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The Wheels of Industry.

29th April 1915, Page 9
29th April 1915
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Page 9, 29th April 1915 — The Wheels of Industry.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

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.

Proposals and Purchases. The War Office has recently made purchases of Ford ambulances. Woolwich Borough Council is buying two Lai* motor sweepers, from W. and T. Archer, for £1276.' Aldershot U.D.C. has received L.G.B. sanction to borrow 21200 to pay for two motor lorries.

Southend-on-Sea Corporation is buying two Edison chassis, for equipment as motorbuses.

New Registration.

Amazon Trading Co., Ltd. (25000), by Messrs. Welsh and Co., Planers Hall Austin Friars., EC., to deal in all types of motor vehicles.

Catalogues for Australia.

We gather that by a recent Tariff decision the Australian authorities have altered the duties upon advertising matter, and are now differentiating between English and foreign catalogues. The former are dutiable at the rate of Bd. per lb. net weight, and the latter at 10d.

Auto-trailers.

We learn that Auto-trailers, Ltd., of .1, Queen Victoria, Street, E.C. which company recently went into formal and voluntary liquidation with a view -to re-arrangement, is able to take orders forAutotrailers, with an unladen weight of less than 2 cwt. These entail trailers are extremely handy for adding to the total capacity of motorvans, and may legally be used up to 20 m.p.h. behind the smaller vans.

A Farmer's View about the lye! Agrimotor.

Interesting and independent testimony as to the efficiency and long life of the Ivel agricultural motor is contained in the following letter from a Yorkshire farmer, a copy of which has reached us :—

" I have been using the Ivel tractor for cultivating land for turnips and it has exceeded all my expectations. Earlier, in the spring we used it for ploughing and it did very well, and now, when I thought it would not be able to get a grip on the land, it goes along doing work for which we always used six horses—the land is strong , loam, and it will haul a three-horse iron drag or a three-horse roller very easily.

"I consider it the most useful machine that a farmer can have. I shall be pleased to show it anyone and to let them see it working too, if they can come before the turnip land is worked.!'

(Signed) T. H. THOMPSON, Gowdall Lodge, • Snaith, S.O. Halley Replacements.

Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd., inform us they have received a letter from a N.C.O. at, one of the repair bases in which a very considerable expression of opinion is included with regard to the easy dissembling of the Halley vehicle, a characteristic facilitating very rapid overhaul.

A Motorbus Opening.

A committee of the House of Lords, under the chairmanship of Lord Hylton has rejected the Motorbus Extensions clause in the South Shields Corporation Bill. There is, therefore, an opening for private enterprise to serve the route which the Corporation had in view, between South Shields and Boldon.

"Proved Injury or Loss."

Mr. Asquith's special tribunal, to which he referred in his Newcastle speech, is a Royal Commission. It was appointed to inquire and determine as to payments out of public funds in respect of loss or damage due to the exercise by the Crown of its rights and duties under the Defence of the Realm Act. The secretary of this Commission is Mr. H. E. Dale, and its offices are at 64, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W.

We understand that the Commission will not deal direct with claims, but that they must be put through the respective Government Departments which are pri-, manly concerned in the matters which give rise to them. Dunlop Points.

The interim dividend of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., on the company's ordinary shares, will be at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum,' as last year, paid on the 1st prox. This company ha.s made meat-complete arrangements for increased; output ; it is able to execute very large Government orders, and at the same time to maintain supply for commercial owners, and the public generally.

L.G.O.C. Profits.

It is understood that private, legislation in the ensuing session' of Parliament will empower the Central London and other tube undertakings in London to apply'. L.G.O.C. motorbus profits in part to make good any deficiencies in their revenues. This development may be regarded as part of the eventual scheme of inter-related working which was anticipated' when the L.G.O.C, was purchased.'

Not Burnt Out.

. We have, in the course of two letters received from the Front, excellent testimony to the efficiency of Pyrene fire-extinguishers. In one case there was a tolerably big blaze from a 50-gallon cask of petrol, and in the other case, a fire occurred in: a convoy whilst they were refilling their tanks on the road. In'the latter instance there were 21 ambulances, besides miscellaneous ma-, chines, all packed together in three lines, and the fire occurred on the ambulance nearest the centre. Six Pyrenes saved the whole column. Our Fund.

We have received a collecting card, under postmark "Huddersfield," without the name of the sender, and without any enclosure accompanying it. There has evidently been some omission, and we ask, in the belief that this paragraph may reach the eye of the sender, for any necessary rectification.

Alleged Obstruction.

