WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all diXculties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it flOtS,"--J6hst Beattie Crozier.
Leyland Dinner to Trojan Agents.
Too late for us to deal with the tunedon in our last week's issue, the directors of Leyland Motors; Ltd.; a few days ago entertained in London their agents: who deal with Trojan ears and vans. The Hotel Cecil was the venue, because, since the first annual conference and dinner was held, the number of agents of the company has grown so:large that one of London's most capacious halls is now necessary to accommodate the guests. They came from all parts of the British Isles and from overseas, and under the chairmanship of Mr. J. B. TouImin, chairman of the board of directors, they seemed to be thoroughly at home.
In the afternoon there had been a -series of conducted tours over the Kingston factory where Trojan production methods were inspected, and then the conference followed, with Mr. A. W. Windsor, the general sales manager, in the chair. Thus all the points arising between manufacturer and agent were well thrashed out before the dinner, and it was apparent that the conference had had knotty points to consider, for throughout the after-dinner speeches there was a deal of good-humoured banter on the high spots of the conference. The general note was one of ex
treme friendliness. It was signalized • when Mr. Windsor rose to propose the toast of the guests, for his reception was enthusibstic to the point of embarrassment—if it be possible ever to embarrass Mr. Windsor, which we doubt. His speech was very happy, and Mr. J. Stanley replied in an equally cordial vein.
Mr. J. A. Jackson was intimately reminiscent when proposing the toast of "Our Hosts," and Mr. Henry Spurrier was in a like mood, and he enjoyed his own speech a much as did his hearers. Mr. Vernon Walker, a director of the company, is an excellent after-dinner speaker, and he showed how fully the directors appreciated the work of the staff in proposing their health. Mr. Aylmer A. Liardet, the works manager, was excellent, too, in his reply. The chairman was toasted in a most happy speech by Mr. Coleman. The entertainment was above the average, and included a funny and yet instructive film based on the Trojan and its accomplishments and capabilities, and three reels of the film showing Sir Alan Cobham's aeroplane flight to the Cape and back.
Municipality. Acquires Private Bus Services.
The Cardiff City Council is to acquire two private bus services run from Cardiff, and will, in all, purchase nine buses now used on the Cardiff-St. Fagan's and Cardiff-Rhubina (via Caerphilly Road) routes. From Mr. G. Worrell, the proprietor of the CardiffSt. Pagan's servide, five buses will be taken over, and from Mr. J. Worrell, owner of the Cardiff-Rhubina service, four vehicles.
The acquisition will give the council a monopoly on the St. Pagan's route, for, formerly, the council and Mr. Worrell'ebuses have run in competition. On the Rhubina route the council will still encounter opposition from private services, but through this purchase the council service will, for the first time, be permitted to ply into Rhubina. For four years the city council has endeavoured to obtain sanction to run buses to Rhubina, but the rural council has alwa s held that existing private services were adequate. This view was uphe when the city council appealed to the Ministry of Transport.
The rural district council has signified its willingness to transfer the licences held by Mr. Worrell to the city council.
Birmingham's Busiest Bridge.
Costing something like £100,000 and taking three years to build, Salford Bridge at Gravelly Hill, the busiest bridge in Birmingham, was formally opened by the Minister of Labour (Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland,, Bart., M.P.) on Wednesday of last Week. The undertaking represents another of the efforts of the Birmingham authorities to widen and straighten the main traffic arteries converging upon the centre of the city.
Records of traffic recently taken by the Ministry of Transport of the 19 busiest points in the city show that Salford Bridge is used to the greatest extent. In a period of seven days 94,227 vehicles passed over the temporary bridke, an increase of nearly 50 per cent. over the figure for 1922. The bridge carries the main road over the River Tame and the Tame Valley Canal.
New Kent By-pass.
The new Harrietsham by-pass on the London-Folkestone road will be opened to traffic on October 28th. This is the third by-pass which the Kent County Council has constructed on the Maidstone-Charing section of this road. Two, both situated at Charing, have now been opened for some months, whilst a fourth, at Lenham, is nearing completion.
Two Interesting Appointments.
Mr. H. Norman Pollock, formerly the London sales representative for Coroner Cars, Ltd., has joined the Sewer Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd., in the position of general sales manager in succession to Mr. Ralph Wilson, who has accepted an important post with Fiat Motors, Ltd. The Next Commercial Motor Exhibition at Olympia.
From letters and telephonic inquiries which we are continually receiving it would appear that it is not generally; known that a Commercial Vehicle Exhibition will not be held at Olympia this year. The idea seems to exist in some quarters that a Show of this description will follow the private car show which opens on October 22nd. We•would•make it clear that the next Commercial Motor Exhibition organized by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. will not be held until November, 1927, although active preparations for it are already proceeding.
We are told that plans are now in progress to make the next Exhibition eclipse all previous shows, and arrangements have already been made for a series of important transport conferences to be held.
