WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever, points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it nms."—trolin Beattie Crosier,
American Production.
According to an advice from New York, production reports for November received by the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce of America show thot the. output of cars and •trucks for the month was 325,125, bringing the total for the 71 months to 3,717,709, which indicates. that the total for the year will reach 4,000,000. This will be a gain of more than 50 per cent. over 1922, which was itself a record year.
Prominent men in the industry believe the increase to be due to the national 'need for more transportation facilities, the rapid development of suburban areas and the fact that better values are being offered than at any previous time,' due to the economies of large scale production. '
The French Electric Vehicle Trials.
The success of the recent electric vehicle trials which ended on October 14th last has encouraged the promoters to make the trials into an annual event. The amount of, public interest aroused was greater than had been anticipated. These trials are organized by the Union -des Syndicate cia l'Electricite in conjunction with the Technical Committee of the A.C.F. and the National Research Office.
Tbis year's trials are to take place in Paris towards the end of September or the beginning of October, the dates being arranged so far as possible to coincide withthe Paris Salon. All particulars as to entry, etc., may be obtained from the Secretaire General de Syndicats de l'Electricite, 25, Boulevard /ilalesherbes, Pa'-is. A full report of the last trials will be published by the Syndicat within the next week or so.
A Lengthy Bus Dispute Settled.
The dispute on bus services waged in the Rhondda Valley for nearly twelve months between Mr. David Morgan, Ferndale, bus pronrieter, and the Rhondda Tramways N., as :principals, with the Rhondda Urban District Council as an interested party, has at length been settled by mutual .agreement.
It will be recalled •that Mr. Morgan instituted a bus service over Pearhys mountain, linking the two Rhondda valleys at Ferndale and Pentre and shortening the road journey by something like half the former distance. The Rhondda Tramways Co. later put on a
service, and when the time for renewal of Mr. Morgan's licence came, objected, under the company's monopoly agreement with the Rhondda U.D.C. to its renewal. The council, perforce, upheld the objection and refused to reissue -licences.
Several public meetings Were held to -protest against this treatment of a pioneer bus proprietor, and chambers of commerce throughoutthe areas Tetitinned the council in favour of Mr. Morgan,
The council haS now been notified limb an arrangement has been made between' the contending parties in respect of the bus services and that a draft is being prepared and will be forwarded to the council. In the meantime the council has given notice that the agreed time and fare schedulesmust be observed by both parties, who will rim services whilst the agreement is being prepared.
Transporting Tin Ore in Nigeria.
Al. a recent meeting of the Premise Hydraulic Tin Mines of Nigeria, Ltd., the chairman of the company said that the completion a the motor road front the mines to the railhead had produced a fall in transport costs. Tin .ore can now be carried by motor lorry over this
road at the cost of 45. a ton, whereas previously the cost was £4 a ton by pack animal. The railway freight from railhead to the coast is £11 6s. per ton, and it almost appears as if it would pay the company to transport ore by lorry right the way from the mines to the port.
East Kent Report.
The report of the directors of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., for the year ended September 30th last Shows that, after deducting all items chargeable to revenue, including depreciation and writing off the item of 'preliminary expenses, there is a profit of £20,408, Add 'to this sum £6,493, the balance brought forward from the previous year's accounts, and a total of £26,901 remains to be disposed of. A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum will absorb £19,500, and after this sum and another £1,000, carried to the general reserve, have be-en deducted, a sum_ of £6,441 remains to be ,carried forward.
During the year under review the company's buses have carried niany more passengers than in previous years. but the reductions which have been made in fares have militated against any substantial increase in profits being made. The services have been considerably improved in many respects, and a new and more commodious type of vehicle which has been intreawed has met with a very favourable reception ; so much so, in fact, that ether vehicles of a similar type are to be put into service.
Big Jump in Canadian Exports.
During the 12 mouths ended October 31st last, the value of motor lorries exported from Canada increased from 1,034,000 dollars to 3,569,000 dollars. This represents 'an increase of nearly 350 per dent., the great majority of'. the vehicles exported having gone to EmpLe markets.
New Crosville Garage.
The Ceosville Motor Co.,: of Chester, who operate a fleet of about 100 motorbuses, have obtained on lease a plot of land of over 2,000 sq. yds. in New Crane Street, on which it is proposed to erect a newgarage to bold about 40 omnibuses. The new building will cost nearly £5,000.
Lancashire Bus Routes.
