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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

30th January 1923
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by al ,t difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by • the roughness of the roads over which, it runs."—John Beattie, Crozier.

Dennis Prices Down.

We are advised by lDennis Bros., Ltd., that, as one of the outcomes of the 60,000-mile world tour which was carried out by Sir Raymond Dennis in 1920-1921 in the interests of his company, the conviction was formed that, the prices then rtding for motor vehicles were beyond the capacity of pos sible purchasers and that it was essen

tial that there purchasers, be a reduction in

selling prices. The drastic step of writing-down book values of the stocks of material was taken, and, by anticipating cuts in wages and in the coat of replacing existing stocks, certain re, ductions were effected in the price of • Dennis commercial motor vehicles at the end of 1921.

The situation has now again come up for review, and it has been decided that further substantial reductions in these prices shall take effect from Thursday next, February 1st, the directors having been influenced by the effect that their action would be likely to produce, rather thadby conditions ruling.at the moment, the reduced prices tending to create trade, the volume of which would justify the reductions, instead of waiting for the increased trade to bring about lower prices.

The seductions which operate from Thursday-next apply to all models' and the directors of Dennis Bros., Ltd., claim that the new prices show that they are getting costs hack to normal. The 3-1-4-ton War Office subsidy chassis, which was 21,150 in 1920 and has been subjected to two reductions since, will from Thursday next be priced at 2775. The price of the 2-2-ton model, which was 2997 in 1920, is now 2650.

The One-day Licence Proposal.

Mr. E. Walter How, of 'the Highfield Motor Coach Services, St. Peter's Road, Leicester, has circularized other coach owners asking them to sign an application (a printed copy of which he has enclosed with each letter) to the Minister of Transport, asking the Ministry to sanction the issue at once of one-day licences in order that motor coaches may be used whenever an opportunity occurs between now and March 31st, and it is suggested that a fee of 5s. per day should Cover -this privilege.

The Benefits of Ownership.

The advisability of purchasing motor lorries for the scavenging of the district is now engaging the attention of the Ebbw Vale Urban District, Council. The present system of contracting out the work to horse-vehicle proprietors and carrying out the work in part by direct labour with horses and carts has not proved altogether satisfactory.

A sub-committee of the council has recommended that lorries be purchased .for the work in the Cwm area. The surveyor estimated that about 7d. per ton would be saved by the use of motor lorries for refuse collection; a saving representing hundreds of pounds in the course of the year. Several members observed, during the discussion, that the use of motor vehicles was a more con 04

venient and thorough method, and a detailed statement of costs was called for from the special committee.

Roads Barred to Motor Coaches.

The Lymm Urban District Council has asked the Cheshire County Council to put before the Ministry of Transport a proposition that ten roads in the area be dosed to motor coach traffic, including Reddish Lane, Pool Lane, Pepper Street, Longbutt Lane, Whitbarrow Road, and Bridgewater Street.

New Services for New Roads.

Consequent upon the opening of a new direct road between Grangetown and Redcar, which provides a short and convenient means for residents in the industrial areas on Tees-side reaching the seaside resort, a proposal was made to establish a municipal motor omnibus service to be operated by the Middlesbrough Corporation, in order to meet the requirements of the district. The scheme has, however, failed to obtain the approval of the Eaton Urban Council.

The Third Air Conference called by the Air Ministry takes place in the Council Chamber of the Guildhall, London, 'on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 6th and 7th.

In our reference to the Bariejnand and Marne cylinder comparator in an article entitled "How Cylinder Bores are Checked," which appeared in our issue for January 16th, we referred erroneously to the address of Irwin and Jones, Ltd., the agents for this instrument in Great Britain, which should have been 4, Westmoreland Buildings, Aldersgate Street, London, E.C. 1.

The Parker Gas Plant.

We are given to understand by Mr Maurice Steinman-Beeencenet, of 13 Well Street, London, E.0.1, that the Parker producer gas plant, which was described in our issue of May 3rd, 1921, is now on the market and is being regularly shipped to the Dominions and oversee countries.

• The Parker gas plant is extremely simple, having no moving parts' and it can be fitted to any existing motor lorry without entailing alteration to the chassis or engine. The fuel used in the Dominions is wood charcoal, and the average fuel consumption for a 3-ton lorry having a 2-ton load is claimed to be a little over 1 lb. per vehicle-mile, the cost being not more than onehalfpenny for that distance.

Mr. F. G. Bristow Called to' the Bar.

