News and Comment.
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This journal is officially recognized by the Commercial Motor Users' Association.
M. H. Kerr Thomas has agreed to act as our U.S.A. correspondent—see page 319.
War-Office Registrations.
The War Department is not renewing certain registrations of motor wagons, as the number of this type of vehicle now on its lists is considered sufficient to meet military requirements for the time being. The Department, however, is still desirous of enrolling more light tractor.
S.M-M.T. and R.A.S.E.
At the December council meeting () the Royal Agricultural Society, Mr. Greaves, chairman of the Implement Committee, reported that consideration had been given to a request from the exhibition manager of the Society if Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd., as to the allotment of a portion of the showyard at Liverpool to that society, for the purpose of sub-letting to exhibitors of commercial motors. The Committee could not see its way to recommend that this request be approved, though it was hoped that ap
plieations for space might be received in the ordinary way from individual manufacturers of commercial motors. This decision was confirmed.
Another "Royal Mail" Van.
Many Dennis vans are used in the Royal Mail service, but that is chiefly for the conveyance of parcels and letters. Another " Royal Mail " Dennis van is illustrated herewith, and it will be observed, from the lettering on the tilt, that this two-ton van has been supplied to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., Ltd. It is to be used to (airy laundry goods from that company's ships at Southampton Docks to its laundry, and there is no question that the considerable weight tc. he handled, coupled with the speed of travelling, will allow great economies to he effected. The van has ample cubic capacity, and the tilt is removable, whilst the whole body is splendidly finished, and one of the. hand.soniest turned out from the Woodbridge Hill factory. The groundwork of the body is navy blue, the tilt is in white, with dark blue letters, and with the well-known flag of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. painted on it, as seen below.
Glasgow-Edinburgh Parcel Mail, The Albion mail vans, running between Glasgow and Edinburgh, had some unpleasant experiences in the recent snow-fall. One was caught in a drift, and had to be extricated with the assistance of the farmers in the locality. The completely equipped bodies for three vans, by the way, are the work of the Westfield Autocar Co., of Gorgie, Edinburgh, which company supplied them to the contractor, the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd.
Business Announcement.
Our business and publishing departments find'that the Christmas-holiday programme will necessitate an alteration to our press arrangements, as regards the next two issues. Advertisers will kindly note these changes, and that revisions of matter for the above-named issues should reach us, by first delivery, to-morrow (Friday), the 17th inst., and on the following Friday, the 24th inst., respectively. It goes without saying, 000, that advices for the Editor should also be hastened by a day or two.
Hard on the Farmers.
At the recent annual meeting of the Border Union Agricultural Society, at Kelso, it was stated that, during the recent hard frost, considerable inconvenience was caused to farmers by the non-appearance of the threshing mills, duo to the traction engines' being unable to take the road without the studded wheels now forbidden on the score of road damage. The matter is to be brought up before the County Road Board of Roxburgh and Berwick. Studs on wheels do cause damage to the roads under some conditions, but it seems hard that farmers must bring their operations to a standstill on account of the failure of metal tires to yield the necessary adhesion.
Last Year's Royal Show.
The report on the financial result of last year's Royal Agricultural Show, at Gloucester, is now available; it shows a net loss of £327. As, however, the Society had allocated the sum of -.C2,500 to the show fund, there is a balance of £2,173 to put to reserve. Compared with Newcastle, the expenditure at Gloucester showed a net increase of £813, but the drop in the " gate " was £9,012, and at the horse ring £555. The Society, in carrying out its intention to go into every part of the country, and not to count too much on profit or loss, is in a happy position to help agriculture and agricultural engineering_ It now has a total sum of £40,000 invested in first-class securities.
The Eastern District Committee of the Haddington County Council is about to acquire a motor ambulance for the Haddington Infectious Diseases hospital.
London to Paris.
Waring and Gillow. Ltd., of 164 to 180, Oxford Street, W., whose fleet of motors almost exclusively comprises " C'ommer-Car vehicles, notifies us of its having inaugurated a service of motor delivery between London and Paris. Through removals of furniture and personal effects can thus be undertaken with the maximum of dispatch and the minimum of damage or risk.
Useful Epicyclie Gears.
From the point of view of slow-speed running, one has often, in the past, witnessed the advantage of the epicy-clic-geared ear at motor gymkhanas. Now, an important use appears to he opening up for this class of transmission, in connection with undertakers' work. A recent. sale, by Sturmey Motors, Ltd., of a .Lotis funeral car, had to comply with the specification that the vehicle should be able to travel as slowly as 11 m.p.h. in the second gear ; the buyer, in fact, tested this by walking, at funereal pace, in front of it. The smoothness with which such gears can be operated is, also, a point that can hardily be rivalled in this connection.
On the general subject of the carrying out of certain classes of work for undertakers, by means of motors, we think it goes without saying that the special character of the duties renders the employment of the mechanical vehicle exceptionally opportune. Notice is generally short, and distances are frequently considerable, whilst the whole trouble and expense of co-operation with railway companies can be avoided. The subject is naturally one which deserves to be approached with all respect, but the practical value of the utility vehicle cannot, for much longer, be ignored by those funeral furnishers who have the necessary capital at their disposal.
Rubber-tired Sentinels.
