News and Comment.
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1 This journal is extensively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses.
Noise During Collection and Delivery.
We invite attention, on the•first page of this issue, to the important bearing of quietness of working at terminal points by the driver of any motor vehicle. The men in charge of either petrol or steam vehicles have only to be slightly negligent ar inattentive, for a nuisance to arise. Any unnecessary noise may be of evil effect in two directions . it may cause opposition to the development of motor transport ; or, it may delay the placing of fresh orders.
A Leyland on Benzole.
We learn that one of the Leyland fleet, belonging to Waring and Gillow, Ltd., left London on Thursday of last week, with a load well in excess of two tons, and travelled through to Aberreldy in Scotland, a distance of 501 miles. Benzole was used as fuel, all the necessary supplies being carried aboard the vehicle. The trip was satisfactorily performed in three ,days. This is indeed a splendid record, and it concerns one of the many charac. teristie long-di stance trips which Waring and Cillow, Ltd., has to undertake in the course of the discharge of its special orders for completion by road.
The Sheppee Three-tonuer.
It may interest some of our readers to .know that the price of the Sheppee three-ton steam chassis, inclusive of tires, is £610 for the standard model, and £630 for the Colonial-type model. On. give-and-take roads, in the Yorkshire district, the., consumption of paraffin is at the rate of 0.25 gallon per mile, with a net three tons of useful load.
Trade or Other Countries.
Germany is showing an increase of exports of commercial vehicles for the present year of more than 100 per cent. over 1912. Russia. has been a very good customer. The Spanish War Office has recently ordered 72 military motor lorries, at a cost .rir about £B80 each, from Germany, without submitting the same to competition or tender. This action appears to have caused surprise in Madrid.
The U.S.A. is now showing an increased measure of activity in the. export of :commercial motors ; sales are now averaging about 150 chassis a month, valued at approximately £50,000.
Holiday Bookings We learn that the accelerated and turbine cross-Channel services of the LB. and S.C. Railway, between Newhaven and Dieppe, have been much appreciated this summer. Not only has the comfort of travelling been greatly increased, but the charges for journeys by this route, through to Paris or to intermediate stations, remain at attractively-low rates.
County Council Association and Roads.
The fact to which we gave publicity many weeks ago, concerning the intention of the County Councils Association to approach the Local Government Board and the Board of Trade, is now an nouneed. The County Councils Association will approach the Presidents of the above-named Departments, jointly with delegates of the Association of Municipal Corporations, the Urban District Councils Association, the Rural District Councils Association, and the Association of County Councils of Scotland. The object is to secure an amendment of existing Departmental regulations, as well as new legislation, for the. purpose of giving local authorities more powers in relation to heavy motor traffic of all kinds.
Foden Brakes.
An important test case, in which we understand the Lancashire County Council directly promoted the prosecution, was heard at the Bury police court last week. E. P. Potter and Co., Ltd., of Little Lever, was summoned as the owner, and James Marsh, motor driver, as the driver, for using a heavy motor wagon " without having a brake in such good working order as that the application of it should prevent two of the wheels on the same axle from revolving."
The vehicle was an ordinary Feden machine in every respect, with flywheel brake, back-axle brake and the usual facility to employ the reversing action of the valve motion. The machine was inspected by the magistrates, who successfully witnessed tests of all three brakes, each of which caused the hind wheels to stop turning and to skid along the ground. On receipt of an assurance that no alteration had been made to the brakes since the date of issue of the summons, the magistrates unanimously dismissed the ease. The International Correspondence Schools is making an exhibit at International Buildings, Kingsway, W., of a new series of technical pocket-books. These are on offer, for a limited period, at reduced prices.
Chain Cases.
The fact that chain cases have grown in popularity with users was demonstrated at last month's show, and our attention is directed to the fact by Hans RenoId, Ltd.
Brakes Firing.
Many drivers of petrol vehicles seem to forget that they can with advantage go down steep hills with one of their lower gears in mesh, and can thereby relieve the friction 4.ind heating of the ordinary brakes,
Milnes-Daimlers.
Recent Milnes-Daimler deliveries include a Vi-ton van to the " Crusade of Rescue," whose head office is at 48. Compton Street, W.C., and which society is engaged in the maintenance of 1000 orphans and of a four-ton wagon to Maclieson and Co., Ltd., of the Hythe Brewery.
