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News and Comment.

27th May 1909, Page 10
27th May 1909
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Page 10, 27th May 1909 — News and Comment.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This journal is exclusively read by the principals of many wealthy commercial houses, by the heads of important Government and Colonial Departments, and by numerous officers of Local Authorities. It has a certified and genuine circulation.

'rime S.M.M.T. thinks there should he an all-round reduction of the petrol. tax to one penny per gallon. See page 229.

Messrs. Manville, Burford, Grey, Jarrott, Lanchester, MacLulich, and Sangster have been nominated to act as the Society's deputation to the Chancellor.

The whole situation was very carefully sifted at a special meeting of the Executive Committee of the C.M.t.A. yesterday (Wednesday), when Col. Crompton presided. Even The Derby did not keep members away.

It is quite wrong to suppose that the users, as a body, have been taking no steps to make representations to Mr. Lloyd-George. Much is being done privately, and the arguments which have appeared in the last three issues of this journal have been condensed for the Chaneellor's consideration and handed to him. If the Finance Bill does not show a rebate of the full 3d. per gallon in favour of commercial vehicles, steps will be taken to secure the acceptance by the Government of -an amendment to that end.

Mr. Daniel de Pass, of Natal, has bought the first Dennis irrigation machine, and he is about to have it shipped for use on his extensive sugar plantations in South Africa. We had the pleasure of a long talk on the matter with Mr. de Pass, when we met him at the residence of Mr. John Gwynne last Saturday, and we can congratulate him on his acquirement of a combination machine which is capable of doing admirable service on the land or the highway. Illustrated details of this latest Dennis production will be found on pages 234 and 235. To-day's issue of our sister journal, " The Motor Boat," contains an important announcement with regard to time new duty on motor spirit.

Whitsuntide Holidays.

Will advertisers please see that our business department receives any new instructions by first delivery on Friday?

Diagnosis of the Stethoscope.

The stethoscope is likely to be widely adopted for the purpose of locating faults in motor vehicles, and some interesting particulars will be found on pages 232 and 233. A specially-robust pattern of stethoscope is supplied by the Autoscope Company, of Cambridge, and we think this maker should do a " roaring" business for its patented form of instru'Merit with appropriate receiver.

Halley's London Garage.

Friends and clients of Halley's Industrial Motors, Limited, whose works are at bier, Glasgow, will be glad to know that the company's new London garage premises, at 36, Causton Street, Vauxhall Bridge Road, S.W., are now installed and equipped with every requirement to enable repairing and supervisory work to he carried out with dispatch and facility. This company has a very good system of il oking after its vehicles, wherever they may be, and purchasers greatly appreciate the benefits of uniform and consistent running which follow.

"Motor Spirit" not "Petrol."

The coined word "petrol" has been found wanting in respect of generic significance, and the words " motor spirit " are tb be employed by the Customs and Excise in connection with the proposed new tax. It is officially notified that no duty will be levied when the specific gravity exceeds 0.800; when the gravity does not exceed 0.750, duty will be levied ; in respect of fuels whose specific gravities lie between 0.750 and 0.800, special tests will he applied, but delivery will be given on the importer's or manufacturer's depositing the necessary sum to cover the duty. As kerosene is to be exempt, it looks to its as though the tax would be a direct incentive to the mixing of that oil with spirit of 0.700-0.720 specific gravity: this, at the cost of much fume and smell in the streets, would save half the duty on an equal volume of spirit. Subterfuges of the kind, we hope, will only affect the private-car owner, but the commercial user will adopt the plan widely if the spirit tax of 1.1d, is retained.

News and Comment—con.

Preliminary steps for the " motorisation " of the Brighton Fire Brigade are now in hand.

Mr. H. G. Burford, M.I.Mech.E., has been elected treasurer of the S.M.I.T.

A Smart 25-cwt. Van.

One of the best lines from the -" Col IIat ci Car " works at Luton is undoubtedly the 25-cwt., four-cylinder, 16h.p. van. Many purchasers prefer a four-cylinder engine, even for this comparatively-light load, owing to the facility with which the engine picks up in traffic, and the reduced occasion to change speed. The van is quoted at £425 complete with tires and body, whilst special terms can be arranged for a batch.

