WHEELS of INDUSTRY fi The wheels of wealth will be
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slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness
of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
The S.M.M. and T.'s New Executive Meets.
At the first meeting of the new executive of the British Manufacturers Section of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd., Sir Herbert Austin, K.B.E., was unanimously elected chairman in succession to Mr. E. U. Blake. Mr. G. M. Young, B.Sc., a director and London manager of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., was elected vice-president in place of Mr. A. Spurner, a director of Leyland Motors, Ltd.
The British Manufacturers Section was formed in 1927 with the object of Providing; for the first time, the machinery for co-operation between all sections of manufacturers of motor products in relation to the development of the British motor inrIflstry at home and in all parts of the woeld.
Branch offices have been set on in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and thereis now definite liaison between British factory representatives and distributors in these markets and the manufacturers at home.
As regards the home trade, definite liaison has been established between the British Manufacturers Section and All Government or other authorities, and machinery now exists for regular and consistent discussion and representations on national, imperial and internationel matters by the various sections of the British motor-manufacturing industry.
For their services in developing this new activity of an important section of the S.M.M. and T. Mr. Blake and Mr: Spurrier, who have acted as the chief officials from the inception of the Section, have received the sincere thanks of the executive which for the current years is constituted as follows :—
Sir Herbert Austin, E.B.E., F. Ayton, Peter F. Bennett, E. H. Blake, F. Bonnallack, W. Bullock, Lt.-Col. J. A. Cole. W. Cowen. V. 11. Garrett, S. S. Coy, H. P. Henry, W. 1.f. r!. E. Lawrence King, F. Lanchester, C. T. Mabey, Sir Edward Manville, R. W. Mandalay, .1. Maughtling, C. W. Nichols, Sydney Norris, H. Parsons, J. E. Price. C. Pryke, Commander 31. St. John. It, Shankland, W. Shelley, 5, O. Siddeley, Arthur Spurrier, 13. Thompson, T. R. Thornton, F. Webster, G. M. Young.
A Year Book for Transport Managers.
We have received from Industrial Transport Publications, Ltd., 17-18, Water Lane, Great Tower Street, London, E.C.3. a copy of the "Transport Managers'. Year Book, 1929," published At 10s 6d. and edited by yr. J. A. Dunnage, r.SS., A.M.Inst.T., honorary secretary of the Industrial Transport Association, -which, it will be remembered, recently sent a deputation to America.
The book has an encouraging foreword by Lord Melchett and, incidentally, there is a note of appreciation on page 258 from the Editor of this journal.
This new Year Book should prove most valuable to the manager who has to deal with all classes of transport. It contains a vast amount of interesting and useful data, special articles on transport problems, notes on import zprohibitions and restrictions, marine insurance, the
law relating to heavy motorcars, a directory of leading canal, road haulage, wharfage and other Companies and shipping agents, a comprehensive list of personalities in the industrial transport world, a useful chart giving distances by road between all the most important places in the Country and other sections
too numerous to mention.
A Guy Bus Demonstrated.
The Orange Coaching Co., of Newcastle, has just observed an interesting demonstration, lasting 10 days, given with• a Guy 32-seater, six-cylinder, fourwheeled bus, during which daily runs from Newcastle to London, with a full load -• of passengers were undertaken. On one trip, carried out under the supervision of the chief engineer of the company, the vehicle averaged 30. m.p.h. for the whole running time of the journey. The actual journey, including all stops, was accomplished at a speed of 30 m.p.h. • In all,: the bus did the 300-mile journey 14 times and no mechanical trouble of any kind was experienced, the only. adjustment neeessary being to one valve tappet.
The chief engineer of the Orange Coaching Co., who, on one trip from Doncaster to London, was a Passenger, expressed his satisfaction of the capabilities of the, vehicle and was much impressed with its cornering powers at speed. .
In a Line or Two.
Colchester Corporation is to proceed with the preliminary work in connection with.the construction' of a by-pass road, estimated to cost £245,000.
The transport committee of Rotherham Corporation is to obtain tenders and estimates for converting a tramways route so as to enable it to be worked by trolley-buses.
An association of French commercialmotor users has been formed with the title of the Union des Proprietaires de Vehicules Industriels. Its headquarters are at Rue lluntziger, Clichy, Paris.
Petrol Chassis by a Maker of Battery Vehicles.
