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WHEELS of INDUSTRY

"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.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS FOR JANUARY.

Commencing with the January returns, changes have been made in the classification of the figures of imports and exports contained in the Board of

Trade returns. The principal alterations affecting the motor industry are that figures relating to second-hand vehicles are separately shown, and that detailed figures are given regarding trade with individual countries. The 1934 figures, therefore, will not be strictly comparable with the returns for the previous years.

The value of commercial vehicles. cars, chassis and accessories imported during January this year was £183,113, as compared with £152,543 in 1933 and £178,720 in 1932.

During January the exports of complete commercial vehicles again showed an improvement, the figure of 201, of a value of £40,683, comparing with 108 :(£29,325) in 1933 and 133 (£67,654) in 1932. In the same month 915 commercial chassis were exported, of a value of £113,399, which compares with 808 (R98,261) in 1933 and 339 (£71,255) in 1932.

Smith Motors Development.

Au offshoot of Smith Motors, Ltd., Goodmayes, has been formed under the name of Smiths Commercial. Vehicles, Ltd., and has been appointed distributor for Dennis vehicles for the County of London. Large premises at 242, York Road, King's Cross, N.1, are being opened up as a day-and-night Dennis service station, with ample stocks of parts.

"The Motor" New Car Number.

Practically every car on the British market (all models) will be dealt with in The Motor New. Car Number, which will appear on Tuesday next at 4d. An interesting feature, illustrated in 12 pages_ of photogravure and line drawings on other pages, deals with new specialized coachwork.

Thomas Tilling's Results.

The trading profit of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., in the year ended December 31, 1933, amounted to £364,126, after making provision for depreciation, directors' fees, taxation, etc., this figure being reduced to £340,625 after deducting interest charges. The total sum available, after adding the balance brought forward from the previous year, is £475,648, The interim dividend on the preference shares accounted for £250 and on the . ordinary shares (1s. 64. per share) £98,878, and similar sums are absorbed in respect of rlividends for the second half of the year. After these B29 distributions there remains a sum of £261,392.

As -the London bus section of the company's business was transferred to the London Passenger Transport Board on September 30, 1933, profits in this respect are included for only nine months in the above figures. The company claims £3,769,044 (£3,595,543 in London Transport stock) from the Board by way of compensation.

RAILWAY EXPERIMENTS WITH LIGHT VANS,

An interesting experimental service was started in September last in the north-eastern area of the London and North-Eastern Railway Co., when arrangements were made for employing 22 district motor representatives, who were provided with 10-cwt. vans. The territory served was divided into five districts, these being Leeds, Hull. Middlesbrough, West Hartlepool, and Newcastle.

The vans are of a distinctive green colour, with gold lettering, and are used by specially appointed representatives to obtain better liaison with customers with whom it was previously very difficult to obtain contact.

During the four months ended December, these goodwill services have, it is reported, become firmly established and appreciable new business has been obtained. The representatives spend most of their time in supervizing the day-to-day motor work of individual railheads.

The I.A.E. Joint Meeting.

The joint meeting which is organized annually by the Institution of Automobile Engineers, and in which 11 engineering societies participate, will be held on March 6 at 7.30 p.m. in the hall of the Royal Geographical Society, Exhibition Road, Kensington, London, S.W.7. Mr. G. D. Bocrlage and Dr. W. J. van Dyck, the well-known fuel experts from Delft, will read a paper entitled "The Causes of Detonation in Petrol and Diesel Engines." The chair will be taken by Mr. H. T. Tizard, C.13., F.R.S., and a discussion will be opened by Mr. R. Stansfield, of the AngloPersian Oil Co., Ltd, Huddersfield Branch of R.H.A. Formed.

The decision to form a Huddersfield branch of the Road Haulage Association was made at a meeting of about 60 hauliers last Friday. Mr. Locock, of Sheffield, presided, and an address on the Road and Rail Traffic Act was given by Mr. M. C. Vickers, of Sheffield, divisional organizer to the R.H.A.

A committee was elected, and Mr. C. S. Braisby, of Paddock Motors (Huddersfield), Ltd., was appointed hon. secretary. The temporary headquarters of the branch are at the offices of Paddock Motors, Triangle Service Station, Paddock, Huddersfield.

C.M.U.A. to Obtain New Members.

The North-Eastern Division of the Commercial Motor Users Association is making vigorous efforts to obtain new members, in connection with which meeting are to be held at Sheffield, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, etc. A SIX-WHEELED TRAILER FOR TRANSFORMERS.

