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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

9th October 1923
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

"lie wheels of wealth will be stowed op all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it 'MM." —John Beattie Crozier.

The Olympia Show.

At. our request. the Exhibition Department of the P:M.M. and T. has kept us posted with the names of exhibitors at the forthcoming Commercial Motor Vehicle and Roads Development Exhib.. tion to be held at Olympia, London, from November 22nd to December let, both dates inclusive. The leading makers are, with few exceptions, showing, but the final allocation -of space has not yet taken place. We hope in Our next issue to be able to give a preliminary plan of the Phew..

C.M.U.A. and Summer-time Act.

At a recent meeting of the C.M.D.A, it was unanimously, resolved that all M.P.s should be written to press for the extension -of Summer Time next year from March let to October 30th, in view of the many lainefits which'sueli an extension would confer upon road users in general.

Another Petrol Substitute.

A new substitute for petrol, called Dynalkol, was recently tested in aeroplane engines at Marienbad, CzechoSlovakia. It was claimed to he more efficient than petrol. The deposite which usually accumulate when petrol is used as fuel were entirely absent in tests con ducted with the new substitute. More_ over, it is said that Dynalkol dissolves And exhausts any deposits previously left

by the use of petrol or benzine. The Czeeho-Slovak Government is planninp exhausive tests with this new fuel.

The Width of a Motor Coach.

A prosecution of considerable importance to char-A,-banes and motor owners generally came before the Lyme Regis magistrates .a few days ago, when Mr. George Bonfield, a motor proprietor, of Rridport, ' was summoned under the Motor Car Act, 1903, for permitting a char-4-banes exceeding 7 ft. 2 ins. in width to be driven along the highway at .Lyme Regis. When asked if he was guilty of the offence, defendant said he was if the Act "was still in force, but there were scores of 30-seater chars-it-banes on the road as wide or wider than his coach. Police. Supt. Beck said that defendant's car, which was of French construction, measured no less than 8 ft. 6 ins, across the widest part and 8 ft. 4 ins, across the footboards. He added that, such vehicles were getting wider and wider, and there must be some limit to it, and that if two such vehicles as defendant's passed in the road it would be Very dangerous at certain times.

Defendant pointed out to the magistrates that his vehicle had been licensed and in use for three years without. beingchallenged as to its-excessive width, andif this case went against him it would mean that a £600 motor coach would be made valueless. In fining defendant Ll, the Mayor 'said the bench had taken into consideration the fact that the char-i-bancs had been used for three years without complaint.

"What does this mean?" . asked defendant. "It will affect not only me, but hundreds of other owners." In this statement the defendant correctly stated the position, and the decision will undoubtedly be of direct importance to many other owners.

, Wrongly Informed. • Mr. Colin Macbeth, of the Dunlop Rubber Go., Ltd. (who, by the way, sailed; last, week on the as. -‘` Maulstania " for America), asks us to contradict the statement in the "One Hears" page of last week's issue of The Com: menial Motor to the effect that. he had joined the board of Small and Parkes, Ltd. We regret this misstatement on the part of a usually well-informed contributor. Mr. Macbeth is a son-in-law of the chairman of Small and Parkes, Ltd.

What is a Trade Vehicle ?

The Finance Committee of the Ilford Urban District Council reports that it has had before it an application from the Essex County Council for payment of £21, being a claim for additional licence duty in respect of the years 1921-23-for the Ford motorvan used for house-refuse collection purposes, on the ground that the use to which the vehicle is put is -not. for trade purposes within the manning of the Finance Act, 1920. The conunittee states that, in its opinion the vehicle concerned is a trade vehicle within the meaning of the Act, and only liable to duty under paragraph 5 of the Second Schedule -to the Finance Act, 1920,' and has given instructions that the county council be soinformed.

