• WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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`e 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.
• Leyland's Good Report.
The directors and shareholders of Leyland Motors, Ltd., have every reason to feel very gratified with the past year's trading of the company, for the accounts just issued for the twelve • months to September 30th last show a gross profit of 1586,694, this figure comparing with 1395,734 for the previous year.
The actual net profit for the year is 1405,999, the deductions which are made from the gross total being in respect of interest on loans' bank overdraft and Ham purchase 129,583, income tax 164,232, reserve for bad debts £11,773, depreciation on buildings, plant and machinery 175,409 and directors' fees 1879. Frem the total of these items a sum of £1,180 has to be deducted in respect of dividends on investments, transfer fees and sundry receipts. The net profit referred to compares with 1233,842 for the previous year.
The adverse balance on the profit and loss account at September 30th, 1926, was 1518,467, and a year later it was reduced to £284,625, so that when this year's net profit is taken into account, the balance standing to the credit of this account is 1121,374.
The directors propose to pay the accumulated arrears of dividend on the 6 per cent, cumulative preference shares, which are in arrears from 3 anuary 1st, 1921, and this dividend, less income tax, will absorb £76,800, thus leaving a balance of £44,574 to be carried forward.
The balance-sheet shows bank overdraft, trade and other creditors standing at 1871,820, and on the other side of the account trade and other debtors, less reserve, stand at £643,928.
Mention is made in the report of the fact that the directors of the company do not propose to submit any further scheme for the reorganization of the capital of the company. Such results as are indicated by the figures given above clearly reflect the progressive and far-seeing policy adopted by the concern.
The British Industries Fair.
• At the British Indutries Fair, which opened simultaneously in Birmingham and London on February 18th, there are some exhibits of interest to the commercial-motor industry, and below we give brief • details of them.
In B inning ham .—P eter Brotherhood, Ltd., Peterborough, is showing a
high-speed -Diesel engine of a new sleeve-valve type, a good example of the trend of advance in this type of power unit. Dennis Bros., • Ltd., Guildford, shows two motor lawn mowers with cutting cylinders 24 ins. and 36 ins. wide. John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., Leeds, exhibits a 10 h.p. petrol rail-tractor, with four-wheel drive. Charles H. Pugh, Ltd., Birmingham, is showing five of its seven models of Atco motor lawn mower, including the new 12-in. model. Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., Ipswich, displays a group of lawn mowers, including an electrically driven machine with a 14-in. cutting e cylinder.
In, '..bondon.—Motorways, Ltd., 54, B18
Haymarket, London, S.W.1, has an attractive stand advertising its motorcoach tours in England, Europe and North Africa. This company works on highly organized lines, and is extending its activities to Egypt, Palestine and Syria.
The Great Western Railway Co., in conjunction with the L.M,S, L.N.E.R. and S.R., exhibits one of its Road-Rail container-trucks. These containers, which are available in four sizes, enable traders to send goods by the rail
way companies without the need for packing the articles. The units fit equally well upon the railway trucks and the companies' platform lorries, and are slung from one means for conveyance to the other by cranes.
United Signs, Ltd. 46, King William Street, London, E.6.4, shows its new reflecting signs, which, by reason of their brilliance and compactness, are of interest to motorbus proprietors for use as destination boards. The company is in touch with some of the large motorbus operators with a view to supplying these signs for such uses and for posts at bus stopping places.
Four-wheel Brakes for London Buses.
When giving evidence before the Select Committee of the House of Lords, Mr. Frank Pick, the Managing director of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., mentioned that his company proposed, this year, to try four-wheel brakes on its buses. They could not be adapted to existing vehicles and would, therefore, be tried on new models.
Road Expenditure in Scotland.
The expenditure on the maintenance and reconstruction of classified roads and on the maintenance of unclassified scheduled roads in Scotland which had been approved for grant in the current financial year up to January 31st amounts to approximately 13,570,000.
