difficult and arduous conditions which motor vehicles have to contend with in Australia and New. Zealand.
American Honour for Sir Robert Hadfield.
Sir Robert Hadfield, Bart., who, through association with Bean Cars, Ltd., has recently become interested in the manufacture of motor vehicles, has been elected a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., an honour (held by only 10 other Englishmen) which has been conferred, without doubt, in recognition of his work in metallurgical research.
The Increase in the Price of Benzole.
The general manager of the National Benzoic Co., Ltd. has issued a statement explaining Why the amount of the petrol tax-4d. per gallon—has been added to the price of beuzole, -which, being a home-produced article, should be free from that tax. It is frankly stated that benzole has been sold below an economic price level simply because the glut of petrol caused by over-production during the past few years has resulted in a general decrease in the price of petrol; in fact, it is commonly asserted that petrol is now being sold at a price which shows no profit. The necessary increase in the price of petrol has, therefore, provided the opportunity for raising the price of bepzole to a fairer level, and this increase in price will undoubtedly assist the coalindustry and, in turn, the iron and steel trade. With a dpression in those industries the production of benzoic decreases and it is
unquestionably to the benefit of the motor community that everything possible should be done to encourage the production of home fuels.
York's New Transport Manager.
To fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Mr. J. A. Bromley to an important post in South, Africa, Mr. Robert Smith Asher, assistant to the tramways manager of the Edinburgh Corporation, has been appointed general manager of the York Corporation Tramways and Motors Department. Mr. Asher has had a wide experience of transport matters, and has been at Edinburgh! since 1922. He is a member of the Institute of Transport and of the Institution of Engineering Inspection and an associate member of the Institution of Automobile Engineers. He will take up his new duties at the beginning of next month.
Welsh Miners as London Bus Conductors.
At the request of the Ministry of Labour. the London general Omnibus Ca., Ltd., has been considering the employment of young ex-miners in the bus industry. Arrangements have now been made for 20 men to join the General staff and they will be trained as conductors at the company's school at Chiswick.
A New Gloucester Concern.
A new company, under the title of Blue Star Coaches, Ltd., has just been formed with registered offices at 37, Widdeu Street, Gloucester, and with a capital of £1,500 for carrying on the business of operating motorbuses and coaches.
Sentinel Successes.
We learn that the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., Shrewsbury, has recently been successful in obtaining a contract for the supply of four Sentinel-Cammell steam rail cars th the Palestine Railways. The Leopoldina Railway, Brazil, has also ordered one vehicle of this kind from the company.
Official Orders for March.
• Amongst the orders for motor, vehicles given out by Government Departments ihiring March last were the following :— By the War Office, one for 6x-whee1ed lorries divided between J. I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., and Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd. ; another for motor road rollers, divided between
Ruston-HOrnsby, Ltd., and Barford and Perkins, Ltd.; and a third for Crossley-Kegreese half-track vehicles, placed with Crossley Motors, Ltd. The Crown Agents for the Colonies placed an order for lorry chassis with the Associated Daimler Co.. Ltd., and another for motor road rollers e ith Barford and Perkins, Ltd.
Six-wheelers for Artillery Haulage.
At a meeting of the Pembrokeshire Territorial Army Association it was stated that experience with the haulage of guns by the local territorial batteries, which had recently been supplied with tractors in place of horses for this purpose, showed that, to make satisfactory use of the tractors, it would be necessary to equip the guns with rubber tyres. The tractors were all equipped in this manner and were too fast for the guns, this causing damage to the latter by it/Ida vibration. It is stated that the Morris-Commercial sixwheeled vehicles recently supplied have proved excellent for the work. They are said to be more suitable than the type of industrial tractor hitherto employed.
South Wales Bus Developments.
We learn that South Wales Commercial Motors, Ltd., Cardiff, has entered into an agreement with Eastern Valleys Motor Services, Ltd. (owned by Mr. W. J. Barrett, Pontnewynydd), under which the Cardiff company obtains a part interest in the Monmouthshire concern. , The joint company has been re-registered as Eastern Valleys Motor Ser
vices (Barrett's), Ltd., and Messrs. H. C. Drayton (chairman of South Wales Commercial Motors, Ltd.) and W. B. Cownie become co-directors with Mr. Barrett.
As a result of this arrangement South Wales Commercial Motors, Ltd., has now interests in services operating over the whole of Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, with the exception of the territory west of Port Talbot.