Motor Ploughs.
We have before us two promising new motor ploughs. One is of a. type similar to the Wyles cultivator, the manufacture of which has recently been taken up by John Fowler and Co., Ltd., of Leeds ; the other is for heavier duty, yet of light weight itselL Having regard to the increase of world demand for machines of the kind, we feel confident that those motor manufacturers who may be considering the addition of an agrimotor branch to their present activities would do well to examine either or both of the designs and engines to which we refer, and we shall be pleased to arrange to put parties in communication with one another.
"Magician" Engine-starter.
Fn,glish manufacturers are now fully alive to the advantages offered by the satisfactory selfstarter. The United Motor Industries, Ltd., Poland Street., W., has acquired the rights in the U.M.T. Magician starter, an electrical appliance which obtains its current from the accumulators of the lighting set fitted to the chassis.
The power is taken from a h.p. electric motor which can be placed in any suitable position. The drive is by means of a flexible shaft from the motor to a friction roller that acts on the outer circumference of the engine flywheel. The depression of a pedal puts the motor into operation at a speed of 2700 r.p.m., and this is geared down to turn the engine over at a speed of 150 r.p.m. The release of the pedal cuts out
the motor entirely, and, to all intents and purposes, it can be ignored entirely until its services are again required.
More Agrimotor Tests, interesting tests of agrimotors, for which British machines are eligible, will take place in September next, for the specific purpose of dealing with roots and stumps of a resinous nature. These tests should appeal to owners of rubber plantations, who stand to benefit very !Mich more by proper cultivation than they do merely by weeding alone. Mr. M. Van der Voort, of 12, Rue du Gazometre, Brussels, will be happy to supply full particulars. The trials will take place in woods belonging to Mr. van Zuylen, situated 21 miles from the railway station of Grand-Halleux (Trois-Ponts h Gouvy Line). A good entry is expected. C. T. Faulkner and Co., Ltd., of 32, Water Street, Manchester, with one of whose principals an interview appeared in our issue of the
20th February last, has shown its confidence in the continued service of steam vehicles by placing an order for two more Yorkshire vehicles, of which make the company's fleet will now total 12 Interest in Our Pages.
A Yorkshire reader writes:— " As I was travelling in the train recently between Todmorden and Wakefield, I met a gentleman, clearly a business man, studiously perusing THE CommEncrAL Mozort, and, being likewise interested, I threw out a feeler—' Are you interested in commercial motors ? '
His reply was Well, yes, in a preliminary way. This is the first copy of the paper I have bought. My interest has been aroused in these heavy motors—and I suppose we shall have to get one sooner or later. They seem to be the coming thing.' I replied : They have come, sir.' " This, we happen to know; is typical of the way interest is growing.
All About Strakers.
It is convenient to have the whole range of Straker-Squire models carefully and systematically listed. We have been favoured with a copy of the latest edition of the Straker-Squire catalogue, and this very amply includes particulars of all the chassis details for which the most punctilious of buyers could inquire. Following the description of each of the types, with its diagrammatic illustration, in each instance are two pages of typical applications for such machines, the types selected being fully representative of latest practice in the many branches of modern industrialvehicle work. A special section is devot ed to the Straker-Squire tramcar and the rail locomotive, and a useful page or two are well filled with carefully-considered working costs and estimated expenses.
Palladium Models.
We regret that our " Guide to the Show " was necessarily limited to the vehicles and firms which were actually represented at Olympia, and, therefore, we were unable to include much interesting information which was sent to us in respect of others who were not in that way qualified. For instance, Palladium Autocars, 378-384, Euston Road, NW., asked us to give certain particulars. We are pleased to take the first opportunity to do so, and include below a complete list of the models which this company market :— Chassis price Load. H.P. Drive. with tires.
2
8 cwt. 10 Bevel 236
12 „ 12 281 20 „ 18 355 Palladium Autocars, Ltd., has now closed its show-rooms in the Euston Road, and has concentrated its business at the company's new and commodious works in Normand Road, West Kensington. The sole management of the business is in the hands of Dr. John Ross MaeMahon (Mr. Ross).