News and Comment.
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This journal fosters, represents, and chronicles commercial motoring in all its branches ; it has the largest and best circulation throughout the United Kingdom, the Colonies, India, and foreign countries generally. No part of our exclusive and valuable circulation is due to the forcing of sales in useless quarters.
Mr. Henry Sturmey analyses and discusses the annual working cost of . motorvans for 15-cwt. loads, and shows how this compares with his last week's figures for horse vans (see pages 264 and 265).
An electrically-propeiled, street watering machine, which started work in Berlin last week, is described and iL lustrated as part of the contribution from our Berlin correspondent this week (page 268).
The chief of the .Dundee Fire Brigade, Captain Weir, has been instructed by the Police Committee to report upon the alternative purchase of a motor fire-tender, or the erection of a new sub-station.
Dennis Vans.
We illustrate below two of a fleet of six Dennis vans which were recently delivered to McNamara, Limited, the well-known mail contractors, of 1 2 , Castle Street, Finsbury, E.C. This type of van, with its silent, worm gear, has already given a satisfactory account of itself in various parts of the country.
Our Prize Scheme.
Owners and drivers of steam wagons and tractors in the metropolitan area in this case a radius of 20 miles from Charing Cross, or whose machines are regularly driven into London, should make immediate application to the Secretary of the Commercial Motor Users' Association, Mr, W. Rees Jeffreys, I, Albemarle Street, W., for par_ ticulars of " THE COMMF.RC1AL MOTOR prize scheme for good driving. Only a few More days remain for the reception of entries, and there is already evidence that there will be keen competition for the cash prizes, which range from 4;5 down to „4:',1 each. The parade, which is to take place on the 14th proximo, should be of exceptional interest.
The Trials Booklet.
The contents of our 48-page booklet about the R.A.C. trials have served as the basis for a number of articles since copies were first distributed (by permission) at the inaugural dinner on the 7th September. The " Daily Telegraph " of the t8th instant devotes nearly a column to such an article. We were only able to secure the careful placing of some 15,1100 (of the issue of 20,000) during the trials, and the remainder are now held in stock for use in connection with certain lectures throughout the country. Nobody can peruse the matter and illustrations without gaining much useful information about both vehicles and tractors. Road Traction Engineers.
The paper by Mr. W. E. Hardy, M.I.Mech.E., of the Bath Electric Tramways, Limited, which is to be read at the next meeting of this society, will be held on the usual meeting day, a Monday—the 9th December.
Road Signals.
The vexed question of the giving of a signal to the driver of a motor lorry, by the driver of a dogcart in this instance, was raised, before his Honour Judge Scully, at the Brighton County Court, last week. Captain H. I-I. 131aker claimed 4.'5o from E. Robins and Son, Limited, of 56, Waterloo Street, Brighton, for damage to his dogcart and effects, through the alleged negligence of one of that company's
motor-lorry drivers. Captain Blaker, in the course of his evidence, stated that he held his whip out when about 4o yards from the lorry, but the driver neither stopped nor slowed down. His horse shied as the lorry was going by, and both he and his groom were thrown out. The driver explained that a motorcar was coming towards him behind the dogcart, and that, when Captain Blaker swung out his whip sideways,he took it as signal to the motorcar, and not to himself. As, however, the situation looked a dangerous one, he did stop his lorry some 7 yards before he reached the motor, and he had been at rest for some seconds before the trap turned over. Had Captain Blaker held up his whip, instead of swinging it outwards, he would have understood the sign. His Honour, in giving judgment, said he was not satisfied as to the exact signification of the plaintiff's signal, which was insufficient to render the driver's action negligent. Further, he was not satisfied that the horse shied only because the lorry was in motion : he gave judgment for defendants with costs. The Royal Automobile Club has given notice to the Motor Union to determine the existing agreement of affiliation be tween the two bedies. ,
West-Aster Cabs.
. The 13irmingham. Motoreab and Carriage Company; Limited, whose office is at Central Garage, Easy Row, Birming-leam, expects to have mo WestAster cabs upon the road within the next three months.
Comparative Costs.
Apropos the continuation of Mr. ITenry Sturmey's article (pages 264 and 265), we may say that the Adamsfewiff, Lotis, and Unic vans closely approximale to the type of vehicle for which it is sought to establish a comparison with horses.
F.I.A.T. Advertising.
Mr. Sidney W. Lewis, whose appointment as manager of the export and ceinniercial vehicle department of F.T.A.T. Motors, Lim-lied, was announced in our issue of the 1-9th Suptember, has now taken charge of the rempany's advertising department, in addition to.his other duties.
Agricultural Motors.
The OrtiTy Ch ronicle of Saturday last c,intained an interesting article in " The motor and the future of farmlug,'' from the pen of Mr. James Long, who takes the view that modern agricultural motors will secure the future of the farmer, and at once give him breathing film!, cleaner, healthier and safer crops, and consequently better profits.
Fresh Motorcabs.
The statutory meeting of the Motor Cab. Company, Limited, was held on the 12th instant, when Lord Grimthorpe, chairman of the company, presided. A large depot, at Thames Bank Wharf, near Victoria Station, has been acquired, and Mr. F. Henry :Fowler, late of the General Motor Cab Company, Limited, has been appointed general manager. Twentyfive Fiat cabs are expected before the end of the present month, whereas only ten Were promised under the purchasing contract for such early delivery.
Liversidge's Latest.
