• WHEELS OF INDUSTRY. •
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"The wheats of wealth will 84 slowed by all eli§iciaties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs, '—John Beattie Crozier.
Orders which are Lost to Great Britain.
As is well known, the municipal authorities of the City of Buenos Aires have for Some little time been in the market for motor vehicles and motor appliances. Tenders were invited from European and American manufacturers, and more than one Britieh maker tendered, cue of the conditions being that specimen vehicles should be sent out for demonstration purposes prior to the placing of the orders.
We have been rather „surprised to learn that British manufacturers have been quite unsuccessful, the orders that have so far been placed being for 80 trucks for garbage carrying, of the Meek A.B. model, from the International Motor Co.; 100 motor sweepers without water tanks from Krupp ; and 40 combined watering and sweeping vehicles, of Laffly type, model 1924, with tanks holding each 5,000 litres, from Schneider and Co., five of the demonstration vehicles aforementioned having been purchased from five of the competitors. The total amount of the contract is 2,000,000 dollars (paper money).
A Rapson Tyre for Commercial Users.
The Rapson Tyre and Jack Co., Ltd., New Malden, Surrey, have just introduced a new tyre which is expressly intended for use on certain types of commercial vehicle and heavy classes of touring ear. It is a double-tread, oversize giant pneumatic and is being produced in 32-in. by 6-in., 36-in. by 6-in. and 34-in. by 7-in, straight-sided oversize tyres. For goods-carrying vehicles, buses and coaches, 10 to 12 plies of cord are incorporated in the easing, but for touring ears six to eight plies are eoneidered ample. There is also a slight difference in the depth of the tread rubber of the tyres intended for each form of service. In both instances and at the medium inflation pressures recommended it is claimed that excellent comfort in riding is given and that high speeds can be maintained with perfect safety.
The double-tread tyres are being made in two types, under the names of " Standard " and " Guarafiteed," and they are marketed at different prices. A minimum mileage of 10,000 is guaranteed on lorries, motor coaehes, etc., coming within certain specified weights.
Newport's Vehicle Powers.
The Local Legislation Committee of the House of Commons has, after a long period of consideration of the Newport (Mon.) Corporation Bill, approved clauses pertaining to extended powers of motorbus running, etc., applied for by the council. Some important limitations, however, have been made by the committee.
In order to avoid threatened opposition from the joint local authorities of Monmouthshire, the council had agreed to limit lie application for boundary powers to a distance of three miles beyond Newport, but the committee would only grant pesvers for the corporation to run vehicles two miles beyond the c20 borough boundary. In addition, the council's application for powers to run buses to local resorts, such as Goldcliffe and Peterston, was struck out.
With regard to thp parking powers of the council, an important advance has been made in local legislation powers. Although many local authorities allocate definite parking sites for vehicles
and, in some cases, make charges for their use, it is none the less a fact that the sanction now accorded the Newport Corporation is the first of its kind granted by Parliament to a local authority. Although magistrates have, in the past, fined drivers for declining to pay parking tolls, it is stated that the legal right of any council making such a charge, in the absence of Parliamentary sanction, is doubtful.
Tyre Prices Increased.
• It was announced on Wednesday last that, as from that day, the prices of tyres would be increased by 10 per cent. The increase is due to the steady advances in the cost of raw rubber, brought about by the restriction of output from the plantations. A Municipality's Three Modes of Passenger Transport.
The West Hartlepool Corporation, whieli is one of the extremely small band of local authorities in the North of England operating all three modes of passenger transport, namely, trains, buses, and rail:less cars, has just presented its traffic returns for the year ended March 31st, 1925.
So far as motorbuses are concerned, the two sections operated claimed 581,279 passengers, as against 231,033 for the previous year, whilst receipts advanced from £3,412 to £4,116.
The chief feature in the returns, however, is the outstanding success of trolley-buses, which have been in use over the Foggy Furze route, a stretch of about two miles, for just over twelve menthe. During the past municipal year these vehicles covered a mileage of 92,516, as against 53,169 by tramcars in the last year prior to the change-over from one _system to the other. The number of passengers carried was 731,903, as against 476,681 by tramcars, and revenue totalled 14,134, as compared with £2,679.
