WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
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 Crozier.
Midland Road Transport Operations.
Encouraging results continue to attend road transport operations which are being carried out under the auspices of Chambers of Commerce and other trade organizations in 'East Midland counties.
The Nottingham Chamber may be credited with having set an example in the matter which has been followed, with distinct advantage to business interests, by many other authorities, The price of petrol still continues, however, to impose a handicap, but for which it is believed operations might be consider ably extended. It was reported, at a recent meeting at Nottingham, that., despite. this circumstance, haulage contractors had been asked to collaborate -with the Transport 'Department of the Chamber to meet-the new competition created by the reduction of rail rates. . As the committee pointed out, there has been, unfortunately, . very little reduction in running costs, and a fall in the price of petrol would obviously considerably ease the situation. It also expressed a strong conviction that read transport should be able to hold its own with rail, the reduction of railway
rates being clearly due to the success which has attended road work. Road transport has proved of inestimable help to all concerned in Midland manufactures, and notably to those engaged in 'lace production, by affording a means for the expeditious transport of goods.
The Business Motor in Carnivals.
Rarely is a carnival held in the Liverpool districts in which business motors do not participate. On a recent Saturday W. and R. Jacobs turned out one of their heavy Leylands loaded up with boxes of cream crackers, whilst Rd. Taylor and Sons, Ltd., bakers and confec
tioners, converted a Ford to represent an episode from a children's fairy story. Pictures of the vehicles in their carnival garb are reproduced on this page.
The W. and G. Taxicab Reappears.
The W. and G. taxicab is againto be placed on the market. The chassis of the new model has been designed by Mr. L. Coatalen. The chassis only, or the complete vehicle, will be sold as customers may require, whilst the price will be competitive.
Scottish Tractor Trials Entrants.
The.arran,gements for the tractor de monstration to be held at, Dorclel,' Dal. keith, between October 17th and 20th, are well in hand, though not yet complete.
The. list of entries at present includes the names of the following concerns :-
W. C. Allardyce, btonehaven. — Attachment for operating tractor im plementa. . • Austin Motor Co., Ltd.—Austin tractor and Ransoms plough, British Hart Parr Co.—Hart Parr 20 and Hart Parr 30 tractors.
B. H. Brown, Kenton Bank, Newcastle.—Two Simar rotary tillers.
H. Cx. Burford and Co., Ltd.—Two Cletrac tractors.
J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co.— Three Case tractors, Grand Detour 'plough, J. I. Case plough and a Ransom@ plough. , Henderson Bros., Stirling.—Case tractor.
International Harvester Co. of Great Britain, Ltd.—Three tractors, Sellar plough. Alex. Jack and Sons, Ltd., Maybole. —Two-furrow Dux plough. Martin's Cultivator Co., Ltd.-10-ft. spring-tine harrow, 9-tine cultivator with three furrowers, 2-f ttrrow self-lift plough, 11-tine cultivator. Massey-Harris, Ltd.—Iwo-furrow selflift plough, 11-tine cultivator. Morton Engineering Co., Ladylands.— Two-furrow tractor plough. • W. N. Nicholson and Sons; Ltd., Newark-on-Trent.—Sherwood cultivator with rigid tines, ditto with spring tines, three-row ridger, set of self-lift harrows. Phipps and Son, Chippenham.—A.B.C. cultivators, A.B.C. pairing skim, threefurrow self-lift plough, two-furrow selflift plough and harrow.
Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd.— R.S.L.D.-T.C. plough with sub-soil tine, R.S.L.S. T.C.P. single-furrow plough with-sub-soil tine, R.S.L.D.-B.P. two-furrow plough, R.S.L.M.-T.C. threefurrow plough, R.S.L.D.-T.C.P. twofurrow plough, 11-tine cultivator, 9-tine cultivator, combined self-lift cultivator and harrow, stubble breaker, three-tow ridger, potato coverer.
Ruston and Hornsby, Ltd.—British Wallis tractor, three-furrow plough, deep-digging plough, deep-digging plough and sub-soiler.
0. Senor and, Son, Ltd., Huntley and Alloa.—Tractor grubber.
Wallace (Glasgow),. Ltd., Glasgow.— Two Glasgow tractors, three-furrow Oliver plough' automatic disc harrow.
