News and Comment.
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This journal is admitted to possess the influence, the men, the standing and the leading circulation. It is exclusively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses throughout the Empire.
" Culled from Contemporaries," one of our occasional features, this week bears distinct traces of the parade (page 336).
" 55,000,000 for the roads " sounds a bit startling. Yet it will come, and be spent to the advantage of the country.
Our Berlin Correspondent (page 329) gives details of this year's German subvention allocations, and statistics of German production for the years 1907-1909.
Pages 323 to 326 are devoted to a brief forecast of the agriculturalmotor, commercial-vehicle, tractor and allied exhibits that will be shown at Norwich next week.
The Girling carrier, of which we gave the first-published illustrations seven weeks ago, is the subject of further illustrated references in this issue (pages 332-3).
We learn that the C.M.U.A. General Committee, at its meeting on the 14th inst., passed votes of thanks to the officiating judges and marshals, and unanimously decided to ask them to retain their badges as souvenirs.
Next week—The Royal Show Coronation Time Issue. Look out for : (a) The special article on oil tractors ; (b) the first-published report from the Norwich showyard ; (c) numerous references to and illustrations of commercial motors in service at Coronation Time. Also, it should be noted that an extra 2,000 copies of the issue will contain a 12-page (text) supplement comprising a reprint of our report upon the great parade of Whit-Monday last, for mailing to the Colonies. This last-named section will go to selected parties other than the recipients of our regular weekly thin-paper edition. Thornycroft Deliveries.
The accompanying illustrations of a Thornycroft lorry fitted with a portable kitchen are of a 30 h.p., four-cylinder type-D vehicle. It has been hired to " The .Daily Express " for a tour along the South Coast, and is now engaged in demonstrating the method of cooking in paper bags which is being so strongly advocated just now by the journal in question. This latest instance of the application of a commercial motor is of more than passing interest, and the Thornycroft vehicle has proved itself to possess remarkable capacity for covering a large number of towns and villages in a working day. Included in recent Thornycroft orders, we learn that brewery companies, in particular, figure largely, and that several of the orders in question have been for the lighter types of high-speed vehicles, and especially for the two-cylinder, 16 h. p. , 25-cwt. model with tilt-van body.
It may be recalled, reverting to the cookery campaign, that a sixwheeled Thornycroft steam travelling restaurant, with. cooking apparatus, was exhibited at the Crystal Palace in 1904.
Peter Union at Manchester.
The Peter Union Tyre Co., whose cnief office is at 190-192, Great Portland Street, W., has decided upon a branch establishment in Man
chester. This will be under the charge of Mr. A. P. Coppinger, a gentleman who established the extensive northern business of the Petroles des Grosnyi, and whose connection so largely contributed to the decision of the AngloAmerican Oil Co. to acquire that undertaking. A splendid position has been secured for the Manchester depot, at 21, Albion Street, Gaythorn, and Mr. Coppinger means to make things hum. Connolly Tires.
Wu learn from several owners that Connolly tires are doing well for them. This make was fitted to the Scout motorvan which we illustrated a few weeks ago.
A Rubber Tire with Holes in it.
An example of the Purrey perforated steel tire, which type is sometimes favoured by Alley and MacLellan, Ltd., shown on the Purrey make of French steamer on page 284 of our issue of the 8th inst., is here depicted completed in solid rubber, fitted to a driving wheel of a Leyland vehicle. The tread is some 10 in. in width ; as may he seen, it has through it a double row of perforations some in. in diameter. In the steel examples, the holes are " staggered." While the edges of the rubber perforations remain angular, the tire has certain anti-skidding properties on a damp surface. These virtues, however, may not be of a lasting nature.
" Commer-Car " Sales.
The following sales of " CommerCar " vehicles have been communicated to us, for the month ended Ihe 9th inst. ;—two-ton tilt van for Saint and Co., Newmarket ; two, on box van for Dick's Co-operalive Society, Glasgow ; three-ton box van for Burton Co-operative Society, Burton-on-Trent ; threeton box van for the General Motor Cab Co., Leith ; 20-cwt. box van for the Gleniffer Laundry, Catford (repeat order); three-ton tilt van for li. Vinson, Orpington (repeat order) ; four-ton lorry for Allen Thornton and Co., Honley ; fiveion lorry for Holland, Hannen and Cnbitts. London ; two-ton lorry for Watts and Nephew, Birmingham ; three-ton van for James Robert
son and Co., Catford. The company's export sales, for the same period, are :—one three-ton chassis and two four-ton chassis for Australia ; two water-carts for Medan Principality ; two seventon and one three-ton chassis for Canada (repeat); one 30-cwt. lorry for Copenhagen. The deliveries to the U.S.A. are not advised to us, and details of passenger-vehicle orders are crowded out.
Lacres in Manchester.
Sales of Lacre vans in the Manchester district continue to be noted. The Lacre Co.'s local branch is at 107, Palmerston Street, Ancoats. We illustrate an 18 h.p., 25-cwt. Letchworth-built Lacre, which was delivered to Messrs. James Woolley, Sons and Co. in November last. This owner has now purchased a second machine of the same power and load capacity from the Lacre Co., owing to the satisfactory results obtained with No. 1.
Recent Registration.
The Absolute Locknut Co., Ltd. (private company), with an authorized capital of £70,000 in £1 shares (30,000 preference), and with its registered office at Cape! House, New Broad Street, RC., to carry on the business of engineers, ironfounders, bolt, nut, rivet, tube and chain makers. Directors yet to be appointed.
Auto-Carriers (1911), Ltd., with an authorized capital of £25,000 (23,0)0 preference shares of £1 each and 16,000 deferred shares of 2s. 0d. each), and with its office at 42, Martell Road, West Norwood, SE., to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in motor vehicles. etc., and to adopt an agreement with Auto-Carriers, Ltd. First directors: J. Browne-Martin (Chairman), J. Pearce, J. Portwine, and J. Weller.
Fire–Brigade Matters.
The latest urban district council to make inquiries about motor fireengines is that of Gosport.
Willesden U.D.C. will receive tenders, any time before 4 p.m. on the 4th prox., for a combined petrol fire-engine, hose-tender and escapo-carrier.
Wolverhampton is still thinking about the purchase of a motor fireengine, and members of the Town .Council indulged in a little facetious by-play at the last meeting.
York has now received the sanction of the Local. Government Board to the borrowing of 21,090 for the purchase of a motor fireengine on a 10 years' basis.
The General Purposes Committee of the Oxford City Council has recommended that the Corporation should contribute £400 towards the provision of a motor hose-lorry. The vehicle will be purchased in conjunction with the Oxford Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Bradford Town Council is contemplating the purchase of three or four more turbine engines. It will be recalled that Bradford was the first authority in this country to break through the sacrosanct atmosphere which pervaded the fire-engine world until Dennis's of Guildford appeared on the scene.
Mr. Thos Johnson, Superintendent of the Southampton Fire Brigade, in his annual report, says that the motor fire-engine, placed in commission in September. 1908, has continued to work satisfactorily, and that. much property has been saved by the quickness in getting to, and effectiveness at, fires. Mr. Johnson expresses the opinion that, having regard to the small cost of upkeep, it would be advisable to adopt motor fire-apparatus to the exclusion of horses.