WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all dialculties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage i8 by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crosier.
Motor Research.
The Research Association of the British Motor and Allied Manufacturers is now in course of formation, firm promises of support having already been received from a large number of the leading concerns in the country. This Association has been formed as a result of negotiations with,the Government Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and is the first approved association of this sort representative of any section of the engineering industry. It is hoped to establish a closer relationship between the technical and commercial sides of the motor industry, and to bring about more complete recognition of the importance of applied science.
Chiefs of the A.B.M.A.M.
Mr. H. C. B. Underdown has been unanimously re-elected President 01 the Association of British Motor and Allied Manufacturers, Sand Mr. Bernard Caillaixl has been equally unanimously reelected Vice-President.
Mr. Underdown is chairman and managing director of Commercial Cars Ltd., Luton and a director of the Sheffield-SimPlex Motor Works, Ltd. Until recently he occupied the position of Controller of Agricultural Machinery to the Ministry of Munitions.
Mr. Gaillard is a son of Sir Vincent Callland, Bart., and is, a director of Wolseley Motors, Ltd., and managing director of British Lighting and Ignition Co. •
The Linen Deal.
The most famous personage of last week apart from the knights of the Atlantic and the successful owner of By Jingo is the " Linen King," as he has been termed in consequence of his £4,000,009 deal with the Government in linen. He has been a familiar figure at recent Royal Shows, being concerned with the Americo agricultural oil engine and the Overtime farm tractor. Our first acquaintance with Mr. Leonard J. Martin was years ago when he bought and sold second-handilorries. He had a warehouse at Bromley-by-Bow, E., and later on at Camden Town. He always possessed the genius for money-making, is far seeing and personally very industrious.
Wages in the Industry.
The Minister of Labour has issued a series of notices applying respectively to the districts in and aroim.d Sheffield, Liverpool, Newcastle-on-Tyne and Warrington, stating that, as a result of representations which have been made to him by the National Alliance of Commercial Road Transport Associations and Federations, the Motor Transport Employers' Federation, the National Union of Horse and Vehicle Owners, and the National Transport Workers' Federation' under the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Act of 1918, concerning an extension by order of an agreement fixing substituted rates of wages in the commercial carting industry, he intends to seek the advice of the Interim Court of Arbitration. The Court will wish to
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be guided by advice and information from representative bodies of employers and workpeople, and any organization wishing to be represented should communicate with the Secretary of the Interim Court of Arbitration, 5, Old Palace Yard, London, S.W. 1.
Wrigley's Capital Increase.
The subscription list in connection with the offer of 271,760 ordinary shares of £1 each in E. G. Wrigley and Co., Ltd., at 22s. per share, closes to-day (Tuesday), These shares are being offered by Lloyds Bank, Ltd., and they will participate for dividend as from July 1st next. The auditors' certificate, which is reproduced in the prospectus shows that the profits have risen from B3,350 in 1911 to £32,652 in 1918, whilst the balancesheet shows an excess of assets over liabilities of £206,223, and in the accounts there is no item for goodwill. Thcauthorized capital of the company is £750,000, the issued capital prior to this issue being £151,210.
Government Approval of • S.M.M.T. Tractor Trials.
The importance which is attached, by the authorities, to tractor trials is clearly indicated by the fact that the Board of Trade have agreed to grant licences to import special machines for the trials which are to be held in Lincoln next September. The conditions under which these licences, which will be given to the extent of three machines for each importer, and to be granted are : that full shipping specifications accompany each application, and that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders certify that each and every machine for which a licence is required has been entered for the trial and entry fees paid.
Destruction of War Material.
The French journal Le Marin is responsible for the statement that the British Army and the Americans have commenced the destruction of material, including a number of vehicles at Wissant and Chateau-Roux. The stores so destroyed are such as would not pay for conveyance home, but it strikes one as curious that in such cases the inhabitants of the districts ehould not have been allowed to purctase the material, –which could no doubt have been put to some useful purpose.
Inquiries from India.
There are just now a number of inquiries about for 2-ton lorries for India, but the prices being asked by the British maker are alleged to be too high. We honestly believe, of course, that the British production will give more reliable service and longer life than the cheaper competing foreign makes, but the British makers When quoting must do more than they do to rub this fact in.