Briskness at Thornycroft's

This page bears a reproduction of the latest, 30h.p., four-ton, Thornycroft, petrol lorry: the machine here shown has been purchased by • the Albion Brewery, Limited, of Leeds, through Mr. C. Pemberton Wooler, of Headingley. A new list of recent orders for Thornycroft vehicles includes: one 10h.p. two-ton chassis for Williams, Jewett and Co., Ltd., of Bradford; one 35-cwt. lorry for -Messrs. Critchley, Sharp and Tetlow, of Cleckheaton, Yorks; one 30h.p. 4ton lorry for The British Cotton and Wool Dyers' Association, Ltd., of Bradford (for Messrs. Fletcher Bros., of Halifax); one 2:1--ton lorry (repeat -order) for Messrs. Beaumont and Sons, Ltd., of Huddersfield; one 30cwt.. box van for Messrs. Arding and Hobbs, the well-known drapers of' Capham Junction; one 2-ton box van foe Morland and Co., Ltd., tisitcd Breweries, Abingdon; and one 2-ton chassis for Aktieselskabet Auto, of 20. Toldbodgaden, Christiania. The order from Morland and Co., Ltd., makes the fourth order received by 'Thornycroft's from brewery companies within the last two months, the company having recently delivered a

4-ton lorry to John Smith's Tadeaster Brewery, and a 21-ton lorry to the Leeds City Brewery.

More Lacres.

The Lacre fleet of Messrs. .1. Sboolbred and Company, 'Tottenham Court Road, W., is to be increased to a total of 45, as this firm has now placed an order for an additional four Lacre vehicles. No. 1 of " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR," which was published on the 16th March, 1905, contained an article entitled " Messrs. Shoolbred's intentions," and we have, on successive occasions, traced the growth and satisfactory working of their fleet, by the use of which so much extra business has been brought to the proprietors of Tottenham House, W.

While on the subject of Lacre orders, we feel that we may most usefully quote an experience which we happened to enjoy on Tuesday last. Dropping in upon Mr. Claude Browne at Poland Street, we had the opportunity to examine the original documents in orders for upwards of 50 Lacre vehicles which are due to be delivered before the end of August. Apart from the One from Messrs. Shoolhred, to which we have already alluded, we noted others from William Whiteley, Ltd., Harrods, Ltd., chweppes, Ltd., G. Trollope and Son, Ltd., Jones and Higgins, Ltd., the Junior Army and Navy Stores, the Civil Service Co-operative Society, ltd., and the Maidenhead Laundry. Turning from these, we were able to note series of export orders from many parts of the world, inclmling Ceylon. Sumatra. the Straits Settlement, South Africa, etc., as well as large contracts with Colonial Governments. As to the applications of the vehicles. which include engines for the use of both spirit and paraffin, we may say that they cover the whole range of lorries, vans, public-service vehicles (both open and closed), inspection ears for Government officials, wagonettes, omnibuses, and chars-k-banes.

People who think the commercinlmotor business is dead would quickly revise their opinions if they were able to have an experience of the kind, and we heartily congratulate the Lacre Company upon its activity and prospects of continued success, of which so many evidences exist.

New Uses at Stafford.

It is always pleasant to record the extension of their use of motor vehicles by any firm which has had continued experience with motors, because it is the best answer possible to those pessimists who are continually averring that motor wagons cannot be made to pay, or cannot be worked advantageously as compared with horses. 13rookfield's, the large general traders of Greengate, Goalgate, Foregate, Eastgate and Market Square, Stafford, who have been using motor delivery vans for the past three years, have now placed their order for a third vehicle. The order has gone to Sturmey Motors, Ltd., for a 20cwt. Lotis. The new van is to be specially built with a roomy canvas-topped body, and we understand that it will be largely used to meet the growing demands of the furniture department. Mathian Freres, with an authorised capital of £80,000, and with its office at 1, Broad Street Place, E.G., has been registered for the purpose of adopting an agreement with the manufacturers of the Coliendet vehicles.

Big Spirit Arrivals.

The tanks at 13arrow-in-Furness were the first to be bonded—on the 12th instant. Nearly 40,000 tons (12,000,000 gallons) of spirit is the import due between 8th May and 8th June : the whole will pay a Customs duty of 3d. per gallon. Home producers, who fall under the Excise, have until next Tuesday to get their " houses into order." They have

already taken advantage of the int err tput m to sell out stocks at a big profit.

Calcutta Improvements.

We are glad to observe that steps are being taken to strengthen the Howrali Bridge, as this structure has been a great impediment, owing to the limitation upon the weight per wheel, to the development of motor traffic in and around Calcutta. It is proposed that the now floating bridge should be 100 feet in width.