The proposal of the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., of Preston, to run a motorbus service between Bolton and other towns has been disapproved by the Bolton Watch Committee. The company suggested five services as follow :—(1) To Blackburn via Bradshaw, Egerton and
Darwen. (2) To Burnley via Bradshaw, Whalves, ii olcombe Brook, Rzunsbottom and Rawtenstall. (5) To Belmont Via Astley Bridge. (4) To Rochdale via Ainsworth, Elton and Bury, (5) To Radcliffe via Little Lever.
The chief constable reported to the Watch Committee on the company's applicationto ruri the buses, and the committee decided that it could not See its way to accede to the request. The reasons given in the committee's resolution are that the routes suggested, so far as they are within the borough, 'are adequately provided with transport facilities and that to accede to the request would have the effect of creating additional congestion in the streets of the borough.
• New Bridge Schemes in South Wales.
A number of new bridge schemes that will shorten traffie routes or give improved facilities to vehicles crossing rivers and railways are to be embarked upon in South Wales. The most important scheme is that which concerns the immediate putting in hand of a new bridge across the River Usk at NeWport at an estimated cost of £170,000. At present one-way traffic only is allowed to cross the river by way of the old Usk Bridge and the temporary dog'sleg structure, but this restriction has given rise to innumerable prosecutions as the result of drivers using the wrong bridge. The new bridge will be 60 ft. wide and 65 per cent. of the cost of construction is to be borne by Ministry of Transport.
Carmarthen Town Bridge, a narrow. neck on the main route through South Wales, is to be widened. This, too, is a scheme involving considerable expenditure, but large grants are being sought from the Ministry of Transport., the County Council, and the Great Western Railway Co.
The lower Pontnewydd Bridge is to be rebuilt by joint expenditure on the part of Monmouthshire local authorities, and this will facilitate traffic movement in the mining valleys. In Monmouthshire, too, a new bridge over the Usk river at Usk will be constructed. The county council is cooperating in ;this scheme, which will have an important bearing on the route from the Midlands to South Wales and on tha northern route from Gloucester, which is much used by transport vehicle,. operating in agricultural areas.
In West Glamorgan two bridge con structions of importance, have been de cided upon. The Neath Rural District Council is to construct a new bridge ovel the G.W.R. at Resolveri, whilst the long-deferred scheme of bridge construe tion at Gorseinon is to be put in hand
Railway Company's Bus Enterprise.
The Curtis Railway Co. has applied te the Ma,chynlleth Council for licences for additional buses to run on new services. The company wish to run services from Machyrilleth to Towyn, to Aberystwyth and to Dolgelly, and asked, further, for sanction to erect a bus stand n'ear the town clock. The council is to interview the company manager.
A Grievance Rectified.
For many months it has been a grievance of commercial motor owners in Liverpool that, when they have to work routes in Cheshire and North Wales, unless the motors get hack early to catoli the last cross-river boat from Birkenhead to Liverpool, they either have to garage for the night on the Cheshire side of the river, or arrange to return to Liverpool via Runcorn Bridge, a longer route.
The decision of the Birkenhead Corporation to introduce an ail-night boat service for vehicular traffic will, there fore, be welcomed as a matter of great convenience.
The improved facilities were introduced on Christmas Eve. The last boat previous to that day left at 9.15 p.m., and as the new extra beats are being run hourly they will fulfil a much felt want, The service will run until further notice, so it is up to the motoring community to show appreciation of the enterprise by making the fullest use of the boats. The boats will be able to take every type of motor vehicle.
Trying to Cut a Loss.
Some little time ago the Bedwas and Machen Urban District Council reduced fares on the bus services, with the result that in the three weeks' working prior to the council's December meeting a loss of .315 was reported. To endeavour to make the service a paying proposition the omnibus committee rearranged the hours of working of the drivers and eliminated overtime work and pay. The drivers refused to accept this arrangement and offered instead to -work a. 48-hour week of eight hours per day.
The council has decided to •adhere to the committee's decision, and when it has been obeyed to meet. the men and consider their objections to the scheme.
Manufacturers wishing to place their vehicles on the South African market. are referred to a Small advertisement appearing in this issue under the heading of "Agencies Wanted."
Manchester Bus Fares.
Considering all the circumstances, the Manchester 'Tramways Committee expresses satisfaction with the results of working motorbuses on services between Chorlton and Urnaston, Palatine Road and 'Brooklands, Cheadle and West Point, Leversbulme and Droylsden and On two routes to Cheetham Hill. It has now decided to adopt for a period of three months halfpenny stages on these routes, which will undoubtedly benefit many residents in the suburbs of the city.
The committee is to consider at its ntaxt meeting the question of instituting lower fares on buses operating in the centre of the city.
Inst.A.E. Matters.
