WHEELS OF INDUSTRY,
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The wheels 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 Crozier,
Tests of Solid Tyres.
The American Bureau of Standards reports that some very striking results mere recently obtained from dynamometer tests of lour 36-in. by 4-in, solid rubber tyres. The tests were carried out in co-operation with one of the manufacturers of ingredients used in rubber compounding, in order to determine how the use of different ingredients would influence the power losses in the tyres.
Each tyre was run under the same conditions of load and speed for approximately three hours, power loss and tyre temperature measurements being taken at regular intervals during the run. A very decided difference was found in the temperatures developed in the various tyres. The one which showed the lowest power loss reached a temperature of 225 degrees at the end of three hours, whilst the tyre with the highest power loss reached n temperature of 355 degrees, at which time the rubber on the inside of the tyre disintegrated to a marked extent.
The tests emphasize the importance of carefully considering the physical properties of rubber compounds used in building tyres.
Scottish Co operative Transport.
For the last three months of the year 1924 the trade of the Dumbarton Equit able Co-operative Society amounted to £88,521. Its transport department is separately organized from the other sec tions and includes six horses and 12 motor vehicles, the original value of the
latter being £7,302. These are being depreciated at the rate of 25 per cent. oh the nominal value and now stand in the accounts at £2,227.
During the three months £212 was spent on oil, petrol, etc., which was added to the stock of £34 at the begin ning of the period. The stock at the end of the period was £59 and the bal ance (£187) was charged to the trans port department. Other expenses of that department included £878 for wages, £130 for motor repairs and /63 for the quarter's proportion of motor licences.
Against the expenses the distributive department of the society was chargmi £825 and the productive department 1441.
Dennis's Overseas Activity.
The beneficial effects of Sir Raymond Dennis's journey round the wdrld soon after the war arc certainly observable to-day to anyone who has the privilege of going over the Dennis works at Guildford. We were there last week, and found every machine-tool hard at work, and a large number of chassis and vehicles on the assembly, bodybuilding and finishing floors. The order labels showed, in every case without-a solitary exception, the name of a customer (indicating that there was no building for stock), whilst with great frequency the net& showed that the order was for overseas. As we entered the works, for example, the side lamps were being fixed to a 6-ton chassis, the radiator of which bore this name plate, Indus
B20
tria Dennis Inglesa," and an hour or so later we saw the machine being driven off to the docks for shipment to Buenos Aires, one of a consignment now being prepared for the Argentine. Buses for Auckland, New Zealand, lorries for -Uganda, were but two of the indications of a very satisfactory export trade. We gathered that Dennis's were working a fall shift and overtime, another good sign being an enlargement, to the extent of more than a third, of the power-house, a fourth four-cylinder Sulzer-Diesel engine having just been
installed.
Sentinel Dividends.
The directors of the Sentinel Waggon Works (1920), Ltd., have recommended the payment of a dividend of 7i per cent. on the ordinary shares of the company for the year ended December 31st last. The preference shareholders are, in addition to their fixed 71 per cent., to receive a further 1 per cent. (participating rights) for the year, making 81 per cent. for the period.
The company who were formed in February, 1920, paid 10 per cent, on its ordinary, capital for the period from that date to the end of the year, since when only a preference dividend has been paid. The last report of the company issued in April, 1924, covered the three years to December 31st, 1923, and revealed a profit amounting to £92,221. The payment of a dividend on the ordinary shares indicates that the company's turnover has increased very considerably.
Aluminium Pistons for Saurers.
The Sourer Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd., have, after protracted experiments and tests, both on the part of the company at their factory and of commercial users, decided to fit aluminium pistons as standard in the engines used for all Sourer chassis. From results which have been obtained the company have been convinced that this type of piston is superior in many respects to those constructed of cast-iron.
This decision has not been hastily reached, but follows the company's policy to be in the forefront so _far as the adoption of now ideas in design and construction are concerned.
