News and Comment.
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This journal fosters, represents, and chronicles commercial motoring in all its branches. We originate : others imitate.
R.A.C. Trials.
Arrangements have been made for the sale of an early edition of this number at the Liverpool Exhibition,
Our smoking concert will take place on the night Of Friday, the i Ith October, at the Town Hall, Baldock.
The trials continue to attract widespread attention, and our report is continued on pages 67 to 77 of this issue. We also continue our series of descriptive articles upon the competing vehicles (pages 59 and 6o).
As we go to press, the official revisions in the Club records, as made at Manchester, are to hand, and we are glad to note that vehicles number Cr3 (Halley), C19 (Thornycroft), and tractor number H59 (Foster) are, by reason of the decisions then taken, now to be included amongst the competing road motors which have gained non-stop records to the end of the tenth stage. These deductions were in respect of gear-changing stoppages, and were matters of seconds only in the case of the internal-combustion vehicles.
The German Trials.
Additional entries for the German Commercial Motor Trials bring up the total to 52, The Adler Works has entered a couple of delivery vans. Two lorries for useful loads of 4 and 5 tons respectively come from the Berlin concern trading as the Sun MotorenGesellschaft. The Nuremberg Union Works has entered a I-ton delivery van, and the Zurich firm of Arbenz participates with a 2.-ton lorry. Members of the Executive Committee are now going over the projected course for the trials, which are to take place from October 7th to 12th.
Fine Performance by a "Hanford" Wagon.
With the object of conveying spare driving wheels to the "Hanford" lorry, which J. and E. Hall, Ltd., is now running in the R.A.C. trials, and which vehicle has, to the time of our going to press, accomplished its daily runs without any stop, Mr. H. K. Thomas, on the esth inst., drove a similar 3-ton wagon from Dartford to Gloucester. The distance, via London and Oxford, is 125 miles, and, leaving Dartford at .8 :4.m., the Ram Hotel, Gloucester. was reached at 7 p.m., the entire run having been made, with only a single stop of one hour at Tetsworth, for luncheon, this giving a mean speed of 12.5 miles per hour. The road goes over the highest points of the Chiltern and Cotswold ranges, the hills on the latter being exceedingly steep and dangerous, and the surface, at the present time, being very loose in places.
The return journey was made on the following day, starting from Gloucester at 12.45 p.m. Dartford was entered at a quarter of an hour past midnight, after being i q hours on the -road, including two stops of three quarters of an hour each for meals, and one of ten minutes to replenish the oil tank and light the lamps. The passage across London, at Ii p.m., was necessarily slow, owing to the traffic, which was fairly heavy between Shepherd's Bush and the Bank. The double journey of 25o miles was accomplished without a hitch of any kind.
Scottish Activity.
The Scottish Automobile Club announces its intention to hold a meet of commercial motors, in Glasgow, on the afternoon of Thursday, the 17th proximo, in order to increase local interest amongst the commercial public in these vehicles, and in order to demonstrate generally the recent marked advance in this department of motor engineering. The Scottish Club also has arranged for a conference to deal with the matter of the supply of water to steam-propelled lorries and tractors.
Military Drivers.
We desire to direct special attention to the advertisement of the Officer Commanding the Army Service Corps, Royal Dockyard, Woolwich, which appears in another part of this issue, as the demand for motor drivers for the service of the Crown marks a stage of development in the application of commercial motors which is of more than passing interest. There are, no doubt, many drivers who will be prepared to take up the honourable and interesting calling of soldiering, and we consider the various scales of pay are sufficiently liberal to hold out the necessary inducements to men of good class, rising as they do to no less than .42 I IS. ird. a week for the rank or Mechanist Sergeant-Major. Additional particulars will be supplied on application to the officer named above, who will also consider applications for enlistment for a minimum period of three years in the Army, and nine years in the Reserve.
Further Colonial Orders.
Milnes-Daimler, Limited, of Tottenham Court Road, W., has received a further order from the Crown Agents for the Colonies for another four 28h.p. chassis, for the Federated Malay States Railways, which brings the total of Milnes-Daimler vehicles for this destination to 16 : the chassis were shipped last week.
A Disclaimer.
The secretary of Dennis Brothers, Limited, of Guildford, desires it to be known that the liquidation of the Dennis Motor Car Agency, of Berkeley Street, W., in no way affects his company, which is in an exceptionally strong financial position, with .,65,00n of uncalled capital, and a record which has enabled it to pay dividends of so per cent, and upwards for five years.
Finding a Taxicab.
People now have but little difficulty in obtaining taximeter motorcabs in any West-End thoroughfare, for the pressure of July and early August is much relaxed. It is at railway stations that most difficulty is experienced, and we strongly recommend any readers of this journal, who may arrive in London under the necessity of obtaining the quickest means of transit to some point in the Metropolis, to walk from the arrival to the departure side, and there to pick up a taxicab. A regular stream of these vehicles brings up people who are leaving London, and the drivers have not yet thought it necessary, partly owing to the privileged-cab system, and partly owing to their abhorrence of delays, to take up a position on the arrival-side ranks.
