News and Comment.
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This journal has a certified circulation and is the only authority on commercial motor subjects.
On page 418 we make a brief allusion to what has transpired in the realm of the commercial motor since our first announcement a year ago last Tuesday.
Turn to page 411 and read the first three paragraphs ; then peruse the last but one on the same page. To attack a society because it does its work quietly is most uncalled for,
We are able to publish the first illustrated description of the Beyer-Peacock steam wagon which will make its public appearance at the Liverpool Show on the 9th instant. The system has unique features of distinct merit and great practical worth.
The St. Andrews Ambulance Association, of which Lieut.-Col. Barnes is secretary, has ordered a self-propelled ambulance wagon, for use in Glasgow, from Argyll Motors, Limited. There is every indication that motor ambulances will be widely adopted in Great Britain during this year.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders devotes considerable space to the question of a commercial vehicle section in the last monthly circular. It has been decided to form a committee of twenty members to look after the interests of this branch of the Society's work, whilst negotiations are in progress with the owners of Olympia on the subject of a separate commercial motor show.
The export of rubber from Ceylon has increased from 3o,000Ib. three years ago to the rate of iso,000lb. a year at the present time. At the last general meeting of the Ceylon Planters' Association, Mr. William Forsythe, the chairman, stated that when the period of over-production came round Ceylon would be well to the front both by reason of its cheap labour and the excellent way this class of product was worked by the agricultural community. Mention of overproduction in connection with rubber is indeed balm to the long-suffering motorist, who still has to pay very high prices for his tyres, but we fear it will be some years before a reduction can be looked for,
Mr. Herbert Guthrie's article on "A Complete Analysis of How Chains Act" is completed in this week's issue.
We shall publish next week a paper which was recently read by Mr. Fred. W. West, goods agent to the London and North-Western Railway._ _Crewe, on "The Treatment of Goods Traffic at Stations." This paper throws a light upon the difficulties which confront railway companies in respect of transhipment, handling, trucking, craning, and loading.
Judgment was recently given in favour of the Motor Car Emporium, Limited, in an action where commission was claimed for alleged services in connection with the sale of motor vehicles to the Great Western Railway. The judge decided that there_ was no case for a jury, and decided against the claimants with costs.
His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Prussia has undertaken to declare the Berlin Automobile Exhibition open at iia.m. on Saturday, the 3rd instant.
Mr. Arthur F. Mulliner, of Northampton, has been elected president of the Institute of British Carriage Manufacturers, whose registered office is at I, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C. Mr. Harold E. Perrin, of the firm of Andrew W. Barr and Company, is secretary.
An inventor has patented a motor vehicle which, it is imagined by him, will dispense with any intermediate gearing between the engine arid driving wheels. The invention consists, essentially, of the introduction of two central driving wheels of different diameter, either of which may be made to bear upon the road surface, but we fail to see how it is proposed to adjust the weight on these central wheels in order to secure the necessary adhesion. The arrangement, at first sight, promises to eliminate side-slip, but until the invention is demonstrated in a practical test we must view the device with the greatest scepticism, although the idea is in many respects an attractive one.
The fire-brigade committee of the London County Council, in a report circulated on Monday, stated that the Council on October 31st last approved an estimate submitted by the finance committee in respect of the cost of two motor steam fire engines, and authorised the acceptance of the tender of Messrs. Merryweather and Sons, Ltd., to supply one motor engine at a cost of ,4.:1,148. The other engine, the purchase of which was contemplated at the time, was not ordered, and the committee had since carefully considered the relative
merits steam and petrol-driven systems for fire engines. They were advised that the petrol-driven system had now reached a stage at which it might properly be tried in connection with the fire engines of the brigade, and that it should prove the more economical system as regards maintenance. They had accordingly decided, subject to the usual sanction, to invite tenders from selected firms for a petrol-driven motor fire engine with a horizontal propelling engine. Manufacturers should apply for permission to quote without delay.
The Edinburgh Motor Show.
