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News and Comment.
This journal is extensively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses.
The present issue has designedly much of its contents devoted to steam wagon usage. Further articles on petrol-vehicle operations will appear in our next issue.
Vans for Town Use.
Perhaps the latest instance of additional purchase for town use concerns a repeat order by the Great Western Railway Co. —a pioneer in this regardfor no fewer than 24 additional Straker-Squire parcel. van chassis, each capable of carrying a maximum load of 25 cwt. This repeat order brings the fleet of Straker-Squire vehicles in the service of the G.W.R. up to a total of 60, and its significance cannot be underrated.
The French Salon.
Commercial motors are, after all, to be given special accommodation in connection with this year's Paris Salon. A building will be constructed for the purpose in the Cours in Reine, adjoining the Grand Palais. The dates of the exhibition will be the 17th-27th October. The earlier evidences of hesitancy, on the ground of spoiling the amenities of the neighbourhood, appear to have been overcome. This sacrifice of msthetie scruples will probably be of real advantage to French makers, whilst not a few British makers are likely to pay a visit.
Manchester Advances.
One strong feature of the past few months, in commercial-motor circles, has been the very satisfactory progress of the Manchester, Liverpool and Counties C.M.U.A. 'The activity of the committee of that body, and above all of its chairman, Mr. R. C. Reynolds (Bleachers Association) and its secretary, Mr. Ellis Green, F.C.A., has brought about this creditable result. The energy of the Cornmittee as a whole, as well as the personal canvassing by individual members, has been remarkable. The local membership has now roached a total of 71, and we strongly recommend readers who centre on Manchester or Liverpool to get into touch with Mr. Ellis Green, at Cromwell Buildings, Blackfriars Street, in the cotton city. The payment of two guineas, of which one guinea is entrance fee, will, as from the 1st prox., cover any member to the end of the year 1914. That point is of some importance. Two new_C.M.U.A. Badges.
The issue of badges by the C.M.LI. A. has hitherto been confined to vehicle badges. At the request of it number of members and drivers, personal badges have now been struck—as above. A demand has been found to exist, both from members and drivers, for a means of distinguishing and recognizing one another at meetings, motor shows, on the road, etc. These badges, of which we make reproductions herewith, may be termed small editions of the vehicle badge. The memb?r's badge, which is the exact size of our illustration„ is made in solid silver, and red, white and blue enamel, with pin attachment ; the price is 5s. The driver's badge, the size and style of whinh is also indicated herewith, is in gilding metal, with the usual quartered centre. and with button-hole (stud) attachment ; the price is is. We are asked by the Secretary of the Association to state that orders will be executed in strict rotation.
In the ease of drivers, it will be an easy matter to adapt a badge so as to wear it upon the watch chain, and NVP anticipatthat this class of badge may also prove to be wanted in the near future.
Reflecting Mirrors.
Unless some means of indicating the presence of overtaking traffic by the use of a reflecting mirror is found to be practicable in all eases of commercial-motor use, both with and without trailers, it seems not unlikely that there will be an increasing demand for, and a growing measure of Departmental inclination in favour of, a communication cord between the back of any motor unit and the driver. Such a regulation would involve the employment of a boy or man to travel tit the back of the vehicle, and it would undoubtedly add considerably to the working cost—in some cases to a point that could not be borne by the owner.
A sub-committee of the C.M.U.A. is, as we have already reported, looking into this matter of mirror arrangement, and any readers who may care to submit suggestions are invited to do so—direct to the Secretary of the Association.
A Useful Press.
Frank Newton, Ltd., the wellknown automobile engineer of Northampton, informs us that a 150-ton Hollings and Guest hydraulic solid-tire press has now been installed at its premises. Mr. Frank Newton believes that this is the only press of its kind within a. radius of 40 miles of Northampton ; it should, therefore, be wanted. Vehicles at the Bakers' and Confectioners Show.
The 21st annual Confectioners, Bakers, and Allied Trades Exhibition was held last week at the Agricultural Hall, London. Confectioners and bakers are daily recognizing the importance of mechanically-propelled vehicles for quick transport and delivery purposes, and undoubtedly these trades offer a good market for this class of vehicle, from the light van, for the ordinary baker's delivery purposes, to the miller's five-ton wagon for the transport of the producer's raw material.
Exhibits of interest to our readers were staged by Eaden's,
Ltd., Wm. Allchin, Ltd., R.G. Motor Co., Ltd., and the Dispatch Carrier Co., Ltd. Fodens, Ltd., displayed a three-ton wagon, being a repeat order for Pound Bros., of Caine. This machine was shod with Polack rubber tires which considerably added to the smart appearance of the machine. Wm. Al!chin, Ltd., had on view one of its five-ton standard wagons. The wagon had cast-steel wheels, and had been sold to A. A. Clarke arid Co., general carriers, of Grimsby. The R.G. Motor Co., Ltd., staged a 10-cwt. express-delivery van, designed and built throughout in London and marketed at £193. A good feature on this stand that attracted attention was the inclusion of a crankshaft, cylinder castings and other parts. This handy vehicle was
fully described and illustrated in our issue for the 7th August. A smart three-wheeled G'irling parcel
ear was staged by the Dispatch Carrier Co., Ltd., of Southwark Bridge Road, S.E. The van was of 5-cwt. load capacity and had been sold to W. and R. Jacob and Co., Ltd., the well-known biscuit manufacturers.
Inst. A.E.
Mr. J. S. Critchley, the President-elect of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, will give his presidential address at the opening meeting of the new session, on the sib prox. The ordinary monthly meetings for the session are announced to be held on the second Wednesday in each month thereafter.