Mr. F. G. Bristow, general secretary to the Commercial Motor Users Association since 1906, was amongst those who were called to the Bar on Friday last by the Masters of the Bench of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. Mr. Bristow is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, a. Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, a founder member of the Institute of Transport, and an Associate of the Institute of Automobile Engineers. He is also aeFreeman of the City of London and a Liverymen of the Worshipful Company. of Founders. In addition to his appointment with the Commercial Motor Users Association he acts as general secretary to tho Motor Transport Employers' Federation, hon. secretary to the 'Standing Joint Committee of Mechanical Road Transport Associations hon. secretary to the Empire Motor Fuels Committee of the Imperial Motor Transport Council, and secretary to the Joint Railways Bill Opposition Committee.

A Useful Leaf-spring Greaser.

A clever tool for effectively lubricating leaf springs is made by Ernest Davies, 25, Old Market Street, Bristol, and sells for 34s. The principle of the tool is to force apart the leaves of the spring and then inject grease between them. For this purpose a clamp is passed-over the -spring and two hardened-steel wedges, situated in the jaws of the clamp, are screwed in between the leaves, thus opening them. The outlet for the grease gun is through a hole drilled down the centre of one of the wedges so that, when the plunger is screwed down, theagrease is forced straight into the spring between the leaves.

Another pattern of the tool is made for use on lorries where there is very little clearance on-one side of the spring. In this case,_ the greaser is situated within the clamp jaws and at right angles to the line of the wedges, thus taking up very little space.: The actien of the injector is similar to the standard model. In both patterns the wedges are made to swivel, enabling the tool to be used in almost any position.

Cardiff's Profitable Buses.

The Cardiff City Treasurer has reported to the tramways committee that the motorbus service is clearly on the way to becoming a profitable tindertaking.

In the nine months ended December 31st, 1921, a loss of £3,774 was incurred on the undertaking, but in the corresponding period of 1922 a profit of 1,099 has been made. The increase in receipts during the year 1922 had been as much as £7,182, but owing to more men having been employed On the service the wages bill had increased by £962 over the same period. The lower fares for children attending school had resulted in 3,972 children . per week making use of the buses in privilege hours.

Several members expressed appreciation of what had been done to make the service profitable.

The Case for the Heavy Motor.

When a proposal was made at a meeting of the Carnarvonshire County Council to urge for increased taxation of heavy motor vehicles, Ald. Pritchard pointed out that as a result of these vehicles people in the country parts got their flour -cheaper by is. and 1s, 3d, a sack than if it were sent by rail. Consideration had to be given to the many and not, to the few. Railway companies were charging high rates for the carriage of goods, and so motor vehicles were becoming popular and were of service to the community. The county council referred the matter to its taxation committee.

Appreciation of Bus. Services.

The appreciation by the Ogrriore and Garw Council of the road servieee of the South Wales Commercial Motor Co:, of Bridgend, is to be communicated tothe company in an official letter of thanks.

3's.Totice was received at the last meeting of the council that, in response to requests from local public bodies, the company bad-put on a special daily service for the convenience of children in outside areas attending the Ogniord and Garw Secondary Schools.

The company notified the council that, after experimenting, they had concluded that a Sunday service of buses between °more Vale and Bridgend was not needed and that, consequently, they would suspend this service for the winter months. The council agreed to the proposal.

Oxford Motor Services Dine.

The annual dinner was given to the employees of the City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd., in the Assembly Room, Town Hall, Oxford, on two recent evenings. During the two evenings about 250 were entertained, and the whole of the directors of the company were present, with the exception of Sir Robert Buckell, who was unavoidably absent. Amongst the guests present were Mr. Frank Gray, M.P., and Mr. Sheriff Harris.

The directors were able to congratulate the staff upon the steady progress of the undertaking and the high -efficiency of the services which are operated and run by the company; They also made the pleasant announcement to the men that a provident fund was to be established for the benefit of old employees

when the time came for them to relinq,nish their work. It was pointed out that at the present time the company still had Over a dozen of the men that were formerly in the service of the old horse-tramway company, and whose ser

vices average a good tit over 30 years apiece.

The manager, Mr. Vier, in thanking the men for their service, was able to point out with pride that during the past veer the company had carried 8,000,600 passengers on their city and country motorbus services, and that during this period there had not been a single passenger injured through the carelessness of any of the men—a record that few, if any, companies could equal. It was pointed out that no efforts had been spared to meet the comfort and convenience of the public, and that many of the latest type buses had been added to the fleet, additional countryservices opened up, and new offices, with waiting.

rooms for the benefit of passengers, provided in the High Street.

The parcels delivery system which is in vogue on the country motorbus services of the company has been found extremely valuable to-Oxford traders, and has been further extended. It was intimated 'that it was the intention of the company to leave 110 stone unturned in an endeavour to further improve their services in the future.

