- WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
"The wheel of wealth will be slowed,by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as.a ciaTiage is by the roughness of the roads aver which it runs."—John Beattie Crosier, .
Tractor Ploughing Charges.
In the House of Commons last week, Mr. Lough asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what is the average charge per acre made by his department to farmers for ploughing their land with tractors; and what he estimates to be the average cost to the department of carrying out the operation, including all charges for depreciation, material used, wages, and supervision? Mr. Protherci: The charges to farmers for ploughing by the Government tractors are made on a slidire-, scale from 20s. to 308. per acre. In each ease the Agricultural Executive Committee decides the rate, at which the work is to be undertaken, according to the character of the land and other conditions. ha I have stated, in reply to a previous question, • the average cost of of operating tractors; So Er as it has been ascertained, is about 28s. per acre: Gas Rationing.
In the House of Commons last Week, Mr. Gilbert asked what effect the new rationing as Order will have on people who use. gas for motorcars; and whether their consumption is being cut down in the same way that honsehold caneumption has been reduced? Sir A. Stanley: In the ease of persons using gas for motorcars drawn from their own source of supply for other purposes, the restriction of the new Order will have effect, but this does not apply to the case of persons obtaining a. supply for motor vehicles from other Sources, and the method of dealing with this matter is under consideration. Sir F. Hall: Is it not a fact that the gas -companies cave informed consumers Who have their own charging statiOns for gas -on this own premises, which is taken off the same meter, that no notice will be taken of the extra quantity consumed? Sir A:
Stanley: I am not aware that any such notice has been given. As I indicated in my reply, we are naking the _subject under consideration at once.
Mr. Gilbert also asked: the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of motorcars and wagons for which permission has been given in London for the use of gas; if he will state if the quantity of gas per car is limited; and if any fresh licences have been issued since the recent gas rationing Order? Sir A. Stanley : I regret that, without an amount of labour which would not be justified, it is not possible to state theAnumber of motor vehicles in any particular area for which _permission has been given for the use of gas. The permit does not.: limit the amount of gas which may he used, but the purposes for which the car may -be used are restricted. The issue of new permits was suspended in London and other parts of 'England before the date of the Lighting, Heating and Power Order.
• British Ever Ready .Results.
The British Ever Ready Co., manufacturera of electrical specialities and other motorcar accessories, has recently announced its final, dividend payable for the year ended March last. The participating preference shares get 10 per cent. fer the whole. year, and the ordinary shares 14 per cent, including bonus, which compares with 15 per cent. for the previous year. It is interesting to note that the company, since it was registered in 1913, has 'ilistributed an aggregate of 73 per cent, on its ordinary capital and 48: per cent, on its preference shafes.
- The publishing arrangements a THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR for the. coming Whitsun holiday will be as usual.
Tractors Available.
We are informed that arrangements have been completed permitting the release Of.' a supply of the well-known Saunderson tractor and ploughs upon the open market. The 'tractor is the new 1918 model, having three speeds forward, and reverse, all the latest improvements including 'dust-proof engine, enclosed gears with new simplified gear control, and is complete with winding drums, 50 yards steel cable, full range
of tools and accessories. The tractor' ploughs, designed for use with power units, are two, three and tens-furrow. Applications to the Saunclerson Tractor and ImplementCo. Ltd.,' Elstow Engineering Works, 'Bedford; will be treated strictly in rotation. We may also remark that the company, being fully alive to the spare parts situation, is carrying in stock a full range of spines.
Straker-Squire Results.
The period of 27 months, freni 4th October, 1915 to the end 'of 1917, is covered by the accounts just issued by Straker-Squire, Ltd. In May of last year a report dealing with the company's business to the end of 1916 was issued, which stated that owing to important questions still remaining unsettled, referring to excess-profit duties, it was impracticable to submit the usual accounts at thatttime. The accounts now available allowed for all the liabilities to 31st December hat, and showed a profit of £28,685, with an available balance of £35,000. Preliminary expenses written off amounted to £1669, expenses of the new issue £1250, and dividends will have been paid, including 10 per cent, for this year, amounting to £29,869, or a little over 17 per cent. for the entire period, leaving £3880 to he carried forward.
