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News and Comment.

16th February 1911
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Page 10, 16th February 1911 — News and Comment.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This journal commands advertisement support upon terms which do not admit traders of inferior standing to its pages.

A short note upon the development of the Halley works, at Yoker, Glasgow, will be found on page 488.

We regret that " Opinions from others," Fire-Brigade Matters and other regular features are this week unavoidably crowded out of the issue.

Next Week's " CAI."

In accordance with our announcements, next week's issue of this journal will contain the first-published and best report upon the commercialvehicle and allied exhibits (accessories, components, stores, tires, wheels, etc.) at the North of England Motor Show. It is urgently requested, by the Business Department, that instructions from manufacturers and other advertisers should be in its possession, at Rosebery Avenue, not later than first post on Monday next, as arrangements have been completed for the issue to be on sale at the show early in the afternoon of Tuesday next.

The Show.

At the Exhibition Hall, Rusholme, Manchester, which building can be reached conveniently from the centre of the city by tramcar, there will be opened to-morrow (Friday), the first North of England Motor Show. This exhibition, as many readers will know, is the outcome of the older Manchester shows, and is now organized, with valuable local administrative help, by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. We urge every supporter of this journal who can conveniently do so to visit the show, which will remain open until 10 p.m. Saturday, the 25th inst., inclusive. The charge for admission is is., except on Tuesday and Friday next, when the charge will be 2s. 6d. up to 6 p.m., and is. after that hour. The Earl of Derby will perform the opening ceremony to-morrow (Fri.

day), at 11.30 a.m., and widespread publicity is anticipated for the inauguration of this important departure in show politics. Our guide to the principal exhibits will be found on pages 484 to 488, together with a speciallydrawn ground plan.

Winnipeg Trials.

This year's trials of agricultural motors, at Winnipeg, in connection with the Canadian Industrial Exhibition, will be held from the 5th to 22nd July, and will be open to the world. There are four classifications in the internal-combustion section, and three classifications in the steam section. We cannot this week publish the text of the conditions, but we can supply a copy to any interested manufacturer who may not have received one direct.

The "Most-recent" Orders.

The Lacre Co. is making a point of the fact that it is securing the mostrecent orders from owners of long experience in the use of commercial motors, and its announcement this week, in another part of this issue, is directed to that feature of its business results. This maker, which has had a Manchester branch established for a considerable period, is now developing its arrangements for direct representation in all parts of Scotland, and with particular reference to local maintenance by good agents. Albion vans will be used in the motor-mail services at Pitlochry and Blairgowrie.

Our Manchester Office. .

In order to enable this journal to be in more-direct touch with members of the motor industry and owners of commercial motors in the Northern counties, and so that we may deal more thoroughly than in the past with the needs of the trade, offices have been opened in Manchester. Details will be given in a later issue. Our circulation in the Manchester district is already of a satisfactory character, but we intend that both it and our service of local news shall, corespondingly with the increase of local influence which we know will ensue, be augmented and improved.

Ambulance Points.

The Pretoria City Council has purchased a Silent-Knight (Daimler) chassis fitted with ambulance body.

The Midland Railway Ambulance Corps, at Nottingham, is endeavouring to arrange the purchase of a motor ambulance.

The Wirral Joint Hospital Board is purchasing a motor ambulance, at an estimated cost of £500.

The Wandsworth Guardians have resolved to spend £400 each on one or two motor ambulances, and the necessary sanction of the L.G.B. will be immediately sought.

C.M.U.A. (Official).

Notice is hereby given that the animal general meeting of the Commercial Motor Users' Association will be held at 112, Piccadilly, London, W. on Wednesday, ths 1st March, 1911, at 4 p.m., for the transaction of the undermentioned business :— (I) To confirm the minutes of the previous annual general meeting.

(2) To consider and adopt the report of the Executive Committee.

(3) To present and pass the statement of accounts and balance-sheet for the year 1910.

(4) To elect an auditor.

(5) To consider and authorize the incorporation of the .Association under the provisions of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908.

Notice is hereby given that nominations for the Executive Committee for the year 1911-1912 must be received in writing by the 1st March, 1911.

By order of the Executive Committee.

(Signed) FRED. G. BRISTOW,

Road Board Grants.

The grants by the Road Board, to tvhich Treasury approval has been given, have now been published in relation to Lancashire, Carnarvonshire, Berkshire, Lincoln (Lindsey), Bedfordshire, Nottinghamshire, Buckingimmshire, and Kent. We are glad to see that. the Lancashire County Council is spending some of the money on bridge strengthening.

