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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY

"The wheel ei of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.

Celebrating the Centenary of the Bus.

We have already announced that this year witnesses the centenary of the London omnibus which, as a type, first plied for public hire on July 4th, 1829. In connection with the event, which will be celebrated on July 6th, we learn that the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., in co-operation with Thomas Tilling, Ltd., is making arrangements for a procession of certain types of horse and motorbus which have been regularly employed in London for the past 100 years. It is said that a replica of the original Shillibeer bus is being constructed for the event, whilst other early types will be displayed.

For three days in the following week the early types of omnibus will run on their old routes to and from the Bank. A fiat rate of 1s. will he charged to passengers using the vehicles, and everyone of them will, we are told, be presented with a replica of The Morning Post or The Times of 100 years ago.

Death of a Pioneer.

It is with deep regret that we learn of the death of Dr. T. Blackwood Murray, the late chairman of the board of directors of the Albion Motor .Car Co., Ltd., who passed away on June 11th at Montana, Switzerland, after a long illness.

We had occasion to publish Dr. Murray's portrait in our issue dated May 14th, and in an accompanying paragraph referred to the long assoCiation which he had had with the transport industry, his experience with motor vehicles dating back to the very earliest days. Dr. Murray had always displayed considerable interest in all engineering matters and had been actively connected with the work of numerous important organizations and institutions. He was a prolific inventor, especially with regard to devices for use on motor vehicles.

Linking up England and Scotland by Bus.

We are informed that the Northallerton Omnibus Co., Ltd., a concern founded just over two years ago, has joined the British Roadways, Ltd., and will play . its part in the important scheme planned by that undertaking for linking up England and Scotland by a comprehensive network of motorbus services. The Northallerton Omnibus Co., Ltd., will be responsible for the route between Northallerton and Kirby Lons. dale, where connections will be made with other services for Blackpool, Morecambe and various other Lancashire centres.

Traffic Diversion: Its Effect on Side Roads.

The highways committee of the Southwark Borough Council reports that the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee has had under consideration the question of damage occi.sioned to subsidiary roads when they are temporarily used as alterna 1)20

rive routes for main-road traffic while the main roads are under repair.

Such roads are usually unclassified, in consequence the councils concerned have to bear the whole cost of reconstruction. The standing joint committee has communicatedT with the Minister of Transport requesting that when the block grants proposed by the Local Government Act, 1929, are revised at the expiration of the first quinquennium provision be made for allowing emergency grants to metropolitan borough councils to meet the cost of repairs to subsidiary roads damaged in this way.

A Coach Booking Agents' Association?

A meeting of motor-coach booking agents was convened on Wednesday last, at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4, and there was a highly

satisfactory attendance. An association of agents was establishes about a year ago, but this has now been dissolved. The object of the conference was to ascertain whether agents desired' to form a body which would prevent undercutting and which would protect its members in other ways. It was decided that such an organization was necessary and a•number of enthusiastic agents was recomniended for inclusion in the temporary committee which would investigate the matter.

A Tractor Demonstration in Evesham.

A demonstration of tractors and other machinery associated with agriculture was held recently at Evesham, under the auspices of the Ministry of Agrirs.lture, for the purpose of showing the capabilities of power equipment in fruit and vegetable growing. Three tractors, the new Fordson, the Rushton and the Caterpillar, were the principal machines demonstrated, together with several adapted Fordsons and small single-row appliances, including the Beeman and the Auto-Culto. -Bigger machines than these mentioned are useless at Evesham, as they must be 'able to get under and between the trees.

Burton to Abandon Its Tramways. •

The public works and tramways subcommittee of the Burton-on-Trent Corporation has resolved unanimously to recommend that steps be taken to abandon, as early as possible, the whole of

the tramways in the borough. The sub-committee has considered the question of substituting the tramway service by either trolley-buses or motorbuses, and has decided to recommend that the latter type of vehicle be

adopted. .

The tramway and bus manager has submitted a design of a type of vehicle which he proposes should be used, together with quotations obtained from three companies for the supply of buses with four-cylinder engines for use on the ordinary routes and with sixcylindered. engines for the Winshill route. As a result, the sub-committee has decided to recommend the acceptance of the quotation of Guy Motors, Ltd., for ten 26-seater buses, equipped with 38-60 h.p. engines, for the Horninglow and Stapenhill routes,. and for eight 26-seater buses, with 45-75 h.p. entities, for the •Winshill -route. The value of the contract is over 123,000.

Tenders for Liverpool's Buses.

The tramways and electric power and lighting committee of the Liverpool Corporation has recently recommended the acceptance of tenders for the supply of 50 motorbus chassis. It is suggested that John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., should supply 10 sixwheeled chassis at 11,008 each and five four-wheeled chassis at 1824 each; Karrier Motors, Ltd., 20 six-wheeled chassis at £1,099 each and Guy Motors, Ltd., 10 six-wheeled chassis and five four-wheeled chassis.

A New Scottish Coastal Service.

