WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels 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 rutss."—John Beattie Crozier.
Trolley-bus Depreciation.
After a conference with representatives of the Tramway Associations, the principal inspector of taxes has made an offer that the annual allowance for depreciation should be 15 per cent. on the written-down value of railless buses, in addition to obsolescence, the arrangement to continue for a period of five years. The Council of the Tramways and Light Railways Association has recommended its members to accept this offer.
Maidstone and District Profits.
The net profit of Tsfaidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., for the year ended March Ma last, after writing off depreciation to the extent of £35,815, totalled £44,388, this sum being increased to £49,253 by the amount brought in. A sum of £10,000 is being transferred to reserve, and a final dividend of 10 per cent. (making 15 per cent, for the year) is being paid, and after these deductions have been made the sum of £7,753 remains to be carried forward.
L.G.O.Co.'s Coaching Season Opens. . The programme for 1026, embracing motor-coach tours through London and the surrounding country and organized by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., and associated concerns (viz., the Underground Railways ; Thomas Tilling, Ltd.; the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd.; Raymond and Whitcomb Co.; London Coastal Coaches, Ltd. ; Keith Prowse and Co., Ltd.; and Pickfords, Ltd.), has now been decided, a certain amount of delay having been caused by the incidence of the strike.
There are three all-day tours, all in charge of experienced guides, whilst the fare for each includes luncheon at a high-class hotel.
Tour No. 1 embraces a run from London to Oxford and back, the halt at Oxford giving time for a visit to many of the colleges, ancient divinity schools, Bodleian Library and the cathedral. The return is made via Henley and Maidenhead, and the inclusive charge is 25s. per head.
The second-day tour embraces a run by Richmond, Stoke Poges and Burnham to Maidenhead, whence the party is conveyed by launch to Windsor, and, after lunch, is conducted over Windsor Castle, the return being made via Hampton Court, where, again, an opportunity is given for seeing this interesting building. The fare, including luncheon, is 17s. 6d.
The Oxford tour is run on Wednes day and Friday. The number two tour is run daily, but on Sunday the launch trip is omitted.
The third day tour is entitled "Seeing London;" and the complete itinerary includes a morning, afternoon and evening trip for 15s. Passengers, however, can take any one or two of the trips as well as all of them.
In addition to these tours, there are three half-day tours, one to Guildford and Newlands Corner, one to Windsor and Eton and one to Westerham and Seven Oaks, the fare for each being 6s.
Half-day and evening tours are also being operated during the season front suburban districts around London.
It is an interesting fact that since the London General Omnibus Co.'s coach tours were started in1920, no accidmt of any kind has occurred. Credit ter this must be given to the drivers and to the engineering staff, for the special care which in given to overhauling and maintaining the vehicles.
Ford Profits.
According to an advice from Detroit the auditor of the Ford Motor Co., giv sag evidence before the Federal Court recently, said that the net profits of the organization for the seven years frorr 1917 to 1924 amounted to $526,441,951 In the peak year of 1922 the profits weir( $115,797,361. This is the first time th( net figures have been available.
Morris's Export Manager.
In view of the large increase in the export business now transacted by Mor. ris Commercial Cars,Ltd., a separate export department. has been formed at the works at Soho, Birmingham, and this is under the supervision of a competent export manager and an experienced staff. The department is being controlled by Mr. C. F. Lawrence King, who now acts as general sales manager.
German Imports and Exports.
Returns just to hand show that 222 commercial motor vehicles, valued at £28,500, were imported into Germany during the three months ended March last, as compared with only 188 vehicles in the corresponding quarter of 1925. On the other hand there was a decline in the exports of German commercial vehicles from 209 in the first three months of last year to 200 (£112,800) in 1926. The bulk of the vehicles imported came from the United States and were of the kW-priced, light van order. At present Russia is the best market for German vehicles.
The Scammell Six-wheeler.
In the paragraph which appeared in a recent issue under the heading " Removing a Misunderstanding," in order to convey a correct impression we should have stated that G. Scarnmell and Nephew, Ltd., were the original manufacturers at Spitalfields and Watford of the Seammell six-wheeler. The Watford works were sold as a going concern in 1922, the designing staff responsible for the Seammell six-wheeler joining the new company, but, we are informed, G. Scammell and Nephew, Ltd., iire well placed to deal with inquiries for many makes ot six-wheeler. Municipal Leylands.
