WHEELS of INDUSTRY
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
" 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.
PROGRAMME OF SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL ROAD CONGRESS.
The present year is the 25th in the existence of the Permanent International Association of Road Congresses, the international membership now being 2,105 and covering 55 States.
The 7th Congress will be held at Munich from September 3-8, the programme being as follows :—
September 3: 12 noon, luncheon given by German organizing committee; 2 p.m., opening session (Tenhalle); 5 p.m., opening Road Exhibition by the Bayerisehen Wirtschaftsminister at Landesausstellungs Park; 9 p.m., reception by the City of Munich.
September 4: 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., meetings; 9 p.m., reception by the Reichsstatthalter In Bayern, and the Generalinspektor, Strassenwesen.
September. 5: 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., meetings; 9 p.m., reception by the Bayerische Staatsregierung.
September 6: 8 a.m., inspection of the 7..schetbacher Bridge and visit to Oberammergau, Linderhol, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Walchensee power stations. September 7: 8 a.m., inspection of MunichBavarian frontier motor road. Luncheon by Reiehsautobahnen Gesellschaft.
September 8: 10 a.m., final session.
Alter the Congress there will be five different itineraries of inspection forming a special programme from Miinirb to Berlin, where a reception will be given on September 18 at 8.30 p.m., and on September 19 Herr Hitler will deliver a closing speech at 3.30 p.m. at the Kroll Opera House, followed by a reception at 5 p.m. by the Reichsminister fur Volksaufkrarung and Propaganda.
Ulster Government to Adopt Pole Report.
Sir Dawson Bates, Northern Ireland Minister of Home Affairs, announcing the decision of the Government regarding the report of Sir Felix Pole (summarized on page 796), declared that the main proposals had been agreed to and that legislation would be instituted accordingly.
Parliament will, therefore, be asked to sanction proposals for the creation of a road-transport board to absorb all goods and passenger-carrying undertakings. It will include road motor vehicles operated by the railway companies, but will not include Belfast Corporation transport system, unless by the agreement of the corporation. The railway companies will be required to pool their gross receipts, after deducting certain working expenses, with the receipts of the board, the proceeds of the pool to be divided on an equitable basis between the railway companies and the board.
A standing joint committee will be set up and will consist of an equal number of representatives of the railways and the road-transport interests. Its function will be to co-ordinate road and rail services, and to determine the rates to be charged for all forms of transport. An independent tribunal will also he B20 constituted to ensure that reasonable charges and satisfactory administration are preserved. Compensation will be paid to all road-transport undertakings absorbed by the board, which will be a purely commercial concern.
Death of Mr. G. H. Sumner Smith.
We much regret to announce the death, on July 21, after a short illness, of Mr. G. H. Sumner Smith, a director and the secretary of Guy Motors. Ltd. Mr. Sumner Smith was a man of charming personality and is described by Mr. Sydney Guy, the managing director, as a loyal and devoted colleague.
Tilling and B.A.T. Dividend.
Tilling and British Automobile Traction, Ltd., announces an interim dividend of 5 per cent. on the ordinary shares of the company on account of the year 1934. It is stated that, in September, the directors propose to recommend the shareholders to sanction the capitalization of part of the company's reserve by the issue of bonus shares to the ordinary shareholders. R.H.A. AND C../41.U.A. COUNCILS CONSIDER MERGER.
The report of the joint negotiating committee that has been investigating the proposal for the Road Haulage Association and the Commercial Motor Users Association to amalgamate was considered by the National Council of the R.H.A. on Wednesday, and will be placed before the National Council of the C.M.U.A. to-day (Friday).
Late on Wednesday, The Commercial Motor was informed by Mr. R. Sewill, chairman of the R.H.A., that no statement could be made until the C.M.U.A. meeting had been held.
Yorkshire Inter-hiring Scheme.
A scheme for assisting haulage users and for facilitating the inter-hiring of vehicles between haulage contractors, has been introduced by the Yorkshire Regional Area Committee of the Road Haulage Association. A register of R.H.A. members and their services is being compiled in each Yorkshire subarea and copies are being circulated among traders and hauliers, It is understood that copies of the lists will be sent to the headquarters of other areas of the R.H.A., for the convenience of members who may require assistance from Yorkshire hauliers.
"Aldershot and District" Report.
The net profit of the Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., for the year ended May 31, 1934, amounted to £20,624, after charging all expenses and depreciation, this comparing with £16,061 in the previous year. Traffic receipts and other revenues amounted to £302,626. After transferring £5,000 to the general reserve, the balance available, after adding £15,930 brought forward, is £31,554. The directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 7i per cent., absorbing £15,000, leaving £16,554 to be carried forward.
