WHEELS of INDUSTRY
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" Thewheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of he roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
A Scottish Official on Passenger Transport.
The annual conference of the Scottish Tramways and Transport Association was recently held at Aberfeldy, when
Councillor A. Scrymgeour, convener of the transport department of Dundee ' Corporation, read a paper entitled "What Is the Beet Vehicle for City Transport Undertakings'?" lie mentioned that no general records were yet available showing costs per 100-seatmile, -which afford the truest financial comparison. He said that, so far as costs may be ascertained, a recent visit to a number of English undertakings, which has had considerable 'experience of all Systems of passenger transport, disclosed fairly general agreement on the follosVing relative costs :—The heavyoil bus is approximately id. per mile cheaper than the trolley-bus ; the trolleybus is 2d. per mile cheaper, than the tram ; the tram is 2d. per mile cheaper than the petrol bus.
Mr. Scrymgeour spoke of tb% advantages of the trolley-bus, indicating that its loading capacity, in the case of the six-wheeled vehicle, was comparable with that of the tramcar, and that it had not the obstructive disadvantages of the latter. Further points in its favour were, he said, smooth and rapid acceleration and deceleration and the absence of vibration, noise and fumes.
The discussion which followed on the paper brought forward a number of different opinions, but it was generally agreed that the most suitable type of vehicle to employ—tram or bus, doubledecker or single-decker—was dictated by local conditions. • C.M.U.A. Medal for Plucky Driver.
The C.M.U.A. Award of Merit Medal, which was instituted by the Commercial Motor Users Association in 1911 for acts of distinction in connection with , the use of commercial vehicles, has just been awarded to Hector Rule, a driver in the employ of a haulage contractor in London, for his plucky conduct on April 8th last in connection with a blazing petrol lorry at a timber yard. The sides of the cab caught alight, and realizing the danger of an explosion, as the lorry -was near a house, Rule jumped into the cab and drove the vehicle out of the yard. Firemen then f3ubclued the flames. His hands were 'badly burned, and he bad to receive medical attention. But for his conduct, considerable damage to property and probably loss of life or injury to persons, would undoubtedly have been
the result.
The French "Other Fuels" Rally.
The fifth annual Rallye des ,Carburanis Nationaux, which is associated this year with the National Fuel and Lubricant Congress at the Colonial Exhibition in Paris, takes place from June 17th to July 23rd. The rally is an interesting and useful event, in which vehicles participating must employ fuels other than petrol, although a mixture of petrol, up to 50 per cent„ with any other fuel is permitted. The following is the programme:— June 17th: Demonstration trip from the Colonial Exhibition to Fontainebleau and back by vehicles running on liquid fuels. June 25th :—Demonstration run from the exhibition to Meaux and back by vehicles using compressed gas. July 1st : Demonstration run by vehicles equipped with gai producers employing solid fuels, from the exhibition to BrieComte-Robert and back. The Rallye des Carhurants itself starts on July 5th.
Shell Transport and Trading Report,
The report of the Shell Transport and Trading Co., Ltd., for the year 1930 shows a net profit of £5,027,118, as against £6,483,387 in 1929. "The preference dividends absorb £668,231, whilst the dividend of 171 Per cent., tax free, on the ordinary shares accounts for £4,221,238. A balance ,of £249,933 is being carried forward, as against £240,650 in the preceding year. The premium of £1,250,000 received on the new preference shares has been added to the reserve, which now stands at £8,131,609.
York Buses Make a Profit..
• The accounts of York Corporation's transport department for the year ended March 31st show losses of £2,300 on the tramway's and £1,701 on the trolleybuses, and a profit of £2,038 on the petrol buses. The income for the motorbus services was £28,584, or 11_7d. per vehicle-mile, as compared with 10.71d. during the previous year. The working expenses Were £21,495, or 8.8d. per bus-mile, as against 8.97d. in 1929-30.
During the year traffic expenses totalled £10,979 (4.49.d. per bus-mile), fuel cost 15,048 (2.07d. per bus-mile), maintenance and repair charges amounted to .£3,008 (1.23d. per busmile), whilst the general expenses were
12,460 (1.01d. per bus-mile). The balance carried to the net-revenue account was £7,090.
The Industry Loses a Wellknown Personality.
We deeply regret to announce the death Of Mr. A. Whalesby Windsor, M.B.E., A.M.L1Hech.E., M.I.A.E., M.Inst.T., general sales director of Leyland Motors, Ltd., which took place just before noon on Thursday last.
Mr. 'Windsor was just over 50 years of age. He had been under the care of the doctor for internal ailments for some time, but. was taken seriously on May 21st, an immediate blood transfusion and operation being rendered necessary. For a time hones were entertained of his recovery, but onWednesday night a further blood trimsfusion became necessary. A touching proof of the regard in which Mr. Windsor was held by all with whom he came into contact is.. afforded by the fact that between 40 and 50 velunteers came forward from the works when it became known that a transfusion was essential.