Lincolnshire Ploughing.
The Government tractors operating in the Lindsey division of Lincolnshire have proved to be of valuable service to the farmers during the dearth of labour and the rapidity that was necessary to enable them to get the spring corn sown.
During the past three amonths they have ploughed 3159aacres, cultivated 6018 acres, and rolled and harrowcd 1244a acres.
This acreage would have been considerably increased had the weather been favourable. During the first two weeks in April, the tractors were put out of action owing to the wet weather, cultivation being in demand during that time. When the weather improved, the last two weelp went to show how successful the tiaTtors were, the amount of acreage done during those two weeks being :—Ploughed 516 acres, cultivated 3052k acres, and harrowed and rolled 368 acres.
The Benevolent Fund.
There is no benevolent fund in connection with the commercial niotor industry other than the now healthily-established " Cycle and Motor Trades Benevolent Fund," founded about fifteen years ago by Mr. Arthur -James Wilson, Originally created for members of the cycle trade, it was greatly developed some years ago by the extension of thesphere of influence to include the motor industry, equal representation on the council being secured by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders subscribing several thousands of pounds.. The fact of the Society being always a liberal donor has caused an erroneous impression to obtain that the large contributions of the Society cover the needs of the case and that there is no need for the members of the Society individually to do more, but, of course, a little teflection would show that to maintain a fund with an annual income of over £7000, it .would be impossible to expect the wherewithal to tome from any one source.
Many of the members of our industry subscribe liberally to this deserving institnticin, but we regret to add, many more have never supported the fund. This we are told is due to another misleading impression that the fund is a cycle trade organization, and, evidently, the Executive Committee has at last seen that there may be some reason for this impression, for. at a recent meeting presided over by this year's President, Sir Charles Cheers 'Wakefield, Bart., it was unanimously decided to recommend an alteration of the title to the "Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund."
The fund is open not only to employees in the cycle, motor and commercial motor industries, but also includes the marine motor and aviation motor industries, and the motor hirers trade. Indeed, it is the most comprehensive benevolent organization extant, and has alow over £33,500 of invested funds. Dining the past twelve months £3250 were paid oat to deserving cases of distress all eases being privately investigated and the beneficiaries relieved without the publicity which is to be dreaded in openly-conducted charities, The "Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund," as we hope it will shortly be
• termed, is an ideal society for maintaining one' a self-respect..Employees never know when bad times may come. It is 'the duty of every Man, who is engaged on the administrative or sales side of the commercial vehicle business to join this institution—the nominal yearly.auhscription to which is only 5s. per annum. Commercial motor firms should also
donate liberally to its coffers. Mr. A. J. Wilson, 156; Clerkenwell Road, E.C.1, the hon. secretary, will he pleased to send full particulars to anyone interested.
The V.C. for the A.S.C.
Last week the award of the' Victoria Cross was announced in connection with the battle which beganon 21st March to Private Richard George Masters, A.S.C. (Southport). It is reported that owing to an enemy attack, communications were cut off and wounded could not be evacuated. The 'road was re
ported impassable, but Masters sue
aseded in clearing a way. He made journey after journey throughout the afternoon, over a road consistently shelled and swept by machine-gun fire, and was on one occasion 'bombed by an aeroplane.
Alderman John Marston chairman of the Sunbeam Motor Car do., Ltd., and head of J. Marston, Ltd., who recently died, left £211,330.
The County Accountant of Sussex has been authoriaed to grant licences to drive motorcars to boys between 16 and 17 years of age, under certain conditions.
Haulage Costs by Tractor.
