News and Comment.
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This journal has an exclusive, genuine and maintained circulation: members of its Editorial staff have practical experience and knowledge of the construction and use of commercial motors.
Mr. E. R. Calthrop, M.Inst.C.E., is due back in London to-morrow (Friday), from Mexico, via New York, after an absence of five months.
Prejudice in Rome.
'fhe horse-cab drivers in Rome went -on strike recently, because the authorities granted a concession for five .motorcabs to ply for hire.
Trade Price of Spirit.
The trade price of petroleum spirit was reduced on Monday last, the .changes varying from one halfpenny to -one penny per gallon according to locality.
An Ambulance Order Pending.
The House Committee of the Ed.monton Board of Guardians was .authorised, on Wednesday of last week, to make enquiries as to a motor ambulance, and to obtain prices. The -quotations will be submitted to the Board at its next meeting.
S.M.M.T.
Mr. J. D. Siddeley, General Manager of the Wolselev Tool and Motor Car Company, Limited, has been -elected honorary treasurer of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and 'Traders. Another interesting matter, in connection with the business of this -organisation, is the decision of the members of the commercial vehicle -section that they will continue to have -their business carried out by a cornMince, as heretofore. Mr. H. G. Burford, M. . Mech. E. (Milnes-Daimler, Limited), has been elected chairman, with, in view of his imminent tour :round the world, Mr. E. Gascoine (Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and
Company, Limited) as deputy-chairman. Mr. Gascoine has been one of the most assiduws workers on this important committbe.
Mr. J. S. Stafford, the agents' representative, has recently issued, on the instructions of the Committee of that section, a list of the members of the various local branches. Members a the variotis sections of the Society are now arranging to get through the meetings at which they have to make up their minds as to the future conduct of their work. We are glad to note the preference for management by committees, rather than for management by thejvhole of a section. The members of the British Manufacturers' Section are to meet on Thursday the 29th instanc at 12 noon, and those of the Tire and' Accessory Section on Wednesday the 3rd proximo at 3 p.m., both at Maxwell House, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C.
The London Improved Cab Company has found the fitting of taximeters so successful, in connection with its horsedrawn cabs, that it is doing its utmost to increase the number in use.
We observe that Mr. A. V. Barford, of Messrs. Barford and Perkins, Queen Street Ironworks, Peterborough, has been elected a member of the Incorporated Institution of Automobile Engineers.
"Sentinel" Reports Wanted.
A subscriber to this journal, who is a well-known furniture remover and contractor in a south-west county, is desirets to receive experiences from owners of " Sentinel " wagons. We shall be glad to receive suitable particulars of work done by " Sentinel " machines for the purpose of forwarding them to our correspondent.
Peculiar Views.
We were amused to read, in the Eastern Morning News " of the 13th instant, that the stipendiary magistrate at Hull accepted a defence which claimed that the correct time at Hull was it minutes behind that at Greenwich. We are at a loss to understand how this plea came to be accepted, in view of the fact that Hull is less than half a degree of longitude to the West of Greenwich.
A Vacancy.
We would direct attention to the advertisement on one of our sundry advertisement pages, in which the Dunlop Rubber Company, Limited, announces that it requires a representative for the northern district. Many applications from good men should result, especially as the ground to be covered is an extensive one, embracing the territory between the Cheviot Hills and a line drawn from Chester, below Burton-onTrent, and through to Hull. Applications should be addressed to 190, Deansgate, Manchester.
International Congress on Roadmaking.
The Southwark Borough Council has taken the lead among British local authorities in appointing delegates to attend the International Congress, which, on the initiative of the French Government, will be held in Paris, in October, in order to study the making of roads in a manner so as to suit them to motor traffic.
The Roads Improvement Association has appointed the following delegates for this important conference Lord Montagu of Beaulieu; Col. R. E. Crompton, C.B., M.Inst.C.E.; Hon. C. S. Rolls, M.A.; Dr. H. S. Hele-Shaw, F.R.S.; H. Howard Humphreys, M.I.M.E. ; W. J. Taylor, M.Inst.C.E. ; and W. Rees Jeffreys (honorary secretary). Eat of these members will contribute a paper to the proceedings.