The commercial motor is not largely represented at the show now running in Scotland's capital city. There are but two heavy steam wagons, an Albion 2-ton estate wagon and an Albion lorry chassis, an Arrol-Johnston bus chassis, a 1,Volseley shooting brake, and a Singer light delivery van. The Albion Motorcar Company, Limited, shows one of its standard x6h.p. 2-ton chassis, fitted with a body specially designed for estate work. The capacity of the body is that of two tons of coal, and the sides and back are removable, leaving a plain lorry platform. On the cross-member bracing the frame at the rear end is an eye-bolt for securing the draw-bar of a trailer for the carriage of timber. The wagon is fitted with Stevenson wheels, with twin Clincher tyres on the back ones, and 3-inch Sirdar tyres on the front ones. A sheet aluminium engine and gear shield is employed.
D. Stewart and Company (1932), Limited, of London Road Ironworks, Glasgow, shows a 4-ton Stewart sidetipping wagon. These vehicles are manufactured by the firm under Thornycroft license. The mechanism is of the Thornycroft pattern throughout, with the exception of the tipping gear. The body is carried on four sets of four rollers, and, by means of a rack and worm, it is moved laterally until the centre is within two inches of the outside of the chassis. At the bottom of the front of the body is a
steel slide, in which a pin runs, and this pin is fixed into a boss cast on a wheel actuated by a worm. The turning of the wheel raises the pin, which tilts the whole body. On the 3-ton model, the Company intends to fit an hydraulic brake.
The Caledonian Motor Car Company, Limited, of Aberdeen, shows, on stand 29, a 12h.p. Peugeot wagon, with special body having folding sides and end. The driver's seat carries three passengers, and the platform space behind it is 7 feet 8 inches by 4 feet 4 inches. The wagon has a tare-weight of 26cwt., and is designed to carry a load of 3ocwt. at 12 miles per hour. On stand 38 the Arrol-Johnston Company shows the 3ob.h.p. four-cylinder omnibus chassis, which was fully described in our issue of November 9th last, and of which a number are now on order. The Glasgow Motor Lorry Company, Limited, of Igo, Crown Point Road, Glasgow, has, on stand 17, a 3-ton Halley steam wagon, built for the Motor Transit Company, of Bath Road, Leith. The ‘Volseley-Siddeley Company (stand 21) shows the 12h.p. Wolseley station and shooting cart, and the 6h.p. car for commercial travellers. A. C. Penman, of Dumfries, exhibits (stand 42) an Albion 24cwt. chassis, being one of a number built for Messrs. Shoolbred and Company, to the order of the Lacre Motorcar Company, Limited, Poland Street, W.
A weekly journal which professes to deal with commercial motor subjects, has pointedly opened its columns to an attack upon the Society of Motor Omnibus Engineers.
It is ingenuously suggested that motor manufacturers and traders who have joined as associates are being deceived, but we think these gentlemen are sufficiently wide awake to their own business needs to be independent of any advice tendered by an anonymous writer.
Solicitude of this kind is generally the outward expression of two considerations—self-interest and envy. " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR is the official organ of the Society of Motor Omnibus Engineers, which is a body of practical men who do not seek idle advertisement here, there, and everywhere, and only so much of the proceedings as the council approves are published in our pages. In fact, the steps which are taken to avoid common publicity alone ensure open and unreserved discussion at its meetings. The attendance of a number of Pressmen, especially those with contentious aims, could only prevent freedom of speech, and would certainly destroy the usefulness of the society to the motor omnibus movement, London had 2$8 motor omnibuses completed and in service, not making allowance for those under repair, on Monday last, an increase of only 14 vehicles since our previous fortnightly census. This addition of one per day is tit° low, but it will soon be augmented. The leading users are—London Motor Omnibus Company, 65; London Road Car Company, 59; London and District Motor Bus Company, 33; London General Omnibus Company, 26; and Thomas Tilling, Limited, 17. The leading makers are—Milnes-Daimler, 115; Straker-Squire and Bussing, 51 ; Durkopp, 25; De
Dion-Bouton, ; Germain, 13; Leyland, 12 ; and ScottStirling, 12. There are 69 of the vehicles on the Cricklewood route, and the latest arrivals are a double-deck Chelmsford for Messrs. Burtwell Brothers, of Kilburn, and a " Fire-Fly " Milnes-Daimler.