At a recent meeting of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, the Asylums Committee reported that in September, 1916, atractor and three six-ton trailers were purchased at £755 16a., for carrying out the cartage work at Leavesden Asylum. The committee now submitted the follbwing report., which they considered highly satisfactory, of 12 months working :— The goods carted amounted to 5099 tons 11 cwt. 2 qrs. value of haulage work, £1335 12s. lad,; total expenditure, including Wages, 10 per cent. depreciation, and 5 per cent. interest oncapital, £747 17s. 8d.; total saving, 25g7.151. 2d
The value -of the haulage work is based on prices in operationat the time the tractor war; purchased.
Noithumberland C.C. has intimated its intention to support E. •Suffolk. C.C. in requesting that legislation beintro duced to compel motabus owners to' pay a fair mileage rate to highway ' authorities towards county roads maintenance: .
The Associated Omnibus Co., Ltd., account for 1917 shows a profit, after providing for debenture interest and plat:. ing £5,500 (against £3,000) to motor omnibuses contingent liability fund, of £5083 against £2104, increasing a credit balance brought down to £9881.
Magneto-making.
The manufacture of efficient and reliable magnetos in anything like quantities was before the wax monopolized by' Germany. What is more, most of the establisher' .„motor vehicle manufacturers in this country were compelled through sheer inability to obtain—a home-pre&teed model to fit these foreign ignition accessories to the engines of • their machines. The British magneto industry
was not at thattime in being. It was the exigencies of war-inflated demand which called for concentration of best endeavour an the design and production of a solid British article, with the result that to-day more than one type and make of magneto of proved efficiency'is readily available.
One of the earliest British firms to em-, bark on the manufacture of magnetos was that of Morris and Lister, Ltd., of Coventry, now so well-known • in the industry through the " M.L." production. The company possessed a good general experience in the winding of fine wire coils, similar to those used in magnetn work. Skilful concentration enabled them to solve the technical and manufacturing difficulties apPertaining to this and other parts, and within the remarkably short period of three months from wax being declared, they had a considerable number of magnetos on trial Ly leading motor manufacturers.
The success of the " M-L " magneto was immediate, and contracts were placed by Many motor firms of the highest standing. So rapidly did the small business progbess that early hi 1915 the works, staff, plant, everything in fact, became lutterly inadequate for the contracts an baud. A separate company was formed under the name of the M-1, Magneto Syndicate, Ltd., and the business was removed in its entirety to a large and commodious factory known as the Victoria Works, situated in the very heart of the city of Coventry. In these works there arc now being made in large quantities several patterns of magnetos. The tools installed are most up-to-date pattern and the working c2$ limits employed are very fine. Every part is manufactured to limit gauges ensuring strict interchangeability.
Accuracy is in all cases maintained by means of carefully designed jigs and fixtures. • So intricate are certain parts of the magneto and that in many instances special machine toels have been evolved.After each separate operation, the parts are .examined carefully in a wellorganized view room, and each magneto when assembled is also subjected to a searching test.
Mason Spirit Report
. The report of the MAS011 Motor Spirit Distributing. CO., Ltd., 1, $t. Swithin's Lane, E.C. 4, for the year ending 30th September, 1917, shows that a prat of 2540 has been made in spite of the fact that the company for the last six months was unable to transact any business either in petrol or petrol substitutes due to official restrictions.
Egbaust Valve Troubles.
Bolls-Royce, Ltd., have recently psepared a four-page quaho pamphlet givmg notes on trouble caused by the burn-.
ing of exhaust valves. Although this particularly applies to tha exhaust valves of aero engines, yet the information is applicable to the internal-combustion engine, however it May be used. We had considered giving a digest of this contribution to our knowledge of the petrol engine, but on fuller consideration we realize that its publication through the columns of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR would possibly result in the information reaching the enemy, and as the knowledge as circulated is of extreme value in assisting to avoid engine failures, such knowledge is .best kept to our own people. Copies of the circular will be sent to any person who applies to the Manager, Rolls-Royce, Ltd., 14-15, C-'onduit Street, London, W. 1, Wanted—A .Shield.
