WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising as a carriage is by Use roughness of the roaas aver which it runs."—Jonn Beatt'ee Crosier.
A Dutch Roads Congress.
A Dutch Roads Congress, which will include Government and local authorities, the Government engineers in charge of main roads, the provincial councils and engineers who maintain the smaller roads, and the municipal authorities who are concerned with streets and town thoroughfares, will be held at the Hague on September 15th-26t1i, and in connection with it there will be an exhibition of road-making materials and machinery, and of various types of commercial Motor vehicles.
It is hoped that the congress will result in au. extensive programme of road-making for Holland. Its interest for British manufacturers lies in the facts that few of the materials of road-making, such as stone setts, asphalt, and wood paving, exist in the country, but have to be imported ; that road-making machinery is not made; and that there is no manufacture of lorries, only one of ordinary passenger motorcars, arid there are only two of tyres.
The exhibition is being represented in this country by the Exhibitions Branch of the Federation of British Industries, 39, St. James's Street, S.W.1., who can arrange all details for those who wish to visit or be represented at the exhibition.
Vulcan Developments.
Wonderful progress is being made in the development of the manufacture of Vulcan lorries on mass-production -lines at the works at Crossens, Southport. Though not by any means large, the Vulcan works has been organizedon such an efficient basis that the production figures are quite remarkable.
Until July, 1919, the company were concentrated on the production of aeroplanes, but reconstruction was carried out with remarkable speed, and within eight months we were surprised to learn that the thousandth chassis had been turned out. Though the employees only work five days a weeZ the average weekly output is 60, and within the next month this figure will be increased to 100. This progress is chiefly due to the managing director, Mr. C. B. Wardman, who has displayed great ability in reorganization, and to whom is due the institution of a runway on which the chassis are erected.
It is only by obtaining adequate supplies beforehand that large output is ob
tainable. Great stacks of frames are already in stock ; we ourselves calculated that there were 14,000 frames in the yard. Arrangements for obtaining iron castings are also very complete. Timesaving devices are employed wherever possible: for instance, chasms are painted on the recently developed spraying system. Unskilled ex-service men are extensively employed in producing radiators. These are made under Galley licence and under the talented direction of Mr. L .T. Delaney. Work is now in progress on a large contract for the Glasgow Corporation for passenger vehicles. The company were enterprising enough to agree to a penalty clause for late delivery ; on the other hand, there is a premium if the delivery is early, and
C12 that their enterprise was justified is proved by the fact that they have already taken Lb0 in premiums.
Austin's Four Years' Figures.
The report of the directors of the Austin Motor Co-, Ltd., for the year ending December 31st last, includes the balance sheets for the years 1916, 1917, 1918, and 1919, the 1918 period being for 13 months, as previously the company's financial year ended on November 30th. In the four years, the capital has been increased from £650,000 to £1,650,000. On the liabilities side of the balance sheet the total figure has risen from £1,548,390 in 1916 to £4,505,327 in 1919. On the assets side, land, buildings, plant and machinery., and leasehold premises stood at £350,644 in 1916 and (includfhg Longbridge Estate) at £1,754,857 last December: Similarly stock and loose tools rose in value from £692,535 to £2,050,155. Examining the profit and loss account we "find £5,445 brought forward from 1915, £227,177 earned in 1916, £262,642 earned in 1917, £358,272 earned in 1918 (13 months), and £237,865 earned last year. Dividends have regularly been paid on the preference shares, a 10 per cent. dividend on the ordinary shares WEIS paid in 1916, and alsoin 1917, whilst in 1918 the dividend was 1.6i per cent. .,The balance of the profit and lose account as at December 31st last was £828,946. The preference dividends absorb £66,648, and it is proposed to capitalize part of the undivided profits and to allot the 200,000 shares so created among the holders of the 400,000 ordinary shares giving them therefore a bonus of 50 per cent. It is also proposed to write off the expenses of the issue of B preference capital, amounting to 288,303, from the cost " of the flying ground £35,000, to carry £425,000 to general reserve, and £13,995 to the next account. It,is announced that Sir Reginald H. Brade, -G.C.B., late Secretary to the War Office and Army Council, has accepted a seat on the board of directors.
Benzole Production.
At the offices of the Board of Trade on May 21it (too late to deal with in our last issue), Mr. W. C. Bridgeman, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary, received a deputation representing the Motor Legislation Committee, the Royal Automobile Club, and the Commercial Motor Users Association, on the subject of benzole production at gas works. ' It was urged on behalf of the deputation that an amendment should be introduced into the Gas Regulation Bill, now before Parliament, with the object of imposing upon gas undertakings the obligation of " scrubbing," with a view to the extraction of the largest possible quantities of benzole.
