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The wheels of wealth will be siowed by all diti7culties

15th September 1925
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

of traltSPOri at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it rams,"—jolm Beattio Crozier.

A Bus Fleet for Rochdale.

At a recent meeting of the Rochdale Town Council it was decided to build a large garage at the tramway sheds to accommodate a number of motor buses which the corporation intends to purchase. The pfoposed garage will hold 12 buses. It was further decided that the bus sub-committee should visit the forthcoming Motor Show at Olympia to see what vehicles would he suitable.

As the buses are intended for areas outside Rochdale, application to run buses is to be made to the Norden, Wardle. Littleborough, Whitworth and Milnrow district councils. Rochdale has already tramway routes to all these places with the exception of Wardle, where there is a private bus service. The Ribble company's buses run from Norden to Rochdale, but are compelled to charge twopence more than the tram fare for the journey.

A few days ago Rochdale's application to run buses at Norden was before the Norden Council, when there was Considerable opposition to it. Some councillors stated that Rochdale had had a monopoly with its trams long enough and it was not desirable that they sbonld have a bus monopoly. The application was referred back.

As well as purchasing buses Rochdale has decided to spend i11,000 on new tramcars.

The Russian Reliability Trial. Owing to the heavy rains in the Northern Caucasus the 51 lorries which have been taking part in the reliability tour from Leningrad to Tiflis are proceeding from the latter place to Vladihavkas, whence they are being transported by rail to Charkoff, and will then continue by road to Moscow. The trial itself has occupied some 22 days, and the vehicles have covered about 3,106 miles.

Buses for Belfast.

The tramways committee of the Belfast Corporation met a few days ago to consider the question of running motorbuses, and it was decided to continue the discussion on the matter at the next meeting.

There may be an opportunity here for enterprising British manufacturers.

Encouraging the Electric Vehicle. The New York Edison Co. have recently taken a step further to encourage , the use of battery-electric vehicles in the States. They have arranged to supply charging boards and other battery-charaing requisites on the deferredpayment plan, consisting of ft first deposit, followed by payments spread over 12 months.

Motor Lorry Demonstration in Australia.

Six aifferent makes of motor lorries took part in a demonstration recently arranged by the Northam Road Board in Western Australia. They were the Karrier, International, Reo, Vulcan, Chevrolet and Commer. The route was specially chosen so as to test both nulling and braking power, but all thc machines negotiated the hills without difficulties. Considerable interest was evinced in the demonstrations and the opinion was expressed generally that the emploYment of motor vehicles would greatly facilitate the work of local gov= erning bodies in transporting road material over long distances.

Representation Wanted.

We are given to understand by the manufacturers of one of the best-known commercial-vehicle chassis constructed on the Continent, its good name extend

iug throughout this country, that they are anxious to get into touch with a well-established concern which could advantageously handle the sales of the chassis and vehicles in Great Britain. The concern is already represented here with its own office, but it feels that it could do better by placing the sales in the hands of an established firm of distributors. We shall be very-pleased to forward to them any letters on the subject addressed to the Editor of this journal.

Mr. Burford in the Chair.

The new chairman of the commercial vehicle (petrol) committee of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in succession to Mr. Frank Churchill. (late of J. and E. Hall, Ltd.), who has occupied that position for 10 years, is Mr. H. G. Burford, governing director of H. G. Burford and Co., Ltd., manufacturers of the Burford lorry and omnibus. Mr. Burford has been a prominent member of the Society front its inception and has filled the position of vice-chairman of the Council of the Society.

Axle-weight Prosecutions.

Questions affecting the distribution of loads on heavy motor vehicles were discussed at Chester Castle Sessions, on September 3rd, when a series of summonses -were heard in respect of excessive axle weights.

Mr. T. Moore 'Dutton, who prosecuted for the Cheshire County Council, asked the Bench to support it in preventing the abuse of the roads by carrying excessive weights. Overloading meant a considerable saving to the owners in carrying capacity, but in so doing they not only put extra pressure on the roads, but deprived the Revenue of a certain amount of duty, which should go to the upkeep of the roads.

