News and Comment.
Page 12
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This journal is extensively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses.
Some points in regard to the claims of British-made spirit, and the possibilities thereanent, are put forward on page 144.
Our leading articles this week deal with the following topical subjects: (1) "We must make the best of July;" (2) " Fog and its effect on traffic ;" and (3) "Provincial repair shops."
Exclusive to this journal, further particulars of the L.G.O.C. Walthamstow developments and operations, together with additional illustrations, will be found on pages 135 to 139.
Our recent illustrated and simple technical references to ball bearings (issue of the 3rd inst.) have resulted inter alio, in the receipt of an interesting trade communication to which we give publication on pages 1.16 and 147.
The recent expansion of our "Supply Department' section, which coincided with the opening of the Machinery Exhibition at Olympia-, has been extremely well received by many readers of this journal. Further useful information for owners and their purchases departments will be found on pages 131-134 and 418-149.
"Starting Up" on Paraffin.
The Southey producer, which performs the functions of a carburetter or vaporizer without incidental disadvantages and drawbacks which are peculiar to some devices for the, use of paraffin in connection with an internal-combustion engine, is illustrated and described in our columns this week. This first publication of interesting details will, we feel confident, be noted with close attention by mannfaetnrers and owners who are feeling the pinch of present and threatened prices for motor spirit.
For Snow Removal.
The engineer to an important Metropolitan Highways Department asks us to ascertain if any. owners of motor lorries are inclined to register their machines with him, in order that they may be called up for emergency service on snow removal. It is suggested that a certain number of suitable vehicles are likely to be out of service when the snowfall is heavy, and could therefore be usefully employed in this way. We shall be nleased to put any of our readers in touch with the gentleman who is inquiring. Rubber tires are a sine qua non.
The Borough Engineer of Hackney calculates that, on the basis of 3d. per mile, the tax paid on petrol used by the L.G.O. vehicles running within the borough would amount to £2750 per annum. But why 3d. per mile?
With reference to a paragraph in our .issue for the 3rd October, in which we recommended a corre spondent to apply to D. Napier and Son, Ltd., with reference to the purchase of a private-hire cab, we arc asked to make it clear that S. F.
Edge, Ltd., has the sole rights to the Napier output in respect of cabs, and that we should have referred our correspondent to the last-mentioned company.
French Splashguard Tests.
The Paris General Omnibus Co. has an embarrassing choice, for in reply to its request for splashguards, no fewer than 200 different projects have been submitted. These will be examined by the engineers of the company. The date of this trial has not been announced. Independently of this competition, the Automobile Club of Seine and Oise will hold a splashauard competition at. Versailles on Saturday and Sunday. 2nd and 3rd of November. On the first day each set of splashguards must make a run from Versailles to Chartres and back, a distance of about 60 miles over very fast roads, in order to test their solidity. Ten points will be. awarded as the maximum in this test. On the Sunday the efficacy of the appliances against mud flinging in a lateral direction will be tested, also the ability of the guards to stand prolonged contact with the edge of the footpath without deterioration. Appearance and ease of attachment will also count. Polack's New Manchester Depot.
We are advised that owing to the difficulty in getting delivery of the' necessary tire presses, the new Manchester depot of the Polack Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., situated in Wood Street, Dearisgate, will not be opened quite as soon as was anticipated, A Reply to Richmond.
Mr. Lloyd George, in reply to a question put by Mr. Camel, M.P.. said that a copy of the resolution passed by the meeting of Metropolitan Road Authorities at the recent Richmond conference, had reached him, but that he did not propose to take any action in the matter pending the general settlement of the question of Imperial and local taxation.
" The Cyclecar."
No. 1 of "The Cyclecar " is announced. It will be published shortly by the proprietors of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, and will foster the very newest phase of motoring —the cult of the miniature car, the motor in its simplest form. The eyclecar is really an outcome of the motor-bicycle ; it is a machine with three or four wheels. built on the simplest motorcycle lines. Readers of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR are already familiar with the parcelcar, which is the commercial type of cyclecar. Its handiness is even more strikingly illustrated in the pleasure machine, while further advantages offered to devotees of "the new motoring" are low first cost, economy of upkeep, and convenience of storage. It is quite distinct from what is known as "the light car," with which it must not be confused. No doubt, in time, many cyclecars, other than threewheelers, will be fitted with light van bodies, and the progress of the new movement will not be without interest to those who have profited by the low running costs of the parcelear. Many motor engineering problems are presented in the construction of the cyclecar, especially the transmission, which already offers belt, chain, shaft and friction drive in the 50 different types now manufactured. These will be well illustrated in "The Cyclecar Manual." with which will be incorporated " CycIecars of 1913," a new handbook to be produced shortly by the publishers of "The Cycleear," _Temple Press Ltd., 7-15, Rosebery A.venue, London. E.C.