The Road Problem.

Colonel Crompton has contributed two most interesting articles to recent issues of The Westminster Gazette,' and in these he presents an admirable and succinct account of the leading happenings in connection with the im. provement of our roads. Colonel Crompton does not fail to send home the fact that so-called road maintenance was, for many decades, chiefly a question of "trimming the grass from the edges and keeping the water channels free." He also recalls the fact that the dust nuisance in the old coaching days was worse than it has ever been since the introduction of motors.

Commercial Vehicle and Motor Boat Show 1908, profit £1,400; Aeronautical and Motor Boat Show 1900, loss £3,000.

Bosch in South Africa.

The Bosch Magneto Co., Ltd., of 23, Store Street, WC., has established a Johannesburg agency under the management of Mr. F. IToppert. A stock will be kept, and repairs undertaken, at Cissburg Buildings in that city, The very latest solid tire to come into the market hears the dauntless name of Dreadnought," and is a sectional solid tire. In a few days one of our technical staff hopes to have an opportunity of examining and reporting upon it. More Dreadnought's.

We are gaffing close on to the Royal Agricultural Show now, and the wise ones have already booked up their beds, as aeconnuodation iii Oloncester is so very limited. Even the principal hotel in Cheltenham, a few miles off, is to he fall of 'Royal Show people. Good opportunity arises here for local enterprise to introduce a temporary motorfins service between the two towns.

The Royal Show.

As far as I can see, nothing tangible has been done towards approaching the Chancellor for a

Procrastination. rescission of the tax on petrol for commercial vehicles. There is, of course. mach talk about it, hut little wool. The interests of pleasure-car owners and business-vehicle owners are hardly identical, and I would like to have seen a meeting called of the latter, the whole thing discussed, and a plan of campaign formulated, and T suggested this course on this page for the fith May, immediately after the intraday thin of the BLidget. It is possible that the S.M.M.T. executive, composed, as it is, mainly of people who are interested on the pleasure side, will take a selfish view and let down the smaller business-vehicle section. They did it --most egregiously, in my opinion— over the show question. It behoves

our side." therefore, to think and act for themselves independently, in view of probable laxity through

divided interests. I referred to the tax, in my simple way, as an 6` iniquity," hut I see that our Editor found another word in honour of the occasion, and with which he is making us very familiar : I mean the " inequity " of it. Well, anyhow, I hope to see a move made ill the right way, and to lay mind a public meeting, formed of manufacturers and users, is the method. [The time for effective action will come when the Finance Bill is " tabled."—Ea.] I formed the acquaintance, by accident, of a gentleman who is in the

service of Commer

Country cial Cars, Ltd., and Chars-a-bancs. who spends the major portion of his time ii ills a char-a-banes—away from London—looking up likely buyers. Mr. W. W. Perks has been selling the " Commer Car " for two years now, and I think he is imbued with the

right spirit. Tfe drives and looks after his char-h-brines himself ; he tells

me, enthusiastically, that it is " so little trouble," and I should say he is doing very well. I have long thought. and have expressed it in these columns, that there is a practicallyuntilled field in the country districts for chars-a-bancs and hotel buses, and I am glad to find that " Commer Cars " are alive to the fact.

It is always interesting to hear of the first of anything ; it is. ackuowledged that the man The First Bus. who " bolted " the first oyster was is hero. My attention was, therefore, arrested when I was told, at the pre, mises of Brown, Hughes and Strachan. Ltd., at Shepherd's Bush, that there —identically on that spot—was built the first double-decked motorbus, that indispensable time-saving conveyance for busy men and women, but which I saw somewhere described as follows by a peer of the realm. He was speaking of Oxford Street, and said : "What a relief to get out and breathe the semblance of fresh air there, a mere semblance, eaten up by the motor monsters which roared and rumbled up and down." That precious peer ought not to have ventured as far as Landon. Tie ought to have stopped in his own domain, and wallowed in the scent of his primroses, violets and animals. But, to return to the sabject of our first motorbus, Mr. J. M. Strachan has joined this concern as managing director, and it is now rapidly extending its business.

