WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatetrr points arising, as a carriage is by
the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crosier.
The Appellant in the Case.
The name of Henry Butt and Co., Ltd., will go down to posterity for the part played by them in securing an elucidation of the law concerning extraordinary traffic on the road. The previous leading case was Hill v. Thomas, which, in 1893, was carried to the Court of Appeal. Since then mechanical poser has begun to displace the horse; and provided the possibility of moving heavier loads at .higher speed and . in greater volume. The Butt ease was the first in Which the straight issue—" Does the use of mechanical power in place of horses, conducted as to weights and speeds in strict accordance with motorcar, law, constitute extraordinary traffic? "—could be fought. Mr. Henry Butt has been a true sporte.man throughout the whole five years of litigation involved, because,. as the largest ratepayer in the district, it is obvious that his financial position as plaintiff (the urban 'district council taking the action) was as important to him as his taading position as defendant. Hence, his fight has really been on behalf of mechanical road transport. He is a keen business man and an admirable host, for he is very fond of inviting his friends of the C.M.U.A. to visit him in his glorious house by the Bristol -Channel.
Halley's Report.
The report of Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd., for the 11 months ended August 31st, 1921, shows a loss for the period, after making provision for excess profit duty, refund and other contingencies, of £69,728, which, with depreciation at £3,364 added, makes a total of 273,092. After deducting the £41650 brought forward from the previous year's accounts and meeting directors' fees, there remains a loss of £31,442 to be, carried forward.
The directors have considered it advisable to change the date of accounting from September 30th to August 31st, owing to the requirements of the Finance Act, 1921, and this is the reason that' the report covers 11 months rally. The balance sheet will he made up accordingly.
Henley's Report.
The report of the directors of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd., for the year 1921 shows that a profit of 2263,078 has been made, from which must be deducted the debenture interest, directors' fees, and amount written off for depreciation on buildings, machinery, etc., amounting to £38,339, making £224,739. To this sum must be added the amount brought forward from 1920, i.e., 21133,537, and the reserve against Government loans and trustee securities written back of £7,559, making a total of 2415,836. From this sum the following deductions have been made: income tax, £26,213; transfer to reserve account, 222,879; dividend on preference shares to December 31st, 09,000; interim dividend on ordinary shares, £32,500. When these deductions have been made an available balance of 2325,243 remains, of which £65,000 is absorbed by the payment of a final dividend on the-ordinary shares of 2s.
per share, less income tax (making 3s. per share for the year), leaving to be carried forward to next year's accounts 2260,243.
Sentinel Dividend.
The directors of Sentinel Waggon Worls.s, (1920), Ltd., state that they are unable at this period to submit a report for 1921, as liability to excess profit duty for 1920 has not yet been determined. The directors do not propose to pay a dividend on the ordinary shares, but recommend a dividend on the preference shares for the half-year to December 31st, 1921, at the rate of 7i per cent. per annum less tax.
Road Traffic and the Public.
In common with other organizations throughout the country the executive committee of the Worcester and District. C.Pil.U.A. has had under discussion the proposal to extend monopolies of road 'passenger-carrying services to the railway companies. Feeling that the public is not as well informed on the matter as it might be; the hope has been expressed and suggestions made that the committee arrange a meeting to which the public can be invited for the purpose of discussing the whole matter,
The first trolley-bus made by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd.; of Walthanistow, has made its initial experimental run.
The number of American commercial vehicle chassis produced in December, 1921. was 6.279, as compared with 5,315 for the same period of 1920.
The Next London Parade.
The 16th annual parade of commercial motor vehicles, organized by the Commercial Motor Users Association, with the object of encouraging drivers to take a personal interest in the driving and the condition of their vehicles, and to run them without accident, will take place in London on Saturday, March 25th, under the patronage of His Majesty the King.
The handsome silver challenge cup, which was presented in 1910 to the Association by the proprietors of The Commercial Motor, , will again be awarded to the owner whose team, in the opinion of the judges' committee, is in the best condition, having regard to the class of work upon which the units• are employed, the ages of the machines, and the total distance run by them. The driver of each vehicle in the winning team will be given a cash award and a silver medal as a souvenir of the event.. The drivers of each vehicle in: the runners .up and .third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh teams will also receive• a cash award, and drivers of each vehicle in the eighth, ninth, tenth, oleventh and twelfth teams will he highly commended.
