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News and Comment.

18th June 1914, Page 13
18th June 1914
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Page 13, 18th June 1914 — News and Comment.
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Topical Subjects.

Our leading articles this week deal with the following topical sub jects: " Next Year's London Parade; " (i) " Cheapening the Cost of Road Repair ; " and (3) "This Year's Royal Show."

Eleetrics at Birmingham.

On Tuesday last, the 16th inst., there was an interesting demonstration with battery-driven vehicles in Birmingham. Some of the chicks had reached Birmingham by road, and the demonstration hpgan in front of the works of the General Electric Co. at Witton. The Electric Vehicle Committee of the Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association was responsible for the organization.

Manchester Corporation Bill.

The petition of the Manchester Carriers Association, of Mr. Wm. Stanway, and other opponents of certain traffic-control proposals or the. Manchester City Council, is now in circulation. We trust that the campaign, of which this petition is the chief evidence, will be liberally supported by the Manches ter. Liverpool and • Counties the Tneorporated C.M.U.A., and the S.M.M.T. The future of the independently-owned, self-propelled vehicle may be seriously handicapped in Manchester if the local Tramways Committees secure the control which they seek.

Liverpool's Interest.

Lord Derby attended the 64th annual meeting of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, held at the Liverpool Town Hall, under the chairmanship of the Lord Mayor, on the 12th inst. He moved the adoption of the annual report, and, made reference to the growing importance of revised facilities at the Liverpool Docks. Sir Helenus Robertson, chairman of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, in seconding the motion for the adoption of the report, said that " his own feeling was that the solution of the many difficulties in that Itespect was to be found in the wider use of motor transport." Sir Owen, Phillips, in supporting the resolution, also made reference to the claims of road haulage. The Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has for many years been aetive in investigating matters connected with the improvement of. Liverpool's transport facilities, and the real difficulties by which it is confronted are found in the body of old-fashioned custom which • has grown up by usage amongst masterporters and eartowners, under which practices no preference is, so far, given to high-speed motor lorries engaged upon long-distance work, with the result that their advantages are largely nullified, as compared with slower horse-cumrail methods.

C.M.U.A. Committee.

The usual monthly meeting of the General Committee of the C.M. U.A. was held at 89, Pall Mall, S.W., on Wednesday, the 10th inst.

Ereqrat..• -Colonel R. E. Crompton (chairman), Colonel T. J. Kearns, Major T-T. C. Wilder, Messrs. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith, Geo. Arnold, Herbert Cannon, L. G. Oldfield, B. Huniphrey, W. Wolsey, junr., Geo.

F. Fry, Pula, F. R. de Bertodano, A. 11. Scammell, D. S. Kennedy, A. Redgvave, E. Percy Beavan E. W. Rudd, H. W. Wigan, J. C. Mitchell,

and E. G. Bristow (secretary).• rt-Cha e —On the motion

of Mr. D. S. Kennedy, seconded by Mr. Shrapnell-Smith, it was re solved that Brigadier-General S. S. Long and Mr. H. W. Wigan should be elected vice-chairmen of the

a Jaeoran, it tee an A UOi?IObile Thrtails. It was resolved that Mr.

D. S. Kennedy and Mr. G. W. -Watson should represent the C. M. I.' .A. on this sub-committee. IFer/ru V ell irle C M it tee .Mr.

E. S. Shrapnell-Smith reported his attendance at meetings of this committer held in Birmingham on the 22rd May, and on his motion it was resolved that the sum of 25 5s. be, contributed for the year 1914.

if,, urhester r pOra t B (-ss ion 1914). — Attention was drawn to the proposal of the Manchester Tramways Committee to pay 2d. per mile run to certain local authorities in respect of projected motorbus services.

Po rode Comm ittre .---The report of the Parade Committee was received. The committee recommended the General Committee to hold the Annual Parade again, in London next year, and also to con sider the question of holding parades in the Provinces. The report and recommendations were adopted, and votes of thanks passed to the Parade Committee and officers for the valuable services thy had rendered in the organization of the Parade.

A`eir Menthers.—Twenty-five new were elected.

French W.O. Trials.

There are 112 commercial motors entered for the French Army trials, which are to begin on the 29iii inst. Pressure on our space prevents our giving the list. In last year's four-wheel-drive tests, _Lath secured first place in the light section, and Renault first place in the heavy section.

New Registrations.

