News and Comment.
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This journal has an exclusive, genuine and maintained circulation: members of its Editorial staff have practical experience and knowledge of the construction and use of commercial motors.
Only 82 tractors and lorries were registered by the War Office during 1907.
C. P. C.
Carter, Paterson and Company, Limited, has ordered a number of Leyland petrol vans, after severe trials. These are for 3-ton loads, and they have 35-4oh.p. engines.
A Record Gate.
The Royal Show at Newcastle enjoyed an aggregate attendance of 213,867 persons, which constituted a record for a five-day show. A total of 4,113 more people attended the Manchester Show in 1897, but that was open for six days.
Westminster Orders.
The Westminster City Council, at its mocting to-day (Thursday) will consider a recommendation by the Highways Committee for the acceptance of the Lender by Leyland Motors, Limited, for the supply of three steam wagons at L;58o each. Twelve tenders were submitted.
Brasier Cabs.
Mann and Oyertons., Limited, of 70, Lower Belgrave Street, S.W., which company holds the sole concession for Brasier cabs in this country, advises us that it is about to place these vehicles on the English market, and that the chassis will in all respects comply with the regulations of Scotland Yard. A two-cylinder t5h.p. engine, with hightension magneto ignition, and a simple gearbox, will be fitted, and the chassis will sell for ;6265 without tires, or the complete cab, with lamps, spare wheel, and other fittings, for .4:39o. Having regard to the reputation of the Brasier 'Company as manufacturers of highclass motors, this cab should sell freely.
Whiteley's Lacre Vans.
The last of the present fleet of 15 Lacre vans, which total is now owned by William Whiteley, Limited, the Universal Provider of Westbourne Grove, was delivered on the i5th ultimo, and these vans are now doing an aggregate mileage of approximately 20,000 per month. We understand that they are out very regularly, and that Ciey give no trouble to the purchasing company, but we feel confident that Whiteley's will not make them k
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of expecting them to run on for ever without due provision for adjustment and overhaul. While on the subject of Lacre fleets, we maydirect attention to this company's departure in advertising methods (see centre pages of issue). References to Messrs. Shoolbred's experiences are to be the first of a series of connected announcements of great interest to all likely users.
Following upon last week's article in reference to the use of good-quality lubricants, we this week begin (page 459) a series of articles on " Lubrication Systems for Commercial Vehicles."' Mr. C. H. Hovey, chartered accountant, of Great Winchester Street, has been appointed receiver of the Motor Delivery Company, Limited, of Beak Street, Regent Street, on the application of a lady who holds 30 over due debentures of each.
Winnipeg Motor Trials.
There are nine entries for the trials of light agricultural motors, at Winnipeg. All the machines will use petroleum spirit, except the Marshall tractor. The entries are : No. I, Sharp's Auto-Mower and Tractor Company, of York, a 14h.p. tractor ; NOS. 2, 3, and 4, The International Harvester Company, of Chicago, USA., one each of 12h.p., 15h.p., and 20h.p.; No. 5, Marshall Sons and Company, I,imited, a 3oh.p. tractor; No. 6, The Universal Motor Syndicate, Limited (Saunderson's), a 5oh.p. tractor ; No. 7, The Transit Thresher Company, of Minneapolis, a 35h.p. tractor; No. 8, The Kinnard-Haines Company, of Minneapolis, a 3oh.p. tractor ; and the Hind Dauch Company, a 4oh.p. tractor. It is disappointing to note that there are no steam motors in the trial, although a small Fowler tractor may be put in work alongside of the competitors for the sake of comparison, and we are interested to know that the trials are under the charge of Mr. A. Burness Greig, whom we had the pleasure of meeting at the early Liverpool Trials, and at Aldershot in 19o1; his engineering knowledge is considerable. Motorcab Amalgamation.
We announced, a fortnight ago (page 406 ante), that the arrangements were practically completed for the amalgamation of the General and United Cab Companies about a week later, particulars were communicated to the Press. it is intended to increase the capital of the General Motor Cab Company to ,-61,006,000, by the creation of 5o3,000 more preferred ordinary shares of Lx each, and 6o,000 more deferred shares of is. each : the present capital consists of 497,000 preferred ordinary shares and 6o,000 deferred shares. The necessary meetings of shareholders are to take place to-morrow (Friday), and it is intended that the committee of management of the new company shall be constituted as follows : Mr. Davisen Dalziel (chairman), Messrs. Eda-ar Cohen, Lazarc Weiner, and Charles Mascart.