The defence in one case pleaded that it was merely a matter of distribution of the load. If one of the defendants had taken a ton off his wagon and put it on the trailer, on the date in question, aprosecution might have been avoided.

• Judge Whitmore Richards commented on the defence that, if one ran a trailer, then that weight might be distributed practically in any way, so long as the total of the lorry, plus the trailer, did not exceed 22 tons in all. There was -a specific article, article II. in the Heavy Motor Car Order of 1904, which said that in effect, and dealt with the position of a lorry drawing a trailer, and made it a separate offence, as he (His Honour) understood, if the 22 tons were exceeded in that case. In the present case the lorry was hauling a trailer, and, had the total weight exceeded 22 tons, an offence would have been committed, and a penalty would have been payable :under that particular Article, but these proceedings were not uncles that article at all. They were under Article 5 and Articles 12 and 13, and there was no question SS to the outcome. There were two offences with which defendants were charged, and the actual -facts were admitted—that the permitted weights were exceeded in both instances. In his judgment, those constituted two separate and distinct offence; and penalties ought, to be exacted in respect of each.

Pines were imposed in respect of the front and rear axles.

Lubricating the Sentinel.

Number 20 (second edition) of the Gargoyle Technical Series concerns the correct lubrication of Sentinel steam wagons. This is dealt with in a most thorough manner, is well illustrated, and certainly forms a compendium of the greatest value to users of vehicles of this make. It can be obtained free from the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., Caxton House, Westminster, London, S.W.1.

London's Covered-in Buses.

It ill pfobable that the covered-in double-decked buses, for which the travelling public in London have been looking for so long will be seen on the streets within a week or so, if the type put forward by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd, is officially approved.

Newcastle Corporation Buses.

The Newcastle Corporation is negotiating for the purchase of a motorbus service which is at present being operated by Emerson Bros., of Throckley; operating between Cross Street, Newcastle, and Ilexham, also Newcastle and Ileddon-on-the-Wall. So soon as negotiations are completed areU the various perniitsl received from 'urban districts on the routes, it is intended to corn: mission for service a fleet of the new Blue buses. They will be fitted with pneumatic tyres, and will comply with the recently published recommendations for public service vehicles. The Blue buses are already familiar on certain 'routes in the district.

Breaking Up Concrete Foundations.

The query is often raised why in the rebuilding of our main roads, particularly in London, it is found necessary entirely to break up the concrete foundations, although to the uninitiated these appear to be in quite good condition. The reason given recently by the borough surveyor of St. Marylebone is that many of these foundations are not only very old, but have been repeatedly patchdd with lime concrete and are quite inadequate for modern loads and speed. Main roads which have had the foundations rebuilt have given no trouble, whereas others in which the foundations were merely patched and new surfacing used are constantly giving dissatisfaction.

It is claimed that once laid the new foundations should last for 50 years, if not unduly interfered with.

New Road Services by G.W.R.

Road motor services have been established by the Great Western Railway Company in the Wrexham district. Journeys are now made between Wrexham and Brymbo, Wrexham anti Pentre Broughton, Wrexham and Llay, via Rhosddu and Rhos Robin and Wrexham and Rossett.

In connection with certain of their services to Llay and Rossett, circular tours are run, passing through Gresford, Marford, Rossett, Llay Main, Cefn-y-Bedd, Gwersyllt and Rhos Robin ; also in the reverse directions. Cheap return tickets (as well as the usual single bookings) are issued between the principal points, and passengers have the option of returning by train instead of by road.

Before the war, the G.W.R. Co. ran motor services between Wrexham and Bolt. The new services will be run to a scheduled time-table.

Motor Vehicle Production in America.

The United States Department of Commerce announces that 39,211 commercial vehicles were produced during July, of which 37,431 were made in the United States and 1,780 in Canada. This compares with 38,042 in June.

The Braking of the 2-ton Saurer.

