The Wheels of Industry.
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This journal, dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with the "Wheels of Industry," continues of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the parcelcar, the military tractor and the steam lorry.
C.M.U.A. 1916 Inspection.
The following additional support has been received by the Secretary of The Commercial Motor Users Association, Mr. F. G. Bristow, 83 Pall Mall, S.W., towards the prize funds in connection with this year's examinations and inspection :— Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., £21; Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., £21 ; J. and E. Hall, Ltd., £5 5s. ; C. F. Wells, Ltd., £5 5s. ; Steel Barrel Co.; Ltd., £2 2s. ; Win. Allchin, Ltd., Li 1s. ; Boilerine, Ltd., Ll is.
Recent Registrations.
Coventry Motor Vehicles, Ltd. (X100), with its office at 102, Little Park Street, Coventry.
Reliance Lubricating Oil. Co., Ltd. (L6000), with its office at 19 and 25, Water Lane, E.C.
Bingley Commercial Motor Co., Ltd. (E2000), with its office at Whitley Street, Bingley, Yorks.
Robert Garner and Co., Ltd. (L5000), to take over a carrying and contracting business at 230, York Road, King's Cross, N.
Wm. Hurlock, Junr., Ltd. (22000), with its office at 63, Denmark Hill, SE., to manufacture lorries and other self-propelled vehicles.
Sanders and Forster, Ltd. (25000), with its office at Royal Works, 27, Union Road, Rotherhithe, SE, to carry on an ironfounding and traction-engine-building business.
Proposals and Purchases by Public Authorities.
The Cheltenham Town Council has now granted licences for a motorbus service to and from Tewkesbury.
L.G.B. sanction for the Selby for a loan of 21100 to purchase a motor fire-engine, is expected daily.
The Crayford Parish Council is considering the offer of a new motorbus service, for the conveyance of local munition workers, at the hands of Thomas Tilling, Ltd.
Manchester Guardians, Poor Law Office, New.. Bridge Street,Manchester, want tenders, by to-morrow (Friday) for a 25 h.p, motor ambulance, and a 20 b.p. landaulet.
The Manchester Corporation requires tenders for the. SlIPPIY• of motorbus engines and chassis. Particulars will be supplied by Mr. J. McElroy, General Manager of the Tramways Department, 55, Piccadilly, Manchester.
The Tramways Committee of the Birmingham City Council has ordered six more motorbuses, from n30 the Daimler Co., Ltd., with bodies of the Allen type, as used on some London vehicles.
Solex Carburetters.
We are requested by S. Wolf and Co., Ltd., to point out that Solex carburetters are—as always—made in Paris, and not in Switzerland.
The A.S.C., M.T. Fund.
Two donations, of £100 each, carrying the donors to the 30th September next on the " £10 a month basis " as from the 1st ult., help to bring up the receipts for our Campaign Comforts Fund. Particulars will be found on page 441.
Palladium at Manchester.
We are asked to state that a demonstration Palladium chassis is now at the disposal of Messrs. R. H. Carlisle and Co., of 188, Deansgate, Manchester, who are acting as Palladium agents for Manchester and the district 18 miles round in the county of Lancashire.
Co-operative Ownership.
We wish to draw special attention to the article dealing with co-operative ownership, which appears on page 428. The men of the A.S.C., M.T., when they in due course return to civilian life in large numbers, will have the means at their disposal, if properly advised, to carry out projects upon the lines with which we deal. We look forward to answering many questions, either privately or through our columns, in connection with this. new plan.
Drivers and Mechanics. The R.A.C. has formed a Central Conurnittee to co-ordinata the various schemes which are in existence, or contemplated, to enable,disabled soldiers and sailors to get work as motor drivers or mechanics. The Hon. Arthur Stanley, M.P., Chairman of the R.A.C., presided at a representative meeting on Wednesday of last week, when the following resolution was unanimously adopted : "That a Central ComMittee be formed, composed of representatives of the automobile organizations, with a view to providing employment for those disabled men who, prior to enlistment or during i the war, were engaged n . any capacity connected with motoring." Mr. Stanley was appointed President of the Central Committee, Mr. Joynson-Hic.ks, M.P., VicePresident, and Mr. A. Armitage, Chairman.
The following societies were represented at the meeting : Royal Automobile Club ; Automobile Association and Motor Union ; Commercial Motor Users • Association; Society of Motor -.Manufacturers and Traders; National Society of Chauffeurs ; Auto-Cycle Union ; Imperial Motor Transport Council ; Associated British Motor Manufacturers ; National Traction Engine Owners and Users Association; Motor Trade Association ; and Cycle and Motor Trades Benevolent Fund.