Walter A.Wood Co., Ltd_, London. —Spring:tooth harrow, 6-ft. disc harrow.
The Paris. Show.
• Thirty-five thousand square metres of space have been applied for by those concerns who intend exhibiting at the Paris Motor Show, which is to be held from October 4th-15th; The Grand Patois only has space for stands of 22,000 square metres, and it has, therefore, been decided to display heavy tractors and other commercial vehicles ni an annexe.
Foden's Profit.
It is, indeed, heartening in these days of depression and gloomy company reports to be able to refer to a commercial motor manufacturing company which, in spite of the period of difficulty through which we are passing, is able to record a profit on the past year's working. The report of the directors of Fodens, Ltd., for the year ended J1111.0 30th embodies the pleasing announcement that, after allowing £10,138 for depreciation of plant., machinery and buildings, and orediting £15,920 for appreciation of investments, there remains a profit of 210,755, which, when added to the sum brought forward from the previous year's accounts, makes a
total of £48,110. A dividend on the ordinary share capital, at the rate of 6 per cent_ (free of income tax), will absorb £18,444, and leave £29,666 to be carried forward.
Lower Cab Fares in Manchester.
The Hackney Coach Sub-committee of the Manchester Watch Committee has decided upon reduced taxicab fares. The new rates are is. for the first two-thirds of a mile and 3d. for -each additional sixth of a mile, making Is. 6d. for the first mile as compared with the previous change of 2s. Waiting time is now charged at the rate of 4s. an hour com
pared with the old rate of bs. The oharge for packages is reduced from 3d. to 2d.; that for bicycles or bassinettes is 9d., although the driver can refuse to carry such articles.
The Manchester and District Taxicab Owners' Association explains that the new tariff is only applicable within a radius of six miles from the Manchester Town Hall. Beyond that radius the public are advised to make arrangements with the driver at the commencement, of the jOurney. A fair charge, it is stated, is is. 6d. a mile for distance
Combined Horse and Motor Transport.
Particular interestwas evinced in the cinema film which has been prepared by Walker Brothers (Wigan), Ltd., Page. field Works, Wigan, when it was shown to a large gathering of representatives of local authorities, etc., in Newcastle, in view of the fact that the Newcastle City Council is itself expending the sum of
£-12,000 on the purchase of additional mechanically propelled vehicles for house refuse disposal purposes. The film is a capital one, and gives an excellent idea of the Pagefield system for the collection and transport of refuse, etc. The Pagefield system combines both horse and motor haulage in their most economical forms, and, to judge from comparative tables of various methods of refuse disposal which are included in a handy little booklet issued by the company, the use of both classes of transportappears to be the real road to true economy in this class of work.
Stromberg Carburetter Service.
The Gerard Kirby Co., Ltd., of 89, Great Portland Street, London, W. 1, have been appointed sole distributors for the British isles for the well-known Stromberg carburetters. These instruments are fitted to a large percentage of American commercial vehicles, and users and others will undoubtedly welcome the establishment of a service station in this country.
Provincial Parades.
It will probably interest many users and others of our readers to know that. definite dates have been fixed by the C.M.U.A. on which parades of commercial vehicles will be held in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. September 30th will witness the Liverpool event, and it will be followed by the Manchester parade on October 7th and the Pres ton event. on October 28th.
Lubrication Of the Ford. ,
Those of our readers who are interested in our regular feature, entitled "Ford Van Pointers," would be the' first to admit that, what Mr_ R. T. Nicholson does not know about the Ford is not worth knowing. This statement is sufficient, in itself to conameed?.to our Ford readers the booklet just published by Shell-Max, Ltd., Shell Corner, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, and entitled, "The Lubrication of the Ford," for it is written in Mr. Nicholson's inimitable style.
The Standard Oil Co., of New Jersey, has officially confirmed the report, that the Bolivian Government has approved the transfer of 2,400,000 acres of oilbearing land to the company.
COMMERCIAL MOTOR Ford's American Output.