One of the exhibits of outstanding interest to transport men at the forthcoming Shipping, Engineering and Machinery Exhibition will be the new 1-ton petrol truck by Wingrove and Rogers, Ltd., Mill Lane, Old Swan,
Liverpool. Thishas built up a great reputaion with its B.E.V. electric vehicles, examples of which will also be on view. .The new machine has a special type of countershaft gear in which a clutch and reverse mechanism are embodied in a totally enclosed unit. The controls have been laid out to Deduce the -driver's work to the minimum ; its simplicity closely approaches that of B.E.V. electric machines.
Six-wheelers Prove Their Worth at the World Jamboree.
"I can't thank you enough and I don't knew what we should have done without your wonderful machines-they are truly remarkable." In these -terms of praise the chief scout, Lord Baden-Powell. of Gillwell, expressed his appreciation at an inspection of the drivers of the Morris-Commercial white convoy (which the scouts named "the ghost train "), previous to the breaking up of the great scout camp at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead. Despite the extremely difficult conditions under which the vehicles operated, the official transpert, for which they were entirely responsible, was never held up and the many tons of supplies were always delivered on time throughout the camp.
Scouts from overseas countries were particularly impressed by the manner in which Morris-Commercial sixwheelers carried their loads through swamps impassable to ordinary vehicles. They were frequently used to haul out from the mud larger and heavier machines.
The Crosville Company Purchased.
In our issue for last week we mentioned that the directors of the Crosvale Motor Co., Ltd.,had unanimously agreed to sell the undertaking to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. This decision was awaiting ratification by the shareholders and we understand that on August 9th they decided to sanction the acceptance of the offer. The purchase price is stated to be £398,750, which is equivalent to 27s. 6d. per share. Aspects of this railway company's road-transport policy are referred to elsewhere in this issue.
Surrey Road-construction Programme.
The highways committee of Surrey County Council has prepared the following programme of new-road construction :—Ewell by-pass road, £43,185; Egharn by-pass road, £27,000; Kingston Road (Merton level crossing) by-pass road, £150,000; portion of Leatherhead by-pass road between the Kingston Road and the Dorking Road, £140,000; the Guildford and Godalming by-pass road, £300,000; the Dorking by-pass road £96,000.
Personal Pars.
There are many friends of Mr. A. E. Jackson, of Fodens, Ltd., who will be very glad to know that he has been made a director of that concern. He has just completed ten ytars with it as London manager and representative for the Southern Counties. We knew him long before he joined this Sandbach company. He held a similar post for years with Clayton and Shuttleworth, Ltd., of Lincoln, and then included Ireland in his territory. He is a very familiar figure at the Royal Agricultural and Smithfield Shows, and his connection with the Foden people seems to be a very happy one. He has our cordial wishes for his continued success.
Mr. W. Oscar Pritchard, M.Inst.k.E., whose portrait appears on this page, tells us that he has disposed of his interests in Autocar Services, Ltd., of which he was the founder and managing director, and that be has now retired from the Board of the company.
Mr. Pritchard was a motorbus pioneer, and it is interesting to recall that he started the first road services in Tunbridge Wells in 1909. At that time his efforts received very little encouragement, but the services ultimately beCame popular and it was necessary to purchase additional vehicles. Steady progress was made, and in the summer of 1914 it was decided to open up new services on a large scale between Tunbridge Wells and outlying villages. For this purpose a large number of Leyland buses was purchased.
These additional routes had only just been started when the 'war resulted in the new vehicles being commandeered so that the older machines were used to maintain a reduced service. After the Armistice new vehicles were obtained and the services were expanded
in many directions. The routes of Autocar Services, Ltd., now cover over 200 miles and the fleet consists of 100 buses and coaches.
Dr. A. G. C. Gwyer, of Warrington, who will deliver the eighth autumn lecture to the Institute of Metals at the Diisseldorf meeting of that body to be held next month, is a member of council of the Institute, of which he is an original member. He was born in Bristol and studied at University College, taking the degree of B.Sc. as an external student of London University. Ile held the Capper Pass metallurgical -scholarship for two years and, subsequently, was awarded a research scholarship by the Royal Commissioners of the exhibitions of 1851.
In 1911 Dr. Gwyer was appointed junior assistant in the Department of Metallurgy at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, and a year later became research metallurgist to the British Aluminium Co., Ltd., at Milton. In 1915 he was transferred to the company's Warrington works, and five years later was appointed its chief metallurgist.
• Reminder for County Councils.