The Latest Tire.
The advertisement of the Dunlop Rubber Company, Limited, of Manor Mills, Aston, Birmingham, which appears in another part of this issue, contains an illustration of that company's solid, moulded tiring, of the " Grip " pattern, to which careful attention is now being directed for commercial motors of lighter types, i.e., up to a maximum load of five tons in all. This type of tire has been specially produced by the Dunlop Company in a high grade of rubber, with a view to the insuring of durability and great resilience. The company has adopted this particular pattern of channel, after considerable experiment, in order to secure a perfect fit, and to avoid any tendency to creep, or. undue chafing of the rubber where it is fitted into the channels. When desired, these tires can be supplied with transverse grooves moulded in the tread, which pattern is similar to its world-famed pneumatic motor tire. The Dunlop cement, which is employed, in conjunction with the method of attachment under notice, should render the displacement of this tire while in use a matter of rare occurrence, if not a practical impossibility. The base of the tire is canvas-lined. Arra-Johnston Business.
The New Arrol-Johnston Car Cornpany, Limited, of Underwood, Paisley, has appointed the New Zealand Farmers' Motor Company, Limited, of New Zealand, as its agents for the North Island, Mr. Short, the managing director of this Antipodean company, recently left England, after a business visit, and took with him an ArrolJohnston z-ton lorry for demonstration purposes.
The Real Name.
The Standard Steam Lorry and Omnibus Company, of Rayleigh, Essex, to whose productions we have made several illustrated references in recent issues, will now be carried on under the style of Messrs. T. J. Rayner and Sons. No change, however, has been made in the constitution of the management, or in the conduct of the business.
The "Duco" Jack.
Brown Brothers, Limited, of Great Eastern Street, E.C., has secured its extensive business in motor accessories by reason of the personal attention which the directors give to the adoption of suitable materials and designs. The latest lifting-jack, which is called the " Duco No. 3," is illustrated herewith, and its universal-joint handle is only one of its valuable features. The body of the jack is made from the best hematite iron, annealed ; the screws are of steel, and other parts are of malleable iron. It weighs only 5+ lb., measures only io inches when collapsed, lifts to a height of 16 inches, thus giving a range of 6 inches, and is admirably adapted for I-ton axle-loads, whilst the retail price is 8s.
For South-West Africa.
Graf Stillfried, who takes a lively interest in furthering rnotorism in German South-West Africa, says that freight automobiles for the colony must have engines of 6o-8oh.p. and radiators three times as large as are necessary for European climates. Motors of 24h.p. proved useless to get laden vehicles over the dunes along the coast, and the ordinary amount of cooling water evaporated too quickly under the beat. Graf Stillfried thinks that, with a proper type of vehicle, freight-motor traffic in conjunction with, and supplementary to, the railroad would prove profitable.
Only Pedals to Push.
Amongst recent deliveries of Adams delivery wagons is one supplied to the " Glasgow Citizen " through the Leith agents of the Adams Manufacturing Company, Limited, Messrs. King and Company. We illustrate the van in question on this page.
The "Veeder Odometer."
In common fairness to both user and contractor, some reliable means of ascertaining the mileage run on a particular set of tires is very desirable. The use of rniieag,e meters is becoming much more common than was the case a few years ago, and their extended use, in conjunction with careful recording by the stores clerk, should make it quite an easy matter to ascertain exactly how many miles any particular tire has run. Such particulars are a valuable check, where mileage rates for tire upkeep are in operation, and, even in cases where tires are purchased outrigfu, such figures woukl greatly assist in deciding the relative merits of tires of different makes. There is no longer any difficulty in obtaining absolutely reliable instruments for the purpose, and those known as the " Veeder " are amongst the best.
We illustrate one of the latest forms
of this make, and it will be seen that, with this pattern, the indicator may be fixed in any convenient position, either on the dashboard or a part of the chassis, in such a position as to make it no longer necessary to scrape the mud off the dial before the figures may be read. It is operated by gears, and a flexible shaft, the latter being protected by a flexible, metallic sheathing,r, Which, in turn, is covered with porpoise hide in order to prevent rain or mud from rusting the shaft, or otherwise interfering with accurate working. Markt and Co., Ltd., of 6, City Road, Finsbury Square, E.C., which company handles this instrument, and also stocks many other forms suitable for almost: any class of vehicle, should be addressed for additional information and prices.
A New Tire Branch.
It has been found necessary, owing to the great demand for the Continental Tyre Company's goods in Birmingham and district, to cpcn a depot in that town. Suitable premises have been acquired, at 256, Corporation Street, and the branch is now open, under the mnanaqrmuemi t of Mr. E. P. Coulter, who ha,s been for some ,,,ears a well-known figure in the cycle and motor trade.