We publish on this page a picture of a heavy-duty low-loading trailer built by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Co., Ltd., for the Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power Co., Ltd., which is to be used for carrying transformers weighing up to 22 tons. It is built to conform with regulations of the South African road authorities, which allow a greater width than is permissible on the roads of this country.

The overall length of the trailer is 21 ft. 6 ins. The load is carried on a table 16 ft long and 8 ft. wide, with a height from the road of only 2 ft. 6 ins. The weight of the trailer is only 4 tons 17 cwt., which has been brought about by the special design, combining strength and lightness, and the adoption of electric welding throughout.

It will be observed that the font end is raised to permit a 90 degrees lock on the front wheels. The wheels throughout are duplicated, and are fitted with Dunlop solid tyres 0f?"26-in. by 6-in. dimensions. The brake drums on the four rear wheels have internal-expanding shoes, fully compensated, and are operated by a hand wheel on the near side and by Neate brake control on the tractor, the latter being operative at all times, even with full lock on the leading wheels. Timken roller bearings are fitted to all wheels.

Mr. David Carlaw Dead.

The death has occurred of Mr. David Carlaw, director of David Carlaw and Sons, Ltd., the well-known concern of motor engineers, Glasgow. A son of the founder of the company, he had been associated with sit, on the engin

eering side, all his life. He was 68 years of age.

Rubber and Cork Vibration Insulator.

As a result of long experiments, a new rubber and cork material, known as Kautex, has been produced to combine the insulating and vibrationabsorbing qualities of these two materials, plus the additional strength given by vulcanized rubber used as a binder. It contains a high percentage of rubber, but does not spread under pressure, and it is like a tough sponge rubber which will not collapse.

It is manufactured by Kautex (Plastics), Ltd., 9, Deansbrook Road, Edgware Middlesex, and can be supplied

in t1icknesses of 1-32 in. to in., or built up in plies to any depth needed. Bod mounting pads and strips can be cut to .makers' specifications, and thin mate ial supplied for lining steel bodi s.

Progress of the Oiler.

Statistics compiled by ArmstrongSaurer Commercial Vehicles. Ltd., show that, up to December 1. 1983. there were no fewer than 4.633 oilengined goods vehicles of Saurer and Armstrong-Saurer makes actually on the road, the horse-power totalling nearly 400,000. The company repotts

that in 1933 it sold 1,349 oil-engined vehicles. It is calculated that to-day there are up to 12,000 oilers in use.

Officers Elected for Blackpool R.H.A. The following were elected as officers of the Blackpool and District Road Haulage Association at a meeting last week :—Chairman, W. J. Leavesley ; vice-chairman, Mr. T. A. Titchenor; treasurer, Mr. F. W. Knott; secretary, Mr. H. Hardman. Committee: Messrs. Crane, Fox, Hodgson, Horsley, Hothersall, Peat, Stewart and Whiteside.

Much-reduced I.F.S. Tractor Exports.

During 1933, the Irish Free State exported eight tractors valued at £789, as compared with 2,785 and £291,524 respectively in 1932. The exports of tractor parts declined from £128,082 to £32,482. TvIOTOR MOWING MACHINES ON THE ROAD.

The Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) Order (No. 1), 1934, dated January 30, has been made by the Minister of Transport to permit the use on roads of mowing machines not exceeding 5 cwt. unladen and not constructed, adapted or usea for carrying any person, provided that they comply with the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations. 1931, so far as regards Regulations 9, 12, 16, 17, 26, 62, 67, 69, 70, 71 and 74 (1) (b), although they need not comply with the remaining requirements.

Crossley's Improved Trading.

During the year ended December 31, 1922, Crossley Motors, Ltd., made a profit of £3,505, which reduces the debit balance to be carried forward to £36,467. The company's 4-6-ton lorry, equipped with an oil engine, is being received very favourably and the new 3-4-tonner, which has a petrol power unit, will shortly be offered with an oil engine as alternative equipment.

In the balance sheet stock in trade and work in progress figure at £265,218 whilst the general reserve fund stands at £10,220.

Another Railway Goods Depot Mechanized.

A scheme for the complete mechanization of the London and North Eastern Railway Co.'s Farringdon

Street freight depot has now been completed, and vehicles of the mechanicalhorse type, for use in conjunction with trailers, are to replace all the horsed vehicles hitherto employed.

No fewer than 80 units will comprise the fleet, this depot being one of the largest owned by this railway company, which will now be operating a total of some 500 mechanical horses. The new machines will be used in the main for ordinary delivery work. BRISTOL'S REPORT FOR 1933.