The County Councils' Association reminds county councils of the fact that the recent legislation on the subject of petroleum filling stations was the direct result of the action on the part of the Association and advises them to take full and., immediate advantage of the powers now conferred by Parliament A New Motor Spirit.
The Dominion Motor Spirit Co., Ltd., 34, Bishopsgate, London, E.C.2, the distributing organization of the Sealand Petroleum Co., Ltd., has recently placed upon the market a new motor spirit known as Acme. The retail price is Is. 7d. per gallon in the London zone and Is. 70. in the provinces.
A supply which we tested in a staff vehicle gave a consumption rate slightly better than normal, starting was unaffected and there was no unpleasant odour from the fuel or exhaust. With the vehicle in question the normal ten dency to " pink " was overcome. We understand that the highest useful compression ratio for this fuel is 5.16 to 1. No preparations were made for the test other than starting with a tank free from other fuels.
Mr. R. S. Tilling's Fortune.
Mr. Richard Stephen Tilling, J.P., chairman of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., whose death occurred on June 5th, at the age of 78, left a fortune of 1268,532, with net personalty of £248,278.
Bus Profits at West Bromwich.
At the end of March last West Bromwich Corporation had 18 motorbuses in service, During the year to that period these vehicles covered a total mileage of 386,809 and carried 2,531,159 passengers. The traffic revenue from the operation of the buses amounted to £19,828, and the working expenses to £15,934, so that there was a gross profit of £3,894. Comparatively small sums in connection with special ex4enditure and loan charges reduce this figure to £3,023, which is the net profit for the year. In the previous year the net profit amounted to £3,801, and in this period 12 buses were in commission. The traffic revenue per busmile in 1928-29 was 12.302d. -Trolley-buses for Tees-side.?
On Tees-side, where the local tramTt'ays system is jointly controlled by the authorities in 'the three adjoining townships of Middlesbrough, Thornaby and Stockton, consideration is now being i4iven to the replacement of trams by
trolley-buses. It is proposed that the local bodies should meet in conference and that the presence of a representative of the Ministry of Transport should be invited.
A Surprise for Leyland Employees.
At the end of a recent week many thousands of the employees of Leyland Motors, Ltd., received a very pleasant surprise, for when they opened their pay envelopes they found that they were the recipients of a bonus. The dire* tors were so pleased with the manner in which the . employees co-operated with. the .management during the company's very successful trading in the past year_that they decided to give some tangible expression of their appreciation. Each employee over 21 years of ages received a bonus of £1, and below that age one of 10s. At the company's Hana•works -a sum of £560 was divided between 1,600 wen. The total sum involved by, this distribution is about £5,000.
Institute of Metals Meeting in Germany. .
The arrangeraents for the Dusseldorf meeting of the Institute of Metals are now complete and over 200 persons from 10 different countries will take part in the proceedings. The meeting opens on September 9th with the annual autumn lecture, whiCh will be delivered by Dr. A. G. C. Gwyer, the subject being "Aluminium and Its Alloys."
A New Filler Cap.
. In our issue dated July 16th we referred to anew filler cap, the Griptight, made by Best and Lloyd, Ltd., Cambray Works, Wattville Road, Handsworth, Birmingham. This can be obtained in three sizes, having openings of 1 in., 2 ins. or 2-fr ins. Rotation of the top cap turns a central screw,
B22 drawing upwards a pressure plate and expanding a three-pronged spring which engages a groove in the filler neck or collar. The cap is then locked. The air vent provided prevents any possibility of fuel splashing out when the vehicle is travelling.
.Eagle Trailers in Demand.
During a period of three weeks the Eagle Engineering Co., Ltd, Eagle :Works, Warwick, has recently received orders for over 100 trailers of different types, 67 of them being for home, and foreign railway companies, including 42 5-ton four-wheeled trailers for the Great Western Railway Co. Amongst the others are many repeat orders for fleets of the company's patent twowheeled trailers, whilst several twowheeled trailers are being built tor house-refuse collection at Exeter. These will be equipped with the company's hydraulic tipping gear and are for use with horses as well as with tractors.
Ensuring Standard Working Hours.
It is stated that the Joint Industrial Council, in" the district of Rotherham, has resolved to appeal to' the various licensing committees asking them; when considering applications for hackneycarriage licences, to give regard to the wages and conditions Of working of the employees operating the vehicles on the Proposed services.
Newcastle's Coach-station Needs.
