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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"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 runs." —John Beattie Crazier, The Latest L.G.O.C. Bus.

The new L.G.O.C. six-wheeled bus, known as the LS3, was put into service last week, and is one of a batch with which it Is intended to ascertain the revenue possibilities of this type on vafions services. The LS3 differs from LS1 and LS2 in certain respects. The overall length has been increased to 29 ft. 11 ins., as against 29 ft. 5-i ins., and its carrying capacity is now 70 as against 66. The wheelbase is increased by 4 ins. to 18 ft. 10i ins., and the staircase is slightly wider and is open at the back on the off side instead of being entirely closed in. A substantial saving in weight has been effected by the use of Duralurnin for the seat frames.

Institute of Transport Dinner.

The eighth dinner of the Institute of Transport will be held at the Hotel Cecil, London, on Wednesday, March 21st, the president, Mr. Roger T. Smith, B.Sc., occupying the chair.

Popularizing Motor Coaching.

A scheme is being developed for the promotion of a group publicity cam paign for coastal services by coach to and from London. A number of operating concerns has been interviewed and has agreed to support the scheme, which aims at popularizing Motor coaching and the upholding of economic rates. Any coach operator who would like to have particulars of the scheme should write to us and we will put him in touch with the promoters.

Southend's Experimental Trolley bus.

The Southend Corporation has been experimenting with a new type of double-deck trolley-bus on the route to Prittlewell. It is said that the results have so far proved quite satisfactory and, moreover, that the traffic revenue has been higher than that secured from the average single-deck trolley-bus. Its running costs are said to be only slightly higher than those for the single-deck vehicles and are much lower than those for the ordinary tramcar. When the experiments are complete, it is expected that the corporation will purchase outright the trolley-bus on trial.

"C.M." Expansion.

Prior to and during the war, the average number of pages in the two volumes which constitute the year's publication of The Commercial Motor was in the region of 1.150. The two volumes which were published in the year from. February, 1927, to February, 1928, totalled 1,804 pages, which is an indication of the greater value which Is now given by this journal to its readers. The figure is almost 100 pages more than in the year 1926 and is a record figure. National Omnibus Results.

The directors of the National Ornnilane and Transport Co., Ltd.,. of which Mr. Walter J. Idea is managing director, are able to announce a profit on the year's working to the end of December last of £128,610 10s. With the amount brought forward from the previous year there is available for distribution £129,884. It is r.oposed to place £70,000 to reserve for depreciation, £15,000 to general reserve, £10,000 to obsolescence, to confirm the dividends on the preference shares (absorbing 15,634), anti the interim dividend of 6d. per share on the 250,090 ordinary shares (absorbing £5,000), and to pay a final dividend of is. 9d. per share on -300,000-shares (absorbing £21,000) The total dividend distribution is, therefore, £31,634, and the sum of £3,249 remains to be carried forward.

The directors are to he very heartily congratulated upon the result of the year's Working. During the year three large businesses and several smaller concerns were purchased at the total cost of £283,009.

It is proposed to increase the nominal CaPital from 1500,000 to £1,000,000, but it is not intended to issue the whole of the new capital iramediatels.

• A New McCurd Company.

A new company, known as McCord Motors, Ltd., with headquarters at the Trading Estate, Slough, has just been formed to take over the whole of the sales organizationfor McCurd commercial vehicles. The directors of the company are Mr. W. A. McCurd, Mr. W. B. McCurd, Mr. F. T. Barnes, Mr. P. G. Larabirth and Mr. J. If. Tomlinson.

B.A.T. Dividends.

The directors of the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., recommend the payment of a dividend of 10 per cent. on the ordinary shares of the company for the year ended December 31st last, and the payment of an additional dividend at the rate of 2 per cent, on the cumulative 8 per cent, participating preference shares, making 10 per cent. for the year. The usual provision will be made for reserve and depreciation, and the amount to be carried forward will be increased.

A South Wales Project.

