WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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••• The wheel of wealth, will be slated by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it run,s,"—lohn Beattie Crozier,
Relieving Dock Congestion.
The aftermath of the great railway strike is that the docks are more congested. than ever' and the Government has realized that it is most urgent to
relieve this congestion at once. With this end in view, it has been decided to utilize some of the vehicles which were used during the strike, and the use of these vehicles will also relieve the railways from employing wagons for the transport of food whilst the lines are already congested with coal, etc.
The lorries will be controlled and allocated by the Ministry of Transport Emergency Traffic Committee, of which Sir Norman Hill is the chairman. No application from private traders will be entertained. All the lorries will go to the railway companies and port authorities. . It is understood that the National Transport Workers Federation supports the proposal, and is prepared to assist by supplying any necessary labour required to run the vehicles. The scheme is regarded purely as an emergency measure which will cease so soon as the docks and railways can be brought into normal condition. It is not yet known how many vehicles will be available for this work. 11,9 uch of the unloading work at the docks was at a standstill during the strike because, the food was arriving all the time, the miles of railways within the docks themselves were not being operated, and the lorry service which was organized dealt only with foods of a perishable nature.
In a memorandum dealing with the restoration of the efficiency of the ports of the United Kingdom, published by the Port and Transit Committee, the establishment of a fleet of Government motor lorries was advocated, but the memorandum added that it would not be possible to guarantee H.-let such a fleet of motor lorries could be worked tocover.
all expenses. We consider, however, that this should not be the case if the fleet is worked in an efficient manner. Something like 20 large ships are sometimes held up in the Thames, and the cost of the lorries should easily be covered by the gain in the utilization of these vessels.
Midland Motorbus Services.
During the recent railway strike the Midland Motor Omnibus Co. buses were a perfect blessing to the Midland community. There is a network of services up to, on seine routes, 50 miles around Birmingham. On a 34-mile route between Birmingham, Worcester and Malvern there is a continual half-hourly service, and during the strike buses ran from Birmingham to London, Bristol, Crewe, Liverpool, Stockport, Sheffield, and Manchester. Perhaps the most useful feature of the regular service is the effective manner in which the rural districts are served, and the way in which the villages and countryside have been linked up with the towns. It is the most important development the Midlands has seen since the coming of the railways. The Midland Motor. Omnibus Co. use Tilling-Stevbns chassis.
L'Auto recently announced the amalgamation of two famous concerns, the Auatrian nods. Works and the French Creusot Co. The capital of the two companies has been increased from 72 to 144 millions of crowns.
Shanghai is about the busiest of motoring centres in China. There are about 2,000 private motors on the roads, 150 to 200 taxicabs ply for hire, and about 30 commercial vehicles are in evidence. Two motor omnibus routes have been working for some time, and are apparently well patronized.
Inst. A.E. Matters.
The secretary of the Institution of Automobile Engineers informs us that theinaugural meeting of the session, which was postponed from October lit owing to the-strike. willinow be held at the Royal Society of Arts, Men Street, Adelphi, London, W.C. 2, on Wednesday, October 22nd, at 8 p.m... when Mr. Thomas Clarkson will deliver his presidential ad
The meeting of the Midland centres will be held on Thursday, October 23rd, in the hall of the Chamber. of Commerce, New Street, Birmingham, at 7.30 p.m. .
Arrangements have been made for a reception of the members of the Institution by the president and council at the Kensington Town Hall, on November 13th, at 3.30 p.m., when an address will be given to the members by a distinguished personage.
Accessories Amalgamation..
It is announced that the business of Brown Bros., Ltd.; of Louden, and Thomas Thomson and Son (Motor Factors), Ltd., of Edinburgh, have a.inalgamated. Mr. J. Albert Thomson, chairman and managing director of the Edinburgh oompany, becomes one of the managing directors of Brown Brea.; Ltd., whilst several of the London company's directors will 'join the Edinburgh board..
A dinner and smoking concert was recently held in the canteen of Clayton and Co. (Huddersfield), Ltd., to celebrate the winning of a silver cup presented by the company for inter-departmental cricket. For the past season the cup went to the repair department and drilling • section. Mr. R. T. Clayton, managing director, in presenting the cup, took the opportunity of saying a few words on a proposed recreation ground. . C.14,1.J.A. Strike Awards.