The question of the braking of the commercial vehicle has come into such prominence recently that it will be interesting to refer to the method adopted in the ease of the new type 2-ton Sauter which will be exhibited at Olympia.

This has, in addition to the friction brake operating on the ream wheels; front-wheel brakes inter-connected with a pedal brake on the back wheels ;

further, the chassis is equipped with the patent engine brake as supplied to existing types, so that the vehicle has four brakes in all. The reason for fitting front-wheel brakes in addition to those utilized on the heavier models is that the speed of the lighter chassis is so much higher.

Another Yorkshire in Leeds.

It is of interest to note that the Leeds Corporation has just ordered a further Yorkshire steam wagon. This is the 15th wagon of the same make supplied to the municipality since the year 1915 by the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co., Pepper Road, Hunslet, Leeds—certainly not a case of the treatment usually considered as being meted out to the prophet in his own country.

Electric Vehicles in France.

1A's a result of the activities of the Sbciete. pour le Developpement des Vehicules Electriques—an association of vehicle manufacturers, electric supply, and other interested undertakings—a marked development is taking place in the use of electrical industrial vehicles in France. One result is seen in the greater lfacilities that are now beimg provided for the recharging of vehicle batteries, there being now fifteen stations in the Paris area alone where this class of work is undertaken.

Taxicabs in Poland.

.r.k report from Warsaw draws attention to the rapid increase in sales of motor vehicles for taxi purposes in Poland. In Warsaw alone there have been over 1,000 registrations of taxis since January 1st, most of them in the

last three months. Applications for taxi licences now number more than 1,500. The vehicle i; bought for taxicab use include a large number of touring cars, but municipal regulations require that, after October 1st, they shall have taxicab bodies.

Reducing Accident Risks.

At a. meeting of the Bolton Watch Committee a letter was read from the secretary of the Bolton and District United Trades Council stating that the delegates to such council are seriously concerned about the heavy toll of life and limb that is Continually being taken as a result of accidents caused by me chanically driven machines and making the following suggestions as remedial and preventive measures, viz.:— (a) To make it compulsory.upon every driver of a mechanically driven machine to submit to a physical and practical ability, test before such person is allowed to drive a machine in any street or road within the borough.

(b) That id order to reduce the danger of reckless and dangerous driving, the speed of any vehicle shall not exceed 12 miles, i.e., that allowed to corporation tramcars.

(c) That the corporation investigate the merits of the various road surfaces and adopt a reliable road substance to prevent skidding.

(d) That a practical demonstration of ability be given by any applicant before a driver's licence can be granted. ,

The committee informed the Trades Council that the committee has no power to require compliance with what is suggested,in items (a) and (d) above mentioned and that the speed mentioned in item (b) at which it is stated tramcars may travel is incorrect.

Additions to the L.C.C. Fire Brigade.

We learn that the L.C.C. Fire Brigade authorities have just placed an order with Dennis Bros., Ltd., Guildford, for six escape tenders and five 500-600 gallon motor fire-engines incorporating the Dennis 60 h.p. chassis. Irish Free State Buses.

We learn that a new Irish motorbus company is in course of formation. It is believed that its activities will be on a large scale. One. of the first routes which it. is proposed to develop is that between Dublin and Bray; and arrangements.are already being made for suit= able garages at both places. A project is'also on foot for the development of motor services in the South of' Ireland. Several chassis for completion have already arrived, and*;amongst thosel interested in the development-is said to be a prominent, member of the Senate.

It is reported that Mr. Maguire, formerly general manager of the Dublin and South-Eattern Railway, has been appointed secretary to the company who are to run the Dublin-Bray service.

An Appeal for Pneumatics.

Complaints of damage to roads by motorbuses were made at the September meeting of the N-orthwich Urban Council. ,To these the North-Western Road Car Co. replied that definite instructions had been given to drivers as to the ,speed to be observed in passing through the town. As to substituting pneumatic tyres on their vehicles they were now engaged in making tests with a certain number of vehicles, but until the result was ascertained they were not in a position to say whether the number of vehicles so equipped should be increased.