British Tar Makers at Wembley.
All those who are interested in road construction and maintenance ehould make a point of examining the exhibit of the committee representing British , road-tar producers, which is to be found in the Chemical Section of the Palace of Industry at the BritishEmpire Exhibition at Wembley. The exhibit has been designed by Mr. Norman Wilkinson, the well-known artist ; it includes a stretch of tar-macadam road. • It is the forerunner of a campaign which has for its object the popularizing of British tar for road-making.
A Prize-winning Albion.
Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., Scotstoms, Glasgow, informs us that the prize for the best-conditioned vehicle with over 10 years' service to its credit, which was competed for at the International Motor Show' at Melbourne, was won by 25-ewt. Albien vehicle owned by Messrs. Foy and Gibson, the well-known warehousemen. of Melbourne. The winning machine has actually been in serviee for a period of 16 years.
Ducasble Tyres.
In our issue dated April 28th we recorded the death of Mr. Robert Ducasble, who, we are now told, was the son of the inventor of the Duca.sble tyre. This make of tyre is manufactured in the works of Cie Francaise 40 Caoutchoue, 31, Avenue du Roule, Neuilly-sur-Seine, the parent company of the Ducasble Tyre Co., Ltd., Bank Buildings, 36, St. James's Street, London, 8.W.1, who are responsible for its sale in England.
Thornycroft Dividend.
• The directors of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., have decided to pay an interim dividend of 3 per cent., less in-, come tax, on the cumulative preference shares of the company, in respect of the financial year ending July 31st, 1925. Advice on Concrete.
With the object of improving the advisory side of its activities, the British Portland Cement Association, which is a non-trading organization, has arranged for the transfer of several existing laboratories to their premises in Westminster, London, and by this centralization it is hoped to add to the usefulness of the work which is conducted.
The new organization has been formed with a view to enabling advice to be given on any subject connected with concrete or on cement in its application to concrete. Expert opinion on the material suitable for any class of Work and specimens of concrete or cement submitted will be tested, free of charge, with up-to-date apparatus.
Ford's Present to Edison.
The Ford Motor Co. (England), Ltd., Inform us that Mr. Henry Ford has sent to Mr. Thomas Edison, the great inventor,' whom be numbers amongst his intimate friends, the first complete set of Johansson gauges manufactured in the 'United States. The set consists of
81 blocks, and these delicate little pieces of steel are accurate to within a four millionth of an inch.
For many years these gauges have been accepted as standard for measurements throughout the world, and until recently were manufactured exclusively in Sweden, the native land of the inventor. The Johausson Co. acquired a factory in America for the inanufacture of their gauges, but the plant was purchased before production began, together with the manufacturing rights, by the Ford Motor Co., in the year 1923, and Mr. Johausson joined the Ford organization as a member of the engineering staff.
The set of blocks was recently completed in the new laboratories of the Ford Motor Co. at Dearborn.
Lubrication Diagram for Jowetts.
Jowett Cars, Ltd., Bradford Road, Idle, Bradford, have just issued a neW lubrication diagram which shows very clearly the various points of the Jowett light van chassis which require to he lubricated at stated intervals. The chart measures 35 ins. by 20 ins., and contains a plan view of a chassis on which letters, to which a key is given, show the class of lubricant to be used at various points. The chart is suitable for garage use, and the pointers which it contains should be of considerable help to those who are concerned with the maintenance and upkeep of Jewett chassis.
A Potteries Appeal.
The Potteries Electric Traction Co. have appealed to the Ministry of Transport against the decision of the Stoke Corporation in refusing the company's application for licences for two buses on the Tunstall-Newcastle route.
Llanelly's Refuse Systetn.
The Llanelly Borough Council is to borrow i1,500 for the purpose of purchasing a suitable tractor to haul trailers, in connection with its new refuse collection scheme. The new method incorporates household collection by horse-drawn vehicles, which are taken to the central depot and thence hauled by tractor to the tip.
