WHEELS• OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difilculties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
The Big Deal.
The " six-million combination "
talked about in motor circles during the past few weeks was inauguarated London last. week. The scheme disclosed by Mr. H. J. Whitcomb was for the amalgamation of certain interests which should give a virtual control of production from the raw material to the finished goods. By an intercliange -of shares, liadfields, Ltd., would have an . interest in the provision of the. steel, an arrangement had been entered into with the Birmingham Aluminiuna Co. for a supply of aluminium castings, the work stamping, casting and forging would occupy the important plant of Harper, Sons and Bean, of Dudley and Tipton, whilst the construction of the vehicles would be carried out at the Bean, Vulcan and Swift works. The proportions of the interests in these concerns: which have been absorbed are 99 per cent. of the shares in Harper, Sons and Bean, valued at £795.000, out of a total share value of, say, 8(il3,250; 60 per cent, of the Vulcan Co.'s shares and se per cent. of the Swift Co.'s ordinary shares. Besides these there have been acquired 50 per cent. of the ordinary shares in the British Motor Trading Corporation, Ltd., 50 per cent, of the' ordinary hareS in Harvey Frost, Ltd., 100 per cent, of the shares of each of the following concerns : Bushmores (1919), Ltd., Jigs, Ltd.' Regent Carriage Co., Ltd., CalLay Radiator Co.' Ltd., and Alex Mosses Radiator Co., Ltd.
The intention is to build the Bean car on mass-production lines upon a basis of 50,000 cars per annum, the Swift car (of a larger typethan the Bean) upon • a basis of 25,000 cars per annum, and the Vulcan 30-cwt. and other commercial motors on a basis of 25,000 vehicles per annum. From January the production of complete sets of units will commence at the rate of approximately 50 per week, increasing to 300.per week by July, 1920, 600 per week by the end of the year, 1,000 per week by July, 1921, and 2,000 per week by July... 1922.. Mr. Whitcomb, however,, gave July; 1923, as the date for attaining this maximum output, whereas the Prospectus giveSthe earlier and more optimistic date. An interesting, feature of the scheme is the allocation; from the . purChnse money due to Mr. Whitcomb and Mr. Bean, or:-500;000 ordinary: 'shares fuly paid, to be-held li.v.them as trustees on behalf of the eniployees as a 'whole for the pukpoM of a benevolent fund for the employees andtheir dependants, the income to he distributed by a joint committee of directors and employees. The prospectu was Published at the week-end, the subkription list opening yesterday (Monday) and closing. to
morrow (Wednesday)—Thursday for country applications. The capital is divided into3,000,000 8 per cent, accumulative participating preference shares. of £1 and a like number of ordinary shares. After the payment of 10 per cent. on the ordinary shares the surplus profile are divisible as to one-quarter to the preference shares and threequarters to the ordinary shares. It is not at all easy to arrive at the purchase consideration, but it is stated that the balance of the cash proceeds of the issue will be 2,784,258. Deducting the half million of shares allocated to the benevolent fund we arriveat the figure of £2,715,742, payable in cash and shares under the various agreements. Firm applications had already been received for 2,800,000 shares, whilst 1,450,000 have been issued as part pur chase consideration. . .
Tramway Extensions Opposed.
opposition is coming from the City Corporation and the municipal authorities of London to the London County Council scheme Of tramway extensions. The City Corporation heel:definitely re:solved to inform the London, Ccusity Council that the Court would not assent to any part of the extensions which would carry tramways through the City streets.
The Westminster City Council has also resolved to oppose the extensions in the West End thoroughfares. One of the Westminster City Councillors, -who is also a member of the L.C.C., said he opposed the scheme primarily because the tramway system would 'soon be superspded by other forms of locomotion.
Be! size Profits.
The accounts of Belsize Motors, Ltd., for the years ending on September 30th, 1916 and 1917, and a report for the year ending September 30th, 1919, will be presented at the shareholders' meeting on Thursday. The net Profits for 1916 period were .247,200, and for the 1917 period £62,608, in each of which years dividends of 10 Per cent. for the year and a bonus of Is. per share on the .ordinary shares were paid. The amounts payable for Excess Profits Duty in respect of the 1918 period have not yet been ascertained, and it is not possible to give the accounts for the 1919 period, but the directors recommend the distribution of a 10 per cent, dividend and a bonus of is. per share.
Sell -To-day's Fish .To-day.