As from June 10th the Sccittish General Transport Co., Ltd., of. Kilmarnock, and the Caledonian Omnibus Co., Ltd., of Stranraer, have been operating a daily coastal service from Glasgow and Port Patrick.

Ransomes' Report.

The report o Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., for the year ended March 31st last shows a profit of £21,112, to which has to be added a sum of £52,822 brought in from the previous year, making a total of £73,934. A dividend paid on the preference shares to December 31st, 1928, absorbs £11,000. A sum of 112,500 is to be applied as a dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 2k per cent, leaving a balance of I.:10,434 to be carried forward.

Road and Rail Combine in Scotland.

From statements which have appeared in certain sections of the Scottish Press it would appear, that negotiations are taking place between the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., the London and North-Eastern Railway Co. and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. with the object of forming a combine.

Personal Pars.

In the neW Government Mr. Herbert Morrison, M.P., has been appointed Minister of Transport, Mr. G. F. Stedman, MC., acting as his private secretary. We publish a portrait of Mr. Morrison on page 643 of this issue.

One of the best-known personalities amongst London's transport chiefs is Mr. J. K. Brimlow, M.I.A.E., who is the chief engineer of McNamara and Co. (1921), Ltd., a concern which has extensive contracts for the carrying of the inner London mails and for transport of many merchant and banking houses.

Mr. Brienlow was one of the original members of the Scottish Automobile Club. He has spent most of his business life in the road-transport industry, and for the past 30 years has held the position of chief engineer to important commercial motor undertakings-25 years in London. He has been associated with his present company for a period of 15 years. during which he has played a big part in connection with the company's progress and development. He must be one of the very limited number of road-transport engineers who have actively served the industry throughout the stages of its evolution. Some of the phases of the work undertaken by his company are referred to in an article in this issue. ,

It is fitting that in an issue devoted very largely to the heavy haulage side of the industry we should publish a portrait of Mr. E. C. Marston, who, with Mr. S. R. Marston, is a managing director, of Marstons Road Services, Ltd., of Liverpool. Mr. Marston has been engaged in the transport world during the whole of his business career and in the past two years he has taken a prominent part in the development of the heavy-haulage section of the company which bears his name. He took the risk, in conjunction with Scammeli Lorries, Ltd., in developing the idea of the possibility of a 100-ton petroldriven machine.

Some years ago, while interested in transport matters, Mr. Marston was a director of 22 companies, but he relinquished most of these appointments in order to devote himself solely to road transport. Certain classes of _work which the company is often called upon to execute are pictorially indicated elsewhere in this issue. .

W.D. Specification Alteration.

We have received from the Chief Inspector of Armaments at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, a copy of War Department specification No. 30C, which supersedes specification No.

30B. This specification is for the War Department subsidy-type mediumcapacity rigid-frame six-wheeled lorry, and the constructional requirements of the Department are clearly set out.

Plymouth Bus Profits.

The accounts of the Plymouth Corporation for the year ended March 31st last show a gross profit of £24,072 on the bus undertaking, the total revenue being 192,774, or 11.242d. per bus-mile. Under the heading of expenditure, traffic items absorbed £29,104, cost of maintenance and repairs £21,237, cost of petrol £14,895 and general expenses £3,436. The total mileage covered by the fleet of buses was 1,979,855.

Barge Haulage by Electric Tractor.

The French _Office National de la Navigation has put forward a proposal that to speed up the traffic on the canal between the Rivers Marne and Rhine electric tractors running on the canal banks should be used for the haulage of the barges. These machines are already in use in Northern France and are being adopted on the canal between the Rivers Rhine and Rhone.

Big Hire-purchase Business in Corn . mercial Motors.

At the recent annual meeting of the United Motor Finance Corporation, Ltd., in London, the, chairman stated that during the past year the Corporation had bought for cash and resold under hire-purchase agreements over £500,000 worth of commercial-motor vehicles and that the loss due to failure to pay regular instalments had amounted to only 8s. 9d. per £100.

A New Bussing Five-tonner.

The Bussing Automobilwerke Gesellschaft, of Brunswick, Germany, has just announced the introduction of an improved 5-ton lorry chassis. It incorporates a six-cylindered engine, develop ing 80-90 h.p. at the relatively low speed of 1,000 r.p.m. Amongst the improvements are the fitting of exceptionally powerful servo-operated brakes on all four wheels, chrome-nickel steel front and rear axles, and disc wheels having cushion tyres, interchangeable with G. F. Simplex cast-steel wheels and pneumatic tyres.

Maidstone and District Services Profits.

It is reported that the net profit of the Maidstone and District Motor Services' Ltd., for the period ended March 31st last was £39,518, this figure contrasting with £50,665 in the preceding year. As £15,443 were brought forward, the total sum available is £54,961, a figure which compares with £62,942 for 1927-28. A Emil dividend on the ordinary shares is recommended, this making, with the interim dividend already paid, 121 per cent,, for the year. The amount which is to be carried forward to the next ac, counts is £15,800. Death of Mr. J. M. Strachan.

