News and Comment.
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This journal commands advertisement support upon terms which do not inferior standing to its pages. admit traders of
Important points about castellated shafts arise in a paper which we report
on pages 107 to 409. , The motor show at Brussels does not appear to have caused undue excitement on the utility side—page 410.
Applications for space in the Implement Section of the It.A.S.E. Show (Nerwieh) must be lodged by the 20th March.
The first outcome of a recent visit to the works of the Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., will be found on pages 398 and 399.
The ballots for space at the North of England (Manchester) Show will take place to-morrow, the 20th inst., at 7 p.m.
On Saturday next, the 21st inst., representatives of the Conunercial Motor Users Association, the Crystal Palace Co., and the Committee of the Festival ot Empire will meet to discuss the preliminaries in connection with the proposal that this year's annual parade of commercial-motor vehicles and tractors should take place, on Whit-Monday, the 5th June, at the Crystal Palace.
No London Show.
We have something to say, on the first page of this issue, in regard to the aharelonment of the projected commereial-vehicle show, for March next, at Olympia. In spite of eonsicleralde promises of active support from manufacturers, it was probably felt that circumstances had run matters so close as Lo render effective organization a matter of considerable uncertainty, although this is not announced as being one of the official reasons for the cancellation of a fixture which the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders announced niany weeks ago.
Industrial Vehicles at Edinburgh.
The fourteenth annual Scottish Show opens its doors at the Waverley Market. Edinburgh, on Friday, the 27t Ii inst.. continuing until Saturday,
Felneiary. The exhibits will consist mainly of pleasure cars, but they will also comprise several examples of commercial ehicles. Among the makers of business vehicles who will he represented are the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., 1-1 nlleys industrial Meters. Ltd., and D. Stewart and
Co., Ltd. All the leading tire and supply firms will he directly represented. The exhibitors will number about 100. On the evening of the opening day the Scottish A.C. will hold its annual dinner at the North British Station Hotel, when Sir John II. A. Macdonald, K..C.B., " the grand old man of motoring," will preside.
Solex Carburetters.
Messrs. S. Wolf and Co., of 138, Southwark Street, SE., are now appointing sole agencies in various parts of the United Kingdom, and applications will be entertained from proprietors of garages or agents for motorvehicle manufacturers.
Berkshire Roads.
Any owner of commercial-motor vehicles or tractors, whose machines have ocension to traverse roads in the county of lierks., are recommended to apply by letter to the County Surveyor, Mr. J. Fred. Hawkins, Reading, for particulars of closed roads which are under reconstruction, and of mirrent variations in the lengths closed. We understand that Mr. Hawkins will send particulars, from tune to time., to any parties who satisfy him that the movements of their vehicles necessitate their being posted on the subject by him.
" Continental " Tires.
Thereat, many indiontions that the solid'India-rubber tires of '• Continental '' make will secure a better hold upon English customers, and that, before many months are past, sales will compare very well with the company's experiences in 1009 and 1910. We have been at a loss to know why this make of tire has not been more in favour with owners of vans and lorries, and we are quite satisfied that the old state of affairs has had nothing tip do with the quality of the company's goods, which is admitted to be excellent. Splendid records are in the hands of Mr. A. C. Kehler, and he will be most happy to place both quotations and testimonials before manufacturers, traders, and owners.
A recent publication, the contents of which are calculated to advance this branch of the interests of the Continental Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltsl., whose chief address is 102-108, Clerkenwell Road, E.C., has been in good request, and copies can be had on application. Although it is hut little more than two years since the company began to place its solid tires on the English market in systimath; fashion, the results to date are such that it can now rely upon the attainment of a fitting share of the trade, and one more in keeping with the company's general reputation.
Motorcars in Warfare.
The motoring correspondent of " The 'Westminster Gazette '' is, we are delighted to see, taking up the question of the efficient organization of motor transport for war purposes. This question is of national importance, particularly in reference to the adequate practising of drivers and troops. The condition precedent to success is a sufficiency of grants by the Treasury to enable the War Office to make purchases along standard lines, and thereafter to train the men of the Army Service Corps to their duties.
"Commer-Car" Sales.