The Council decided to ask the Company to give an undertaking that all their vehicles accustomed to ply for hire within the Council's district should be equipped with pneumatic tyres within three months.

M. of T. Ruling on Number Plates. Attention has been drawn to the use upon motor vehicles of number plates consisting of letters and numbers riveted to a plate, and it has been suggested that such devices do not comply

with the requirements of Provision 3 of the Fourth Schedule to the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations, 1924, which require that the letters and numbers shall not be capable of being detached from the plate.

The object of the Regulation was to prevent the use of_spring clips, nuts and bolts, sliding letters in frames,' and other devices permitting symbols to be readily transposed, and this object is substantially secured by a plate from which the numbers and• letters, being securely riveted, cannot be detached without the use of considerable violence. Therefore, it has been agreed not to take too rigid a view of the terms of the Regulation, but to administer, it with discretion..

Demonstrating the Dennis Cesspool Emptier.

A Dennis motor vacuum tank cesspool emptier was recently demonstrated at Orange Court, under the direction of the Bromley Rural District Council, and gave highly satisfactory results. It is claimed that this apparatus is capable of emptying cesspool refuse at the rate of 1,000 gallons in five minutes, 'and entirely obviates any Odour.

Motorbuses in Sweden.

We hear from Stockholm that the Central Omnibus Co. of that city, the bulk of the shares of which are now held by the Stockholm Tramways Co., has ordered six additional motorbuses for a new service between the Swedish capital and Rarlaplan.

We have received from Willmott's Motors. Ltd., Woodger Road, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush, London, W.12, a copy of their special September sale list, which includes many vehicles of British and foreign make, which are being sold at reduced prices until September 30th, and are stated to carry the makers' guarantee.

The Australian Tariff Bill.

Several important changes are proposed in the new Australian Tariff Bill introduced into the House of Representatives on September 2nd. Chassis (not including rubber tyres) unassembled, which were formerly 5 per cent., 71 per cent. and 10 per cent, for the British, Intermediate and General Tariffs respectively, are now, free, 7-1 percent. and 123 per cent. Assembled chassis, formerly 7iper cent., 10 per cent. and 12-1. per cent, respectively, are now 5. per cent., 121 per cent. and 171 per cent.

The value of the present wide preference to British goods will be increased by over £500,000, thus showing in a practical manner the Commonwealth Government's appreciation of the action of the Imperial Government in extending a further preference to Australian products. We would like to see this preference for British vehicles followed by all the other British Dominions.

More Street Congestion.,

The difficult problem of street congestion ‘at Swansea was referred to by the Chief Constable (Mr. It. W. Roberts) at the last meeting of the watch committee. He said that he was trYing to "stave off the evil day," but feared that streams of traffic would have to be held up periodically at Wind Street Bridge and other important congested centres, as is the custom in other large towns. He thought traffic control might be facilitated if motorists would always proceed past police-controlled points unless given a signal to stop.;

• Outside Motorbus Services.

.,Reference was made at the September meeting of the Burnley Town Council to the report on the new Burnley Corporation Bill, and to the opposition to their application for powers to run motorbuses outside the borough.

Councillor Lees said reasonable steps were taken to meet the wishes of the Todmorden Corporation. The latter would not agree to any proposal which meant the Burnley Corporation 'buses going past the borough boundary on a route the Todmorden authority claimed as their route. He thought the public would recognise that Burnley's case was a very strong one, and that the evidence was good and evidently sufficient to convince the committee of the House of Commons and the House of Lords that there was a case for the Bill.

Bus v. Railway in Denmark.

In the course of the development of motorbus traffic in Denmark during the past ten years, the competition between bus owners and the railway authorities has grown keener and keener, and in many eases has resulted in rendering the public transport business unprofitable for both parties.