Further to the recent references which we have made to the names of municipalities which are buying Leyland products comes the news that other local authorities are exhibiting a preference for vehicles constructed by Leyland Motors, Ltd., Leyland, Lancs. Amongst these are the Rhyl Urban District Coun cil and the Selkirk Town Council, both of which are buying fire-engines, whilst the tramways authorities in Sheffield are purchasing six Leyland Lions and the Bury Corporation Tramways a bus chassis. The, Liverpool Fire Brigade has on order a 2-ton chassis and the Whiston Rural District Council a 6-ton tipping wagon.
The Chevrolet as a Railcar.
In America there is a railway known as the Sumpter-Choctaw Railroad, and on a section of this line the railway motor coach was recently put out of commission through a mishap, the engineers consequently being faced with partial cessation of the normal service. Amongst the vehicles owned by this company was a Chevrolet lorry, and it was decided to adapt this vehicle for service on the railway by fitting flanged 'wheels and attaching it to a large passenger coach. On the first trip which this improvized combination made the Chevrolet proved itself equal to maintaining the normal schedule at less than one-third of the cost of the motive power previously used, and stich satisfactory service has it given that it has now been adopted as standard equipment on this railway. In addition to the fact that it operated economically, the Chevrolet was Able to carry certain goods in the ordinary lorry body with which it was .equipped.
A Demongtration Mobile Workshop.
The Leicester County Council, through its agricultural education committee, has recently. placed in .service rural crafts' demonstration . niotorvan which opened its campaign, in the
Barrow-on-Soar district. It is a welt. known fact that the remarkable increase In motor traffic has spelt disaster to the village blacksmith, and one purpOse for which the van is being used is to place before such, rural Craftsmen suggestions for increasing their trade in new channels through the, installation of special machinery, including °my-acetylene-welding plant, thus Placing them in a position to execute repairs which would otherwise be tackled by garage proprie
tors and engineers fn the towns. , The van interior carries a large
variety of eqeipment and, as with the average workshop lorry, portions of the sides and rear are made to let down so that they form platforms upon which deinonstrations can be conducted. A special demonstrator has been engaged to tour the county with the vehicle.
India Office Buys a Roller.
Amongst the recent orders received by Clayton Wagons, Ltd., Abbey Works, Lincoln, is one from the India Office for one of their latest-type tandem steam road rollers.
Road Signs Visible by Night and
Day.
We are informed that by arrangement With the Berkshire CountyCouncil, Mur-Ray Signs, Ltd.; Standish Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, have signposted the road from Reading to Oxford with Mur-Ray signs. These signs, being studded with the company's patent reflecting units, are not only legible during the day, as with any ordinary type of warning sign, but, in addition, can also be read from a long distance at night by the aid of the lights of approaching ye
hides. The signs which have recently .been installed on the stretch of road referred to face in the direction of Reading so that they are visible only to road users travelling towards Oxford.
Sheffield to Blackpool.
Mr. H. Ardern, of Sheffield, has been appointed cleansing superintendent of Blackpool. There were 68 applicants for the position. Mr. Ardvn served his apprenticeship as an engineer at Cammell Laird's Shipbuilding .Works, after which he was four years in the Indian Army as transport officer. For the past five years he has occupied a prominent position in the cleansing department of the Sheffield Corporation.
Blackpool Bus Extensions. .
Although approved by the Blackpool Tramways Committee, proposals for a direct motorbus service between Lancaster and Blackpool have been viewed with disfavour by the watch committee. It had been stipulated by the tramways committee that there should be a regular and efficient service as well as a minimum charge of 7d. in respect of passengers using such buses between Blackpool and Poulton.
The tramways committee has accepted a. tender for the supply of four S.D. Freighter runabouts for use in the public :park, subject to the, seating arrangements _ }atm; satisfactory to the tram ways manager. .
Plymouth's Bus Profits.
The accounts of the Plymouth Corporation for the year ended March 31st last show a profit of £3,569 on the municipal bus services. The receipts totalled £38,907, equivalent to 14.222d. per bus-mile. So far as 'expenditure is concerned, £9,590 was disbursed under the heading of maintenance and tepairs, £12,225 being absorbed in traffic expenses and £6,182 in the purchase of petrol. General expenses are given at £1,436 and interest and sinking fund at £5,904. The total expenditure amounted to 12.917d. per bus-mile, the net surplus being 1.305d. per bus-mile.
A Guaranteed Repairers' Scheme.
The ,Institute of the Motor Trade, 157, Gt. Portland Street, London, W.1, has just issued a list of the companies who are registered under its guaranteed automobile repairers' scheme. The list is arranged alphabetically under placenames, so that the reader can learn at a glance whether there is a guaranteed repairer in any particular district.