The photograph of the fleet of CornTrier Cars belonging,to Clifford and Son, Ltd., which appeared in our last issue, was reproduced by the courtesy of the Editor of World's Carriers.
French Imports.
The .issue of The Board of Trade Journal for June 18th contains important particulars of French Presidential Decrees, which provide for the abolition of import restrictions on a large number of goods for importation into France and Algeria, and the increase by means of ad valorem surtaxes of the rates of Customs duty upon goods imported into those countries.
Copies of the Decrees may be seen at the offices of the Department of Overseas Trade, 73, Baeinghall Street, London, E.C. 2, but a full translation will be published in the issue of The Board of Trade Journal for June 26th.
Agricultural Machinery Development.
The President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has appointed a Departmental Committee to arrange for the testing, adaptation and improvement of machines likely to prove of value to agriculture, to examine inventions and new devices, and to advise as to the further steps which should be taken to promote the development of agricultural machinery.
Sir Douglas Newton, K.RE. is chairman of the Committee. The secretary is Mr. V. E. Wilkins, Board of Agriculture, 72, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, to whom all communications should be addressed.
A Visible Vacuum ?
That it, does not do always to believe everything that appears in the Press is demonstrated by the statement of a writer in one of the daily papers, who last week was invited by the authorities to visit tthe Cippenham Vehicle Repaie. Depot, and who there saw the repaired vehicles being re-painted by the spraying process. The writer went on to explain that "The paint is vaporized in a container which looks like a vacuum." It is a very great pity that the first and only man to witness such a phenomenon did not go further and give usa pen picture of the appearance of a vacuum.
Vulcan Account. •
A summons was lodged at Southport on Thursday against Mr. Thomas Hempson, who was mayor of that town last year, and is now deputy mayor, for fraudulently applying to his own use the sum of £22,000 belouging to the Vulcan Motor Co., of Southport, of which he was formerly managing director. Three other ex-directors were charged with aiding and abetting. It was alleged that instructions were issued to the accountant of the company to keep separate invoices of sales of scrap brass, and that the proceeds, which should have gone to the company, were mis-applied.
We are informed that Mr. E. E. Rein* hold, who, for nearly twelve years, has been associated with the advertising management of the Vacuum Oil Co., has resigned his position, and has assume& the important office of Sales and Advertising manager to the Sorbo Rubber Sponge Products Co., of 24, Walbrook, London, E.C. 4.
Assisting Apprentices.
With a. view to assisting young men whose apprenticeships have been interrupted by service in the Forces, schemes have been prepared by Industrial Councils and various representative bodies of employers and workpeople, approyed by the Ministry of Labour, whichswill cover at least 60 per cent, of the ex-service apprentices.
The arrangements provide that an apprentice on reaching the age of 21 will, for the first year, receive not less than three-quarters of the journeyman's rate (including war bonuses), and for the second year not less than five-sixths. To assist this scheme the State will make a grant of one-third of the journeyman's rate (including war bonuses), and provision will also be made for training in technical institutions.
Further information and application forms may be obtained at any employment exchange.
To Assist British Trade.
The British and Allied Merchants and Brokers Association (Parent), Ltd., with its head office at 343-345, Dashwood House, 9, New Broad Street, London, E.G. 2, has been established with the main objectsof linking up and consolidating the interests of manufacturers and traders within the Empire, and coincidently to foster the desire of the allied nations for reciprocal trade with the British Empire. The initial capital of the concern is 2100,000.
More Cabs for London.
Many more taxicabs will shortly be on the streets of London. The British Motor Cab Co., Ltd., have decided to discontinue the private running of taxicabs on the old basis of 25 per cent. takings, and are offering for sale, at 2200 on the hire system or .2180 cash, a large number of Renault two-cylinder
cabs, completely renovated. The company have also about 450 old-type taxi
cabs which they are reserving for demobilized bona-fide taxi drivers, to whom they offer them at 2120 cash each. The cabs are in running order, repainted, fitted with taximeter, but not completely overhauled. A number of similar vehicles have been cold to dealers and garage proprietors who have transformed them into light delivery vans, hackney carriage vehicles, and other forms of light motor vehicles.
Buses for Wigan.
