WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be stowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Manchester Coach Owners' New Worry.
In granting permission for the operation of additional express bus services, Manchester Watch Committee has introduced a new condition on licences which is causing serious concern to motorcoach owners who have street stands and booking offices in the centre of the city. It is understood that in future licences will only be granted on condition that passengers are loaded at a garage and 'not at the city booking office, as is at present the case. Manchester owners have always taken the view that it is a public convenience for passengers to join outward-bound coaches in the central part of the city. Here are located the various, inquiry and booking offices.
If the new 'condition be enforced the business will in all Probability be transferred to less convenient premises. We believe that representations are being made with the object of obtaining some modification in the new regulation.
A New" Secretary of the and T.
Just before closing for press we learn that Mr. R. H. -Spicer. has 'succeeded Colonel Hacking as general secretary to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Mr. Spicer is one of the best-informed but quietest workers in the motor industry. He was a Captaiu of Eton and a King's scholar at Cambridge. He served in the Cold-stream Guards as a lieutenant, and after the war was in the employ of the Engineering and Allied Employers National Federation, leaving it to form the statiatical department of the sm.m. and T. He is only 39 years of age, and is author of. "British Engineering Wages" and other works.
Dyson Trailer Orders, The popularity of the trailers made by R. A. Dyson and Co., Ltd., of 70-80 Grafton Street. Liverpool, S., amongst important road-transport concerns, is well exemplified by the names which appear amongst those nsers which have recently placed orders with the company. There is that of Piekford's, Ltd., which is buying six 8-ton trailers, incidentally bringing that concern's fleet of Dyson units well over the two-hundred-mark, as well as that of the South African Railways Administration, which has indented for 14 Dyson trailers. Then again, H. and G. Simonds, Ltd., the well-known brewing concern of Reading, has placed its sixteenth order for trailers of this make. this being for three tank trailers, whilst R. Paterson and Sons, Ltd., of Glasgow. , the concern making Camp Coffee, is buying six end-tipping trailers.
Long-distance Vehicles Licensed at Newbury.
The licensing committee of the Newbury Corporation has granted 20 licences to the Birmingham and Midland Motor. Omnibus Co., Ltd. The newly licensed vehicles will be used on long-distance services to and from Birmingham and will not compete with the local buses.
e20 In a Line or Two.
A number of American civil engineers has recently arrived in this country to study English methods of road construc tion.
Grantham Town Council has approved a scheme for the erection of a new bus station and the provision' of a parking ground on the east side of St. Peter's Hill. The estimated cost of the work is said to be nearly £10,000.
Scarborough licensing authorities have approved applications for the operation of bus services between Scarborough and Blackpool ; Scarborough, Leeds, Warrington and Liverpool, and Scarborough, Leeds and Bradford.
The London County Council is to widen Kingston Road, Putney, at a cost of .£48,500.
The watch committee of the Morecambe Corporation has granted licences for buses in connection with a proposed Leeds-Morecambe service, to be operated by the West Yorkshire Road Car CO., of Harrogate.
The completion of the four-millionth magneto produced from the works of the Bosch Co., at Stuttgart, in Germany, was recently celebrated.
The sidecarrier demonstration will be held from July 22nd to 27th.
-Members of the Institution of Automobile Engineers are to inspect tile works„ of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., during the 1929 summer visit of that body. Railway's Goods Services by Road Motors.
Little time has been lost by the London and North-Eastern Railway Co. in.
utilizing powers to institute goods services by road in the north-east coast area as a means tor providing quicker
transport of freight. Already it has commenced between 20 and SO motor services between large railway centres and the surrounding countryside, covering a total -route mileage of between 300 and 400.
The object of the company is to save time in transit, also to reduce the amount of handling, collections and deliveries being made on the door-to-door
principle. Besides expediting collections and deliveries in. areas already served by rail, the new development is helping the company to tap areas which have, in the past, been beyond the range of rail transport.