The prospectus of Direct Fish Supplies: Ltd., a. company with a capital of R.2,o6o,000, is now, before the inVesting public.. This concern will work a scheme somewhat -similar to that _described in our last issue for co-ordinating -fish suplies'and. bringing the food quiokly and directly to the consiimer. The Direct Fish Supplies, Ltd.,hayeplaceilanoriler for-I00 5-ton steam lorries with Robey
and Co:, of Lincoln. . _ The feline:Mon of an association of users of ceinmercial motors in Paris is contern
pL%-ted. The leading -spirit L.
Flouret.
In our report of the Reads and Transport Congress and Exhibition recently held at the Agricultural Hall, We hiedvertently gave the incorrect name of the company which make the "Tiger" steam tractor. As many of our readers will probably know, this should have been John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd,
Tanks Award.
The report of the Royal Commission Of Awards to Inventors, of which Mr. Justice Sargent is chairman, on Thursday last issued its reeernmendations on the claims examined in respect of the invention of Tanks.
The Commission pays a high compliment to the receptivity; courage and driving force of Mr. Winston Churchill, by which such an instrument of warfare as the Tank was converted into practical shape. '
With regard to the different claims, to Major-General Swinton. is given the credit for the conception of a machinegun destroyer, and the general character of the Tank, for energetic and successful advocacy of such an instrument, and for the specific definition in June, 1915, of the neces%vy characteristics of the weapon. Be receives an award of £1,000.
Great credit is paid to Commander Sueter, Lt.-Colonel Boothia,y and Major Hetherington, for their services, Which, however, was held to have come within the scope of their driti.
To ,Mr. Macfie and Mr. Nesfield an award of £500 each is made in respect of certain ideas.
Sir E. Tennyson D'Eyncourt is given an award of £1,000, and great credit is paid to him for his work.
The joint claim of Colonel Crompton and Mr. Le Gros is not upheld, the wo-rk being regarded as coming within the scope of their duties as consulting engineers to the special committee, for which they received a substantial agreed re• muneration.
To Sir William Tritton and Major Wilson is attributed the credit of designing and producing in a concrete and practical shape the novel and efficient weapon known as the Tank, and to them, in the judgment of the committee, by far the largest award should be made, the amount recommended being £15,000.
The Commission regrets that it is notable to snake any award to Mr. L. E. De Mole, who put, forward the practical idea in 1912. This decision is arrived at with regret, but the claimant had not been :able to she* Casual oannec.tion between the making of:this Apvientien and tiinuaer of any similar invention by the
Government. . , . • ..
Our cengratalations are extended to Sir William Littonand 'Major Wilson uponthe"Suacess which bias-attended the prosecution of their just claims.
Petrol Prices.
Much argument has taken place in the House of Commons recently Cencerning the prices of Petrol.' ' It is therefore in • teresting to learn, that the Central Committee of the Profiteering Act have decided to appoint :an expert sub-committe to inquire into the current prices ruling for motor spirit.
The current 'average retail price is 2s. 111d. per gallon, but it is understood that meter -spirit is landed in this own• try at 1s. 90, per gallon, this figure including tax.
It is to he...hoped that the sub-committee of inquiry will be able to offer an explanation for the difference in price.
1920 Tractor Trials.
Preparations for the 1920 S.M.M.T,
Tractor Trials arC in full swing. The Agricultural Committee of the Society is already engaged upon preliminary arrangements for the event, which it is anticipated will be much more ambitious in character than that of last year.
The venue is not yet decided upon, although we anderatand that several offers of suitable sites have been made, and these are being investigated with a view to selection of one which is most suitable for the Committee's requirements.
Mr. R. Scott-Hall, A.M.I.A.E., has again been appointed organizer, and earnmunications concerning the trial should bc addressed to him at 83, _Pall Mall, London, S. W.1.
Decrease of Traffic Accidents.
Mr. H. E. Blain, traffic manager of the Underground Railways and L.G.O. Co., read a. paper on the Safety First scheme at the Roads and Transport Congress and Exhibition last week. .lie said that since 1916, when the Safety First Council Was formed, there i had been a steady decrease in the number of accidents in the streets and on the railways. The movement had since spread to factories and workshops, and one concern had reduced its first-aid costs from £1,300 to £600 as a result of the " safety first" measures Which it had t a ken .
The number of all accidents in which L.G.O. Co. buses were involved per 100,000 miles run decreased from 22 in 1916 to 17 in 1917, and 14 in 1918.
More Buses for .Nottingham:
Whilst the Tramways Committee of tie Nottingham .Corporation is now eugaged in expendinglarge sum's to overtake the . arrears of work, which htS necessarily lain dormant during the war, the desirableness is being urged in many (matters of' .an amplification of policy -e hien may lead to the introduction of motorbuses to meet the needs of districts, in regard to which at present there are few means of public vehicular communication.