Harrogate Town Council, after a prolonged discussion, has agreed to the issuing of licenses for zo motorcabs to the Provincial Motor Cab Company, Limited, of 32, Old Jewry Chambers, London, E.C.
There appears to be a tendency amongst mill owners in the Rossendale Valley to emulate the practice of Darwen, Blackburn and Preston mill owners who largely use steam lorries for transport purposes.
The Kirkham and Wesham Urban Councils (Lancashire) have under discussion a proposition for the joint purchase of a motor fire engine, at an estimated cost of 4-r,000. The proposition has been brought up by a recommendation from the Ratepayers' Association.
. Strenuous Opposition.
The Scottish Automobile Club has offered most strenuous opposition to the imposition of a ro-mile limit at Helens. burgh, Sir J. H. A. MacDonald, K.C.B., being amongst the witnesses. We hope the efforts of Mr, R. J. Smith and his colleagues will be rewarded by success, as there is no justification for such a limit, and this was amply shown at the inquiry.
SiddeIey Mail Vans.
The accompanying illustration is of one of the petrol-driven mail vans constructed by the Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Company, Limited, of Birmingham, and. of York Street, Westminster, S.W. This particular vehicle is in service between London and Aylesbury, and is timed to leave the latter place at 7.30 p.m. each day, travelling to London via Tring, Berkhampstead, Two Waters, King's Langley, Watford, Stanmore, and Edgware, and to arrive at Mount Pleasant shortly before midnight. It is scheduled to start back again in less than half an hour after its arrival, and also to stop at each of the points named above on the up journey. The distance is 40t miles each way.
The Hamburg police have acquired an electric ambulance fitted with Lohner-Porsche electromotors, and a battery0r 44 cells having a capacity of 186 ampere-hours on a five-hour discharge.
Thames Cabs.
The Thames Ironworks, Shipbuilding, and Engineering Company, Limited, of Greenwidt, is now very busy, and working over-time, in connection with the constructi994 so two-cylinder cabs, Every part isileing made at the Greenwich works, and two new automatic machines ,have been specially installed, within the last week, in anticipation of a further large order for cabs. We understand that the two Thames cabs which are at work in the south of London are behaving very well, their quietness being one of the most noticeable features. They are painted the same colour as the General Motor Cab Company's red Renaults, and are not infrequently mistaken for them. During the first quarter of the current year, the number of motorcabs in Berlin rose from 529 to 555. Berlin's stock of cabs in general, however, fell
from 7,444 to 7,375.
"Ferodo" Brake Lining.
In the course of our article on brake linings (page 266 of our issue dated the 7th May), when defining the coefficient of friction, we prefer to read " under pressure" for " under definite pressures," as the latter expression is likely to lead to misapprehension. Comparison by variation of pressure was not implied; the coefficient, of course, does not vary with the pressure, although the amount of friction does so directly.
Motor Hansoms in Edinburgh.
Mr, W. K. Muir, managing director of the Edinburgh Garage and Motor Auctions, Limited, of 69, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, has forwarded to us a photograph of one of his motor hansoms, and this we reproduce herewith. These cars have r(),I2h.p., four-cylinder engines, and are of the "New Leader " make. Considerable additions have been made recently to the company's garage, and an additional number of both cabs and hansoms will be introduced as demand increases.
Lotis Vans.
Sturmey Motors, Limited, of Lotis Works, Coventry, is not content to sell postal motors for export, and we learn that, subsequent to the date of shipment of the earliest van of the batch on order for Upper Burmah, particulars and illustrations of which we gave in our issues of the r3th February and 23rd April, 1908, it has supplied a 12-18h.p. Lotis van for postal service between Bradford and Leeds. Another recent delivery of a Lotis van is a 15-ewt. vehicle for bottlers' delivery work, this being to the order of John Graves and Sons, Limited, of Bournemouth and Weymouth. The carrying capacity has been slightly increased at the cost of a greater overhang than -tal, the effective-platform area being thus increased to 26 square feet. Another recent delivery is illustrated on the next page.