Traffic Observations: A New Census. The Lancashire County Council reports that an intimation has been received from the Ministry of Transport to the effect that it is desired to supplement the information already obtained with regard to traffic using Class I roads in Great Britain by means of more ex.tensive observations during the year 1928-29. The point chosen in the county is one on the Preston and Black
pool main road A583, near the Preston borough boundary, and a census ef traffic at this point is to be taken for 43 selected weekly periods of g4 hours each. The cost involved will be borne by the Ministry of Transport.
A Section You Should Study.
Those of our readers who make a careful scrutiny each week of the Classified Advertisement Section of this journal will need no reminder that it contains many interesting advertisements, in addition to those relating to new and second-hand vehicles. In this particular issue, for example, under the heading of "Tenders," the Irish Free State authorities are offering for sale large surplus stocks of transport stores. Then, again, under the heading of "Businesses for Sale," is offered one of the oldest and largest bodybuilding businesses in South Africa.
A Boom in Star Flyers.
The Star Engineering Co., Ltd., Frederick Street, Wolverhampton, reports a keen demand for its Star Flyer six-cylinder, low-loading chassis. We are told that one order alone has just been placed for the–delivery of 38 of this type of chassis, these vehicles forming the nucleus of a proposed fleet of 159. The order has been received from a district in which several examples of the chassis have done exceedingly well under arduous conditions of service during the past year.
A Photographic Van.
We reproduce on this page an illustration of a particularly interesting delivery which has recently been made by the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., Southport. The vehicle contains a dark roomr equipped with the necessary apparatus for enabling photographic work to be undertaken, whilst a strongly constructed platform is built on the roof so as to enable cinema operators to take films in crowded surroundings and under conditions where a high vantage point is necessary. There is an iron scaling ladder, with a handrail, at the rear, so that access can be easily had to the
roof. An extending table with folding legs can be drawn out from below the vehicle at the rear so as to provide additional platform space. This interesting body is mounted on an example of the Vulcan 30-cwt. chassis.
A Popular Heavy-duty Model.
The largest of the four-wheeled, goods-carrying chassis produced by Kanier Motors, Ltd., Huddersfield, is the K7, which has a capacity of 7 tons. This model promises to become very popular with those undertaking heavy haulage and many orders have already been received from large manufacturers and transport contractors. Especially to the latter class of user will the largecapacity body and sturdy construction of this model make a strong appeal and, in this connection, an illustration appearing on this page is of interest, showing as it does a recent delivery which has just been made to a Birmingham concern of contractors, the order, a repeat. having been placed through the company's Birmingham depot. The body of this particular vehicle is 16 ft. long and 7 ft. 6 ins. wide.
Bus Activity in the Irish Free State. A prominent bus-operating concern in the Irish Free State is the Irish Omnibus Co., theheadquarters of which are in Dublin. Its activities cover the whole of the Free State, and a number of long-distance routes has been established, these being worked in conjunction with certain of the train services of the Great Southern Railway Co. It is now possible to travel from such places as Westport, on the West Coast of Ireland, direct to Dublin, a distance of approximately 180 miles.
In view of these developments it is interesting to note that the company has just placed an order with the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., of Glasgow, for 12 32-seater, single-deck saloon buses of the forward-control pattern.
Export and Import Returns.
During March last 128 commercial motors were exported from this country, their value being £55,208, as compared with• 118 machines (£58,031) during March, 1927. In the same month only six commercial vehicles were imported as against 43 a year earlier, their values being 11,567 and 17,273 respectively.
Through Services Increasing. In the course of the past few months special efforts have been made in the North of England to meet the growing demand on the part of the travelling public for through services, instead of inter-change facilities, and to this end several no-change runs of between 30 and 40 miles have been instituted. The most recent addition to the list is the service inaugurated by the Cleveland Motor Omnibus Services, who have c22
just opened up a through route from Stockton to Whitby, over the Cleveland Moors, thereby saving passengers the necessity of making a change at Middlesbrough.
Better Services Around Worcester.