Marshall, Sons and Co., Ltd., of Gainsberough, inform us that their senior representative, Mr. Walter L. Keightley, who lately resided at Nottingham, has now removed to 78, London Road, Reading, Berks.

Personal Pats.

We reproduce on this page a portrait of Mr. A. W. Stringer, who is the genial but business-like general manager of the Coupe Co. and Motor Cab Co., of Great Britain, Ltd., with -whose activities we recently dealt. Mr. Stringer was educated at St. 03ave's Grammar School, London, and after leaving there he served in the South African War in the Yeomanry. On his return he took part in the 2,000-mile tyrc trials of 1902, as a representative of the Dunlop Rubber Co. Following this he became assistant manager under Mr. A. C. Hills, of the Goodyear Tyre Co., and on the closing down of this agency he went to the Clement Motor Co., under Mr. E. H. Lancaster, eventually rising to the post of secretary to the company. He was actually in the service of the company from 1903 to 1914.

On the outbreak of war he joined the M.T., R.A.S.C., and went to France in January, 1915, serying with the No. 6 Motor Ambulance Convoy. He was eventually promoted to C.S.M., and then obtained a commission in the Tank Corps. He was demobilized in May. 1919, and then joined the Coupe Co.

The subject of one of the illustrations reproduced on this page is Mr. A. E. Carroll, who has recently resigned e his position with Ospers (Lon-don), Ltd., to take over the control of the sales department of Tower Carriers, Ltd., 13-21, Earl Street, Westminster, London, S.W., who specialize in commercial vehicle work. Mr. Carroll should do well in his new sphere of activity, for he has a pleasing personality and is an energetic and capable business man. He has a host of friends amongst commercial vehicle users.

Mr. Carroll's association with the motor trade extends over a period of 14 years. He joined H.M. Forces in 1914 and Saw active service in France with the Armoured Car Brigade, subsequently transferring to the R.A.T. His first appointment on the cessation of hostilities was with Tudors (London), Ltd., where he was works manager, after which he joined the sales organization of Ospers (London), Ltd.

Motor Ship Progress.

interesting illustrated articles dealing with " The Largest British Sulzer Engine," "A Geared Diesel-engined Ship," and "A 3,000 h.p. Long-stroke Engine—the largest of its type built," form the leading features of the February number of The Motor Ship, which will be on sale on February 1st, price one ehilling. In a further article useful cornparisons are drawn between different types of oilengines, their weight, fuel consumption, space oceupied, etc., whilst ,other contents include articles dealing with "The Single Screw Motor Ship Pizarro,' " "A 6,000-ton Single Screw Motor Ship," 'A New Engine Fuel Valve," "The Motor Tanker'Scottish Borderer,' " and "A New Diesel Engine-Governor."

Hire Charges Down.

The London General Omnibus Co. announce that the rates for hiring their matorbuses and motor coaches have been reduced by approximately 20 per cent, This will be good news for the organizers of pleasure parties, football parties, and outings of all descriptions.

Rationing Traffic.

One of the Clauses in. the Stoke-onTrent Corporation Bill seeks power to enable traffic to be regulated by directing the passage of, or stopping, vehicles in particular streets; directing certain routes to be taken by various classes of traffic, and prohibiting the passage, or stoppage, of particular vehicles in certain streets at definite hours.

This clause has been rendered imperative as a result of the situation created by the concentration of a large number of passenger vehicles on one or two routes. The principle of rationing vehicles, as it were, has been advocated for some time past, and the clause will permit the corporation to deal with the difficulty.

Halifax Passenger Traffic.

Statistics have just been issued by the Halifax Corporation dealing with its motorbuses and trackless cars for the six months ended September 30th last. So far as the petrol buses are concerned the income was 22,272 and the expenditure 23,385, representing a loss of £1,113. The trackless vehicles showed a profit of £146 during the period, the receipts being £1,190 and the expenditure £1,044.

Runbaken's Irish Depot.

The Runbaken Magneto Co. Ltd. of Manchester, inform us that they have just opened a branch depot in Dublin at 17, Clare Street. A full stock of all the accessories produced by the company will be held, and a well-equipped repairs department is being organized to deal with magnetos, dynamos, starters, and accumulators. Mr. W E. Martlew, late of the company's Birmingham branch, is in charge of the new depot.

A New Plug.