At a conference held recently be tween representatives of the bus owners, the private railway companies and the State railway authorities, it was stated that there are at present in Denmark about 500 buses in operation over a combined road service considerably in excess of twice the length of all Danish railways. It is expected that the conference will result in an arrangement whereby the bus routes will serve as feeders to the railways. Patent Law in Ireland.

Valuable interests will be involved in the changes arising from the new patent laws which will shortly come into force in the Irish Free State, and our attention has been drawn to these by Rayner and Co., Patent Agents, of 5, Chancery Lane, London, -W.C.2.

On the passing of the new Act, all

British patents, trade marks and registered designs will automatically cease to function in Saorstat Eireann. British patents, however, granted before December 6th, 1921, will be continued upon the Irish Register if a ,copy of the patent be lodged in Ireland and renewal Ices are paid as in England.

British patents applied for subsequent to this date and before the passing, of the Act will be granted subject to a search in the Irish Register. Should application be made for a patent without reference to any earlier British patent, then it must be accompanied by the report of a registered patent agent based upon a search for novelty in the British records.

A Bean for Malta, ' A Bean 20-25 cwt. commercial vehicle has recently been supplied by A. Harper, Sons and Bean, Ltd., Dudley, to the Electricity Supply Board in Malta. The vehicle is equipped with a special body to enable not only a number of workmen to be carried, but also a large quantity of electric supplies, to enable a working party to be quickly transported to any part of the island in connection with electricity supply extension. Provision is made for the carrying of ladders on the sides of the vehicle.

Swedish Imports.

The official returns just issued show that no fewer than 327 commercial vehicles, valued at approximately £23,100, were imported into Sweden during June last, as contrasted with only 245 vehicles (20,830) in the same month a year ago. As will be gathered from the figures, th bulk of the machines are of a light, cheap type.

Thornycroft 30-cwt. Lorries in Use Overseas.

The accompanying photograph shows a Thorayeroft 30-cwt. lorry in the service of the Government Stores Department of the Durban Corporation. The chassis employed is the Thornycroft Al type introduced some months ago, and subsequently accepted under the War Department subsidy scheme, although, of course, this subsidy is not available to owners overseas.

The War Department tests, however, were particularly severe, and the result is to hall-mark the chassis as being eminently suitable for overseas service,

and acteially many have already been supplied through orders received from the company's overseas representatives, in most cases the bodies being built locally, thus effecting considerable saving freightage.

Combining Utility with a Road Improvement.

By the erection of a petrol station at a corner in Addiseombe, Turner's Motor Transpint Services. have not only done away with a dangerously obscured turn'ingfrom a side road into a main thoroughfare, but have provided a useful equipment. The corner has now been rounded, and the high brick wall which was previously there removed. Testing a Commercial Fuel.

We were recently afforded an opportunity of testing a sample of the standard P.S. commercial spirit supplied by Phillips and Son, 62, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1. At the time we did not have a commercial vehicle at our personal disposal, so we decided to give the fuel a rather more drastic test by utilizing it on the email -engine of a light car—although with some dubiety, for we had on this particular vehicle quite given up the use of cheap grades of fuel, as the engine did not run well on them, and starting was often extremely difficult. Apart from this, one spirit which was purchased as guaranteed No. 1 at is. 3d. per gallon, proved so vile that the occupants of the vehicle were nearly stifled by noxious fumes. However, we filled up with four gallons of P.S. spirit from a large tank wagon which was making its normal rounds, and hoped for the best.

Our first Impresons on filling were quite good, as the spirit, although having a alight odour of paraffin, was perfectly clear ; starting from cold was also effected without any difficulty and without even flooding the carburVter, the only difference in this respect that we noted, as compared with a No. 1 petrol selling at the standard retail price, was that on several occasions, after starting up, the engine died out and had to be started again, but con. tinned to run well after this.

However, the test proved very satisfactory, and the P.S. spirit gave a mileage of 41 to the gallon in town and suburban driving, although up to that time the average for such driving had 'ken slightly under 40 with the popular fuel previously used.