The scheme, 'which has been in operation for some time, is designed to pro vide motor-vehicle users with the names of repairers from whom they will secure good service. The scheme can only be employed by those garages and service stations in which all repair work is carried out under the direct supervision of a member of the Institute. The list, to which we have referred may be obtained free on application to the secretary of the Institute at the address given above.
A Bus Station for Durham.
The Durham City Council has decided to erect a motorbus station at an estimated cost of £3,600. For several years the city has been one of the largest Centres of motorbus traffic in the north country, for, in addition to numerous services operated to and from the city by the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., and the United Automobile • Services, Ltd., numerous smaller undertakings work services to practically all parts of the surrounding countryside within a radius of 10 to 12 miles. The need for adequate and defined standing space has been apparent for some time and, in supporting the project, Conn. J. W. Wood claimed that the very existence of the city depended upon the influx of people from the outlying districts. It was, he contended, the duty of the corporation to provide adequate facilitiesto cope with bus traffic. The site selected in John Street is a most suitable ene and is favoured by the police. Tilling-Stevens and Pyrene Arrangement.
An interesting development has recently taken place in connection with the motor fire appliances manufactured by Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., of Maidstone. These appliances will, in future, be marketed in association with the Pyrene Co., Ltd., 9, Grosvenor Gardens, London, S.W.1.
A complete range of motor fire appliances has been developed by TillingStevens Motors, Ltd., these including fire-engines of capacities varying from 200 g.p.m. to 600 g.p.m., trailer pumps of 150 g.p.m. and 250 g.p.m., and all classes of utility vehicle for fire-brigade use. In addition, there is the TillingStevens all-power turntable ladder , operated by electric motors. This appliance has demonstrated its capabilities to a number of the principal firebrigades and it is of British make.
A Useful Handbook.
The 1926-27 edition of the guide and handbook issued by the Royal Automobile Club has just been published; The handbook is a very useful compendium for road-vehicle users, and, in addition to giving the appointed and listed hotels and the names of repairers and agents in nearly 2,000 towns and villages in Great Britain and Ireland, indicates features of interest in the vicinity, official parking places, and embodies 60 street plans of the larger towns showing the main through routes. It also contains a 32-page coloured road atlas, particulars of ferries, toll-gates, and gradients and lengths of well-known hills. Useful articles on motor laws and regulations, statistical and conversion tables, rules of the road, driving and police signals and much other useful information also form part of its contents.
The handbook runs to over 601. pages, and its price to members and associate-members of the Royal Automobile Club is is. 6d. post free, or, to the public, 4s. post free.
A Carrying Company's Anniversary.
The sixth anniversary of the founding of the Crow Carrying Co., Ltd., of Barking, London, E., was celebrated recently when the staff and employees were entertained at a social gathering by the governing director, Mr. Latimer Crow, and his co-director, Mr. Herbert Crow.
Founded by Mr. Latimer Crow in 1920 with three vehicles, the business has expanded to such an extent that the fleet now comprises over 25 vehicles which are used for the transport of liquids in bulk and general merchandise. The company's activities are many-sided and are carried on from a haulage depot at Barking, petroleum depots at Barking and Inworth, near Kelvedon, and from a shipping department at 4, Rangoon Street, London, E.C. A regular biweekly service has been maintained from London to Northampton for the past five years. Important Glasgow Bus Development.
A new company has just been formed under the title of the Glasgow General Omnibus and Motor Services, Ltd., with a capital of 000,000, to operate a large fleet of motorbuses from Glasgow to the outlying districts. The directors of the
company are Sir Robert Wilson nod Messrs. G. S. Coats, C. C. Clark, G. Stewart, T. K. Fair, A. S. Jardin and W. H. Cox.
The company have acquired for the purpose of their activities a site at the corner of Waterloo Street and Wellington Street as their headquarters, and here they intend to erect an up-to-date depot which will serve not only as a garage but also as a bus station. For the latter purpose four large loading and unloading platforms will be constructed, whilst there will be a waiting room and other accommodation for passengers.
It is said that the company have purchased the site for £60,000.
Important Thornycroft Orders.
One of the most interesting orders recently received by John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., is from the Director of Army Contracts, and is for eight Hathi four-wheel-drive tractors with War Office equipment. Another order of importance is that placed on behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia Defence Department for a type J chassis and five type Al 30-cwt. lorries. Ten type J tank wagons are being built for the National Benzoic Co., Ltd., and six vehicles are being supplied to the London and North Eastern Railway Co., four of them being the type Al, in which the manufacturers' long chassis is used, and two type Al subsidy models.
