The Wheels of Industry.
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" The wheel of wealth will be slowed 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 Crosier.
Proceedings by Local Authorities.
A five-ten Sentinel steam wagon, with end tipping-body, has been purahased by the Gas Committee of the Manchester City Council.
Kidderminster T.C. has approved plans for a petrol store, in Comberton Terrace, on the application of the Shell Marketing Co., Ltd.
Several municipalities are likely to follow the lead of Sheffield, and to extend the title of their Tramways Committee to read "Tramways and Motor Committee."
The Stockton R.D.C. has decided to substitute motor haulage for horse haulage, and to purchase a steam wagon, chiefly for the conveyance of road stone, at £593 15s.
Walthamstow U.D. C. has granted a. licence to the Shell Marketing Co., Ltd., for petrol to be stored in a building to be erected by the company on land adjoining Church Lane, Walthamstow.
The Heston and Isleworth tr.D.C. has been notified by the National Steam Car Co, Ltd., that the company is unable to meet the wishes of the Council by extending Ito motorbus service from Isleworth to Hounslow.
The Ilford U.D.C. has decided to retain to itself the rights of approving new routes for motorbuses under the Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act, and not to delegate those powers to the Essex County Council, The Electric Light Committee of the Wimbledon Borough Council has agreed to hire a batteryequipped motor lorry to the Highways Committee, the hire charges to be based on running costs and depreciation, plus 10 per cent.
Stoke-onlrent T. C. has passed an"imperative" resolution in favour of buying a motor fireenginc.
A three-ton Halley motor tower wagon has been purchased by the Tramways Department of the Halifax Town Council.
Brighton Town Ctiincil has authorized its chairman and the borough surveyor to examine into and report upon the use of seIf-propelled vehicles for street-watering and refuse-collection.
Pudsey Town_ Council, by 19 votes to 2, at its last meeting, resolved to levy a special rate of 8d. in the 4, for the half-year beginning April next, in order to purchase a motor fire-engine and appliances, and to cover the cost of housing them.
Thornycrofts in Demand.
A well-known user of commercial motors is advertising for 30-ewt. :and 3-ton Thorn.varofts. Are there',
any sellers ? If so, will they address themselves to the Advertiser, Box No. 9081 (for Thornycroft vehicles), care of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, Rosebery Avenue, E.C.
M.T.A. at Cardiff.
We were pleased to observe how successful a gatheririg the Motor Trades Association had At Cardiff last week. Much useful business was transacted and many discussions of far-reaching importance were carried several stages further. Some 200 delegates took part in a civic reception, at the City Hall, on the 2tith ult., when the Lord Mayor, Dr. R. J. Smith, received them. The reception was followed by a luncheon, over which Mr. A. Sievewright presided. The speakers included Mr. Sievewright, Mr. P. L. D:' Perry, Mr. A. R. Atkey, the Lord Mayor, Alderman Illtyd Thomas, Mr. A. `Noel Mobbs, Mr. J. H. jones, and Mr. E. W. Garnon.
Litigation re Converted Fords.
We learn by recent post from America that the Redden Motor Truck Co., which makes the Baico make-a-truck attachments for Ford cars, has purchased the Cook patent covering—in America—the application of all attachments of this class to chassis to convert pleasure Ford cars into commercial vehicles. In a recent suit brought by the Redden Motor Truck Co. against one of its principal com. petitors. the validity of the Cook patent was duly confirmed and royalties were agreed to be paid by the infringing American company. The representativel'of the Redden Motor Truck Co. in this country is the British American Import co, Ltd., of 14, Cockspur Street, S.W.
The position of the Cook patent in the U.K. has yet to be estab. lished, so tar as wa can gathar.
Wheels of Industry—COD. A Recent Registration.
Southey Gas Producers, Ltd. (230,000), to take over the business of Producers, Ltd., and Producers British Rights, Ltd., and the interests of Commercial Cars, Ltd., in the benefit of certain inventions relating to liquid-fuel gas-producers. First subscribers are H. C. B. Underdown, J.P., and L. G. A. F. Jaekel. Private company.
The King Buys a Saunderson Tractor.
It is interesting to note that His Majesty the King has recently purchased a Saunderson and Mills 25 h.p. Universal Tractor, together with a four-furrow plough, and a five-ton trailer. This is of the same type as the machine which was described so fully in our issue of the 15th June last, and we understand -that Mr. Saunderson personally delivered the machine and demonstrated it before Their Majesties the King and Queen on delivery.
Increases in the Cost of Printing: Master Printers throughout the country have recognized the need for increased wages to their staffs to compensate for the increased cost of living, and have in many districts accorded further increases in wages or allowances for the duration of the war and some period afterwards, and are now face to face with an enormous advance in the cost of printing. It is estimated that the annual wage bill of the printing trade in London alone, exclusive of the daily newspapers, has been increased by the advances by no less than 2250,000 per annum, and the amount Por the whole country must be considerable. The Special Costing Committee of the Federation of Master Printers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that deals with such questions has considered the effect of these and other increases in the cost of printing, and it is found that since the outbreak of war the costs involved in printing (taking into consideration the latest
figures available) have increased at least 25 per cent. This calculation of 25.per cent. does not include any provision for the extra cost of paper and other materials, which extra cost reaches in some cases as high as 200 per cent.