Heavy Vehicle Representative Required for Northern Area.
An important concern of commercialvehicle manufacturers requires a representative to cover Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire. Ile will operate from a Leeds depot. He should possess good experience in the sale of heavy vehicles and have a live connection in the area in question. Letters addressed "Northern Sales," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.
New Anglo-American Depot.
On Wednesday last the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., opened a new depot at Shrewsbury on the historic site of the ancient Benedictine Abbey grounds.
BRISTOL'S INTERIM DIVIDEND. The cirectors of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., have declared an interim dividend of 2 per Cent. (less tax) on the ordinary shares of the company for the half-year ended June 30, 1934.
Egyptian Orders for Thornycrofts.
John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., has received an order from the Ramleh Electric Railways, Alexandria, for five special 26-seater buses, the coachwork of which will be arranged to seat seven first-class passengers and 19 secondclass passengers.
The company has also received instructions from the Egyptian State Railways to supply them with 20 bus chassis to carry 24-seater bodies.
Safety First Activities by Unilever.
In conjunction with the National "Safety First" Association, Unilever, Ltd., Margarine Executive, Unilever House, Blackfriars, London, E.C.4, has formed a safety committee to advise the company's margarine representatives on points of road safety and etiquette. Meetings will be held from time to time and drivers will be addressed by prominent road users. Members of the committee are the Earl of March, Captain G. E. T. Eyston and Professor A. M. Low. The first meeting was held in the boardroom at Unilever House last Wednesday, when an address was delivered by BrigadierGeneral H. H. Boys of the National " Safety First " Association.
Hiring Difficulties: Bid to Increase
Fleet.
Applying to the Yorkshire Licensing Authority at Leeds, on Monday, for permission to acquire two vehicles in addition to those in his possession, Mr.
A. H. Butterwick, a well-known Leeds haulier and R.H.A. official, said that one reason why he wished to increase his fleet was that trade-union difficulties sometimes arose regarding the drivers of hired vehicles.
He stated that his business showed an increase of more than 10 per cent. this year, as compared with the corresponding six months of last year, and the housing activities of Leeds Corporation were likely to bring about more work in the transport of building and road materials. Furthermore, many traders seemed to prefer to deal with only one concern. The application was supported by Mr. J. S. Holloway, traffic manager of Leeds Industrial Cooperative Society.
The Licensing Authority (Mr. J.
Farndale) announced that the application regarding tonnage in possession would be granted, and that the applicant would be permitted to acquire one other vehicle, not exceeding 6 tans.
Specializing in Rebuilt Vehicles.
For 10 years Couldrey Motors, Ltd., 26-28, Clapham High Street, London, S.W., has been specializing in the supply of rebuilt Morris-Commercial vehicles, and we are advised that the company has now taken over an additional factory at Brixton, London, S.W. Modern plant and equipment are installed, and about 60 mechanics will be regularly employed. The company tells us that its total annual output is several hundred vehicles, including machines of all types.
PERSONAL PAR&
The resignation is announced of Mr. Henry Muir, transport manager of St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society, Edinburgh.
County Alderman Sir John Quarmby, chairman of the highways committee of West Riding County Council, has been reappointed a Traffic Commissioner for the Yorkshire Area.
Mr. C. L. Edwards, the Northern representative of C.A.V.-Bosch, Ltd., has now a permanent address at 64, Roseville Road, Leeds, from which he will give assistance to users of the company's products.
At the recent annual meeting of the British Standards Institution, Dr. E. Frankland Armstrong, F.R.S., was elected to succeed Mr. E. J. Elford as chairman of the General Council. The report of the work carried out by the Institution during the,past year shows all-round progress and considerable expansion.
Big Irish Railway Order for Leyland's.
A big order for passenger vehicles has recently been placed with Leyland Motors, Ltd., by the Great Southern Railway of Ireland, bringing the company's recent orders for vehicles of this make up to a total of 55. The latest order calls for 23 Tiger (14 oil-engined) and 10 Lion (five oil-engined and four with the company's popular hydraulic torque converter) single-deck passenger vehicles.
Birkenhead Ferry Rates : Hauliers 'Protest.