The National Council of the Commercial Motor Users Association kInc.) offers six Award of Merit badges, eac.h accompanied by £5 in cash, to motor transport drivers of goods or public passenger ye
idles who performed services exceptional in character during the recent food-distribution crisis. Only four of these badges have previously been awarded..
Drivers—or employers on their behalf —who wish to submit applications should. write to the general secretary, Mr. F. G. Bristow, 83, Pall Mall, London' S.W. 1, giving full and authenticated particulars, on or before October 22nd.
The offer is not limited to drivers employed by members of the Association, and is open to any driver in the United Kingdom.
Proposed L.C.C. Buses.
important new schemes were indicated at a meeting 'of the L.C.C. one day last week. The Council unanimously and without debate passed a proposal by the Highways Committee• that legislation should be promoted next year to enable the Council:
"To own omnibuses and to ran in and in the vicinity of the County of London auxiliary omnibus services for the linking up of tramway dead ends and for other specific purposes." On the tramway question. the Commit
tee recommended (a) that the Government be asked to set up forthwith an independent ad hoc body to consider the full scheme of tramway development projected by the Co.uncil and to hear any objections that may be raised to such scheme by the local authorities, and that
such body be empowered to make such modifications in the scheme as they may think fit.; (b) that it be referred to the Parliamentary Committee to take the necessary steps to obtain the suspension of the standing orders of Parliament so as to provide in respect of tramway schemes to he intsoducod in the session of 1920 that the Council should be enabled to place sncli schemes before Parliament for consideration notwithstanding the fact that it may not have secured all the requisite -consents of local and road authorities under standing orders on the introduction of the necessary Bill; (c) that the Minister of Transport be asked to receive a deputation from the Council in respect of the proposals contained in the foregoing resolutions.
S. Shields Electric Buses.
The South Shields Rural District Council has agreed to consent to the running of electric motorbuses by the South Shields Town Council to Boldon Colliery subject to an arrangement being agreed upon with respect to the payment of a rate per car mile.
Parent Tyre Co.'s Report.
The report of the Parent Tyre Co., Ltd., for the year ended August 31st, 1919, shows a profit, including 0708, a balance from last year, of 2175,833. For the half year ended February 28th, the following appropriations have been made: dividends on the preference, ordinary and deferred shares,at the rate of 5, 8 and 25 per cent. per annum respectiVely, which leaves for disposal a sum of £97,174. A dividend of 5 per cent. and 8 per cent, per annum is now to be paid on the preference and ordinary shares respectively for the remaining part of the year, and on the deferred shares for the same period at the rate of 25 per cent, per annum, which will absorb B06,158, leaving a. balance to be carried forward of .£1,016.
During the year 1,500,000 7 per cent. "C" preference shares of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., were exchanged for a similar number of 7 per cent, first cumulative preference shares a the No. 2 D. B. Cotton Mills, Ltd., the basis of exchange being .20s. 3d. for each Dunlop preference share and 20s. for each Cotton Mills preference share. Dunlop "C" preference shares originally cost the company 19s. 6d, per share, and the transaction therefore shows a capital appreciation of £56,250, which amount has been added to the capital reserve.
Ceylon's Requirements.
Imports of motor vehicles into Ceylon for the past year amounted to 15 ears, of which 10 were commercial vehicles, the duty of 100 per cent. ad valorem imposed as a war measure, having had the desired effect of checking imports. Seeing that the number of care imported in 1916 was 590, and that the imports had been increasing yearly, it is clear that there are considerable arrears to be made up before the demand in this market is likely to be fully satisfied. The quantity of petrol imported mainly for use on motor vehicles averages 800,000 gallons a year.
Output from General Motors Factories.
The largest of American automobile manufacturing organizations is General Motors Corporation, with its offices in New York City and Detroit. Incorpor
ated in October, 1916, it controls the production, among other automobile products of the following' well-lmowu, motor vehicles: Cadillac, Jitnek, Chevrolet, Oakland, Oldsmobile; ,Scripps-E ooth, the C.M.C. lorry and Samson tractor. Besides controlling ,the manufacture of these complete chassis, the Corporation has an interest in the manufactare. of such units as bodies, transmissions, electric starting and lighting devices, wheel rims, roller bearings, ball bearings, radiators, sparking plugs.; engines, steering gears. forgings, etc. All the vehicles mentioned are, of course, built on quantity-proiluction lines, and the estimated
production from the various General Motors Corporation's factories for the year ending July 1st, 1920, is as follows: Buick, 140,000 cars; Chevrolet, 220,000 cars; Cadillac, 25,000 oars; Oldsmobile, 40,000 cars; Oakland, 52,000 cars; Scripps-Booth, 15,000 cars ; G.M.C. lorry, 40,000, and Samson tractors, 25,000.