Oxford Motors, 'Ltd. (23(I00), by Messrs. Whittingham-Jones and Ardran, of 41, Castle Street, Liverpool. Business, motorvan and omnibus manufacturers. First directors W. F. Parker and E. Gofton.

A.B.C. Road Motors (1914). Ltd. (230,000). with its office at 11, Southampton Row, W. C. Object, to acquire business formerly carried on by the A.B.C. Road Motors, Ltd. First '.directors : R. L. Char. tens, H. T. Knox, M. F. Yorke, H. Weld-Blundell and F. Maclean.

Pratt's Spirit by Road Motor.

The Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., is also forging ahead with purchases of commercial motor vehicles for the conveyance of motor spirit.

This newly-developed activity on the part of motor-spirit companies has in our judgment been somewhat unduly delayed, but there may be internal reasons. Orders have now been placed, to a very considerable total number, for vehicles with load capacities of two, three and four tons, respectively, for the transportation of Pratt's spirit in bulk and also in two-gallon cans, with the following makers :—Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd. ; Austin Motor Car Co., Ltd. ; Clayton and Co. (Huddersfield), Ltd. ; Commercial Cars, Ltd. ; Daimler Co., Ltd. ; Dennis Bros. (1913), Ltd. ; J. and E. Hall, Ltd. ; Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd. ; Leyland Motors, Ltd. ; MM. Panhard and Levassor ; Star Engineering Co., Ltd. ; Sidney Straker and Squire, Ltd. ; Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Co., Ltd. News and Comment—con, Motors and Road Construction.

Activity in road-construction work throughout the country is steadily augmenting the demand for road motors of all classes. This is in part due to the thoroughness with which attention was directed to the merits of motor haulage and conveyance in the municipal section of our issue of the 17th July last.

Recent McCurd Deliveries.

Amonist recert deliveries of the McCurd lorries, we are interested to learn of orders being fulfilled for Messrs. Watney, Coombe and Reid, Messrs. C. and G. Yeoman, contractors, Canterbury, and Mr. A. W. Berry, of Colchester. Mr. McCurd tells us that he can give delivery of one 28-seated char-h-bancs within a week. This should interest jobmasters whose facilities for this present season are not all they might desire.

Edison Accumulators.

An interesting booklet, entitled " All About Edison Accumulators," has been issued by Edison Accumulators, Ltd., of 2 and 3, Duke Street, Piccadilly, S.W. Copies will be supplied on receipt of written application by any interested party.

We are convinced that many motor agents and garage proprietors will do well to take into account the good points of the Edison battery for a variety of purposes with which they are very directly 'concerned. Edison cells promise to lead the way.

Improvised Tail Light.

" Lux Mundi" sends the following interesting note : —I happen to live in a part of Yorkshire where heavy motorists have all sorts of licence and leniency, as regards theirspeeds, and I have my doubts as to whether the loads are always within the legally-prescribed limits as regards both front-axle wr...ghts and rear-axle weights. But I saw a new sort of liberty taken the other night, shortly after the stipulated hour for lighting up. A steam tractor and trailer did not reach home by lamp-lighting time. The driver and his mate must. have been in one of two difficulties either they had no rear lamp, or the thing was un lightable. The handyman, therefore, obtained a. piece of tow or pitch-rope, lighted that, and with the rather striking flare walked at the hack of the trailer, giving

warning to overtaking vehicles. It was a simple and inexpensive makeshift. I want to ask : Was it legal? Does not the law say that a rear-light must be red 1 [The expedient did not meet all

legal requirements, but was no A Lacre pantechnicon, fully loaded, on top of the Davil's Elbw, doubt effective.—En.1

c12 Lacres in Scotland.

Service on Scottish roads is known to be of a severe character, and some of the roads in Perthshire and north of it provide good tests of reliability, engine power, and sturdiness of construction. We have chosen from a serks of photographs the one which is reproduced herewith. It shows a four-ton Lacre pantechnicon, owned by Messrs. Thomas Love and Sons, of Perth, while between Perth and .Braemar, with a big load of furniture. The view was obtained on the famous Devil's Elbow, some 2200 .ft. above the sea. There is a steady rise from Blairgowrie to the top of this hill, over a distance of approximately 13 .miles, and this rise incidentally is a stiff test of the water circulation. Several of the bends are of hairpin character, and their successful negotiation with a pantechnicon of 1* ft. wheelbase is only accomplished with facility when a goodsteering lock is available. The vehicle which we illustrate did the double journey be

tween Perth and Braemar in a single day, loaded both ways, and the owners have recently placed a repeat order for chassis of the same make.