British Trade and Tariffs. •

Mr. A. It At/tea, the late Parliamentary representative of the Central Division of Nottingham, whose work in the interest of the motor industry is widely known, presented at the last meeting of the City Chamber of Commerce an interesting report dealing with the proceedings of the Home Affairs and Transport Committee of the Associated Chambers, upon which he has served as the Nottingham delegate. He suggested with regard to the vexed question al tariffs upon foreign goods that the time has now arrived when business men ought to be strong enough to frame a policy end go for it. The matter, he suggested, was of such vital importance that it, should be divorced from political considerations and dealt with purely as a business proposition by Chambers of Commerce. The ordinary man in the street was entitled to look for a lead from such organizations, whose silence had placed them in an ambiguous pos tion.

Swansea Haulage Rates.

Motor haulage, where work is done by contract, is to be cheaper to the Swansea Corporation than horse haul' age. The Council Stores Committee has decided to fix a flat contra-ct rate for the town and added areas, and motor haulage contractors have agreed to • a daily rate of .16s. for the whole area. Horse vehicle hauliers, however, in the added areas are to have 16s. 6d. per day according to the new agreement, whilst contractors in the Landore, Morriston and town districts successfully stood out for a day rate of 17s, for horse vehicles. It was stated that the payment of 17s. in these districts represented a saving of 6d. per day for horse vehicles on the old tender system of contracting.

Police View of Petrol Pumps.

At a meeting of the East Ham Corporation Highways Committee the town clerk submitted a letter from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis with reference to the `qnestion of the application for permission to erect -a kerbside petrol pump at No. 681, Romford Road, and stating that he is advised that all such erections on the public highway without statutory authority are illegal, and that thepersons erecting them, and possibly those* a purporting to sanction their erection, might become liable to damages in the event of accident.

In these circumstances, the commissioner states that he is not in a position to approve proposals of this nature, but says that the whole question of these pumps is being considered by the various Parliamentary committees during the present session, and suggests that ally definite action should await the result of their decisions, For this reason the committee is 'informing the Park Engineering Co. that the council has no power o sanction the erection of a kerbside pump opposite their premises.

Second Thoughts Are Cheaper.. Kendal Corporation Health Committee has decided that the resolution authoriz ing it to purchase a, 2-ton lorry at a

maximum pt-ice of £735 be rescinded, and that the committee be authorized to purchase a 1-ton Ford motor lorry from Messrs. Atkinson and Griffin for £181.

Affairs of Commercial Cars, Ltd.

In connection with the first meeting of creditors of the Hon. W. C. W. Egerton it was then stated that Commercial Cars, Ltd. (Luton), was going into liquidation. We are asked by the receiver and manager (Mr, H. Tansley Witt) to state that, on behalf of the debenture holders, he is at. present carrying on the business, and the company are prepared, under his management, to execute all orders for commercial vehicles, etc.

Prices of C.A.V. Batteries for Fords.

We learn from C. A. Vandervell and Co., Ltd., -that they have decided_upon a further reduction in the prices of their batteries for Ford vehicles, the standard model (with wood separators) being re

duced from 10s. to £3. 10s. and the model de luxe (with patent threaded rubber separators) from '£4. 18s. 6d. to £4 5s. The quality will be maintained..

Traffic Suggestions.

The Highways Committee ef the Kensington Borough Council reports that it has had under consideration a letter received from the London "Safety First" Council calling attention to a suggestien which has been made that, with a view to minimizing traffic accidents and decreasing congestion, the principal streets in the Greater London • area carrying. motor traffic should be classified and indicated as " mail' " and " side" respec tively, thereby determining which stream of traffic should have preference, and asking to be favoured with any observations the council may ,care to offer on the suggestion. In view of the. fact that the traffic of the Metropolis is controlled by the Commissioner ofPolice, and that the whole question of London traffic conditions is at present being considered by the Ministry of Transport, the council has no observations to offer. . _ "The. Motor" Show Numbers.