New Bus Services in Essex.
The Essex County Council proposes to sanction the establishment by the applicants mentioned of the following new motor omnibus services The Finchingfield Agricultural and Motor Engineering Co., Finchingfield.— From Finchingfield to Braintree via BardfielcI, Great Saling and Rayne. Mr. Oliver Oxley, Jr., Whitehall Lane, Nr. Broadway, Grays.—From Grays to Messrs. Jurgens, Purfleet. National Steam Car Co. Chelmsford.— From Chelmsford to Wo;sdham. Ferrers via East Hanningfield.
Mr. Ben Adams, Motor and Cycle Works, Great Bardfield.—From Great 13ardfield to Finchingfield and Braintree.
The Mersea, Cokhester, and District Transport and Bus Co., Ltd., West Mersea.—Colchester to Cla.oton-on-Sea.
Mr. F. Matrayers, Coggeshall.—Coggeshall to Ipswich; Coggeth all to Come; Halstead and ;Braintree ; Coggeshall to Clacton; Coggeshall to Braintree and Chelmsford; and Coggeshall to Colchester.
-Messrs. Thos. Tilling, Ltd., Motor Department, Bull Yard, High Street, Peckham.—Ipswich to Cokhester.
Live Stock by Lorry.
The illustrations which we publish oa this page show the adaptability of a Leyland motorbus recently acquired by E. R. Pickburn, of Leyland. It is fitted with a single-deck bus body which is interchangeable with an ordinary platform body and cab. The bus was being used for the transport of passengers up to September 29th, when it was acquired by the Ministry of Food, and at short notice the body was changed and the vehicle was engaged in the cartage of meat from Birkenhead and live stock from the various markets. The two illustrations show the vehicle before and after the transformation, the load in the ease of the platform body being 32 live sheep.
East Suffolk Roads.
According to the annual report of the county surveyor for East Suffelk, he total expenditure on 312 miles of maul roads was 230,779 or 298.67 per m:le compared wita 225,050 or 280.25 in. the previous twelve months. As in other parts of the country, the conditions obtaining have made it impossible to maintain the main roads of the county at pre-war standard, but the county surveyor adds that, with the exception of the main roads in the vicinity of aerodromes and camps, damaged Ey military traffic, the main roads have withstood the strain of recent years in a very satisfactory manner.
Piston Ring Measurements.
An ingenious device for measuring the external Or cylinder diameter of piston rings has just been planed on the market by -the British Piston Ring Co., Ltd., makers of Brico piston rings, Holbrook Lane, Coventry.
The Brice piston ring meter, as the makers call it, is a band of flexible steel, graduated in millimetres fern 50 to 150. One end of the tape is broad, and has a slot through which the graduated part slips. An indicating point at the side of the slot makes the reading point.
To use the tape, one end is screwed to the table, bench, or other convenient point, a screw and washer be:mg provided for this purpose, the piston ring to be measured is simply inserted in the loop of the tape, taking care to have the gap of ring in a position where it, can be seen. The tape is then pulled tight by means of finger ring until the gap of piston ring,is closed, the diameter being seen at the slot indicated in illustration. The whole operation takes but a few seconds, and the makers claim that it gives accurate results. The piston ring meter is sold, complete in box, at 7s. 6d., and a liberal discount is given to the trade. At present samples are-sent to the trade at 5s. 6d. each,, post free. Anyone who measures piston range will find this a most useful tool for the purpose.
Economy at Lambeth.
Lambeth Borough Council report that by the use of two T..affley motor sweeping machines it has effected, in 15 months, saving of 22,021. Statistics prepared by the Lambeth Borough engineer show that by means of the vacuum motor gully cleansing machine the cost of cleaning street gullies has been considerably reduced," the cost now being 8s. 7d. a ton compared with 12s. 3d. by the old method.
Belizole in Belgium.
The administrative council of the Belgian Automobile Club have formed a committee to consider the adoptionof bena zole as 1 national fuel. The use of banrole in Belgium is, of course, not unknown but this is the first, time a. motoring body has taken an active interest in the general use of benzole.
De Dion Deliveries.