The deputation included Sir William Joynson-Hicks, Bart., M.P., Sir Julian Orde, Major Stenson Cooke, Captain R. H. Montgoinery, Mr. H. G. Burford, Mr. T. W. Loughborough, Major H. R. Watling, Captain F. G. Bristow, F.C.I.S., and Lieut.-Col. A. Hacking, D.S.O., M.C.
The Week's Tractor Shows.
A number of agricultural shows have been held during the past . week. They have all been well patronized, both in regard to entries of live ,sttiek and machinery. and in attendance. The Wharfdale Agricultural Society held its 119th annual show, resumed after the stress of war, on Friday, May 21st, and Saturday, May 22nd last. The event was a huge success, so popular was the show that on Saturday the ground.wag packed, and there was a queue outside half a mile long clamour ing for admission. There was a fair display of tractor implements and other kinds of farm machinery, The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society opened its show at Balmoral, Belfast, on Wednesday, May 26th. Motor tractors, implements, and traction engines were in good display, but there is no doubt that transport difficulties have, to a considerable extent, deterred Britishmanufacturers from exhibiting at, the Irish shows. The Northamptonshire Agricultural Show was held at Kettering on Thursday, May 27th, but as this is only a one day event it, was not to be expected that exhibitors would incur the •expense of conveying machinery any distance to the show. Most of the exhibits, including tractors, at this show, as also at the Ea,stein District of Stirtingshire and the Hebden Bridge and Calder Valley Show, were almost entirely in the hands of the local agents. The Shropshire and West Midland Agricultural Society's Show opened at. Shrewsbury on Wednesday, May 26th. There were more entries of tractors and implements than was ordinarily exhibited.
Amongst other implements, John Bromley and Co.. of Wellington, exhibited several self-lift tractor ploughs,, and implements of the Ransomes, Nicholson, Martin, and Massey-Harris type. Georm Crow, of Oswestry, exhibited the International tractor and certain implements, whilst the Foster steam wagon staged by E. Davies, of Shrewsbury, attracted a good deal, of attention. The Fiat and Fordson tractors were shown on the stand of Furrows, Ltd., of Shrewsbury. as well as Olive and Cockshutt ploughs and Nicholson cultivators. A 1 ton Ford lorry fitted with a body suitable for light farm requirements was also shown on this stand.
The Samson tractor, which was entered, was not shown.
• International tractors were shown on the stand of C. E. Pickering, of Bridg-: north, likewise another example of this tractor was to be seen, together with the Fordeon on the stand of Thomas Corbett, of Shrewsbury. Saundersons had one if the most attractive stands in the show ground, comprising two model G treetots.
The Sentinel Steam Wagon Works were represented amongst the ex hibitors. A.A. motor lorries mounted on pneumatic tyres were shown by Samuel Withers.
Altogether the show was a very fine one, but heavy rains marred the pleasure of many visitors.
An Aldershot Parade.
A broiling hot day, together with a splendid array of commercial vehicles, combined to make the annual motor inspection parade, organized by the Transport Committee of the Aldershot and District Chamber of Commerce and held on Whit Monday, a conspicuous success. This was the second parade of its kind, and this year it aroused even greater interest than did its initial predecessor of last year. Entries were received from the radius embraced by the Aldershot and Farnham Chambers of Commerce. Mr. John R., Ccdyer is chairman. of the Transport Committee.