As in other years our associated journal The Motor will publish three special numbers in connection with the Motor Show at Olympia. The issue of October 23rd will deal fully with the mechanical design of 1924 cars and the features of their appointments; that of October 30th will give comprehensive tables of all the 1924 car prices, whilst the number of November 6th *ill be the 'Complete

Show Report. • .

Last year the circulation of the third Show number of The Motor exceeded 90,000 copies and -the demand for it was not met. It is anticipated that the circulation of the corresponding issue this year, with its complete report, will exceed 100,000 copies.

Danish Transport Ideals.

The feeling is growing in Denmark that mechanical road transport is best suited to the needs of the country. In order to render this forth of transport as economical as possible the best and smoothest of roads are needed. With this end in view two well-known Danish engineers are visiting the United States in order to study the American road system on the spot. They declare that their country is practically destitute of

concrete roads. It is true that many thousands of miles of •highway are either macadamized or paved with small pebbles, but the latter, although durable, give an irregular surface,

A Goodyear Appointment.

Mr. John Boyd, who has for several years past represented the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., as manager of their Glasgow branch, has recently resigned 'owing to ill-health. His successor is Mr. A. J. Robertson, who has been associated with the Goodyear Go. for the past four years. Mr. Robertson • is well known to a large number of traders in the several counties of Scotland in which he has represented Goodyear. interests, and he is respected by all with whom be has come into contact.

Loughborough Road Schemes.

Large schemes of street improvement are being rendered nese_ssary at Loughborough, which -is the second largest town in Leicestershire. Towards these requisite works, the chief of whic.h is the widening of High Street, Sir Henry ISlaybury, who has been interviewed on behalf of the corporation, has promised aj contribution from the Ministry of Transport of half the cost of the land actually added to the highway and half the cost of making the road.

It. is proposed to apply for a Provisional Order to enable the council to carry out the project, with the nature of which Sir Henry Maybury has expressed complete agreement. Many important works of road improvement have been recently completed in Leicestershire, and in connection with the Loughborough scheme Sir H. Mayhury bus suggested that the corporation should consider the desirability of making a "by-pass road to take the through traffic passing between Leicester and Derby and 1324

the north, it being proposed that such a road should not be less than 60 ft. wide. 'throughout, the Ministry contributing a moiety of the, cost.

I.A.E. Opening Meeting.

The first ordinary meeting of the session of the Institution of Automobile Engineers will be held on Wednesday of this week (October 10th) at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London, at 8 p.m., when 'Mr. H. G. Burford, the president of the institution for the forthcoming session, will receive the members and will deliver his prersidential address entitled "Automobile Engineering as a Profession." Mr. Burford will also deliver his address before the various provincial centres of the institution on the following dates :— Glasgo-.v, October 15th, at the Royal Technical College, at 7.30 p.m. Wolverhampton, October 16th, at the Star and Garter Hotel, at 7.30 p.m. ..

Birmingham, October 22nd, at the Chamber of Commerce, New Street, at 6.45 p.m. Manchester, October 31st, at Milton Deansgate, at 6.30 p.m.

Motor Ships v. Steamers.

The respective merits of motor ships and steamships have become plainly manifest under the adverse conditions created by the present shipping depression, and according to The Motor Ship the result has been a triumphant vindication of the economy of the oil-engined vessel, with the consequence that the proportion of orders for motor ships to those of steamers shows a substantial increase.

The Motor Ship for October contains many highly interesting and informative articles on these vessels, including particulars of a motor ship to carry 2,000 passengers and fully illustrated details of five new marine oil engines, etc.

The experimental rear-view mirrors with which 20 Metropolitan electric tramcars have been fitted to enable alighting passengers to see any vehicle which may be coming up behind them, are proving quite useful, and a fair percentage of people take advantage of them. A notice inside the tramcar warning passengers to look in the mirror for overtaking traffic wonid further add to their value. New Services for Wales.

