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News and Comment.

25th June 1914, Page 15
25th June 1914
Page 15
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Page 15, 25th June 1914 — News and Comment.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This journal is extensively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses.

The special article by the Editor on pages 398 and 399 is galwad i brynwyr Cymreig.

New Midlands Enterprise.

Mr. Sydney S. Guy, who for the past five years has been associated with the Sunbeam Motor Car Co., Ltd., in the capacity of works manager, is now engaging in commereial-vehiele manufacture on his own account, near Wolverhampton. Mr. Guy was the recipient of interesting presents on. the 15th inst.

Shell Spirit by Motor.

The announcement that horses are to go out of the service of the importers and distributors of Shell motor spirit, which Sir Marcus Samuel, Bart., made in public on Monday last, is highly satisfactory. The Editor of THE COMMERCIAL Moron was called in by the British Petroleum Co., Ltd., to report on horse v. motor, early in 1912, and many orders have since been given.

Surrey Roads.

There has been a. very considerable increase in motor traffic upon the main roads of Surrey during the last few years, yet the Surrey County Council, whilst as far as possible keeping pace with extra demand, has not had to spend any more money. The net. expenditure for last year was approximately £85,000 and the same net expenditure will be necessary for the ensuing financial year. The absence of increase of cost to the county ratepayers is due to oroportional help from the Road Board.

Argylls in Liquidation.

Argyll Motors, Ltd., is now in voluntary liquidation. Mr. R. W. Blackwell presided at the meeting of shareholders at which the proposal was adopted. He stated that the three new directors who were elected at the last general meeting had subsequently ascertained the following points in regard to the situation: that the company had greatly overbuilt any demand for its products, and that about 200 ears were left on its hands at the end of last season ; that it was heavily in debt: that it could only meet its wages with great difficulty ; that disaster was inevitable unless funds could be obtained to carry on the concern until its stock was realized and its method of manufacture and management re-formed ; that, considerably before the last annual meeting, the company's bankers had refused to support it further, Topioal Subjects.

Our leading articles this week deal with the following topical subjects : (1) " The Royal' at Shrewsbury " ; (2) " The Importance of Access by Road Motor to a Competitive Railway Station " ; (:3) Trips by Char-babancs at Hallthe Parliamentary Railway Faro " ; (4) " Proposals for Waiting Space on Highways for Tramcar Passengers" ; and (5) " Mr. Albert H. Stanley's Knighthood."

The Motor Manual.

sers of petrol commercial-motor vehicles who wish for a satiafaetury handbook on the general principles of petrol motors will be interested to learn that "The Motor Manual," long recognized as the standard work of referenee on the car, is now once more reissued, this time in its 17th edition. One of the best tests of its popularity and soundness is the fact that with this edition " The Motor Manual" enters into its 32Ist thousand—a really remarkable sale for any handbook. The new edition has been thoroughly revised, many new illustrations have been added, and a largo portion of the book has been re-written. "The Motor Manual" is published at is, net, and will be sent post free from these offices for Is. 9d. It is the Clayton steam wagon, constructed at Lincoln, for which Smith, Parircy and Co., Ltd., of Rannock Street, Hammersmith, W., has secured the sole district agency.

More Motor Mails.

The Surveyor for the North Midland District., G.P.O., Leicester, invites tenders for the conveyance of mails by motor, between Peterborough and Eolkingham, and in the reverse direction, for a term of three years. Tenders must be lodged on or before the 30th inst., and we observe that the load capacity must be suitable for 10 cwt. of mails.

A Contract for 1200 Vehicles.

We are in a position to announce that Mr. Stuart A. Curzon, who, of recent years, has been so prominently identified with various branches of the commercial-motor industry, has now completed another far-reaching piece of business. A contract has been signed, wo understand, between his firm and the Daimler Co., by which the former will acquire 1200 heavy models, which are to be manufactured by the Associated Equipment Works (L.G.O.C.). The maximum period of delivery is to be two years, and it is to be at the rate of ten a week. it is believed that this is a world's record contract for commercial vehicles.

Mr. Curzon hopes shortly to be able to announce particulars of a scheme by which he will be able to put facilities before, buyers which it is suggested are much in advance of anything at present existent, Dunlops in Belgium.

The Dunlop Rubber Co. (Continental), Ltd., announces that communications about Belgian sales should be addressed to 14, Rue de France, Brussels. Commodious offices and stores have been taken at that address.

Albion Sales.

Recent Albion orders include the following : a repeat order from J. Lyons and Co., Ltd., for four 16 h.p. one-tonners, bringing that company's fleet. of Albions up to 30 ; and a 16 hp. 40-cwt. van for Edwin Jones and Co., Ltd., provision merchants, Southampton, being a repeat order.

is a Thrashing Machine a Wagon?

We reported the case, heard in April last, in which the Bury county magistrates decided that a thrashing machine and a trusser were wagons, and required registration as such. A case has now been stated, and the _National Traction Engine Owners and Users Association will support Messrs. James Smith and Sons, of Shackerly, near Tyldesley, in an appeal against the decision. Our issues of the 2nd and 23rd April give the reports.

A Welded-steel Tank-wagon for the War Office.

