News and Comment.
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This journal is the recognized Users' Organ : it has a genuine circulation (Home, Colonial and Foreign), genuine advertisement support, and an Editorial Staff whose members have had experience in road transport.
Bond-signers of the S.M.M.T. may exhibit at next year's Royal Agricultural ShoAv : this will be held at Liverpool next June.
Excessive camber and side-fall sometimes cause accidents: a progressive view of this matter, in keeping with the changing conditions which the increase of motor traffic has brought about, is explained on the first page of this issue.
The Spirit Tax.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking in the House of Commons on Friday evening last, intimated that fire-engines and motor ambulances will be exempt from carriage duty, arid that be may be able to allow a temporary spirit-duty exemption to any parties who have entered into hiring contracts prior to the night of his Budget speech. See page 08.
A New Publication: see, also, this week's "Motor."
" Motor Cycling " is to come out in November : Temple Press will publish it. With a staff of unrivalled contributors to fill its pages, conducted by Mr. Dangerfield, and produced upon up-to-date lines in every respect, its future is assured. The great body of motorcyclists will welcome it, for accuracy, brightness and promptness will be its outstanding characteristics. Everybody now knows that Temple Press has scored a big success with " The Motor," and the present announcement of a much-needed intermediary journal of independent type is a fitting and natural corollary to the call of the day. "Motor Cycling " is coming out because it is wanted by the motorcyclist. It will be published each Monday, with full reports of the previous Saturday's events, and it will be sold at one penny per copy. The current number of " The Motor," in -addition to a full report of the recent motorcycle races in the Isle of Man, contains full particulars about the new journal and its programme.
A False Alarm.
We read, a few days ago, in a certain newspaper, a sensational paragraph which was headed " A motorvan ablaze." The text told how one of 'Whiteley's vans, laden with furniture. had been on fire in Chiswick High Road, and how the flames had been quelled amidst a scene of considerable excitement. The dispatch department of William Whiteley, Ltd., notifies us that " Our van was not on fire, but only one or two furniture wrappers-probably from some spark or inatA blown in." French Coachmakers at Liverpool.
On Tuesday last, the 28th inst., Joseph Owen and Sons, Ltd., the wellknown timber merchants, received a number of French coachmakers who are on a visit to this country. The party was conducted over the works, and was extremely pleased with all that it saw. As many of Our readers are aware, splendid stocks of seasoned timber are held by this well-known company, whose depots are not confined to Livorpool.
"Commer Car" Orders.
Messrs. Noakes and Co., the large Bermondsey brewers, have recently taken delivery of a five-ton " Commer Car " vehicle; the Tottenham and Edmonton Gas Co. has ordered two two-ton " Commer Car " wagons, with special shelves for the carrying of coke in brown-paper bags; and the Dir'ec't. Supply Aerated Water Co., Ltd.. of Kingston-on-Thames, has ordered a. " Commer Car " 30-cwt. chassis for the service of its depot at Fulham Palace Road. Added to the orders for public-service vehicles, the Luton factory is now so busily engaged on manufacture, that the sales department finds it hard to give delivery as rapidly as new customers wish. It is a remarkable thing how a lsuer, who has waited several years to make up his mind, generally wants his new vehicle to be delivered as quickly as though he were purchasing a stork at-title. Is this reasonable?
Dennis Broughams.
A leading firm of wholesale drapers in Manchester has ordered the Dennis traveller's brougham which we illustrate herewith. This vehicle has an 18 h.p. engine, and is built on the Dennis 25-ewt. chassis. Good protection is afforded in all weathers, which is a point of great importance to commercial travellers, whilst the back part of the car has windows of such dimensions that ample light can be admitted when the blinds are up. The otorage and shelf accommodation is on generous lines; in fact, the car may be regarded as a travelling stockroom—a matter which is frequently overlooked by purchasers of travellers' cars. Quickness and smartness in matters appertaining to sales appeal to customers nowadays, and large commercial houses are finding the motor brougham, especially for cross-country and long-distance trips, of unrivalled advantage. Since the early days, when some houses bought and overloaded pleasure cars, the tendency has been more and more to order substantial commercial chassis, and these are undoubtedly able to carry a large range of samples efficiently. Australian Orders.
Three more Albion commercial vehicles, for service in country districts, have been ordered for New South Wales, this success being due to the excellent running of the two Albion vehicles, in Sydney, to ‘vhich we have referred, with illustrations, in our last two issues. The development of Australian business is now recognized to be imminent, especially as the views of this journal, which were specially put before the proper Department of the Legislature, have resulted in a favourable differentiation of commercial vehicles from other motorcars.
Steady Mann Output.