Main line routes of the tramway system are being relaid at great cost and large numbers of new cars have been ordered. In contemplation of the enlargement of the municipal boundaries, which will bring in many prosperous townships contiguous to Nottingham, Parliamentary powers are now being sought for a considerable elaboration of the present tramway system, but in connection with all the work now in progress or in contemplation, the possible utility of buses has been practically ignored. ft is, however, being strongly commended to the consideration of the municipal authorities that the extensive boulevards which form a feature of Nottingham's public arrangements being at present to a large extent unsaved, would form ideal routes for such flexible means of transit as buses eau supply. The question will probably be brought before the Council at an early Jute.
Nottingham authorities have never given an adequate trial to the, bus system, and, although locally, as at London County Council meetings, objec-. tion has been raised to public motor conveyances upon the score of their unecenarnic working Nottingham possesses close to its own doors an example of how -efficiently such means may be employed by the success with which buses are being run at West Bridgford, one of the residential suburbs.
Albions for New Zealand.
As is probably well known, the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., have supplied a number of their vehicles. to the New Zealand Government, some of them so far back as the year 1906, and they have since received several repeat orders. A further practical appreciation of the company's mannfa,ctures has now been shown by the Government by their placing an order for a further 36 Albion yehicies.
A Steam Wagon Auction.
'An auction sale of surplus-Govermnent war vehicles was held one day last week at Wormwood Scrubs, when a number of steaiii wagons were brought under the hammer. Good. prices generally were realized, a Peden steam wagon fetching £955, another of the same make £850, whilst several Sentinel wagons were sold at prices ranging from £775 to 2790. An Aveling and Porter steam tractor realized £730.
Emergency Transport Corps.
Holborn Borough Council has expressed the view that it is essential in the interests of -*the men, women and children of this country that the nation should he prepared to deal with all cases of emergency when an important industry or means of transport should be interfered with by any means, and for that purpose all ranks and classes in the country who are willing to serve should be mobilized at the Shortest notice; that a volunteer emergency corps should ho constituted by and under the local authority in each borough or district, and that all necessm legislation should be enacted. to give effect to the proposal.
Cast Aluminium Tyres.
That there is a shortage in the supply of pertain sizes of tyres is proved by the fact that Oleastone vehicle at the recent Roads and Transport Cong-ress and Exhibition had its wheels shod withr cast aluminium tyres. Naturally it is not intended to tit these as standard L The choice lay between showing the vehicle with no tyres or using substitutes. The " tyres " were painted, and it would have taken a keen eye to observe that they were not rubber.
Rubberine Tyre Fillings.
In our last week's issue we published a small -paragraph dealing with flubhence tyre fillings, but we did not make it clear that in their final form these fillings are not in a liquid state. As many of our readers probably know, Rubberine is pumped into the tyre in a liquid -forsis and is then left for an hour or two to allow the fillings to set. In its final form the Rubberine composition is perfectly solid, although possessing light and resilient qualities.
Gordon Watney Co. Taken Over.
Weylariclge Motor Engineering Co. ha.s been formed with a capital of L200,006 in LI shares to take over the business, property, contracts and liabilities of Gorden Watney and Co., Ltd., and to carry on the business of buyers, sellers, importers, exporters and manufacturers and re. pairers Of all classes of motor vehicles.
C.M.U.A. Strike Awards.
The announcement that the National Council of the C.M.U.A. would consider applications for its " Award of Merit" medal for motor transport drivers of goods or public passenger vehicles who performed services exceptional in character during the recent food distribution crisis, resulted in many applications being submitted. The council has now adjudicated thereon, and has awarded the medal, diploma, and £5 in cash to the following :— (1) Mr. H. E. Moon, in the employ of F. W. Gilbert, Ltd., Derby. The circumstances in this case were as follow:— "When riding on a motorcycle from Derby to London to take delivery of six lorries for milk transport, he skidded and broke his arm. He arrived at the London depot, dispatched five of the lorries and drove the sixth back to Derby all night with his broken arm in a splint, thus preventing 600 gallons of milk from turning sour in the country. The employers spoke very highly of the man's pluck and endurance."
(2) Mr. Dixon Flint, a Ministry of Food volunteer driver.
The circumstances in this case were as follows:— "He was sent by the Ministry of Food to the Somers Town Goods Station yawl, where he drove lorries with fodder for the horses. Notwithstanding-that he had to be protected by police constables, several of his fellow drivers being attacked outside the station, and also that his lorry was tampered with, he stuck to the job throughout the emergency period. The chief operating goads manager and his engineer testified to his personal bravery."
