News and Comment.
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The comment and views of this journal are respected and carry weight, because members of its Editorial staff have practical experience and knowledge of the construction and use of commercial motors. Our circulation is genuine, and includes the heads of many wealthy commercial houses.
Three 25-cwt. Albion vehicles have just been ordered by Harrod's StoicLtd.
Our series of articles on " Boilers for Steam Wagons and Tractors " is completed in this issue (pages 406 to 498).
Mr. Henry Sturmey further insists upon the usefulness, economy and convenience of motor conveyance in connection with certain classes of undertakers' work (page 498).
The Westminster City Council will shortly order six or seven more municipal vehicles, and they will probably n11 be of the internal-combustion type. The Council now uses motors to haul sweepers, scrapers and snow-ploughs.
The Is ent County Conned, yesterday (Wednesdav), sealed an order for .1. and E. Hall, Ltd., of Dartford, on the recommendation of the Bridges and Reads Committee, for tee petrolMotor lorries which are to be used as tar-carrierS.
Unlighted Hand-carts.
'II lie Commercial Motor Users' Association has resolved to support the Royal Automobile Club in the matter of taking steps to secure the lighting of hand-carts which are left at the sides of streets after dark.
Manchester Show.
A brief statement of the exhibits at the Manchester Show, which will open to-morrow (Friday), and will remain open until the night of Saturday the 26th inst., will be found on pages 4500 and 301. Members of the Commercial '.10letor Users Assoeiatiou, on iresentation Lf their cards of membership, will be admitted free of charge ---except on Saturdays. The opening ceremony will take place at 2.30 p.m. On other days, from the 10th to 26th inst. inclusive, the exhibition will be opened at 11 a.m. each morning. It will close, on all days, at 10 p. .m. Whilst our stand-to-stand report will be presented early next week, and will he specially put on sale in the show as early as Tuesday morning next, the 22nd inst., we now give a brief summary of the exhibits which may be expected.
Snow in Scotland.
London, this winter, has escaped a snowfall, but in other parts of the country, and particularly to the North of the Tweed, there have been some heavy falls. The usual testing ground of Argylls. Ltd., along the shores of Loch i Lomend. where the gradients
and severe curves provide useful tests, has been rendered doubly exacting on such occasions, and our illustration, on page 506a, depicts an Argyll chassis, with test body, being put through a somewhat-unwonted ordeal.
R.A.S.E.
Ivel Agricultural Motors, Ltd., has already entered for the trials which are to be held in connection with this year's show at Liverpool.
Next Paris Salon.
it has been decided to organize the 13th Automobile Salon, at the Grand Palais, in Paris, next December. On the proposition of M. Gustave Rives, the Commissaire-General will be M. Gobron.
Arbitration and Expert Evidence.
We have decided. in response to requests from various quarters, regularly to undertake any duties that may arise in connection with references to arbitration, and the furnishing of expert witnesses, in connection with all branches of the construction and use of commercial-motor vehicles and tractors. The calling-in of members of the Editorial Staff of this journal, on the occasion of several actions-at-law, submission of tenders, and the like, during the past few months, has satisfied us that we are in a unique position to afford information and assistance in such matters, and which cannot be better furnished by any other parties, hence this announcement.
Forage by Motor.
Quite an interesting sale has recently been concluded, as is shown by the illustration of the six-ton " Sentinel " steam wagon on this page. This vehicle is carrying six tons on its own platform, and four on the trailer, at which duty it is said to be doing exceedingly well for its owners, Messrs. Pease and Son, corn and forage merchants, of Wandsworth, S.W. It covers, on an average, some 40 miles a day. The body 'and decorative work are by Messrs. Whitmee and Sons, of Battersea, and the complete vehicle with its load presents an imposing spectacle on the road. To those who are hesitating in regard to the adoption of steam wagons for some classes of heavy work, this illustration and note should be of special significance, for, although Messrs. Pease and Son deal in all kinds of fodder for horses, and Mr. J. R. Pease has been considered a judge of horses for many years, his firm has realized the economic necessity of mechanical transport.