The Crossille Motor Co. of Chester, have made application to the Aberystwyth Borough Council for permits to run bus services between Devil's Bridge and Aberystwyth, and Machyrilleth and Aberystwyth. The latter will be a daily all-the-year-round service, and the former will only be run in the summer.

The company's letter to the council stated that the new services will not in-. terfere with the existing ebar-a-bane.s trade between the places. Similar services are run by this company between Barmouth and Dolgelly, and it is intended to run other services between Machynlleth and Towyn.

American Exports Bounding.

The outstanding feature of the American motor export figures for the month of July is the jump of 145 per cent. in the total number of lorries shipped abroad as competed with the preceding month. The jump in value, however, was only 38 per cent., as the majority of the vehicles...exported were one-tonners.

A comparison with the latest monthly. figures with those for July, 1922, and last June is as follows:—

Daimler's Revised Price.

A revised price of 595 is announced for Daimler commercial vehicle chassis. These chassis have rendered valuable service in the hands of numerous purs chasers, and the present price will tier-, tainly be found to be most attractive.

Local Proceedings.

Bedworth 'Parish Conned has purchased a motor fire-engine, .

Bc;Iton Corporation has decided • to obtain tenders for the supply of a motor ambulance.

Brigg Urban District Council has ordered that all petrol pumps must be illuminated at night.

South Shields Corporation Health Committee recommends the purchase of a motor ambulance at a cost of £440.

Ilford Urban District Council has directed the surveyor to arrange for the parking of motor vehicles in South Park.

Wallasey Corporation Tramways Cornmittee has asked the manager to make further inquiries with respect, to trolleybuses in various Owns.

Bournemouth Corporation proposes that a speed limit of 10 miles an hour be imposed, or restored, in all the parks, as on the East, Cliff, Ilford Urban District Council has deferred the purchase of a two•ton tipping lorry so that the tramivays manager can report on a certain new type of vehicle.

Blackpool Corporation Gas Committee has deferred a proposal to purchase a motor lorry to enable the acting as engineer to obtain furtherinformation on the subject.

Manchester Watch Committee has decided to apply to the Ministry of Health for sanction te the making of by-laws for regulating the insurance of licensed haekney. carriages.

Having had • demonstrations with gully-emptying machines, the East. Ham Corporation Works Committee' suggests demonstrations ".•vitti Other makes before recorninending a purchase.

Wallasey Corporation Tramways Committee has asked the manager to make the best arrangements he can to meet a demand for a motarblis service between St. Nicholas Road and Seacombe.

Manchester Corporation Health Committee has given authority for the purchase of an Atco motor lawn-mower for Begnaley Sanatorium from C. H. Pugh, Ltd., Leamington Street, Manchester.

Manchester Corporation Tramways Committee recommends seeking Parliamentary powers for the operation of trackless trolley vehicles along routes in the city where tramways have already been authorized but not constructed, and also outside the city.

Bethesda Urban District Council, which refused to give the Bangor Blue Motors Co. more than two bus licences for a service from Bangor to Bethesda, has been asked by the Ministry of Transport to reconsider the matter.

At a meeting of the Calcutta Municipal Council the chief engineer said that. in congested roads and for shaft distances electric lorries worked well and were cheaper, but for longer distances petrol lorries were better. He said that some saving could be effected by using • charcoal in petrol lorries.

South Shield's Corporation has decided that the question of continting the service of the Simonside omnibus be deferred until the borough treasurer and tramway manager are in a position to report on the result of the working of the tramway undertaking for the six months ended September 30th.

The Llantrisant and Llantwit Rural District -Council has under consideration the purchase of a fire-engine, The annual report of the South Shields Corporation for the year ended March ,31st shows a loss of £1,497 on the bus services.

Manchester Watch Committee proposes to order the removal of all petrol pumps which have been erected on the highways.