Gazette.
Mr. H. Barton, Country House, Ventnor, I. of W., has been appointed liquidator in the voluntary winding-up of the Ventnor Road Cars, Ltd.
A meeting of the members of the Low Petrol Engine Co., Ltd., will be held at Alderman's House, Bishopsgate, E.C., on the 25th prox., at 12 noon.
Belgian Army Motor Repairs.
The liquidation a Army Motor Lorries and Waggon Co., Ltd., is likely to disclose some sensational happenings. It appears-that the company had secured orders for supplies and repairs from the Belgian Government to the value of £750,000; additional orders from the British Government brought the business to something in excess of £1,000,000. A cash payment by the Belgian Government of £174,000 appears to have led to the division between certain parties.of £130,000. Three people 'have been arrested, and more disclosures .are expected.
Goodrich Activities.
The B.F. Goodrich Co., Ltd., under the direction of Mr. R. W. Kean Cant, continues to develop its business throughout the United Kingdom. A larger depot has been taken in Bristol, at 118, Victoria Street, which depot is most conveniently situated, near the G.W.R. Station, and in the centre of Bristol's inotor-trading world ; this building has five stories and a basement, and is commodious in every sense of the word. Similarly, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, a: ' centrallysituated depot, at St. Andrews Buildings, is now in fully-going order, with space originally set aside for offices already given up to additional tire-work. The company's Birmingham depot, which was opened, at 27, Martineau Street, in the Midland city, on the 17th inst., has quickly justified its existence—telephone 213, Central ; wires, 'Socketed, Birmingham."
The Langham Steel Co. tell us of a test of one of their one-ton chassis fitted with a tilt-van body, which has evidently given considerable satisfaction. The Machine was loaded With 23 cwt. of sand, and, we are informed, easily. succeeded on the occasion in question in climbing, on top speed, Fitzjohn's Avenue, which is a wellknown London gradient, much. favoured for trial purposes. The gross weight, including the body, was 2 tons, 11 cwt., 1 qr.
Commercars and War Funds.
The employees of Commercial Cars. Ltd., of Luton, arid a few friends, have sent £75 to the Bedfordshire Territorials Comforts Fund, and ,E25 to the Bedfordshire Prisoner's of War Comforts Fund. This total of £100 represents 50 per cent. of the contributions to the company's annual Christmas Fund ; the other 50 per cent. has been given to the soldiers of the County of Bedford who are, or who have been, fighting fer the country.
Built in Wolverhampton.
Mr. Sydney Guy, managing director of Guy Motors Ltd., makers of commercial-motor vehicles at Wolverhampton, writes to us that rumours are being circulated that his company is not in effect engaged in the manufacture of commercial vehicles, but merely in assembling the parts, which are supposed to be chiefly American.
We regret we have not space at our disposal to reproduce a convincing photograph of part of the company's machine shop as evidence of manufacturing capacity.
We are glad to assist Mr. Guy by placing on record the fact that the whole of the commercial-vehicle designs produced at the Wolverhampton works are British made, with the exception of the magneto, which is American.
A Thornycroft "Release."
Illustrating the occasional deliveries which are being made by permission of John. I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., to approved civilian users, we reproduce a photograph on this page of one of the latest 48 h.p., type J, four-ton lorries by that company. This is the third machine from the same works which Mr. Francis Wintle, the proprietor of the Steam Mills and Brewery at Mitcheldean, has acquired. Few testimonials exceed in appreciation the words used in a recent letter by this user to the firm :—" I have had your make of commercial vehicles in use for the past 15 years and have always found them reliable and satisfactory in every respect." He adds that the proof of his confidence is in his purchase of the third repeat petrol wagon, in addition to a 20 h.p. Thornycroft steamer.
Karrier Activity... .
The harrier Works at Huddersfield are busier than ever. Quite apart from Government activities, a number of civilian machines have been released recently. Amongst these are lorries for : Messrs. Taylor, Ltd. (Woollen Manufacturer), Robson, Ltd. (Cotton and Wool Dyers), Buckley (Haulage Contractors), The Albion Mills Co., Ltd. (Cotton Spinners), Barritt (Haulage Contractor), Burslem Co-operative, Burnell Bros.,
Wacher and Ltd., Nolan (Removal C ontra Co.,or), Clarkson, Ltd. (Haulage Contractor), Chester (Removal Contractor), Dawson and Sons (Cotton Spinners), Stewart Motors, Ltd., Riley and Hache (Haulage Contractors), and Ti mpson (Haulage Contractor); whilst many others are on order.