We are able, by the courtesy of the Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., to publish the first photographs of the new type of petrol tank wagon which has been constructed by the Steel Barrel Co., Ltd, on a Thorny-croft chassis to the order of the War Office. The tank is welded throughout, and there are no openings whatever, except on the top of the tank. The same point serves both for filling and emptying by means of the pump shown in the illustra

tion. It will be noticed that the pump withdraws petrol from the tank and delivers it into a distribution box, where there are four outlets, each of which is furnished with a flexible hose (which is not shown in the illustration), for delivering as may be required. The tank is 80 made, that, together with the bolsters on which it rests, it. can be lifted from the wagon and placed on another chassis, the only connections to he undone and refived being the holding-down straps. The side boxes shown in the illustration are also attached to the tank, and can be lifted off with it. They are used for the purpose of containing the necessary flexible hose, tools, etc.

It will be noticed that the storage receptacle is effectively separated from the driver's seat by means of a big metal fire-proof shield, a form of construction which, we believe, is unique.

D6 Goebel Wheelless-vehicle Failure.

The much-heralded practical trial with the Goebel wheelless automobile over a pyramidical construction in the Berlin-Grunewald Stadium resulted in a fiasco, a couple of shafts snapping almost directly after the machine had got under way. Engineer Goebel's reiterated assertions that he would soon be ready to start again came to nothing, and, at length, grown weary of waiting, the spectators left the Stadium. Some of them had paid as much as half-a-sovereign to witness the promised " sensation.' Road Upkeep.

County authorities are apparently oblivious to the converse of their current arguments in respect of the levying of road charges upon certain classes of traffic which emanate from boroughs. The enormous amount of traffic which originates in county areas has the use of roads in boroughs without any payment to the boroughs. If some of the county authorities are not very careful in this matter, they may find a course of retaliation adopted against them by the boroughs ; it would be equitable at least.

News and Comment. —con. Holiday Bookings.

'.1.'he South Eastern and Chatham Railway Co. announces special bookings to all seaside resorts on the Continent, in conjunction with its accelerated train and boat services.

Railway Rubbers.

We learn that the Sirdar Rubber Co., Ltd., has entered into additional large contracts with the Caledonian Railway Co. for the supply of general rubber goods from its mills at Bradford-on-Avon.

Thornycrofts in Sweden.

Nkre hear from a Stockholm correspondent that a company has lately been registered in that city as the Thornycroft Svensk Motor Aktiobolag, to control the sale of the Thornyeroft commercial-motor vehicles and marine motors in Sweden.

Delahaye and Co.

The eighth annual report of the directors of Delahaye and Co., Ltd., of which company Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton is chairman, shows that the profits for 1913 amounted to £12-2,744. Certain charges reduce this sum to £94,563, which is added to £108,347 brought in, giving a total disposable amount of 2200.910. The directors place 225,000 to general reserve, bringing this up to £165,000, carry k79:37 to a special reserve, set aside £7806 for further remuneration for the direc tors, pay 13s. 6c1. per share less income tax on the ordinary shares, and carry forward 2120,043.

This company has an issued and paid-up capital of 2165,000, and a debenture issue of just below 260,000. Most of its business is done on the Continent of Europe, and in export trade.

S.M.M.T. Commercial Vehicle Committee, Mr. Raymond Dennis, one of the managing directors of Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, has been elected chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Committee of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in succession to Mr. Sidney Straker, M.Ilefech.E.. who decided, after a long term of service, not to stand for re-election. Mr. Straker received a hearty vote of thanks in anpreciation of his services daring his term as chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Committee, and we may recall, in mentioning this retirement from a particular office, that Mr. Straker was for many years president of the Society during a crucial Period of its existence, and was thereafter the recipient of an illuminated address and handsome nresent, in the shape of a billiard table and billiard-room equipment, from his colleagues.

The election of Mr. Raymond

Dennis to the office of chairman of this important committee will certainly commend itself to everybody in the industry as a wise choice. The close and successful identification of his company with commercial-vehicle manufacture furnishes the best possible of all guarantees that a thorough policy in the interests of the movement at large will be maintained. His privateear interests are relatively small.

Submission of Timetables.

Mr. McKenna, speaking in the House of Commons last week, stated that the various tramway authorities and omnibus companies in London had declined to submit their timetables to the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis. He was unable to say whether, if the L.G.O.C. were prepared to submit its timetables, the L.C.C. would be willing to do the same. Battery Vehicles at Birmingham

Last week's display of electricallypropelled vehicles at Birminghani was a success. Interested observers and visitors were conveyed from the Grand Hotel by a number of TillingStevens motorbuses, ex the Birmingham Corporation's fleet, and other vehicles. On arrival at the Witton works of the General Elee• trio Co., it was found that an interested crowd had assembled to inspect the various battery vehicles, and to watch the demonstrations. The" exhibits" came from the Torpedo Electric Motor Co., of 12:?, Hampstead Road, London, NW., Mossay and Co., Ltd. (Lloyd vehicles), of 45, Horseferry Road Westminster, S.W., Edison Accumulators, Ltd., of 2, Duke Street, S.W., the General Vehicle Co. of Long Island, New York, and W. A. Stevens, Ltd., Maidstone. Mr. F. Ayton. of Ipswich, was responsible.


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