Lc tis Sales.

Sturmey Motors, Ltd.., reports having opened up new ground in Edinburgh, where an order for a 15-cwt. Lotis van has been issued from Macvitties. Guest and Co., Ltd., the wellknown biscuit manufacturers. Another notable order just received is for a handsome shooting brake, or family omnibus, for Wm. G. Singer, Esq., J.P., of Norman Court, Salisbury.

"Harrier" Cars in London.

Clayton and Co. (Huddersfield), Ltd., of Union Works, Huddersfield, is reckoning soon to establish as firm a hold upon the London market as it enjoys in the North and Midlands. We illustrate a " Karrier " (page 486) which was supplied to the Great Central Railway Co. in December last, sinee which date a repeat order has been placed with the maker by this owner. Another London order, for a lorry, is from John Dewar and Sons, Ltd.

Users' Experiences.

l'ages 196 to 512 of this issue contam the major portion of our promised section dealing with " Users' experiences costs and results." We particularly desire to emphasize the fact that several leading makers are opposed to the seeking of testimonials of the kind, owing to their preference for private references to suit each request Item prospective buyers. In fairness, therefore, to certain makers whose names either do not occur or recur, we desire to add that the published letters are to be regarded as typical; it must not be thought that the performances aehieved are necessarily incapable of realization by any good make other than that named in any one letter. Whilst all the letters furnish such

particular testimony, many are of general application, and the whole, in our judgment, form a representative volume of evidence—which is capable of great expansion did time permit of the necessary correspondence and other efforts—that ,must both arrest the attention of likely purchasers, and be of convincing effect. Other letters, which are unavoidably held over, from want of the necessary space this week, will be puldislied next week.

" Commer.Car" Repairs.

The business of Mr. S. S. Nevill,

A . M.E. , MIA . E. motor engineer and repairer, at Parkhurst Road, Holloway, has been absorbed by Commercial Cars, Ltd., and Mr. Nevin will now be chief of that company's repair department, which will be registered as Commercar Repairs, Ltd. This development has been necessary owing to the expansion of " Commer-Car " business. and Commercial Cars, Ltd., will continue, as heretofore, to be responsible for proper execution.

A Busy Foden in Berkshire.

Ench succeeding quarter-day sees an increase in the use of self-propelled vehicles for removal purposes, and for a few days before and after the end of each three months one frequently comes upon heavy steam and petrol wagons loading and unloading in the

suburbs. The snapshot illustrating this note shows a good example of such quarter-day business, a practically new five-ton Foden being depicted while in process of taking aboard the contents of a suburban villa some seven weeks ago. This sturdy Foden vehicle had quite a busy time last quarter-day, and fulfilled its duties admirably. It trails a pan technicon van, in addition to its own burden, and, as will he seen, is finished with a special tilt. It is one of many so used.

A 341-cwt. Motorvan "01 Great All-,round Utility."

Extremely-useful and satisfactory work is being performed by a 30-ewt. Lacre van which is owned by Messrs. Davis and Son, Dyers and Cleaners, of 174, Finchley Road, N.W., who have been established over 120 years. Their successful Laere is shown on page 490 —just previous to its starting out on a W. and S.W, round. The vehicle is nicely decorated in green and gold, and regularly " does " each of the suburbs, practically every householder having been previously circularized as to the day on which the motorvan will

ba in the neighbourhood. Appointments are never missed, although 80miles per day are often covered in order to keep them. In addition to ordinary delivery work, this motorvan is used by a representative to solicit orders in certain districts, and, as it collects nearly as many parcels as it delivers, the load is fairly constant. It may also be remarked that this 30cwt. Lacre is spoken of by its owners as being" of great all-round utility." It has rendered the use of horses unnecessary, done away with carriers' contracts and saved railway charges.

The L.C.C. is ordering a 30 h.p. Leyland petrol lorry for its fire brigade, to convey hose and fuel to fires, and to distribute general fire-brigade stores. Tenders were received from three manufacturers.

At an extraordinary general meeting of the members of the Montgomery Motor Co., Ltd., held at the offices of Mr. W. H. Sturton, Cumbergate, Peterborough, a resolution was passed to the effect that the company be wound up voluntarily. Mr. J. R. Smart, Queen Street, Peterborough, was appointed liquidator.