Five classes were open for traders' vehicles, whilst, two classes were set aside for vehicles run by the Navy and Army Canteen Board. Class 1 was for light vehicles ; Class 2 for motor vehicles of 1 ton capacity; Class 3 for 2 ton vehicles; Class 4 for 3 ton (and over) vehicles ; whit Class 5 was set aside for steamers. Of the two N.A.C.B. classes, one was for light vans, and the other for 3 ton lorries. Nine teams of three vehicles apiece also competed for a, cup which was presented by the C.M.U.A. for the best team, either petrol or steam. The first prize of 22 10s. in Cla,ssl was won by J. Armstrong, of Vick Bros., driving a Vulcan ; the second prize of £1 10s. by W. E. Scott, of Howard's Stores, driving an Austin; and the third prize of £1 by D. Payne, driving a Ford
for Darracotts. In Class 2 the first prize of 5.12 10s. was won by C. Hamilton, driving a Vulcan for the Junior Army and Navy Stores; the second prize of £1 10s. by A. E. Farrow, also driving a Vulcan for the sameconcern ; and the third prize of .£1 by A. Upham, driving a Ford for the Farnham Breweries, Ltd, In Class 3 the first prize of £2 We. was carried,,off by S. Ashill, driving a Halley for J. Colyer and Co.. Ltd. ; the second of £1 10s. by S. Greene, driving the same type of vehicle for R. Bateman and Sons; • and the third prize of £1 by A. Connett, driving:a Napier for John Colyer and Co., Ltd. In Class 4 the first prize of £3 was won, by W. E. Crickmore, driving a Leyland for J. Colyer and Co., Ltd. ; the second of £2 by C. T. Eade, driving a Leyland for Solomon Bros. ; and the third prize of Ll by E. Borley, (hiring a Peerless for Watney, Coanbe,
and Reid. In Class 5 (steamers) the first prize of £3 was won by V. Balchin, driving a Foden for the Aldershot and District Traction Co: Two vehicles tied for the second place, so an additional £2 was awarded by the committee, thus making two second prizes ; £2 each being won by:J. Gordon, driving a Foden for the Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., and by J. New, driving a Garrett for R.,Simmondsland Sons. The driver of a Foden employed by the former concern aleo won the third prize'of £1.•
In Class 1 for N.A.C.B. vehicles the first prize of £2 2s. was won by J. Eaton, driving; a Ford,'"aild the second prize of £1 is. by-H. Porter, alscadriving
a Ford. In Class 2 eight N.A.C.B. Albion lorries competed; the first prize of E3 3s. being won by A. Tigwell, and the second of £1 10s. 6d_ by G. Pawsey. Of the nine teams entered in the team section,the set of three Fodena in the service of the Aldershot and District Traction Co. Ltd was adjudicated the best team, taking into account mechanical, condition and general smartness of appearance. This team won the C.M.U.4. Cup. A special Challenge Cup, presented by Mr. F. Bateman for the best turned out vehicle in any class, was awarded to C. Hamilton, driving a Vulcan 1 ton van in the service of :the Junior Army and Navy Stores. This cup has to be won for two years before becoming the property of the winner.
The judges were Captain F. G. Bristow, F.C.I.S., A.M.Inst.T. ; Mr. W. T. Nicola, C.M.U.A. ; Lieut. C. W. Hughes, R.A.S.C. (M.T.); Lieut. E. K. Rignall, R.A.S.C. (ALT.); Lieut. Cooper, R.A.S.C. (M.T.); Mr % N. Endacott, and Mr. W. Puddephatt. ..The prizeswere presented amid much enthusiasm by Mrs. F. G. Bristow. .
The parade ereated considerable local interest, and apart from portraying the prosperous state of local industry, fosters good feeling between employer and employed.
Municipal Haulage in U.S.
The Department of Public Works of the City of. Syracuse. N.Y., has ordered 30 trailers and 3 tractors for use in the collection and removal of the city's garbage, etc., investigations showing this to , be the best and most economical method of handling this municipal problem_ Following the example of Utica, N.Y., and several other cities, San Antonio, Tea., adopted lorries and trailers for garbage disposal some time ago. It is now operating 12 lorries and 24 trailers. San Antoniolis saving between 25,000 dollars and 30,000 dollars a year by this system, or one-third:of the former cost.
The trailers are usually drawn by teams of horses for house-to-house collection, and when loaded are drawn by the lorries or tractors to a dump or piggery several miles outside the city. While some of the trailers are beingshauled out and back, other trailers continue the work of collection in the city, and are fully loaded when the lorries return with the enipty trailers.
Professor P. F. Purcell's lecture on the Peat Resources of Ireland has been. published by the Fuel Research Board (price 9d.) and is interesting as showing the difficulties that must be faced in winning the peat, in its preparation as fuel and also with its conversion into power.
Algerian Agriculture.
An important exhibition of agricultural machinery took place at Blida (a town situated about 25 miles from Algiers on the Plain of the Mitidja) during the latter end of the month of April. It was organized by the Society for the Encouragement and Development of Motor-culture in Algeria. The greater number of machines exhibited were of American • construction, and in the demonstrations that took place gave very
satisfactory results. Some of the machines of French manufacture proved more adapted to the conditions that obtain in Algeria, where, owing to the hardness of the ground, ploughing requires machines of greater power than in countries where the soil is more readily worked.