The Wigan Corporation, which has a. System of electric tramways linking up the outlying townships and the local coalfield with the borough, has decided to experiment with the running of motorbuses, -with a view to supplementing the tram service which for some time past has been taxed to its utmost capacity.
Some Industrial Problems.
The sixth lecture of the series arranged by the Industrial Reconstruction Council will be held in the Saddlers' Hall, Cheapside, E.C. 2, on Wednesday, June 25th. The chair will be taken at 4.30 p.m. by -Wm Rt. Hon. J. H. Whitley, M.P., and a lecture will be delivered by the Rt. Hon. C. W. Bowerman, M.P., on "Some Industrial Problems." Applications for tickets should be made to the secretary, I.R.C., 2 and 4, Tudor Street, E.C. 4.
Red Cross Vehicles Sold.
By order of the Scottish Branch of the British Red Cross Society (Transport Department) a sale of motor vehicles took place recently at the Glasgow Agricultural Society's Show Ground, Scotstoun. The majority of the vehicles offered for sale had seen service in France. A 30 h.p. 3-ton Wolseley chassis with platform body was sold for 2600; a 20 h.p. 1-ton G.M.C. chassis with a wagonette body realized £530; while other G.M.C. 1-ton chassis were knocked down at prices ranging from 2180 to 2375.
A Roads Committee ?
A large measure of influential Parliamentary support has been secured for an amendment to the Ministry of Ways and Communications Bill in favour of Betting up a Roads Committee for the purpose of advising and assisting the Minister on all questions affecting highways, bridges, vehicles and road traffic. The members' committee would consist of not fewer than 10 members, five of whom won:1 re.present highway authorities, and five the users of road traffic, appointed in all cases after "consultation with the interests concerned." A Parliamentary under-secretary to the Transport Ministry is acting as chairman. The amendment is down in the names of Mr. George Balfour and Mr. Joynson-Hicks.
Char-a-bancs Tours.
Motor char-a-bancs tours to the beauty spots in Scarborough district are among the features of pre-war seasons, which it is hoped to restore during the present Tours are, in fact, already being run by Messrs. W. Taylor and Son, North Street.
Messrs. Robinson, who ran a number of chars-a-banes before the war, are preparing to do bigger business in motor Char-asbancs tours than hitherto. New vehicles have been ordered.
It is unlikely, we learn, that the North-Eastern Railway will resume its char-a-banes service in the district during the present season. All the cars went to France, and no intimation has been received regarding the restoration of the tours.
York Buses.
For the year ended March.31st last the York Municipal motorbuses ran 5,493 miles compared with 7,362 the previous year, and carried 49,284 passengers com
pared with 67,983. The receipts were 2202 as against 2295, the average being 8.99d. per bus mile compared with 9.62d the previous year.
Scottish Ferries.
Motor traffic in, the West Highlands has, hitherto, been hampered by two formidable arms of the sea which extend well into the heart of the country. They ‘.are Loch Leven and. Loch Etive, and each has, from time immemorial, been negotiated by means of a well-managed service of rowing boats. In 1913 the tenants of the Loch Leven Ferry acquired a commodious and well-designed motor boat furnished with all requisite appliances. The outbreak of war prevented it from being much used, but now it is in constant requisition. By its means motor vehicles of the largest size are easily and speedily transferred from one side of the narrows to the other.
When the large railway bridge was built across Loch Etive, room was . provided for a road alongside, the track. This path has now been covered with concrete, and connected with the public reads at both ends. Vehicles are permitted to drive across on their own power, and all -delays and annoyanqes are entirely obviated. Hitherto, the railway company provided a motor omnibus fitted to the rails, which ran across at frequent intervals, and carried any kind of motor lorry.
A Visit to Cippenham.
At the invitation of the Director of Publicity at the Ministry of Munitions, we recently visited the Cippenham Motor Vehicle Depot. 'I his famous depot is-not now quite the slough of despond which it was ; Certainlyvery few of the buildings are anything like finished, but already a start has been made with the overhaul of motor vehicles. The early start is due to the fact that the depot, was transferred to the Ministry of Munitions on May 1st, and was pluced under the 'control of Mr. S. A. Wallace, of the Associated Equipment Co. Ltd., Walthamstow, who is certainly getting a. move on.