The three rural district councils around Worcester—Droitwich, Martley and Lpton-on-Severn—have decided to raise no objection to the proposal of the Worcester City Council to permit buses to run on rural district roads within each area. This is a development in the undertaking for the displacement of trams by buse's in the city and an extension by parliamentary powers of the facilities in an area coming within a four-mile radius of the city. The services will be operated by the Birmingham and Midland Omnibus Co., Ltd. (the Midland " Red ;')•
Reciprocal Ambulance Services. Barking Town Urban District Council reports that its accident ambulances have been called upon on 822 occasions during the past year. The ambulance work executed under the reciprocal agreements between the council and the neighbouring authorities was as follows :—Outside cases conveyed by Barking ambulances, 87; Barking cases conveyed by other authorities, 3. During the year a reciprocal agreement for ambulance services was entered into between the council and the newly created Dagenham Urban District Council. Pork Transport by Motor.
The Ministry of Agriculture has just issued an exhaustive report dealing with the pork and bacon trades in England and Wales, and it contains several references to the use of road motors for the transport of these commodities. It is clearly stated that the use of motor vehicles for this purpose has extended rapidly of recent years, but, as returns for motor haulage vary greatly, it is difficult to make comparisons with railway charges. Furthermore, there are other factors, such as the sender's accessibility to the railway and the possibility of obtaining return loads, which render generalization very difficult.
A case is quoted in which a Reading owner uses his own lorries for the conveyance of supplies to and from London.• He estimates the cost of sending three tons of fresh pork to London at is 6d. per mile—about 13 for the journey. The cost by rail is set out as follows:— Reading collection at 5s. per ton, 15s.; Reading to London at 21s. 2d. per ton, £3 3s. 6d.; London delivery at 9s. 2d. per ton, £1 7s. 64.; making a total of 15 6s.
Distinctive Lamps for Ambulances.
The London County Council has approached the Ministry of Transport with a view to distinctive lamps being prescribed for use on the council's ambulances in accordance with clause (3) of Section 1 of the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1927.
Six-wheelers for Hull.
At a meeting of the tramways committee of the Hull Corporation the general manager reported that, as the Ministry of Transport had altered the regulations relating to axle weights for passenger-carrying vehicles, the present type of 56-seater four-wheeled bits would
not in future be available. In these circumstances he stated that the most suitable type of bus appeared to be the six-wheeled, double-deck, top-covered bus to seat 56 persons. Be was authorized to advertise for tenders for seven buses of this type as well as for two singledeck one-man-operated buses.
Leylands for Bradford.
Demonstrations with a Leyland 51seater, double-deck bus are reported to have led to a decision of the Bradford Tramways Committee to purchase ten vehicles of this type.
Marketing Castings for Pistons.
Specialloid, Ltd., has lately •experienced a considerable demand from concerns, both in Great Britain and abroad, which wish to obtain rough fir partly machined piston castings in order that they may carry out the necessary finishing operations to the pistons, such as turning or grinding, with their own plants
In consequence of this demand, Speeialloid, Ltd., has recently enlarged ita foundry, and has equipped a special department at its works at Friern Park, North Finchley, London, N.12, in order to be in a position to supply castings in this condition. Customers are enabled to make their own specifications as to design and the materials to be used, or, if it be desired, the castings can be supplied in the alloy used in the construction of the ..standard Snecialloid pistons. ,
The company makes a point of mentioning the fact that it does not cast from dies, which method is said to set up certain stresses in the material. Instead, a special process of sand casting is employed which is claimed to avoid the occurrence of these troubes.
It is interesting to note that the extension of the factory is only intended to deal with the supply of castings in comparatively large quantities, the minimum order undertaken being for
100 pistons. Incidentalb-, we understand that the company is prepared to advise its customers in the choice :of . suitable alloys and methods of heat treatment to meet individual needs.
Bus Chassis or a Railway Company.
The London Midland and Scottish Railway Co. has just placed an order with the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., for 22 30-60 h.p. forward-control bus chassis. This company already employs a lerge number of Albion vehicles and, when this new order is completed, it will have 170 machines of this make in service: For Use on Fabric Bodies.
We have just had an opportunity for testing a sample of Cleeno-Fabrik, which7is for use on fabric bodies. This preparation is not merely a polish, for it has properties which make it an effective cleaner and preservative, whilst it also waterproofs the fabric. Good results can be obtained on the surface treated without any laborious rubbing and by the use of only a small quantity of the liquid. Used on the ordinary painted panel, this compound gives a mirror-like finish. It is sold at 1s. 6d. per tin.
British Interests in Australia.