Many of those concerned in the industry will remember that Mr. "Windsor was at one time chief teehnieal assistant editor of this journal. Joining the staff in 1906, he remained with the journal until 1916, when he received an appointment at the Ministry -of Munitions, leaving the Ministry at the close of hostilities to take up a position -with .Leyland Motors, where his forceful personality and organizing ability ensured his immediate and continuous success.
We offer our sincere sympathy to his family and business associates.
Eastern Counties Bus Merger.
We learn that a new company, with a capital of £700,000 in £1 ordinary shales' is to be formed for the purpose of amalgamating the undertakings of the Peterborough. Electric Traction Co., Ltd., the Eastern Counties Road Car Co., Ltd., the Ortona Motor Co., Ltd., and the East Anglian undertaking of "United Automobile Services, Ltd. The Peterborough concern was formed in 1902 and started motor services in 1913, the capital issue being £52,000. The Eastern Counties concern was registered in 1919 and has an issued capital of £86,806. The Ortona Motel: Co., Ltd., was registered in 1908 and has an issued capital of £82,500. United Automobile Services, Ltd., has an issued capital of £641,714. It started motor services in May, 1912. We "understand' that the title of the new company will be Eastern Counties Road Car Co. and that the first directors will be Messrs. J.-10. Heaton, H. V. Mosley;" W, M. Teesdale, G. F. Thurston, W. Wolsey and W. S. Wreathall.
" Meeting-of West Midland Hauliers.
A further meeting of the West Midland Area (Birmingham District) longdistance hauliers is to be held at the White Horse Hotel, Congreve Street, Birmingham, at 7.30 p.m. on lune 12th. The first meeting, which Was held a few weeks age, was very suecessftilund it is hoped to get an even larger attendance at the forthcoming meeting.
Personal Pars.
It will be recalled that Mr. G. M. Tomig, B.Sc., who for many years has looked after the interests of Albion Motors, Ltd., in London and the south of England, was recently appointed joint managing director of the company. As a result of this appointment he is shortly transferring his headquarters to Glasgow, where he will exercise a general control over the commercial side of the company's business.
Mr. J. D. Parkes, B.Sc., will be responsible for the manas'ement of Albion affairs in London and the south. Mr. Parkes has for a number of years acted as technical director of the company and in this capacity has travelled extensively both at home and overseas.
Herr Quarg, the chief of the municipal transportk-undertaking of Berlin, who has been holidaymaking in the North of Scotland, recently visited Glasgow, where he displayed considerable interest in the transport system of the city. Herr ,Quarg, who a year ago acted as host to a deputation sent to Berlin by Glasgow Corporation, had an opportunity for examining the work of the trammort department, being conducted on a tour by Mr. P. J. Pollen, convener of the transport department.
Industrial Vehicles at the Paris • Exhibition.
The Paris Colonial Exhibition, which is now in progress, incorporates a special section devoted to motor vehicles. Commercial-vehicle exhibits include those of Lafily, Latil, Somna, Berliet, Chenard-Walcker, Renault, Panhard-Levassor, Citro3n and Saurer snakes, whilst commercial coachlattilders are represented by the firms of Breteau and Currus.
"Maidstone and District" Profits.
The net profit of Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., for the year ended March 31st, 1931, amounted to £51,527, as compared with £50,873 a year earlier, £95,968 having been allowed for depreciation in the past year as against £78,456 in 1929-30. A sum of £13,000 is absorbed ' by the Preference dividend, whilst the distribution on the ordinary shares, which, in chiding the 7;1 per cent, now recommended, is maintained at 12, ner cent for the third successive year, needs £37,500, leaving a carry-forward about 11,000 higher at 117,200.
The company has absorbed the bus undertakings of Enterprise Motor Services (Sheerness) and Orange Coaches (Chathain) and with the object of further co-ordination in. the Chatham district has acquired an interest, in the Chatham and District Traction Co., the tramway services of which have been rePlaced by buses.
New G.W.R. Road Vehicles.
Delivery is being effected of 219 new motor vehicles and tractors ordered, at a cost of £127,000, by the Great Western Railway Co. These are to be used in connection with the expansion of the company's collection and delivery services, following the extension of its freedelivery areas, the inauguration of new country-lorry services, the extension • of cartage facilities for certain lower-class traffics consigned by rail at station-tostation rates, etc.
Some of the new machines are also needed for the special road-transport and rail-road contracts which the company has made, particularly in London and South Wales, for the conveyance of building materials, etc., and the development of container traffic, for which tractors are specially suitable.
The G.W.R. now operates 1,331 motor vehicles. Collection and deliVery, is undertaken at 619 of its stations, and last year the company's goods -end, parcels lorries covered a record distance of 8,641,362 miles.
Checking Petrol Pumps..
The weights and measures inspector of Portsmouth Corporation reports that during the year all the petrol pumps in the city, of which there are now 294 in use for the sale of petrol, have been verified end stamped in accordance with the requiremnts 'of the Liquid. Measurlug Instruments Regulations, 1929. During the year .300 instruments were examined, 57 of which were marked off for repairsand adjustment, the chief• causes for rejection being leaky foot valves in the case of piston:type pumps,. and leaky glands in those of the visiblecontainer type.