The general result of the trials proved that the machines of 10-12 h.p. gave relatively poor results with the sun-baked soil of this country. British-made ma chines were poorly represented. The International Harvester Co. (an Amen can company) possess by far the beet organization for the demonstration and sale of their machines in Algeria.
Ardrishaig to Oban Road.
The Ministry of Transport, Roads Department, Edinburgh, has been making inquiries regarding the possibility of establishing -or improving the motor service between Ardrishaig and Oban. Special attention has been given to the condition of the highway and its suitableness for such a service. One of the local surveyors has reported that at a certain section of eight miles the average width Of the road is Hs ft. and that the foundation ienot sufficiently strong to stand the proposed traffic. At some places, such. as the Pass of Melfort, it would not be possible to carry out a widening scheme.
Mn. S. H. Plumridge, who was Capt. Bristow's right-hand man in the offices of the Commercial Motor Users Association, has gone to • Rhodesia, having secured a good appointment out there. He has the good wishes of all who appreciated his work for the Association.
Buses in Stirling.
Some time ago the Stirling and Bridge of Allan Tramway Co. intimated to the Stirling County Council and the Stirling Town Council that, owing to the keen and ever-increasing competition offered by motorbuses, they were compelled to take their cars off the road. Conformable with this decision, the vehicles have ceased to run, hilt the company have-acquired two motorbuses, which they have placed on the route hitherto served by their cars.
The local authorities are now calling upon the company to lift the rails and put the portion of the road for which they are liable into a proper state of repair. A conference between the parties has been arranged. It may be recalled that the Stirling and Bridge of Allan tramway system was the only one in the world that stuck consistentlyto horse haulage, with the single exception of that of Port Said.
Experimenting in Reflectors.
At the junction of two important street, crossings in the centre of Liverpool, an experiment has been conducted with a traffic reflector. It took the form of a mirror attached to an outstretched metal arm from an electric standard, and was placed in such a position as to assist the policeman on point duty to watch the traffic behind. After a short trial, it has been removed, it having been found that about the middle of theday the sun's rays fell direct on to the face of the mirror and so vividly flashed into the eyes of the officer that he was unable to see anything at all,
The need for a reflector at this junction is not being allowed to drop, and experiments are being conducted in the arrangement of mirrors so as to furnish the desired result without any dazzling
• effect.
Inst. A.E. (Graduates).
A most successful meeting was held on May 18th at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, with a view to restarting the Birmingham graduates' centre of the Institution of Automobile Engineers. Mr. A. A. Remington, past president of the Institution was in the chair, and explained the advantages of the Institution to the younger members of the profes sion, laying stress on the value of attaining to facility of expression when drawing up a report or attending a board :meeting, which wouldbe forwarded by taking part in the discussion at the meetings. A graduates' committee was elected as follows :---Mr. T. G. Bradley (hon. sec.), of Lanchester Motor Co., Ltd. ; Mr. W. H. Prestage, of Wolseley Motors, Ltd. ; Mr. E. L. Every, of Austin Motor Co., Ltd., Mr. B. A. Ford, of Wolseley Motors, Ltd. ; Mr. C. A. Gosling, of Precision Motor Co., Ltd. ; Mr. G. N. Wood, of Alldays and Onions, Ltd., and Mr. K. B. Miller, of Star Engineering Co., Ltd. At a committee meeting held subsequently, arrangements were drawn up for holding meetings on the third Wednesday of each month, beginning in October, when Mr. B. A. Ford will read a paper on "Die Casting."
Pierce-Arrow Profits.
The Pierce-Arrow Motor. Car Co.'s report for the first quarter of 1920 shows net profits, after deducting Federal taxes and other charges, of 717,265 dollars, which compares with 567,884 dollars for the first quarter of Last year.
Swiss Industry.
According to the ..4utomobil Welt, the Swiss motor industry is passing through a very critical period just now, owing to the low rates of exchange at present current in the surrounding countries. Switzerland is unable 'lib -compete with the prices atwhich Austrian German and Italian vehicles can be obtained, and the motor industry is therefore appealing to its Government for protection.
Welding in Scotland.
Motor users in the North of England and these .ayont the Tweed will be interested to learn that the New Welding Co., of 26, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C., opened on June 1st a -Scottish branch at 18, Hohnlea Road, Langside, Glasgow. This development follows only four months after the establishment of the Company's Manchester house, the success of which has exceeded all expectations.At Glasgow complete facilities will exist for the repair of scored cylinders by the N.W. alloy 'Rodeos, as well as for welding repairs in general.