About 650 men are now engaged on motor repair work at Slough, and it is hoped shortly to employ at least 2,000. It will probably be months, or even years, before the whole depot is completed, but, in the meantime, the work which has been undertaken provides for the repair of the surplus Government
014 -vehicles which are to be disposed of to civilian buyers.
We inspected a number of lorries which had been overhauled at the depot, and we certainly found that the work had been carried out in a very thorough manner. Mr. Wallace even offered to eat any one of five lorries, which we could pick out, and which would not start up at the second tarn. From this it can be guessed that Mr. Wallace comes from the States ; he is certainly a very "live wire," and just the type of man to • get some results from the Slough white elephant.
Preparations are being made to fill Olympia with repaired lorries ihortly after June ,27th, and big sales will be held there at regular intervals; there will be both chassis and complete lorries in about equal numbers. , The repairs are being done in an e
,ightacre shop styled the Erecting Shop," but as dismantling also takes place there this is rather a misnomer. Already some 160 vehicles have been repaired, and it is hoped that 500 will be finished and ready for sale by the end ofthe present month, though, in our opinion, this hope is somewhat too -optimistic.
The factory, when complete, will provide housing for 11,000 vehicles, and it ultimate purpose, after dealing with the surplus war lorries, will be the maintenance of the whole vehicles required by the Army, Air. Force and other public services.
High Wages Mean More Lorries.
Local authorities are being forced to buy motors because of high wages. The reason is .explained in a report of the Electricity Committee of the Hackney Borough Council, whieh states that owing to the high rate of wages now paid to men, employed on mains work a considerable expense is involved by the present system of transporting materials by means of hand trucks' and many hours are in consequence lost each day before the men can properly start their work. The committee, therefore, considers it will be advantageous to the undertaking to prbvide a motor lorry for transporting men and materials to their respective jobs each morning and keeping them supplied with materials during the day.
Welsh Coal for Steamers.
The National Council of the C.M.U.A. is again making representations to the Coal Controller in favour of withdrawal of the present restrictions upon supplies of Welsh steam coal in many parts. Owners of steam wagons are finding they cannot discharge their transport obligations, with the result that congestion of dock quays and railway yards is increasing, whilst great additional labour is occasioned by the dirty state of the boilers when coal other than "Welsh steam" is consumed.
Perthshire Road Schemes.
Particulars of proposed road improvements of an extensive character were submitted to a meeting of the West Perthshire District Cammittee. The first scheme is to be carried out under the conditions imposed by the Road Board in connection with the £10,000,000 grant for special work. It provides for the surfacing of 20 miles of the main arterial roads, and the widening of Gartincaber Bridge, with a view to meeting deferred maintenance work, putting the roads into
a suitable condition ,to bear the large volume of heavy motor traffic that may be expected. The opera.D.tons with respect to the Great North Road, the Crieff Road, the North West Road, the Drip Read, the Glasgow Road, the Trossachs Road, the Stronachlachar Road. Cartincaber Bridge and Braeval Corner are estimated to cost in the aggregate £5,817. Scheme No. 2 deals with work under ordinary annual expenditure for the year 1919-20. It involves an outlay of £7,156 against th.e actual average expenditure of £6,128 for the three years ended 1914. It is expected that the Road Board may give a total grant of £2,032. The third report deals with the cost of completing the work under the Killin Road Improvement Scheme, 1914, which was suspended in 1916. It, is believed that the cost will amount to £36,707, as compared with £11,530, the original estimate. The meeting decided to ask the Road Board to return the sum of 26,000 given up when the work was stopped, three years ago. It was also agreed that work in connection with the two first projects be spread over five years.
Praise for Tractor.
The AlIdays general-purpose tractor, although having made its bow to agricultural weak a comparatively short time ago, has daring this period built up quite a sound reputation for itself. The satisfaction which it is giving to many users is strikingly apparent, and a letter which supports this contention has reeently been received by the company from Messrs. Palmer Bros., Engineers, Selwyn Works, Wiabech. It reads as follows :—" We have pleasure in enclosing a photograph of Alldays tractors. The first one you supplied in October, 1918, has now completed over 5,000miles, at a very small cost, without losing half a day. The repairs amount to one pair of platinum points on the, magneto, one pair of tyres on the front wheels, and three sparking plugs. The paraffin consumed Is approximately six miles to the gallon. The tractor is running splendidly, and no adjustments whatever are required to the engine or transmission."