10 h.p. Napier Vans.
Napier taxicabs are doing so well in London, and in other parts of the country, that the success of the same make of 10 h.p. van chassis might have been anticipated. Two such vans, built to the order of Messrs. Tudor Bros., of Knightsbridge, are found to average over 25 miles to a gallon of petrol, and to be exceedingly light upon tires. Their neat appearance may be gathered from the accompanying illustration, and it will be observed that the driver is well protected. Such vans can travel, according to requirements, as much as 120 miles in a day, with proper allowance for calls.
• Motor Oil-tanks.
A 25 cwt. Albion chassis, fitted with an iron tank of a capacity of 850 gallons, for the regular conveyance of paraffin oil throughout the mining districts of Lanarkshire, for distribution to retail dealers there, was illustrated in our issue of the 2nd December last. We have pleasure in reproducing another view of the same vehicle, complete, as it now may be seen on the road. The replacement of the old horsedrawn road tank is one of the numerous likely important changes of the next few years, and it will not avail the older companies that they have so much capital already locked up in the older forms of rolling-stock.
A Satisfactory Newspaper Service.
The proprietors of "The Daily Graphic" and its associated group of papers, after trying motorvans with unsatisfactory results for sonic years, had a satisfactory service, during 1909, with a pair of 16 h.p. four-cylinder Straker-Squire motervans. Van No.. I covered 15,560 miles during the past year, the second one making 18,664 miles, .whilst, as to reliability, they are said to have always been in commission with the exception of 11. day. Runs of 120 miles a day have been at times undertaken, with loads of newspapers, in the tastefully-decorated bodies which are by .1. Liversidge and Sons, Ltd. We are sorry to observe that the Lancashire County Council has declined to take the initiative in the matter of the compulsory use of a red light at the back of all vehicles. It is suggested, by the Main Roads and Bridges Committee of that usuallyprogressive body, that the County Boroughs should take the initiative. This is an old method of procrastination, and one that surprises us. Five-ton Dennis Lorries.. '
One of the latest sales of a five-ton petrol lorry, by Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, is to Mr. Joseph May, haulage contractor, of Howland Street, Tottenham Court Road, W. The large main member of the long frame is well stayed, on the principle of the bow-string girder, by means of two struts and a tension rod, with a large spiral spring at the back end— just behind the mudguard of the rear wheel. The vehicle is primarily designed to take large pantechnicons.
Thornycroft Sales.
Recent deliveries by John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., include a 16 h.p., 30 cwt. tilt van to the Southgate Gas Co., of New Southgate, N., and a 16 h.p., 30 cwt. van, to the Elgin Laundry Co., through Messrs. Malcolm and Allan, Ltd., of 499, Eglinten Street, Glasgow, the company's sole agents for Scotland; the body of this latter vehicle has both side and end doors. The company's sole agent for the South of England, Mr, Bruce Cooper, of Daneshill Cottage, Basing'stoke, has just obtained a repeat order from Morland and Co., Ltd., of Abingdon, Berks., for a two-ton Thornyeroft van fitted with a 24 h.p. engine. After prolonged discussion, the Western District Committee of the liaddingtonshire County Council is about to place an order for a motor ambulance. It is probable that a 16 h.p. Albion will be selected.
New Registrations.
'United States Wheel and Rim Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of 475.000 (56,250 in 41 shares, and 75,000 in 5s. shares), by Messrs. Ashurst, Morris, Crisp and Co., of 17, Throgmorton Avenue, E.C., to enter into an agreement with the Spare Motor Wheel of America, Ltd. (in liquidation), etc.
E. Williams and Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of 43,500 in 41 shares, by Messrs. J. B. and F. Purchase. of 14, Regent. Street, W., to acquire and take over as a going concern the business now carried on by Guy Le Blanc Smith, at Matlock Bath, under the style of E. Williams and Co., and to carry on the business of makers of motor vehicles of all kinds, tire manufacturers, chassis manufacturers, suppliers of petrol. etc. First directors, Guy Le Blanc Smith, Cohatilandwell Bridge, near Matlock, and C. J. Pears, Highfields, East Crinstead.