A Repeat Order.
After extended use of one of the Albion Company's 16h.p. vans for 25-cwt. loads, Messrs. Charles Rattray and Company, of 14-16, Candleriggs, Glasgow, have placed a repeat order for a combined travellers' brougham and delivery van of the same make. This new vehicle will be used by travellers on certain days of the week, when it will he, fitted with removable shelves to carrylsamples, and at other times, after removal of the shelves, it will be used for delivery purposes: Cab Statistics.
The Home Secretary, on the rith instant, informed Mr. W. Crooks, M.P., that there were, at the end of 1907, 5,952 two-wheeled horse cabs, 3,866 four-wheeled horse cabs, and 732 Mechanically-propelled cabs, in the Metropolis. The corresponding figures at the end of the year reo6 were : 6,648 two-wheeled horse cabs, 3,844 fourwheeled horse cabs, and 96 mcchanirally-propelled cabs. More recent figures (to the -31st. March last) in regard to motorcabs -may be found in out issue of the 3oth ultimo-•" The Motorcab Special."
Helping the Fishing Industry.
Remote parts of the British Isles have, on a number of occasions, benefited by the use of motor transport for the rapid conveyance of loads of fresh fish. There are, unquestionably, a great number of such openings, more particularly in Ireland arid Scotland, and the case for more general employment of these facilities is pointedly brought home by an application in the neighbourhood of Belfast. A 2o11.p. Argyll lorry was used, one day last week, as a means of conveyance of a large catch of herrings, when no other . means of transport offered. The vehicle, which was supplied by Messrs. Ferguson, the Argyll agents in Belfast, took the herrings from Portavogie, a small fishing village on tile coast of County Down, and which is situated 14 miles from the nearest railway station (Newtownards), and 24 miles from Belfast,.. in less than three hours. By this means, the fish were in time for the market the same day as they were caught, and in consequence realised a high price. We are indebted to
Mr. II. Matier, of Messrs. Norton and Company's Car Service, Kilkeel, Co. Down, for our information on this subject, and for the outline map which we are able to reproduce. We would that the same enterprise were shown in developing the fishing industry generally, for incalculable wealth lies at the doors of the Irish nation in this connection.
Light military "Trains" in the Harz District.
Four Biissings, three steam-driven vehicles made at the shop of the Hannoversche Maschinenbau-Aktiengesellschaft, and a Gaggenau, have just completed severe trials in the Harz district, under the supervision of theGerman War Office. Each automobile had to carry four tons of useful load, and to haul a trailer carrying an additional load of two tons. The Bilssings were taken over by military men at Brunswick, and remained in their charge throughout the trials. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather and, in the higher altitudes, the snowcovered roads, together with the stiff gradients, which occasionally rose to 12 per cent., the "trains " seem to have acquitted themselves with credit to their makers, especially the Missing column.
Uncommon Calendars.
The British Petroleum Company, Limited, of 22, Fenchurch Street, F.C., has issued a " Shell " motor spirit calendar for the year ending the 3oth April, _19°9. This departure from the customary practice of dating calendars from each 1st January to each 3r5t December is of some interest.
Manchester Fares.
Taximeters have now been sanctioned for use in Manchester, and a motorcab so fitted will be allowed to charge is. a mile, irrespective of the number of passengers carried, and with no increase of fare between the hours of 12 midnight and 7 a.m. in the morning. We have reason to believe, as was pointed out in "The Motorcab Special " of the 3oth ultimo, that a universal scale of is. per mile will be adopted in provincial cities, with •the right to call a call off a rank for a minimum payment of 6d. for any short run not in excess of half a mile.
Humber Cabs for Lincoln.
Messrs. R. M. Wright and Company, of Newland, Lincoln, are inaugurating a service of motortabs in Lincoln and district. The minimum fare is to be is. for a mile, with 3d. stages for each additional quarter of a mile, provided the vehicle is not taken outside the city boundary. For longer distances, is per mile will be charged out, and half the fare back, together with 3s. per hour for detention. A start has been made with a ro-12h.p. Humber.
