• Home
• Used vehicles
• Product news
• Dealer news
• Compliance
• Buying advice
• Archive

NEWS of the WEEK

PLANS FOR H.S.G. MAXIMUM. LOAD PRODUCER-GAS CHASSIS.

ARRANGEMENTS are well advanced for the production by Gilfords (H.S.G.), Ltd., 74, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, of maximum-load four, six and eight-wheelers, built from the outset for running on producer-gas. They will be made at a works at Treforest, South Wales.

Conversion of petrol vehicles to run on producer-gas will also be undertaken, but the move is not a war-time measure. Advantage is certainly being taken of the great interest that is now being evinced in solid fuel, but the development is a normal outcome of H.S.G. activities, dating from many years back, which have been reported from time to time in this paper. The larger classes of vehicle have been chosen because they are generally recognized as most suitable for operation on this fuel.

Issue of Fuel Ration Books.

I T was stated last Tuesday that the

next issue of basic fuel ration books will be for the period November 23 to December 31 or January 31. Choice between the terminal dates has not yet been made, but the arrangement will be such that subsequent issue of the books can be for a period starting on the first day of a month.

Fuel Depots Open at Night.

AS a result of representations made by Associated Road Operators to the Petroleum Board, the Board has decided to open refuelling depots for commercial vehicles in the same way as those of the oil companies were open to them before the war, Vehicles engaged on long-distance transport will now be able to refuel on the journey., and will not be forced to carry spare fuel in tins and drums, Farmers Get Concession on Fuel Supplies.

SO as to meet the current exceptional needs of agriculture, it has been decided to extend the temporary arrangements made for the supply of motor fuel to farmers. The present system, which expired on October 27, will, therefore, be continued until December 31. The scheme does not apply to farmers' cars, which are dealt with under the main rationing scheme, nor to farmers' lorries operating on carriers' licences.

Maiudslay's Chairman Seeks Government Lead.

AT a luncheon which marked the introduction of a new range of multi-wheeled chassis by the Maudslay Motor Co., Ltd. (the vehicles are described elsewhere in this issue), Mr. 0. D. Smith, the chairman, spoke of the difficulties caused to the motor trade as a result of the absence of a

A16 lead from Government departments regarding supplies of raw materials. Such an attitude was responsible for much uncertainty concerning the future. It was hoped, he said, that the time would soon come when producers of motor vehicles would be assured of the necessary supplies. He admitted that, in so far as aluminium and steel are concerned, there would be difficulties, owing to the demands of the fighting services.

He thought, too, that the Minister of Transport should clarify the position of commercial road transport and recognize that it should be fostered and run on organized lines, not as a rival, but as an adjunct to, the railways.

Fuel for the Delivery of New Vehicles.

UNDER instructions from the Ministry of Mines, divisional petroleum officers have adopted a uniform pro, cedure in respect of the supply of petrol for the delivery of new unlicensed vehicles from makers' works. The makers will be regarded as the persons responsible for the supply or for coupons for the road journey, and only they will be allocated petrol for this

Purpose PUBLIC-SERVICE VEHICLES OUT OF COMMISSION.

A DEPUTATION led Ly Mr. H. 1-1 Allen, of Yelloway Motor Services, Ltd., Rochdale, and including delegates from all parts of the country, was introduced to the Minister of Transport by Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.B.E., general secretary of the C.M.U.A., on October 19, to consider major issues arising from the enforced idleness of many passenger-carrying vehicles.

Proposals were made as to how passenger vehicles could best be utilized as ambulances, troop carriers, for the operation of essential services arising from evacuation, for visits to those serving in the Forces, or to replace train services which had been discontinued.

The question of the retention of drivers and vehicles to prevent complete disorganization of facilities was discussed, also the compilation of a register of idle vehicles from which a pool could be formed.

At the request of the Minister a further detailed memorandum is being submitted.

ACCIDENT RETURNS MODIFIED.

TO relieve tramway and trolley'. vehicle undertakings of the need for reporting minor accidents during the emergency, the Minister of Transport has modified the instructions concerning these. In the following summary the class of accident and whether it is to be reported are given in order,

(1) Cars running away—all cases; (2) passengers and others knocked down or falling in front of cars or falling from car platforms—only in cases involving fatal or serious personal injury; (3) collisions between cars; (4) collisions between cars and other vehicles; (2) cars derailed, and (8) all other classes of accident, including axle breakage—only in cases involving fatal or serious injuries or considerable damage to cars, othei vehicles or property. The various headings numbered 1 to 11 on page two of Form TAJE are re tamed, but accidents should be reported only • if they involve fatal or serious injuries, if they have extensive results on the operation of the system or are of an unusual nature.