Tipping Gear Stockists Wanted. The Spenborough Engineering Co., of Valley Works, Heckmondwike, Yorks,
inform us that for the benefit of their Irish users they have appointed Messrs. Thomas Thompson and Sons, 19-22. Lower Abbey Street, Dublin, as selling agents hi the Irish Free State for the well-known Spenborough tipping gears. The company will hold a stock of these gears at their Dublin headquarters.
The Spenborough Engineering Co. also state that they are prepared to appoint stockists for their tipping gears in certain parts of Great Britain.
A New Road Connection.
We learn from the Automobile Association that road connections in the Isle of Ely have been considerably improved by the opening of the new bridge over the River Nene, at Gnyhirne, on the main VsIsbech-Peterborough road. The bridge connects this road with the Wisbech-March-Chatteris road, and will prove of value to motor vehicle drivers from the north making for the Isle of Ely.
A One-way Traffic Proposal.
The chief constable of Glossop reports that all known owners of heavy vehicles who use Railway Street have expressed their willingness to use that road as a one-way thoroughfare as suggested by the watch committee.
Lorry Trials in Russia.
The committee appointed by the Moscow Automobile Club to undertake the organization of an international motorcar trial from Leningrad via Moscow to Transeaucasia has definitely fixed the route for the trial, which has been somewhat curtailed, the section Tiflis. Poti being deleted, as well as several points on the coast of the Black Sea. The trial will start at Leningrad and end at Tiflis. For the purposes of the trial, the Foreign Trade Commissariat has given the committee permission to import, free of duty, 70 passenger cars and 20 lorries.
At the same time, a trial of motor lorries will take place from Leningrad to Charkov. It is stated that a total of 120 cars and lorries will take part in the two trials.
Concessionnaires for the Controlograph.
We learn that the Controlograph recording device is now being handled in Great Britain by the Mechanical and General Inventions Co., Ltd., 10, Charles Street, London, S.W.1. This apparatus, it may be recalled, gives, through the medium of a triple record of perforation, a complete report, minute by minute, of when the vehicle started work, how many miles it travelled and at what speeds, and the times anti duration of all stops made.
Hints on Skidding.
A leaflet entitled" Skidding and Some Driving Hints on Its Prevention" has just been issued by the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., Chelsea Wharf, Lots Road, London, S.W. 10. Although its main purpose is to draw attention to the company's allweather tread tyre, it contains much sage and useful advice on a subject which is not as well understood by many road users as it should be. Henley's Dividends.
W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd., are paying a final dividend on their ordinary shares for the 12 months ended December 31st, 1924, of 2s. per share, less income tax, mating, with the interim dividend paid on September 1st, Ss. per share for the year.
A dividend of 1s. per share, less income tax, is also to be paid for the three months ended March 31st last.
L.C.C. and Vehicle Accidents.
The fire-brigade committee of the London County Council has approved an arrangement with the Commissioner Of Police of the Metropolis in respect of overturned motor vehicles, whereby it is agreed that the brigade shall not be summoned unless petrol is scattered on the road or other exceptional risk of fire exists. Arrangements have been made so that it will be possible to summon the lorry equipped with lifting tackle from headquarters in the event of it being necessary to lift a vehicle clear of persons beneath it.
B.A.T. Traffic Receipts. '
Traffic receipts for the four weeks preceding that ended April 24th on the passenger vehicles owned by the various companies comprising the British Automobile Traction Co.'s group totalled £161.327, receipts for the week ended April 17th (which included the Easter Holiday) being £58,538. The increase over the corresponding four weeks of 1924 amounted to £38,954. The total receipts for the first 16 weeks of the year were £511,337, this being an increase of £112,688 over the figure for the corresponding period of the previous year.
Buses Develop Shopping Centre.
The possibilities of the motorbus as a means of developing local shopping was aptly demonstrated on Teesside between May 2nd and 9th, when a shopping carnival was held under the auspices of the Middlesbrough Chamber of Trade, in order to assist in establishing the town as the premier shopping centre in the area. Throughout the week the limner
ous motorbuses running from Middlesbrough to all parts of Cleveland and South Durham, conveyed thousands of persons into the town, and, In addition to doing a large amount of business
themselves, were of the utmost value to the local tradespeople, who were able to record very material increases in sales.