The Ford Co. of America goes Iron one record to another—so far as sales are concerned. According to an advice from Detroit, the total sales of Ford trucks-. tractors and cars for June establishes a new record with a figure of 148,439— an average of 5,709 vehicle-sales per clay. The Ford Co, of Canada were responsible for sales amounting to 6,054,whilst European and South American branches were credited with sales of 9,435 vehicles. Deduct these figures from that of total sales and an approximate ides of the huge number of Ford vehicles absorbed in the land of their origin will
at once become apparent. .
The company's records show that thi total sales for the six months to the end of June, 1922, were 652,251—another record It will interest British makers to learn that. truck sales during this period show an increase of 24 per cent. over the figures for the corresponding period of last year.
The Wright Petrol Lock.
Users who have suffered the loss, eithei temporary or permanent, of their vans by having them stolen, will he interested in the Wright petrol lock, which is a useful safeguard against the attacks of thieves.
The Wright petrol lock is Claimed to be the only device by means of which petrol can be turned on and off at will, without any trouble, and with which even the most daring and expert motor thief eaarinet tamper. It is controlled by the H-. and T.V. pin tumbler cylinder lock. There are no two-locks alike.The two keys supplied with the lock are the only two keys that will enable a vehicle to be started.
The lock is usually fitted to the sloping part of the floorboard, close to the controls, and where the driver: can reach it,without moving out of his seat. The petrol pipe passes underneath, so that no alteration to the petrol system is entailed in fitting.
The price of the device-30s.—is very reasonable, considering the protection which it affords. It should particularly appeal to light, van users Wm. Hurlock, Jnrir., Ltd., have transferred their headquarters to 55, Fffra Road, Brixton, London, S.W. 2.
Some New Tools.
Amongst new tools recently placed on the market by Lake and Elliott, Ltd., are is connecting rod boring and facing machine, a connecting rod boring attachment a main bearing cap rebabbitting jig, a rear-axle pinion gear press, a cylinder block stand and a radiator thread-renewing set.
The first-mentioned tool bores and faces the connecting rod with cap complete at one setting ; the design of the machine allows the waste metal to fall away from the work.
The connecting rod boring attachment is intended for those who may not wish to run to the expense of the boring and facing machine. The 'difficult operation of boring the big-end in correct relation to the piston pin bore is a simple taSk with the aid of this appliance. The rear-axle press is intended for pre.:eing on or removing the driving bevel from the Ford ton truck axle shaft.'
Welsh Bus Disagreement.
Owing to the Bedwas and Machen Council not being able to come to an arrangement with the Caerphilly Council to run a joint motorbus service' the former authority recently gave instructions for its buses to be run on a timetable already prepared as from August 14th. It, was stated that the Caerphilly Council was consulting counsel on the matter, and that the Bedwas Council's action meant throwing down the gauntlet.
A New Carburetter.
In outlining the merits of the Maxima carburetter, the Maxima. Carburetter Syndicate, Ltd., 1, Albemarle St., Piccadilly, London, W. 1, point to the fact that there are many motor vehicles at present in use in which an extra-air valve with a separate control is fitted to the inlet pipe of the engine, and they emphasize the fact that any, and all, air that is 'admitted into the cylinders should form an integral part, of the explosive mixture.
There is sound logic in the view that, if admitting extra air through the inlet pipe gives economy with the existing carburetter, it goes to prove that the mixture is too rich without it. One of the chief features of the Maxima carburetter is that the supply of petrol admitted into the cylinders is dependent on the amount of air admitted.
So far as the construction of this new carburetter is concerned, the only parts
common to an ordinary carburetter are the float chamber and the :throttle. 'there are four jets, each of -which is readily detachable. They protrude through the choke-tube, and ate immediately over an air passage in the adjustable cone. Once the carburetter is fitted there is no necessity whatever for altering or touching the jets.
In the closed or ticking-over position the air-admission throttle is nearly closed, thus admitting only a very slight amount of air through the air passages, and giving an instantaneous start. This air-admission throttle is linked up with the engine throttle, and they both open or close simultaneously, so that a proper mixture is always being formed in accordance with the engine's immediate requirements.
The adjustable cone is moved up or down the choke-tube by means of a screw. Screwing it, up or down has the effect of narrowing or widening the area of the choke-tube and obviates the necessity for removing the crburefter for adjustment.
The general construction of the Maxima carburetter can be seen from the accompanying illustration.
