Electric Buses in France.
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At a meeting of the French Union des Voles Ferries et deg Transports Automobiles recently held in Lyons, M. Chalumeau, the chief engineer of that City, gave some particulars of the electric bus service run by the municipal authorities. Sixteen single-deck vehicles are in use, the chassis being De Diens. The electrical equipment, comprising two 12-15 h.p. series-excited motors for each bus, was supplied by the Tog,nini-Balho Co., of Milan, Italy. The battery of Tudor-Hensemberger accumulators weighs from 2.3 to 2.5 tons, and the buses in running order weigh from 7.15 to 7.35 tons. The motors are directly connected to the rear wheels, the speed of the vehicles-being entirely electrically controlled by means of a controller which gives five forward and two reverse speeds. Each bus covers a daily distance of about .56 miles, but M. Chalumeau pointed out that this does not represent the full capacity of a single battery charge.
Recent A.E.C. Orders.
Passenger-carrying vehicles figure largely amongst the orders which have lately been received by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd. The company have in hand 13 model 607 52-seater buses for the South Wales Transport Co., eight of a similar type, but with covered tops, for the Oldham Corporadon, four of a like carrying capacity for the Edinburgh Corporation, and three 30-seaters on model 413 chassis for the Retford Motor Services. In addition, two model 507 passenger chassis are passing through their works and will ultimately be put into service by Lancashire Industrial Motors, Ltd.
On the goods-carrying side the company have recently received an order for eight 6-ton chassis from R. Wood bend and Co., Ltd., whilst they are building two 2-21-ton vehicles for both the Palatine Bottling Co., Ltd., and Thomas Glover and Co., Ltd.
The Lubrication of the Ford.
AU those Ford users who are desirous of scouring the maximum efficiency from their vehicles will readily acknowledge the importance of the subject of lubrication, and for this reason we feel that many of them will be interested in a new booklet which C. C. Wakefield and Co., Ltd., Wakefield House, 30 and 32, Cheapside, London, D.C., have recently issued. It is entitled "How to Lubricate the Ford," and has been prepared by an acknowledged authority on the Ford, Mr. It, T. Nicholson, M.A. Apart from drawind attention to the merits of oil sold under the trade mark of Castrol," the booklet contains a number of helpful pointers on the subject of lubrication and its value is increased by a useful chart which servos as a timetable, so far as the lubrication of the CS Ford chassis is concerned. Copies of the booklet can be obtained from the company at the address given above.
Newport Bus Results.
At a meeting of the tramways committee of the Newport (Mon.) Corporation the general manager submitted a statement showing approximately the financial result of the omnibus services for the 10 months ended January 31st last. The average receipts per mile were 11.132d., the working expenses 11.371d. per mile and the interest and sinking fund charges 2.399d. per mile, making a total of 13.770d. per mile. There was an adverse balance of £1,399. The total mileage was 127,269.
Beans fcr Various Uses.
The 13ean motor ambulance which the Cape Hospital Board of South Africa have had in use for some time has stood up to overseas conditions of operation so well that the Board has placed an order for another machine with A. Harper, Sons and Bean, Ltd., Dudley. The type of vehicle which the authorities favour comprises the company's standard commercial chassis carrying a special body.
The Bradford Dyers' Association. have placed two repeat orders for Bean 25cwt. lorries, whilst the Harrogate and District Road Car Co., Ltd, have ordered five light omnibuses.
Vulcans in Demand.
Municipal authorities are large users of various types of vehicle produced by the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. 1(1906), Ltd., and the company continue to experience a steady demand for their products from such bodies. • During a recent short period they received orders for tipping wagons from the corporations of Southport, Swansea, St. Helens, Blackpool and Lytham, and also from the Earlestown Urban District Council. The Southport Corporation has placed a repeat order with the company for a 30-seater bus,
Amongst orders received from private owners is one for four 30-cwt. vehicles from the Barker Transport Co., of Liverpool, whilst other users who have just taken delivery of -Vulcan vehicles are :Tames Keiller and Sons, Ltd., of Dundee, and the Apollinaris Co., Ltd. The company are also constructing vehicles for Burton's Sugar Mills, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Bruce and Sons, Ltd., of Sunderland.
The Osram Delivery Service.
In a recent issue of the "Osram Bulletin," which is a publication issued on behalf of the General Electric Co., Ltd., Magnet House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, some interesting particulars are given of the company's delivery service in an article entitled " Delivery."