Dinner to a Staff Member of Dunlops.
Mr. H. Dudley Parsons, who has been for the past few years advertising manager of . the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., was recently entertained at dinner by his colleagues upon leaving to take up his appointment on the sales side of the business at Plymouth. Mr. F. It. Carr, who has been associated with Mr. Parsons in his work, occupied the chair, and during the evening tributes were paid to Mr. Parsons by Col. J. S. Matthew, D.S.C., Mr, W. Bond, technical advisory Manager of the company, and Mr. W. J. McCormack, sales manager, public transport division. Mr. Parsons was presented with an oak table. Who Should Fix Bus Routes?
The highways committee of the Camberwell Borough Council reports that attention has been called to the fact that under existing arrangements an omnibus company can run their vehicles upon any route which they may think fit, providing the Traffic Advisory Committee and the police authorities do not object. It maintains that these conditions place the local authorities in a most invidious position, and the committee suggests that the Minister of Transport, the Traffic Advisory Committee and the police should consult the local authorities before a decision is made to sanction the use of routes by motorbuses.
An Accessory Catalogue..
J. W. Pickavant and Co., Ltd., of Quikko Works, Lombard Street, Birmingham, have just issued their 1925 catalogue which deals with a wide range of accessories and equipment for all types of motor vehicle. Certain of the equipment which is sold by this company is intended for use on Ford vehicles, and in this connection we can refer to : Hassler shock absorbers, Bowman polished aluminium ribbed-type radiators, and the jumbo auxiliary transmission.
Water for Steamers from Street Hydrants.
At a meetine.' of the waterworks committee of the Oldham Corporation the commercial superintendent submitted complaints with respect to the taking of water by drivers of steam wagons from street hydrants without permission, and in the circumstances the committee agreed to refrain from taking proceedings on payment of certain sums by way of penalty for the offences which have been committed.
Motors at Cattle Market.
The cattle markets committee of the City Corporation recommends acceptance of an offer of Mr. W. Glass to take space at the Metropolitan Cattle Market at Islington for use as a motor fair and auction mart on one day a week for three months at a rental of £20 a day. For this purpose it is suggested that Wednesday be appointed a general or pedlars' market day.
Blackpool's Popular Buses.
The tramways committee of i.he Blackpool Corporation reports that during the past 12 months the corporation motorbuses carried 1,660,517 passengers, well over a million more than in the previous year, and the receipts were £6,829. The total niileage covered by the vehicles amounted to 159,467, and the average receipts were 101d. per busmile.
New Zealand Imports in 1921.
Figures lately issued by the New Zealand Comptroller of Customs indicate that 134 complete motor lorries, buses and vans, of a value of £25,317, were imported into New Zealand during last year. Of the total, 93 vehicles are credited to Canada, 34 to the United States, six to Great Britain and one to Italy.
The imports of commercial chassis during the year amounted to 2,842 in number, of a value of 1646,248. In this section Canada again leads with 1,666 chassis, followed by the United States with 707, the United Kingdom with 392, Italy with 16 and France with 11.
• Efficiency in Repair Work. Alister Kirk and Co., Ltd., Ballarat • Street, Belfast, who are agents for Leyland commercial vehicles in Belfast and districts in Northern Ireland, have just issued an attractive little booklet which gives a good insight into the methods adopted by the company for executing • repairs to heavy commercial vehicles. The company make every endeavour to complete repairs and replacements in the shortest possible time, and, in this • connection, we may refer to a special type of lorry elevator which they have designed and which was described in our issue for February 17th last. The booklet is illustrated by pictures which show various operations being carried out.
A Licensing Request.
• At a meeting of the Oldham Watch Committee it was stated that the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., had asked for the issue of licences for the whole of their motorbuses to enable them to substitute some new vehicles for older ones at present licensed. The request was made because the central workshops of the company are situated at Stockport, and they made it clear, that it would considerably facilitate matters if • they had a larger number of licensed vehicles to draw upon, as the operations of the buses are spread over a very wide area. The committee decided to ask the company to state the maximum number of buses it is proposed to run in Oldham at any one time before arriv° ing at a decision on the point at issue.