•• 'Driving Cloves.
We have received from Broda, Jenkins and Co., Market Place, Brentford, a pair of driving gloves. They are really &scribed as mitts, and are covered with khaki-colour waterproof, and lined with Para rubber, cloth and llama_ They 018
strike us as being most excellent for drivers of commercial vehicles during the cold weather. In a short trial we have had they have proved most excellent. We understand they were made for use in Russia, and that only a limited quantity of them is held by the contrac. tors. The price is 7s. 6d.
Motor Fire Engines and Rarity of Big Fires.
At an inquest held by the Southwark Coroner recently a Fire Brigade officer informed the coroner that the rarity of large fires in London nowadays was due to the use of motor engines.
In summing up to the jury, the coroner said he entirely agreed with what, the Fire Brigade officer had told him, and the public indeed had a good deal to thank the motor industry for in the shape of speedy motor appliances which had now entirely supplanted horse power in the London Fire Brigade. It went without saying that the matter of paramount importance in the fire fighting and the
saving of life from fire was the arrival of the fire appliances and expert firemen at the earliest possible period. When he took over the working of the Special City Fire Act some 18 years ago fires were both frequent and serious, and he then scarcely knew which way to Writ to dedide in what cases public inquests by juries might properly be avoided. Nowadays, not only had there been a considerable diminution in the number of City fires, but the fact which impressed him most was the comparative fewness of big serious fires, Barimar Opens Irish Branch.
To meet the needs of the increasing number of their Irish customers Barimar, Ltd., of 10, Poland Street, Oxford Street, London, W. 1, have now opened branch works with head offices at 185, Great Brunswick Street, Dublin. Barimar (Ireland), Ltd., are working in close association with the parent company in London, and a number of Irish orders have already been received. British welding experts who have long worked in Barimar's London factories have gone over to Dublin.
Dennis Report.
The report of Dennis Bros., Ltd., for the year ended September 30th last shows a profit, after allowing for war taxation, of £121,400 as against £97,300, and a net. profit of £97,500 as compared with.£78,000 for the previous year. The net revenue from trading account is supplemented by £24,000 received as dividend from the new White and Poppe in vestment.
The available surplus is therefore. £134,400 as against £97,906, although £7,000 less is brought into the accounts. The dividend is maintained'-at 20 per cent., the purchase price of the White and Poppe holding having earned nearly 24 per cent. £26,200 has been allocated to .general-reserve, which compares with £25,000 for the previous year ; £14,100 is carried forward as compared with £12,900 a year ago.
Petrol Prices and Profiteering.
In the House of Commons last week Lient.-Comrna.nder Chilcott asked the President of the Board of Trade if he would give• the average selling price of petrol per gallon In tins to the public in November, 1918, May, 1919, and at the present time ; and whether the Government would take steps by control or other means, to reduce the present price of this fuel, which to-day is inflating the cost of transport?
Mr. Bridgeman: The average retail selling price of petrol per gallon in tins in Novernber, 1918, was, in England and Wales, 4s. ; the corresponding price in May, 1919, was 3s. 00., and the current average retail price is understood to be 2s. 110. pef gallon. Petrol has already been declared to be an article in common use under the terms of the Profiteering Aot, and the provisions of that Act accordingly apply to it.
Fodens and the Transport Exhibition:
It is regretted that owing to the. feet that the original Foden exhibit was prevented from being shown at the Roads and Transport Congress and Exhibition, and that the model actually shown did not arrive until the last moment, we were not able to include a description of it in our issue of last week.
The company staged a fine five-ton standard tipping wagon, which is one of a repeat order of ten for the Northumberland County Council, making a total for this Connell of 26 three and fivetanners. The chassis is one of the latest model, and is fitted with deep-sided body with detachable top boards.
The engine is a two-cylindered compound, in Which provision is made far using both of the cylinders as high-pressure cylinders if required, thus giving exceptional hill-climbing powers. The boiler feed pump is gear driven by spur gearing situated behind and close to the flywheel. .
The model shown is fitted with a hand or engine-operated tipping gear, but the newest tipping gear fitted by the company in a hydraulic, in which the water pressure is obtained from the boiler feed pump. The wheels are of the east-steel, Y-spoked type, and can ha fitted with steel or rubber tyres as desired by the
Preston Corporation is seeking power to borrow £1,290 for the purchase of a Leyland motor lorry.
London's Steam Buses.