It is a matter for surprise that the police in some parts of the country, either from a mistaken sense of duty or a lack of other occupation, should be seeking to interfere with ordinary, commercial delivery. A case of the kind came before the Worthing Petty Sessions recently, when a local motorvan driver was summoned for alleged obstruction. The solicitor for the defendant stated that the motorvan was delivering outside a customer's shop, and that there was no delay beyond that necessary to unload and take in the goods ; while the vehicle was there, horsedrawn vehicles in the same street were also stationary for at least the same length of time. It was absolutely necessary for the owner of the van to carry on his business this way ; the vehicle did not exceed 61 ft. in width. There was, owing to the war, a shortage of labour, and the only way to deliver the goods was to use the motorvan.

A full Bench of magistrates dismissed the summons.

South-African Deliveries.

The following figures are significant of the change-over in the commercial-vehicle export trade for which the war is responsible Overseas. During the whole of 1914, motor lorries to the value of 214,619 were imported into South Africa from Great Britain, as against machines to the value of 224,002 in 1913, whilst the corresponding figures in respect of U.S.A. lorries were 27538 for 1914 and 2292 for 1913. There is a drop of approximately 25i. per cent, to be recorded as between 1914 and 1913 on the total ;Imports of commercial vehicles into the Union of South Africa.

Roads Improvement.

We are glad to see that the Roads Improvement Association is receiving financial support from various Ideal authorities. This is high testimony to official opinion as to the impartial and useful work which is done by the R.I.A. The Corporations of Liverpool, Bradford, Manchester, Sheffield, Blackpool and Hornsey are amongst recent subscribers in this category. We understand that some Urban District Councils, which are unable under their powers to subscribe directly, intend to show their ap A36

proval of the work which is done by the M.A., and the manner of its discharge, by purchasing copies of the annual report. This is a recognized, though indirect, way of supporting useful institutions.

London Coke Committee.

Mr. E. E. Rudge, secretary of the London Coke Committee, notifies a change of address for that body, from 39, Victoria Street, S.W., to 34, Horseferry Road, S.W. Petroleum Technology. We have been interested to receive Part III of Volume I of the Journal of the Institution of Petroleum Technologists. This society, of which Sir. I3overton Redwood, Bart., is president, is likely to exercise, by its investigations and discussions, a direct influence upon the rate of solution of various problems which affect fuel supply. Mr. Arthur W. Eastlake, 17, Gracechurch Street, E.G., is hon. sec.

A recent Registration.

Internal Spare Tyres (Parent) Co., Ltd. (g3000), by W. H. Lane, of 41, Cheapsicle, E.C.

View of the Road.

An interesting point, for many owners of loco-type wagons, arose at the Guildhall, on the 23rd inst., before Alderman Sir Thomas Crosby. Mr. h. F. Rudd was summoned for allowing the use of locotype wagons from which it was alleged the drivers had not an uninterrupted view of the road. The summonses were adjourned. We understand that the C.M.U.A. has ranged itself behind the defendant parties in this test case.

R.A.C. Membership.

The Committee of the Royal Autornebile Club, realizing that the Club should offer facilities for exercise, rifle practice, bayonet practice, fencing, pistol shooting, swimming,. squash rackets, etc., etc., has re

solved that any young officers, holding temporary commissions in the new armies, who happen to be quartered in or about London, or within easy reach of London, or officers convalescing, and who have at the present time no club where they can go for recreation, shall be allowed to enjoy temporary membership of the R.A.C., at a nominal subscription, and without enforcement of the entrance fee of 25 guineas. If any readers of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR think that this ' concession will be of interest to a friend or relative who holds a commission in the new armies, we trust they will direct attention to this announcement.

City of London National Guard M.T.C.

The Mechanical Transport Column of the City of London National Guard paraded a convoy of eight Commercar vehicles on Sunday last. The convoy assembled at the Manor Farm entrance of the Highgate Golf Club, where it picked up a platoon of the Highgate company, after which it proceeded to Southgate and picked up another local platoon. The convoy proceeded to Harpenden Common, where transport lorry, extended order and other drill took place.

The Commercar vehicles were lent by the following owners, and we give the names of the drivers in parentheses : The Birkbeck Hygienic Laundry, Enfield, two vehicles (W. F. Hartley and A. Roberts), Commercial Cars, Ltd., Luton (C. W. Parsons), Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., London (R. W. Wells), Edward Cook and Co., Ltd. (Robert T. Ashford), John Knight, Ltd., two vehicles (John Long and Alfred Osborn), Reynolds, Sons and Co., Ltd., Charterhouse Street, E.C. (Charles Hooton).

The M.T. Column was additionally responsible, through an out-district convoy of Clarkson (National) steam omnibuses, for the .conveyance, from Chelmsford Station to the Sandon ranges, of a company for musketry practice at long range.

The Foden Strike.

We have noted, for some weeks past,, various incidental and inconclusive comments in the daily Press in regard to the situation at the Foden works, where about 600 men out of a total of some 1000 employed were persuaded to express dissatisfaction with their terms of employment. The Foclen CO:• has been known to us, over a long term of years, to be both generous and just in its treatment of the men who work for . it, and it came as a matter of great surprise to us that friction should have been created at anybody's instigation.