Commercial Cars, Ltd., of Cambridge Circus, W.C., and Luton, continues to record sales on a satisfactory scale. There was a certain amount of interruption in December, due to the general election and the holiday season, or that month would otherwise have constituted a record in the company's history. From the lst ult. to date, apart front a few names of customers which have been omitted by request, the following orders have to be noted:—
Two-tonners (MC. type).—Six chassis for Adelaide; two chassis (repeat orders) for Denmark: two chassis for Melbourne; one van for St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society ; one .van for the West Calder Co-operative Society ; one van for Messrs. Bell and Co., of Paisley: the last three orders per the Lanarkshire Motor Co.
Three-tanners (Y.C. type), One lorry (repeat order), with paraffin carburetter, for the Imperial Russian War Office; one lorry for Messrs. R. Skaife and Co. (per Messrs. Grace and Sutcliffe, of Keighley); two lorries (repeat orders) for the U.S.A.; one lorry (repeat order) for Messrs. Phipps and Co., of Northampton ; one chassis (repeat order) for Melbourne; one lorry for Bombay. Four-tonnees (RC. type).--One lorry for Messrs. Jewsbiiry and Brown.
Five-Loaners (C.('. type).—One van for Crosse and Blackwell. Ltd.; one van (repeat order) for Friary, Holroyd and Healey. Ltd.; one van for Messrs. Noakes and Co.
Also, the company has booked an additional 16 six-ton vans for Lever Bros., LH., and five 31-ton chassis for the Great Western Railway Co., whilst references to its orders for passengerservice purposes will be found under " Motorbus World " in this issue. 'Prices of Dunlop motor tires have, we are informed, been materially reducecl this week.
Mot or van Progress.
General interest—to say nothing of the general purchases—in respect of motorvans is by no means limited to mrticular trades nowadays. Exten
sions of use by traders in all sections of industry and business are regarded as commonplaces. They are admitted to be in no small measure due to the missionary work, performed by this Journal, in the shape of the publication and cireulation of its several " Great Van Numbers," and of other issues which were specifically addressed in tens of thousands to potential users of vans all over the world. One of the latest converts is a wellknown firm of confectioners, Messrs. Batger and Co., whose 16 h.p. two-ton Albion vans we illustrate herewith. In Scotland, the old-established firm of Messrs. J. and W. Campbell and Co., wholesale warehousemen, of Glasgow, have ordered their fifth Albion van, which is good testimony to the performance which has been yielded by that firm's earlier purchases.
Singleton and Cu., Ltd., cigar manufacturers, of Birmingham, is the latest company to purchase a 20-cwt. Albion van, through the Albion Co.'s concessionnaire for the Birmingham district -Mr. C. L. Wells, of 3,. New Street. and the latest batch of orders for Albion vehicles includes one from Messrs. J. Dickinson and S011%, the well-known printers and stationers, of London, for two 25-cwt. vans, and a new.type, 32 h.p. vehicle, equipped as a tower wagon, for J oha nnesburg.
Municipal Leylands.
Like many other steam wagons which have had their origin in the Leyland works, the municipal steamer shown below is still sturdy and stout, and looks none the worse for the fact that it was purchased in 1005, and has been in constant use since that time. This vehicle has rendered such excellent service during something like 50,000 miles working, that the owners —the Wandsworth Borough Council— have some time since taken delivery of a second Leyland • steamer. The old wagon still works the southern quarter of the borough. All the Wandsworth B.C. highway officials speak well of this hardy old Leyland, which is still good for much useful service.
A Business Secretary on Motorvans.
Although his company has only recently gone in for motor delivery, Mr. F. Allison, the secretary of George Bice, Ltd., of 65, Queen Street, B.C., seems quite confident that in the outdoor progress of the company's business motorvans will play an important part in the future. In conversation with a contributor, Mr. Allison recently mentioned that most of his experience had been with a 10 cwt. 10 h.p. Napier, which had seen some 10 months of service. It runs on pneumatics, and is fast and useful. Most of this vehicle's work is in a very busy part of London, hut SO miles a, day are at times covered. Tires have not been found very troublesome as a Stepney is always carried, so that in the event of a puncture or burst, little delay is caused, In the future both this type of light van and the 30-40 cwt. " Commer-Car " vehicle will prove useful. Our picture of these two machines shows them ready for starting out in the morning. The heavier vehicle is doing from 40 to 50 miles a day at present. In addition to the city premises. Rices have two works in Stratford—Lett and Warton Roads; the vans are housed and repaired at Lett Bond,
New Registrations.