Serious personal injury is broadly defined as amputation, fracture or dislocation, internal injury, severe electric shock or burns. Details of accidents to elnployees calling for report should continue to be submitted.

Drivers Paid Too Much for A.R.P.

Work.

ADVICE concerning retrospective payments to owners who provide drivers for the motor vehicles which they hire to the A.R.P. authorities for attachment to rescue parties, decontamination squads and other services, is given in a bulletin issued by the Yorkshire Area of A.R.O.

In deciding that such drivers shall receive a weekly fiat rate of £3 13s. per week in Grade 1 areas and £3 10s. per week in other areas, the Air Raid Precautions Department of the Home Office has ruled that, in future, there

will be no additional weekly payment in respect of hours in excess of the normal weekly hours. Recognisinc,, however, that since the start of the emergency period drivers have been standing by on duty for hours in excess of their normal weekly periods, the department has instructed local authorities that this situation should be met by a composition payment of 1k. for each week from the start of the emergency period to October 2.

The Yorkshire A.R.O. bulletin says that by observance of both the Fair Wages Clause and the wages scales and conditions laid down by the Wages Board, drivers have been paid, by way of overtime and wages, sums in excess of the figures now laid down by the Horne Office, and it suggests that where members can submit proof of such payment it should be charged to the authorities concerned.

" If the amount is queried," adds the bulletin, " the authorities should be asked to refer direct to the Minister for Home Security, who will, we are informed, authorize payment."

Fish Appeal Deferred for the Duration.

THE Appf•As Tribunal has deferred sine die the appeal by the London and North-Eastern Railway Co. against the decision of the Northern Licensing Authority in granting applications to north-east road-haulage concerns for the carrying of fish to London. It is understood that the appeal will not now be heard until after the war.

Sell Your Scrap Iron and Steel.

AN urgent plea to conserve iron and steel scrap has been addressed to motor manufacturers, road-transport companies and coachbuilders by the Ministry of Supply Iron and Steel Control.

Dealers will be pleased to quote and

arrange collection. Whilst prices to the final consumer are controlled, these bear DO relation to the price of scrap at source.

• PERSONAL PARS.

MR. RONALD COX, of London Transport, has been appointed technical assistant to Bradford Corporation's transport department.

MR. F. McLEAvEv, inspector in Birkenhead Corporation's transport department, has been invited to become Mayor of Bebington.

MR. C. OLDFIELD, chairman of Croydon Motor Traders' Association, has resigned his position as honorary transport advisor to Croydon A.R.P. Committee, ALDERMAN C. E. TATHAM (solicitor), Deputy Mayor of Blackpool and chairman of Blackpool Transport Committee, has been nominated to the panel of Traffic Commissioners.

MR. F. R. M. DE PAULA, 0.B.E., controller of finance to the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., has been loaned by his company to the War Office, where he is acting as Deputy Director-General of Progress and Statistics. During the 1914-18 war, Mr. H. A, Fortington, the present Director-General, and Mr. de Paula carried out similar work at the Ministry of Munitions, under Sir George Beharrell, now chairman of the Dunlop concern.

MR. ARTHUR FRANKS, managing director of W. B. Dick and Co., Ltd., has been appointed chairman of the Lubricating Oil Distributors' Committee under the Pool Board, and we offer him our congratulations. Mr. Franks is one of the best-known men in the oil industry. He joined W. B. Dick and Co., Ltd., some 30 years ago, and after holding various important executive positions, attained the position of managing director.

Transport Wasted in A.R.P.: Home Office Action. COMPLAINTS. have been made throughout the country regarding the waste of transport by A.R.P. authorities. It appears that the Home Office is now taking some interest in the matter, because the Regional Officer has pointed out to Cardiff Corporation's air-raid committee that vehicles urgently needed for ordinary transport purposes are standing idle in connection with civil defence.

He suggested that commercial vehicles which had been converted into street ambulances might be released for use in the locality, provided that they could easily be recalled shorild the occasion arise.