A Paper. on Diesel Engines.
At the next meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, to be held at the Royal Society of Arts, John Street, Adelphi, London, W.02, on Tuesday. March 5th,. at 7.45 p.m., Mr. A. E. L. ChOrlton will read a paper on "The Heavy Oil Engine on Road and Rail."
An inventors' meeting will also be held on Tuesday, March 19th, when inventions of automobile interests not actually on the market will be demonstrated and discussed. The raeetin4 will be held in the Council Room of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 83, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1. Non-members will be admitted.
Private Cars of 1929.
Many of our readers—probably the majority—use private cars, either in connection with their business or for pleasure. They will find the annual New Car Number of The Motor published to-day an invaluable guide to the cars on the British market. Every make, every model is dealt with, including full specifications and prices. Another feature is a road test of each of the light " baby " ears, costing under 1150, now available, in view of the remarkable development in the use of these cars as household "tenders,"
Licence Applications in Leeds.
Leeds Watch Committee has postponed consideration of the London and North-Eastern Railway Co.'s application for licences for motorbuses to ply for hire within the city in connection with proposed services between Leeds and Hull by two routes. Two other applications treated similarly by the Leeds Committee are that of Coachways, Ltd., concerning a Leeds-London service, and that of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., in connection with a service between Leeds and Birmingham.
American Components for Russia.
According to a report from New York, an order for engines, gearboxes, and back axles, to the value of 150,000, has lately been placed with American companics by the Soviet Automobile Trust. The orders were placed through the Amtorg Trading Corporation with the Hercules Motor Corporation, of Canton, 0., and the Brown-Lipe-Chapin Co., of Syracuse, N.Y.
Wakefield-Sheffield Improved Service.
Wakefield Watch Committee has granted the application of the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., for permission to run four extra journeys daily, and to couple its service to Leeds via Ardsley with the Newmiilerdam service, extending it to Sheffield, subject to permiSsion being granted by the Sheffield Corporation.
The Select Committee of the House of Lords dealing with Lord Cecil's Bill will next sit to-day, February 26th, and will resume the hearing of the evidence of the president of the Commercial Motor Users Association.
Personal Pars.
Mr. Ronald A. Fearnley, general manager of the Keighley Corporation Tranaways Department, has been appointed to the position of tramways manager at Southend-on-Sea, where the tramways and electricity departments have recently been separated. Mr. Fearnley is the son of Mr. A. R. Fearnley, manager of the Sheffield Corporation Tramways Department. He has been at Keighley for three years, and during that time has had charge of the trolley-vehicle undertaking, which euperseded the trams just before be took charge. He has also developed the motorbus services of the corporation.
We reproduce on this page a photograph of Mr. Noel Martin, who has , recently been appointed managing director of Bean Cars, Ltd. Mr. Martin joined the company as director of sales
• and export six months ago, and for a man of his years he has had exceptional experience in the motor-vehicle business. He was apprenticed to Marshall, Sons and Co., Ltd., of Gainsborough, subsequently passing through the works of Messrs. Roses, also of Gainsborough, who were then building an 18-22 h.p. three-cylinder ear.
After some years in the United States, during which he made an intensive study of production methods, Mr. Martin joined the Studebaker concern in London, remaining with it until 1914, when he obtained a commission in the Navy. In 1916 he was invalided from the Service as unfit for further duty, but, later, upon regaining his health, joined the Royal Flying Corps, and, in clife course, was transferred to the Royal Air Force. He was eventually demobilized with the rank of major.
Mr. Martin then joined Maxwell Motors, Ltd., as general manager ; was appointed sales director of Chrysler Motors, Ltd., when that company was formed, and remained in charge of Chrysler sales until February, 1928, when he resigned his directorship. It was then that he first became associated with Bean Cars, Ltd., in the capacity of sales director. He went to Tipton to reorganize the company's selling policy and manufacturing programme for both commercial vehicles and cars, and with such success did he perform these tasks that in January of this year lie was appointed managing director of the company.