Miller Garage, ltd., with an authorized capital of £2,000 in £1 shares, and with its office at 450, Streatham Bill. S.W.. to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in cars. carriages and vehicles of all
kinds, etc. First directors: R. H. Miller (permanent governing director, subject to holding 50 shares), and A. E. Love.
Clarke Bros. (Leicester), Ltd., with an authorized capital of £5,000 in El. Flmes, by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., 116-117. Chancery Lane, W.C., to carry on the business of manufaeJaren; of and dealers in ears, cycles and other vehicles, etc., also to acquire the business carried on at Lower Free Lane, Leicester, as Clarke Bros. G. If. Clarke is permanent managing director. subject to holding £500 sha res.
Extension of a Well-known User's Fleet.
The delivery of a third de Thon
Ihilitoti Was recently accepted by Allen and Hanburfs. Ltd., the world-famed wholesale chemists of London and Ware. It is of striking appearance, and should prove an excellent advertisement for the lowlier. It is capable of carrying a load of 2 to 3 tons at useful speeds. The eltassis is one of the most-recent -types of the 2,-1h.p. model turned out from the Bateaux factory. The excellent photograph from which the aeeompanying reproduction has been prepared was taken by Mr. Reginald J. Hantmry.
A New Agricultural Motor.
The paper on agricultural motors which was read, by Mr. R. K. Hubbard, before the graduates section of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, which paper was reproduced in our issues of the 5th and 12th inst., has aroused considerable interest among builders and users of agricultural motors, and James B. Better and Sons, Ltd., of the Nautilus Works, Yeovil, hay, sent to us a number of interesting photographs of a new machine which it is marketing for 1911. One of these photographs is reproduced herewith. The engine is of the Potter horizontal type and gives
30 ; it is mounted on a channelsteel frame which is spring mounted over both the axles. Between the engine a ml axle there is a friction clutch and one intermediate shaft, on which shaft sire gearwheels which provide two elmng,es of gear ratio. The final drive to the live back axle is transmitted through a single 2,1 in. pitch Hans Renold chain. The radiator is rather interesting: it consists of a large coil of gilled tube, and inside the cylinder thus formed is a flat-bladed centrifugal fan.
With a load of from 8 to 10 tons. the rate of consumption of paraffin varies from lily to 2 gallons per hour, aceording to the state of the roads. Capital Performance with a Steam Tractor.
Included in the letters received one morning recently at the works of William Foster and Co., Ltd., of Wellington Foundry, Lincoln, was one from the owner of one of the newtype, spring-mounted Wellington tractors, enclosing a photograph of the machine, and a brief account of a performance which evidently filled him with pride in the possession of such a machine. In the course of his remarks, he stated that he had driven the tractor, which was hauling a sixton load of bark, along an exceedinglyrough by-road, through a watercourse 100 yards wide, while travolling through which the wheels sank into the gravel for a depth of 6 in., and finally up an incline of 1 in 6, the whole of which work the machine accomplished without having recourse to the winding cable. We reproduce a view of the machine at the foot of this page. No fewer than (535,000 Bosch magnetos have now been sold.
The mills of the Sirdar Rubber Co., Ltd., at Bradford-on-Avon, have been kept fully occupied, and it has been necessary to work overtime right through the recent holidays.
The Sungei Liang Rubber Co., Ltd., is one of the numerous plantation-rubber companies which expect to rely to a large extent upon motor transport for the transference of their productions from the estates to the ports of shipmen t.
What a "Cointner Car" Will Stand.
