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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"The wheels of wealth, will be slowed by all diu7cuities of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness pi the roads over which it ratts,"—John Beattie Crozier.

New Dates for International Oil Exhibition.

The management of the Crystal Palace announces that the

Inter

national Oil Exhibition, which was origihally arranged to be held this year, has now been fixed to take place from May 4th-21st, 1927. The exhibition is to be strictly limited to those companies who are directly associated in one way or another with the production, refining, transport or distribution of petroleum products. Over 100.000 sq. ft. of space, which can be rented at 5s. per sq. ft., will be available on the main floor of the Palace.

Applications for participation in the exhibition have already been received from British, American and Continental manufacturers, and it is likely that the exhibition will be the largest and most comprehensive oil-trade show which has yet been organized. Those who require further particulars can obtain thein from the Administrator, International Oil Exhibition, Crystal Palace, London, S.E.19.

Commercial Travellers at Vulcan Works.

One day last week 100 delegates who are attending the annual conference of the United Kingdom Commercial Travellers' Association paid a visit to the works of the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., Crossens, Southport. The delegates were conveyed to the works by a fleet of Vulcan cars. Speaking during the conference, Mr. P. Coysh, the general secretary of the Association, said it would not be long before more travellers were using the road than the railway, and this statement naturally stimulated the interest of the delegates in their tour of the works.

Tramway Takings and Bus Competition.

The tramway services run by the Dumbarton Town and County Tramways Co. have, it is stated, been completely suspended on the instruction of the board. The company have under consideration several vital matters relating to passenger traffic, and an indication of what their intentions may be can possibly be gleaned from the fact that considerable bus competition has affected the takings on the tramways.

Filming the Evolution of the Motor Vehicle.

An interesting cinema film is being shown at the showrooms of Studebaker of Great Britain, Ltd., 117, Great Portland Street, London, W.1, which depicts. the evolution of the motorvehicle industry from its beginning to the present day. There is a reproduction of a New _ York scene taken 25 years ago, in which a " horseless carriage" was ordered off the street, and this makes an appropriate beginning to the story of the rise of the motor industry. This is contrasted with the scene in Fifth Avenue, New York, to-day.

The story shifts to the great Studebaker foundry and to the casting of B20 engine blocks. Drop forging, crankshaft machining and engine assembly are pictured, whilst huge presses are seen stamping-out frames, mudguards

and other parts. Gear-cutting, bodybuilding and final assembly are all

shown, and then follows the boxing, loading and marking of cars for export shipment. The photography of this film is unusually good.

A Plying-for-hire Problem.

Quite recently the Gateshead magistrates had before them a batch of 183 summonses taken out in connection with charges of plying for hire with vehicles unlicensed within the borough. The cases had been suspended pending the decision of the King's Bench Division, which considered an appeal from the decision of the Gateshead magistrates, who recently imposed a fine for picking up passengers in the borough, In this ease the passengers who were picked up had return tickets issued by a bus association, and although the vehicles were not licensed to ply for hire iu Gateshead they were permitted to set down passengers in the town.

The King's Bench Division upheld the decision of the magistrates, .and this resulted in the cases being brought forward. The chief constable mentioned that the defence proposed to take further action, and he would be satinfled if the summonses were dismissed on payment of costs. It was stated that the auestion is to be carried to the Court of Appeal. Each case was dismissed on payment of -4s. costs. Modern Traffic and Road Maintenance.

Reporting with regard to road maintenance and modern traffic, the county surveyor of Herts says that the traffic census recently taken indicates an increase of 100 per cent, in the number of vehicles and in tonnage of 88 per cent. since 1922. Indeed, on the Great North Road south of Hatfield the tonnage increase amounted to 145 per cent. Thew.; figures indicate the tremendous increase in the traffic using the roads and emphasize better than any other argument the absolute necessity for strengthening and improving the roads in order to enable them to bear such traffic.

It is significant, says the surveyor, that, even after allowing for the increased cost of materials, the present expenditure on roads is only 49 per cent. wore than it was 12 years ago, which is entirely out of all proportion to the great increase in tonnage which the roads have to carry. Weight, he adds, is an important factor. The provision of concrete haunches to many miles of main roads must be continued to prevent spreading and breaking up of the surface. The surfaces must also be made more permanent. On heavily trafficked roads tar macadam must, he asserts, give place to asphalt or some improved non-slippery impervious material.