Commerears in Toronto.

Industrial Motor Trucks, Ltd., recently supplied a seven-ton Cornmercar to the Hudson Motor Transport Co. of Toronto. The vehicle is fitted with a specially-designed dump-body, suitable for coal, sand, gravel, etc., which is supported on rollers fitted to a simple platformbcdy ; as the dump-body can with ease be entirely removed the machine can be used for a variety of purposes.

The British American Oil Co. has placed an order for a five-ton Cornmercar fitted with a tank body ; thin vehicle will be the first motor tankwagon in Toronto. The company is also in possession of a Commercar lorry which it nurchased last year for the delivery of oils, greases, etc. Events indicate a growing demand here.

More Albion Deliveries in Hull. Since we iaeluderi Hull in our " Big Cities " series, more •Albion vehicles have been adde.d 'to the lists which concern the district, Of these, we may specially mention the 15 b.p. 10-cwt, van and the 20 lip. 30-cwt. van which have been supplied, to fill repeat sales, to B. Field and Sons, Ltd., a leading :Humberside grocery company.

The Scottish Motor Traction Co.'s New Showrooms.

An interesting function was held on the 10th inst., in Edinburgh, when the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., opened its new showrooms at150, Lothian Road. Dueing the day, many well-known members of the motor fraternity and the motor trade visited the pre!irises and inspected the equipment showfl by the company. The company's motorbus and motor-hiring departments continue to flourish. U.S., Searchlights.

A special petrol-electric motor wagon, designed for the haulage and operation of powerful electric searchlights, has recently been completed to the order of the American Naval authorities by the Couple Gear Freight Wheel Co., of Grand Rapids, Mich. The engine

a -four-cylinder one of a bore and stroke of 5i ins. by 6 ins.—is not located at the front of the chassis as usual, but under a bonnet at the rear of the driver's seat. It is coupled direct to a 13-kilowatt generator, which not only supplies the necessary current for the searchlight, but also for the propulsion of the wagon, each of the road wheels having an electric motor built up with it. The hubs of the wheels are also fitted with capstan, heads, Si) that the vehicle can, by means of a cable, pull itself out of any soft places that may be encountered in the road, At the rear of the wagon are two reels; on these

are wound lengths of electric cable, which feed the current to the searchlight or other electrical apparatus. The vehicle, which can attain a speed of 15 miles per hour, is also provided with a two-wheel trailer, on the platform of which the searchlight is mounted.

Coal Depots.

The organization of roadside supplies of coal, by Bradbury, Son and Co., Ltd., is being continued vigorously. This Company has now issued the sixth edition of its booklet of Dowlais-Merthyr motor coal depots. We observe that. the list has been largely augmented since the fifth edition was published, and we are advised that copies will be supplied, post free, to any owners of steam wagons, tractors or traction engines, on application to the company, by letter or otherwise, at 7, 'Victoria Street, London.

Bakery Halleys.

One of the. latest deliveries of a Halley van ta a bakery undertaking is that of a 30-cwt. vehicle to Mont

gomerie and Ltd., of the Beenudine Bakery, Co.,lasgow. The van is handsomely finished, in green and gold, with all the metal parts heavily electro-plated. An elaborate outfit of accessories and fittings has been supplied ; an up-todate electric starting and lighting set is included, with each lamp con

trolled by a separate switch. A thumb lever on the steering column controls a mechanical blower which operates the hooter.

A Boiler Mishap.

The Board of Trade has issuee its report on an inquiry into the circumstances attending i.n explosion from the boiler of a traction engine at Win-field, Berks., in February last. The boiler, which is •rf the portable locomotive type, mad, of steel—with the exception of the stays, which are of iron, was made by John Fowler and Co., Ltd. Leeds, in 1909. In his observations the Board's Engineer Surveyor-inChief (Mr. A Boyle) states that the explosion was due to the threads of the plug and the hole into which it was screwed having become so worn as to be insufficient to retain the plug in position againstthe steam pressure. The tHeads of holes such as these are liable to be abraded by the rods inssrted when cleaning the boiler ; moreover, tapered plugs are apt to he screwed in position with the threads crossed. It is, therefore, preferable, Mr. Boyle thinks, for cleaning holes either to be made elliptical and provided in each case with a door, 5ointed from the inside of the boiler, fitted with a stud whereby it is secured by a nut to a dog placed externally across the hole, or furnished with a nozzle screwed with a male thread for receiving a cap-nut.


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