The council of the Institution of Automobile Engineers has established a medal to be awarded to a member of any grade for any paper or similar service which may be considered likely to have special influence on the advancement of automobile engineering. The medal, which
is of bronze, bears on its obverse side a replica of the head of Dr. F. W. Lanchester as symbolical of progress in the industry. The council has decided to award the first medal to Dr. Lanchester for his contributions to scientific knowledge.
The series of informal meetings organized by the Institution of Automobile Engineers throughout the session is proving a very popular feature of its iegramme, and the next meeting wiil e held at the Institution of Mechanical
■ ngineers, Storey's Gate, St. James's Park, S.W.1. on Thursday, January 24th, at 6.30 p.m.. when testing instruments will, be demonstrated and dis
cussed. . .,
As was anticipated, Mr. Nickinson's paper on " Some Experiments in the Lubrication . of Commercial Vehicle Engines," read at the last general meeting of the ' Institution, 'arrested --the keenest interest, there being no fewer than 16 contributors to the discussion following the paper, whilst the attendance was the largest for some time past. This
1322 amply justifies the policy of the council that, the papers actually read before the Institution shall be of an essentially practical nature, those consisting largely of mathematics being circulated to the members and published, together with the written discussion, in the proceedings without being read at a meeting..
Buses for Southend.
Southend Town Council lias -not yet decided whether trolley vehicles or motorbuses should be used on proposed extensions on tramway routes, and has now asked the tramway manager to Obtain further information as to the receipts on the motorbus services.
Motor Ship Progress in 1923.
The motor ship has made greater strides during the past year than at any previous period, in spite of the depression in the shipbuilding industry. The tonnage of oil-engined craft under construction has doubled within twelve months, whilst corresponding steamer tonnage has fallen by 30 per cent.
The Motor Ship, January number, which is a special New Year's issue; forms a complete review of motor ship progress in 1923 and contains information of exceptional interest, including a complete list of all motor ships on order with details of their dimensions and machinery, particulars of marine oiiengine progress in 1923, comparison between all operating costs of steam and motor ships, and many special articles.
American Imports and Exports.
According to figures received from Washington, 228 'automobiles ' and chassis, valued-at 138,542 dollars, were imported into the United States during October, against 94, valued at 128,597 -dollars, in October, 1922.
Exports of commercial vehicles and buses (electrics excepted) in October, 1923, totalled 2,311, valued at 1,415,419 dollars, of which Japan took 1,098, the British Isles 328, Australia 194, Canada 64 and Mexico 49.
"The Lathe User's Handbook."
One of the latest additions to the "Broadway Series" of engineering handbooks, written by C. M. Linley, assisted by 0. Linley, and published by Scott, Greenwood and Son, London, deals with the lathe and its uses. It is of pocket-book size, with 188 pages and 90 illustrations, and is priced at 7s. 6d. It is not intended as an elementary work, but supposes that the reader already has some -slight knowledge of the machine tool and the manner of using it. The book should find its way into all garages where a lathe is installed, and into factories where motor manufacturing is carried on. It contains much information on the art of turning which has not appeared before, and it embraces the whole subject of turning, from the heaviest parts to extremely small instill-, ment work. Special attention is given to motor repair work, such as the making of brasses in halves, the straightening of bent cranks and -camshafts. Unlike so many technical books, it is the work of really practical men, and this fact shows itself on every page. There is neither padding nor catalogue clip ping. Strict attention is given to speeding-up output. We feel sure that even the most experienced in lathe working will benefit by reading the work.
Roads in British Columbia A road-building programme in British Columbia involving an expenditure of about 20,000,000 dollars during the next five years was outlined in the legislature a few days ago by the Minister of Public Works. The contemplated new roads system reaches almost every section of the province, and includes a road from Quesnel to Prince George and from Prince George eastward to the Alberta boundary. Trunk roads will be extended and improved, and a network of lateral settlement roads will be built as feeders. With better roads in existence the use of motor vehicles should be considerably extended.
Tractors Proving their Value in Russia.
The Soviet Government recently instituted an inquiry into the results obtained by various organizations using tractors in Russia. The largest of these organizations, located in the Mugan territory, close to the frontier of Persia, uses 300 tractors of various types. These machines proved particularly useful in the cultivation of cotton, about 22,000 acres of cotton land being ploughed to a depth of 51 iris. Progress, moreover, was retarded owing to the fact that the prevalence of an epidemic caused Many of the mechanics to leave the neighbourhood, whilst another militating factor was the lack of good maintenance conditions.
A Jewish philanthropic society, employing 72 tractors, conducts land eultivation free of charge in the Ukraine. -Each tractor used by this organization recently ploughed 6.75 acres of land 5/ ins, deep per day, the total area milli.vated being estimated at 93,200 acres. Another association turned op 27,000 acres to a depth of 8 ins. with -5D tractors, whilst still another group, owning 48 machines, prepared large areas of land for sugar-beet production.