Smith's Stamping Report.
The report of the directors of -Thomas Smith's Stamping Works, Ltd., Ribble Road, Coventry, for the year ended July 31st last shows that the company made a profit of 125,044, after making provision for depreciation on plant, machinery and buildings and all taxation liabilities. To this sum must be added £17,631 brought in from the previous year, and after deducting an in-. terim dividend' Of 2i• per cent, less tax .(which absorbed £5,000), there is a bal ance' • of £37,675. Of this amount £15,000 will be absorbed by the payment of a final dividend of 7,i per cent. less tax, whilst £5,000 is being transferred to the reserve fund, after which £17,675 remaius to be carried 'forward.
Karrier Orders.
One of the most interesting orders • which Karrier Motors, Ltd., Karrier Works, Huddersfield, have recently received is a repeat from the St. Marylebone Borough Council for four KB. 350-gallon sprinklers and sweepers. The company are also supplying an R.S.C.-type sweeper, sprinkler and collector to the Brisbane (Australia) Municipality. Another overseas order has been received from Melbourne, Australia, for two-ton e.hassig.
The company have in hand a number of goods-carrying vehicles of both light and heavy types for users in many parts of the country. A particularly noteworthy order is that for commercial rigid six-wheelers for E. Haines Jones, Ltd. Several orders for various types of motorbus have also been received.
Brixhant's New Fire-engine.
After witnessing tests of Certain makes of fire-engine the Brixham (Devon) Urban Council placed an order with Dennis Bros., Ltd., for a light-type 250-gallon turbine fire-engine equipped with a 30-ft. telescopic ladder and full equipment of hose and fittings. The engine was delivered on Tuesday of last week and handed over to the council after final demonstrations on Saturday.
Popular British Lorries..
The vehicle which is designed to carry 30-cwt. loads continues to maintain its popularity in many business.circles, and amongst certain vehicles of this capacity -which have recently been delivered three are depicted in the accompanying group of illustrations. The first is a 30-cwt. Dennis lorry which has been supplied to Andrew S. Clark and Co., of Edinburgh. This vehicle constitutes a repeat order, for the users put two similar vehicles into service in April of this year. In each case the vehicles were supplied through Rossleigh, Ltd., of Edinburgh, whilst the bodywork, in each instance, was executed by Messrs. Hugh White and Son, of Dunbar.
The Albion vehicle which forms the
subject of the second illustration is a subsidy model supplied to James Hearth and Co., Ltd., the well-known hosiery and woollen goods manufacturers, of Leicester.
The third picture is of a Karrier tipping wagon which has been supplied to a Huddersfield haulage contractor. The hydraulic tipping gear which is used for operating the body is the Wood horizontal pattern. A high tipping angle is secured, and this proves most useful when such loads as sand, lime, etc., have to be discharged. The vehicle is mounted on a ZX-type Karrier. chassis and rims on 31-in. by 7-in, pneumatic tyres. The body is 11 ft. long, 6 ft. wide, and the sides are 1 ft. 9 ins. high.
St. Helens to Run Trolley-buses.
St. Helens Corporation has decided to apply to the Ministry of Transport for a provisional order to permit the corporation to operate trolley-buses in place of trams on various routes. Authority to run trackless vehicles was
obtained some months ago for the section through Thatto Heath, Rainhill and Whiston and on to Prescot. The new order is intended to cover all the routes excepting part of the Prescot section and a new route which will serve the St. Helens football ground at Knowsley Road. It was explained that the tramways committee found that to relay the single-line tram tracks would cost about il82,000.
A Gas-producer Rail Coach.
In connection with the increasing attention which is being devoted in France to the installation of gas-producers on commercial vehicles it is interesting to learn that the Midi of France Railway Co. are carrying out similar experiments in connection with motor rail coaches.
The vehicles running between Tonneins and Sos, in the Department of Lot-etGaronne, which are fitted with Ballot engines, have lately been fitted with gazogenes " of the Autogaz type, and these are stated to be giving good results.
Kaye's Oilcans.
A new catalogue has just been issued by Joseph Kaye and Sons, Ltd., which gives full particulars and illustrations of the various types of oil feeder, petrol funnel, oil cabinet and other products of the company. The prices of the articles are clearly set out, and those of our "readers *who are interested in such equipment can obtain a copy of the, catalogue from Lock Works, Leeds.
Gearing on 3-ton Albion.
In our description of the new 3-ton Albion goods chassis, published in our issue dated September 14th, we stated that DB gearing is employed. This should have read DES gearing, and is the speciality of David Brown and Sons (Huddersfield), Ltd.
Personal Pars.