We reproduce a photograph of a typical delivery, one of the Subsidy type harrier wagons, for which such excellent use is now being found, in addition to war ser
vice, by civilianusers who can present sufficient claim to secure " release." The grounds of claim are considerably wide.
Representative Wanted for Another American "Truck."
We learn from Alm export manl ager of the Detroit and Wyandotte Motor Truck Co., Michigan, that they wish to induce " a good live agent in London" to represent their three-ton truck in Great Britain. We ourselves as yet know little of this machine other than the particulars included in certain leaflets which have come into our hands. Apparently the machine is also known as a Homer; it is a chain-driven model with engine under a bonnet of the Renault type. If any of our readers are interested in this machine, we will, upon request, put them into touch with the American house.
The agency possibilities with approved American trucks appear to be very attractive at present. Amongst • recent deliveries of McCurd chassis we learn of that of fhet of four motorbuses to the
Harrogate -.Road Car Ltd., five four-tonners to Lever Co.,ros.; Ltd., a third repeat order for Mann, Crossman and Paulin, and a fifth repeat order for Mr. Fahys of Morecambe. The McCurd works at Crieklewood are also busily engaged in the production of shell parts for the Ministry of Munitions.
Official Offer of Motor-ploughs.
The Board of Agriculture for Scotland is prepared to help districts with money to buy motorploughs. The Board will proceed by way of loan, at three per cent. interest on the total advanced. The estimate is that a charge of 15s. per acre will be necessary for the use of the plough, but this figure appears to us to be unnecessarily high. We imagine that the sinking-fund scale must be wrong.
Road Wear in Northamptonshire.
The county surveyor to Northants, is of opinion that, if the motorbuses on the county roads were not running, he could save 1;8000 a year on maintenance. This :Irgument does not seem to us to be a very progressive one : it is the equivalent to a Dock and Harbour Board's suggesting that they could save tens of thousands of pounds per annum, if the docks might only be large enough to take in vessels of obsolete tonnage. We. are interested to observe that the Wellingborough and District Motorbus Co., Ltd„ has expressed its willingness. to make an allowance towards road maintenance. The basis of calculation has not yet been settled, but we feel that it should in no circumstances lie allowed to exceed three-eighths of a penny per motorbus mile. • Lancashire's New Haulage Co.
Change of intention, as regards extent of operations, is not to be inferred, in respect of the new Liverpool Haulage Co. by reason of the fact that it has, as we reported last week, been registered with a capital of 241,000, but only deferment. The proposal, about mid-December, as we reported at the time, according to first-hand information which was given to us by leading cotton brokers and cotton . spinners in Lancashire before whom the scheme had been placed, was to arrange a capital of £250,000. We hope that the business will prove a successful one, although the project has been curtailed by force of circumstances.
It is not possible for us to comment, as we expected to be able to do, upon the company's prospectus, because none will be issued. The company is a private one. It goes without saying, however, that extensions may be both contemplated and possible. The scheme, as it
stands, whilst on a smaller scale than was originally forecasted by its promoters, is undoubtedly one of which the progress will be NVatched with much interest. Our criticisms of the 23rd ult.. hold good (page 326 ante). Garner lorries have been purchased.
Halley Fire-engines.
The following letter has been received from the firemaster, Leith, by Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd., Yoker, Glasgow, dated the 15th instant :—" I thought that you might be interested to know that the two motor fire-engines which this Corporation purchased from your firm in October, 1910, worked at the recent big fire in
Leith continuously for 51 hours, dra,wing water from the dock at a depth of 15 ft., and throwing it on to the fire over a four-storey wall. One man was in charge of both machines. After the fire was under control, they pumped out Of the vaults which were under the, warehouse on fire for 20 hours, and never gave us the slightest trouble,' nor had we the slightest hitch,. which in my opinion is a record for any motor pumps. We have had both engines working at fires for 12 hours, but this was the severest test to which the engines have been put since their purchase five years ago. This, in my opinion, redounds with great credit on the makers.' —(Signed) "John Young, Fire' master." The scarcity of business for barristers who practise in the Parliamentary Bar, to which matter a passing reference has. already appeared in an earlier issue, may be gathered from the fact that not a single objection has been lodged against any of the 39 Private Bills on the paper for the present Session.
The Vandervell Co.
C. A. Vandervell and Co., Ltd., was recently registered as a limited company, with an authorized capital or 2350„000. We are interested to learn that:the business remains
"One-man Show," and that there will be no issue of shares to the public. Practically the whole of the shares are held by Mr: Vandervell himself, as sole founder and proprietor of this pioneer and successful business.