News and Comment.
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This journal fosters, represents, and chronicles commercial motoring in all its branches ; it has the largest and best circulation throughout the United Kingdom, the Colonies, India, and foreign countries generally. No part of our exclusive and valuable circulation is due to the forcing of sales in useless quarters.
We take this opportunity of wishing a " Happy New Year" to all our readers.
Sir J. H_ A. Macdonald, Lord JusticeClerk of Scotland, will open the Scottish Motor Exhibition, at Edinburgh, on the 24th instant, at one o'clock p.m.
The Norwich Town Council, by a majority of 33 votes to six, has sanctioned the purchase of a second steam wagon, at an estimated .cost of .4;580.
Lectures.
The Editor hopes to give at least twelve lectures before Chambers of Commerce, in various parts of the United Kingdom, before the date of the opening of the Olympia Show.
Nine Days Ago.
Our illustrated report of the Berlin Show was completed last week ; it was posted to subscribers on Tuesday, the 24th ultimo, i.e., within 48 hours of the closing of the commercial motor section.
New Show Dooms.
Commercial Cars, Limited, of Luton and London, has taken showrooms in the South-East quadrant of Cambridge Circus. The company's London offices will be moved from Craven House, King,sway, to a floor above the showrooms, in March next.
Leyland Motors, Limited.
The Lancashire Steam Motor Co., Ltd., of Leyland, Lancs., is no longer to be the trading name of Mr. Henry Spurrier, Junr., and his family connections : the name given as the heading of this paragraph has been adopted. The new title is certainly more comprehensive.
The Manchester Show.
A correspondent, who is a member of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, gives his opinion (page 401) that this year's position at Manchester must be accepted by manufacturers of commercial vehicles as being essential to the success of the Society's policy in the future. We have every reason to believe that no patronage will again be given to a show in Manchester which does not provide for the adequate display of business motors.
Insurance.
Continued progress characterises the business of the Car and General Insurance Corporation, Ltd., whose head office is at 1, OuRen Victoria Street, E.C. (Bank). The company has upwards of 30 branches in active work, and its organisation extends all over the United Kingdom. Quotations for all classes of commercial motor risks, employers' liability, and general accident assurances can thus be furnished without delay, whilst engineering inspectors are held available to deal promptly with the settlement of claims.
More French Trials.
At some time during the first three months of this year,-Irials for light commercial vehicleS". Wip be held in Paris. This competition, which will be quite distinct from the annual trials of the Automobile Club de France, is now being organised by the " Auto " and the " Poid Lourds," the object in view being to attract attention to the merits of light self-propelled vehicles, and their claims to the consideration of shop-keepers, doctors, commercial travellers, hotel-keepers, and all others commercially interested in rapid and economical carriage.
The regulations will be published later, but it is forecasted in a general way that all commercial vehicles with engines of 8, 10, 12, or t4h.p. and capable of carrying from 400 to 1,200 kilog,rammcs will be eligible for the trials. It may be added (writes our Paris correspondent) that Paris is somewhat behindhand in adapting the light motor vehicle to commercial uses, and, al
though the large stores and some of the dressmakers and milliners of the Rue de la Paix have seen fit to take up this latest means of transport, there is yet room for its adoption on a much larger scale.
To Encourage Careful Driving.
Great interest has been taken in our announcement that " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR" Prize Scheme for Good Driving will be extended to embrace Manchester and London as centres. It has not yet been settled whether both parades shall take place in December next, or whether one of them shall be held in the course f.rf the summer. A very large number of favourable Press notices appear in regard to the parade of the i4th ultimo.
A Self-propelled Caravan.
We publish herewith three interesting illustrations of a commercial chassis which has been pressed into the service of the tourist, and has, therefore, given up hopes of a business career to follow the elusive paths that are trod by the seeker after pleasure. This vehicle was supplied to Mr. A. Fletcher by the Ryknield Motor Company, Limited, of Burton-on-Tre.nt, and the peregrinations of its owner over the country, during the past summer, have reached a total of nearly 4,000 miles, and this with but a single involuntary stop, due to the breaking of one of the small valve springs, a simple matter, which was repaired in five minutes. The caravan, as will be seen from the views which are given, contains not only a earn.plete culinary ,departritent, but sleeping accommodation is provided for six passengers. Such a means of enjoying the open-air life will, doubtless, find favour in the eyes of others.
Mr. B. E. Dening, proprietor of the Taunton Motor and Cycle Company, of 5, East Street, Taunton, has licensed a Rover motorcab for service in and around this well-known Somersetshire town.
An Interesting Experiment.
Mr. C. Messing, the managing director of Minimax, Limited, of Royal London House, Finsbury Square, E.C., whose fire extinguishers have. been adopted by the General Motor Cab Company, Limited, and other large users, is to be congratulated upon a recent departure!. An interesting experiment is being tried at the company's general °Hires, where a German professor is
employed to teach members of the staff the German language, and to render them fluent correspondents therein. A large room has been set aside for teaching purposes, and the English clerks will be given every facility to acquire a valuable knowledge in the discharge of their duties connected with the company's enormous trade with Germany. Interested parties have been setting:, afoot the rumour that this is a German company, but we would point out that it is a British concern. A Rough Time for a Gear Box.
