The Motor Omnibus World.
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For " deferred " in our report of the Road Car Meeting in last week's issue
(page 566) read ' preferred." This printer's error will have been noted by many readers.
Recognition.
The general manager and engineer of the Eastbourne Corporation's motorbus department, Mr. P. Ellison, has been granted an increase of salary. Having regard to the excellent condition in which Mr. Ellison maintains his large fleet of motorbuses, we are satisfied that this increase is more than well deserved.
Paris Extensions.
A motorbus service has just been laid down between St. Cloud and Chatou, a distance of ii kilometres, which will also serve a number of intermediate villages hitherto greatly neglected in respect of communication facilities. Motorbuses of 3o-4oh.p., with accommodation for 16 persons and baggage, are employed, and five at present in use permit of the making of a dozen departures for each point of destination daily. A project for connecting Houilles and Versailles by motorbus is also under consideration.
Speed Control.
Mr. Harold Cox (Preston) asked the Home Secretary, on Monday last, whethef his attention had been called to any apparatus limiting the speed of motor omnibuses to a fixed minimum, and, if so, whether he would cause experiments to be made with such apparatus with a view to its application in London. Mr. Gladstone replied that he understood that no such contrivance was actually in use, but that, in the event of such a mechanism's being invented, the Commissioner of Police would carefully consider the question of requiring such apparatus to be fitted to motor omnibuses in the Metropolis. We wonder how the question of downhill speeds will be met.
The inhabitants along the main road between Maidstone and Rochester, on the eastern side of the Medway, are very desirous, according to the " Kent Messenger," to see a motorbus service established.
Railway Meetings.
The chairmen of the various great railway companies, whose half-yearly meetings have taken place during the last fortnight, have, without exception, made some reference to the importance of motorbus traffic, and it is evident that we shall see an extension of this method of feeding main and branch lines. The chairman ot the NorthEastern Company, the Right Hon. John Lloyd Wharton, intimated that a sum of no less than ..35,000 had been charged against revenue account in respect of these vehicles, as the directors thought it better that the original cost should be paid that way, rather than that there should be any addition to the capital account in respect of them, He felt sure that these motorbus services were popular, and that they met a public demand, whilst they indirectly served the interests of the NorthEastern shareholders, notwithstanding the fact that they did not, at present, yield any return on the outlay.
A Pleasant Outing.
The adjoining illustration is of a Darracq-Serpollet omnibus which, by the courtesy of Mr. F. A. 13onsor, carried a party of men from St. Matthew's Church, Wimbledon, twelve days ago, for an outing to Windsor. The machine behaved splendidly in its run through Kingston, Staines and Egham, as well as upon the return journey via Hampton Court, Esher and Surbiton. It was skilfully handled by M. Louis Feralle.
Motor Chars.a.banes.
Mr. W. M. Cunningham, the manager of the Whalley, Clitheroe and District Motorbus Company, writes to us, under date the and instant, in regard to the De Dion-Bouton char-Abanes, which was illustrated by us on the ist instant, as follows : " The greatest distance we have run in a day, with 20 people in the vehicle, is about 16o miles, and we have only missed completing one journey, and that owing to the failure of a back tire when we were less than four miles from home, in an aggregate of 1,200 miles of running. We now have Shrewsbury and Challiner twin tires on the back wheels, and they are doing splendidly. I reckon her to be one of the best chars-abanes in England to-day." This report is one of a number which show that the manufacturing districts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, as well as seaside resorts, can support motor services.
Road Failures.
Sir George Smallman, at the City Police Court, an the 28th ultimo, heard a summons against a driver in the employ of the London Road Car Company, Limited, for causing an obstruction in Bishopsg,ate Street Without. Defendant stated that it was one of the rules of his company that a car should not he moved, in the event of a breakdown, until a fitter or road engineer arrived, and a police inspector expressed the view that it would be better if discretion were given to the conductors to employ a few men to push a broken-down motorbus out of the traffic. Sir George SmalIman, in imposing the maximum penalty of dos. and costs, endorsed the view of the police inspector, and we certainly think that the reputation of the motorbus would in no way suffer if some such discretion were allowed.
Block Tires Vetoed.
The following is a copy of a letter which was addressed, at the beginning Lof this month, by the Public Carriage Department of New Scotland Yard, to all London omnibus companies "New Scotland Yard, S.W.
" 1st August, Ko7.
" Sir,---I am directed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to acquaint you that sectional block tires are not considered suitable for motor omnibuses on public service, and when those now in use are worn out they should not be replaced by others of similar pattern.
"I am to add that, in view of the fact that defective tires conduce greatly to noise, vibration, etc., the Commissioner desires that special attention shall be paid to the condition of all tires used on motor omnibuses.
"1 am, sir, " Your obedient servant, " (Signed) C. G. BAtHuRsT, "Chief Clerk." The unequal wearing of the block tire has brought about this result, hut it should be noted that the special form of tire known as the " MT.,'' which was fully described and illustrated by us a fortnight ago, is not affected by this notice, because that tiro has an endless section, notwithstanding the appearance of its tread, whilst each block contains enclosed air under pressure.
Road Car Motors..
The Diirkopp motorbuses of the London Road Car Company will all be fitted with new engines on the StrakerSquire model, and their gradual return to servire may be expected. A puzzle then arises as to their proper classifier.Con in our fortnightly returns.
Recent Testimony.
The accompanying illustration is of six,zi.oh.p., double-decked, Dennis motorbuses, which are doing excellent service for the Cardiff Tramways Company, Limited, whose registered office is at 323 Albert Chambers, Castle Arcade, Cardiff. This company, at the end of last month, addressed the fol lowing letter to the Guildford. works r " Dear Sirs,--It may interest you to know that the. six, 4oh.p., Dennis, double-deck omnibuses which you supplied to us are giving every satisfaction., We much appreciate the vehicles for their quiet and smooth running; which is due to your excellent worm drive. There is an entire absence of smell and smoke.
" We might add that we are being continually congratulated by passengers on the easy running and comfort of cur motorbuses.
" Should you care to use this letter as a testimonial we have no objection to your doing so.
" Yours faithfully, For Cardiff Tramways Co., Ltd., " (Signed) A. E. BF.ATTIR."