The inauguration of a new long-distance service is projected by the Rhondda Tramways Co., Ltd., Portil, which has applied to the authorities of the district con1

cerned for licences to ply for hire with buses on the route from Pontypridd to Newport, via Caerphilly, Bedwas and Basseleg. At present there is no through road service between these towns, h1though the Caerphilly. -Urban District Council is seeking Parliamentary sanction to run vehicles on the route.

A Useful Spray Gun.

Lacy-Hulbert and Co., Ltd., 91, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, lies just issued a leaflet describing the Boreas paraffin spray gun, which is of particular use in connection with the cleaning of engines and other chassis components. It sprays by means of a powerful jet of compressed air, which sucks up the paraffin from an open container and sprays it in the form of a fine mist with considerable force on the surface being cleaned. By this means grease and dirt can quickly be loosened and, later, removed with ease. It is worthy of note that the air jet alone can be used for drying off the parts which have been treated, as well as for blowing out dust from the insides of vehicles and other places which cannot readily be reached. The gun, with air trigger, paraffin tap and hose connections, sells at 57s. W.

A. Talk on Transmission.

On Tuesday of last week the West Midland Divisional Council of the Commercial Motor Users Association held a meeting which was presided over by Mr. 0. C. Power (general manager of the Birmingham Midland Red Bus Co.), the speaker being Mr. Bernard Shirley, of 'Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd. Quite. a representative gathering of commercial

motor users attended at the Woodman Hotel, Easy Row. In his talk on " Transmission," Mr. Shirley touched on the -various forms of clutches, gearboxes, rear axles and propeller shafts now employed, giving a brief outline of the merits and demerits of each type.

Berliet Taxis in Paris.

A fleet of 7 h.p. Berliet taxicabs has recently been put in service in Paris by the SociAte des Etablissements Mousset.

"The C.M." at the Industries Pair.

The Commercial Motor and its associated journals are included in the exhibit of the Periodical Trade Press and Weekly Newspaper Proprietors' Association at the British Industries Fair (London section), which opened at the White City yesterday and will continue until March 2nd. Copies of all the Temple Press journals and information relating to them can be obtained from the clerk in charge of the stand.

Convicting on Time-table Evidence.

" I cannot look upon these timetables as evidence of speeding," said the chairman of magistrates at Londonderry, when Mr. H. M. S. Catherwood was prosecuted for aiding and abetting a driver of one of his buses in the ex ceeding of the speed limit. It was pointed out, however, that time-tables had already been accepted as evidence in other cases and the Bench as a mese-. quence convicted-,

Personal Pars.

We learn that Mr. Alfred Fitch, M.I.A.E., who has for many years been a prominent member of the motor industry, is now in business as a partner in Fitch, McGillivray and Co., Ltd., the headquarters of which are at 167, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.C.2. This company incorporates the business of Messrs. McGillivray and Cates, which has been actively associated with the commercial side of the industry for some years. The present company is the sole London distributor of the new Talbot 30-cwt. chassis, as well as for the Bowden 5-cwt. three-wheeled carrier.

In 1911 Mr. Fitch was joint managing director of the Vulcan Car Agency, Ltd., later becoming managing direc

tor of Vulcan Motors (London), Ltd.. and a director of the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd. His more recent activities have been as sales director for Lea and Francis, Ltd. We are informed that Mr. J. W. Barker has joined: the staff of Equipments, Ltd., Morley House, 314, Regent Street, London, W.1, as sales director. Mr. Barker has had much experience in the garage equipment trade, the needs of which are catered for by the company. He has lately been associated with Harvey Frost and Co. (1924), Ltd.

Cardiff Motorbus Estimates.

Estimates have now been compiled for the operation of the Cardiff Corporation's has and tram. services for the year 1928-29. In the motorbus section the estimated expenditure is £140,000, which compares with £118,000 allowed for and, £110,000 actually expended in the last completed year. The estimated surplus for the working of the buses in the year commencing March 31st is £2,262, as against an estimated surplus of /1,695 at the end of the current year.

One allowance is for the payment of 43,050 in toll fees for the passage of buses over the main Penarth road. ,The estimate is based on actual payments made in the present working year.