An instance of what a " Commer Car " will stand was demonstrated at Lee last week. In taking a curve on a sharp incline at too high a speed, the front wheels mounted the pavement and the projecting ends of the springs knocked two holes through the wall of a corner house. No damage was done to the vehicle (a five-tonner owned by Messrs. Vinsons). Shortly afterwards the machine proceeded on its way as though nothing unusual had happened. Other mishaps have occurred at the same spot, and part of the wall has assumed an inward bulge in consequence.
Records of a Go-ahead Scientific Institution.
The Institute of Metals has just published the fourth volume of its proceedings. The major portion of the journal consists of a series of papers of scientific interest which were read at the annual autumn meeting of the Institute, held in Glasgow, in September last. Valuable though these papers were when they were read, their utility is now vastly increased as a result of written communications which have been received since that date. The most-useful series of Abstracts of Papers melating to the nonferrous metals and the industries connected therewith, which was commenced in the second volume of the journal, has been continued and ampTi
fied in the volume under notice, and there are new 58 pages devoted to abstracts dealing with such subjects as ores and minerals, extraction of metals, electro-metallurgy, the properties of metals and alloys, analysis, testing and temperature measurement, statistics and bibliography. The journal is issued twice yearly, in June and December respectively, from the offices of the Iestitute, Caxton House, Westminster, S.W.
"Shell" Spirit for the South Pole.
Perhaps the most-striking of testimony to the sterling qualities of " Shell " motor spirit is that Captain R. F. Scott, R.N., leader of the 1910 British Antarctic Expedition, is taking a supply for use with his motor sledges. Captain Scott selected " Shell " because, in the preliminary tests on the snows of Norway, he found he could trust it, and, consequently, his orders went to the company which is responsible for its distribution. We reproduce, on page 412, a photograph which shows the spirit being loaded on to the " Terra Nova " at Sydney.
Motor Wagons in Paris.
In connection with the latest extensions of the Paris underground railway system, increased use is being made of motor vehicles. On the NorthSouth line, a portion of which has already been opened to the public, practically all the cartage is being done without the use of horses. The contractor in charge of this work is employing a fleet of Cohendet trucks; these are filled up at the mouth of the shaft in Paris and sent to a place in the suburbs about seven miles away where the refuse is discharged to fill up an exhausted quarry. The earth is tipped into shoots to he loaded into small strucks mounted on rails ; these are then drawn by horses to the portion of the quarry desired to be filled. A very-large amount of the upheaval of Paris streets is caused by the work being carried on underground, for the "Metro." is being extended in every direction. Now that the earth obtained from the borings has to be ear
tied dislences varying from five to Len miles, motor vehicles have proved themselves not only advantageous but almost indispensable. For the work in the centre of the city horse tennis were employed for a long time to carry the earth to river barges.
A Slur on British Motor Manufacturers.
At the meeting of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, on Saturday last, the Children's Committee reported that at the opening of the Infirmary it was ar'singed that both the distribution of food and stores and the cartage of coal, coke, refuse and heavy work generally should ho done by motor vehicles. Up to the present two had been supplied, one with a capacity of five ewt, and a second with a capacity of 25 cwt., and, in addition, a horse and van had been hired for the past twelve months. Prolonged experience had shown that the five-cwt. car was nut very well adapted for the needs of the institution, and it will probably be advisable to dispose of it, and a vehicle capable of carrying 35 cwt. is now required to complete the equipment; the hired horsed van will then be dispensed with. The, Engineer-in-Chief recently made extensive inquiries with a view to securing a suitable vehicle. Apparently the number of reliable firms was limited, and quotations had been received from two firms, viz., The Cedes Electric Traction, Ltd., 15, Cockspur Street, S.W. and Henry Simonis and Co., Pretoria Works, Walthamstow. The former firm were executing an order for three vehicles for the L.C.C. Fire Brigade after prolonged trials, and the latter have supplied vehicles for the Liverpool Fire Brigade. The quotations received were as follows ....Cedes Electric Traction, Ltd., 4:499 10s. ; Henry Simonis and Co., £630. Personal tests had been made by the Engineer-in-Chief and one of the Cedes Co.'s cars had been tried at the Infirmaryfor three weeks, with satisfactory results. The Committee advised that the quotation of this firm be accepted and this was agreed to, subject to the sanction of the Local Government Board, Most reluctantly, after a little over two weeks stay up in the mountains in Switzerland, 1 found my way " back to the land." It is a marvellous holiday and an invigorating one, this Alpine trip in the dead of winter. I stayed at Villars, which lies a few miles to the south-east of Lake Geneva, and a short tramp still further up the hills gave us a view of Monti Blanc. It is not easy to realize heights, but if you built the Eiffel Tower on the summit of Snowdon, when you reached the second platform you would be at the altitude of our village. 