Mr. Claude Crosland Taylor, managing director of Crosville Motors, Ltd., who operate a fleet of over 200 motorbuses, has accepted the invitation to the Mayoralty of Chester. The son of Mr. George Crosland Taylor, the founder of the Telegraph Manufacturing Co., whose business in 1904 was amalgamated with the British Insulated Wire Co., Mr. Crosland Taylor in 1911 joined the business of the Crosville Motor Co., of Chester, founded by his father.
Their venture was made in a very modest way with a partial interest in the Motorbus service between Chester, Tarvin and Kelsall. This was followed by a service to Ellesmere Port. Since than the business has grown and has developed extensively until it has become the largest organization of its kind in the north-ivest country.
Mr. Claude Crosland Taylor is keenly interested in municipal affairs, and as chairman of the electricity committee has rendered valuable public service.
Great interest will be aroused by the announcement that Mr. L. H. Pomeroy, the well-known automobile engineer, has been appointed chief engineer to the Associated Daimler Co., Ltd., which post will include consultant work for the Daimler Co., the Associated Equipment, Co. and the London General Omnibus Co.
Mr. Pomeroy served his apprenticeship at the North London Railway works and gained the distinction of a Whitworth Exhibition. He subsequently worked in the drawing office of John I. Thornyeroft and Co., Ltd., at Basingstoke, and in 1905 joined the Vauxhall Co., two years later being appointed chief draughtsman and designer, subsequently becoming works manager and a director of the company.
He resigned that post in 1919 and went over to the United States, where he has gained considerable experience.
As a prominent member of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, he has rendered very important service to the scientific side of motor production.
A Scottish Roads Inquiry.
The Ministry of Transport recently held an official enquiry at Linlithgow into the application of the West Lothian County Council for the closing to heavy vehicular traffic of the Parkhead and Mannerston roads in the Linlithgow district, and the Murraysgate Road and Cult Road in the Bathgate district. Representatives of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, the Automobile Association and the Scottish Commercial Motor Users' Association were in attendance to protect the interests of road users. In the evidence which was heard the character of the roads in question was dealt with, as well as the extent of heavy traffic, the existence of blind corners and the possible dangers arising therefrom.
For Tramways Managers.
Now that the trolley-bus is making so much headway we feel sure that tramways managers and others in any way connected with public passenger services will peruse with interest the brochure which Ransomes. Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., Orwell Works, Ipswich, have just issued dealing with various types of vehicle of this description which they manufacture. More so will this be the case -when it is stated that the publication is not merely a catalogue, for
it contains sections which deal in a comprehensive manner with matters of general interest to municipal authorities. The other section—for the brochure contains three—is set aside for particulars and illustrations of Ransome trolley-bus chassis and complete vehicles. The booklet is well illustrated as well as lucidly written, and should be in the hands of all those interested in trolley-bus development.
Crompton Medal Award.
The Crompton Medal for the best paper read before the Institution of Automobile Engineers during the past session has been awarded by the council to Mr. W. Ferrier Brown for his paper entitled "The Development of the Sleeve-valve Engine."
The Belgian Motor Show.
The list of exhibitors at the 22nd annual Belgian Motor Show, to be held in Brussels from December 4th to 15th next, has just been issued. It shows that in the commercial-vehicle section there will be about 30 exhibitors, -including Belgian, Swiss, French, Italian and American makers. Apparently no British vehicles will be on view, although we note that among the exhibitors is a Ghent company known as Stevens-Branquaer.
A Yorkshire Bus Acquisition.
East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., were registered a few days ago with a capital of 75,000 in shares, to acquire the businesses of motorbus proprietors carried on by Lee and Beatdah, Ltd., at Elloughton, Yorks, and by the Hull and District Motor Services, Ltd., at Hull, and to adopt an agreement between these companies and the British Auto mobile Traction Co., Ltd. The first directors are Messrs. D. W. Massey (chairman), E. J. Lee, W. B. Watson, H. A. Harvey, S. Powell, W. Wreathall and R. M. Tilling.
Glasgow Seeks the Ministry's Help.
It is stated that the Ministry of Transport will receive a deputation from the Glasgow Corporation at the beginning of next week in connection with the problem • of bus competition with which the municipal tramways system has to contend. It may be recalled that representatives of the town council have already been in consultation with the Ministry on the subject.
Motor Lorry Parts in Canada.
An Order in Council dated August 21st last provides for reduced rates of duty on certain motor lorry parts of a class or kind not manufactured in Canada, but imported for assembling purposes by manufacturers o f motor vehicles used for goods carrying only. The rate under the general tariff, which applies to imports from the United States, is 20 per cent, ad valorem, the preferential rate on British goods being 15 per cent.
The following articles are entitled to the reduced rates under the above conditions: — Petrol and steam engines, transmission assemblies and parts thereof, magnetos, starting mot ore, electric generators, propeller shafts, steel chassis frames, brakes, clutches, brake and clutch controls, steel road wheels, steel rims for pneumatic tyres, steering gears and front and rear axles.