A member of the editorial staff, writing from Leeds, states that when he called at the Pepper Road works of Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd., where he was re
ceived by Mr. J. H. Mann, be found the works in a very active state, and the principals taking quite a cheerful view of trade prospects. A steady flow of orders has been received by this maker during the past year, and, when one takes into consideration the fact that about 75 per cent, of such orders has come to hand from previous users of Mann wagons, the results are distinctly encouraging to the management of this Yorkshire concern. A satisfied user is one of the best testimonials for any manufacturer.
The following list, copied by our representative from the company's despatch sheets, enumerates 14 wagons that were delivered during the seven weeks ending the 23rd inst. :— • Matlock Basalt Co.. five-ton tipping cart; J. Thomas, Contractor, Tongwralais, five-ton tipping wagon ; J. Barns and Co.; Esher, five-ton flat wagon (repeat order); E. Barran, Bradford, five-ton furniture van; Bentley's Yorkshire Brewery, five-ton wagon (repeat order); Angol Gephrilonlegessegck, Vienna, five-ton tipping wagon : G. Hattersley and Sons, Ltd., Keighley, three-ton doublesprung wagon (seventh repeat order);
E. Osmond and Sons, Contractors, Cardiff (fifth repeat order); Steel and Lumsden, Edinburgh, five-ton tipping cart with road-roller attachment (re peat order); J. A. Lea, Lapford, fiveton wagon ; A. E. Crombie, Carmarthen, five-ton tipping cart (fourth repeat order); Gloucester Co-operative Society, five-ton wagon ; Whitworth Bros., Wellingboro', five-ton wagon (seventh repeat order); and Harris Scaife. (Australia), five-tonner.
Toward's Metal Wheels.
The set of steel wheels which is illustrated on this page was made by T. Toward and Co., Ltd., of St. Lawrence Iron Works, Ouseburn, Newcastle-onTyne, for a four-ton wagon recently 4shipped to Cyprus by Dennis Brothers, Ltd., of Guildford. The drivers are 31 in. in diameter, with a " stroped " rim 10 in. wide; the leaders are 32 in. in diameter, with a four-inch turned rim to take a solid-rubber tire. In the construction of these wheels, the body plates and spokes are punched and pressed out of solid steel-plate discs; the thickness of which is in. for the leaders and 3,16 in. for the drivers. The rims are thickened during the process of manufacture, and are formed by the flanges of the body plates, to which flanges the stropes, or wearing strips which form the actual tread, are riveted. A large number of Foden wagons has been fitted with Tow ard wheels, and these wheels have given complete satisfaction to their users. The hub does not form an integral part of the wheel, but is securely riveted to the body plates; it is, therefore, a suitable type of wheel for any make of vehicle. The South Eastern and Chatham Railway Co., which regularly issues cheap return tickets from Charing Cross to Paris and other French centres, notifies Special bookings for the aviation meeting at Juvisy from the 3rd to 17th pro*. These bookings also apply to the present Aeroplane Exhibition at the Grand Parini& Lorries Not Wanted.
Chelsea Borough Council has received a comninnication from the War Office expressing regret that the agreement under which the Council enrolled 11. of its motor lorries, and which agreement was about to expire, could not be renewed, as the number of this type of vehicle now enrolled is "sufficient to meet the military requirements for the time being." We understand that tractors are preferred by the military authorities.
Edinburgh-Glasgow Motor Mails.
The Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., of 9-23, Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, will use three 16 h.p. Albion vehicles for the discharge of the motor-mail contract between Edinburgh and Glasgow, one of which will be a reserve machine. This service, which will be under the control of Mr. W. J. Thomson, the manager to the company named, will be the first of its kind in Scotland, although mails have been incidentally carried in Sutherlandshire and other parts.
G.P.O. Vans.
The fact that the PostmasterGeneral is, at the present moment, asking tenders, from 15 selected makers, for three 30-cwt. vans, furnishes an interesting proof of the extremely-leisurely manner in which the Treasury moves in such matters. THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR exclusively announced more than a year ago, that the G.P.O. had decided tn move in this matter, owing to the satisfactory experience with its Maudslay 4-tonner. It seems a pity that official red tape and restrictions should be allowed to hang matters up for so long a period, hut we are none the less glad to see that three more vans are to be ordered at last. They may prove to be the forerunners of other G.P.O. fleets, although we have no reason to believe that there is any intention at St. Martins-le-Grand to depart from the old and settled practice of general hiring through contractors. The new vans will probably be used exclusively for the Stores Department, in which connection, under the efficient charge and management of Mr. C. W. Wheeler, M.I.A.E., their maintenance in good running order is assured.
British Works.