Bradford's Traffic Difficulties.

Now that the Bradford Corporation has licensed a number of buses to run to and from the centre of the city, with a possible augmentation of this number at a later date, the transport problem of the city is arousing considerable uneasiness in the minds of the authorities. It is possible that some new form of control will shortly be laid down by the authorities concerned.

The controversy of buses versus trams must of necessity receive consideration, and the tramways authorities would appear to be fully aware of the capabilities of the bus. It is likely, therefore, that when tram tracks to distant destinations need renewing they will be removed from the streets and buses substituted to serve the outer districts. The authorities still appear to think that for short-distance traffic in the heart of the city the tramcar remains the best method of transport.

Some idea of the extent to which Bradford's motor traffic has increased is indicated by the fact that 17,533 vehicle licences were issued in 1925, as compared with 14,470 in 1924 and 12,487 in 1923. Of .the large number of commercial vehicles in use in the city, many of them are engaged in the transport of wool.

Promenade Stands Forbidden.

Motor coach owners at Rhyl, where coaches have, hitherto, been lined up for day trips, are somewhat concerned by the decision of the council to forbid the use of public stands on the promenade. Owners will use a booking office and load up elsewhere. It has also been decided by the council not to license taxicabs unless a third-party insurance policy is produced to the town clerk.

Bus Results in Berlin.

The receipts on the motorbuses run by the Allgemeine Berliner Omnibus Gesellschaft, of Berlin, during last year amounted tai'749,000, as compared with £.482,000 in 1924. The net profit of the company amounted to £173,70, as against £19,70 a year earlier.

dividend of 6 per cent. is being paid on the preference capital of £60,000 and one of 10 per cent. on the ordinary share capital of 1360,000.

Certificates of Vehicle Fitness,

Truro Watch Committee has decided that it be a condition in future on the granting of new and the renewal of existing licences for motor vehicles that the applicant shall produce to the inspector a certificate signed by a competent motor engineer of the fitness of the vehicle. This condition will apply to all motor vehicles in respect of which new licences are applied for this year and will take effect as regards the renewal of existing licences at the next annual issue of sue!' renewals.

An Order for 50 flalleys,

Amongst the orders which have recently been received by Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd., Yoker, Glasgow, the largest is one for fifty 3i-ton chassis which has just been placed by the British Petroleum Co., Ltd. Three 3-4-ton chassis are being supplied to another fuel concern—the Red Line Motor Spirit Co., Ltd., whilst a like number of 4-ton lorries with hydraulic tipping, bodies are being built for the 'Rotherham Corporation. A number of vehicles of various types, and sizes is passing through the comPsny's works for users in Droylsden, Glasgow, London and Hanky.

On the passenger-vehicle side the company have in hand 23-seater motor coaches for Oldham, Salford and. Scarborough users, and 20-seater buses for Messrs. W. D. Sowerby, of Gilsland, and Messrs. Meiklejohn and Harvey, of• Glasgow.

Commer Van Deliveries.

Two of the most recent van deliveries from the works of Commer Cars, Ltd., Luton, are illustrated in pictures which appear on this page. One is a 4-tanner which has been supplied to the London Co-operative Society, Ltd., and it has a body specially insulated to meet the needs of the dairy department of this Society., A thick layer of cork is interposed between double boarding throughout the entire body, the doors being similarly treated. For this vehicle the makers' standard R.C.-type chassis is employed.

The other vehicle is one of a smaller capacity and has been supplied to Messrs. Hale's Stores. In this ease the 2G 2-ton Commer chassis is employed, and It is fitted with what the makers call a G-type tilt-van body with doors and tailboard at the rear. The whole vehicle is finished in dark blue, and has a striking appearance. Commer Cars, Ltd., inform us that the particular size of chassis used for this vehicle is, perhaps, the best selling size in their range.

Free Parking to Encourage Coaches.

The parking ground for motor coaches and other motor vehicles at PenrsiaenMFMT, for the use of which a small charge has hitherto been made, is now to be five for users of motor vehicles. The reason for the change is that it has been urged that the imposition of the charge has kept motor-coach parties away from the town.

Chances in Japan.