The Munition Works Rifle League has been: formed to encourage and promote rifle shooting among the employees of the various works handling munitions., Among the concerns which are providing teams in membership., with the League are Dennis Bros. Guildford; Associated Equipment CO., of Walthamstow; J. A. Prestwich and Co., of Tottenham;Vickers, Ltd., Crayford; and Gwyrine
and Co:, of Hammersmith. The Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs has presented silver and bronze medals for competition, and the officials of the League are anxious to get hold of a shield. Should aity reader experience a wave of kindliness, we shall be very pleased to put him into touch with the secretary.
Motorbus Stops. •
Recently the Marylebone B.C. submitted to the Commissioner of Police a
• scheme for ,stopping places for motorbuses in Oxford Street with a view to relieving the present congestion of pedestrian traffic in the vicinity of Alm circus. The Commissioner, however, states that he cannot at present adopt
the suggestion, but mentions that as the whole question of stopping points is under consideration, the matter will not be lost sight of if it be thought that improvements may be effected at a later period.
Avoirdupois to Metric.
The Hoffmann Manufacturing Co. send us a copy of their metric conversion table (weights), which is a companion to the linear metric conversiontable arranged by the company a few years ago. The weights conversion tables include conversions from pounds avoirdupois to kilos., and kilos. to pounds; tons to metric tons, and metric tons to tons; grains to grams, and grams to grains, the whole being set out very clearly and forming an exceedingly useful set, with linear conversion tables, to keep at one's elbow. A copy of this will be sent forward to any reader who writes to the company at Chelmsford.
Yorkshire Ambulance Work.
Mach invaluable work has been accomplished by the Bradford Ambulance Corporation in conveying wounded to the various local hospitals from hospital trains. Up to the end of 1917 73 such trains had been met, carrying in all 10,622 wounded men, and this nuffiber was evacuated to the hospitals without a mishap of any kind. Tire fleet comprises 36 ambulances which have accommodation for 143 stretcher cases. A numbigr of these vehicles have been provided by Bradford citizens, whilst the tramways manager to the corporation has had is number of motor parcelvans ingeniously converted into four anti eight stretcher ambulances.
Consultants.
Mr. Chas. F. Pougher, principal of Chas. F. Pougher and Sons, who for the last 25 years has held prominent posi time in technical circles as a well-known lecturer and writer on engineering, automobile and technical subjects, and also as a practical expert: advises us that it is the intention of his firm to specialize in fire, accident and motor insurance assessments, and repairs supervision; works and plant inspection; investigation of claims; technical assistance to directors of works; sales and purchase or plant, motors, etc. ; analysis and test of material; engagement of staff ; valuations; specifications and technical evidence and advice.
For this work they have fitted up central offices at 9 and 10, 'Herald Chambers, Martineau Street, Birmingham, with chemical and physical laborstories, drawing office, and 'commercial correapemdence department, where a well-tra-Ined staff of technical and commercial assistants is employed.
New London Index Mark.
64,914 (25th April, 1918.) THE MOTOR CAR ACT, 1903. Amending Motor Car (Registration and, Licensing) Order, 1903. • COUNTY OF LONDON. • To the County Council of the AnsiiNis TRATIVE COUNTY OF LONDON And to all others whom it may con cern.