It appears., now, from, local reports which are before us, that the feeling of the men who are still out of employment is that they themselves desire to go back again. We hope they will do BO, because the impedence of output is a serious matter at the present time from the point of view of continuing to maintain Army transport. and Army supply. No portion of this country's transport can be hindered, as it is materially hindered by reason of this unfortunate strike, without doing grave harm to the country's arms, and hence indirectly benefiting those of the enemy.

There has already been a percentage return of the men who were previously on strike, and excellent discipline has been maintained in the works amongst the majority who now _remain actively engaged. The company's view of the situation is that its adequate bonus—varying between ns. and 10s. a week—to each man who works full time, was sufficient to meet the ease in advance. It is pointed out on behalf of the Foclen Co. that men who came to the works absolutely untrained are now earning over £2 a week stand ing wage. We have received a copy of the latest edition of Scammell's " Foden Book." As its title implies, it is a compendium of information in respect of the maintenance and repairs of steam wagons of the well-known Foden type. Much also is included which is illustrative of Scammell's many other activities, including bodywork, and wheelwork particularly. aeAnaongst other Scammell specialities for steam wagons, we notice the illustration of a special oil-bath eccentric strap, a hinged engine guard, an automatic coupling, and a wash-out pump.

Avoidance of Light Running.

The matter of utilizing W.D. lorriesato carry goads, on the trip between the works at which they are made and the depot at which they are delivered for Government account, occupied the attention of the Coventry Chamber of Commerce at its monthly meeting on the 13th inst. This suggestion, of course, is by no means original. As we pointed out in our first leading article of the 1st inst. : "We have had private information, for some months -past, of the imsamer in which certain makers of motor lorries for the War Department have been utilizing those vehicles, on completion.but Were delivery, to carry loads from points in the vicinity of their own factories to other points in the vicinity of the M.T. depots at Grove Park or Camberwell."

Any manufacturers who are not in a position so to fill their lorries, and who may desire to do so, will now 'lave open to them the new channel of freight-earning which has been created, on our suggestion, in each issue of "The Times." This action on the part of a great London newspaper has aroused widespread interest throughout the country, and we are convinced that it is a development which will prove in the future to have consequences of a far-reaching character. We know that it is being watched very closely, not only by users of commercial 'motors, but by the whole newspaper Press of the country. If "The Times" makes a success of the departure, as we believe it will, a new body of adherents to the cause of commercial motoring is secured for all time, quite apart from the beneficial increase of facilities which are engendered.

Ford Extensions.

There is an increasing demand for Ford vans just now. The Ford Co. is in the happy position, in relation to the present state of affairs qua the great war which is raging on the Continent, of being able to continue its production almost unhampered in America. Large numbers of Ford vans are already in service in this country, and giving excellent results with net loads varying between 5 cwt. and 10 cwt., according to local conditions. The first cost of a Ford van to a purchaser may fall as low as £115, or may exceed that figure by perhaps £25, according to type of body. We are well satisfied, from inquiry, that the "all in" working cost of such a van may fall as low as 31d. per mile, if it can be worked all the week round. This figure, of course, includes driver's wages, maintenance, insurance, supplies, depreciation, interest on capital, and proportion of rent and rates. The chief office of the Ford Co. is at 55, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.C.

The importance of such extensive output cannot be ignored, particularly as a means of relief to owners who have hitherto striven to handle their traffic with larger units. Delivery of such larger units is insufficient to meet the demand, and a useful alternative, for at least a proportion of users who are so handicapped, is provided in the Ford van. A notification as to acceptance of a tender for a fleet of large singledeck buses has been sent to StrakerSquire (1913), Ltd., by the Metropolitan Asylums Board. The importance of this contract may be gauged by the fact that the London authorities deemed it advisable to obtain special War Office sanction and co-operation in the placing of this contract.

National Armourers.

Will all those of our correspondents who have written to us with regard to our proposal (made in print on the 25th ult.) for the formation of a National Volunteer Armourers Corps take this intimation that their applications for enrolment have been recorded?

At the present time, as our readers are aware, the whole question of the proper employment of such available skilled and semiskilled aid is receiving the very careful attention of Government officials who have been specifically charged with the investigation of the conditions pertaining to the widening of munition-production facilities. Should it be found that voluntary tid for either part or whole time can be practically employed as part and parcel of our industrial productiveness during the continuance of the war, an organization which is already being developed will take charge of the whole scheme, which, of course, as we have written on previous occasions, is beyond our scope. We will continue to receive the names of those who are interested and who could offer their services, and we will register them against such time as we are enabled to communicate any effective developments which may take place. In conclusion, we would emphasize the fact that only in the event of such a scheme's proving to be thoroughly practicable shall we lend out aid to its furtherance.


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