Inter-urban Licences Granted at , Manchester.
Among the 17 'newly sanctioned express services between Manchester and other, towns are the following Barnsley : The Barnsley and District Traction Co., Ltd. Hull, via Oldham : The East Yorkshire Motor Service, Ltd. Liverpool: The CroSville Motor. Co., Ltd: Leeds and Bradford: The Yorkshire (Woollen District) Electric tramways. Derby and Leicester The Trent Motor Traction, Co., Ltd. Birmingham, London and Bristol.: The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. Stoke, Stafford and Birmingham: The Potteries Electric Traction Co., Ltd. Great Marlborough and Stafford : Messrs. Tilstons, Stafford. Blackburn: Lewis Cronshaw, Ltd. Sheffield and Stockport : North-Western Road Car Co., Ltd, A Progressive Oil Company.
Sterne!, Ltd., was incorporated as a public company only in Juno of last year, taking over Sterns, Ltd., a private concern which was founded some 49 years ago.
As referred to elsewhere in this issue, the new chairman is the Right Hon. the Earl of Verulam, Who succeeds the late Right Hon. Lord Athlumney.
The company is quite independent of combines and trusts, and is winning a very sound reputation for the quality of its products.
As regards the trade effected, there has been a :35 per cent, increase in trade buyers since 1928.
The £5 flag scheme, which was inaugurated in 1925, proved SO popular with private-car owners that it has now been revived and extended to cover the drivers of commercial vehicles, and it will be interesting to .follow its progress in the latter connection.
.We regret to learn of the death of Mr. A. Franklin, general manager and director of the Hermetic Rubber Co, Ltd., of Birmingham. Mr. Franklin had been connected with this company and its predecessor, The Self-Sealing Rubber Co., Ltd., since its inception and 'was well known in the trade. Vulcan Activity.
The Vulcan motor works at Crossens, Southport, is said to be enjoying a new era of activity under the energetic organization of Mr. Challinor (chairman of the company). Orders are in hand not only from all parts of Great Britain and the Dominions (especially from corporations), but also, from plaCea as far apart as China, Sw 'en, etc. All models of Vulcans are in favour, especially the 6-seater bus.
Bus Route Mileages in Free State Counties.
The Department of Industry and Commerce of the Irish Free State has issued a table showing the mileage of roads in each of the 26 counties upon
which passenger motor services were running during the month of December, 1028, The counties with the greatest number of miles of road used by bus services were : Cork, 380; Galway, 374; Tipperary, 270; Meath, 233; and Mayo, 226; the smallest being Carlow, 40; Monaghan, 77; and Leitrim, 85. The total mileage for the Irish Free State was 4,388.
New Standard Whitworth Bolts and Nuts.
The British Engineering Standards Association has recently issued a new specification for bright hexagon bolts, nuts, setscrews, etc. This is for the reason that a demand has arisen for a series of bolts having British Standard Whitworth threads, but smaller heads than these of the series published in Specification No. 190. The new standard has consequently been established and designated the British Standard Whitworth (small hexagon) (B.S.W.S.) Bright Hexagon Bolts, Nuts and Setscrews, Split-pins, Washers and Studs (B.S.& No. 193-1929). A corresponding nut is also standardized.
The dimensions, other than those of the screw threads, are identical, with those of the British Standard Fine series, published in Specification No. 191. The present series is that which has been used in certain branches of
industry tinder the designation "AutoWhit."
Copies of the new specification can be obtained from the Publications Department, British Engineering Standards Association, 28, Victoria Street, Loudon, S.W.1, at the price of 2s. 2d. post free.
Presentations to a Transport Chief.
On March 21st Mr. C.-G. Tegetmeier, chairman of the directors of the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., the Swansea Tramways Co., Ltd., and the Mumbles Light Railway, received three presentations from the staffs of the companies of which he has been chairman for 29 years. Mr. David James, J.P., who is managing director of the South Weles Transport Co., Ltd., presided. Mr. Tegetmeier ex pressed his gratitude for the testimonies of goodwill and paid high tribute to the working of the companies' staffs.