Fullparticulars of the parade may be obtained from 50, Pall Mall, S.W. 1.
A Covered-in-top-deck Bus.
For sonic little time Messrs. Strachan and Brown, Ltd., have displayed in ;rent of their showrooms in Kensington High Street a double-deck bus, the upper deck of which is covered in with one of the concern's winter tops, the seats being cushione.1 and four of the windows being made to drop down to the waist line. The two front panels and the end panels on eaoh side have fixed windows. The whole of the top is detachable, when it could be replaced with an uncovered top-deck structure or the seats could be so arranged that, in changing the tops, they need not be removed. The overhaul height from the ground is 14 ft. 6 ins., giving 5 ft. 6 ins. headroom to the upper deck. The sides of the top structure are tapered in, so that on heavily camberedroads it will not foul lamp-posts, trees, or other vehicles. Such a bus would not be sanctioned for use in London, but there is a need for cover of some sort in exposed districts.
Trailers Wanted.
Tenders are invited by the Borough of Margate for the supply of one, two, or three side-tipping trailers for towing behind Foden steam wagons. The trailers are required for the collection of house-refuse and must be of large capacity and fitted with solid tyres. Further particulars can be obtained 'from the Borough Surveyor, 13, Grosvenor Place, Margate
Inthe next issue of The Commercial Motor will be included an article on an interesting front-wheel-driven delivery van for 10 cwt. load."
Control of Motorbuses.
In its Parliamentary Bill, the Swansea Corporation has a clause for the regulation of motor omnibus services. There is, however, opposition to the clause, and the Parliamentary Committee has asked the town clerk to communicate with the opponents to ascertain if some form of clause could not be agreed whereby the conditions to be attached to the motorbus licences, so far as fares to be charged and routes to be observed, should be made the subject of agreement between the corporation and the licensees, and that, failing agreement, the Ministry of Transport be authorized to settle suoh conditions. If the opponents will not agree to this modificatimi, the clause as it now stands will be proceeded with.
One Bridge : Three Authorities:
Blackwater Bridge is a three-arched brick bridge spanning the River Blackwater, and carrying the London to Basingstoke main road. The river forms the county boundary at this point, and the cost of maintaining the bridge is Shared by the authorities of the counties of Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey. The Surrey County Council has represented that the widening of this bridge is desirable, as it no doubt is, the carriageway at presents' being only 16 ft. wide with a 2 ft. footway on each side. The county surveyors are to confer with a view to preparing a scheme for the widening of the bridge.
Progress in Calcutta.
The Calcutta Municipal Council has adopted. the recommendation of its general committee to obtain tenders for eight more electric lorries, and to make provision for the cost in next year's esti. mates. By having the same number of both petrol and electric lorries it is hoped to be able to obtain really reliable figures as to working costs.
In connection with its cleansing service, the corporation has had in operation a municipal railway for the purpose of carrying the refuse out. of the town. In recent years this railway has been the eause of much comment, and some months ago the corporation began experimenting With motor wagons for the removal of the refuse. Petrol-driven machines were introduced at first, but more recently the electrically propelled lorry has liken tried. At the present time there are ten petrol lorries and two electrics in service. both types of vehicles having the same carrying capacity, viz., 3-1 tons. The provision of additional ,vehicles has recently been untb3r consideration, and, in connection with the proposal, a report has been submitted in which it is pointed out that, excluding interest and depreciation, the running cost in the case of an electric lorry would amount to about half that in the case of a petrol lorry.
Six Years' Bus Loan.
The Ministry of Transport has sane tioned a loan by the Preston Corpora., tion of £4,765 for the purchase of motor omnibuses, the loan to be repaid within a period not exceeding six years.
Indian Import Duty.
The East India Section of the Motor Trades AsSociation has suggested to the Indian Fiscal Commission that commer cial motor vehicles should be placed, in the same category as agricultural tractors for the purposes of import duty. The opinion is that the present 20 per cent. import duty is a great handicap to trade.