In 1919 the company's transport organization was on very modest lines, and for delivery work three horsed vans only were employed. These served the West End of London and the City, and executed a total number of 18,000 deliveries annually. To-day the company use 15 motor vehicles which cover an annual mileage exceeding 200,000 and execute 170,000 deliveries. Twenty-five daily services are in operation and over 300 districts in London and Greater London are served, the vast majority of them at least once a day.
The delivery circle which rings the Metropolis reaches to Rickmansworth in the north-west, Southgate in the north, Goadmayes in the east, Bromley in the south-east, Purley in the south, Surbiton in the south-west, Hounslow in the west, and thence round to Harrow and onwards to complete the circle.
Some of the company's delivery vans have specially constructed bodies which enable 10,000 Osram lamps to be delivered in one consignment.
From other facts given in the article, it is obvious that the G.E.C. delivery system is planned on sound and efficient lines and that motor vehicles play an important part in enabling the company to carry out their obligations with the utmost despatch.
Nesthill Accessories.
Ernest H. Hill, Ltd., Beta Works, 56, Broomhall Street, Sheffield, whose products are sold under the trade-mark " Nesthill," have just issued their new season's catalogue, which deals with various classes of accessory for use on motor vehicles and in the garage and workshop. Several lines which the company market are specifically intended for use on commercial vehicles, and amongst these may be mentioned a range of Mirrors for rough usage.
Weighbridge Charges.
Plymouth Corporation has fixed the following charges for the use of the weighbridge at the depot :—Lorries up to 2 tons, 6d.; lorries over 2 tons, 9d.; steam wagons, 1s.
Canada's Tyre Output.
During last year 1,000,000 more motor vehicle tyres were made in Canada than in the previous year, whilst 500,000 more tyres were exported in 1925 than in 1924. In all more than 3,000,000 tyrea were manufactured in Canada last year. These figures were revealed at the annual meeting of the Rubber Association of Canada, when it was indicated that the rubber industry of the Dominion is making considerable progress.
Bristols for Fuel Transport.
Prominent fuel companies figure in the list of concerns who have recently placed orders with the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., Tramways Centre, Bristol. The British Petroleum Co., Ltd., are buying six 40 h.p. Bristol chassis, whilst the company have iu hand five chassis of the same type for ShellMex, Ltd. These constitute the seventh and sixth repeat orders, respectively, received by the makers from these important users.
Russian Students for Ford Works.
A party of 50'" student mechanics" will leave Moscow towards the end of April for the United States. Their destination is Detroit, where they are to he given a course of intensive training in the construction, driving and maintenance of the Ford tractor. It may be remen-Aierecl that the Russian Soviet GoNernurent recently purchased a very large number of Ford tractors. The Ford Co. are stated to be paying the whole of the expenses fon the visit of these 30 students.
Benefits for Dunlop Employees.
Each of the 7,000 employees of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., who is not covered by existing schemes qualifies under a iron-contributory scheme of benefits, the details of which have just been made known by the managing director of the company. BY the provisions of the new scheme sickness and accident benefits of 12s, a week for adults and 6s. a week for juveniles will be' paid up to 26 weeks for all eases in solving incapacity to work which are not covered by the Workmen's Compen:. sation Act. There is a death benefit of .£40 in the case of adults and £20 in the case of juveniles, and a lump sum, rising from £50 for 15 years' service to £100 for 25 years, is to be paid te each worker on retirement after his 55th birthday.
A separate scheme outlined to the clerical staff offers an endowment of £50 for 13 years' possible service to £160 for 35 years' service, or more, on retirement at the age of 55 or at death, if earlier.
The whole cost of the different schemes, the qualification for which ranges from six months' to five years' service, is being borne by the company.
Guy Tippers for Yorkshire.
The engineering department of the West Ridiug County Council has given an order for three 3i-ton and three 30cwt. Guy tipping wagons which are to be used for carrying road material. All these vehicles will be fitted with threeway hydraulic tipping bodies. The same council has ordered a 1-ton Guy van for the use of its engineering department.
Northern General Dividends.
The Directors of the Northern General Transpdrt Co., Ltd., of Chesterle-Street, who now control a network of bus services over 200 route miles in the Tyneside ami North and East Durham neighbou-r.,,otis, recommend the payment of a :mai dividend of per cent. on tie:. ordinary shares of the company, making 10 per cent, for the year 1925 (the same as the previous year), and also a final dividend of 3 per cent. on the preference shares, making 6 per oent, for the year.
Bagnulo Engine Co.'s Headquarters.
The Bagnulo Engine Co. of Great Britain are now established at 83, Renshaw Street, Liverpool, where any Information regarding the Bagnulo heavy-oil engines can be obtained or a unit inspected under working conditions.