The Renard Train.
The directors of the Renard Road and Rail Transport Corporation, Limited, have issued an interim report, and this draws attention to the quarters in which business has been done, and the many likely openings where negotiations are in progress. It appears that the Daimler Motor Company (1904), Limited, of Coventry, has entered into an agreement, for a period of five years from the 30th September next, to take a lease of the Billancourt works, at an annual rental of Li,00, and to take over the stock, loose plant, furniture, etc., with an option of renewal and an option of purchase. The Renard (India) Transport Corporation, Limited, which was formed in November last, is about to take delivery of its first two trains, and demonstrations of these will he given, at the Crystal Palace, on Tuesday and Wednesday next.
['Exhibition and Trials for Heavy Motors in France.
At Bourges, Centre de la France, there will be held, from the 24th September to the 4th October next, an exhibition and a series of trials and competitions for agricultural motors, tractors, and for commercial vehicles suitable for agricultural employment. The whole undertaking is being organised by the Automobile Club du Centre, and is under the patronage of the French Minister of Agriculture.
The trials will take place at intervals during the exhibition, and will be arranged as follows : (a) A reliability trial, over a distance of 300 kilometres, for three class of commercial motor vehicles, carrying, respectively, loads of mo-3oo kilos., 3ca-soo kilos., and 501-1,000 kilos.
(b) A reliability trial, over a distance of 200 kilometres, for three classes of commercial-motor vehicles, carrying, respectively, loads of 'aim1,500 kilos, 1,501-2,000 kilos., and 2,000 kilos. and over.
These machines will be stabled in the open, in order to approximate to working conditions.
(c) A series of trials and inspections for agricultural automobile machines, and for the engines and motors driving them, For this last series of competitions, the entrants will be divided into the following classes :— Ist--Stationary explosion motors. 211.d—Portable explosion motors. 3rd—Traction engines. 4th—Agricultural implc in entS driven by a motor. sth—Tractors capable of driving agricultural implements.
6th—Agricultural machines to be operated OT drawn by tractors.
7th—Special class for motor vehicles which can readily be employed as tractors.
The competitions for these seven classes will consist of power trials with the engines running free, and tests on some agricultural employment. The judges will also take into consideration, when allotting the awards for these classes : the conditions under which the work is conducted, and the economy of its production ; regularity of running; simplicity of construction ; and ease of adjustment and repair: A large number of awards, consisting of gold, silver, and bronze medals, and diplomas, is at the disposal of the judges.
The reliability trials will impose a maximum mean speed of 25 kilOrIletreS per hour on all the contestants, and a careful check on this feature of the trials will be kept by a number of observers, who will be posted. at intervals of about 20 kilometres along the whole route. The results which will decide the competition are the times taken for the daily runs, and the price per French ton-kilometre of useful kind carried by each machine. The formula to be used is TC over PD, where T represents hours taken on journeys, C the cost of fuel used in francs, D the distance travelled in kilometres, arid P is the useful load in tons, The commissaire-g6n6ral for tests is M. M. Grousot, 24, Place Notre-Dame, Bourges (Centre de In France).
A Postponement.
The " good driving " meet and parade of commercial motors,at Manchester, will not take place on the .18th instant : it has been postponed to a (late, yet to be fixed, in September or October, on the recommendation of the local committee. We are afraid that the organisation of the proposed meet was not tackled properly, but we hope for no second deferment.
London Types—The Taxi-Cabby.
" The man of the moment is the taxichauffeur. He is often the man of one mornent—so very hazardous is his calling. He is in a minority, and is therefore in demand; and, being in demand, everybody is talking about him. He knows this and tries to act accordingly. He consists chiefly of an enveloping suit of leather and a serious expression. He is not yet mellow llke his very distant relation, the cabby ' of the horse-drawn vehicle. He has not yet steered himself into his proper position in London's kaleidoscope, but he has come to stay, and will probably assume his proper proportions in time.