Cardiff has had 27 vehicles standing by, whereas, according to a statement by the air-raid committee, the city's immediate needs in respect of ambulances could be met by the 14 converted buses, each of which will accommodate eight to ten stretchers. It has now been decided to release vans in cases where they can readily be recalled.

YORKSHIRE RESTRICTIONS ON ROAD HAULAGE OF COAL.

THERE is a possibility of the restriction of the transport of industrial coal by road in Yorkshire, under the scheme whereby road haulage of household coal in the country is already limited to two miles from the pithead, except where collieries have no railway sidings.

In addition to the limitation concerning domestic coal, the scheme provides that a small advisory committee, set up for its administration, shall examine the road deliveries of industrial coal from each colliery, and make the necessary contact with the coal distributor involved for a change-over to rail where it is possible.

The scheme, agreed upon by the West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire Coal Sales Association (organizations formed by colliery owners under Coalmines legislation), has been approved by the Transport Commissioner for the North-Eastern Region (Major F. S. Eastwood).

A statement by the Yorkshire Area of A.R.O. complains that" none of the haulage associations was approached on this matter, and the scheme was made concrete before we had an opportunity of investigating Any member affected by the restrictions is asked to forward full particulars to Mr. W. J. Lowe, secretary of the Yorkshire Area of A.R.O., 52, Basinghall Street, Leeds, I.

In support of the scheme, it is claimed that it makes possible considerable savings in petrol, and that transport of domestic coal to railhead will assist the better regulation of retail selling prices, in view of " the present variable prices of long-haulage rates."

Midland Employers Oppose Wages Proposals.

AT largely attended meetings of employers at Birmingham, Brierley Hill, Coventry, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton, Rugby, Burton, Whitchurch, Wellington, Worcester and Hereford, unanimous resolutions were passed, that the present time is inopportune for the introduction and enforcement of the wages and conditions as suggested in the proposals of the Road Haulage Central Wages Board. The meetings generally, however, were prepared to agree to a modified programme, more consistent with the present conditions.

One or two meetings went rather farther than this and objected, in particular, to the abolition of the guaranteed cumulative week and the introduction of the guaranteed week, according to present proposals ; the classification on carrying capacity ; the provision of double pay on Sundays and extra pay during night driving.

It Costs £80,000 to Keep Manchester Clean.

AANCHESTER Cleansing DepartAilment_ the annual report of which has just been issued, operates a fleet of 135 petrol vehicles, comprising 71 S.D. Freighters, 3 Karrier sweepers and collectors, 4 }Carrier Colt Majors. 20 Lacre three-wheeled sweepers, 20 Karrier, Commer, Albion and Atkinson tipping lorries, 8 S.D. Freighter gully em ptiers and 4 general-purpose machines. In addition, the committee has many horses and wagons.

Transport costs, for the collection of house and trade refuse, for the year to March 31 last amounted to £79,883. and transport in connection with street cleansing £43,511. Work done included collecting 214,819 tons of refuse from 237,826 premises; cleansing and maintaining 754 miles of street; removing 34,818 loads of sweepings; distributing about 5,212,500 gallons of water and 1,736 tons of sand; sweeping with mechanical sweepers 981,435,800 yds. of roadway.

Decontaminatitkg Leather by Warm Water.

A REPORT on the decontamination

by means of warm water, of leather and leather articles contaminated with blister gas has been issued by the British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association, 8, St. Thomas Street, London, S.E.1. It results from extensive trials held by the Association in conjunction with the Chemical Defence Research Department.

Important Notice to Readers.

I F your newsagent has not been in the habit of regularly delivering or reserving The Commercial Motor for you, you should, to save possible disappointment, immediately place an order with him instructing him to reserve a copy for you weekly. Newsagents' supplies are restricted owing to war-time conditions, and they cannot be expected to anticipate casual demands. It is wise, therefore, while our present difficulties last, to help the country in its economy campaign, to deal with the same newsagent and not depend upon getting The Commercial Motor from other sources where you may find your copy is reserved for some reader who has taken the precaution to order it,. Alternatively, you can have The Commercial Motor posted to you direct from this office at a cost of 4s. 4d. for three months, including postage, longer periods pro rata.