A Transference of Licences.

Leeds Watch Committee has granted an application from the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., for the transference of bas licences at present held by Blythe and Berwick, Ltd., in respect of the serviee between Keighley .and Leeds. via Bingley, Shipley and' Calverley.

A Costly Traffic Idea.

The highways committee of the Westminster City Council has considered a letter from Mr. Howard Parsons, of 6, Sillvrood Mansions, Brighton, with reference to the "Pass Otis Junction" system for avoiding blocks at crossroads. It It is claimed that the adoption of his plan would relieve congestion in the London streets so appreciably that there would be no need to build a new bridge at Charing Cross. It also mentions that the Minister of Transport informed Parliament that the plan put forward, though ingenious, was impracticable and costly. After examining the plan illustrating the system, the committee agrees with the views expressed by the Minister. The main feature of the scheme is for one stream of traffic to cross the other by moans of a tunnel approached by sloping roads protected by walls. Apparently the scheme would only be feasible in streets of considerable width.

Sunderland Bus Company's Success.

The accounts of the Sunderland District Omnibus Co., for the period from June, 23rd to October 31st last, show a net credit balance of £7,165. Of this slim £3,533 is being used to write off preliminary expenses and £2,000 is being transferred to the reserve fund for additions to the fleet of vehicles, thus leaving a sum of £1,632 to carry forward. The company was formed in June of last year and in December had an issued capital of £65.000.

Bus Services at Oxford. At a meeting of the parliamentary Committee of the Oxford Corporation a letter was read from the manager of the City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd., suggesting that a certain clause in the Extension Bill should be withdrawn. The clause in question is to the effect that the provisions of the Oxford and Districts Tramways Act, 1914, whereby the corporation is precluded in certain ciretunstances from

granting any licence for a motorbus to any person other than the City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd., shall not prohibit the corporation from granting licences to any persons for buses to ply for hire in the added areas. Having regard to the decision of the city council on this question, the committee decided that the suggestion cannot be complied with— A Traffic Committee's Recommendations.

At a meeting of the recently formed North-East Coast Regional Advisory Committee en Traffic Control, which was. held at Middlesbrough, it was recommended that drivers should undergo a medical examination at the expense of their employers, and that the minimum age of a driver should be 21

and that of a conductor 17. Other recommendations were that no vehicle should be certified fit unless provided with efficient lifeguards. • Doncaster's Bus Fleet.

Another addition has to be made to the interesting list of those municipal authorities which were included in the compilation published in our special passenger vehicle number, giving an analysis of types of vehicle in use. This is the Doncaster Corporation, which runs a fleet of 33 buses, 26 being of Bristol manufacture and seven of A.B.C. make. Four of the hitter and three of the former are 50-seater doubledeckers, whilst the other vehicles are .built to seat 30 people. So far as the bodies are concerned, Charles H. Roe constructed IS, the makers of the Bristol chassis 10, and Short Bros. (Rochester and Bedford), Ltd„ 5.

Inspection of Public-service , Vehicles.

At the fourth meeting of the session of the Institution of Engineering Inspection. which will be held at the Royal Society of Arts,John Street, Landon, W.02 on Irehrua.ry 24th, Major It. Vernon C. Brook will read a paper on titled "The Inspection of Publieservice Vehicles."

A Coachworks Manager Required.

We know of an old-established company having coachbuilding associations which requires a coachworks manager who has had good experience in the Construction of motorbus bodies. He must be acquainted with coachbuilding in all its branches, including the purchase of

timber. Letters should be addressed " C," c/o the Editor.

Selling Wild-Barfield Furnaces.

Automatic and Electric Furnaces, Ltd., tells us that Alfred Herbert, Ltd., of Coventry, has been appointed sole selling agent for its furnaces in the Argentine, Uruguay and Paraguay,

London Motor Licences. .