• A very slight odour was perceptible, but this was in no way obnoxious. It was also noted that there was a slight blue haze in the exhaust which was not caused by excess of lubricating oil.

In hill-climbing and general running the power developed appeared to be quite as good as that with more expensive fuels—fn fact, we found that there is little to choose between this spirit and those more expensive.

Local Proceedings.

Stretford Urban District Council has aocepted the tender of the Albion Motor Co., Ltd., for the supply of a motor vehicle at £860.

Wakefield Watch Committee has refused to grant an application from Messrs. W. R. and P. Bingley to run a service between Wakefield and Hemsworth.

Market Harborough Urban District Council is asking the Urban District Councils Association to endeavour to secure uniformity with regard to regulations for motor buses.

Whitstable Urban District Council is asking the Ministry of Transport to take action to prevent the use of public roads by heavy road locomotives calculatbd to cause undue damage.

Wakefield Watch Committee has granted an application from the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., Belle Isle, Wakefield, to increase their present service between Wakefield and Flockton, viz., by running a half-hour service.

Northampton Corporation Tramways Committee have accepted the tender of J. I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., for chass.is for two motor buses at £533 each, and the tender of Messrs. York, Ward and Rowlett for two bus bodies at 1260 each.

At a meeting of the Peterborough Watch Committee an application by G. Prentice, of West End, Whittlesey, for a licence for a motor omnibus was considered, and upon the recommendation of the motor mechanic appointed by the Corporation to examine vehicles for which a licence is applied, the licence was not granted.

Eastbourne Corporation is considering a further development of the motor bus department.

Oldham Corporation Tramways Committee recommends the erection of a motorbus depot on a site in Lee Road.

Harwich Corporation fire brigade committee recommends the purchase of a motor fire-engine at a cost of about £950.

Sheffield Corporation Tramways Committee has authorized the tramways manager to purchase five additional single-deck motor omnibuses.

Warwick Corporation has granted a licence to the Midland Autocar Co. to store 2,000 gallons of petrol at their new garage in Coventry Road.

Bovey Tracey Parish Council has been authorized to purchase a motor fire-engine, and steps will be taken to borrow the necessary loan of £550.

Oldham Corporation Tramways Committee has accepted a tender of Messrs. S. F. Bowser and Co. for the supply of a petrol tank and pump with-swing-arm.

Warwick Corporation is calling the attention of the police to the unreasonable length of time motor vehicles are occasionally allowed to stand in the streets of the town.

Oldham Corporation Cleansing Committee has inspected two patent devices for the prevention of mud-splashing by motor vehicles, and has asked the Superintendent to report upon them.

Tenders are invited for the supply of a motor fire-engine for the Skegness Urban District Council. Quotations to be sent with full specifications to It. H. Senkins, engineer and surveyor, Council Offices, Skegness.

The Lesson Of Good Roads.

There have been great increases in motor traffic in the Lake District this season, and figures, just disclosed, of a traffic census taken during August reveal that it was on the roads which had been improved most that the increase of traffic had shown itself to such a marked degree.

Traffic at Meathop Bridge on the Levens to Grange Road, showed an increase of 100 per cent, on the census taken three years ago, while at Storrs, on the road from Levens into the Lake District, there was an increase of 1,128 per cent., showing more than 5,0()0 vehicles, against 400 last season. The road over Kirkstone Pass showed an increase of 87 per cent., and the Windermere to Ambleside road an increase of 36 per cent.

Liverpool Safety First Committee, Liverpool Safety First Committee is considering the inauguration of a scheme to prevent road accidents, and to reduce traffic dangers, similar to that which Manchester is expected to launch shortly. The Liverpool committee has been closely in touch with motorists, has extended the use of the "white line," and welcomed any suggestions serVing to protect life and limb in the streets of the city.

The Manchester method comprise% a poster campaign, by which 1,000 large posters will be placed on public hoardings, 5,000 handbills distributed to motorists, 2,000 bills posted on schools and public buildings, 2,000 forms supplied to school teachers and safety first rules brought prominently to the notice of the school children.


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