The company tell us that, with the exception of an order received from Venture, Ltd., for two Autocrat 20seater buses, every order received during the third week of May was from a user already running Thornycrofts.
A Curious Case.
An Ulster bus owner was recently prosecuted on the charge that he had permitted his vehicle to be overcrowded. He was convicted on a different charge, to wit, that he had not paid the amount of licence revenue that would have warranted him in carrying the number of passengers on board at the time in question. It is said that an appeal has been lodged.
Local Proceedings.
Ripon Corporation has authorized the purchase of a motor mower at a cost of Cheltenham Corporation is arranging for demonstrations of mechanical vehicles.
Bradford Corporation has decided to invite quotations for the supply of 15 motor omnibuses.
Shipley UrbanDistrict Council has authorized the purchase of ac motor lorry for the gas department.
Bradford Corporation has authorized the engineer to purchase a motor road raller at a cost of about £600.
Wakefield Corporation has decided to invite tenders for the supply of a motor ambulance at a cost not exceeding .£500.
Oldham Corporation has accepted the tender of the Oldham Motor Co. for the supply of a motor lorry for the cleansing department.
Newcastle Education Committee has decided to purcha:se four motor vehicles for the conveyance of school-children at a cost of about £600 each.
Merthyr Corporation is considering the provision of a mutorbas service to Aberdare and is. inquiring if the local authority will agree to its inauguration.
The tramways committee of the Bradford Corporation recommends the provision of a service of motorbuses on the Allerton route, instead of reconstructing the tramway track.
Stoke Corporation has accepted the tender of the Cathnor Motor Works, Shepherd's Bush, London, at £1,216, for the supply of three motor chassis for the cleansing department.
The works committee of the Portsmouth Corporation recommends acceptance of the tender of Portsmouth Commercial Motors, Ltd., for the supply of four 1-ton Guy motor lorries.
The tramways committee of the York Corporation recommends acceptance of the tenders of Leyland Motors, Ltd. for the supply of two motorbuses at £1,216 each, and Karrier Motors, Ltd., for one bus at 11,070.
Bradford Corporation has passed a resolution calling upon the tramways committee to consider fully and report within four months upon the question of passeuger transport, with regard to its convenience and cost.
The tramways committee of the Bradford Corporation is to promote a Bill for the purpose of obtaining powers to run motorbus services outside the city and to enter into through-running arrangements with local authorities or companies.
At a recent meeting of the Tavistoek Rural Council a letter was read from the Tavistock Urban Council agreeing to pay one-half of the cost (£785) of a new fire-engine to serve both rural and urban districts. A resolution was passed approving of the provision of • such an engine.
A committee of the Torquay Corporation which has been considering the question of co-ordination with regard to mechanical transport vehicles has agreed that the departments concerned should, when requiring repairs and renovations, obtain an estimate of the cost of the works from the borough surveyor's department, with a view, if possible, to that department carrying out the work if it can be undertaken more economically than by private garages and carried out as efficiently. A Po-den 6-ton wagon is being purchased by the Oswestry Rural District Council.
Wortley (Yorks) Rural District Council is buying a motor ambulance for £302.
Oldham Corporation has accepted the tender of Messrs. S. F. Bowser and Co. for the supply of five petrol tanks and pumps for the new bus garage.
' The Belford and Abowick local authorities have decided to co-operate with the object of purchasing an upto-date 35 h.p. fire-engine at a cost of about 11,150.
The streets committee of the City of London Corporation recommends acceptance of the tender of the Laffiy (England) Co., Ltd., at £650 for the supply of a motor sweeper.
Bombay Corporation has made a contract with the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., for the supply of giant solid tyres daring the year 1926-27 at rates which will involve a total aggregate cost of Rs. 7,193.
Wandle Valley, Joint Hospital Board invites tenders for two motor ambulances of British manufacture. The bodies have to be of the modern feverambulance type. Further particulars can be obtained from the Clerk to the Board, 60, Brighton Road, Purley, Surrey.
Attractive Saloon Buses.
The illustrations which we publish on this page show types of bus which are suitable for municipal service. One is a CM-type Daimler carrying a 30-seater body by Messrs. Strachan and Brown, Wales Farm Road, London, W.3. The vehicle has a wheelbase of 16 ft. and is shod with Dunlop pnuernatic tyres of 36-in. by 6-in. dimensions. Tim Strachan and Brown patent drop windows areqfitted on each side of the body, the seats of which are of the spring-back type upholstered in leather. The vehicle has been supplied
to the Manchester Corporation, and certainly possesses a distinctive appearance. It is one of a fleet of nine vehicles ordered by the authorities for passenger work.