In a talk with Mr. H. C. Burford. .111.1-.74 fech E. , the managing director of Milnes Daimler. After Nine Ltd., he confirms the

Years. statement contained in the previous paragraph about the historical motorbus ; it was one of his company's chassis. This dip into early history led him to tell me that be received, on the day I called, an order from Messrs. Parke, Davis and Co., manufacturing chemists, for a five-ton wagon. These people had the first 2-ton wagon delivered by Milnes-Daimler in this country, and that was nine years ago? Their experience with it has been excellent: it has been hard at work all that time they have never touched or renewed either differential or gears: and it has been in every respect satisfactory. They naturally come straightaway to friend Burford for another wagon.

A taxicab has been used at Bath to convey first-aid fire-extinguishing gear.

At Bristol, taxicabs have already thrown some 50 " cabbies" out of their old employment.

The General Purposes Committee of the Yarmouth Town Council has asked the Watch Committee to receive any applications for motoreab licenses favourably.

Upwards of 300 horse-cabbies are receiving temporary assistance from the " Daily Mail " fund, during the probationary period which must necessarily precede their being accepted as drivers of mechanical hackney-carriages. The subscription list has been closed at a total of 17,566 Os. 7d.

Selby-built Bodies.

Stagg and Robson, Ltd., of Selby, Yorks, whose reputation as builders of vans, wheels, omnibuses and bodies is world wide, has recently been doing a good business in the construction of motorcab bodies for the London market, and one of these, mounted upon its chassis, is illustrated herewith.

These cabs have a smart appearance, and the Belsize chassis sets them off well. The seats and squabs are made up with Marshall's patent laceweb springs, are upholstered in leather, and comply with Scotlandyard requirements; the hoods fold back from the back pillars of the doors, and pyramid-rubber matting covers the steps, with brass beading.

The Taxi-drivers' Petition.

A good response has been forthcoming for the C.M.U.A. petition on behalf of taxi-drivers. These men have a very strong case: fares being settled by regulation, they are unable to recoup themselves.

In Suburban London.

The great range of the taxicab has affected the takings of all horse-cab drivers within a 15-mile radius. So many people go home all the way by motor nowadays. The suburban cabmen are waking up, and they want to drive taxicabs, but their limited geographical knowledge is a bar.

General Motorcab Company.

The current traffic returns of the General Motor Cab Company are sent to us as follow :— Week ending Saturday, 22nd May, £18,715.

Previous week, £17,128.

Corresponding week, 1908, £14,375. Increase on previous week, £1,587. Increase on corresponding week, 1908, £4,340.

Total receipts from lst August, 1908, £589,619.

Increase on previous corresponding period, £246,302.

It should be noted that the above figures take no account of the average numbers of cabs in service.

Napiers for India.

Both 10h.p. and 15h.p. Napier cabs are being shipped to India and other hot countries. Wire wheels (BudgeWhitworth) are likely to be used, and the fuel will—so far as can be arranged—be petrol. It is interesting to note that the flywheel in these cab chassis is forward of the engine ; it thus rises and falls almost as does the front axle, thereby maintaining the 10-inch clearance and allowing the vehicles to be safely driven over very "

bumpy" roads.

. The Shortest Way.

Mr. Francis, at Westminster Police Court, on Saturday last, in a case where Earl De La Warr was sued by a motoreab driver for 2d., his lordship having declined to pay a fare of is. 2d. for a trip from Vauxhall to the Hotel Windsor, held, after alternative routes had been measured, that the driver, in travelling via Great Smith Street, had exceeded the nearest route by over 500 yards. Mr. Francis said : " He should hold that any cabman was bound to drive his fare the nearest way. If he chose to drive a fare 'round the town,' it would be at his own expense." He added that he did not impute the smallest dishonesty to the cabman, but the man had blundered.

Manchester Definitions.

Resolved, by the Watch Committee, at Manchester, on the 20th instant:

" I. The proprietor of a motorcab shall cause the taximeter (if any) with which such motorcab is provided to be so constructed and maintained as to indicate correctly to the hirer either the fare chargeable or the distance travelled.

" No proprietor or driver of a motorcab shall with intent to deceive tamper with any such taximeter.

" 2. The driver of every motorcab fitted with a taximeter shall, as soon as he is hired, and no sooner, set the machine at zero, and on the termination of the hiring shall forthwith stop the same.

" 3. The driver of every motorcab fitted with a taximeter shall, as soon as he is hired, and no sooner, set the machine in motion, and on the termination of the hiring shall forthwith stop the machine.

" 4. Motoreab ' means a hackney carriage which is a motorcar as defined in the Motor Car Act, 1903, but shall not he deemed to include an omnibus."


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