Licence Appeal Fails.
The town clerk of Barnsley has reported, with reference to the appeal by Messrs. Halstead Bros., that the Ministry of Transport has decided not to make any Order on the licensing authority against the refusal by the corporation to grant a licence to the firm to ply for hire with a bus on a service between Barnsley and Wakefield.
Brown Brothers' Report.
The report of Brown Brothers, Ltd., for the year ended December 16th last shows, after making provision for taxation, depreciation and directors' fees, a Profit of £69,606, this sum being increased to £90,776 by the amount brought in from the previous year's trading. A sum of £20,041 is to be transferred to the reserve fund, bringing this up to £110,000, whilst the payment of a final dividend of 7f per cent. on the ordinary shares (making 10 per dist. for the year) absorbs £30,000' after deducting income tax.
The directors propose to pay a dividend for the year to December 31st on the 7f per cent, cumulative preference shares (of which £8,437, less tax, was paid on October let last, and the balance is payable on April 1st next), which will account for £13,500. After making these allocations, the sum to be carried forward is £27,235.
Tenders for Merthyr's Buses.
The bus committee of the Merthyr Tydfil Corporation has decided to purchase two new buses for the municipal service, and tenders have been received from several makers. The quotations submitted are as follow :—Leyland Motors, Ltd. (35-seater), £1,330; Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd. (34-seater), £1,332; Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd. (32-seater), £1,225; TillingStevens Motors, Ltd. (32-seater), £1,384, (39-seater) 11,466; Comma Cars, Ltd. (32-seater), £1,300; Dennis Bros., Ltd. (32-seater), 11,315.
These buses are to be inspected.
Extended Insurance Benefit.
Many owners of motor vehicles are probably wondering whether their insurance policies cover risk of damage to radiators, cylinder blocks, heads and other vulnerable parts caused by frost. In many policies damage caused by freezing in this way is not specified. Some companies, however, have extended their policies to cover the risk of such damage. In several instances payment is conditional upon " reasonable precautions" having been taken to prevent mishaps, whilst other companies do not make this stipulation.
Harrier Refuse Collector for Swansea.
At a meeting of the health committee of the Swansea Corporation the borough engineer submitted a report with regard to the low-loading refusecollection vehicles which have been on trial in the borough since October last. He stated that the advantages of this type of vehicle in regard to easy loading and the almost dustless collection of refuse were apparent, and that the purchase of a low-loading vehicle Would be beneficial to the department financially. It was decided that a Karrier low-loading refuse collector be purchased at a cost of 1590.
Lighting-up in Parking Places.
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations vest in the Commissioner of Police the power to exempt from the lighting requirements vehicles standing in recognized parking places in the Metropolitan Police Area, but the Commissioner has not thought it desirable yet to exercise his powers in this respect.
On a World Tour.
Mr. William Prince, a director of Frank How and Co., Ltd., the wellknown lubricating-oil concern, sailed last week on a world tour which will include visits to Australia, New Zealand and India, in order to extend the connections already held by the company overseas.
A Strange Load for a Steamer.
Surely the strangest load a steam wagon has ever been called upon to carry is the one which a Sentinel D.G.6 recently transported from Harbury, in Warwickshire, to the National. History Museum at South Kensington. It consisted of a number of cases containing the fossilized remains of an ichthyosaurus, which was recently discovered in the quarry from which Greaves, Bull and Lakin, Ltd., obtain limestone.
• The ichthyosaurua was a pre-historic marine reptile which varied in length from 4 ft. to as much as 40 ft., and the specimen found at Harbury may be considered a remarkably good one, inclasuring as it did 33 ft. from the tip of its snout to the end of its tail.
One of the accompanying illustrations shows the remains being loaded on to a Sentinel six-wheeler, and the other, which is, of course, a composita picture, what the skeleton of the Harbury ichtbyosaurus would have looked like if it had been reconstructed and mounted on the wagon.