Although the new station of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., to which we referred on page 893 of our issue dated August 6th, is answering a long-felt need, the opinion is expressed in local circles that the municipality should erect another covered station to cope with the ever-increasing bus traffic. Several schemes are under consideration, one being that the parking places at the Haymarket and Marlborough Crescent, or, at least, one of them, should be equipped with a rcof to afford protection against inclement weather.
Heavy Lancashire Traffic.
Statistics are issued by the Lancashire County Council of the enormously heavy traffic that is daily carried on the ' Pretton-Blackpool main road. The census was taken on the Blackpool road near the Preston borough boundary at intervals of nine days from March 31st, 1928, to April 5th, 1029. The average daily number and weight of vehicles and loads are as follow :— Bus Results at Rawtenstall.
The motorbus services of the. Rawtenstall Corporation were commenced in August, 1024, and at the end of March last the authority had 14 buses in service, 12 being Leylands and the other Thornycrofts. According to the borough treasurer's report for the past year's working of the vehicles, the buses covered a total mileage of 443,639 and carried 2,028,525 passengers.
The revenue account shows that the total income amounted to £25,654, whilst the working expenses totalled 119,165, so that the amount to be car
ried to the net revenue account is £6,489, where it is increased by £131, representing bank interest. In the net revenue account this sum, is reduced in meeting loan charges to the extent of £4,614, so that a gum of 12,006 remains to be carried to the appropriation account.
The traffic income per bus-mile was 13.88d., the average fare paid per passenger being 2.99d.
-The Ministry Considers Coach-door Regulations: •
At a recent meeting of the licensing committee of :Blyth Corporation a letter was read from the Ministry of Transport stating that, in response to several representations similar to those made by the council in feference to the advisability of having the entrance and exit doors of ,public-service vehicles on the same side of the vehicle, the Minister has caused the matter to be reconsidered by the Departmental Committee On the Licensing and Regulation of Public-service Vehicles. Ha added that he hopes at an early date, to be able to indicate his views on the subject.: A Shooting Brake for Carrying 14 Persons.
An interesting delivery of recent date is a handsome shooting brake on a 30-cwt. Chevrolet chassis. This was completed to the order of Sir George Sutherland in readiness for the current season. The coachwork is by K. M. Sinclair and Co., Ltd., 65, Old Town, Clapham, London, S.W.4.
Twelve passengers are accommodated inside, six on each longitudinal seat, and two more passengers can be carried beside the driver. On the front bulkhead provision is made for carrying the guns in cases or lpops and there are luggage rails on the roof to accommodate other baggage. If desired the vehicle can be converted by lowering, both seats, to carry goods only, thus leaving clear the floor space. In this way it can be used to transport the bag when it is not required by the guns."
The interior is upholstered, in leather cloth of a dark crimson shade, whilst the head is finished in a light cloth ; the „fittings "include two roof-lights, seven drop windows, a two-piece 'windscreen, hinged double-tread rear step, and lino
leum and rubber' ,floor coverings. A grained wood finish' is employed on the metal panels, the roof and wings being black.
Particulars of Bosch Fuel-Injection Pumps.
A most useful booklet concerning Bosch fuel-injectidn pumps for Diesel engines has been received from J'. A. Stevens, Ltd., Upper Rathbone Place, London, W.1. It is written in English, well illustrated and includes a number of line drawings which indicate clearly the action of the pumps. It embodies notes on Diesel-engine troubles and their remedies, advice as to the dismantling and re-assembling of the pumps, and, in fact, is of such value that it should be in the hands of every person interested in the development of the Diesel type of engine.
A New Fleet of Guy DObble-deekers.
Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, has just received an order for 10 double-deck, six-cylinder, four-wheeled buses from the Chelten-, ham and District Light Railways Co.
The chassis which is used for this model is designed to carry a 48-seater body and is one of the company's latest products, although the usual procedure of equipping it with the Guy 56-96 h.p. six-cylindered engine mounted on a patent flexible sub-frame has been followed. The chassis has a dropped frame and offset 'rear axle that result in Tow loading. The rear springs are underslung. Features of this model are its good speed, remarkable braking and ease of accessibility. A test recently -carried out uuder the supervi sion of an expert showed that the chassis, when loaded to a total weight of 9 tons 6 cwt., attained 50 m.p.h.
A Tool of Universal Application.