Scott, non-skid treads are now being sold in large numbers by J. Liversidge and Son, Limited, the well-known
wheel and tire manufacturers. This tread is composed of alternate steel and rubber studs, on a specially-prepared foundation and pneumatic tires which are so treaded are equally safe on wet or dry roads. The tiornb-ination under notice should -prove very effective, because, since rubber is Much more durable than steel, there is no great weight upon the steel studs after a little running has been performed, and this fact prevents the steel studs from tearing out. Each rubber stud is strengthened by having the canvas forced well into its base, and the company is finding a big trade for light vans, motorcabs, and ether vehicles upon which pneumatic tires are used.
The Ivel agricultural motor has now won 29 gold and silver medals in open competition,
United Motor Industries.
A dividend of 20 per cent, per annum was approved by the shareholders of this company, at the annual general meeting on the I5th instant. An increasing business continues to he done in Castle colk and Castle accumulators.
A Well-Merited Award.
The Secretary of the Automobile Club has notified the Darracq-Serpollet Omnibus Company, Limited, of Amelia Street, Wnlworth Road, S.F., that the judges have awarded the company a silver Filed al for its 3-ton vehicle (No. E34) in the recent trials. We understand that, but for a special examination of the records, this award would have been announced a fortnight ago.
Utility Vehicles in Italy.
The Touring mid Automobile Clubs of Italy are now working together, in the organisation of trials for commercial motor vehicles to be held at Plaisance in September next. The trials will have the patronage of the Italian War Office. At the same time and place, a contest for agricultural motors, in which the Minister of Agriculture is interesting himself, will be held.
It is very likely that, in conjunction with these events, motorbus and delivery-van tests will also be held. The question of the utility of such vehicles iS to he studied by a technical committee appointed last week by the Postmaster-General of Italy, the members of this body including, it is interesting to note, Prince Borghese, who was first laime in ihe -Pekin-Paris motor run. The Italian Parliament is so much interested in the future of the motorbus and motorvan as to have placed 2,o,000 lire at the disposition of the Government for the organisation of the suggested trials.
Darracq's Annual Dinner.
Mr. A.Rawlinson, the Managing Director of A. Darracq and Company, Limited, presided at that company's annual dinner, on Friday last, at the Cafe Royal. Agents were present from all parts of the country, and enthusiasm was the prevailing note, whilst the speeches were crisp and good, many of them•coming from members of one of the liveliest agency organisations throughout the country. Not a few of these speakers testified to the equitable treatment which they receive at the hands of the company. A big gathering included Messrs. Huntley Walker, J. Keele, and A. E. Major (Reading); the vice-chair was occupied by the Secretary of the company, Mr. Dunn, whilst Mr. H. B. Cook looked after the guests' comfort in an admirable manner. The Motor Press was well represented, Mr. J. A. Jackson attending from " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Quite one of the most interesting announcements that was made at the dinner was to the effect that Mr. A. Morris Thomson had resigned his position as General Manager of Argyll Motors, Limited, and had joined the Darracy Company's staff.
The Bavarian Rubber and Asbestos Works, of 63, Crutched Friars, E.C., has acquired the sole license for the manufacture and sale of " Swineheart " tires in Great Britain and the Colonies.
The sets of eleven " Useful Charts and Tables '' prepared by Mr. George W. Watson, A.M.I.Mech.E., M.I.A.E., of the editorial staff of this journal, continue to sell well. They may be obtained from our Business Department, price 3s. post free.
Awards in Ploughing Match.
II. P. Saundersion and Company, Limited, of Elstow Works, Bedford, was awarded the gold medal, and Ivel Agricultural Motors, Limited, of 4s, Great Marlborough Street, 1V., the silver medal, at the enormously-successful ploug-hing match of the North Kent Agricultural Association, at Dartford, on the 7th instant.
Lacre Orders.
Recent orders for Lacre vans are from William Whiteley, Limited, Westbourne Grove, W.; Mr. F. Bentail, Kingston-on-Thames; Messrs. A. Levet and Company, Bristol; Messrs. Taylor, Tucker and Company, Bristol; Messrs. Hedges and Butler, Regent Street, W.; and The Bluebell Polish Company, of Fulham. Further repeat orders have also been received from the White Heather Laundry, and the Patent Steam Carpet Beating Co., ltd.
Halley Orders.
A repeat order has been received, through the company's Newcastle agents, for another 2-ton Halley vehicle for the use of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Limited, at its Newcastle branch. A similar vehicle has just been delivered. to Messrs. J. and B. Stevenson, bakers, of Glasgow, for the delivery of bread, flour, etc., in the outlying districts of. that city. An illustration of this vehicle is unavoidably crowded out of this issue.
The "Shockless" Hub.
On Friday evening last a dinner was given, at the Hotel Cecil, by Mr. John Muir, of Belida, who entertained the members of the syndicate which has just been formed to deal with the patents secured by Mr. Muir in connection with His leather tires, the patents 111)011 which the syndicate places the greatest value being those for the " Shockless " hub. In this hub, the axle is supported by a number of loosely-packed balls which are retained by two discs bolted to the nave of the wheel and, in this way, what might be termed a "bloating " bearing is secured, the balls not being kept in races by any " cage " device. The syndicate has secured the services of Mr. J. H. Fooks Bale, M.I.Mech.K., late managing-engineer of the motor department of the London General Omnibus Company, Limited, as general manager. The offices of Muir's Patent Hub and Tyre Syndicate are at 151 and 153, Dashwood House, New Broad Street, E.C. Owing to pressure on our space, we are compelled to hold over fuller details regarding the scope of the syndicate's proposals.