Barnsley•Cab Fares.
The Watch Committee of the Barnsley Council has recommended the following charges for taxi hire :—Fare for distance is. 6d. for the first mile and 9d. for each succeeding half-mile; waiting charge, le. per quarter of an hour ; fares for time : 2s. per quarter of an hour. Proprietors are enabled to charge double fares between midnight and 7 a.m.
A few days ago the Newcastle Fire Brigade conducted a series of tests with a new Tilling-Stevens 55 h.p. 300-gallon capacity motor fire-engine which it has recently purchased. The results were satisfactory in every way.
.A Preston .Parade Proposal.
At a meeting of the Preston Corporation Highways Committee a letter was received from the divisional secretary, Commercial Motor Users Association, North-Western Division, asking if it will be convenient to the town council for an examination and parade of cornmercial motor vehicles, to be held in Preston early in October next, and stating that a deputation would be pleased to wait upon the committee. The committee resolved that the deputation be received at the next meeting.
A Bus Starting Point.
At a meeting of the Preston Corporation Markets Committee a letter was received from the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., asking if it is possible for arrangements to be made whereby the company could have the use of the vacant land adjoining the Sessions House for use as a starting point for their buses running out of Preston.
The consideration was adjourned until the question of motor stands has been considered by the Watch Committee.
A Small Trade Van.
Already well-known as a popular example of the modern French light car, the Amilcar, which is handled in this country by W. L. Stewart, Ltd-, 26, Albemarle Street, London, W,, has now appeared in the form of a very neat commercial van. The conversion is carried out on a standard chassis, and we understand that the price will be practically the same as the ordinary touring model of this car, i.e., about £280. A departure has been made insomuch as the body, is composed of metal throughout, with the exception of the back flap and sliding partition between the driver and goods compartment, whilst the van body itself is quickly detachable, being held in place on each side by means of
Noisy Coach Parties.
Rent County Council has passed the subjoined bylaw in regard to char-abanes traffic. : If any person on any public coach or other public carriage for the conveyance of passengers or on any coach brake, wagonette, or any other vehicle hired or used. for the conveyance of pleasure parties and the like
(a) shall blow any horn or use any other noisy instrument or make or combine wits any other person or persona to snake any loud singing or outcry while passing through any town, village or ham. let to the annoyance or interruption of residents, or
(b) shall, while passing through any town, village or hamlet, throw any money to be scrambled for by children or other persons on the road or footway,
Such person shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding £5 for each offence: and the conductor (if any) employed on the vehicle, and the person who had engaged or obtained the use of the vehicle on the occasion on which the offence was committeed shall also be liable to the like penalty unless lie proves that he took no part in and was unable to prevent the 'offence, and that he had given all the information in his power as to the person or pereons by whom the offence was committed.
The New Birmingham Doubledecker.
The Birmingham and Midland Omnibus Co., Ltd., has now obtained a licence to run a double-deck bus for .six months on the Birmingham-Walsall route. The chassis is a 40 lip. TillingStevens, as used on the single-deckers run by this concern, and seating accoree modatiou is provided for 51 persona29 inside and 22 outside. The seating outside is on the k knife-beard system,
the passengers sitting back to back on a long double seat, which runs from end to end. This has the advantage of keeping the weight ,on the top in the centre of the bus.
The staircase for the top deck is in the front of the vehicle, and the driver B2 is placed in a coupe compartment at the right side of the engine, the conductor standing on a platform at the left. The bus weighs approximately 4 tons 19
the weight having been kept down by the use of light panelling and other special designing of the bodywork. The schedule time for the nine-mile journey from Birmingham to Walsall is 45 minutes each way, and the lure is is., as against the is. M. of the railway.
The running of this bus is, of course, an experiment, but if at the end of the six months' licence it has been found satisfactory, it is hoped that similar vehicles will be licensed on all routes covered by the company.
Motorbus Stations.
Preston Watch Committee is dis-. cussing with bus proprietors the question of stands for motor omnibuses.
Traffic on Housing Estates.
Preston Corporation Housing Corn•-• mittee has given instructions to the architects to close to heavy motor traffic as many roads as possible on housing estates.
Compulsory Mudguards.