Steam and Petrol.
More than a few brewers and others who are interested in kindred trades, have, after early experience with heavy steam lorries, gone in for the faster rubber-tired petrol vehicles as well. Watney, Combo, Reid and Co., Ltd., for example, is running the 30-38 h.p. four-ton " Hallford " wagon now illustrated, and its general behaviour is reported to be very satisfactory. This vehicle is fitted with Peter Union solid tires all round. and covers a good mileage between the brewery at Pimlico and the Richmond depot, delivering to customers and beerhonses in addition. Contrary to the practice of most breweries, this " Hallford " wagon carries barrel beer; the faster wagons of other companies are generally reserved to deal with bottled goods.
Extensions by the North British Rubber Co.
A large factory in Edinburgh has been acquired, as an addition to its already-extensive mills, by the North British Rubber Co., Ltd., from the liquidators of the Scottish Vulcanite (.1)., Ltd. The premise.s, a drawing of which we reprodice, cover some :teres; they were purchased at the upset price of 420,000. When in working order, it is estimated that this new branch factory will give employment for 1,000 hands: it is to be connected, by means of a subway, with the company's existing fac t o r y. The combined ground areas of the two factories and yards exceeds 15 acres. This enterprising company, which has long held an excellent reputation for the good material and workmanship that are put into its solid and
pneumatic tires, evidently intends tllo make a strong bid for a.share in the vulcanite and hard-rubber branches of the rubber industry.
" Commer Car" Demonstrations.
Mr. I. P. While, the Manchester agent of Commercial Cars, Ltd., has a demonstration " Braintree " chassis, with standard lorry body and swinging sides, as by the illustration herewith, ready for use in connection with any new inquiries.
Vans for Disinfecting Services.
Southwark Borough Council received the following tenders for a motor disinfecting van:-Straker and Squire, Ltd., 4425; Dennis Bros., Ltd., £410; Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., 4405. The Borough Engineer and the Medical Officer of Health reported to the effect that the mileage run by the present horse in the ordinary busy time, that is, in the autumn, is about 15 miles a day, and is quite as much as any horse of a similar kind can do. There are two special kinds of work to carry on requiring it vehicle and horse: (1) the ordinary infectious disease, which usually takes up the whole time of the horse, driver and one additional ma-n; (2) under the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1904, to disinfect and return verminous and filthy bedding, which is even a greater work than that of infectious disease, a.s it prevents largely the spread of infectious disease. This work of cleansing verminous bedding is only in its infancy, and cannot be pushed further without additional power to collect and return the bedding. Two men are employed with a hand truck, to fetch and return the bedding, the cost of which is £170 per annum in wages. Two fullyequipped horse vans are required.
The amount paid for two vans would be: two vans, £60; two horses, £150. Wages are £340 a year. The amount of upkeep of a motor per year, on a basis of 180 miles per week, would be as follows: driver, at 35s. per week, £91 ; attendant, £85; maintenance of motor and tires, £120; petrol and lubrication, £40; depreciation, £55-total, £391. Even at the present time, there would be a saving of £54, but if the two reqnisite vans were purchased, there would be a saving of £159 by adopting the motor. Straker and Squire, Ltd., is the only maker who submitted a fixed sum for maintenance. This amounts to £120 per an
num, and provides for ordinary repairs to the vehicle due to wear and tear, and to the upkeep of the tires, based on a mileage of 180 per week. in addition to this, the Public Health Committee points out that the works of the company are situated in Nelson Square, Blackfriars Road, S. E., which would be a matter of great convenience when repairs were required. The committee has accepted (subject to the usual sanction) the tender of Sidney Straker and Squire, Ltd., at £42.5 for the motorvan. and the estimate of £120 to keep the van in running order, including the upkeep of the tires, for a period of 12 months, and to provide a chauffeur for a period of one month for the total inclusive sum of £7 12s.