On Monday last the London Motor Omnibus Company, Limited, extended the white " Vanguard " service, which has been in the " sweetening " stage since the middle of December (vide page 305 ante), and the route now extends from Tufnell Park Tavern to near Barnes Common, viet Camden Town, Albany Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly, Brompton Road, South Kensington, Fulham Road, and Putney Bridge. It is intended ultimately to paint all thet omnibuses white, with the name " Vanguard" on a blut ribbon, but until a few more new omnibuses are available alit road has been made up by transferring three or four dark
green omnibuses from the Cricklewood route. This development of route can hardly be reconciled with the statement that was published on a certain occasion to the effect that an arrangement had been made whereby the "Arrow " and " Vanguard" services were not to compete.
Chelmsford Steam Omnibuses in Victoria (Australia).
In reference to the interview published in our issue of January i ith (page 351) with the Hon. J. W. Taverner, on the subject of State-owned motorbuses in Victoria (Australia), a representative of " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR " on calling at the Agent-General's offices, 142, Queen Victoria Street, one day recently, learned that information had been received by the last mail to the effect that the motorbuses had been a great success, and that they were being extensively patronised. The tramway company, which had previously maintained a horses.‘omnibus service, and which had expressed its determination to stick to its old fare of 3d. for any distance, had, in consequence of the competition, followed the example of the Railway Commissioners, who had introduced id. sections for their motorbuses. The service is between Malvern and Prahan, two suburbs of Melbourne, and is over a distance of 2i miles. An allowance of 18 minutes is made for a single journey by the motors. The service, which is maintained by live Chelmsford buses, with a sixth in reserve, is at intervals of from five minutes in the busiest part of the day to half an hour during the slack periods. Already several municipalities have asked the Government to supply other motorbus services, but the Premier (Mr. Bent), in a letter to the Kew (Melbourne) Town Council, has stated that until the Malvern to Prahan motorbus line has been thoroughly tested and proved to be a success the Government would not import any more motors. It is felt, locally, that further orders will soon be issued.
Amongst the fresh applications for enrolment as Associates of the Society of Motor Omnibus Engineers, which will conte before the council of that betty on the 12th instant, are—The Wolseley Tool and Motorcar Company, Limited (Mr. J. D. Siddeley); Thomas Tilling, Limited (Mr. Richard S. Tilling); Nettlefold and Sons, Limited (Mr. Samuel Stanton); Peto and Radford, Limited (Mr. Wm. Peto); Alley and McLellan, Limited (Mr. I). IL Simpsen); Messrs. Corben Brothers (Mr. Charles Corben); The Acetylene Illu-ininatingCompany, Limited (Mr. H. S. Smith); Willans and Robinson, Limited (Mr. E. T. White); and Scott-Stirling and Company, Limited (Mr. John Stirling). These applications have been received during the last few weeks, and the new accessions to this important and representative society promise to continue. The annual contribution of an Associate is L3 3S.
Reports continue to reach us of the practical usefulness of the " New Era" petrol fire extinguisher. Whilst accidental conflagrations are generally of a minor character, it is of the greatest importance that means should be ready to hand to prevent their spreading, especially where petroleum spirit is being handled from hour to hour. The company's "No. 02" size has a capacity sufficient to extinguish the blaze from something like four gallons of petrol, and the "No. o3" size has a so per cent. greater value. The extinguishers are made at the Valor Works, Aston Cross, Birmingham, and practically the whole of the London Omnibus companies have recently placed orders for several hundred additional extinguishers. Those for the London Power Omnibus Company, Limited, are painted light green, with "Pioneer" in black lettering ; those for the London Road Car Company, Limited, are painted dark blue, with "L.R.C. Co." in black lettering; and those for the London and District Motor Bus Company, Limited, are painted dark green with a white arrow across them. It may be mentioned that the price for the "No. 02" size is ..4;3, with recharges at 2s. each.