The Sirdar Rubber Co., Ltd., has received an important order to fit Royal Sirdar solid tires to gun-carriage tractors for the War Office.
Canadian Representation.
An old-established and successful British company, whose business includes the manufacture and sale of both private and commercial vehicles, is desirous to secure agents in the principal centres of Canada and Vancouver. We shall be glad to place any interested parties in those countries in communication with the company in question, or to forward communications from any of our readers who, though resident in the United Kingdom, have friends to whom the opening might appeal.
De Dion's New Plug.
An entirely new plug has been introduced by De Dion-Bouton and Co., Ltd., and this plug is equally suitable for use with accumulator or magneto ignition-systems. Although the outward appearance is almost identical with the well-known De Dion-Bouton plugs, this new one differs in several essentials.
Yellow porcelain is used for the insulating medium, and this is undoubtedly one of the best materials that can be employed for this purpose in a sparking plug. Instead of a thin, central wire, which often becomes loose, this new plug has a stout rod passing through the centre of the porcelain. One end of this rod terminates in a circular disc, between the periphery of which, and the corresponding edge of the body of the plug, the current jumps across in the form of sparks. This type of construction obviates the risk of damage, to which the thin projecting points of the ordinary form of plug are subjected.
Leakage between the central rod and the porcelain is prevented by asbestos washers. The washers, at the outer ends, are covered by a brass cap, and the parts are drawn together by the hexagon nut on the screwed end of the central rod. The conducting cable is attached to the central rod, by a knurled finger-nut.
The steel body of the plug is, of course, cut to lhi; standard De Dion, sparking-plug thread, which was adopted by this maker over to years ago. Two copper and asbestos washers prevent all leakage between the porcelain and the steel body. With the exception cd the copper and asbestos washers, every part of the plug, including the porcelain, is made in the De Dion-Bouton factory ; all are made
most accurately to gauge, and are, therefore, interchangeable. The design has been registered, and bears the number 507,252.
The plugs are distinctive in appearance, by reason of the colour of the porcelain—yellow. The price of a new plug, neatly packed in a wooden case suitable for inclusion in the usual toolkit, is 35.
A Special Use.
It is necessary, almost weekly, to give particulars of the successful manner in which motor vehicles are applied to special uses by purchasers, and one of the latest instances is provided by a plate-carrying motor which is owned by Swan, Hunter, and Wig-ham Richardson, I.imited, of Wallsend-on-Tyne. This vehicle, manufactured and supplied by Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Company, Limited, of Leeds, is illustrated herewith. The machine is sufficiently low to convey the big shellplates below the frame of the vessel, whence they are lifted into position by hydraulic jacks. The peculiar disposition of the boiler will be noted from our illustration, whilst the steering is accomplished by a horizontal shaft, placed crosswise, and fitted with a wheel at each end, in order that the driver may Sit on either side as necessity may demand, by which means both he and the vehicle are rendered practically independent of the numerous obstructions through which a course has to be threaded on many occasions. The illustration also shows how the plates are carried clear of the driver's head.
Military Motor Wagons in France.
Rather more than a trade interest has been taken by France in the behaviour of the motor lorries which have been serving the commissariat in the inanceuvres in the south-west which have just ended. Last year nine vehicles were requisitioned by the Army Department for the manceuvres in the East of France, but since then M. Picquart, the War Minister, has realised, through personal observation, that every reliance can be placed upon this up-to-date means of victualling the troops. A ready response was made to his request for vehicles for the 12 days' operations in the south-west, no fewer than 34 (previously detailed in " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR ") being furnished by 17 different firms. Relatively to the number of horse-drawn wagons employed, this did not at first appear to the Army man to be any too great a number of lorries for supplying the needs of an entire corps, but it turned out to be ample for all requirements.
Bordeaux was made the provisioning centre, and every evening a telegram was received from the clzef de corps indicating the points of victualling for the next day and the quantity of commodities to be carried. The lorries were loaded with the necessary food, munitions, and forage immediately on the receipt of orders, and at an early hour of the next morning were able to divide into sections and run in convoy to the required ,destinations, distances sometimes of 140 and 150 kilometres. Another use to which the vehicles were put was in carrying the " wounded." Apart from a little delay in the first day or two, before the service had got into working order, the lorries acted with consistent regularity and dispatch. Some used petrol, others steam, and a few alcohol and naphtha, but all gave good results, achieving a speed of from 12 to 15 miles an hour and sustaining no mishaps or breakdowns. At the conclusion of the manoeuvres the vehicles were transported by special train from Bordeaux to Paris.
General Picquart expressed himself delighted with the results of his de parture. " Our motor lorries," he said, " have worked excellently, and, personally, I am very well satisfied that they are capable of playing an important part in the Service both during manceuvres and in time of war. My only regret is that I was so busy as to be unable to follow the performances more minutely." Similarly, other officers high in the Service spoke well of the conduct of the lorries, which will be still more widely used hereafter.