The other vehicle is an A.E.C. Model 413 bus _which has recently been purchased by a company in •Abertillery, Mon., although it is equally suitable for municipal work. The bus is of the low-loading type, the frame being dropped behind the rear axle to permit a low entrance step to be employed. The interior is provided with 30 seats of the semi-bucket type and 'straps are fitted for the convenience of standing passengers. The vehicle is of the forward-control. type, the driver being protected in an enclosed cab. A Merthyr Bus Appeal.
At a meeting of the Merthyr Watch Committee a letter was read from Messrs. J. Jones, Pughe and Davey, solicitors, Pontypridd, intimating that the Imperial Motor Co., Abercynon, intended to appeal to the Ministry of Transport against the curtailing of their route for the two omnibuses plying for hire between Treharris and Pontypridd. The town clerk was authorized to take the necessary steps in support of the committee's action.
Building-up A.E.C. Fleets.
Several substantial orders have recently been received by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., Walthamstow, London, E.17, one of them being for 14 Model 204 24-ton chassis for the London and North Eastern Railway Co. The company are also supplying various numbers of chassis of a similar capacity to Wolsey, Ltd. ; Burns Bros. (London), Ltd. ; Messrs. J. C. West, and Messrs. Barclay Leslie. Amongst overseas orders is one for a number of Model 506 4-5-ton chassis received from Messrs. Findlay, Durham and Brodie, of Cape Town.
Receipts Up by 25 Per Cent.
A highly satisfactory report was presented by the directors of Grey Cars, Ltd., at the annual meeting of the shareholders of the company held at Torquay a few days ago, over which the chairman of directors, Mr. R. H. Grist, presided. In moving the adoption of the report, which stated that, after allowing for depreciation of motor coaches, plant, etc., the directors were in a position to recommend a dividend of 10 per cent. on the cumulative preference shares for the year, the chairman said that, in spite of keen competition the company have had to meet, they had been able to increase their receipts by 25 per cent.
The report and balance sheet were adopted and Messrs. J. Page and W. P. Harding re-elected directors. A vote of thanks was passed to the managing director, Mr. W. R. Cutchey, and the company's staff for their loyal services during the year.
A New Dunlop Depot.
The Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., have recently opened a depot at Plymouth, which is designed to serve practically the whole of the counties of Devon and Cornwall. It occupies the site of the former Employment Exchange in Manor Street, and is in charge of Mr. H. Dudley Parsons, a former advertising manager of the company. It has been provided especially to meet the needs of traders other than private customers.
"The Book of the Ford " : Revised Edition.
The tenth and revised edition of "The Original Book of the Ford" has just been introduced by Temple Press Ltd. It contains everything that a Ford owner or user should know on driving and economical maintenance. There are 13 chapters, 225 pages and the book is profusely illustrated. A review of the book appears on another page. The information covers the present and earlier models and also the range of Ford commercial vehicles. The price is 2s. 6d. net.
An Agricultural Award.
Among the silver medal awards for new implements at the recent Royal Dublin Society's Agricultnral Show was one to the International Harvester Co. of Great Britain, Ltd., for a McCormickDeering power-drive tractor binder—a motor harvester.
Parking Charges at Hastings.
Hastings Watch Committee recommends fixir'e-• the following charges for the use of the Fishmari.et parking station :
For each char-d-banes or other motor vehicle other than the vehicles specified below, 2s. per day.
For each motorcar or vehicle having a seating capacity not exceeding six persons, 1s. per day.
For each motorcycle, with or without a sidecar, (Id. per day.
Equipment for Garage Engineers.
Mann Egerton and Co., Ltd., 5, Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, have just issued a trade catalogue which deals with various classes of garage and engineers' equipment which they supply. This book should prove of considerable value to garage proprietors and to those large users who run and own maintenance and garage departments.
References are made in the book to a pressure-cleansing tank, oil cabinets, garage repair ramp, engine and gearbox stand, a collapsable breakdown jib and other interesting appliances and accessories. A drawing of the equipment layout of a model repair shop clearly shows the installation and arrangement of the various appliances.
Compulsory Insurance.
Manchester Watch Committee has decided that in the event of the Minister of Transport making any proposal to enforce the insurance of all mechanically driven vehicles, the chairman, deputychairman, and the chief constable be empowered to give such proposal whatever support is considered desirable, and that the Association of Municipal Corporations be requested to support such proposal.