It was stated in the Press one day last week that a. limited liability company is in course of formation with the object of restarting the omnibus services recently withdrawn by the National Steam Car Co., Ltd. It is stated that it is proposed to float the new coucern, with a capital ("1E100,000. Arrangements, it ul under. stood,Arave been made with the National Steam Car Co. to take over some of their vehicles, and also the company's garage at Shepherd's Bush, on which there is an unexpired lease of 10 years. The agreed puce for the omnibuses is £500 each. The company will work on the co-operatie principle, and it is intended to issue 5s. shares amongst the drivers and Condiictors.
London Supreme Traffic Board.
Wandsworth B.C. has expressed the opinion that it is in favour of the establishment of a Supreme Traffic Board to control all vehicular traffic in Greater London who would hear all parties interested; that the Borough Council would be willing to surrender its power of veto over tramway schemes to a properly conatituted board so far as such schemes relate to short -lines of tramways required for the purpose of linking up existing • London County Council tramways; and that the number of members of the proposed Supreme Traffic Board should be seven in lieu of five, and that the two additional members should be nominated by the Metropolitan Borough Councils, one to represent the Metropolitan Boroughs on the north of the Thames, and one those on the south.
New Accessory Depots.
S. Smith and Sons (M.A.), Ltd., the well-established accessory manufacturers of Great Portland Street., London, W., have recently opened depots and appointed special representatives in Scotland and Ireland. The Scottish depot is situated at .141,, Bath Street, Glasgow, And will be in charge of Mr. Marshall Milligan. The Irish depot is at Brunswick Street, Belfast, and will be controlled by 3.1r. R. P. Whiteside. At both of these depots adequate supplies of the whole of the company's manufactures will be stocked.
Transport and the Electricity Supply Bill.
The Government's Flectricity Supply Bill, at present before the House of Commons, is not viewed with much favour by Lord Moulton. His view is that: it is a specially bad moment.for committing the nation substantially to one mode of using its coal, for the war has stimulated research into the question of how best, to obtain from it the maximum economic value. We are every day gaining new knowledge as to the most effective processes of carbonization arid the best modes of utilizing the products obtained thereby. Coke, tar and cioal-oil are taking a wholly different position from that which they held before the war, and we are only now beginning to learn their true value to the comonunity. It may be that such products as coal-oil may figure largely in our means of national defence.
, The influence of motor power on ' transport is still unsettled, and the possibility of using coal gas or even producer gas for motor purposes is manifesting itself. This branch of industry Marts with the advantage that the efficiency of the internal-combustion engine is already higher than even the sPeculations of the advocates of these schemes suggest for their large electrical units.
It is fax from impossible that the flexibility of motor transport will put out of favour many of the fixed rail or tram tracks ii is found that they can be run cheaply and efficiently with fuel derived from coal. If mechanical power is to be widely used in agriculture, it is more likely to be arrived at in this way than by erecting a network of' electrical distribution over our agricultirral counties.
At a moment when research and invention are going on vigorously in these directions, it is unfortunate that the Government. should step in to stereotype 'our mode of using coal by an almost limitless expenditure of borrowed hinds on schemes which, in many respects, rest on no practical experience.
New Registrations.
A new company, called the Patent Wear Proof Motor Tyres, Ltd., has been registered with a capital of £50,000 in £47,500 preference shares Of Ll each, and 50,000 ordinary .shares of is. each, with the object of acquiring from the Patent Wear Proof Rubber, Leather and Fabrics Co., Ltd., the sole and exclusive rights to manufacture and sell tyres made under a certain patent. for improvements relating to reinforcing rubber and the like in so far as the same may apply to rubber and ctlier
World Tractor Conditions.
The Automotive Products Corporation, of New York, has originated and organized a new sub-division of its agricultural and power machinery department, in which has been gathered to
gether a vast amount of data covering the soil and climatic conditions existing in almost every territOry of the world where agricultural pursuits are carried on.
Representing, as it does many of the oremost makes of agricultural and power machinery in America for all export markets, the Automotive Products Corporation will be able to offer advice as regards the most suitalale type of machinery for use in most territories. They will also be able, through their agents, to create and d,evelop sales for • agricultural products ofranodern types built in America. It is thraugh such organizations and by such methods that America will increase its exports.
. Australian Agencies Wanted.
We know of a gentleman whose home is in Australia and who is shortly proceeding there. He is desirous of obtaining agencies for Australia for commercial motor vehicles or high-class motor specialities. Concerns who are desirous of having their goods exploited in that country should communicate with "J.," care of this ieuesaal.