News and Comment.
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1 This journal fosters, represents, and chronicles commercial motoring in all its branches; it has the largest and best circulation throughout the United Kingdom, the Colonies, India, and foreign countries generally. No part of our exclusive and valuable circulation is due to the forcing of sales in useless quarters.
Our review (pages 2 to 9) of the R.A.C. report was issued, as a second edition of this journal, on Friday afternoon last. We are now able to add a brief report of the proceedings at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (page to), and a few sketches.
Demonstration Trials.
We are glad to know that our strong leading articles of the i6th January and the r3th February, on the subject of the abuse of demonstration trials, helped to confirm the S.M.M.T. in its contemplated action in this matter, and that an agreement which is calculated to eliminate any undue strain upon the industry came into force last week.
Union in Sight.
An important meeting of Manchester motor traders Look place, at the Midland Hotel, on Monday evening last, when the position in regard to the 19og show was fully discussed. Certain proposals are to be recommended to the various interests concerned, and it is believed that an acceptable and amicable settlement will be reached.
As a result of an examination of the annual estimates of the Highways Committee of the Westminster City Council, the Finance Committee has specially made a vote of .4.2,600, •for new motors and rubber tires, as provisional only, without committing the council to the expenditure. At the last meeting of the Council, on the 5th instant, the chairman of the Finance Committee explained that the Council's sanction has yet to be secured. To-day.
This (Thursday) afternoon, at 5 o'clock, the annual general meeting of -members of the Royal Automobile Club will take place at the old War Office, Pall Mall, S.W. It is believed that some questions will he raised as to the net loss of L:3,212, -which arose in connection with the Commercial Vehicle Trials, but we donot doubt that there will be members piesent who will
satisfy any critics that the money was well 'spent, alike in the interests of the Club, the movement, and the Country.
Cordingley's Show.
Very little information is forthcoming about the exhibitors at Cordingley's Show, which will be opened on Saturday week, the 21st instant, and not on the T9th instant, as is inadvertently stated on page i in a portion of this issue, but we are advised that the exhibits will include such wellknown makes as the Foden, the Savage, the Wallis and Steevens, the Yorkshire, the Standard, and Saunderson " Universal" motor. It is also possible that Tasker and Sons, Limited, of Andover, will show a tractor. The Yorkshire Company's exhibit will consist of one of its latest sixton wagons, with compound-vertical engine, single-chain drive, special van body, and artillery-type wheels, this being a repeat order from Messrs. R. Chambers, of 47, Mark Lane, E.C. It is evident that the opening of the Olympia Show at a date which overlaps that at the Agricultural Hall has tended to spoil the latter, as makers have not enough machines available.
Taxation and Roads.
The Motor Union points out that its programme in regard to the application to the roads of any yield from fresh motor taxation is inaccordance with the resolutions of a general conference of motorists which was held on the t5th November, 1906. That conference admittedly was thoroughly representative, and its resolutions are in agreement with the reconmienda tions of the Royal Commissioners. No matter what may be the issue of this taxation controversy, we again urge our readers to see that Members of Parliament for their own districts are informed that no justification for the taxation of commercial motors can be found other than in the above-indicated application of the money. .1. tax upon trade can only be regarded as a matter of expediency in special circumstances, and for a period. Those two conditions are provided in the present transitory sage of road locomotion.
Spare Wheels.
An arrangement has been made with Leyland Motors, ltd., for the maintenance of the spare wheels of the motor wagons supplied to Wandsworth Borough Council by that company. When the wagons were purchased, the company undertook to keep them in repair for -/:so per annum each, and now it has' agreed to maintain the spare wheels without additional charge and -to pay the Council is. per day per wheel in the event of their being used for a longer period than 30 days owing to the repairs to the wheels belonging to the wagons not being completed within that time.
L.C.C. Motor Fire Plant.
According to the annual report of the Chief Officer of the L.C.C. Fire Brigade, issued on Saturday, the application of motors to fire-brigade appliances is being kept under close observation, and, during the year, several motor fire-escapes and motor fire.. engineshave been obtained. At the end of 1907, the brigade had six motor steam fire-engines, one motor hose tender, three motor fire-escapes, three motorcars, one first-aid motor appliance and one motor tractor. Owing to the increase in the number and variety of the motor fire-appliances, etc., the Fire Brigade Committee intends to appoint an experienced motor mechanic at so.s. a week (instead of the fitter previously employed) and a labourer at 61-d. an hour, to carry out repairs required.