If you have any difficulty in obtaining your copy at any time we shall be obliged if you will let us know the name, and address of your newsagent. A.E.C. GAS RESEARCH COMES TO FRUITION, rIRST to tell of A.E.C. producer.

gasdevelopments, The Commercial Motor published on October 7 a picture of an L.P.T.B. double-decker with a producer plant mounted behind the rear platform.

We are now able to state that the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., Southall, in conjunction with London Transport, has been conducting experiments, which have reached an advanced stage, in the application of producer-gas to passenger transport, whilst in the goods-transport field the former concern has built for a wellknown operator a Mammoth Major eight-wheeler using solid fuel.

The producer employed in both cases is the Bellay, handled by Gas Producers (Bellay), Ltd. In our next issue We hope to include particulars of the plant and its adaptation by this prominent vehicle maker.

Horsebox Trailer Maker Producing Delivery Vans.

SOME operators have turned, as a result of the loss of their lorries or vans, to the trailer as a means for carrying on, and in this connection our attention has been drawn to the products of Messrs. H. and 13. Gardener, Vernon Road, Sutton, Surrey. . This firm market well-built two-wheeled trailer vans, with bodywork of their own construction.

Associated in the past mainly with horsebox trailers, the firm are now supplying vehicles adapted for a variety of trades, using, in ordinary circumstances, vans of special, or conventional type. They are definitely cultivating, we understand, this outlet for their activities and are offering van-type trailers for £78 15s,

Restrictions on the Supply of Fuels and Lubricants.

BY the Petroleum (No. 2) Order, 1939, no person other than the Petroleum Board may sell, supply or acquire petroleum or any product of this or benzoic, wholesale,. except under licence granted by the Secretary for Mines.

Subject to the provisions of any Order for 'the time being in force, any such licence may be made subject to conditions as to grade to he sold or supplied, price to be paid and any other conditions the Secretary for Mines may deem necessary.

Any person selling or supplying the above wholesale must keep such records and give such information or returns relating to their business as are required.

The expression "petroleum or any product of petroleum " includes asphalt; bitumen, coke, crude, process, Diesel, fuel, gas and lubricating oils, greases, kerosene (including mineral vaporizing oil), motor spirit (including aviation), petroleum jelly, pitch, wax, white spirit and other liquid products (including transformer and white oils)

and shale oils. " 'Benzole " includes motor, pure, 906 and industrial benzole.

LIVERPOOL? HAULAGE RATES TO BE HIGHER.

FOLLOWING a rise in working costs, Liverpool Cart and Motor Owners' Association announces an increase in haulage rates for semi-long and longdistance town-to-town work as from November 1.

As there are no schedule rates for journey work, the motor section of the association felt it was not desirable to fix a definite percentage figure cf advance, but to leave the actual amount of the increase to the individual discretion of members.

Praise for Wages Proposals.

AT a recent meeting of the national trade group committee of the Transport and General Workers Union a resolution was passed to the effect that the recent proposals put forward by the Road Haulage Central Wages Board "constitute an important and valuable step towards the control and regulation of wages and working conditions in the road-haulage industry."

Valued the Electric Mobile Shop.

RECENTLY supplied to the Kidderminster Industrial Co-operative Society, Ltd., the Sunbeam batteryelectric vehicle illustrated on this page has a special type of body enabling the machine to be used as a travelling

shop for fruit and greengrocery. The vehicle has open sides, so as to give access to the platform space and to the shelves above it. There is a large roller-type shutter along each side. If the vehicle he loaded up overnight, so as to be ready for an early start the following morning, these shutters completely enclose the body and the shelves, locks ensuring that the stock is perfectly safe.

At the rear is a large hopper in which potatoes are carried. The potatoes are fed through a hatchway in the roof and are carried down an inclined floor to a small platform on the near side at the back end of the vehicle. Underneath this hopper are two zinc-lined drawers for carrying fish, The vehicle is, in effect, a self-contained shop, and, as such, is proving of distinct value in dealing with the requirements of outlying districts.

Scottish Fuel Experiments: Parliamentary Interest.

C)FFICIAL attention will shortly be

• directed in Parliament to the :esults of various Scottish experiments with alternative fuels for vehicles.

The coal industry has followed closely the gas-producer experiments made by the Highland Transport Co., Ltd., of Inverness. The purpose of the questions in Parliament will be to ascertain the attitude of the Mines Department towards these developments, and to find out what encouragement may be forthcoming, officially, in order to accelerate research work.