The first article of a series, entitled " British works revisited," will be found on pages 70 to 72. No finer testimony to the growth of the British motor industry will be forthcoming than the facts and illustrations which we intend to embody in our descriptive articles. " No. 1," which is concerned with the works of Leyland Motors, Ltd., reminds us of our first visit to Leyland, in the year 1897, after that company had won the silver medal of the R.A.S.E., and at which date the small shops—then primarily devoted to the construction of steam
lawn-mowers—employed a mere handful of men and occupied a building of the most unpretentious character. A steady process of building-up has brought this Lancashire company to its present important position in the industry.
Amiens Agricultural Show. The exhibition of agricultural motor appliances, organized by the Automobile Club de In Somme et de l'Aisne, was carried to a, successful termination at Amiens last week. In addition to the sittings of the " first International Congress on Agricultural Motors," and the exhibition of agricultural plant, a series of competitive tests for machines and their operators was carried out. We illustrate, on this and the preceding page, two of the agricultural motors under test.
Another Light Van.
Probably the first light Peugeot rnotorvan to be supplied in the -United Kingdom is shown on page 82—one sold to James Lyle and Cu.. Ltd., of 15, Old Bond Street, W., for the express delivery of coffee. The chassis has a two-cylinder, 10-12 h.p. engine, and is chain driven ; the body was constructed by Mr. T. Blanch, of Chelsea, and is intended for a. 10-cwt. load. The whole vehicle presents a smart appearance, and one quite in keeping Ilith the Bond-street establishment of the owner.
Scottish A.C.
A Vinot delivery van, entered. by Mr. T. Roland Outhwaite, of Cupar, is to-day (Thursday) undergoing a 12hour non-engine-stop trial at the hands of the Scottish A.C., in Edinburgh. This energetic club, a few weeks ago, subjected a StewartThornycroft tractor to a 40-mile road test, the results of which proved to be of a satisfactory character ; 160 gallons of water were used during the trial, and 7* cwt. of coal, the weight behind the drawbar being a little in excess of eight tons. This machine was originally brought to the public notice at the War Department's Trials in February last_
Some months ago I reported a conversation which took place between Mr. E. Foden, senr.,
..D3A fl Bld'UO and myself relative Foden's Band! to his company's brass band, and I was rejoiced to find that another outlet for Foden enthusiasm, apart from successful wagon building, was an innate love of music. This struck a deep chord of sympathy in my own breast, because the man from the county of broad acres, however unworthy, has an abiding love for harmony, be it in the form of oratorio, opera, or ballad music. It is, therefore, very pleasing, and I feel sure will be of interest to readers to learn that loodens have annexed the "Daily Telegraph " Challenge Cup valued at 5C1, in addition to a substantial money prize, and, further, that out of 18 of the picked bands of the country competing for the championship, they rank only second on the list, and I gather that it was a near thing that they did not actually secure the premier honours with its £1,000 cup. This obviously indicates a very high standard, and I understand every performer is an employee at the Elworth Works. I venture, therefore, to ex
tend to the Foden firm, whom I knoe so well and esteem so thoroughly, my hearty congratulations—the motor trade is proud of your band.
In response to an enquiry', a courteous reply reaches me from J. and E. Hall, Ltd., of DartIn the U.S.A. lord Ironworks, to the effect that they believe Mr. Kerr Thomas is abroad at the present time, but that any letters sent to his London address, 96, Hampstead Avenue, Hendon, will no doubt be forwarded. I believe Mr. Thomas is in the United States for the Napier people.
During the past week, I have seen two buildings in the course of con struction which will
At the have an important Garden City, bearing in our branch of the business. The first is at the Garden City at Letchworth, where, under the friendly wing of Mr. W. H. Gaunt, secretary of the Garden City Estate, I was shown round the various works and workmen's cottages. I was specially inter
ested in seeing the progress which has already been made with the Lacre building, and I shall be much surprised if Lacre's example is not rapidly followed, because this is an ideal spot for a factory. There are so many facilities: land is cheap ; you are alongside the G.N.R. ; there is good water and electric power and light ; the cottages and gardens, at 5s. per week rental, for work people, are most inviting, and, in addition, Letchworth is one
hour from London by rail. Motor manufacturers contemplating extensions or removal should see the Garden City. The other building rapidly going up is the new Manchester hall for the Manches Show. ter Motor Traders' Exhibition. These people in Cottonopolis are certainly going on, in spite of the Society's ban, building a hail; and they will make a great success of their show, too, for more than one reason. There is a distinct demand for a show, and these are very capable men. These are, therefore, to my mind, the two elements making for success, and one vitally important feature is that the new building is off Deansgate, and within six minutes of the Manchester Town Hull.