The Motor Omnibus World.
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M. H. Howard Humphreys' paper on "The Commercial Use of Highways," will be read on Monday week, the loth proximo,. before the Society of Road Traction Engineers.
Apparent Failure.
Todm.orden Corporation has been unfortunate in its motorbus enterprise. Its Parliamentary powers cost something like ,1,200, and there has been a loss upon the undertaking. Why Todmorden cannot make a better showing remains to be explained. •
Rawtenstall's Orders.
The Rawtenstall Corporation, after a long trial with one of the Ryknield Motor Company's 4o-soh.p. omnibuses, has taken over the vehicle in question, and has placed an order for the delivery of a second one at an early date. We understand that the trials, which have been conducted during the recent winter months, and in a hilly district, showed an average performance of six miles to the gallon of petroleum spirit.
A Successful Provincial Company.
The Scottish Motor Traction Company, Limited, whose depot is at 9, Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, issued its prospectus to the public in i9os, and its successful operations provide yet another example to confute those who say that motorbuses cannot be made to pay. The company has 13 Maudslay vehicles, each with a double-deck body, and maintains its winter services with only seven of the machines, two being under routine overhaul, another two in reserve, and the remaining two available for special hire. In the summer months, a greater proportion of the vehicles is kept on the road regularly, in order to meet the demand which ts contemporaneous with fine weather.
The routes average some seven rnites in length, and radiate from Edinburgh in all directions, whilst an interesting fact is the parallel competition of tramcars along many of these, in some cases for as much as the first _a miles. Notwithstanding this competition, the company's income and expenditure account is in a thoroughly healthy state, and the undertaking in a dividendearning condition. The manager, Mr. W. j. Thomson, has studied the main
tenancc of a regular sen/.ce, above all things, and has kept faith with the public in all respects. For example, the accompanying reproduction of one of the company's " delay tickets " will show that, on the rare occasions when a journey is not completed, passengers are given a quid pro quo.
We were, on the occasion of a recent visit to Edinburgh, able to spend several hours in looking through the system and methods which have been adopted, and these, though only of the character which one would expect in a business concern, might well be copied by others. Unnecessary expenditure has been avoided, and the company's capital account is but little in excess of 415,000, a state of affairs which could not have been experienced but for the fact that neither promotion nor underwriting payments were made
in connection with the issue of the prospectus. Shrewsbury and Challiner's " World " and " Giant " tires are Used, and, in spite of .heavy and loose roads, cost only 21d. per mile.
Service A, B, Etc.
The London Road Car Company has for many years used letters to indicate its various routes for the guidance of its own officials, but it has recently adopted this method of enabling the public to distinguish one service from another. The appropriate letter now appears on the front of each driver's canopy, on the glass pane to each side of the man's seat, and at the back.
A Char-abasics for Winter Service.
The accompanying illustration is of a 24h.p. Durham-Churchill char-Abanes in the service of the Woolton Motor Omnibus Company, Limited, of Wootton, near Liverpool. We understand that this vehicle has run over 12,000 miles without a mechanical hitch, and that 'repairs and replacements have been practically nil. The feature, however, With 'Willa we are immediately concerned is the adaptation of this open-sided char-a-bancs for winter running. A glazed partition has been erected behind the driver's seat, and storm curtains have been fitted in such a manner that they can be held securely in place, by means of horizontal rails and interlacing straps,.with the result that the vehicle continues to be well patronised. It will also be seen from our illustration that entrance from the sides is no longer possible, the local authorities having required the fitting -of a back entrance, for which purpose two seats had to be sacrificed, the vehicle now accommodating 24 passengers, instead of 26.
We shall be obliged if the correspondent who sent in a letter on the 25th instant under the nom de Nome of " A Motorbus Driver " will communicate his name and address. The letter in question dealt with the Road-Car strike.
Mail Motor Company's Affairs.
The first meeting of creditors of the Mail Motor Co., Ltd., was held at the Grimsby Official Receiver's office on 21st January, when a fairly large 1111311ber of creditors were present. The Official Receiver (Mr. J. F. Wintritag-ham) presented the filed statements, which showed gross liabilities ..,3,262 16s. 6d., estimated to rank -,2,362 16s. 6d,, and deficiency ,2,362 16s. 6d. as regarded the creditors. With regard to the contributories, the capital comprised 1,506 ordinary shares at 4'1 each (held by 104 shareholders) .4;1,506, and added to this was a deficiency of ..2,362 16s. to meet liabilities, making a total deficiency as regards contributories of -4,..;3,868 16s. 6d, The company was incorporated on the 3rd May, 194)6, and, subsequently, Messrs. J. W. Eason and Co., G.N. Railway Co., agents at Grimsby, were appointed traffic managers, and Mr. H. W. Gee, secretary. Five motorbuses and acces
sories were purchased at a cost of JS., estimated now to produce
-,/,'9oo only. On :,th January, 1907, after the capital of the company had been increased to L'5,000, resulting in 338 further shares being allotted, thirty first mortgage 6 per cent, debentures of £so each were issued to Mr. G. II. Martyn in consideration of X;500 already advanced by him, 4:5oo paid to the Bank in the discharge of certain guarantees previously given, and j.;500 paid by Mr. Martyn against the delivery of the third motorbus purchased by the company. On 3ist May it Was reported that the ordinary shareholders Were practically in the hands of the first and second debenture holders and it was then agreed to wind up. The Official Receiver pointed out that six debentures representing were issued after the company was aware of its insolvency.
After hearing the statement it was decided to appoint Mr. Allan Clark Vincent, Incorporated Accountant, Gresham Street, London, as liquidator, whilst a committee of inspection was appointed from the three largest creditors, vi/. : representatives of Asters, of J.ondon ; Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford; and the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., of London.
A meeting of the shareholders fol
lowed, and upon the suggestion of the Official Receiver the resolutions of the creditors and contributories were unanimously confirmed.
East End Negotiations.
We understand that the Romford Trademen's Association has, owing ts.> its inability to complete arrangements with the All-British Chassis Bus Company, Limited, entered into correspondence with the Traction Unification Company, of Great St. Helens, E.C. This last-named company is reported to be in possession of the omnibuses which at one time were run by the London .Standard Omnibus Company, Limited, in the Metropolis, Harrogate's Motorbuses.
Clarkson steam omnibuses appear to maintain their popularity at Harrogate, where a second company, the General (Harrogate) Motor Car Company, of Albert Chambers, Albert Street, is now running three of these vehicles. The Harrogate Road Car Company has a fleet of Clarkson omnibuses too, but we hope the two companies will manage to arrange their routes so as to avoid competition. Mr. Charles H. Smith manages the first-named of these two successful northern motorbus companies.