The Royal Air Foece Display. The sixth annual review of the Royal Air Force will be held at Hendon on Saturday, June 27th, when H.M. the King, Chief of the Royal Air Force, hopes to be able to attend. This annual review of the flying units is an integral and important part of the training of the R.A.F., and it provides a valuable stimulus to keenness and efficiency in the many squadrons taking part in the inter-unit competitions and displays.
The programme will be fully as attractive as that submitted in any previous year, whilst new features are being introduced which will enable the public to appreciate the developments that are constantly taking place in the aerial arm. Fuller details of the programme will be issued at a later date.
Weight and Speed Offences.
At a meeting of the Stretford Urban District Council a petition was presented by owners and residents in Edge Lane calling attention to the strain caused to property by omnibus and heavy motor lorry traffic, and requesting the council to enforce the regulations limiting the weight and speed of motor vehicles. The council communicated with the police and also asked a committee to consider the desirability of seeing that the motorbuses are fitted with pneumatic tyres.
Subsequently, the council received a letter from the police to the effect that every endeavour would be made to enforce strict compliance with the law relative to weights and speeds. It was added, too, that proceedings had recently been taken against owners and drivers for having committed this class of offence in the township of Stretford, and that convictions had been obtained.
Cardiff Road Schemes.
The Cardiff City Council projects a scheme for new and important road v-orks. The main proposal concerns the construction of a new arterial road from Queen Street Station to Cardiff Central Station that would obviate the necessity for -commercial transport vehicles traversing the main thoroughfares in passing from end to end of the city.
By the construction of this road the bulk of those vehicles travelling from Newport and English centres to the docks and Grange ends of Cardiff would be spared the need for using many of those roads which are already carrying ,a large volume of the city's traffic, and in this way much congestion would be avoided. This section of the council's scheme is estimated to involve an expenditure of £150,000.
Other road works include alterations to High Street, which are estimated to cost £100,000.
A Coach Parking Grievance.
There has been some friction at Port Erin, Isle of Man, regarding the parking of motor coaches during the holiday season, due to the refusal of the CharL-bancs Owners Association to use a certain field near the town which had been allocated. It is contended that if a coach party be desirous of proceeding to Port Erin, there is no power in the existing rules preventing them doing so; the char-i-bancs owners, it is stated, propose to carry on as heretofore.
The local police had ascertained from the attorney-general that the Town Commissioners have no power to insist on chars-a-bancs using this field, or to prevent the vehicles from proceeding to their destination in Port Erin, unless it could be proved that they were causing obstructions.
It was urged that, notwithstanding the legal position, the time had come
when the town authorities should have the power of regulating incoming motor traffic in their own district. The argument was advanced that at places like Blackpool or Southport, passengers were not disembarked on the sea front, and that the Town Commissioners should have full control over all chars-a-banes coming into the place.
Revolving Lights for Traffic Control Watford Corporation has received a suggestion pointing out that an experiment should be made with revolving lights for traffic regulation. It has asked the lighting committee to consider the matter, and also to obtain information from the authorities in any towns where such lights are already in regular use.
In our issue for April 28th we published a short paragraph regarding the death of M. Adolph Saurer. We are now informed by the Saurer Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd., that the deceased was not connected with La Societe Anonyme Adolph Saurer, who are the manufacturers of the Saurer commercial vehicle.
Local Proceedings.
Bradford Corporation has obtained sanction to a loan of £1,053 for the purchase of a motor ambulance.
Stoke Corporation has empowered the gas engineer to purchase a new chassis upon which to fix an old body.
13radford Corporation has purchased a Leyland motor ambulance from Oswald Tillotson, Ltd., at a cost of 1950.
The London County Council has decided to purchase two additional motorvans for the :coal inspection department.
The highways committee of the Kensington Borough Council proposes the purchase of two wagons with low-built bodies.
The London County Council hts sanctioned an expenditure of £210 for the purchase of three motor mowing machines.