Double-deck motor omnibuses, similar to those in use in London, have just been introduced on the service between Swansea and Mumbles.
Leicester Bus Traffic.
Concurrently with the growth -of motorbus traffic in Leicestershire, difficulties have arisen in connection with which recent police court proceedings at Loughborough have resulted in a suggestion that, if acted upon by the responsible authorities, may result in a large measure of practical utility. Two drivers of motorbuses had been summoned for causing an ebstruction on the highway at Castle Donington, the police complaint .being that vehicles had been allowed to remain for 10 mins. at an inconveniently narrow point in the road. The drivers had been advised to stand where the roadway was wider, but the reply to this was that the point used was that which had been indidated in the official tables as the starting-place for buses running between Donington and Long Eaton, and that no wilful obstruction was involved. The legal point in this connection is that it had been held that no such obstruction can be found in eases in which vehicles are not allowed to remain standing for longer periods than are necessary for the reasonable business upon which they are engaged. Upon the suggestion of the magistrates, the eases were withdrawn, and the chief constable was asked to fix in every rural centre in Leicestershire places at which motor vehicles may stop.
20,000 People Travel to Welsh Eisteddfod by Road.
Some 80,000 people visited the Welsh national Eisteddfod at Ammanford in Bank Holiday week, and it is computed that over a quarter of this number made the journey by road. Services were 11111 from the Swansea. Valley centres halfhourly, and the spectacle of "parked " chars-it-hancs and buses on the outskirts of Amrnanford was a proof of the popularity of road travel with the public. The vehicles were not allowed to pats, in the daytime, through the -streets of the town, and some hundreds of machines were to be seen on the outskirts of the parking ground.
The English Insurance Co. has appointed Mr. Edgar Chambers as branch manager for the West of England, with office at 41, St. Nicholas Street, Bristol. Mr. Chambers has resigned from the position of inspector attached to the Plymouth branch of the London Guarantee and Accident Insurance Co., in order to take up his new appointment.
Lights on Vehicles.
Lord Wigan has introduced into the House of Lords a Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to the carrying of lights by vehicles at night. It is intended that its provisions shall come into operation on January 1st, 1923. Every vehicle on any street, highway, or road shall, during the hours of darkness, display two white headlights and one red rear light. The Minister of Transport may give certain exemptions, notably for vehicles carrying inflammable farm 'produce during harvest, or for vehicles carrying explosives. Vehicles standing or parked in accordance with local by-laws or police regulations, as well.. as horsedrawn vehicles and hand-propelled vehicles, may also be given exemption.
French Producer-gas Trials Results.
At a meeting of the Automobile Club of France the judge ofthe French gasproducer trials recently announced the classifications of the various producers which participated in the trials as follows (1) Thornycroft producer fitted on one of the company's lorries specially constructed for the purpose.
(2) Societe Industrielle de Vierzon, Orleans, with a Delaugere lorry.
(3) Marion Lion Hermite, of Lyons, with a Saurer lorry.
(4) Societe Industrielle de Vierzon, with a Seemia lorry. (5 Maison Cares, with a Brasier lorry. A slight accident which happened to the gas generator of the apparatus fitted on the Sanrer lorry run by the Societe Le Gas Faavre dans des Applications (G.P.A.), which compelled the vehicle to be run for the last kilometre on petrol, did not allow the jury to classify this apparatus in accordance with the terms of the test, in spite of the very appreciable qualities which it showed.
The French trials were divided into two distinct series of tests,.the first being on the bench, when regularity of working, economy in consumption, purity of the gas and other features were judged at the mechanical laboratory of the Research Department at Bellevue, whilst the second included road tests. It would appear from the figures which we have before us that the Thornycroft gas-producer plant • gave a very good account of itself, both in the bench tests and the road trials.
1211PasSengers by a Bus.
One hundred and twenty-one passengers in a single load must. surely constitute a record, especially for a•single machine of the four-ton type. The vehicle which has this remarkable record to its credit is illustrated on this page, and it is a Leyland four-ton subsidy type, which runs on a service inaugurated by Messrs. Wyartt Bros. between Ipswich, Bildeston and Bury.