The public control committee of the London County Council reports that during the recent " rush " period in connection with the annual and quarterly issue of motor-vehicle licences, which lnsted from December 17th to January 206, 84,931 licences were issual over the counter at the County Hall, and 78,245 were sent by post, as compared with 37,072 and 70,039 respectively issued during the same period in 1926. The number of licences sent by post includes those issued to owners of fleets of vehicles, who, in order to facilitate the work, are invited to forward their applications early in December. The licences are then prepared in advance and issued at the appropriate time upon payment of the requisite duty.

Licences which involve no alteration of registered particulars can be renewed at the principal post offices, and the number issued this year in this manner was 21,291, as compared with 15,300 last year. 1/he smaller number last year was due to the alteration in the rates of duty payable in respect of . certain types of vehicle.

The duty obtained in respect of licences issued by the council amounted to 12,291,178 as against 12,161,378 during the corresponding period the previous year. Of the total amount received, over £80,000 was taken in actual cash at the coun

ter. Postal communications containing remittances for licence duty numbered 31,183. A number of persons again submitted irregular or incomplete applications and duty amounting to a sum of £258,037 had to be placed temporarily to a suspense account.

Tractors in Cuba.

An increasing use of tractors is taking place, both in connection with farming operations and on the sugar plantations in Cuba. The latest figures available show that during the eleven months ended with November last 299 wheel tractors and 77 track-laying machines, of a gross value of 150,790, were imported into the country as compared with 245 and 47 respectively (142,414) during the whole of 1926. Practically the whole of the imports consisted of American machines.

The Latest London-Oxford Service.

We learn that an all-the-year-round daily service from Oxford to London has recently been inaugurated by the South Midland Touring and Transport Co., which is using the saloon bus exhibited on the Weymann stand at the Commercial Motor Exhibition held in November last. In the design of the body of the vehicle special attention has been paid to passengers' comfort, and the 26 seats are separately constructed of wicker work, whilst pneumatic uphill

stery is used for them. The schedule provides for the vehicle to leave the Town Hall, Oxford, at 8.30 a.m., and to arrive at the Marble Arch, about 11.30 a.m., leaving London e at 6.30 p.m. and arriving in Oxford at 9.30 p.m. The single fare is Os. 6d and the return journey can be completed for 10s.

Traffic Beacons in Kent.

Kent County Council is to erect traffic beacons, one at the cross-roads where the Dartford by-pass road is crossed by Shepherd's Lane and the other at the junction of Watling Street with the Dartford by-pass road.

Shipping a Double-decker.

Although at one time it was general practice to encase vehicles that were destined for overseas, they are now often shipped without being boxed, it not

being found necessary to enclose them. Precautions are, of course, taken against the risk of damage to coachwork. The form in which vehicles are often shipped abroad is 6howu in the accompanying illustration, wherein a standard Leyland Titan double-decker is being loaded on to the ex. "Hyacinthus!' at Birkenhead. The vehicle is seen just over the hatch of the vessel through which it was lowered into the hold.

It was necessary to exercise very considerable care in lowering the bus owing to the small size of the hatch.

Irish Free State Imports.

A slight decline has to be recorded in regard to the importation of commercial motor vehicles into the Irish Pre° State, the December returns just to hand showing a total of 39 vehicles, valued at £18,677, as compared with 44 (20,(i25) in the corresponding month of 1926. During the whole of the past year, however, no fewer than 721. vehicles (1325,628; were imported, this figure contrasting with 238 (188,963) in 1926.

Traffic Junction Signs.

The highways committee of the Westminster City Council has considered a letter from the St. Marylelbone Borough Council calling attention to the following resolution passed by the Conference on Street .A,ccidents, convened by the Ministry of Transport :—

" That the Ministry of Transport be asked to formulate a scheme whereby the relative importance of all roads from a traffic point of view may be defined and suitable signs erected at road junctions indicating which road has a prior claim frchat a traffic point of view."