The Other L.M.S.
The Lawrence Motor Services, of Blackpool, locally known as the L.M.S., have purehased the motorbuses owned by Fleetwood and Knott End Motors, Ltd. The transfer took place on March 25th. The only other service in the town and district is that run by the Blackpool Corporation.
Batteries for Electric Mail Vans.
We have already intimated in our columns that the postal authorities are carrying out experiments in London and Leeds with electric delivery vans. At the present time seven Victor 15-cwt. vans are being used in London and three Electromobile vans in the Yorkshire city. These vehicles are, we understand, fitted with Kathanode batteries, supplied by the D.P. Battery Co., Ltd., of Bakewell.
More Buses for the L.N.E.R.
The Londan and North-Eastern Railway Co. has now arranged for the delivery of 46 32-seater buses for the operation of a number of important services in the Sunderland area, linking up that town with Newcastle, South Shields, Seaham, Dnrhara and other of the larger .centres . of. PoPulalion, within a 15-Mile to 20-mile radius. The company is also to institute a system of interchangeable tickets, which will enable passengers to use either road or rail services.
Licences for Brighton-London Services.
The watch committee of the Brighton Corporation has granted licences for motor coaches, for service between Brighton and London, to the following operators: Turpin Engineering Co., Ltd.; Grey Coaches, Ltd.; Cook's Safety Coaches, Ltd.; G.B. (Motor Tours), Ltd.; Mr. Adam Potts; Valliant Coaches, Ltd.; E. Burmingham and Co., Ltd.; and Messrs. Thorne Bros. Liverpool Motor Parade.
The Liverpool Area Committee of the Commercial Motor Users Association contemplates holding its annual motor Parade on either the first or the second Saturday in June, provided, of course, that sufficient support is forthcoming and subject to one of the selected dates being approved by the chief constable.
Manchester's All.night Buses.
Manchester Corporation commenced on March 25th the experiment of running all-night motorbuses instead of trams on the Chorlton and Levenshulme route. Double-deck buses of the type now used in the suburbs maintain these journeys ; they each seat 52 passengers. _
Papers Before the I.A.E.
At the next general meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, to be held at the Royal Society of Arts, John Street, London, W.C.2, on April Dth, Mr. H. S. Rowell and Mr. 0. G. Williams will read a paper entitled
Automatic Spark Advance. Another Interesting paper, which is entitled "Central Lubrication of Chassis Bearings," will be read by Mr. H. W. Pitt before members of the Institution at the Technical Institute, Park Street, Guildford, on April 18th, and at the Engineering and Scientific Club, Queen Street, Wolverhampton, on April 23rd.
A special meeting is being arranged by the North of England centre of the Institution at the University, Sheffield, on April 22nd, when Dr. H. J. Gough, of the National Physical Laboratory, will repeat the lecture, entitled " Recent Developments in the Study of the Fatigue of Materials," which he has delivered before several of the other centres.
Bus Licensing in Glasgow.
At a recent meeting of the Glasgow Town Council the question of licences was raised, and it was stated that there were 849 buses licensed for passenger traffic and owned by private firms. This year 13 new licences had been granted, and 603 of the total number of buses entering the city were owned by firms outside the precincts.
The senior magistrate stated that the number of bus accidents in the city since January 1st was 262, 131 persons being involved, and there were 11 fatalities. The number of children involved in the accidents was 30.
430 Trays of Cakes in a 21-tonner.
The transport of cakes in large quantities presents some dillicult problems to designers of vehicles, apart from the obvious requirements of ample space. There are several interesting features in the Garner patent 2i-ton forward-control van illustrated on this page—this vehicle being one of four Garners supplied to Peerless Cakes Ltd., of Redditch.