Among the many accessories of interest at, the Scottish Show is a new type of sparking plug, to be seen on Stand No. 21, which is occupied by tbe Champion Sparking Plug Co.' Ltd., of 83, Pall Mall, London, S.W. This plug is the latest production of a company which has become famous for its accessories of

this description, and it is said that its' chief feature of superiority over pings of the ordinary type is that it possesses a double-ribbed core, which is claimed to be the most remarkable electric insulator yet evolved. It is exceptionally strong and its insulating properties are permanent ; moreover, it has a tensile strength capable of res;sting many times the force which is generated in an internal-combustion engine. Visitors to the Glasgow Exhibition should call at the stand of the company, where a demonstration of the merits of the now Champion plug will be gladly given.

Mansfield Bus Licences.

A Mansfield Watch Committee report states that last year 217 bus lioences were granted, compared with 158 the previous year.

Cab Fares at Chester.

Cheater Watch Committee has fixed taxicab fares for the next 12 months as follow :—One or two persons, Is. 6d. a mile; three or four persons, 2s. ; every additional half-mile, 9d.; for a returri journey up to five miles each way, Is. a mile ; waiting time, 15 mine, Is. 6d.

• Compulsory Insurance.

At a meeting of the Chester Watch Committee Mr. R. Farmer wrote that it was brought to his notice that in a neighbouring town, -where many small owners plied for hire with cars, it was very unusual to find the car and its owner insured. The result was that in the-case

of an accident an injured passenger had a very poor chance of recovering any damages, and it occurred to him that if the Watch Committee had the power it would be a reasonable condition to impose when granting a licence that the owner should effect and keep on foot a third-party insurance. The town clerk advised that the corporation could not impose such a condition, and the committee accordingly took no action in the matter.

Ospers New Address.

We are informed that, owing to expiration of lease at 25, Ebury Street, London, S.W., Capers (London), Ltd., have removed to more central offices at Carlton House, Regent Street, S.W., which are one minute from Piccadilly Circus. This company are specializing in the sale of Fiat rebuilt chassis of 30 cwt., 50 cwt., and 80 cwt. capacity, and can offer a sound spare parts service for these vehicles at very short notice. The accessory department of the company will, of course, continue to be carried on at the,new address.

A Lamp for Heavy Vehicles.

It will interest users of heavy vehicles, and particularly owners of steam wagons, who are in need of an efficient hurricane lamp,. to learn that the Dominion Manufacturing and Repairing Co., of 73, Cheapside, Liverpool, are marketing such lamp. The accessory offered by this company has a half-shield of red, translucent and practically unbreakable substance, which shows a large vivid red light at the rear and the ordinary white light in front. The shield also protects the glass from stones and other missiles, and projections. The red light is seen better in misty and foggy weather than when glass is used.

Suck a /amp is of particular advantage on steam wagons, trailers, and other heavy vehicles, and selling at 12s. 6d. as it does, should appeal to. many heavy vehicle users.

E63,000 on a Bridge.

Shrewsbury Town Council has approved a scheme for the widening and reconstruction of the well-known English bridge that spans the Severn in the town. The bridge sub-committee recommended that, whilst reducing the steep gradient of the "camel back" for which the bridge is notorious, the architectural features, which make the bridge one of the most beautiful in England, should be preserved. A contract for 63,312 was recommended for acceptance.

The Ministry of Transport will find half the cost of the scheme, the Salop County Council £16,250, and it is estimated that the borough of Shrewsbury will have to find about £19,000, which, with interest and sinking fund, means a 2d. rate. The scheme provides for the purchase of property for the widening of the narrow bottle road at the top of Wyle Cop.

A New Bus Stati_a -in Wales.

The Porthealisl Urban District Council has decided that a motorbus station is required in the town in view of the heavy influx of people, particularly in summer time, to the resort. The South Wales Commercial Motor Co., of Cardiff, was asked to erect a station, and replied that, whilst not anxious to incur the expense, providing the council found a site, they would do so if the council thought it absolutely necessary. A site has now been offered by the local authority in a central situation and the work will shortly be earried out.

F.W.D. Service.

We reproduce on this page an illustration of one of the first F.W.D. service vans to be put et the road by the Four Wheel Drive Lorry Co., Ltd., 44-46, Kingsway, London, W.C. 2. From -past experience this company possess a full. appreciation of the value of service, and they have been constantly • working towards making their service department an efficient organization for the benefit of users of their vehicles.

It is with this object in view that they have decided to put a number of service vehicles on the road, which will travel in certain allotted territory. All F.W.D. Users are being notified of the head

quarters of each service lorry, and they will be able to make arrangements direct with the manager of the vehicle, or through the company's service department at their works at Slough. The particular lorry illustrated is to be stationed at Leicester. It is fully equipped with the necessary spare parts and tools required for the execution of a

complete overhaul, as well as for work in connection with small adjustments or replacements. Two competent engineers are carried on the vehicle, and the plan is to make arrangements beforehand with the different owners of F.W.D. vehicles for repair work, or a general overhaul, to be carried out, in order that the service van can be run to a definite schedule and thus render the maximum attention to users' requirements.

