The Wheels of Industry.
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" The wheel 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 Crazier.
New Petrol Licences.
The following is the full text of ,he official notice :— "New licences (free-of-duty) for he purchase of motor spirit for use n hackney and commercial-vehicles Ind in industrial processes will be ssued in November to holders of icences which expire in that month. Me new licences will cover a period if six months.
"An application for the renewal if a licence which expires in iovernber should be made on the orm attached to the licence at page • , and should be sent to the Secreary, Petrol Control Committee, 9, Berkeley Street, London, W., ietween the 16th and 25th Novernier.
"Holders of free-of-duty licences rho for special public services rave already received a supplenentary .allowance of motor spirit annot be granted any further ncrease.
"The Committee are prepared to onsider applications, from those rho have not received a, supplenentary allowance for an increase Lot exceeding 10 per cent, of the mount authorized in their existing icenoes.
"Note.—The full postal address if the applicant must be clearly tated on the application form."
We are, in common with many ithers, greatly surprised that the 'etrol Control Committee finds tself -unable to give more than 66 ier cent. of last May's requisitions. t had, we understood, intended to ;ive 85 per cent., but new factorsossibly " U " boats—have evilently intervened. The scale is uneasonable when most private-car sers are getting double their ugust-October rations.
troceedings a Local Authorities.
The Margate T.C. has decided to pend £1165 on a motor fire-engine.
The Golcar (Yorks.) U.D.C. is ecking to purchase a steam vagon.
The L.C.C. registered 546 •new wavy motorcars during the uarter ended the 30th September.
Flaxton R.D.C. has deferred for wo months a recommendation of ts surveyor in favour of the purhase of a steam tractor and two iagons.
The manager of the Wolverampton Corporation Tramways as been authorized to purchase a attery-equipped lorry and a milarly equipped car.
The Dundee District Committee of the Dundee County Council hopes to be able to arrange the delivery of a new steam tractor and three wagons by January next.
The L.G.B. inquiry, at Brighton, concerning local motorbus and trolleybus powers, took place on the 27th ult,, before Mr. R. E. Maxwell. No opposition was offered by motorbus companies.
The Aberdeen T.C. has appointed a special sub-committee of its electricity committee to consider the acquirement of a batteryequipped wagon, fitted with tipping-body, for the haulage of coal.
An address on the subject of "War and Industrial Revival" will be delivered, at the Exchange, Nottingham, on Monday next, the 13th inst., at 6.30 p.m., by Mr. T. C. Elder of the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers Association. The chair will be taken by Alderman Sir John TUrney, and the lecture will be under the auspices of the Industrial Development Committee of the Corporation of the City of Nottingham. Cards of admission can be obtained from Mr. F. M. Evanson. Guildhall, Nottingham.
The Spenborough U.D.C. hopes to be able to arrange the purchase of a motor fire-engine, by private subscripti6n if necessary. Mr. A. W. Rhodes, President of the Cleckheaton Chamber of Commerce, is taking action about it.
The county surveyor of Bedford, -Mr. F'. W. Smart, finds that, owing to war abnormalities, the cost per ton-mile of working his three Commercar lorries has gone up from 2.93d. in 1914 to 3.97d. in 1915. The lorries continue to give the greatest satisfaction to both the county officials and the district military, authorities, on the work which they are doing.
The L.C.C. has bought two more Leyland m6for fire-engines, at £907 each, and a set of batteries from the Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd. ; it is also providing additional workshop accommodation, at the Southwark headquarters, in connection with the maintenance of motor fire-appliances, and expenditure up to £470 has been sanctioned. on it.
Our Advertisers.
The index will be found on page 25 of the advertisements.
Foreign Exchanges.
The Treasury is still taking in a number of Canadian, Argentine and Chilian securities, offering inter din as an inducement an advance of one-half per cent. per annum on the usual rate of interest; full particulars can be obtained on application to any bank. Every patriotic holder should assist the Government in this connection, quite apart from the financial advantage to himself.
Posthumous Award of C,M.U.A. Merit Badge.
The widow of the late driver Thomas Jones, of Bodfea.n, Carnal von, has received the C.M.U.A. award-of-merit badge and a cheque for five guineas, on the special resolution of the General Committee. Driver Jones acted with great personal gallantry and pluck, on an occasion when the bus under his charge ran backwards down a steep hill, saving children who were beside him before he was killed.
" B.P." Motor Spirit.
Our sister journal "The Motor," in its issue of Tuesday last, asks how it is that the British Petroleum Co., Ltd., while known to be a German-owned company, can set about placing on the market a new motor spirit It is difficult to understand the circumstances, or to explain the origin of the spirit which this German-owned company appears to be able to obtain after two years and three months of war. The position, surely, is one that must be terminated.
The Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd.
The present month opened with the interesting announcement that the directors of the Dunlop Rubber Co.. Ltd., are about to increase the capital of the company by 21,000,000 in the form of cumulative 6!.f per cent. "B " pre
ference shares of El each. The objects of the increase of capital, of which we understand a public issue will be made—with, we anticipate, priority for existing shareholders, are to increase stocks of raw materials and manufactured goods, and to finance extensions of the manufacture and sale of solid tires for commercial transport.
Commercial Cars Quoiters' Suciess.
Thp Luton and District Quoiting League gave a dinner and concert at the George Hotel, Luton, on the 21st ult.. Mr. L. H. Pomeroy, the Technical Director of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., being in the chair. The teams in the League are from Commercial Cars, Ltd., Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., Skefko Ball Bearings Co., Ltd., amongst others. It is interesting to note that the championship this year has been won by the team from Commercars, which has Won all matches and obtained the maximum number of points. Commercars, therefore, received the silver challenge cup presented by Vauxhall Motors, Ltd. .
Clydesdale.
We have received a new catalogue of Clydesdale chassis from R. -Martens and Co., Ltd., of 15a. Wilton Street, Grosvenor Place, London S.W. These chassis, it may be remembered, were described by us in our issue of the 24th August, 1916, and comprise three models for gross loads of 1t, 3, and 41 tons, respectively, the first-named and smallest of these being available either with pneumatic or with twin cushion tires. The prices are 2315 and 2330 for the smallest model with pneumatic or cushion tires ; 1645 and 2825 each for the other two. These prices include tires.
The Second-hand Car Show.
Readers of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR cannot fail to be interested in the exhibition of second-hand cars, motorcycles, motor vehicles, etc., which opens to-morrow at the Agricultural Hall, Islington.
We have been given to understand that upwards of 300 exhibits have been entered at the time of writing, a week before the show opens. It is true that a very small number are bona-fide commercial vehicles. At the present time of shortage, however, there is no doubt that many users, and those of light vans in particular, would be glad to consider the purchase of suitable second-hand touring cars for purposes of conversion. In that event they would be well advised to pay this exhibition a visit. It closes on Saturday, 18th November, and the hours of admission are from 9 a.m. to la p.m.
The Ford Make-a-Tractors.
We are evidently only now seeing the beginning of the movement for converting Ford chassis to all manner of purpose other than that for which it was originally designed. There are on the British market several of what are termed conversion sets, which, when applied to the Ford chassis, render it capable of conveying loads of uP to 1 ton. We have information which shows that in the United States there are upwards of 30 different designs of these adapters. • The latest invention in this regard, however, is now reported from Detroit, where the Standarcl, Detroit Tractor Co. is building an equipment designed to enable any Ford ear to be converted into an agricultural tractor in a couple of hours. The device is stated to consist of a rectangular sub-frame.
which bolts to the rear of the Ford frame. This carries two heavy steel wheels driven by roller-toothed gears on the axle ends which mesh with internal gears on -the wheels. The dimensions of the gears are such that the total reduction is in ratio of 32.6 to 1. The equipment is so designed that the high-speed gear only is normally used.
With this arrangement, the engine speed with the tractor moving at two miles an hour is equivalent to that of a Ford car when travelling at 18 miles an hour. Under these circumstances, that is to say, with the high-speed gear in use, a draw-bar pull of 1200 lb. is exerted. This figure may, of course, be increased in case of emergency by use of the Ford low gear.
The tractor when complete serves as a general-purpose agricultural tractor. It may work in the fields or draw heavy loads of produce along the high road. The price of the equipment in the States is 125 dollars—in round figures, 225.
Mechanical Aids to Agriculture.
The Yorkshire Union of Agricultural Clubs and Chambers of Agriculture held a meeting, at the White Horse Hotel, York, at the end of last month, under the chairmanship of Mr. Jonah Bulmer, of Nunnington. Captain W. Cates, J.P., of-Ripon, submitted the following motion :— "That owing to the scarcity of labour on the land, the members of this Union respectfully ask the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries td" assist the farmers -in the cultivation of the land after the harvest by a grant towards the purchase or hire of steam or motor plough tackle which would permit of more men being taken for the Army." An interesting discussion on the respective claims of cable ploughing and tractor ploughing followed, and the motion was not put to the vote. The general opinion of the meeting appeared to be that the two-engined principle was the more effective in economizing labour, whilst others of those present insisted that the labour should not in any event be taken from the land so as to render the use of motor equipment necessary. The Chairman himself took the view that the question of steam or independent motor ploughing would only go a little way towards meeting the difficulties of farmers ; if farmers had to depend upon tractor work, the farm would have to go ; if the men were taken, the farmers would have to make the best they could of substituted labour, because ploughing was about one of the easiest things to get done on a farm.