Local Authorities Oppose L.C.C. Bus Scheme.
Local authorities of Greater London which own municipal tramways, have held a conference to consider the L.C.C.
motorbus proposal's by which the County Council desires to run bus services outside the county. The conference passed the following resolutions: I.—That all the councils represented at this conference be and are hereby urged duly to present petitions against the Londan County Council (Tramways and Improvements) Bill.
2.—That a sub-committee of this conference consisting of the town qerk of each boroughand clerk of each urban district here represented, together with one other representative of each area (to be selected by the council of such district), be and is hereby appointed to collaborate as to joint or uniform opposition on behalf of all the authorities to the proposals of this Bill, and
3.—That this conference recommends to all the Councils here represented that the broad lines of the opposition to this Bill should be (a) That no powers ought to be granted to any one authority to run omnibuses or in any way to interfere in the area of another
authority, except with the consent of such authority, and in the event of powers being granted to the London County -Council to run omnibuses outside their own county, then each authority should have full control over the route or routes to be taken through its own district.
(b) That the County Council should be placed under a statutory obligation to contribute a specified amount per mile towards the maintenance and general upkeep of the roads along which their omnibuses should run, and, (c) That the grant of any such powers to the London County Council to run omnibuses outside the County should be entirely without prejudice to the rights of the respective authorities of the extra metropolitan areas to apply for similar powers.
Luncheon to Mr. joynson-Hicks.
Mr. W. Joynson-Hicks, M.P., Chairman of the Motor Committee a the House of Commons, will be the guest of the National Council of the Commercial Motor Users Association on Wednesday, July 2nd, at the Savoy gate], at a complimentary luncheon to he given by the council in recognition of his unflagging attendance and services in the interests of road users during the Grand Committee stage of the Bill to establish a Ministry of Ways and Communications.
Sunday Char-a-Bancs Services.
Mr. G. E. Tovey, of Erdington, Birmingham, wrote informing the Barmouth Town Council that he had made arrangements for running a motor charti-bancs weekly from Birmingham to Barmouth during the summer months, and also Sunday trips into the district. The Council strongly resented the Sunday trips. Mr. 'Edward -Williams said the Council should not allow Sunday trading being carried on at the refreshment rooms and Panorama Pleasure Grounds. Mr. D. E. Da.17106, J.P., said there was not a single member who was not trading on Sunday. Every lodginghouse keeper was trading on Sunday and catering for visitors. They Should not be so narrow-minded at watering places. The Council decided to take no action.
Local Proceedings.
Bath Corporation is considering the provision of a second motor ambulance.
Glasgow Corporation Tramways Committee recommends thepurchase of two 5-ton electric vehicles from Eleetromobiles (Leeds), Ltd.
York Corporation Tramways Committee has given orders for two new Edison batteries for the motor omnibuses, and proposes th order two further batteries (the price being £375 each) to replace the present batteries.
At the East Ham Corporation Electricity Committee the engineer and manager submitted quotations for the supply of a battery charging plant required .b the Public Health Department for the charging of the motor dust vans, and the committee recommends that the tender of Illeams. Crnrapton and Co., 'Ltd., amounting to £942 5s., for the supply of a motor generator set, be accepted.
The Money-saving Motor.
As Swansea Corporation the borough architect reported that the team haulage for the year would probably amount to £900, and he suggested the purchase of a light motor lorry with adaptor complete for £340. Ile estimated that after allowing £452 for annual expenses a saving of £100 would be effected in the first year and £450 a year in succeeding years, and that there would also be a great saving in the men's time. The architect was authorized to purchase a motor of a suitable character.
Ambroleum Appreciation.
The following glowing testimonial has just reached Sterns, Ltd., and speaks for itself "Bilston, May, 1919.
Dear Sirs,--It was, I believe, in 1915 that I purchased a 28 lb. tin of airabroleum gear grease from vou. It may interest you to know that I used this grease in my gearbox for over three years, and am fully convinced that there is nothing to equal its lubricating qualities, the gears being as perfect as when they were first fitted."
This unsolicited testimonial rather suggests that house slogan It clings to the teeth" is fully merited.