The Fire Brigade Committee of the L.C.C. reported on Monday that the Dc Eornier non-slip devices obtained for certain motor fire appliances had proved satisfactory. Similar non-skids
are to be obtained for the front wheels of two motor fire escapes and for two spare wheels for motor fire engines. The cost will be L84 155.
A Lacre Fleet.
The accompanying illustration is of one of the numerous fleets of Lacre vans which are rapidly being brought into .usc in the course of the substitution of horses and the stable departments of certain, big houses of repute. No more striking testimony to the efficacy of motorvan delivery exists than the steady increases, both in the number of such individual fleets, and in the aggregate of owners.
A War Office Wagon.
We publish, on this page, an illustration of a lorry which the Maudslay Motor Company (19o7), Limited, of Parkside, Coventry, has just supplied to the War Office, an order which is put down as the direct outcome of the success which attended E4o in the R.A.C.
Trials. This vehicle is designed to carry three tons of goods, and it will be used principally for the transport of food stuffs for The men, and fodder for the animals. The platform area is 12 feet by seven feet, and the vehicle is propelled by a 4oh.p. Maudsiay, four cylinder, engine, the bore and .piston stroke of the cylinders being five inches in each case. Four speeds and a reverse are hued, the final drive being by means of side chains.
A Halley Order.
We understand from Halley'sIndustrial Motors, Limited, that an order has been received by it for one of its aoh.p., three-ton vans, from J. and P. Coats, Limited, the well-known thread manufacturers, of Paisley. This vehicle is of the usual four-cylinder type, with high-tension magneto ignition, forced lubrication, etc., and is generally similar to the 20h.p. vehicles which were run in the R.A.C. Trials with such success.
Increased Use of Automobiles in Baden.
On the 1st of January of the current year, the Grand Duchy of .Baden had 843 motorcycles and 722 automobiles against 596 and 521 respectively on the same date in 3907; in-other words, the Grand Duchy can show an increase of 38.6 per cent. in a twelvemonth! Goods motors proper number 45, and the freight cycles eight ; four of the former category belong to public bodies, who also own two cycles and four private cars. Other orders are in hand_
Sirdar Tires.
The Sirdar Rubber Company, Limited, of 34, Baker Street, W., announces further reductions in the cost of tires, both pneumatic and solid. Full quotations and particulars may be had on application to the company-.
Military Wagons.
We made reference, in our issue of the t6th January, to a trial of the Armstrong-Whitworth convertible military wagon, and we illustrate this vehicle (see page 18), which will be exhibited at the forthcoming Olympia Show, when its special points should arouse the interest of many visitors other than military experts.
A New London Office.
Halley's Industrial Motors, Limited, of Yoker, Glasgow, is this week open ing a London office and repair garage, _
,n pursuance of its policy of under
taking the upkeep and maintenance of the numerous Halley vehicles which are already delivered in the Metropolitan area, or are on order for such delivery. The address of this office is 25, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W. and the garage and repair works are at 26, Page Street, Westminster, S.W. The Fourth Albion Van.
The Albion Motor Car Company, Limited, of Scotstoun, Glasgow, has delivered its fourth, 3.6h.p., Albion van to Messrs. J. and W. .Campbell and Company, of the Clyde city. The Albion Company is now making a speciality of fitting chain cases to all its vehicles except those designed for two-ton loads, and the one mentioned . above is the first of the 5-Cwt. type to go through so fitted. Such chain cases will unquestionably effect a considerable saving in the wear and tear of both the chains and the chassis.
"Shell ' Spirit.
The British Petroleum Company, Limited, of 22, Fenchurch Street, E.C., draws attention to the fact that 31 of the 42 petrol-using motors in the R.A.C. Trials employed " Shell." It also reports an increasing volume of business in its special heavy quality of 0.760 specific gravity.
Insurance.
The Car and General Insurance Corporation, Limited, whose head office is at t, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., and which company now has 30 branches throughout the United Kingdom, announces some altogether new policies. This company's rates have always appealed to would-be insurers, and it continues to be the pioneer in the matter of facilities for special rates and risks.
More Municipal Orders.
Bradford Corporation means to extend its already somewhat considerable motor plant. The Fire Brigade Committee is to have a new motor fire engine, at a cost of L,1,200, and the Education Canteen Sub-Committee is to have a new motor lorry, of three tons capacity, for the additional requirements in regard to the conveyance of meals for school children, at a• cost of f600.