It is lamentable that such unprogfessive views in regard to mechanical aids should hold sway in the fertile and agricultural disAricts which surround the City of York. New-laid Eggs.
If any of our readers have any new-laid eggs to spare, will they please address them to the Honorary Director of the National Egg Collection for the Wounded, 154, Fleet Street, E.C., at any time.
Press Cuttings.
We are asked to announce that the General Press Cutting Association, Ltd., is now established in larger and more convenient offices at 6, Bond Court, Walbrook, E.C., the company having removed from Lennox House, W.C.
An Inquiry from Java.
We are advised by a local correspondent that The Proprietor, The Hotel, Nongkodjadjar, via Law ang, East Java, wants to purchase a commercial motor with a load capacity between 30 cwt. and 2 tons. This intending buyer hopes to establish a service over a new road which is now in course of construction from Lawang to Nongkodjadjar, a distance of approximately 15 miles, in which -distance there is a rise of some 4000 ft. The intention is to carry up to eight passenger § with luggage, hotel goods, a light mail, and such other traffic as offers.
Removal of Dagnalls, Ltd.
Dagnalls, Ltd.,haulage and general contractors, warehouse-men, transport agents, and insurance brokers, of Temple Road,• Cricklewood, NW, has now removed to 5, Station Road, Willesden Green, N.W. The telephone numbers will be 1611 and 927 Willesden (with extension to Dagnail's Wharf on the Metropolitan Railway at Willesden Green),whilst the night line (after 7 p.m.) will be Willesden 959. . This company undertakes all classes of forwarding and haulage work, and is at the present time under important contractual engagements to the military authorities and leading engineering firws.
Electric Vehicle Committee.
The Secretary of the Electric Vehicle Cornmittee of the Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association has sent to us copies of letters which he has addressed to British electrical manufacturers and motor-vehicle manufacturers, respectively. He formally urges that the present time is opportune for electric manufacturers to turn their attention to the preparation of designs for standard lines of motors and controllers for use upon electf ie vehicles. The letter urges upon British manufacturers who have hitherto confined themselves to the production of petrol or steam vehicles, the expediency of their arranging to establish a branch for the production of i " electrics." It s pointed out that the only British manufacturer
of eleetrics at the present time is Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., of Ipswich.
The claim of the electric vehicle upon the British manufacturer is not one that can be dismissed without very earnest consideration at the prcsont time. Institution of Automobile Engineers.
The second general meeting of the session of the 'Institution of Automobile Engineers was held last night in the Hall of the Royal Society of Arts, when an interesting _paper entitled " Electrical Car Equipment" was read by Mr. A. Ludlow Clayden, a member of the Society of Automobile Engineers of America, and of the editorial staff of the American journal "The Automobile." We hope. to deal with it next week.
Weighbridge Anomalies.
A correspondent of "The Motor" writes :—"The weighbridge at the foot of Horse Shoe Clump (between Esher and Cobham) is sel. dom made use of now, probably owing to the,Surrey County Council being unable to grant the day's 'holiday' to the energetic clerk of the scales and the man in blue. The heavy lorries, when they heard this ' trap ' was working, were able to avoid it by turning off at Esher or Cobham and going through Hersham. A couple of miles further, but a hefty time saver, as the -weighing of each wheel made quite 20 minutes delay. The S.C.C. contemplated, before the war, erecting six or eight of these weighing machines in various parts of the county, but seeing how well the Portsmouth road has stood the extraordinarily heavy traffic of the last two years it appears foolish to think that the original project will be carried out. It seems an utter. waste,of public money (what are the roads for?), and it is 1000 to 1 that the weighbridge at the foot of Horse Shoe Clump will be pointed out to future generations as a monument of past bumbledom. The cure for heavy traffic is the 'widening of our roads, and in this the money is well sprnt."
Disenarged Soldiers and Sailors.
Not a few readers of this journal are no doubt desirous to have their names properly entered with "The Central Committee for the Employment of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors connected with the motor industry." The object of this committee is to find employment for men engaged gm war service in any branch of the Services who were connected with the motor industry before or during the war, whether
as owner or otherwise, on their return to civil life. The following organizations have delegates on the Central Committee :—Agents' Section, Ltd. ; Associated British Motor Manufacturers, Ltd. ; AutoCycle GI:lion; Automobile Association and Motor Union ; British Motor Boat Club ; Commercial Motor Users Association (Incorp.) ; Cycle and Motor-Cycle Manufacturers and Traders Union, Ltd. ; Cycle and Motor Trades Benevolent Fund ; lninerial Motor Transport Council; Irish Automobile 'Club ; Motor Trade Association ; National Society of Chauffeurs;. National Traction Engine Owners and -Users Association (Incorp.); Royal Aero Club ; Royal Automobile Club ; Royal Motor. Yacht Club ; Scottish Automobile Club ; Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd.