The report of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., for the year ended December 31, 1933, shows that revenue totalled £1,148,127 and that working and general expenses and renewals amounted to £1,028,210, leaving, with the balance brought forward from the previous year, a net revenue of £125,962. Of this amount £80,061 has already been distributed in connection with interest on mortgage debenture stock and dividends on preference and ordinary shares, and of the remainder a final dividend of 3 per cent. (making 5 per cent. for the year) on the ordinary shares will account for 430,000, whilst £10,000 is added to the reserve fund for contingencies and renewals, leaving 25,900 to be carried forward. The reserve fund now stands at 2461,942.

During the year the number of passengers carried on the company's buses and trams was 126,741,240, an increase of 1,357,680 over the previous year's figure.

Selecting and Fitting Piston Rings.

"Selection and Fitting of Piston Rings" is the title of an instructive publication recently issued by the British Piston Ring Co., Ltd., Holbrook Lane, Coventry, the maker of Brico piston rings. It is an interesting and informative guide, which should prove of much value to mechanics and garage proprietors. Explanatory drawings are used in conjunction with the lucidly written text matter.

New Quenching Oils.

We learn that an arrangement has been entered into between G.W.B. Electric Furnaces. Ltd., and ShellMex and B.P., Ltd., whereby new high-grade quenching oils will he placed on the market. These oils are being manufactured by Shell-Mex and I3.P., Ltd., in close collaboration with Wild-Barfield Electric Furnaces, Ltd. They will be known as Shell-WildBarfield quenching oils, and will he obtainable from either G.W.B. Electric

822 Furnaces, Ltd., Elecfurn Works, North Road, London, N.7, and Dudley, or from any of the branches of Shell-Mex and BP., Ltd.

Annual Conference of F.W.R.A.

The annual conference of the Furniture Warehousemen and Removers Association will be held at Brighton on May 17 and 18. The annual dinner of the Association takes place on the evening of the first day.

Dodge Brothers Lorries for Bolivia.

We reproduce on this page a picture of a Dodge Brothers lorry, comprising one of a fleet supplied to the Bolivian Government, which has already accepted 60 of these 2-tonners. Each unit carries special equipment, including a full load of cans, which, it is thought, will be used for carrying water. In order that the cans may be filled, the vehicles are equipped with centrifugal pumps.

The value of the order from the Bolivian Government is considerable, and is said to represent one of the largest orders received for some time from South American markets.

Surelock Valve-seat Inserts.

We have been asked to point out that the valve-seat insert illustrated on page 947 of our issue dated February 9 is the Surelock, patented by Wellworthy, Ltd., Radial Works, Lymington, Hants. It was fully described on page 798 of our issue dated January 12. • PERSONAL PARS.

Mr. F. Robinson, who is assistant manager of Birkenhead Corporation Ferries, has been appointed traffic manager of the new Mersey Tunnel.

Mr. R. C. Skipper, the oldest employee of the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., who has just celebrated his 81st birthday, received a presentation from the board of the company, this being made by Mr. Wilson Cross, the chairman. Mr. Skipper, who is employed in the tanners' department, next month completes 34 years' service with the company.

At a recent meeting at Nottingham of members of the Midland area of the Municipal Tramways and Transport Association a gold wristlet watch was presented to Mr. W. G. Marks, who is shortly leaving Nottingham, where he has acted as manager of the passengertransport organization, to take up a similar position at Liverpool. Mr. A. Baker, chairman of the Midland area and general manager of the transport department of Birmingham Corporation, made the presentation.

The election of Mr. W. M. W. Thomas to the presidency of the Motor Trade Association is of particular interest to us, as he was for several years on the staff of associated journals of The Commercial Motor. He joined The Motor in about 1919, fresh from the Royal Air Force after serving in the war, and became a sub-editor, later being appointed editor of The Light Car. After some years in that position, he left to take up an appointment with Morris Motors, Ltd., of which he is now general sales manager with a seat on the board.

During his association with the Press and with the manufacture and sale of Morris cars, Mr. Thomas has acquired an intimate knowledge of motor-trade matters which should contribute to his success in his new role.

A Safety Device for Tippers.