The gear-box shaft and the pair of bevel gears, which we illustrate on this page, were taken from a " Hanford gear box in which a loose bolt had been
left by a careless driver. The vehicle must have run for a considerable distance before the presence of the bolt was detected, but, eventually, the bolt, carried up by the thick grease in the box, became jammed between the teeth of the bevel gearing. The result was that the tapered portion of the shaft was bent, and several teeth were broken or badly damaged. ln spite tyf this accident, the vehicle ran home, a distance of 40 miles, without further damage to any other part of the gear box. Both the shaft and the gearing were made of nickel-chrome steel, and, if the shaft were straightened, and the burrs taken off the damaged teeth, the parts might be replaced in the gear box and do considerably more service, The excellent design, and the quality of the material used in the construction of these gear boxes by J. and E. Hall, Ltd., of Dartford, are points which greatly helped the " Hallford " wagon to win a gold
medal in its class in the recent R.A.C. trials, and the club's special diploma for all-round excellence, Hire Purchase.
At least one well-known manufacturer of steam wagons does an extensive trade on the hire-purchase system, and, now, a leading manufacturing company which confines its production to petrol-propelled vehicles, Commercial Cars, Limited, of Luton, has decided to sell its" Commer Car " machines on the three years' system, in order that buyers to whom the facilities are attractive need not lay out their capital. Five per cent, per annum is added to the original chassis price, and payments have to be made quarterly, whilst the
hirer pays in advance, on placing the order, for the cost of the body and the iires. Another condition, and one of no small advantage to the purchaser, is that the. company's maintenance-contract scheme shall be adopted, whilst the hirer is to cover the cost of insurance against accidents and fire. Equitable clauses for termination, by suitable notice on either side, are included in the contract, a copy of which will be sent to any reader of this journal on application to Commercial Cars, Limited, Craven House, Kingsway, W.C. We are informed that Mr. Frank Morriss, of King's Lynn, will shortly identify himself with a new London undertaking.
A Novel Border.
The accompanying illustration is from a photograph of a 24-cwt. Albion van, this vehicle having been supplied to the St. George's Cthoperatiye Society, Limited, of Glasgow, a few weeks ago. The unique arrangement of the photograph will be noted.
Carter Paterson's First Motorvan.
By the courtesy of Mr. Arthur Paterson, we are able this week to reproduce a photograph of historical interest : it represents the first motorvan owned by the well-known carriers. This van, a Daimler, was destroyed, after a few months, service, in the extensive fire at the company's premises which occurred in 1897, Since that date the fleet of sellpropelled vehicles run by Carter, Pater_ son and Co., Ltd., has increased by successive stages, and the total number of -motorvans and lorries in operation for the company now, is no less than 30, including seven " steamers."
Interesting Indicator Cards.
The two diagrams reproduced on this page were taken by a Schultz manograph on a Saurer engine which. was exhibited at the recent Paris Show. They are reproduced from photographic impressions of the movement of the minute beam of light which indicates what is taking place within the cylinders. The diagram on the left was taken while the engine was under load, and being fed with petrol fuel, whilst that on the right hand shows what takes place when the engine is used as an air brake. A description of the manner in which this change is effected was given in " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR" of the 7th of November last, when we described and illustrated the gold medal " Hanford " wagon which is built under the same license by J. and E. Hall, Limited, of Dartford. During the outward stroke of each piston, air is drawn into the cylinder, and it is compressed during the return stroke of the piston. As the latter approaches the end of the return stroke, the exhaust valve opens and liberates the compressed charge. The result is that the engine wet ks as a brake. An Inventor's Dream.
The uncanny-looking machine shown on this page was recently subjected to a trial at Aldershot. It is a re-hash of a principle which has been exploited before, namely, the laying of a continuous track on which the vehicle runs ;
the idea is that the machine may be used on any kind of ground whether hard or soft. We cannot see how such a machine, with the greatly-increased number of parts which the design necessitates, can ever be successfully employed. In their search for something revolutionary—a means to enable the vehicle to travel over the softest and most uneven ground—inventors are apt to overlook the practical side of the problem they wish to solve.
Useful Charts and Tables.
Our set of eleven charts and tables, which are sold as a wall-hanger, with a stout drop-sheet to protect them, are proving very acceptable. The price is 3s. (post free), and we quote a few, opinions about them :— •
The New Arrol-Johnston Car Company, Ltd.—" Prove very serviceable to us.'"
Alley and Maclellan, Ltd.—" Will be •
kept in our drawing-office for reference, and will doubtless prove valuable to "
The Birmingham Small Arms Company, Ltd.—" We think the tables will be of considerable value in our drawing-office."
The British Thomson-Houston Co:, . . . of considerable service and value, containing as they do a mass of useful information in a condensed and useful form." • David Brown and Sons (H.F.D.), Ltd.—" Exceedingly useful to us."
Commercial Cars, Ltd.—" We have hung them in our drawing-office, where they are of the greatest use."
The Critchky-Norris Motor Company.—" We can assure you that they will be found very useful in our drawing-office."
Dennis Bros., Ltd.—" Undoubtedly of great service to us."
J. and E. Hall, Ltd.—" Of great value to us."
Frank Little and Company.—" They will, indeed, be useful to our staff for reference, and we think they are a valuable addition to our drawing-office."
Phmnix Motors, Ltd.—" At once gave them a position in our drawingoffice, because we thoroughly appreciate their usefulness. Will you please accept our congratulations."
Panhard and Levassor, Ltd.—" . . . which we have placed in a prominent position in cur works."
Ryknield Motor Co., Ltd.--.." Much appreciated in our drawing-office."
The whole are the work of Mr. Geo. W.
Watson, A.M.I.Mech.E., of the staff of" THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."