1 have no difficulty in realizing it now, because walked up from the Rhone Valley three times during my stay. Next to skating, our chief diversion was hob-sleighing. and it was an unforgettable, delirious rush down the mountain roads to 01Ions ; the distance is 11 kilometres. Sometimes we found a horse to tow us back, but on i_Aler occasions we sent the " bob'' round a circuitous railway route whilst we light-heartedly essayed this climb in the snow—nearly seven miles of it—which invariably took us over three hours, but which was worth it. It fell to my lot to steer the " bob," and it was wheel steering exactly like that of a motorcar. The brakes were operated by the back man of the crew, who was usually a " hefty " person; he brought a ample of sprags into action when the steersman shouted instructions, but mostly you try to let it go without braking, and you all lean well over on the inside, with hands out to negotiate the corners. Gracious: the joy of those rushes is ineffaceable. The tobogganing, or luging as they term it out there, is also most exciting and eventful, because, however well you may steer, something or other generally hap pens to turn you over into the snow. Another great institution is " theiling." You make up your party of ten Or a dozen, engage a couple of horse-drawn sleighs, into one of which goes the luncheon basket, then the toboggans are roped one behind the other in a long tail at the back of the sleigh, with the respective owners curled up on each. The whip cracks and the cavalcade jerks along, but soon comes incident, soon come 'Mutt. calamities. One or the other of us is rolled over, because of the inequalities of the road, and the procession must needs stop. The one at the extreme tail end has a very sporty, adventurous career. especially when rounding corners, and altogether it is a hilarious business.
The ski-ing, pronounced as if spelt with " h " instead of " k," seems to be great sport., but I only had one inglorious morning at it my holiday was short and those skis were too long ; but oh ! the sunshine, the crisp dry atmosphere, the picteresqutness of the views. Your own infectious rejuvenescence, and the Infectious gaiety and friendliness on every side, it all lin;.,,rers luvingly in one's memory.
I learn. from Mr. Alec J. D. Smellie, that anothersource of supply for petrol is being rapidly developed at Parson's Pond. Newfoundland, the wells being the property of Newfoundland Oilfields, Ltd. The London office of that company recently received a cable from the manager of Parson's Pond to the effect, that nil and gas have been struck in thenfirst new nett at a depth of 400 ft., the engineer further reporting that the indications of a good supply are favourable. This Mid of oil at a shallow depth iu Newfomulland is of considerable impor
tance to users of liquid fuel. The large percentage of benzine which is generally contained in Newfoundland oil gives an additional interest to consumers.
" It's an ill wind, etc." Recently a Halley motor van was prepared with a special body for a customer, and, when the time came for delivery, the money was not forthcoming. Ample time was given, but the colour of the cash was not observable, and there was a temporary gloom in this branch house of Halley. Along happened another customer of the firm, to whom this special design particularly appealed, and he was willing to, nay did, pay a premium of 225 for immediate delivery of same—then the tog lifted.
Right glad I was to greet Mr. H. 1). Kerr, cf. the Continental Tyre Co., in the firsh, after his extraordinary happenings with a balloon, his first trip by-the-by. The annual pocket book also reaches me from the Continental, and is must useful. A good start has been made in it. this last week since I have returned to my post, and everything points to increased business for all of us in 1911. A tiny ornament., presumably for a watch chain, showing the smallest ball bearing I have even seen, also reaches me from the United Motor Industries; it evidently shows what can be done. with D.W.K ball bearings. A cigarette case from the same concern also awaited me, it was marked with the letters M.E.A. I gather that this is a subtle reference to the magnetos handled by the IT.M.I., and for these little attentions I beg hereby to
or, otherwise, to Make Grateful Acknowledgment.