A Useful Salvage Sling.
Users of breakdown equipment will be interested in a new salvage-equipment accessory which has just been placed on the market by Harvey Frost and Co., Ltd., 148-150, Great Portland Street, London, W.1. This is known as the HP salvage sling and its use considerably lightens the task of hoisting damaged vehicles from difficult positions. It consists of two 4-ft. lengths of robust crane chain coupled by a ring and with the free ends terminating in powerful
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hooks, which are so formed that the hooks themselves can be locked over the chain links when placing the sling round the object to be lifted.
A two-point grapple, such as is obtained by the use of the sling, may, in fact, halve the labour and the time needed with a single hook.
• Saving Effected by Motor Refuse Collectors, The London. County Council has granted sanction to the Bermondsey Borough Council to borrow 13,390 for the purchase of six motor vehicles, each with a capacity of 7 cubic yds., for collection of domestic and trade refuse. This work is at present being carried out by horse-drawn vans and trailer
vehicles drawn by tractors, additional vans being hired when necessary. The six new motor vehicles will take the Place of the horse-drawn vans and additional hired vans. The borough council estimates that the substitution will effect a yearly saving of about 1400.
Dodge Brothers' Van Prices Reduced.
Dodge Brothers Britain, Ltd., announces reductions in the prices of its 15-cwt. models. The chassis now sells at £195 instead of £220, whilst the standard van has been reduced to £220 and the de luxe model to £230. these figures for the complete vehicles showing reductions of £30 and 135 respectively.
Albion Buses for Aberdeen.
We recently referred to 10 chassis for bus service which had been ordered by the Aberdeen Town Council. We are now informed that this order was for vehicles of Albion make.
Traffic and Burst Mains.
In a report on burst mains, the Metropolitan Water Board states that the reconstruction of many of the old roadways in the Board's area, in an attempt to cope with the increased
volume, weight and speed of road traffic, has had a detrimental effect upon mains laid under the streets. In many cases the camber of the road has been lowered, thereby reducing the depth of the covering above the mains, and where this has occurred and a concrete roadbed brought into contact with the main, damage has undoubtedly been done by direct transmission of weight and by vibration.
The Board has in recent years expended many thousands of pounds in laying new mains at a greater depth in roads that have been reconstructed, and in other respects has lost no opportunity of collaborating to the best advantage with the local highway authorities, through the Ministry of Transport or otherwise, when street works have been contemplated or in progress.
Guy Six-wheelers Popular.
In our issue for last week we briefly eummarized the trading of Guy Motors, Ltd., during the year ended September 30th last. In the company's report mention is made of the fact that in the case of the six-wheeled double-deck petrol buses and the six-wheeled trolleybuses the orders received or executed from public-service undertakings represent 68 per cent, repeat orders. The Company's new 30-cwt. vehicle and its new 20-seater passenger vehicle, which were placed on the market during the year, have both been well received and, the report states, are selling in increasing numbers.
Northfleet Council's Close Watch.
Northfieet Urban District Council haa authorized the clerk to intimate to all bus proprietors that, in view of the increasing number of vehicles plying for hire and the corresponding congestion of traffie on the roads, the council will keep a very keen observation upon the operations of services during the ensuing 12 months. It is also recommended that lidences in respect of all applications for drivers and conductors be granted subject to medical certificates being forwarded in, those cases where they have not already been received.
• Oldham Protects Local Services.
• Oldham Watch Committee has again had under. consideration an application from Mr. T. U. Parker for a bus licence in connection with a service between Hathershaw and Manchester. It has now decided tegrant a licence subject to an undertaking by the applicant • to maintain a regular service and to charge, a minimum fare of is. in respect of each person taken up and set down within the borough boundaries.
. • The Rellem and Foss Injector-vaporizer.