We very much regret to annouuce the death of Mr. J. M. Strachan, head of Messrs. Strachans, the well-known coachbuilders of North Acton. Mr. Strachan underwent a serious operation three years ago, but he had recovered and resumed active control of the business until the end of 1928, since when he had been in indifferent health, but it was not until recently that it was realized he was seriously ill.

Born at Medians, near Aberdeen, 66 years ago, James Marshall Strachan was a man of outstanding character and abounding energy. He had been connected With the engineering and motor trades all his life and in many respects may truly be said to have been a pioneer. He was early in the field in the coachhuilding industry, and realizing the possibilities in connection with passenger vehicles, he . had in recent years devoted his energies with considerable success to the building of bus and coach bodies. The factory at Acton has been responsible for some of the most up-to-date types of Passenger vehicle, and is to-day giving regular .employment to between 500 and 600 persons, a sufficient testimony to Mr. Strachan's abilities.

Mr. Strachan was always a far-seeing man ; he produced one of the earliest types of roll-top roof for motorbuses which is still being built to-day. Also, we believe, he was personally responsible for the first covered-top doubledeck bus—this was some years ago and when the authorities would not consider this type of vehicle for public service in London, Novel Advertising Signs.

Although readers • may be well acquainted with the type of sign which makes use of reflected natural light for advertising .purposes, that Which provides a constant change of wording and colour is rather unusual. Signs of the latter design are constructed by Mechanical Super-Signs, Ltd., of Bridge Street, Guildford, Surrey, and this con:cern markets two models, one being of the stationary type, which is usually suspended outside business.premises. The other pattern may be employed on motor vehicles and utilizes the partial vacuum in the inlet pipe of the engine of a vehicle, whilst the former is operated by current from electric mains. The suction motor of the vehicle-type sign remains in action so long as the engine is running.

The standard model of the motor vehicle type is of a size suitable to meet general requirements and the letters can be read at a maximum distance of 80 yards. The cost is £15, whilst the senior model of the same pattern is Priced at £21 10s.

Lower Operating Costs for a Municipal Fleet.

. The annual report of the transport manager of the Rotherhatn Corporation states that during the year ended March 31st last the motor vehicles of the corporation ran a total mileage of 54,513, as against 41,664 in the previous year. The total operating costs were £1,370, as against £1,280, representing 7.21d. per . mile, as against 7.466. per mile the previous year, which is considered remarkably good, bearing in mind the fact that petrol costs have increaseti from 0.55d. per mile to 0.8d. per mile.

Motor Spirit from Coal.

Preliminary work has now, begun in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, with the object of establishing centres for distilling oil and motor fuel from coal. Petroleum Refineries, Ltd.; with a capital of £500,000, has decided to lay down an extensive plant at Killinghoime for extracting motor spirit and bunker oils from the by-products of lowtemperature carbonization. There are available at the many pits in the Midlands immense deposits of coal slack which, although practically unsaleable as fuel, may be turned to profitable commercial account, and which can be had almost for the cost of Carrying. The refineries are to be set up -upon a site covering 534 acres. The Askern Colliery pithead at Doncaster is being utilized for similar operations.

Exide Service Agents' Convention.

Early last week the ninth anaual Exide service agents' convention was held at Brighton and proved a highly successful event, no fewer than 400 delegates being present, representing Europe, Africa, Australia and the Far East, in addition to Great Britain. The delegates were accorded a civic welcome by the Mayor of Brighton, Alderman II. J. Galliers, J.P., whose firm, incidentally, is responsible for Exide service in Brighton, Hove and Worthing. On Tuesday evening a dinner was held at the Royal Pavilion, at which some interesting speeches were made by the Mayor, Mr. D. P. Dunne, Mr. G. S. Harvey and Mr. John Roberts. The convention has served the purpose of co-ordinating the ideas of the delegates and of forming sales and service policy for the ensuing year, in addition to constituting a very pleasant social event for those who attended.

Ribble Services Results.

In September last Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., offered £200,000 preference capital for public subscription, and for this reason the first report to be issued after that date is of more than ordinary interest. The company has developed a network of services which is most extensive and some idea of its remarkable expansion ran be gathered from the fact that gross revenue rose from £474,043 in 1927-28 to £669,100 in the year ended March 31st last. It is worth recalling that a matter of seven years ago the comparable figure was only £54,000. The ordinary dividend for the past year remains at 10 per cent.

Specialists in Passenger-vehiele Seats.

Elion and Robbins, Ltd„ Canal Street Mills, Long Eaton, Nottingham, a concern which specializes in spring cushions and different types of seat for Use in motor vehicles, announces that it has incorporated the old-established firm of Messrs. R. ' E. Forster, of Warring-ton, who are well known as railway contractors, bus trimmers and upholsterers. The company mentions that it is prepared to execute orders for completely trimmed seats for buses and coaches at reasonable terms and in this connection it claims that Forster's patent spring-edge bus seat offers . the utmost comfort and reliability to passengers.