-• By the Motor Cas:Registration and Licensing) Order, /9113, issued by Us, the LocalGovesoment Board, in pursuance of the powers conferred upon Us by the Motor Car Act, 1903, We prescribed certain Regulations (herein-after referred to as "the Regulations" with regard to the registration of Motor Mrs, and by the said Order We assigned an index mark to the London County Conn cil (herein-after referred to as 'the Council "); And whereas by further Orders hereinafter referred to as "the Orders" issued by Us, We aSsigned additional. index marks to the Council; And whereas it is expedient that an index mark should be assigned by Us to the Council in addition to the index marks already assigned as aforesaid; In pursuance of the powers given to Us in that behalf, We do hereby Order as follow:— The Regulations as altered by the Orders shall apply and have effectas if in addition to the distinguishing index marks consisting respectively of the letter A., and the letters LA., L.B., L.C., L.D. L.E., L.F., L.H., LK. L.L., L.M.. L.N, L.O., L.P., L.R., and L.T.
there were assigned to the Council an index mark consisting of the letters L.U., and as if, where the circumstances so require, references to the Council and to the index mark assigned to the Council by this Order were, in the Regulations as altered by the Orders, included in or sUbStitifted for references to the Council and to the distinguishing index mark assigned to the Council in the First Schedule to
the Regulations. •• Given under the Seal of Office of the Local Government Board, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year One thousand nine hundred and eighteen. • L.S. W. HATES FIST-TER, President.
WALTER-_T, JEREED, Assistant Secretary.
Why it should be necessary for officialdom to effervesce to this confused extent, over the simple inclusion of a further Londonindex mark we have not the haziest notion. Paper is short, printing ink is costly, but official verbosity is still as cheap as ever !
Local Proceedings.
Gloucester T.C, is to consider the provision of a motorcar for the chief constable.
Aldershot U.D.C. has accepted the tender of Leyland Motors, Ltd., at £1200 for a motor fire-engine.
Morecambe Corporation has received Parliamentary sanction to its proposal to run an electric motorbus service.
The L.C,C. have placed an order 'with the Ancona Motor Co. for two chassis,
at £360 each, for ambulance service. t
Manchester Corporation is to purchase a second-hand •Austin motorcar which will be converted into an ambulance.
Grantham Watch Committee has agreed to increased taxi charges from is. to 1s. 3d. a mile, with dotible fares after midnight. • East Riding C.C. is to purchase a steam tipping-wagon at a cost of £1050, because it is impossible to get tenders for carting stone.
Glasgow Corporation Fire Committee is considering an offer received by the Firemaster from Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd., of • a new Halley sixcylinder engine.
Having experienced difficulties in the cartage of coal from the railway to the Electricity. Works, the Hove P.C. has decided to purchase a second-hand steam motor lorry at a cost not exceeding £150.
Lancaster Corporation has applied for a provisional order to enable it to increase the number of electric motorbuses at present running in the borough. There are now four louses, and it is proposed to inCrease the number to 12. The. estimated cost of the additional buses is from £1100 to £1200 each.
. Stratford U.D.C. is including in the current year's estimates of the Sanitary Department £1150 for the provision of three Motor vehicles for the removal of house refuse, and one motorvan for the removal .of infected beading. The Local Government Board is to be asked to support the Council's applicatAon to the Ministry of Munitions for a special priority certificate for the purchase of these vehicles
American Tyres..
Of the 50,000 tyres which are manufactured daily in Akron, very few are now despatched by rail. Most of the big tyre coffipanies either snake delivery by motor truck direct to their branches or ship to Cleveland by motor truck for rail distribution from theft, Since most of the materials coming into the robber city are handled similarly, motor truck traffic between these cities is very heavy. A traffic census made on this road some time ago showed that during a period of 72 hours 507 motor trucks passed the point of survey.
Much activity is now discernible in Paris in the gas movement, and the authorities are being approached to en Sara an adequate supply of 'gas for commercial vehicles
New R.I.A. Chairman.
At their meeting on -Thursday, 25th April, the Council of the ROads Improvement Association elected Mr. IL Percy Boubrois, M.Inst.C.E., as its chairman, in place of Mr. Rat. Todd, deceased (who had previously held the position for many years), and Mr. W. Worby Beaumont, M:Inst.C.E., as vice-chairman,