Rouen Copies Westminster, ihe town of Rouen has decided to abandon all horses in connection with its scavenging department. The daily house-to-house collection of refuse, which is at present carried out by horse tennis, will in a couple of months be accomplished by a service of eight motor trucks, at present under construction by the firm of D'Espine, Achard and Co., of Paris. Each truck will have a load capacity of three tons, and be capable of taking a trailer with a load of two tons. Under the new system, it is estimated that the entire collection of refuse will be accomplished before 9 a.m. The method at Rouen, in common with that of most French towns, is for the occupants of fiats to empty their refuse in a common bin late in the evening, the bin being placed on the footpath, by the house porter, early in the morning, in time for the passage of the dust van. Paris has made a few feeble attempts to replace the horse carts in this work, but the scheme has not had a very-extensive application. It is obvious that motor vehicles offer special advantages for this work, enabling the scavenging to be finished at a much-earlier hour than is possible with horses. Reliable Fast Delivery.

Although the vehicles and their services have to some extent already been treated in this journal, the present illustration cannot fail to interest readers or prospective buyers of light, fast motorvans, mainly on account of the fine record which the one now shown has made. It is, as may be

seen, a Belsize vehicle of the 14-16 h.p. four-cylinder type, and is, further, the first of four to be let to the firm whose name it hears by Messrs. H. J. Chapman and 613., of Augustus Street, Cumberland Market, N.W. Going into service about the end of 1908, it has since covered some 39,000 miles with every satisfaction, while in service round the S.W. and Surrey suburbs. During that period, it has been in charge of the owner's leading driver, G. Wilson, and all who have personally come in touch with the vehicle, i.e., the owners, hirer, and driver. have been most favourably impressed with the unique and commendable service which this Belsize motorvan has rendered. When it was recently overhauled, no serious repairs were found to be necessary.

"The Dennis Tatler."

"The Dennis Tatler," in its February issue, strikes out boldly with extracts from " our contemporary, THE COMMERCIAL Mamie" Why not? We, in our salad days, thought nothing of writing about our contemporary "The Times" Joking apart, we Tik-e this bright little monthly; its pages smack of energy, keenness and true esprit de corps. There are one or two cute hints for the works manager on page 8.

After 45,000 Miles.

The recent delivery of a new 1214 h.p., four-cylinder Unic van to Mr. Herman Appenrodt, of 1, Coventry Street, W., is not without interest, especially as the decision to take over a second, light, fast motorvan was only reached after some 45,000 miles of running experience had been gained with the first two-cylinder model. Mr. William Stewart, who is Mr. Appenrodt's secretary, informed a contributor recently that the first van did approximately 15,000 miles per annum, and that they had been running it since the middle of 1907. For each 15,000 miles, an expenditure of £240 was necessitated, this coat including interest on cost of first van (which was perchased second-hand) depreciatior at 15 per cent., insurance, wages of driver, petrol, oil am] grease, repairs, tires, and odds and ends. This gives a cost per mile of 3.84d. Pneumatic tires were considered an absolute necessity with their light, fast vehicle, but they suffered a good deal from the gravel which is so wantonly thrown over the streets, and from the nature of the work encountered. Outer covers on the first 10-12 h.p. van usually did 3,000 miles, and, after having been retreaded, were good for 2,000 more. The new van is shown outside the head depot in Coventry Street ; it has a body by Bayleys, Ltd., and is fitted with Polaek pneumatics.

In the Butchery Trade.

Considerable success seems to have been the portion of Mr. A. Hickman, of 1, St. Ann's Hill, Wandsworth, S.W., in the use of Motor tri-cars in connection with his trade as a butcher. A contributor originally came across this tri-car owner in 1905, when Mr. Hickman was using a Coventry-made vehicle. About two years afterwards, a more-modern three-wheeled chassis was obtained, and adapted for trade purposes by a Clapham firm an a Gar rard-Maxwell ty-pe; this vehicle, in complete form, is shown herewith— outside the owner's premises. This tri-car is propelled by a single-cylinder motor of 5 lip. The gear gives three speeds forward, the operating lever being seen in the view, as well as the cardan shaft and the casing of the worm gearing which forms the final drive. The tri-car gets all round Putney, Barnes, Clapham Junction, Clapham, Wandsworth, etc., and does exceedingly well, the weekly cost, during a specially-observed two years, being about Ss.. this figure including fuel,

lubricants, ignition, and overhauling and repainting, etc. The Palmer tires had not been renewed during this period, nor had they even punctured. One of Mr. Hickman's sons drives and looks after the vehicle while it is in everyday service, and, after some motorcycle experience, he fitted a home-made petrol economizer, to this trade tri-car, which resulted in a saving of neirly two gallons of petrol a week. No accidents have marred this owner's business tri-car experience, so that it is only the meat which is homekilled -nothing else.


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