From the latest list of members of the Motor Traders' Association of New South Wales we learn. that the Motor Lorry importers' Section now comprises the names of 22 concerns, amongst them being the A.E.C. (Australia) Proprietary, Ltd., the Dennis Truck Sales Co:, Leyland Motors, Ltd., and Thornycroft (Australia), Ltd., all of Sydney. .
.. Bus Stand Charges.
The markets committee of the Chorley Corporation has met a representative of Messrs. Dodd and Buckley, along with Mr. Dallas, to hear representations with regard to the charge for the use of the bus stand on the cattle market. It was suggested that the charge should be a fixed one at a reduced rate and should not be based on the number of buses necessary to maintain the approved service, but after full discussion the qommittee intimated that it could not recommend any alteration of the preaent procedure.
Joint Bus Service in S.W. Lancs.
At the last meeting of the Ormskirk Council it was decided to grant licences for a bus service to Warrington and Southport, and for an hourly service between Ormskirk and St. Helens in place of the present two-hourly service. The Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., the St. Helens Corporation and the Lancashire United Power and Transport Co., Ltd., have arrived at an agreement with regard to the joint running of the service.
A Transport Pioneer's Death.
We regret to learn of the death of Mr. Ernest Hatton, who, until about two years ago, was engineering and general manager to the Newcastle Corporation transport undertaking, a post he held for 20 years. He went to Newcastle from Salford, and laid the foundations of the present extensive system of tramways and " Blue " buses. It was ,e during his service as general manager that the former obsolete bus fleet was replaced by up-to-date pneumatictyred 'machines, which formed the nucleus of the present modern fleet. Bus Parking at Colchester.
It was in 1924 that Colchester, which is the centre of a large country district, was faced with a serious problem consequent upon the large number ,.of buses running ino the town. Three large concerns had been established, the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., the Silver Queen (Clacton and District Motor Services, Ltd.), and the Mersea and Colchester and District Bus Co., Ltd., the last-named being known as the Primrose owing to the colour of its buses. In addition, there were the oldestablished local owners and the horse carriers who had become converts to the use of motor vehicles. The vehicles caused great congestion in the High Street, where they were allowed to stand for 20 minutes before the time of their departure.
The town council quickly realized the difficulties and prepared plans for a parking place, this being constructed and first used in July, 1925. It then covered an area of 2,072 yards super, but as the services have increased it has been necessary to enlarge the site, with the result that it now covers 3,185 yards super A return of the number of buses using the park has been taken by the chief constable and it shows the daily average departures to be 205 from Mondays to Fridays, 320 on Saturdays and 105 on Sundays. The local council has received 175 applications for licenses from 24 licensees.
Blackpool's 210 Coaches.
Blackpool motor coach owners have sent a resolution of protest to Sir Walter de Frece, M.P. for the borough, on the question of the petrol tax. Mr. W. R. Marshall, president of the Blackpool and District Motor Coach Owners' Association, says that over a period of six months every owner would have to pay £50 extra for petrol for each motor coach, and as there are about 210 licensed vehicles in the Blackpool district, the total would be over £10,000.
A Coachhuilders' President.
The South Wales and Monmouthshire Coachbuilders' Association has invited Councillor A. P. Thomas, J.P., Mayor of Abergavenny, to become president of the organization during the ensuing year. Mr. Thomas, who was one of the pioneer motor traders of the area and who has connections in the coachboilding trade at Merthyr, Newport and Abergavenny, has accepted the invitation.
More Chassis for the M.A.B.
The ambulance committee of the Metropolitan Asylums Board reports that it will shortly be recommending the Board to accept a tender for the supply of 13 ambulance chassis for delivery towards the end of this year so as to replace vehicles which will be due to pass out of serviee in the early part of next year. In accordance with practice it proposes that the bodies for the new vehicles should be constructed at its Mead works at an estimated cost of £3,510.
Garners for Coal Delivery.
The two Garner tipping wagons shown in an illustration on this page have recently been delivered by R. 13amber and Co., Ltd., 33, Liverpool Road, Birkdale, Southport, to the Bickerstaffe Collieries Ltd., of Bicker staffe, near Ormskirk. The basis of the vehicles is the chassis maker's 3035-ewt. model, and the bodies, which are raised and lowered by Spenborough three-way gear, were built by the company which supplied the vehicles. These lorries are used for the purpose of giving direct deliveries. of coal to the consumer. We understand that it is the intention of the user to employ an extensive fleet for this purpose and, as the Garner vehicles which it now runs have given such excellent service, it is reasonable to assume that it-will make further purchases of this make. We are told that, on local delivery work, the vehicles have run an average of 17 miles to the gallon of petrol consumed, whilst their return in the matter of oil consumption is 1,800 to 2,000 m.p.g.