A necessary precaution that should be taken before operating the tipping gear of a laden end-tipping lorry is to verify that the vehicle is transversely horizontal. If it be on ground that slopes to one side, the body, as it rises, will lean over to the lower side. Accidents from this cause are not unknown, and damage to the chassis or mechanism may be caused. To afford an accurate indication for the driver that the machine is on an even keel, Fodens, Ltd., Sandbach, Cheshire, has introduced a simple fitment for attachment to the rear ends of tipping bodies. It consists of a brass plate, about 4 ins. square, from a pivot near the top of which hangs, like a pendulum, a pointer, weighted at its lower end. Inscribed on the plate there is a quadrant on the .are described by the pointer as it swings, on which is marked the position of the pointer when the vehicle is horizontal. On each side of the central line, and at a distance of four degrees from it, the safe limit is shown. NEW REGISTRATIONS IN DECEMBER.

The monthly return issued by the Ministry of Transport, dealing with new registrations, shows that the number of motor vehicles registered for the first time under the Roads Act, 1920, during December, 1933, was 25,486, as contrasted with 22,353 a year earlier. This year's total includes 5,528 goods vehicles and 316 hackney vehicles, the comparable figures for " December, 1932, being 4,113 and 225 respectively.

. Analysing the returns, we find that, whilst the registrations for certain smaller passenger vehicles were mostly lower, that for 48-56-seaters increased from 44 in December, 1932, to 101 in December, 1933. There was a notable increase in the registrations of trolleybuses, the figure of 15 for December, 1932, comparing with 59 in December of last year.

So far as goods vehicles are concerned, there is, once again, a big increase to report in the 2-2i-ton class, the 517 registrations in December, 1932, being raised to 1,077 12 months later. Another class to show a marked increase was that for vehicles not exceeding 12 cwt., the December, 1933, figure of 983 contrasting with 613 a year earlier.

In certain of the heavier classes there were also increases, as follow, the figure in parentheses being that for December, 1932: 2i-3 tons, 260 (164) ; 3-4 tons, 211 (87) ; 4-5 tons, 139 (73).

East London Meeting of R.H.A.

A meeting open to hauliers in east London was recently held by the Road Haulage Association, when the chair was occupied by Mr. H. G. Bissell, chairman of the East London Committee. Mr. G. A. Hotter, the national secretary of the Association, summarized the activities of the Association and explained how the Road and Rail Traffic Act came into being. Many questions which were asked concerning licences, working hours, wages, etc., were answered by Mr. Hotter and Mr. Haybittel, vice-chairman of the Metropolitan Committee, the latter subsequently speaking on the Association's legal defence scheme.

Crosville Orders Brush Bodies, The Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., Falcon Works, Loughborough, has received orders for four 26-seater bus bodies and four 20-seater bus bodies from Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., this being the fourth order received for single-deckers of this type from' this important railway-associated operating company.

R.FI.A. Meeting at Cambridge.

The meeting of the new branch of the Road Haulage Association which was to have been held at Cambridge last Monday has had to be postponed until Monday next at 7.30 p.m., when " S.T.R.," the cost expert of The Commercial Afolor, will give a lecture on the futilities and dangers of ratecutting.

THE LEYLAND CO.'S NEW RAILCAR.

The London, Midland and Scottish Railway has purchased three new-type oil-engined railcars, which have been designed and constructed by Leyland Motors, Ltd. The prime mover is a Leyland 9.9-litre oil engine of new design, developing 130 b.h.p. at 2,000 r.p.m. It . drives through the same type of hydraulic torque converter that is used in the gearless buses, but the reverse gear is contained in the doublereduction axle.

As might be expected, commercialvehicle practice is in evidence in the light but strong frame, also in the use of Dewandre vacuum servo braking and Luvax hydraulic recoil dampers.

This vehicle is capable of accelerating from rest to 50 m.p.h. in 49 seconds. The maximum governed speed is 56

rn.p.h. The power-to-weight ratio is remarkable in that there is an output of some 10 bhp. per ton laden weight.

Commer Centaurs for Calcutta.

Despite intense competition, particularly from agents for foreign-built chassis, the Calcutta distributor for Commer Cars, Ltd., Luton, recently succeeded in obtaining an order for 10 Commer Centaur buses, and these will be put into commission at an early date, There is already a number of buses of this make in use in Calcutta.

Opportunity for a Traveller.

We know of a London company, manufacturing anti-friction metals for all purposes, which requires a traveller, particularly to obtain business in the regrinding of crankshafts and to further its sales of bearings, die-castings, ingot white metals and phosphor bronze, in London and the Home Counties. Applicants must have a connection with road-transport contractors, bus companies and large engineering concerns. Letters addressed "Engineerbig," care of the Editor, will be forwarded to the proper quarter.