The Hon. Arthur Stanley, C.Y.O., M.P., is president; Mr. W. Joynson-Hieks, M.P., vice-president, Mr. Alfred Armitage, J.P., chair
man, and Mr. H. Moroney, hon. secretary. All inquiries should be addressed to the hon. secretary at 83, Pall Mall, S.W. A scheme of indexing both situations offered and applications for employment has been instituted, alphabetical, numerical, geographical and „trade sections being part of the system. The committee acts to a certain extent as a, central "clearing house," both receiving from and passing to the bodies by which it is constituted. A special register has been opened for discharged officers seeking enipioyment, and for vacancies suitable for then-i, whilst an arrangement has been entered into with the Y.M.C.A, and similar societies for an exchange of the names of men registered, so as to
avoid overlapping. It is hoped that any society or institution, which may be desirous and competent to participate, will communicate, through their officials, with Mr. Moroney. . The committee is taking adequate steps, with official co-operation both of the Admiralty and the War Office, to circulate its registration' forms to all discharge centres.
An announcement concerning the activities of the committee, measuring approximately 13 ins. by 9 ins., will be sent, on application, to anybody who is willing to display it. We suggest its use in all : motor depots and showrooms in order to render assistance. A Recent Registration..
London Lorries, Ltd. (5000), to carry on business as a builder and repairer of motor lorries and cars, with its registered office at Bush Lane House, Cannon Street, E.C. First subscribers are C. J. II. McRea, F. C. Bradshaw and R. Tozer. Private company.
Gazette.
The undermentioned companies have been struck off the Register of Joint, Stock Companies and are dissolved :—Allen-Liversidge Front Wheel Brakes, Ltd. ; Bala Motor Co., Ltd. Car Rear Light Syndicate, Ltd' Colquitt Motor and Carriage Building Co. Ltd. ; Coventry Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. ; Crewe Motor Co., Ltd. ; Helis Cell and Accumulator Co., Ltd. ; London and North-Western Motor Cab Co.., Ltd.: London and
Motor otor Cab Co., Ltd. ; Morpeth Lighterage and Carrying Co., Ltd. ; Northern Garage, Ltd. ; Paris Accumulator Co., Ltd. ; Resilient Motor Wheel Syndicate, Ltd. ; Swansea Express Delivery Co., Ltd. ; Windsor Industrial Motors, Ltd.
Fellows Magneto Co., Ltd.
Fellows Magneto Co., Ltd., of which the registered office is at
Cumberland Avenue, Park Royal, Willesden, N.W., and for shares in which company the London City and Midland Bank, Ltd., will receive applications is making a satisfactory bid to ; place the production of British magnetos on a sound basis. The company has a capital of 275,000, divided into 50,000 8 per cent, cumulative participating preference shares of £i each, entitled, in addition to the 8 per cent, cumulative dividend, to 20 per cent, of the net profits, and 50,000 ordinary shares of 10s, each. It is the preference shares which are now offered to the public, payable 2s. on application, Si. on allotment, and 10s. three months after allotment. The company has important running contracts with the War Office and other buyers, and its magneto has already established itself as one which is capable of competing successfully with the best German-made rivals. To informed members of the motor industry, and to other readers of this journal who are concerned with that industry, the shares will no doubt appeal as much as can any similar investment, in that a holding in them is accompanied by the speculative attraction of a bonus on the nominal rate of interest, which feature is a good one in reference to any preference issue, and one which we think is likely to be generally adopted in future. Joseph Lucas, Ltd. '
The directors of Joseph Lucas, Ltd., find that, owing to the urgency of the war work upon which many of the company's departments are employed, and to the depletion of its staff on military service, the usual balance sheet cannot be prepared. A second interim dividend has been paid on the ordinary shares, at the rate of 7 per cent, less income tax, making with the dividend already paid 10 per cent. for the year ended the 21st August last. The second interim is to be final.
Agrimotor Points.
The interviews which appeared in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR at the time of the Royal Show at Manchester, at the end of June last, continue to attract much attention throughout America. "The Automobile" made copious extracts from those interviews, about a month after their publication, setting the essence of Mr. John Allen's views against extracts from those of Mr. R. G. Patterson and Mr. J. W. Bradford, of Stafford. This summary has been quoted throughout the U.S.A., in daily and weekly newspapers. As might be expected, there is a tendency in America to incline to the view that the independent tractor is the better suited to American and Canadian conditions.