Two more three-ton Sentinel wagons, with rubber tires,. have been ordered by the Scottish Co-operative Society, Ltd., for its Bladnoch Creamery, Wigtownshire. They will be employed in the collection of milk from surrounding farms, and they will bring the total of Sentinels owned by this society up to six.
Petrol in Sewers.
At the meeting of the L.C.C. on the 7th inst., it was decided to serve copies of notices prohibiting the dis
charge of petroleum, or any product of same, into sewers, upon the following among others r—Windsor Industrial Motors, Ltd., of 120, Tooting High Street; Premier Motor Cab Co., Ltd., of 35a, Church Street, Kennington ; West London Taxicab Co., Ltd., of Ansdell Street, Kensington Square; Waterloo Taxicab Co., Ltd., of Chicheley Street, SE.; Unic Motor Cab Ca., Ltd., of Vanden Street, Buckingham Gate; Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., of Cambridge Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue ; Carter. Pater
son and Co., Ltd., of 128, Goswell Road, E.C. ; Berns Commercial Motors, Ltd., of 3, Lombard Street, E.C. (nowAvonmore Road, W.); and Westminster Motor Car Garage, Ltd., of 17i, Kensington PI., Page Street, S.11 .
Berna Motors.
The new London depot of Berna Commercial Motors, Ltd., in Avonmore Road, West Kensington, to the usefulness of which we made reference on the occasion of last mouth's Olympia. Show, is now the headquarters of the management, and the company's new offices have been removed there from Lombard Street, E.C.
Halley Vans Round Leeds: The Use of Benzol.
Yorkshiremen and others, to whom Leeds is known, cannot fail to admire the Grand Pygmalion. This huge stores is tending to become motorised in its transport department, in which matter it is showing enterprise on a par with that of the leading London stores. A 20 h.p. two-cylinder Halley van, designed for a load of 30 cwt., and to travel at about 16 m.p.h., has been ordered, through the Bridge Garage, Ltd., of Briggate, which company holds the local agency for Halley productions. The engine, in common with several other Halley engines working round Leeds, is adapted to run on beniol, which gives a mileage of at least 25 per cent. more than on petrol. For example, a three-ton, four-cylinder Halley lorry owned by F.. P. Shaw and Co., Ltd., of Wakefield, and also supplied through the Leeds agency of the maker, has now been running on benzol for 10 months, and there has been no occasion to open the engine since May last. We agree with the contention of Mr. G. H. Halley, that this shows the great scope for properlypurified beim!. Unfortunately, licmever, supplies, whilst capable of increase, are relatively limited now.
German trade seems to he picking lip, judging by reports from South Germany, where some automobile firms
have received so many orders as to necessitate overtime. It appears that a great demand has sprung up for small industrial cars.
New Registrations.
The Grannaway Motor Works, Ltd.. with an authorized capital of £2.000 in £1 shares, and with its office at 6, Clara Terrace, Richmond Road, Earl's Court, S.W., to acquire the undertaking of the Grannaway Engineering Co.
S. Rose and Co.. Ltd., with an authorized capital of £10,000 in £1 shares, by Waterlow Bros and Layton, Ltd., of Birchin Lane, E.G., to acquire the business now carried on at Castle Road and The hard, Portsmouth.
Arid Motors, Ltd., with an authorized capital of £25,000 GC20.000 in £1 shares and E3,000 in 5s. shares), by Messrs. Kenneth Brown. Ba her, Baker and Co., of Norfolk Street, W.C. to carry on any business or agencies connected with the manufac
tore, sale and letting to hire of various classes of road motors.
The United General Motor Transport Co., Ltd., with an authorised
capital of £3,000 in shares, registered by Messrs. Segar, Bastard and Co., of Salter's Hall Court, Cannon Street, E.C., to carry on the business of general carriers.
Torkington Tires.
Torkington Tires, Ltd., of 4, Percy Street, Tottenham Court Road, W.C., has every confidence in its special grooved tire with reinforcing articulated metal band, and it has entered a Pet for another test of 4,000 miles at the hands of the Royal Automobile Club. In a previous test under these auspices; the tires were withdrawn owing to the over-vulcanization of the front pair. The South-Eastern and Chatham Railway Co. gives notice of special Christmas excursions to the Riviera, and reduced return fares of £9 12s. first class, and .C6 12s. second class. Departures will be on Thursday the 23rd inst., and the return may he undertaken on any day in January.
The Lacre Drawing Office.
Last week, in our article on the " Lacre policy for 1910", the meaning of certain lines at the foot of the first column on page 301 was obscured by the accidental dropping of a few words. The paragraph in question should read : " It goes without saying, that the drawing-office system is one that will compare favourably with any existing in the most modern and well-organized works of the country."
An Insurance Report.
The third annual report of the directors of the Law Car and General Insurance Corporation, Ltd. (which must not be confused with the Car and General Insurance Corporation, Ltd.), shows an increase of net premium income from £191,931 to £367,876. Claims paid and estimated outstanding have risen from £86,721 to £206,831, which must be rather disconcerting to the directors, having regard to the large unexpired liability in respect of recently-secured premiums. Whilst a dividend of 123, per cent. has been declared, leaving £l47,123 to be carried forward, we cannot regard this provision for reserve and unexpired risks and contingencies as being satisfactory, owing chiefly to the abnormally-rapid growth of the company. The report does not explain why the directors' older method of setting out the ratio of the reserve to the net premium income is not retained; the future depends on large increases of net income each year.