Known as the Cecil Thompson chain wrench is a new tool capable of being applied to a number of tasks. It can take the place of various adjustable and fixed spanners and pipe wrenches. It grips the nut or tube, regardless of its shape, and possesses a tooth-bytooth ratchet action. Owing to the fact
that it. supports the object around its periphery, it is not likely that delicate parts will be damaged.
It is made by Cecil Thompson, Forsyth Road Works, Newcastle-onTyne. The sizes are 84-in. lever, 11 ins. and 15 ins., the prices being 3s. 9d., 5s. 6d. and 12s. 64. respectively. Lighting a Big Motor Coach Station.
The London Terminal Coach Station, in Clapham Road, London, S.W., which has been under construction for several months, and the layout of which we described in our issue dated April 30th, is nearing completion and is actually being used by some coaches.
It is interestine.b to note the extensive lighting scheme which it has been necessary to install to ensure that the interior should be brightly illuminated and that drivers of coaches should not be
disconcerted by glare. In the main station 54 Philips N.R.-type industrial reflectors, made by Philips Lamps, Ltd., pf 145, Charing Cross Road, London, are used, each fitted with a 300 watt " Argenta " lamp. These are arranged in four rows, and are more 'closely spaced over the loading platforms. It is estimated that the brilliance amounts to 8 c.p. to 10 c.p. Per sq. ft. over the platforms and 4 c.p. to 5 c.p. elsewhere.
The Hampton Court-Esher Road.
In connection with the construction of the Hampton Court-Esher new road, Surrey County Council reports that it is desirable that the diversion of the river Mole and the construction of the new chanuel for the river Ember should be completed before the spring of next year, when it is anticipated that a commencement will be made with the new Hampton Court Bridge.
Bridge Construction in County Durham.
Durham County Council hes received letters from the Blaydon and Ryton Urban District Council expressing apprehension that the work of strengthening Scotswood Bridge will unduly post pone the erection of a new high-level bridge, which is urgently needed. The council has informed these authorities that the question of the construction of a new high-level bridge is not being overlooked, and the improvement of the existing bridge will pot prejudice the preparation of the larger scheme.
Leeds Corporation and First-aid Outfits.
The Leeds licensing authorities have adopted a specification for the first-aid outfits with which the buses licensed to ply for hire in the city are provided. The equipment comprises a 2-oz. bottle of sal volatile, a 2-oz. bottle of aqueous
iodine, a telescopic splint and a large and a small sterilized dressing, composed of gauze and wool. In addition to these items the outfit must include three roller bandages, a flannel bandage, a roll of surgical strapping, a pair of zon-rusting scissors and two eye pads. The equipment must be contained in a dust-proof box and each packet must bear instructions as to the correct method of using the contents.
Post-boxes for East Kent Buses.
Arrangements have just beenconcluded between the G.P.O. authorities and the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., as a result of which the motorbuses running on the Canterbury-Folkestone and Lydd-Folkestone routes will, in future, carry post-boxes in order that late letters can be posted after the normal times of collection.
A Booklet on Feseolising.
We have received from Fescol, Ltd., 101, Grosvenor Road, London, S.W.1, a useful little booklet entitled " Why It Pays to Fescolise." It gives some interesting details of the process, and explains how metal parts can be restored to their orginal size or protected by the deposition of nickel, copper, chromium, cadmium, cobalt, etc., the deposited material so interlocking to the base metal that it cannot be stripped off. Illustrations are given of specific applications of the process.
Modifications to Mansfield Company's Powers.
'The proposals of the Mansfield Light Railway Co. for the conversion of its existing tramways system into a trolleybus system and the substitution of trolley vehicles for the projected tramways to Clipstone, Rainworth and Blidworth have been considerably modified by the House of Commons Committee, according to a report prepared by the Nottingham County Council.
A clause prohibiting the running of 1324
buses by other proprietors in competition with the company has been altered to allow the continuance of existing services. Further, in order to retain its partial monopoly the company must commence to run trolley-buses on the routes in question within two years, .with a possible extension of one year. In granting powers to run buses, how ever, the committee has not restricted. the routes to those approved by the road authority or the Ministry of Transport.
Commemorating, the Leyland Staff Visit to Belgium.
An interesting, well-written and wellillustrated souvenir brochure dealing with the visit of 3,000 of the personnel of Leyland Motors, Ltd., to Belgium in June last has been sent to us by Mr. A. Whalesby Windsor, the general sales manager of the company. As we took part in the trip the brochure naturally has made a peculiar appeal to us, but we have no doubt that many others will find it of considerable interest.