With.reference to this device, details of which we published in a recent issue, it was stated that the illustration allowed it fitted to a PierceArrow engine, whereas we are informed by Automotive Spares, Ltd., 164a, King's Road, Chelsea, London, S.W., that the engine illustrated is of the Liberty vehicle, for which the company is sole concessionnaire in this country. Sheffield Licences Withheld.
Sheffield Watch Committee has re!used the following applications for bus icences :—
Mr. T. S. Camplejoba, Bentley, Doncaster.—Askern to Sheffield.
Messrs. Camplejohn Bros., Darfield.—Hamsworth to Sheffield.
Mr. E. Creighton, South Elmsall.— South Elmsall to Sheffield.
Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., Birmingham.— Drivers', conductors' and motorbus licences in respect of a proposed longdistance service.
IL C. Motor Works, Ltd., Hull.— II to Sheffield.
Mr. L. Baddeley, Huddersfield.— 1Tolmfirth to Sheffield.
Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., Derby.—Nottingham to Sheffield.
An application by the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., for a service between Manchester and Sheffield has been adjourned by the watch committee for later consideration.
Railway Company's Road Operations in Ireland.
Extensive road-transport operations are being planned by the Great Northern Railway Co. of Ireland. The approval of the Irish Free State Minister for Industry and Coinmerce has been obtained under the Railways Road and Motor Service Act of 1927 for the establishment of many bus service s by the railway in the Free State. We are informed that the company has taken over the bus services of Mr. Francis Duffy, of Dundalk. At present these are being run under Mr. Duffy's timetable, but it is intended that eventually they shall be co-ordinated with the train service between Dundalk and Dublin. In this way passengers will be able to travel either by rail or by road, and will more readily be able to reach districts some distance from the railway line.
In Northern Ireland also the Great Northern Railway Co. is planning bus services between railway stations and adjacent towns, and, as a result, a number of the company's branch lines will be closed.
The Channel Tunnel.
In our article dealing with the proposed Channel tunnel, which appeared in our issue published last week, in the twelfth line of the paragraph under the cross-heading of "The Excess of Carbon Dioxide," the 30 per cent. should have read 3.0 per cent. Taxation Reduction Proposals
In company with 21 other national associations representing road-transport interests, the Royal Automobile Club has formulated certain proposals with regard to motor taxation, which will be laid before the Chancellor of the Exchequer on March 7th, by a deputation which will be introduced by Sir Arthur Stanley.
The principal proposals are as follow :—(1) A reduction of 33i per cent. on all duties at present levied on motor vehicles ; (2) a national programme of road construction, reconstruction and
improvement; (3) a scheme for a State Loan or series of such loans, with a view to spreading the cost of the above work over a period of years.
Gellygaer's Bus-service Expansion.
The Gellygaer Urban District Conneil's bus service—the newest Welsh municipal service—is to be extended by the buses plying for hire on the Bedthine-Nelson and Bedlinag-Bargoed routes. For these services two new buses will be purchased and the council will shortly invite tenders for, them. Lancia All-weather Coaches.
Lancia :(England), Ltd., Alperton, Middlesex, has just issued a most interesting and attractive brochure entitled "The All-weather Coach Book." Two well-known coachbuilding concerns have co-operated in its production, these being London Lorries, Ltd., and G. Beaton and Son, Ltd. It deals entirely with the Lancia Third Series Pentaiota chassis with London Lorries bodywork and BeatonSon headwork.
The manufacturer of the Lancia contends that the chassis intended for such cot:lei:two& should not be of the ultralow. type, .both on account of accessibility and passengers' visibility, and it is designed with this point in view. • The production is well worth examining, both as regards its contents and its artistic arrangement.
The Hire-purchase of Machinery and Engineering Equipment.
We have received from the United Dominions Trust, Ltd., King's House, King Street, London, E.Q.2, a booklet describing the scientific application' of hire-purchase to the distribution of merchandise of a Semi-permanent nature and with a utility value, this including contractors' plant, agricultural machinery, machine tools, etc. The company, of enrse, only deals with manufacturerS and distributors of machinery.