Coach Stand Charges.
Morecambe Watch Committee has fixed a charge of #10 per stand per vehicle for the privilege of plying for hire with motor coaches on the Calton Estate, inclusive of the use of one of the houses on the estate for a booking office, etc., and 12 per stand per vehicle for the privilege of plying for hire with horse chars-ii-bancs.
Exemption for London's Fire-escapes?
The fire brigade committee of the London County Council reports that the lateral and rear projections of its motor fire-escapes exceed by approximately 6 ins. and 2 ft. 6 ins: respectively the limits allowed under Section 7 (1) and (2) of the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1927, and special additional lights should, therefore, be provided on these vehicles. Under Section 1 (3) of the Act, the Minister of Transport has power to make regulations to vary the
requirements of the Act in the ease of certain specified vehicles, or for any other special purposes, and, at the request of the fire brigade committee, the council has asked the Minister to exempt the vehicles of the London Fire Brigade from the operation of Section 7 (1) and (2) of the Act
A Taxation Effect.
The highways committee of the Croydon Corporation has approved the placing of an order for two S.D. Freighters at a cost of £607 10s. each (annual tax £26 each), instead of two slightly heavier vehicles of the same capacity at £581) each (similar to those at present in use), on which the annual tax is #40 each.
Burnley's Heavy Traffic.
A traffic census undertaken by the Burnley Corporation shows that on several unclassified highways the traffic carried varied from a minimum of 406 tons per day along Marsden Road to a maximum of 3,760 tons per day along Bank Parade. At the junction of Trafalgar Street and Manchester Road it was 5,757 tons per day. It has been decided to apply to the Ministry of Transport for a reclassification of certain highways in the borough.
A New Range of Compressors.
We have just teceived from the B.E.N. Patents, Ltd., 92, Tottenham Court Road, London, W.1, advanced particulars of the new range of air compressors for tyre inflation, paintspraying, operating petrol pumps and a host of other uses connected with the motor industry. The manufacturer of these compressors is the U.S. Air Compressor Co., and the B.B.N. Patents, Ltd., has secured the exclusive agency for the British Isles for the range which the former company makes. A number of models is available, and the compressors will be known in this country as the Ben-Usaco.
. A Lancashire Road Diversion.
The Ministry of Transport has approved a scheme submitted by the Lancashire County Council for the diversion of the Ormskirk and Liverpool main road between Robbins Bridge and Red Lion Bridge, in the townships of Lydiate and Maghull, at an estimated cost of £78,414.
Bus Tolls at Morecambe.
At a meeting of the Morecambe Watch Committee it WSB moved that itt lieu of the Id. per passenger toll now paid by County Motors (Lancaster), Ltd., to the corporation in respect of persons carried over the unauthorized route, the same be commuted to a lump sum of #100 per annum. An amendment was moved to the effect that this lump stun should be 1120 per annum. The voting was in favour of the amendment, and the company, therefore, will pay the higher sum.
More Maudslays for Use in Edinburgh.
Many big bus concerns are making considerable additions to their fleets, and one of the latest to do so is the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., of Edinburgh, which has just placed an order with the Maudslay Motor Co., Ltd., of Coventry, for 40 low-level safety passenger models. This makes
the second repeat order which the company has received in 1928 front this North British concern, for earlier in the year it delivered a fleet of 12 machines.
More Belfast Bus Absorptions.
The Belfast Omuibus Co. announces that it has acquired the business of Edgar's Motor. Service operating between Belfast, Newcastle and Kilkeel, and that of McGregor's Omnibus Service operating between Belfast, Lisburn and Dromara.
Eight-year Loan for Motors.
The tramways committee of the Manchester Corporation has obtained sanction to borrow £20,000 for the purchase of 20 motor vehicles for permanent-way and ovethead-equipment departments, and ten parcels vans. The period of rePayment is eight years.
Drawing Lots for Tenders.
Eight tenders were submitted to the highways committee of the Ripon Corporation for the supply of a MorrisCommercial tipping wagon, the prices ranging from 1370 to £385 5s. As there were three tenders at the same price (£370) it was decided to draw lots and to accept the result, this being In favour of the tender of Messrs. Bruce and Co.