Spanish Trials.
The commercial vehicle trials which are to be held in Spain on June 21st have attracted quite a good number of entries. H.3/1. King Alphonso, as usual, is taking a great interest in the event, and at the end of the trials will personally examine the vehicles at the Royal Palace.
The following vehicles have already been entered :—HispanoSuiza, Berliet, Unic, La Buire, De Dion Bouton, Dewald, Caledon, Cornier Car, Hallforci, Fiat, Isotta-Frasciiini, S.P.A., Saurer, Aibenz, Berra, Spyker, Federal, Brockway, U.S., Republic, Pierce-Arrow, G.M.C., Standard, Opel, D.A.A.G., and F.A.U.N. As will be seen, the event is quite international, no fewer than eight countzies being represented.
A Million Lorries in America.
Motor lorry transport increased in the United States during 1919 by the use of more than 250,000 vehicles. The number in use at the close of 1919 is stated to have been 953,092, as against approxiniefely 710,000 in the preceding year. According to State 'statistics, New 'York heads the list with a total of 94,716, with Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania in a close race for second place, _the former State having 65,000, Ohio 64,500, and Pennsylvania, 64,200. The other States 'having in use more than 30,000 motor trucks were : California 58,700; Iowa 42.500; Texas, 42,250; Massachusetts, 42,000; Michigan, 36,836; Indians', 36,000; and Minnesota, 34,300.
This list of 13. States gives a total of 581,002 motor lorries, considerably more than half of the whole number in the country, leaving 372,091 distributed among the remaining 37 States, Nevada being at the foot of the list with 700, the only State with less than 1,000, Montana just passing that number with 1,200. Proportionately the yearly gain in, motor lorries was much greater than that of passenger cars, representing 37 per cent., or about 16 per cent. more than the passenger MT increase.
Buck and Hickman, Ltd., have changed the address of their Midland warehouse and office from 55, Station Street to 23, Newton Street, Corporation Street, Birmingham.
French Tractor Trials.
The Cha,mbre Syndicale Beige de Moto. culturedecided at their last meeting to hold their annual agricultural trials between August 14th and 17th. They will take place close to the Wareanme and Remicourt railway stations. -Demonstrations of all kinds for agricultural motors will be held. The entrance fee per machine is 500 frs.
Entries have already been received from the representatives or the principals of the following agricultural meters: -Austin, Cleveland, Fordson, Ceres,. Case, Titan, and Fiat.
A Welsh Char-a-bancs Incident.
There was an amusing char-a-banes incident in Bangor a few days ago. One of the incidentals to a national congress of dock labourers which was being held in the city was an afternoon's motor taur of the "Welsh passes Nant Francon and Llanberis. Four of the beautiful " Royal Red" coaches came over from Llandudno
to convey the party, and the passengers quickly took their places. SoMe of the Irish delegates afterwards came along, -and, noticing miniature Union Jacks flying from the bonnets and the tri-colour inside the lamps, protested against a pleasure outing being given a political tinge. After an unsuccessful protest to the drivers, they induced a few of their Hibernian confreres to vacate their seats awl declined to participate in the tour as a protest, much to the amusement of those who retained their seats. .
In a chat with the tours manager of the "Royal Red " service Mr. Frank A. Wilkes told a Commercial Motor representative that they regretted to have hurt the susceptibilities of a small section of the party. Had the objection been known beforehand, the " offence " would not have been committed, but, once the flag was flown, it could not be hauled down at the behest of any of their clients, much as they desired to accornmodate# them, All the same, every available seat was occupied.
Local Proceedings.
Two steam wagons are required by Lanchester R.D.C.
Many local authorities are advertising for second-hand vehicles:.
Hastings T.C. has received sanction to borrow £1,233 for the purchase of a steam motor lorry.
Market Weighton P.C._ is to purchase a fire engine and the necessary equipment for the fire brigade.
Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., have tendered to the Aberdare U.D.C. at £12,675 to supply petrol-electric omnibuses.
The tender of Messrs. Merryweather and Co. for a motor fire engine, etc., at a cost of £1,980 has been recommended to Colchester T.C. for acceptance.
Neath (Wales) C.C. have placed an order for eight 50-cwt. 20 h.p. Albion lorries through the company's agents, R. E. Jones, Ltd., of Cardiff. The cost of each of the vehicles is £1,142.