There exists a brisk demand in the City of Tokio and the surrounding district for light delivery vehicles up to 1 ton capacity and also for 2-ton lorries. American manufacturers are well aware of this demand and are making arrangements to meet it.

Garrett's Chief Designer.

Mr. M. G. Plane, who is the subject of the portrait on this page, is the chief designer to Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., and is responsible for the designs for all their products, with the exception of electrical work and agricultural machinery. In his department lies the work done in connection with the interesting steam rigid-frame six-wheeler which we describe elsewhere in this issue.

kir. Plane served his apprenticeship with the David Paxman Co., Ltd., engineers and boilermakers, of Colchester, working up to leading draughtsman. He joined his present company in 1912, rising five years ago to the position which he now occupies.

The well-known Garrett boiler used on their steam wagons is the joint patent of Mr. Plane and the company; this also applies to the patents which have been taken out in connection with the six-wheeler and to several others on the aver-type wagon.

Parking Arrangements for Welsh Eisteddfod.

Preparations for the allocation of vehicle parks at Swansea during the week of the Welsh National Eisteddfod, i.e., August Bank Holiday week, are now being made. The huge number of coaches, buses and private cars expected to centre at Swansea for this event will be increased by those vehicles bringing large numbers of people to witness the cricket match between the Australians and Glamorgan, which takes place at the same time in Swansea.

Preserving an Ancient Bridge.

Hereford County Council has been able to restore the interesting 14th century structure over the Lugg at Mill Bridge at a cost of £600, the work having been carried out by the council's own men. The original estimate for the work, and the sum set aside, was £1,000.

Stoke Tram Abolition Suggestion.

A special committee of the Stoke-onTreat Corporation has considered the position. which has arisen in regard to the omnibus and tram services in the town and the town clerk was asked to ascertain if the tramways company would consider the withdrawal of the whole of the tramway system and, if so, an what conditions. The corporation has bad a reply from the company and is to hold further meetings on the matter.

American Tractor Exports.

We mentioned some time ago that a number of Russian students had been invited to America to study the manufacture of the Fordson tractor. These students have now completed their "course" and returned to their own country. The export of American tractors to Russia at the present time is considerable, as figures recently published by the Commerce Department

clearly show. During the month of February 3,570 tractors were shipped to Soviet Russia from the L'nited States.

As a matter of fact, there appears, at the moment, to be a boom in tractor exports. During the first two months of the present year nearly five times the number of tractors were exported from America as compared with the number which left the country during the same period in 1925. In February the figures

• for shipment to foreign countries showed a record of 7,533 tractors, valued at $3,799,116.'

The Trolleybus on the Films.

The Mayor (Aid. W. J. Hill) and members and officials of the Worcester City Council witnessed a film demonstration of trolley-buses at the Scala Theatre, 'Worcester, one day last week. It was arranged by Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., who have supplied many vehicles of this type to municipalities in all parts of the country. It is considered that this form of transport will prove suitable for Worcester and will probably be adopted. The film was continued for the week as part of the ordinary programme.

Thornycroft Works Activity.

During the fortnight ended May 15th. which covers the period of the general strike, John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., whose works continued in full production throughout the industrial crisis, effected deliveries to home users of over 40 Thornycroft vehicles of various types. These included 10 chassis for the Devon Motor Transport Co., to augment the large fleet of buses of this make which they already own, and eight 1,200-gallon tank wagons which ShellAlex, Ltd., have put into service. The latter were accepted in a workshop grey colour and were immediately put into service for distributing urgent supplies of motor spirit.

During the same period orders were received for approximately 50 Thornycroft chassis or complete vehicles, an

interesting feature of these being a large proportion for delivery overseas, the destinations for which they are intended being India, Australia, Denmark, Singapore, Manchuria, and Rio de Janeiro.

A Bus Construction Condition,

Stoke Watch Committee is notifying omnibus proprietors that, in future, omnibuses must be constructed so as to contain one side entrance and one side exit or one side entrance and a rear emergency exit. The former arrangement is mostly used on vehicles of large seating capacity and the latter on oneman-controlled-type vehicles. The design called for by the Stoke authorities prevents the use of certain types of bus in the design of which public safety may have been overloOked.

For Glass Transport.

Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd., Letchworth, have recently supplied the S.D. Freighter which is illustrated on this page to Messrs. T. and W. Ide, who use it for the transport of plate glass. The

body fitted to the chassis is 16 ft. long and is provided with very high sides. Some idea of the class of work upon which this vehicle is engaged is indicated by the size of the sheet of bent plate glass which is shown in the picture. This is of exceptionally large dimensions, being 13 ft. 1 in. high and 10 ft. 5 ins, round the bend.

The advantages of the S.D. Freighter for plate-glass haulage will be readily recognized, and it will be remembered that T. and W. Farmiloe, Ltd., were the first company to use S.D. Freighters for this purpose, having now had a vehicle of this type in their service for over 12 months. The company are also supplying a similar machine to Pickfords, Ltd.

Lamps for Commercial Uses.

A section of the catalogue which has recently been issued by H. Miller and Co., Ltd., Aston Brook Street, Birmingham; deals with lamps, electrical equipinent and accessories for various types of commercial vehicle. Several types of headlamp, side lamp and tail lamp are briefly referred to, as well as acetylene generators, and what should be particularly useful to the commercial user is the list of spare parts for the Various equipment which the company supply, the price for each part being clearly stated.

A Crane-equipped Tractor.

The latest device which the International Harvester Co. of Greet Britain, Ltd., have fixed to an example of the McCormick-Deering industrial tractor is indicated in an accompanying illustration. It will be seen that this consists of a jib crane which is capable of lifting a load up to 15 cwt. The method of attachment of the crane members and other details can be seen from the picture. A mobile crane of this description undoubtedly possesses a wide range of usefulness in warehouses, etc., where goods have to be piled or loaded on railway trucks or lorries.

Cardiff's Bus Fleet.

The Cardiff City Council is shortly to extend its bus services. A new route from Cardiff to Newport, south of the main Cardiff-Newport road beyond Castieton, is proposed, to embrace the villages between the two towns that are popular summer picnic centres and have a fair-sized resident population. The council expects to take delivery in six weeks' time of seen new buses, for which Christopher. Dodson, Ltd:, are now building bodies. It is proposed to utilize these vehicles on the new route and on others under consideration. The Cardiff Corporation bus fleet will comprise 55 vehicles when the latest buses have been delivered. The Newport Corporation, too, contemplates new services to G obicliffe.

Mails and Passengers by Coach.

During the course of the general strike an Albion Viking motor coach supplied in 1924 to Messrs. Sanderson Brothers, the well-known motor hirgrs, of Glasgow, Was running between Glasgow and London carrying passengers and mails. It was scheduled to leave Glasgow at 9.30 a.m. and to arrive in Loudon at 3.30 a.m, on the following day. The coach made stops at Carlisle for an hour, at Doncaster for one and a half hours, and for half an hour at other centres to enable the passengers to take meals, so that the actual running time was reduced to about 15 hours. We are told that no trouble was experienced and that the same driver handled the coach the whole time it was engaged on this service.

Modified Foden Tippers.

A new Forien low-platform three-way tipping wagon is depicted in an illustration which appears on this page. In the case of many tipping wagons the chassis frame is usually the same height as the standard platform wagon and, in addition to this, it is often the practice to put a I-in. strip and a 5-in. by 3-in. section channel iron which forms the body sub-frame on the top of the main frame, and then to mount the platform on the sub-frame. This practice, of course, means that the platform is raised several inches above the level of the standard wagon, and this entails a lot more work for the men who may have to load the vehicle with loose material from the ground.

To satisfy the demand for lower platforms, Fedeas. Ltd., Sandbach, have embodied certain modifications in their 5-ton and 6-ion tipping models and have succeeded in lowering the platform height by 4 ins. Moreover, the hinges for the body sides are made in such a way that when the body tips sideways it throws the load 5 ins, farther away from the wheels, which is a clear advantage. The tipping angle is in no way impaired by lowering the body, which can still be tipped to an angle of 40 degrees at the side and 38 degrees at the rear.

Two wagons of the type which we illustrate have recently been delivered to the highways department of the County Borough of Southport and another to the Perth County Council.

A Dairy Company's Choice.

Another use for the latest type Vulcan 20-25-cwt. chassis is indicated in an illustration appearing on this page, which shows a dairyman's lorry just supplied by the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., to a Man chester company. It will IN noticed that the vehicle has a fixed roof extending from the front of the driver's cab to the rear, and that dust-proof curtains are provided at the sides, so that in hot

weather the milk is kept perfectly cool

and clean.. The picture shows that a space is left on the near side of the body through which loading and unloading operations can be conducted. This vehicle took part in a trades procession recently held in Belle Vue Gardens, Manchester.