The borough council states that the above resolution seeks only to secure the adoption of the principle that the relative importance of roads should be , defined from a traffic point of view, and leases the question of the manner in which effect is to be given to the principle to the Ministry of Transport. The council adds that, while it is the duty of all traffic to take responsible care in the use of any highway, it is of the opinion that it is desirable that definite proposals on the lines of the above resolution should now be formulated by the Ministry and it invites the city council to make representations to the Ministry.

The object of the resolution above set out might be advantageous in some special cases, but the Westminster City Council doubts whether the increase in the number of traffic signs which adoption of the resolution would involve is desirable.

A Portable Electric Saw.

11.E.N. Patents, Ltd., 92, Tottenham Court Road, London, W,1, which specializes in labour-saving tools and appliances has recently introduced a portable electrically operated saw, which should prove of interest to coachbuilders. The saw blade is set to the required depth of cut and the tool has only to be guided along the line, the direction of rotation of the blade being anti-clockwise, thus having the effect of keeping the appliance down on the wood and tending to draw it through the timber. It is claimed that the saw will cut through ash 3 ins, thick at the rate of 5 ft. per minute. The tool is equipped with an automatic telescoping guard, which should avoid all risk of injury to the operator.

The maker states that the B.E.N. saw can be used for ripping, cross-cutting, trimming, channelling, etc., and that it can deal with hard or soft wood, ebonite, hard rubber, plywood, fibre, bone and soft metals of light gauge.

The Metropolitan Asylums Board recommends the acceptance of the tender of-the British Goodrich Rubber Co., Ltd., for the supply of-pneumatic tyres for, six months. Leylands Transport Australian Wool Crop.

By a recent Australian mail we learn that British motor lorries have again played a prominent part in the transport of the 1927 Australian wool clip. The number of bales carried for the season on the N.S.W. railways amounted to 1,231,928, these being loaded at 300 stations throughout the State and conveyed by rail to Darling Harbour Railway Station. From the latter the wool was transported by a large fleet of Leyland motor lorries to the various stores in Sydney. Up to two years ago the whole of this transfer of wool from the railway station to the wool stores was carried out by horsedrawn vehicles. The change over to motor vehicles has resulted not only in 'economy of time and money but, what is extremely-important, in the quicker release of the railway wagons.

A Novel Farm Tractor.

A novel form of six-wheeled farm tractor, known as the Mistral, has lately been introduced in France by the Societe des Ateliers de Constructions Me

caniques de l'Atlantique, of La RochellePallice. The featnre of the machine, which is the design of M. Mistral, of Paris, is that, apart from the usual four road wheels, there are two additional wheels mounted on the back axle. These wheels, instead of having the usual spokes and rims, are provided with a series of rimless blades or paddles. The idea is that when travelling on ordinary roads the tractive effort is exerted by the ordinary outside wheels. For hauling ploughs and other • agricultural machinery over soft ground, however, propulsion is effected by the paddle wheels.

Phases of the New Zealand Motor Trade.

According to a report just to hand from Wellington the motor trade in New Zealand was very quiet during last year. So far as touring cars are concerned Great Britain suffered less than its competitors, but in the matter of commercial vehicles Canada made a surprising gain from 12 per cent. to 27 per cent, of the total trade by value, whilst the United Kingdom's share fell from 36 per cent. to 22 per cent.

Buses Give Profitable Returns in Dublin.

A profit of £9,764 on the operation of the buses belonging to the company is shown in the report to be presented at the annual general meeting of the Dublin United Tramways Co. to-day (February 21st). On December 31st last the company had 52 buses, as compared with 34 at the end of 1926. Ac. cording to the accounts 1.36,442 was spent during the year on buses, the average cost of the vehicles, therefore, being £2,023. The working of the bus services cost £84,441 and the revenue was £94,205.

A New Tyneside Bus Concern.

A new private company, with a capital of £40,000, has been formed to acquire the business of Amos Proud and Co., Ltd., of Choppingtou, Northumberland, which has played a leading part in the expansion of long-distance routes radiating from Tyneside. The new company will be known as Amos Proud and Co. (1923), Ltd.' and the directors are Mr. J. M. Amos, Mr.

J. W. Proud and Mr. J. C. Short. '