" Meanwhile we must take him as we find him—that is, if we can find him— for he has a modest way of retiring when we wish to drive out into the Suburbs. He cannot help his present selfconsciousness, for his taxi is some new thing, and between his desire to govern the monster and to get it to go quietly,' and his determination to appear before an admiring public quite self-possessed, he has rather a trying time. Moreover, as befits a man who, of all men, knows not what a moment may bring forth, he is all expectancy and grim determination, and gives the onlooker the impression that he is working out his driving plans three streets ahead, and allowing for what he calls eventualities ' into the bargain.
" _He is civil, which means much to a population given to riding in cabs; and he is at times even deferential, which means even more financially and otherwise. We are grateful to him because he saves us much time; and, having our charges settled for us by a machine over which he appears to have no control, we feel fairly certain that at our journey's end there will be no scene. He seems to dislike such exhibitions as cordially as do his 'fares. Therefore he is welcome."—" Evening News." Mr. Henry Sturmey (page 460) asks for any experiences in connection with the fitting of detachable rims in conjunction with solid rubber tires.
L.C.C. Fire Brigade Tenders.
The letting of the contracts for firebrigade motors last year by the L.C.C., was not accomplished before a considerable interchange of views had passed between the manufacturers who were tendering and the Fire Brigade Committee of the Council. Argylls, Limited, and Commercial Cars, Limited, the two makers from whom the lowest tenders were received, did not feel justified in quoting a price for the supply of a machine which should be strictly in accordance with the terms of the specification. Upon a further request by the Committee, that there should be strict adherence to its requirements, .Argylls, Limited, begged to be excused, and C-ommercial Cars, Limited, offered to follow the specification closely, except in two particulars, viz., that the engine would be of standard " Commcr Car " size (3o,36h.p. instead of 4oh.p.), and that the change, speed gear would be of its patent pattern instead of the "gate " type as specified by the Council. Interesting comparisons between the 1907 and 1908 conditions art quoted on pages 446-447.
Wall Plugs in Pits.
The Public Control Committee of the L.C.C., in a report issued on Monday, gives information about a fire which took place in June at the premises of the General Motor Cab Company, Limited, r, Brixton Road, S.W. The outbreak was in consequence of the occurrence of a short circuit in a wall electric-lamp plug, thus igniting some petroleum vapour in an inspection pit. The Committee announces that it is causing an inquiry to be made as to
the presence of wall plugs in inspection pits at this and other garages, in order that all such plugs may be removed.
Continental Travelling.
The South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company notifies that its special Monday morning service, from Boulogne to London, which was so successfully inaugurated last summer, will be reinstated this season on the 13th instant. The departure from Boulogne will be at 8.5o a.m., and the arrival at Cannon Street at 12.12 p.m.
French Exhibitions.
France is to have two motor shows this year, one each for private and commercial vehicles; both will take place in the Grand Palais, and the annexe across the Seine is to be abandoned. The show for pleasure cars will be open from the 28th November to the 13th December, and that for commercial motors from the 22nd to the 29th December. Argyll Motors, Limited, has had to pass the payment of its debenture interest, and proposals are afoot for its voluntary liquidation.
Contemplated Abandonment of a Croydon Tram Service.
The tram service between Croydon and • White Horse Lane, Thornton Heath, which, ever since its inauguration over a year ago, has failed to carry an appreciable number of passengers, is likely to be abandoned. The matter is now under acrimonious discussion in the Borough Council.
Motor Mail Service Extensions.
The Post Office authorities are slowly but surely extending the carriage of the mails, in the home counties, by means of motor vehicles. On the 1st instant, through motor-mail services, in both directions, between London and Dover and London and Ramsgate, were inaugurated. The scheduled time for the trip between London and Rams
gate, a distance of 75 miles, is SI hours, inclusive of intermediate stops to pick up the mails on the road. The old horsedrawn mail-coaches between Chatham and London, which have now been withdrawn, necessitated the stabling of five horses at Chatham, ten at Dartford and a number at the stables of the contractor, Mr. Birch of Kentish Town. The new services will materially accelerate the mail transport, and a substantial saving will be effected by the use of the motors. Thomas Tilling, Limited, is the contractor.