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News and Comment.

29th February 1912
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Page 10, 29th February 1912 — News and Comment.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This journal is extensively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses.

This number completes our 14th volume, and our seventh year of publication.

Particulars about a new system for the rapid extinguishing of petrol and other fires will be found on pages 542 and 543.

Another Petrol-electric Experi ment.

The new rail-coach of the Great Western Railway Co. is illustrated on page 549, and most of the leading constructional particulars are also given.

A New Motor Road-washer.

A rotary " squeegee " is illustrated and described on page 540: this new type of street-cleansing apparatus may shortly become popular with municipal officers.

London Depots.

To the list of manufacturers with London depots, from which demonstration vehicles can generally be obtained, we should add that of Berna Commercial Motors, Ltd., oninore Road, West Kensington.

Topical Subjects.

Our leading articles this week concern the following topical subjects: (1) " Commercial vehicles in Manchester trade : the show problem again ;" (2) "Better highway bridges and grants by the Road Board ;" (3) "Excessive axleweights ;" and (4) "The motorvan down among the small men."

We would direct particular attention to the contents of our "Supply Department" pages this week : they will be found near the end of the issue. Several interesting tire photographs are reproduced.

A Preference Issue.

Attention is directed to the announcement of an issue of preference capital by the Car and General Insurance Corporation, Ltd. Information is given facing page 543 of this journal, but full prospectuses can be had on application to the head office of the company, 1, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., or to any of its 33 branches.

Overseas Notice No. 1.

The issue of "Indian Engineering " for the 3rd inst. makes complimentary reference to this journal's "Overseas Annual" of December last. The Editor incidentally remarks : "We shall again refer to the annual, which contains a fund of data on the subject of motor vehicles not easily obtained in the compass of a single publication," This is from overseas. Agricultural Motor Trials in France.

Last week's programme of trials at Paris does not appear to have attracted a successful amount of competition.

A considerable competition is expected at Bourges, from the 25th September to the 6th October next, under the auspices of a committee of which Prince Pierre D'Arenburg is the president. All particulars may be obtained from the office of the Commission, 14, Avenue de la Gare, Bourges (Cher), or from the Secretary of the Agricultural Commission of the Automobile Club of France, Paris.

It is decided that an important agricultural motor congress and competition shall be held in France during the year 1913. The work will be undertaken by the Societe Nationale d'Encouragemerit a la Agriculture, having exPresident Loubet at its head.

In an interview with the Press, M. Loubet declared that the agricultural-motor competition would be held with the aid of the Agricultural Committee of the Automobile Club of France, and would endeavour to draw the attention of motor manufacturers to the necessity of studying the problem of applying motors to agriculture, and also seek to prove to agriculturists the value of motors. American manufacturers had secured a lead.

A Sweep and His Soot.

One is accustomed, in hostile circles, to hear complaints about the soot and smell which are alleged to come from an internal-combustion engined motor. It is a contrast, accordingly, for us to be able to reproduce herewith an illustration which shows that the petrol engine can be turned to account to get rid of soot. Mr. C. Barnes, of 26, Tuns Hill, Earley, Berks., has been using an old Benz car, which vehicle he believes to be about 18 years old, for some considerable time, in the ordinary course of his trade as a practical chimney sweep. Mr. Barnes has found the use of this vehicle, which he bought secondhand, of the greatest value in enabling him to get through a number of early appointments, and to insure that the alluring headline " All orders receive prompt attention" has in his case distinctly more than a want of meaning. He uses this Benz car in his business nearly every day_ Ferodo's New London Home.

The Herbert Frood Co., Ltd., of Sovereign Mills, Chapel-en-le-Frith, has now taken London premises at 39, tipper Rathbone Place, Oxford Street, W.—just opposite the London depot of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd.

Patented Non-Skid for Disposal.

We have received particular, from Mr. W. H. Cleaver, of King ston, New York, who at one time was associated with Commercial ars, Ltd., of a special form of nonskid attachment for twin tires which he has introduced with considerable success in America. He informs us that the device is protected in England and U.S.A. He would like to get in touch with some English manufacturer who would be willing to handle this device on royalty or other equitable basis. He is convinced that it, can be operated as successfully on this side of the water as in America. The device consists of a form of chain, which at intervals carries crossbars whose wedge-shaped bases fit between the two tires of an ordinary twin-tired rubber wheel.

'Auxiliary Rims.

Mr. H. L. Pitt, of the Blackwell Rim Co., Stourbridge, recently called at the office of this journal, and in the course of conversation mentioned that his company was prepared to come to some arrangement: with a reputable tire company, or other interested concern, with a view to the more efficient exploitation of the Blackwell auxiliary rim, which was described in this journal in February last year. At the time of our examination of this speciality, we were favourably impressed with the possibilities of its employment, and we still think that. providing facilities for its proper marketing are forthcoming, it will meet with wide use. We

shall be happy to put anyone interested in this matter into communi cation with the proper parties, as we like the device. A Fine Range of Motor Lubricants.

It would save time when speaking of motor oils and greases to indicate exactly what the Stern Sonneborn Co., Ltd., does not supply in this line. One member of our staff has taken considerable trouble to think of many devices in connection with the whole gamut of motor engines and appliances where special lubrication is required, and has taken interest in looking up the "S. S. " products to see if the want has been anticipated. The regularity of supply meeting demand became in time almost monotonous. Familiar in the mouths of motor users as household words are the trade marks " Sternal" for oils and " SternoI ine " for greases. Those for steam wagons are known as " Occento line," which are made up in two qualities, the first being suited for engines using superheated steam up to 550F., and the second being specially adapted for use on engines using steam above that.