Possible Confusion of Names.
Following the difficulties in which its secretary became involved, and which we have already reported, a resolution for the voluntary winding-up of the Lancashire Wagon Company, of Bury, has been passed. This company has, for a number of years, conducted a remunerative business in the sale by hire-purchase of railway wagons, and it is in no way connected with the Lancashire Steam MownCompany, Limited, which recently changed. its name to Leyland Motors, Limited.
As a consequence of the successful behaviour of one of its five-ton steam lorries at Rangoon, Leyland Motors, Limited, is to receive a further order, for six more vehicles, for the same place, subject to the issuing of the necessary permits.
At Oxford.
Nine rnotorcabs have been licensed to ply for hire in Oxford, but none are at present fitted with taximeters, Ordinary cab rates are in force for the whole of the vehicles, three of which are 101211.p. Humbers, and the others twocylinder Siddeleys, West-Asters, and Argylls. It will be interesting to see how these cabs pay during vacation. The Humbers are owned and run by Coxeter and Sons, Limited, of New Road Motor Works, Oxford.
London Cab Developments.
Steps are being taken to secure capital for a company to be known as London Motor Taxis, Limited, with an authorised capital of ..200,000, and with a view to the purchase of StrakerSquire cabs. Another London promotion, for which registration was effected on the 7th instant, is the National Motor Cab Company, Limited, with an authorised capital of -1;200,000, divided into 197,000 preferred ordinary shares of ,Z't each, and 6o,000 deferred shares of is. each. The papers were filed by Messrs. Flux, Thompson, and Quarrel, of 8, East India Avenue, E.C., and the principal object of the company is to adopt an agreement with the Comptoir Commercial et Industrie]. It is stated that there will be no initial public issue in the second instance.
C.M.U.A.
The usual monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Commercial Motor Users' Association was held at r, Albemarle Street, W., on Wednesday of last week. Colonel R. E. B. Crompton, C.B., occupied the chair, and the following gentlemen were also present : W. Arnold; W. J. Baker ; F. C. A. Coventry (Great Western Railway Company); S. D. Gilbert (Vanguard Motorbus Co., Ltd.); Dr. H. S. HeleShaw, F.R.S.; Douglas Mackenzie, M.I.A.E.; J, C. Mitchell (London Road Car Co., Ltd.); L. G. Oldfield (London Omnibus Owners' Federation); I. Witherington (Sonning); and W. Rees Jeffreys (Secretary). Messrs. Hicks, Davies and Hunt were appointed solicitors to the Association, and a memorandum was considered in connection with the drafting of motorcab regulations by the Association of Municipal Corporations. The Secretary reported donations that had been made towards the • cost of approaching the Local Government Board with respect to the closing of Wark Bridge, and was instructed to write to the chief makers of commercial motors on the matter. Other business included the reading of a letter from the Secretary of the Royal Automobile Club on the subject of the contemplated acceleration tests, which it is proposed to undertake on the suggestion of the Association.
In connection with transport for the Territorial Army, Messrs. F. C. A. Coventry, S. D. Gilbert, and W. G. Lobjolt were appointed a sub-committee to assist Colonel Crompton in duties of a special character which he had undertaken. Another matter that came up was a report upon the Association's action in regard to the charges for water by the Metropolitan Water Board, whilst ten new members were enrolled.
Dunlop Tires.
We have received from the Dunlop Rubber Company, Limited, of the Manor Mills, Aston, Birmingham, a copy of that tire-maker's latest catalogue (No. 520). This booklet is divided into three sections : the first of these is devoted to the illustrating and describing of the Dunlop solid tires of the " band" pattern; the second section deals with the "grip " pattern of solid tire; and the remaining pages are occupied by numerous illustrations Of light-section carriage tires, steel rims, and tire presses. Each section is complete, with full lists of sizes of sections and their respective prices, which, we note,, show a general reduction on the previous lists issued by this maker. Messrs. H. and W. Greer, of 150, Clerkenwell Road, E.C., are the London representatives of the Dunlop Company for all its productions.