, The Barmouth Urban District Councilhas decided that the practice of allowing -local motor vehicles to use stands on the main road shall cease to be permitted, "and the stands are to be removed.

The Tredegar Council has requested the captain of the fire brigade to submit :prices of new motor fire-engines to the next manthly meeting of that council. It is intended .to equip a newly built station with up-to-date machines.

Lancaster Watch Committee has given permission to Castle Motors to institute a new bus service from Dalton Square to Garsta,ng, on condition that passengers are not picked up orset down, for distances within the borough boundaries.

The Works Committee of the 'Southwark Borough Council recommends the purchase of three of the latest pattern 3-ton tipping machines with low bodies suitable for refuse-collection purposes,-a street-vsashing machine, and a threewheeled runabout. The estimated cost of these vehicles is £2,800.

York City Council Tramways Committee has reconsidered the question of the, purchase of a Karrier omnibus, which was referred back by the coined. and recommends that a 20-seater oneman-operated Karrier omnibus, mounted on a 2-ton chassis fitted with the Hdlden patent suspension, be purchased at the price of £847.

More Buses for Shanghai.

The China General Omnibus 'Co., Ltd., of Shanghai, is considering the inauguration of a motorbus service in that city. If the plans go through—and this is almost certain—the initial fleet of the company is to be composed of 30 vehicles. Manufacturers interested, are invited to write to the offices of the, company at 6, Kiukiang Road, Shanghai; or to the company's attorneys, Messrs. WhiteCooper, Master and Harris, 1, Museum Road, Shanghai.

Controlling Dynamo Output.

A new system of electrical control for dynamo lighting equipments has just been introduced by the British Lighting and Ignition Co., Ltd., Cheston Road, Birmingham. it is particularly simple' and efficient and ensures that the accumulator is always charged at the proper rate—viz., according to its condition— that is to say, when nearly discharged it receives charging current at a high rate, this rate, however, being gradually and quiteautomatically reduced as the accumulator becomes charged.

The various disadvantages of over and undercharging which are very liable to occur with the well-known third brush dynamo 'control system are obviated.

-The B.L.I.C. regulator or controller consists only of a few small electrolytic cells in which the " elements '' are thin, perforated steel plates in a solution of caustic potash. This arrangement is simply connected in parallel with the accumulator. It does not exert any control effect until the accumulator voltage rises to 2 volts per cell, and, consequently, the full dynamo output is utilized. As the' voltage rises the controller cuts down the output until the point is reached when the fully charged accumulator receives only a very small charging current. One very important feature is that the risk of burning out lamps by the current from the dynamobeing discharged directly through the filament, owing to some breakdown in the wiring„ is obviated, as the controller automatically regulates the maximum current which can be passed through the lamps. This system was effectively demonstrated to a representative of this journal, and to give the equivalent of road service two 'extra cells were first added to the accumulator, and then two of the ordinary cells cut out. This gives the same effect as an ordinary accumulator undercharged and overcharged respectively, and we noted that with the controller in operation and the accumulator undercharged. the maximum amperage was passed for charging purposes, and that with the accumulator fully charged the amperage was reduced to nil. This is exactly what is required and has, we believe, never before been achieved, certainly not in such a remarkabla simple and effective manner.

Swansea Bus Licences.

Swansea Watch Committee has de. ferred the issue of licences for additional bus services from Penclawydd to Swansea, via Gowerton and Cockett, until the views of the Swansea Rural District Council on the matter can be ascertained.

The future issue of licences depends on the committee being assured that the roads are in a satisfactory state to carry bus traffic.

A New Road Preferred.

The highways committee of the St. Helens Corporation has approved of a proposal by the Sutton Heath and Lea Green Colliery Co., for the construction of a new road to take the place of Lowfield Lane, which leads from Sutton Heath Road to Lea Green Station. The road which is being replaced is in a bad state of repair and would involve considerable expenditure to make it suitable to carry present,day traffic.


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