Wanting a Fire-engine.

A. movement is on foot for the provision of a motor fire-engine for the Launceston district of Cornwall. The authorities jointly concerned in the proposal are the Launceston Town Council and the Launceston and Broadwood Widger Rural Councils. It is suggested that an engine shall be purchased at a cost of approximately 1950, and that the equipment shall include half a mite of hose. A joint meeting of the two rural councils was held recently, when a motion that a committee should go into the matter and report was adopted.

Bus Services for Cork.

We understand that arrangements have recently been completed. whereby omnibus services will be instituted in Cork. Mr. A. P. Morgan, of Harpenden, near London, is stated to be responsible for the scheme, and five Daimler double-deck buses, each having accommodation for 44 passengers, will, we ate told, shortly be put into service. At the outset it is intended to serve parts of the city and suburbs which are not provided with transport facilities.

L.C.O. Co.'s Holiday Record. During the period of the Whitsuntide holiday the buses of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., carried 13,283,750 people over the three days. This beat the previous Whitsun record. The absence of special travelling facilities on the railways undoubtedly contributed to this record figure being set up. B23

Buses in a Scottish Village.

Were it not for the fact that two small motorbuses are run daily between the town of Forres and the Moray Firth village of Findhorn—a pictureque spot much frequented by visitors during the summer months—travelling to Eindhorn would be extremely difficult.

The village is located a little to the east of the estuary of the River Findhorn, and when, a number of years ago, the seaport was quite a busy place possessing a fleet of herring sailboats, there were ample means of commimication by railway. In the course of time the railway was discontinued, however, trade at the seaport having dwindled.

The two buses which run daily from Forms to Findhorn belong to Mr. Grant Chisholm and Mr. Jas. Dean respec tively. For the past few years they have proved invaluable not only to local people but to visitors who make a brief stay at this favourite holiday haunt during the summer months.

A Range of Bus Seats.

A copy of the new seat catalogue issued by the J. G. Brill Co., Aldwycb. House, London, W.C.2, has just come to hand. A large part of the Brill works is devoted to designing and manufacturing passenger seats for buses and railway coaches, and the various types which are available for these uses are referred to and illustrated in the new catalogue. There are several types which are designed expressly for buses, some being upholstered in leather and others in rattan.

British Progress in Australia.

It is interesting to learn of the steady progress of the British commercial vehicle in Australia. Evidence of this fact is to be found in the announcement that Leyland Motors, Ltd., who have for some time had extensive service depots in Sydney and Melbourne, are now establishing one in South Brisbane, Queensland.

A.E.C: Vehicles on Order.

Recent orders secured by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., of Walthamstow, London, E.17, include one for a further six Model 504 chassis for the Birmingham Corporation, which recently ordered 30 vehiclesof this type ; 15 for the Model 409 passenger chassis for the Anglo-Argentine Tramways, whilst the Sheffield Corporation and the Belfast City Tramways are buying 10 and six Model 413 buses respectively, those for the former authority being in the nature of a repeat order.

Local Proceedings,

Leeds Corporation has decided to start new motorbus services to Kirkstall and Lowtown.

Chesterfield Corporation is inviting tenders for 16 single-deck motorbuses and 14 rsilless vehicles. .

Tynemouth Corporation has decided to purchase a motor vehicle for the cleansing department at a cost of .£638.

Seaham Harbour Urban District Council has accepted the tender of Messrs. Meek Bros., for the supply of six 1-ton motor vehicles for refuse collecdon at 1-266 each.

At the request of the parish council, Coventry Corporation has arranged to extend the motorbus service to Rinley.

Newcastle Corporation has expressed willingness to support the proposal for the establishment of a joint traffic board for the control of bus services in north Staffordshire.

West Hartlepool Corporation transport department,which recently placed an order for a number of Bristol singledeck saloon buses, has now taken delivery of a portion of the fleet, and it is opening out two new bus services in the town. In the past the bus routes have been to outlying districts.

The Potteries Electric Traction Co. have obtained power from the Ministry of Transport to run an additional 34 motor omnibuses on the Stoke route.