Co-operative C. and D. Unworkable.

APLAN to set up a central depot for the collection of parcels for delivery in different districts has been rejected as unworkable by Leicester and District Grocers Association.

A TRAILER FOR HEAVY PUMPING SETS.

I LLUSTRATED on this page is a

special trailer built to the order of Pulsometer Engineering Co., Ltd., of Reading. It was constructed by Carrimore Six-Wheelers, Ltd., Carrimore Works, Great North Road, London, N.12, and is designed to carry pump ing sets weighing 20 tons. It is equipped with 16 34 by 7 tyres, which are carried by four short independent axles, arranged to oscillate on trunnion ended road springs. All four rear wheels are fitted with internal-expanding brakes, compensated and acting simultaneously. Six folding steady jacks are used to line up any frame distortion when standing on uneven ground.

The all-metal body has a chequerplate floor and has four doors at each side, which are made to fold upwards. As the plant which this trailer carries has to be removed by crane, the whole of the roof is made to be detachable and can be lifted off in one piece. The roof consists of angle-iron framework, covered with 20-gauge galvanized mildsteel sheet. Another feature is the heavy channel-steel drawbar, which is provided with safety chains.

No Deliveries on Wednesdays.

W/1TH the object of securing econom ies in transport, deliveries of wholesale and retail goods on Wednesdays have been suspended by the NorthEastern Counties Federation of Master Bakers. About 600 bakers in Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire are concerned.

Big Scottish Fire-fighting Scheme.

SSUBJECT to the sanction of the Office, Perth and Kinross County Council has approved an elaborate scheme for the provision of fire-brigade services in the two counties. The main protection will be provided by Perth Fire Brigade, with mobile units stationed at Blairgowrie, Crieff, A berfeldy, Dunblane, and Kinross.

DOES POOLING INVALIDATE DOES POOLING INVALIDATE , INSURANCE?

WILL insurance companies accept W liability in connection with vehicles used for pooled deliveries of foodstuffs by shopkeepers? This question was raised at the October meeting of the Pontypridd and District Grocers Association.

The chairman (Mr. William John) remarked that traders had been urged to economise in the use of petrol and to help each other with deliveries, and, that being the case, surely no insurance company would disclaiM liability in respect of the vehicle utilized for joint deliveries? .

I.A.E. Meetings in Coventry. COVENTRY centre committee of the ‘.."Institution of Automobile Engineers announces that the usual meetings cannot be arranged this winter. In place of them, it is recommended that senior members should attend the graduates' meetings, of which the first will be on November 21.

Ultra-violet-ray Lighting in Black-out.

AN interesting experiment with a new form of street lighting, which is consistent with the lighting restrictions now in operation, is being carried

out in Avon Street, Motherwell. Ultraviolet-ray .lamps, carried on ordinary lamp standards, and special paint on the roadway and pavement, are used.

The lamps are designed so that only the ultra-violet rays are allowed to escape and the paint on the road is thrown up in bold relief.

Death of Mr. Joseph Mtunford.

Mr. Joseph Mum ford, formerly managing director of the West Country body-building concern of Murnford and Sons, Ltd., died last week at the age of 78 years. The business was established in 1860 by his father. Mr. Mumford drove one of the earliest motor coaches from London to Plymouth. A FLEXIBLE LEAK-PROOF PIPE UNION.

ELEXIBILITY is the outstanding

feature of the Clayflex union, a new fitment marketed by Howard ClaytonWright, Ltd., Tiddington Road, Stratford-off-Avon. An accompanying sketch shows its construction.

It will be noticed that the pipe is nowhere in metallic , contact with the union body or nut and that no nipple is required. Instead, a syntheticrubber gasket is employed. This makes an oil or petrol-tight joint, automatically.flaring the pipe and permitting, by reason of its elasticity, a degree of movement between pipe and union. Besides being easy to fit, as soldering is eliminated, the Clayflex union greatly diminishes the likelihood of pipes fracturing as a result of vibration.

Rawlings Making Die-castings. WE are advised that the Rawlings VI' Manufacturing Co., Ltd., 1-29, Larch Road, Balham, London, S.W.12, has a department dealing exclusively with gravity and pressure die-castings. It is under the control of a man who has had 20 years' experience of this work. Die-castings are already in hand for the .Services.