The interior of the body is fitted with steel racks which accommodate 430 trays, each measuring 21 ins. by 16 ins. by 4 ins. deep. The rack construction consists of tubular steel uprights secured at the top and the bottom into cast aluminium fixtures. There are additional wooden supports and angle-iron
side runners, with flat steel sliding strips made to hold detachable cake trays of a required dimension. The trays slide freely on the reeks, and are carried with the minimum of movement.
The latest Garner 2i-ton vehicle of this type has a 14-ft. wheelbase and inside dimensions of 16 ft. 9 ins. by 7 ft. by 7 ft. 6 ins. Although this van gives time. remarkable loading space of 941 cubic feet, it complies with the latest regulations, which stipulate that the overhang must not exceed 7-24ths of the total length.
L.N.E.R. Services to the Lake District.
On March 25th, the London and North-Eastern Railway commenced the operation of its new bus services from the South of Scotland to the English Lake District. One of the main routes is from Hawick, via Carlisle to Keswick.
Personal Pars.
An important change of position has just been effected by a well-known figure in trade circles. Mr. J. Atkinson, the gentleman in question; whose portrait appears on this page, has been connected on the selling side with Karrier Motors, Ltd., . and its predecessor for 21 years, having joined the
company in January, 1908. He has played an important part in connection with the company's activities, having been out to South America twice on its behalf. He has now taken up an appointment on the sales side with Dennis Brothers, Ltd., of Guildford. We have met him, mostly at Show times, for a good many years and wish him every success in his new sphere.
Mr. W. Peters, C.M.G., has been appointed Trade Commissioner (Grade 1) in the Irish Fret State, with head' quarters at Dublin. Mr. Peters was appointed Commercial Secretary (Grade 2) for Russia in 1919, and was promoted to be Commercial Secretary (Grade 1) for SiberiA in February, 1921. He was the assistant agent of the British Commercial Mission to Russia in July, 1921, and returned to England upon the withdrawal of this mission from Russia in June, 1927. Following this, he was appointed Commercial Secretary for Sweden and Denmark, but as from October, 1928, his area was confined to Sweden. Mr. Peters expects to leave England for Dublin during the course of the present month.
Inauguration of a Plymouth-Penzance Service.
A new passenger-transport service between Plymouth and Penzance, the operator of which is known as H.B. Buses, Ltd., was inaugurated on March 25th. This concern, which is associated with Cornish Buses, Ltd., is starting with a service of three buses daily in each direction, stops being made at the important points en route. The Plymouth booking agents are H.B. Buses, Ltd., Balfour Hall, Notte Street, and W. Mumford, Ltd., Old Town Street. Municipal Purchases and 'Proposals.
DEPTFORD BOF011gil Council is to purchase motor vehicles for scavenging work at a cost of 1206.
SEATIAM. EIAREOUR 'Urban District Council has decided to purchase a motor vehicle for refuse collection.
HEMEL HEMPSTED Town Council has referred to its finance committee the question of the purchase of a motor lorry.
• Caormav Watch Committee has accepted the tender of Messrs. Henry Farr and Son, of Wigan, for the supply of a motor ambulance.
The tramways committee of the Moancaman Corporation recommends the purchase of two Maui:Islay 32seater buses at a cost • of £2,150.
The health Cominittee of the Gtasaow Corporation, recommends the Purchase of two Austin 20 h.p. six-cylinder chassis, for equipping with ambulance bodies, at an estimated cost of £402 each.
The watch committee of the tWi.11IINOHAIL Corporation is to make proN'iSiOn in estimates , for the purchase of a motor turbine pump and a motor turntable escape at an estimated cost of £4,200.
The tramways committee of the IIRADFORD Corporation is to purchase Eve double-deck and five single-deck motorbuses, as well as saven new trolley-buses. It is also buying a motorvan for the parcels department for use in connection with a contract for the education committee for the transport of food to various schools.
Municipal Co-operation in the North.