Where British Tractors Lead.
Figures issued by the Government of E.sthonie show that Great Britain was the leading supplier of tractors to this country, during the first six months of 1923. The chief sources of supply were Great Britain 5,554 ponds, Denmark 3,562 pouds, the United States 3,399 pouds, and Germany 228 pouds. Power fuming has a bright future in Estlionia, where the oilshale industry, chiefly financed by British capital, suggests a ready solution of the fuel problem
The Engine as a Brake on the Ford.
A new piece of apparatus devised by W. W. H. Barrett, 15, Innox Road, Trowbridge, Wilts., has just been placed on the market at the retail price of 18s. 6d.
it is known as Barrett's independent neutral controller tor Ford vans and cars and consists of a lever which has to be secured to the existing controller shaft on the vehicle. Fitting does not take very long, nor involve very much work.
The advantages claimed for this controller are that it gives a longer nailge of hand brake; that the engine can be used as the brake; that the brake is more powerful and can be applied without disengaging the engine gear; that the life of the foot band-brake is lengthened; that a positive neutral is given, and thatthere is no need to feel for the neutral, as it is simply an on-and-off movement; that the hand-brake lever and the neutral lever are operated independently; that it is simple to operate and that it is so constructed that it can be pulled out of gear easily, and that it is not possible to push it off without slightly depressing the low-gear pedal, this having the effect of preventing the mechanism from jumping into top gear when starting the engine.
Electric Lighting for Taxicabs and Vans.
Requirements of the owners of taxicabs and vans in respect of electric lighting are not always identical with those of the ordinary motorcar ownerThe majority of motorists we their cars for the most part in the daytime, and only occasionally at night. Thus, there is every opportunity for recharging the battery, and the call upon it for light ing purposes is not severe. On the other hand, there are many taxicabs which operate principally during the hours of darkness, and the same consideration also applies to many of the light vans employed for daily retail deliveries.
In view of these considerations, leading British manufacturers of lighting equipment have given particular attention to installations for taxicabs and commercial vehicles. In particular, the British Lighting and Ignition Co. (familiarly known as the B.L.I.C.) are now making a feature of an admirable arid very inexpensive lighting set for taxicabs.
The price of this set, fitted at the firm's London depot, is only about £17, but it includes a 6-volt dynamo, battery, cut-out, three-knob switchboard with ammeter, two strong side lamps, tail and taxi lamps. driving pulleys, wiring, fitting and sundries. The price is remarkably low, and, as the equipment is specially designed for a spec:fie pur
pose, there is no fear that it will prove inadequate in practice.
The same firm is always prepared to quote special installations, as, for example, those needed for vans, which are to be brightly illuminated in order to display advertising matter.
Parking at Chester.
ohester City Council is considering a site ea-it of the Hop Pole paddock for a proposed parking ground for motor vehicles.
' Transport By-laws.
A proposal was brought before the Carmarthen County Council that regulations and by-laws should be prepared in regard to motor transport over the country roads. The object is to regulate the number of vehicles in order to minimize the cast of road maintenance. The matter was referred to the Roads Committee.
The Ebbw Vale Council has been recommended by a committee to purchase a 2-ton lorry for scavenging purposes.
Southend Corporation Highways Committee has asked the surveyor to obtain an idea of the probable cost of three mechanically driven watering wagons, two motor sweepers' and two light tipping vans required for the hghways department.
A Road Guide from London.
A useful—because essentially practical —road guide, issued under the title of "B,usselt's Road Guide from London," is published by Messrs. Russell and Co., of Thauet House, 231-232, Strand, London, W.C.2.
The aim of the publishers has been to provide a reliable series of itineraries, taking Charing Cross, London, as a starting point. There is an index of towns and places, railway stations, and so forth, at the very commencement 'of the book, giving the number of the route to each, place.. Practically every maid road in Engiand and Wales, and also in parts of Scotland, is brought within the scope of the guide, and when it is mentioned that nearly 2,000 towns and villages are shown (and to many of them more than one route is given) the, usefulness of the work can be readily gauged. Each route shows important places on the way in heavy-face type, distances are clearly given as growing totals, and important places off the route are indicated by a process of indenting, the places on the main route where a turning has to be taken for these places off the route standing out quite clearly.
For the maximum of information in the minimum of space Russell's Road Guide is unexcelled.
In a pocket at the end of the book are two maps, which clearly show the routes, each one of which is numbered to accord with the numbers in the guide.