The foregoing considerations, amongst others, have hit all printers and publishers very hard.
Cycle and Motor Trades Benevolent Fund.
Mr. H. W. Dover, M.Inst.A.E., of Holyrood, St. James's, Northampton, has issued an appeal, as this year's president to the Cycle and Motor Trades Benevolent Fund, in terms which must prove to draw attention to the claims of this representative institution, of which Mr. A. J. Wilson, of 154, Clerkenwell Road, London, E.C., is the hon. secretary and treasurer. It is pointed out that in many cases weekly allowances are being made to the dependents of subscribers serving with H.M. Forces, whilst other grants have been made which have enabled other subscribers to join up with less hardship than must otherwise have occurred. Donations may be sent either to the president of the council, Mr. Dover,
or to the hon. secretary, Mr. A. J. Wilson, and we hope that the 11th annual appeal will prove to be eminently successful, other " war charities" notwithstanding. Its work is irreplaceable.
C.M.U.A. Appeal Successful.
The Commercial Motor Users Association has just won an important appeal case on behaif of users of heavy motorcars. One of its members was summoned and convicted at the Birkenhead Police Court for causing a four-ton Sentinel steam wagon to stand on a bridge contrary to by-laws made by the Cheshire County Council under the Locomotives Act, 1898. Although evidence was produced to show that the vehicle was registered as a heavy motorcar, the magistrates held that it was a locomotive within the meaning of the Act and imposed a fine. The C. M.U.A. decided to appeal against this decision in the interests of users, and the appeal came on for hearing in the Divisional Court on Wednesday, the 25th October, before the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Ridley and Mr. Justice Low, when the appeal was allowed with costs. General Vehicle Co., Ltd. Readers of this journal who are interested in battery-vehicle transport are invited to send a postcard to the General Vehicle Co., Ltd., Imperial Houses Kingsway, London, W.C., asking for that company's latest brochure on the subject Brown-Lipe Gears.
The present address of Mr. Benjamin Whittaker, who represents the Brown-Lipe Gear Co. in the U.K., as well as other important American manufacturing undertakings, asks us to remind readers that his address is 2, Norfolk Street, Strand, W.C., and not, as formerly, 7, Victoria Street, S.W.
Glasgow Transport.
We learn that the Rapid Motor Transport Co., Ltd., of Masterton Street, Keppochhill Road, Glasgow, of which company Mr. Alexander Steuart is the managing director, is finding a brisk inquiry for new work in and around Glasgow. This company issues an admirable example of Treasury-note case, both for the convenience of its patrons and as an advertisement.
West African Roads.
Official reports show that roads suitable for motor transport are at present being constructed, and in many cases approaching completion. between the following trade points in West Africa ; Be-Darnbarn; Bo-Pujehun ; Blama-Boa
jibu ; Pendemba Kanrelahun ; Moyaroba-S ernbehun ; Hangha Panguma ; Segbwema-Bandajuma. The Crown Agents for the Colonies will no doubt at an early date be receiving instructions to endeavour to purchase motor vehicles for the contemplated services.
"The Book of the Ford." Owners or intending owners of . Ford vans will do well to remit Is. 6d. to Temple Press Ltd., 7-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C., together with 3d. to cover postage, for a copy of "The Book of the Ford," by R. T. Nicholson. This illustrated publication, of 240 pages of text. is written in an attractive and informative way, yet largely in non-technical language. It is the outcome of years of experience of the use of Fords, and the thoroughness of treatment may be gathered from the titles of some of the chapters, for example :—Before starting the engine ; driving the Ford ; what you have been doing ; commonsense care of the car ; attention regularly required ; refurbishments, adjustments, repairs and replacements ; troubles—their symptoms, diagnosis and cure ; the electricalignition system ; lamps, tires and horn ; the motor house and winter storage; economieP; imp rpvements and accessories.
It is seldom that one finds so much information conveyed so effectively and readably.
Stocks at Constanza.'
The normal storage capacity for petroleum products at Gonstanza is about 200,000 tons. Companies with properties in. Rumania have perforce had that capacity nearly filled up for more than two years. It ik believed that there were about 65,000 tons each of petrol and paraffin in the storage tanks shortly before the German occupation—say, 1,950,000 gallons of petrol, and 1,712,000 gallons of paraffin. There may have been anything between 45,000 and 55,000 tons of fuel oil and " crude." Only brief reports are yet to band as to the fate of these stocks, but it is believed that the oils were run into the sea., and the petrol fired, before the evacuation by our Allies. Stolen Petrol.
An interesting case was recently before Sheriff Sym, at Dunblane. Mr. Charles Robertson, a merchant of 2, Euclid Crescent, Dundee, sued Messrs. W. and J. Stewart, Luib Hotel, Criendochart, for the sum of 7s., the value of two gallons of motor spirit said to have been removed from his motorcar while it was under the charge of the defenders. It appears that Mr. Robertson's car was garaged at the abovementioned hotel, between 9 p.m. on Saturday, the 12th, and 11 a.m. on Sunday, the 13th, in August last. The Sheriff found that the motor spirit was committed to the defenders' _care, and that shortly after the party left it was missing. Whilst there was no reflectiOn on the honesty of the defenders, they were liable in law, and he entered judgment against them for the sum claimed with costs