It is hoped that this service will save F.W.D. owners considerable expense in connection with the maintenance of their vehicles, and it will certainly obviate lengthy delay in connection with any work that may be required on their vans and lorries. It is pleasing to note that the scheme is receiving a considerable measure of support.

Midland Motorbus Traffic.

Far-reaching developments of motorbus traffic in Midland areas have been witnessed in recentmonths, notably in colliery districts radiating from Nottingham and Derby.

Addressing a recent meeting of the Not-tinghain Society of Engineers, Capt. W. Y. Morland, M.M.Inst.T., manager of the Notts and Derbyshire Tramways Co., who are responsible for the maintenance of an excellent system, directed attention to the fact that at the present moment there are comparatively very few regulations governing motorbus traffic, with the result that a good many ancient types of chassis have been clothed with an apology for a passengercarrying body, ill-suited to the exacting requirements of a continuous service.

Such vehicles, he fittingly suggested, require skilled and frequent attention, and in this connection.he expressed his conviction that the Ministry of Transport will evolve some system of periodi, cal examination and inspection to see

that the public is safeguarded. That some such arrangement is called for recent experience in'many districts has amply demonstrated.

A Useful Traveller's Saloon.

A useful type of commercial traveller's • saloon,thuilt on a standard Ford chassis by T. Startle, Junr., Aston Road, Birmingham. is illustrated on this page. The driver's cab is particularly spacious, entrance being gained through a wide door, whilst a similar door' gives admission to the rear compartment, which is used for carrying small cases or samples which may be arranged on trays. It will he noticed that the partition dividing the front and rear compartments is pracEcally in the centred the body.

In cases where it is necessary for the traveller to carry large skips or bulky cases, a similar type of body can be provided, with a wide door in the rear in

• place of the side doors. All entrances are secured with Yale locks to guard against -the possibility of theft. The complete body is well designed, and is of strong and workmanlike build.

Local Proceedings.

Norwich City Council has purchased, from Merryweather and Sons, Ltd., a 250-gallon Hatfield trailer fire-pump at a cost of £563.

Easton -Urban District Council has discussed a:number of instances of damage to footpaths by lorries and instructed the surveyor to prepare a report on the matter.

Application for a new steam roller at a oast of approximately £900 has been made by the borough engineer of St. Helens to the highways committee, which has agreed to the purchase.

Having declined to purchase secondhand motorbuses, the Perth Town Council has asked the tramways manager to prepare a report as to the motorbus requirements of the department.

Service in Gears.

Users' vehicles are very often held up for long periods while worn gears are being replace, and as this delay directly effects the earning capacity of the vehicle, it behoves every user to endeavour to secure the required parts with the utmost, expedition. The Streatham Engineering Co. Ltd., 47, Streatham Hill, London, S.W., are offering a service' which is sure to interest, those users who require crown wheels, bevel pinions, and the like at quick notice. ['his company have most types of gears in stock and can deliver by return, but those types of gears— obsolete or modern—which cannot be delivered from stock they will guarantee to supply in four days. This company are specializing on gear-cutting, and the service they are setting cot to ,render users should certainly obviate the necessity for a vehicle being off the road for any undue length of time.

Garage Indicators.

Albert and Tristran, Ltd., have asked the Chester Corporation to allow them to put up signs on one or two tramway standards to indicate the way to their garage in City Road. The corporation has decided to inquire what the company will pay in the way of rent for the privilege of using the standards for advertis ing purposes. _

Taxi By-laws.

In consequence of representation by the Taxi Owner-drivers' Trade Section of the Chamber of Trade, the Southend Watch Committee is reconsidering the question of the proposed revision of hackney carriage fares and thinks it desirable in connection with such revision that opportunity should be taken to bring the general by-laws up to date. It is accordingly in communication with the Ministry of Health with this object.

Supervision Over Buses.

The transport committee a the Lienally Borough. Council has decided to defer consideration of the application made by Mr. S. H. Sage, Burry Port, for licences for buses for a service between Penybedd and Pembrey and Llanelly.

The ,00mmittee has gone into the matter' of extending the supervision over motorbuses, and has decided to call on the police for aid in the matter. It was stated that the bus service between Llanelly and outside areas was so intensive that at the standing places the buses were sometimes three abreast.


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