Increased rates for 1-ton lorries crossing the Liverpool-Birkenhead ferry have followed the transfer of the ferry boats to the control of the Mersey Tunnel Committee. The boat charges have been brought into line with those of the tunnel, so that, either laden or unladen, the charge is 2s. 6d. per journey, as compared with is. 6d. unladen or 2s. laden Some owners have solved the difficulty by using the Seacombe ferry. where no change has been made. A joint protest is being made to the authorities.
A Plea for Longer Hours of Driving.
The National Union of Mineral Water Manufacturers Association and the Scottish Federation of Aerated Water Manufacturers recently made an application before the Industrial Court to permit lorry drivers to work 14 hours a day instead of the statutory 11 hours, it being stated that the demand for mineral waters by reason of the heat wave was so great that orders cannot be met unless the men work longer hours. It is contended that from May to September the men should have only eight consecutive hours of rest instead of the required 10.
The proposal was strongly resisted by the Transport and General Workers Union, and the decision of the Court will be made known at a later date. A TOWER WAGON FOR THE MERSEY TUNNEL.
We reproduce on this page an illustration of an interesting vehicle recently supplied by John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., for maintenance work and inspection of the lighting system, etc., in the recently opened Mersey Tunnel.
The basis of the vehicle is the company's Handy 2-ton forward-control chassis, which has a 9-ft. wheelbase, thereby enabling it to maneeuvre easily in restricted spaces. The tower superstructure is a Rawlinson product, its mechanical operation being effected through a power take-off from the gearbox. The overall height in the closed position is just ander 14 ft., whilst when fully extended the tower is 49 ft. high. The upper revolving platform has a. length of 7 ft. The stabilizing gear for use when the tower is fully extended can be seen in the picture.
Road-accident Returns.
The Ministry of Transport returns of persons killed or injured in road accidents during the week ended July 14, 1934, show that in England 99 persons were killed and 4,803 injured, whilst 25 died as a result of previous accidents. The figures for Scotland were 10 killed and 542 injured, whilst in Wales five were killed and 237 injured.
The Ministry has issued in conjunction with these returns a detailed statement of persons killed or injured in road accidents in each police district in Great Britain from March 11, the date when the new return was instituted, to June 30, 1934 (16 weeks), as well as an analysis (by districts) of the returns for the week ended July 14.
Hauliers and Milk-transport Rates.
Under the auspices of the Scottish Commercial Motor Users Association, a meeting was held on Wednesday evening, in Glasgow, to deal with the question of haulage rates fixed under the Scottish Milk Marketing Board scheme.
A New Development in High-speed Coach Painting.
What is claimed to be a new and unique principle in coach painting has been introduced by Pinchin, Johnson and Co., Ltd., 4, Carlton Gardens, London, S.W.1. The system is described as the V5 Vigorized Spray Process and it enables finishing operations to be executed in a much shorter time than is possible by normal methods.
The actual period depends upon the quality of finish required, but an idea of the saving that can be effected is afforded by the fact that after the first coat has been applied each succeeding coat can be sprayed on only 30 minutes B22 to one hour after its predecessor. The various coats are all made up with the same medium—the company's vigorizecl oil—and it is claimed that, consequently, they eventually become, instead of a series of layers, a homogeneous film possessing a uniform degree of elasticity, and the whole hardens not by oxidation but by a physical change.
It is stated that the vehicle to be painted may be primed, may receive a filler and a colour coat and then two coats of varnish—five applications—all in the course of one working day. Therein lies the significance of the figure in the designation of the V5 process.
We understand that the resulting surface is tough and durable, being resistant to petrol, oil, constant washing and weak acids and alkalis. Although applied to a " wet " surface, no colour-running or mixing is said to take place, and owing to the tenacity of the materials flaking or separation of the coats is claimed to be impossible.
Works and Service Manager Available:.
We know of an expert engineer, with extensive experience in works management, maintenance, service and sales, who is available for a suitable appointment in the industry. Letters addressed to "Works Manager," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.
Flat-rate Electrical Repairs.
The Johnson Engineering Co., 86, Great Portland Street, London, W.1, has instituted a fiat-rate repair service for magnetos at 21s. per instrument For dynamo and starter repairs the rates are: 6-volt, 27s. 6d.; 12-volt, 35s.; dynamotors, 42s. 6d. LORRY USED UNDER PROHIBITION ORDER.
A case, said to be the first of its kind in the county, came before Sheriff Jameson, at Haddington Sheriff Court, last week, when a haulier was charged with having caused or permitted a lorry, carrying goods, to be driven on the public road while a prohibition order was operative under Section 17 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933.