Smethwick Watch Committee recommends that, in view of the fact that there are now several types of efficient mud splashguards available, the Government should now be asked to introduce legislation making the attachment of such guards to heavy motor vehicles compulsory.
Post Office Electric Trucks.
The Chester postmastet has inquired if Chester City Council objects, from the point of view of street traffic, to the use of electric trolleys or tractors for hauling mails between the sorting office and the railway station. The Watch Committee has decided to raise no objection, on the understanding that the vehicles are fitted with rubber tyres.
-Speed Limit Applications.
The Motor Car Committee of the Hampshire County Council reports that a renewed application has been made for the reduction of the motor speed limit through Lyndhurst. The committee reported to the council in 1920 the reasons why it was unable to support such an application, and as the circumstances do not appear to have altered, it cannot see its way to depart from the decision previously arrived at. In any case the submission of an application for a reduced speed limit at the present time would be of no avail, as, in connection with an application made some time ago by the county council, the Ministry of Transport has intimated that it does not propose to take any action thereon until the Minister has had an opportunity of reconsidering the question as a whole, on the receipt of a report of a departmental committee appointed to advise him on the legislative steps which should be taken for the amendment of existing enactments and regulations.
The Future of the Berna.
La Falarique d'Autemobiles Berne S.A., of Olten, Switzerland, advise as that, by assignment dated December 31st last,they have reacquired from British Barna Motor Lorries, Ltd., and from Berne Lorries, Ltd., all rights of manufacture and sale throughout the world, and that La Fabrique d'AutomeHes Berne S.A. are now alone in a position to manufacture, sell, and deal in Berne, products. they are sole proprietors of the registered trade mark " Berne."
The temporary premises of the London depot are situated at 25, Short Street, New Cut, S.E.1, where the reorganization is being carried out with all speed.
The Swiss company will appoint agencies all over the country,
Local Proceedings.
'A motorbus service between Wigan and Bolton is proposed by the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd.
Cambridgeshire County Council has authorized the purchase of two side-tipping steam wagon's and trailers.
, Middlesbrough Corporation has decided to purchase two motorvan.s to replace horsed vans used for refuse collection.
Two 5-ton steam tipping wagons and four 6-ton trailers are to be purchased by Lincs. (Lindsay) County Co;men..
, Mansfield Borough Surveyor has pre:pared a scheme for the bulk storage of ;petrol for the Corporation motors. The .cost is estimated at £500.
Essex county surveyor recommends the sale of three old five-ton McCurd .petrol lorries, which have done good service, but are new quite obsolete.
; Funds are being raised, voluntarily, .ifor the provision -of a petrol motor fireengine for the Chippenham Fire Brigade, the estimated cost of which is £1,400.
Walsall Corporation, having found that the standing accommodation for unattended motors has proved very useful, has 'decided to continue the arrangement.
r• Warminster Urban District Council has under consideration a recommendation of the Fire Brigade Committee to purchase a motor lorry at, an estimated cost of £350.
The Health Committee of the Battersea Borough Council recommends the purchase of two Ford motorvans at a total cost of £550, for use in connection with the disinfecting station.
• -. Chester City engineer has prepared a scheme for a roadway from Frodsham • Street to the Hop Pole Paddock. to enable motor vehicles to be parked in the paddock. The cost is estimated at
Better London Cabs.
Major Glyn asked the Home Secretary in the House of Commons a few days ago whether, in consultation with the Metropolitan police authorities, he would Consider in what way a better class of motor taxicab could be encouraged to ply for hire by allowing a lower legal minimum scale of fares to be charged by cabs over a ce-tain age and of only a limited horse-power; and whether, since such a system operated with success in Paris and elsewhere, and as the cost of petrc.l, oils, etc., had fallen, he could take steps to prevent vehicles using small quantities of spirit and proceeding at slower speeds having the advantage of superior vehicles. The Home Secretary, in reply, said that he was inquiring into the operation of the system in foreign countries.
Charges for Standing Coaches.