De Dion Bouton, Ltd., inform us that they have a limited number of their 3f-ton and 5-ton commercial chassis for delivery at the London works within three or roar weeks from the date of order. The price for the 3f-ton chassis with tyres is 11,100, and for the 5-ton chassis with tyres £1,250. These two types of lorry were supplied in very large number by the French De Dion Co. to the French Government, and proved a very great success.
Birkenhead's Buses.
In his annual report the Birkenhead Corporation Tramways manager states that the motor omnibus service, powers for which were obtained in July, 1914, could not be inaugurated during the war. An order was placed as soon as possible after the signing of the Armistice with Leyland Motors, Ltd., for ten buses, and the delivery of the buses has now been commenced. A service between Rock Ferry and Moreton has been instituted, and as soon as arrangements can be completed with the county and district road authorities, other services will be run to the surrounding districts.
Smith's Stampings Report.
The report of the directors of Thomas Smith's Stamping Works, Ltd., Coventry, shows a profit for the year ended August 2nd, 1919, of £38,367. The profits for the previous two years, after making full provision for depreciation and all taxation liabilities, were for 1917' 4:26.691, and for 1918 £38,753. To the total of these profits for the three past years has to he added an amount brought forward from the 1916 accounts, making a total of :0108,967. Out of this sum interim dividends amounting to 255,000 have been paid, and out ofthe remaining available balance the following allocations have been made: payment of a final dividend of 3s. per share, which will absorb £22,500; transfer to reserve account 212,500; transfer to income tax reserve 26,800, leaving a balance of £12,167 to carry forward to the next account.
A Sub-divided Tipping Body.
The illustrations which we publish on this page show an interesting vehicle which has recently been supplied by the Albion Motor Gar Co., Ltd., to Mr. Arthur Garner, haulage contractor, of Kirkby, Notts. As will be seen from the illustrations, this vehicle consists of three compartments, two opening at the sides, and one at the rear, each compartment being fitted with a eloping floor and .a door hinged at the top. This vehicle is to be used for coal deliveries, and each compartment is designed to carry one ton of coal. Immediately the doors are released by the mechanism provided, the load carried in any compartment can be dumped.. A body of this description should be particularly useful for coal
merchants engaged in household deliveries, or for use in works where coal or other similar material has to be dumped in given quantities at various points.
Germany's Fuel Needs.
The German Minister of Public Economy stated recently that Germany could not rely on any petrol supply from the Galician or Rumanian oilfields, but was looking entirely to the United States for their requirements for some considerable period.
Motor Vehicle Insurance.
We think that most users of commercial motor vehicles fully realize the LCCASsay for insuring tho machines which they operate. By doing BO, the user safeguards himself against financial loss. One of the insurance companies which is
undertaking this class of insurance work is the Universal Automobile Insurance Co., Ltd., 13, Elizabeth Street., Belgravia, London, S.W. 1. This company issues policies indemnifying the insured against, liability to the public for personal injuries and damages to property caused by motor vehicles, and also covering risks of damage to the vehicle itself by accident or fire, and insuring against lose by theft. We strongly advise all uninsured users to take an early opportunity of protecting their interests in this direction.
It is rumoured that the Ford Co. is to build works at Aarhuus, in Denmark.
Local Proceedings.
The Chief Sanitary Inspector of East Ham reports delivery of a second motor dust van.
Fast Ham. Borough engineer is to get prices for an electric motor lorry for cartage purposes.
Manchester Corporation Tramways Committee has prepared estimates including £35,000 for 20 motorbuses at L1,756each, and g20,000 for petrol and other mechanical vehicles.
The L.C.C. has _secured the Treasury consent to the period of five years proposed for the repayment of £5,500 on capital account in respect of expense of six additional motor vehicles foruse in connection with the breakdown of traffic on the tramways.
Manchester Corporation have accepted the following tenders :—John Morris and Sons, Ltd., petrol motor turbine fire engine; British, Commercial Lorry and
g ineering Co., Ltd., one four-ton A.E.C. motor chassis with tip wagon complete ; Sentinel Wagon Works, Ltd., one Jive-ton steam tip wagon complete.
Dennis Bros., Ltd., the contractors for the supply of motor fire appliances, have written to the Layton Urban District Council submitting a clause for insertion in their contract, reserving their right to revise the contract price should any increases in wages or cost of materials take place during the progress of the work. The Council has permitted the contractors to insert such a clause.