It was stated that the lorry was examined and the defendant was given five days in which to carry out certain repairs. These were not effected during that period, and a second notice was sent to him intimating that he could not use the vehicle until the repairs were made. The haulier told the court that he misunderstood the second notice, hut he had since had the repairs carried out. A fine of 10s. was imposed.
Two Useful Stop.watches. The stop-watch, if accurate, is a most useful accessory to the drivertester and anyone else interested in working out road or track speeds. In this connection, A. Arnold and Co., 122, St. John Street, Clerkenwell, London, E.C.1, is marketing two new and inexpensive stop-watches, one f or carrying in the pocket and the other to wear on the wrist.
They are of the 30-hour type, with dials graduated in one-fifth seconds. The long second hand works continuously with the watch, but can be instantaneously stopped by a slide at the side, which brakes the balance wheel and restarts it when required. The price of each type of stop-watch is 15s., and a guarantee extending over a period of two years is given.
Garage Inspection-pit Covers.
The Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd., 2 and 3, Norfolk Street, Strand. London, W.C.2, is marketing a new line of garage inspection-pit covers, which are of an open-work type admitting 80 per cent. of the light. Each consists of straight bars, interspaced with pressed bars, the whole employing welded construction.
More Ransomes Trailers for South Africa.
Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., Orwell Works, Ipswich, informs us that it has just received an advice from its agent in South Africa to the effect that the South African Railways and Harbours are placing a contract with the company for 53 of its welded-frame trailers, 28 being 2-tonners and the remainder 5-tonners. It will be remembered that not long ago the company supplied 41 5-ton and 7-ton trailers to the same operators. CARDIFF HAULAGE CONTRACTOR'S £212 PENALTIES.
Fines and costs amounting to 4212 12s. in respect of summonses for the alleged misuse of his vehicles were imposed on Mr. George C. Wadsworth, haulage contractor, Cardiff, at Cardiff Police Court, on July 20.
There were, at the original hearing of the case, a fortnight ago, 30 summonses against the defendant and one of his drivers. The cases arose, mainly, from a submission by Mr. Wadsworth that a lower scale of duty for a lorry and trailer was payable, as against a contention of the prosecution that the machine in question was an articulated vehicle. , The magistrates found that the summons against Mr. Wadsworth and the driver for making a false declaration in obtaining a licence was not made out, and dismissed a summons for alleged use of defective tyres.
On each of two summonses for using a vehicle in a manner whereby a higher rate of duty should have been paid, a fine of £75 and costs (£150 and costs in all) were imposed. A fine of £15 and costs were added for using a vehicle in an altered condition, and a similar penalty was imposed for a second offence of this nature. A penalty of £10 and costs were inflicted for the use of a lorry without a proper licence under the Finance Act, and a fine of 410 and costs were imposed for making an incorrect statement in obtaining a licence. On a summons. for not having the correct weight painted on a vehicle, an order for the payment of costs was made, and another order for costs was made jointly on Mr. Wadsworth and a driver for exceeding the maximum legal laden weight.
The total fines imposed on Mr. Wadsworth were £200 and the costs £12 12s. Notice of appeal was given.
R.H.A. North-western Members Approve Merger.
North-western area members of the Road Haulage Association have, The Commercial Motor learned on Tuesday, all decided in favour of proceeding with the scheme for the merging of the R.H.A. with the Commercial Motor Users Association. The final meetings of the sub-areas were those held at Warrington on Friday and at Chester on Monday. In both cases resolutions were passed expressing agreement with the principle of the proposed fusion. Both meetings were addressed by Mr. T. F. Hargreaves and Mr. R. B. Stock.. dale, of Liverpool.
MILITARY TRIALS OF OIL-ENGINED VEHICLES.
A series of trials is being run in the mountain districts of North Wales, which are the sequel to similar tests , carried out in May last, when petrolengined chassis were put through their paces. For military reasons the heaviest useful load carried is limited to 3 tons per vehicle, and it is thought that the advent of four-wheeled lorries with carrying capacities of about five tons would enable the War Department to make use of a great number of suitable machines should the exigencies of war make such a course necessary.
In view of the steadily increasing popularity of the compression-ignition engine, it was thought desirable that a comparison of the two types of power unit, operating under service conditions, should be made.
Albion, A.E.C., Crossley, Leyland, Guy, Armstrong-Saurer, I-Carrier, Maudslay and Thomycroft vehicles were entered and, as we close for press, all of them are performing excellently. During climbs of the new and old Horseshoe passes, near Llangollen, one important characteristic was noticeable in every vehicle, namely, that the exhaust gases were quite clear.