The Barnard Castle Urban District Council considers it very desirable that there should be, so far as possible, a general practice to charge for chars-abanes and motor vehicles using public streets for standage, and, further, that there should be a uniform rate, and to this end it is circularizing authorities in the neighbourhood for their opinions preliminary to a suggested conference representative of local authorities. Darlington has been suggested as the most convenient centre for such a gathering.
-United Service Reconstruction.
'A capital reconstruction scheme in connection with the United Service Transport Co. Ltd. has been circulated among the shareholders, in which it is proposed that the preference shareholders should give up three things—substantial arrears of divided, preferential and cumulative rights on half the future of such dividends, and half their capital
rights in liquidation. It has been pointed out that, under the scheme, the ordinary shareholders stand to gam in dividend rights, whilst losing nothing of their capital rights in liquidation, the latter, in fact, being improved by the amount of cutting down that the preference holders suffer in that particular event.
A New Attachment.
A few weeks. ago we had an opportunity of describing and illustrating an interesting two-wheeled carrier attachment built by Carrosserie Latymer, Ltd, (whose name is well-known in connection with the production of Caredmore trailers), for a Ford ton chassis, and it appears that this was the forerunher of .a type which is intended to be made suitable for varying types and capacities of commercial vehicles.
A few days ago we had the pleasure of examining what might be termed the " big brother" of this two-wheeled trailer as designed for attachment to the Leyland 3-4 ton chassis. AS will be seen from the illustrations on this page, the general principlesin the design of the small model have been closely adhered to in this arrangement, and it is, therefore, unnecessary for.us to describe its construction for general details of which we would refer our readers to our issue of December 27th.
The capacity of the Leyland-Carri--more body as illustrated is 975 cubic ft., and it can carry a 7& ton load. The body is 21 ft. long, the inside width being 7 ft. 3 ins., and the height, above the platform 6 ft. 6 ins. and 7 ft. 6 ins. in the rear portion, which has a well. The hidy fitted has a door in'the near side, which is something just short of 4 ft. wide, whilst a two-piece door opening is provided at the rear. A space behind the driver's seat in the cab is reserved for the storage of --additional fuel, tarpaulins and the like.
The prices of Dodge commercial-vehicles have recently been reduced, and the chassis now sells at £225, the panel van and the screen-sided van with American bodies heing„£330 and £280 respectively. With an English body the price of the panel van is £335.
An 11-seater Crossley.
A hire car of useful proportions is being used by Messrs. W. Matthews and Son, of Hagley Road, Birmingham. The chassis is a R.A.F. 20-25 h.p. Crossley, with a special type of radiator, and runs an 920 mm. by 120 mm. Dunlop Magnum tyres, twins being used on the rear wheels. The limousine body holds eleven people in all, three in the front seat (two beside the driver) and eight in the interior. A tip up seat covers the. door, and it has a folding back-rest, so that. the safety of the person occupying this position does not depend upon the efficiency of the door catch.
Carrying so many passengers, the Crossley can be run at a figure per head which is said to be a little above that of the railway companies' third-class fares; moreover, speedy and comfortable travel is obtained. It is particularly suitable, during the present months, for conveying parties to and from dances. The windows of the body can be let down, if desired, so that in warmer weather the car is equally comfortable.
There should be plenty of demand for a vehicle of this type, which gives car speed and comfort at little above char-abanes prices. A reconstructed R.A.F. Crossley is an excellent chassis for the work.
We have just received a price list from Alexander Duckham and Co., Ltd., for lubricating oils and greases, and we notice that most of the grades are redmed by 6d. per gallon.
Forbidden Roads.
Since the Hampshire County Council made its original proposals for the closure of narrow roads to char-a-bancs traffic, the subject has been further investigated, and negotiations have taken place between the local authorities and the char-a-bancs proprietors. The result is that the engine] applications have been modified to an extent which the county council hopes will avoid any serious objection to them. The revised schedule includes 40 miles of roads deemed unsuitable for char-à-banes traffic.
Chars-a-bancs at Southend.
Southend Watch Committee has had under consideration the question of the making of by-laws to prevent the use of noisy instruments and loud singing by passengers of any coach, brake, etc., and for preventing the throwing of money to be scrambled for by children and others on highways, and has directed the town clerk to communicate with the Secretary of State with a view to obtaining his provisional approval to such by-laws.