The tramways committee of the Morecambe Corporation is . of opinion that it is in the' interests of the transport undertakings of the Lancaster and the Morecambe Corporations to institute a service, operated by. them jointly, between the two boroughs, and has decided to open negotiations with the Lancaster Corporation with a view to powers being sought so as to enable this Propositien to be carried into effect.
Managership of the Gellygaer Bus Undertaking.
There were 85 applications emanating from all 'parts of England, Wales and Scotland, for the position of manager of the bus 'undertaking of the Gellygaer Urban istrict Council. The council will interview 'three-candidates, from whom .a final selection will be made, the three candidates being Mr. J. M. Beg,g, of Dundee; Mr. F. Fabian, of Pyle (Glam.) ; and Mr. D. Trapani, of Lower Cwmtwreh (Swansea Valley), ,
Batteries for Bets Lighting.
The question of motorbus lighting is one of much importance and it is impossible for passengers to travel under comfortable and convenient conditions unless the interior is adequately illuminated. For this reason we feel that many operators will be interested in the catalogue which Oldham and Son, Ltd., of Denton, has just issued, for it deals with the latest range of Oldham batteriea specially built for bus work. Details are given of the various types made and of the price for spare parts for the dif:erent models. Several illustrations of vehicles in the service of prominent bus concerns on which Oldham batteries are used are included.
Welsh Council May Want Refuse Collectors.
The Bedwas and Machen Urban District Council is considering the adoption of mechanical vehicles for refuse collection. The surveyor has been instructed to report on the success of scavenging by motor vehicles in other towns and to submit estimates of the cost of certain types of vehicle.
A Surrey Licence Withheld.
At a recent meeting of the watch committee of the Guildford Corporation the chief constable reported that he had received an application from Messrs. .T. It, Pox and Sons, operators of the
Woking and District Bus Services, to license a bus service between Eghtun and Guildford. The chief constable reported upon the large number of buses operating on services in and through Guildford, and the committee refused to grant the application.' r
, Greenock Licences L.M.S. Buses,
• The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. has r been granted licences for three buses at Greenock, subject to the operation of the Greenock Tramways ' Act, a condition being that passengers are not carriedfrom point to point Within the burgh; The "buses are now running on the new road service between Greenock 'and Larg,s, the formal inauguration • of which took place on March 22nd.
A New Plymouth-Birmingham Service.
It is announced that a new daily coach service between Plymouth and Birmingham, via Taunton, Bridgwater, Bristol, Gloucester, Worcester • and Tewkesbury, is aba.a..t to be inaugurated by a firm known as Pathfinder Saloon Coaches. Proposed Disposal of a Municipal Undertaking.
A number of tenders from private bus companies has been received by the Bedwas and Machen Urban District Council, following the council's decision to offer its bus undertaking for sale by tender. The tenders submitted were privately considered by the council, and the decision as to whether the sale shall be effected and, if so, which of the tenders is to be accepted, willbe announced later.
Weymouth Considers a Licence Application.
The watch committee of the Weymouth Corporation has recommended granting the application from the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., for 20 motor coach licences in connection with a service from Birmingham to Weymouth, subject to the
condition that a minimum fare of is. 6d. be charged in the borough and that the vehicles shall be used only for the Birmingham-Weymouth service.
• Standardized Colours for Italian Passenger Motors.
The Italian Ministry of Communications -has recently issued an order requiring, as from December 31st next, all urban motor buses in Italy to be painted an " electric " green colour internally and a Veronese green externally. Motor coaches for touring excursions must be painted red, intertown motorbuses blue, and taxicabs " electric " green.
A Surrey Bridge to be Widened.
Surrey County Council has decided to widen Merton Abbey railway bridge, as the present width is insufficient to allow two large vehicles to pass one another with safety, and the steep gradients of the approaches and the extremely narrow footpath on the bridge constitute a source of danger to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. • The cost is estimated at £13,190,