The owner mentions the fact that the bus has been running on this service since July, 1919, and, with the exception of grinding-in valves, nothing has been done to the engine. Mr. Wyartt says that he is well satisfied with the machine and that he has just had a large rail put round the top deck—a provision which we should think very desirable in view of the large numbers of passengers which the machine is called upon to carry.
Local Proceedings.
The Corporation of Belfast has placed an order for two more Lacre L type sweeping machines as the result of the satisfaction which has been given by three supplied to it by the Lacre Co. in 1920.
Calcutta Municipal Cmincil has called the attention of the Improvement Trust to the need for the organization of motorbus services.
A sub-committee of the Maldon Town Council has recommended the purchase of a 40-45 h.p. 300-350-gallon Dennis turbine motor fire-engine.
The Bethnal Green Board of Guardians invite tenders for the supply of a 25.30 h.p. Crossley chassis fitted with a standard L.C.O. pattern two-stretcher ambulance body. Tenders have to be delivered to C. Faulkner Jones, clerk to the guardians, 79a, Bishop's Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2, not later than September 5th.
The Tractors Order.
At a recent meeting of the Hunts. and Beds. Farmers' Union, it was stated that the unior had sent a deputation to the Ministry of Transport with regard to this draft order, and forwarded the objections on behalf of farmers. With regard to the compulsory provision of brakes on tractors the union had received an assurance that the enforcement of this provision will be deferred from September 1st to, the end of the year, so as not to interfere with the use of tractors in autumn cultivation. It is also making further representinions with regard to this point. Another point was that a smooth band of not less than 24 ins.
should be fitted. .
A Luxurious Bus Station.
Following the recent announcement of the establishment ot a, motorbus station in the Midlands comes the news that a similar station has just been opened at Maidstone. This station is the first of its kind in the South of England, and it is provided with booking hall, covered platform, parcels office, cloak rooms, etc. It is erected on land leased from the Corporation.
A Cushion Wheel. for Solid Tyres.
Sore time age we gavela brief de. seription of the Baico it. G. cushion wheei which has been developed by Haien Patents, Led., 115, Milani. Road, Louden, S W. This wheel is now in production, and can be supplied not only for the Ford ton truck, but also for the Baico vehicles. The cost of a doubledisc steel wheel With the cushioning arrangement and standard size solid tyre is. £15, which is approximately £3 more than the price of a wheel, without the cushioning device.
It is being recognized that, whilst the solid tyre will give long life, it is not sufficiently resilient, as, if it is made of very soft rubber in order to increase the resiliency, it is apt to wear unduly rapidly and to absorb extra power owing to the wave in it., which, incidentally, is alluded to in one of the letters published on our page devoted to "Opinions from Others." In the Baico wheel a saddleshaped ring of very soft rubber vulcanized to a steel band is bolted to the wheel proper, steel side flanges preventing the rubber from tearing. The rubber is moulded so that, air spaces are left between the steel tire of the wheel and the cushion. Any standard type of solid tyre can be pressed, on to the steel rim and the cushion in the ordinary manner,
and, as the cushion is only exposed for a very small area and the wheel is Water-tight, it should have an extra long life. Experimental wheels fitted with this cushion have been iv service for over a year, and have giveis every sat-isfaction, both from a point of view of absorption of vibration and from the absence of depreciation.
Closing a Bridge to Coaches.
• The Ilkley Urban District Connell has decided to -close She 'old bridge across. the river Marie to the heaviest classes of motor vehicles. r At a meeting of the -council previously it was intimated that .the county council had agreed to the suggestion that commercial vehicles of over three tons axle weightshould be prohibited-. from using the bridge. Notices are to be erected at each end of the bridge to this effect. The main object. of the council, it is openly stated, is in prevent motor coach drivers using the bridge except under penalty.
SunderlandRoads.
The Son derland Town Council has agreed to a number of road improvement schemes, amongst which is one for the construction of a new road from Ryhope Road to Durham Road at a cost of -£50,000, and to provide a through road from the south to the west end of the town, along which much of the heavy traffic which now passes throligh the centre can be diverted.
York Bus Losses.
York City Council accounts for the year ended March 31st show a loss of E823 on the motorbuses, and a loss of £1,018 on the rail-less buses.