The parks committee of the Barnsley Corporation recbmraends the purchase of a mower at a cost of £80, if a demonstration with the machine proves satisfactory.
Darlington Corporation has resolved to purchase an Atco motor lawn mower, for use in the local parks, from Chas. H. Pugh, Ltd„ of Durham Road, Darlington, at a cost of 171.
Wimbledon Corporation has appointed a sub-committee to ttport and obtain estimates for various types of motor and horse drawn mowing machines for use in the parks and open spaces.
Four concerns quoted £285 for the supply of a motor mower required by the Lewisham Borough Council, and the general purposes committee recommends that the purchase be made from Messrs. A. J. 'Jeweils and Sons.
Otley -Urban District Council has decided that the certificate of fitness issued by the Bradford Corporation in respect of Messrs. Blythe and 13m:wick's buses be accepted as sufficient without further inspection of the vehicles.
Edinburgh Fire Brigade is askine-' for tenders for the supply of an 800-1,000'gallon motor fire-engine, and three 15cwt. motor chassis of 12-16 h.p. suitable for light lorry work. Tenders marked "Fire-engine ' have to be delivered to the Town Clerk, City Chambers, Edinburgh, not later than May 25th.
Bradford_Corporation has authorized the purchase of a Thornycroft wagon for the streets department.
The tramways committee of the Manchester Corporation has purchased four Ford motorvans from Frances Motors, Ltd.
The London County Council has authorized the purchase of a motor tractor at a cost of 1225 for use at Cane Hill Asylum.
The Mynyddislwyn (Mon.) Urban District Council has instructed its finance committee to deal with the proposed purchase of a new steam, or oil fuel, road roller.
Bradford Educadon Committee has accepted the tender of Mr. C. Maltby for the transport of food from the canteen to various schools for one year at £3 15s. a day.
Mr. Evan Evans, clerk to the Cardigan County Council, has been requested to report as to the position of the council with regard to the heavy motorbus traffic on certain roads.
The motorbus committee of the Merthyr Corporation reports that it has inspected a Keighley-type 25-seater oneman-controlled motorbus, and is satisfied with the running of the vehicle.
The electricity and tramways committee of the Warrington Corporation is seeking tenders for a 40-seater, singledeck motorbus. Tenders have to be delivered not later than May 25th.
Having considered reports from other boroughs as to the Karrier motor sweeper and collector, the Stake Corporation has asked the borough engineer to arrange for a demonstration.
A New Goodyear Tyre.
The Goodyear Tyre. and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd.;, Chelsea Wharf, Lots Road, London, S.W. 10, have just introduced it new all-weather tread pneumatic-cushion tyre, which is claimed to constitute an ideal equipment for light delivery vans. It is intended as an alternative equipment to ordinary 30-in. by 3i-in. pneumatics for all four wheels of Ford and other light delivery vans, and for the front wheels of Ford 1-ton trucks.
The new tyre has a central air core and is built up on a light steel demountable rim, and will, therefore, take the place of any 30-in. by 3i-in. tyre without the need for change of wheels. It is said to possess good cushioning properties, mainly due to the large air core and the use of a specially compounded, tough, resilient. rubber. The high proffie and well-rounded tread should make for easy steering, and, at the same time, ensure a good 'net) of the road surface, thus reducing the possibility of skidding to a minimum. From our illustration of the tyre it will be seen that the treed design consists of deep-cut diamonds.
Bus Competition with Tramways.
Having regard to the fact that the corporation has expended a very considerable sum of money on its tramways, the tramways committee of the Bradford City Council has passed a resolution viewing with alarm the proposal of the Minister of Transport to issue an order compelling the watch committee to grant licences to the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., to ply for hire with omnibuses along the route of the corporation tramway to Drighlington. It asks the Minister to grant an interview to representatives of the tramways committee in order that facts and figures relating to the tramway undertaking may be placed before him. The lord mayor and Members of Parliament for the city are being asked to accompany the deputation.
Sheffield Watch Committee has decided that it be a condition of every licence issued in respect of hackney motor vehicles that the licensee shall have in force during the year of currency of the licence a fully paid-up insurance policy of a tariff office covering third-party and passenger risks.