Body Orders for a Leeds Concern.
Charles H. Roe (1923), Ltd., the well-known coachbuilding concern, of Crossgates Carriage Works, Leeds, has recently received a number of repeat orders* for bus bodies from municipal authorities. The company has in hand an order for six 60-seater, covered-top, double-deck bodies for mounting on Karrier-Clough trolley-bus chassis for the Doncaster Corporation, another for five 32-seater low-loading saloon coach bodies for mounting on Bristol chassis for the Rotherham Corporation, and a third for two 32-seater bus bodies for mounting on Leyland Lion chassis for the York Corporation.
In addition, the company is building four special bodies for mounting on
Leyland Tiger chassis to the -order of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., which, we understand, is to use them for long-distance work.
By-pass Roads in the South.
Kent County Council is constructing a by-pass on the Folkestone-Dover road at Capel at a cost of £25,500. The Surrey County Council is making surveys in connection with possible bypass roads at Dorking and Leatherhead.
Proposed Services from Leeds.
Leeds Watch Committee has adjourned consideration of the applications of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., -for licences for motorbuses to ply for hire within the city in connecs, tion with the proposed Manchester-HiT service and the suggested services between Leeds and Whitby, Morecambe, Bridlington, London, Birmingham, Cleethorpes and BlackpoOl.
The Garner Overtype Van.
Garner Motors, Ltd., has asked us to point out that the measurements of its overtype van body, which were published on the front-cover advertisement of our issue dated February 12th, should have read as follows: 16 ft. 9 ins. by 7 ft. by 7 ft. 6 ins., these dimensions including a space above the cab, giving a total capacity of 941 cubic ft.
Recent Vulcan Orders.
The Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., has recently received repeat orders for 3-ton lorries from the Cement Marketing Co., whilst the Brighton Corporation is buying 2-ton ' chassis and the Beldam Packing and Rubber Co. lorries of 30-cwt. capacity.
Relief Work by Bus Companies.
It is reported that good work was done by bus proprietors in Wales in the relief of snowed-up villages during the recent severe weather. Telephone orders for foodstuffs were executed at the town shops and the cupplies were taken by buses, which literally fought their way through to the distressed areas, the rail services being suspended.
Licensing Statistical Accuracy.
The Minister of Transport, in explaining why his return as to receipts from the taxation of road vehicles is taken from December 1st to November 30th instead of being synchronized with the calendar year, states that the figures for the period December 1st to November :30th represent the number of licences issued in respect of the calendar year more accurately than would those for the period January 1st to December 31st, as the large majority of licences issued during December is for use in the subsequent calendar year.
A Newcastle Service Station for Leyland Vehicles.
Bu.lt on the Benton Road, Newcastle, by Messrs. Elliot Bros., of Jesnaond, the new garage and service station for Leyland vehicles just completed for Mr. Dunsan Hodgson, and known as Hodgson's Garage, is a most imposing structure covering 15,000 sq. ft. The entrance is high enough to take the biggest Leyland double-deckers, and the equipment includes a large overhead _ crane and pits 30 ft. long. Other special plant has been provided. There is valve-grinding machinery, a 28-ton press, pressure cleaning tanks, etc. Free air and water are provided by a special machine.
Long-distance Licences Refused.
Hull Watch Committee has refused to grant licences for long-distance motor services to the Hayle Garage Coach Co., Ltd., London ; Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., Barnsley; Messrs. Fleetways, Doncaster ; Leeds and Newcastle Omnibus Co., Ltd., Northallerton ; and Mr. G. W. Belem, Jarrow-on-Tyne.
Devonshire's Share of Road Fund Grants.
It is stated that if the new grants of 50 and 60 per cent, had been given in the current year for the maintenance of classified roads in Devonshire, including Exeter and Plymouth, the actual contribution of £230.373 would have been ie creased by £60,780.