The old-established business of Mitnes-Daimler, Ltd.—so honourably connected with the growth of commercial-motor traffic in this country—is now changed to MilnesDaimler-Mercedes, Ltd., and the company's new. address is 132-135, Long Acre, W.C. Extensive repair and other arrangements are completed at the new premises.

Patents, Designs and Trade Marks in New Zealand.

An Act relating to patents, designs, and trade marks was recently passed by the Legislature in New Zealand ; it will come into force on the 1st July next. English manufacturers interested in the New Zealand market would do well to study this Act, in view of changes in the law.

Progress in the U.S.A.

There are, it is reported, at the present time 20,000 industrial motor vehicles employed in the States. The leading firms arc making a great feature of their heavier trucks. Out of 31 manufacturers 15 are specialising in 5-ton and 6-ton trucks, while one maker is booming a 10-ton wagon.

Scottie!. Motor Trade Association.

We congratulate the Scottish Motor Trade Association, Ltd., on the progress disclosed by the report and proceedings of the last annual general meeting, which took place on the 15th inst., in Glasgow. The Council for the ensuing year is as follows: Mr. W. E. Townsend, president; Mr. A. G. Rennie, vice-president; ordinary members, Messrs. T. 0. Pullinger ; G. MacLachla,n ; J. Wylie ; W. Cox ; and W. Stewart.

Hydraulic Tire-presses.

Hollings and Guest (1908) Ltd., Thimble Mill Lane, Birmingham, advises us that its hyaratuic presses, in addition to the one which we illustrated in our is:Aic for the ,ith January, and which has been installed at the Midland Rubber Co.'s new premises in London, have been htted at the St. Helens Cable and Rubber Co.'s depot at King's Cross, and the new Peter Union Stores in L.ttle Albany Street. In the latter case the pumps are electrically driven.

Recent Registrations Worth Noting.

W. E, McArdle, Ltd., with an authorized capital of £10,000 in 1:1 shares, and with its office at 314, Euston Road, N.W., to manufacture and deal in motorcars, motorcabs, motorbuses, and other public conveyances.

Ernest Smith and Woodhouse, Ltd., with an authorized capital of xt5on in £1 shares by C. Doubble, 11, Sergeant's Inn, E.C., to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in motor engines, motorcabs, cars, omnibuses, etc. First directors : E. Smith (managing director), J. W. Woodhouse and W. H. Sheldon.

Liverpool Stables and Motors, Ltd., with an authorized capital of 1:2o,uu0 in A:1 shares by Walker, Son and Field, 61, Carey Street, W.C., to carry on the business of motorcar, omnibus, van and general motor and horse-vehicle proprietors, etc., and to adopt an agreement with the Liverpool Stables Co., Ltd., and the Liverpool Garage Co., Ltd. First directors : R. P. Sing, Capt. C. H. Blitekburne, M. Stewart-Brown and J. Heap. Improvements in Weis.

We are advised of several interesting constructional modifications which have been made to the standard Ivel agricultural motor. On page 538 of this issue will be found a reproduction of a photograph of one of the latest of these machines, an example which carries the latest structural improvements. Primarily, the Ivel people tell us, they are particularly pleased with the modification that has been made in regard to the position of the magneto. This was formerly driven, it may lir; remembered, from the crankshaft, but it is now located at about the centre of the offside of the machine, and is driven direct from the camshaft. In addition to magneto ignition, all standard Ivel machines are supplied with an alternative accumulator system. The most noticeable feature in regard to the tractor, which is illustrated according to the reference we have already made, is the new type of engine cover that has been adopted. The Ivel model has, until recently, been covered with a rather clumsy form of sheetmetal protector. It was found that this, in actual operation, was soon taken off, never to be returned to its proper position. The covers were left to kick about in all sorts of odd corners, and, as a matter of fact, inevitably ceased to exercise their proper functions. A simple form of shield, sliding sideways, as shown in the photograph, has now been adopted. It cannot be taken away from the machine, but it may be readily pushed on one side, when examination of the engine or other mechanism becomes necessary. The company's manager. Mr. Hoffmann, sails to-day for South America. Leyland's New Catalogue.

At, the Manchester Show, we w ere handed—fresh from the press --a copy of the new Leyland catalogue. This is an artistic and at, the same time thoroughly-informative production. First and working costs are set out in admirable fashion, typical illustrations are usefully distributed, and the whole tone of the 72-page production is raised by the inclusion of a number of well-executed coloured plates. These latter, we feel called upon to say, will go far to impress many an intending buyer who has previously not appreciated the fact that commercial vehicles can possess lines of beauty. The coding arrangements are clearly stated, body and other dimensions are given in simple fashion, and the Leyland Co.'s latest achievements in the fire-brigade and railcar departments are given the prominence they deserve. In addition, an adequate selection of line drawings is published, whilst the piogress in the models produced by the company, since it won the R.A.S.E. silver medal at Crewe in June, 1897, to the present date, is indicated by two illustrations which must help everybody who looks at the catalogue to realize how enormous commercial-motor progress has been.

We congratulate the compilers of the catalogue on the arrangemelit and display of the contents.


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