An Efficient Ambulance Service.
The value of motor ambulances, with their higher speed and wider range of operation than horse vehicles, was aptly illustrated at the last meeting of the Lanchester Joint Hospital Board, when figures were produced relative to the work performed by the vehicles owned by that authority. During a recent month the board's two ambulances removed 114 cases and travelled a total distance of 1,512 miles. The vehicle averaged 12 miles to the gallon of fuel used.
A Designer Available.
An experienced designer of commercial motor vehicles and buses with whom we are -acquainted will shortly be at liberty. He is experienced in the design of London-type buses, and for some time also specialized on the desigo of engines for all types of motor vehicle. Any inquiries addressed to "N.," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.
Paper on Continuous Production..
"Some Notes on British Methods of Continuous Production " is the title of a paper to be read by Mr. F. G. Wool lard at several centres of the Institution of Automobile Engineers during the present month. It will be read in Coventry today (February 3rd), in London on February 10th, in Wolverhampton on the following day, and in Birmingham on February 16th.
Laffly Municipal Orders.
Laffiy (England) Co., Ltd., 20-26, Lonsdak Road, London, N.W. 6, inform us that during the last month many Lally road-sweeping machines have been supplied for municipal uses, and that two such machines have been -supplied to the Melbourne and Singapore corporations, whilst the authorities at Blackpool, Stretford, Southend-on-Sea, 1)undee, Aberdeen and Swansea have each put one sweeper into service.
During the same period a combination road-watering and sweeping machine was delivered to the authorities at Redcar, and a 12-ton petrol-oil road roller has been put into service by the Wolverhampton Corporation.
Lancashire-Yorkshire Bus Services.
Local authorities in South-East Lancashire and South-West Yorkshire recently held a conference at Huddersfield to discuss the subject of the formation of a series of inter-town motor-omnibus services. In addition to representatives from the Huddersfield authority, Oldham, Rochdale, Stalybridge, Ashtonunder-Lyne and Halifax also sent members. The proceedings were held in private, but it was made known later that direct services are to be run to link up Halifax and Bradford with Huddersfield.
Successful Cumberland Services.
The extensive headway made by the motorbus in the North-West of England is illustrated by figures just announced by the Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd., who operate a comprehensive network of services in industrial and agricultural neighbourhoods in the county of Cumberland. During 1924 the company's vehicles carried practically four million passengers and covered a total mileage of about 1,250,000, as compared with 600,000 miles in the previous year.
Grain-carrying Steam Wagons.
Fodens, Ltd., of Sandbach, have just supplied the overtype wagon illustrated on this page to the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd., Star Flour Mills, Oldham, for the purpose of carrying grain in bulk from the docks to the society's flour mills. The body has been specially designed for this work, and it has a capacity for 6 tons of wheat. When the body is loaded to capacity, the contents can be discharged in about three minutes by means of two chutes which are fixed in the bottom of the body and fitted with slides which can be withdrawn at will by means of a screw and wheel at the side.
The body is so constructed that all the sides slope inward towards the chutes, If it be desired to use the wagon with an ordinary platform body, the special grain-carrying superstructure can be readily removed.
The C.W.S. has a fleet of six Foden steam wagons, all of which are engaged on this class of work.
A.E.C. Vehicles in New Zealand.
By the last New Zealand mail we learn that the municipal authorities of Auckland have lately placed a fleet of half a dozen A.E.C: single-deck buses into service in that city.
Lancashire Users Note.
Those users who operate heavy vehicles in and around certain areas in Lancashire may be interested to learn that Oswald Tillotson, Ltd., Gannow Top Engineering Works, Burnley, have installed a solid tyre press at their works for the purpose of giving service to steam-wagon users.
Karriers in India.
Amongst the new companies recently formed in India is that of Karrier Motors (Eastern), Ltd. The company, who have been organized to control the business relating to Karrier industrial vehicles in the Far East, have a capital of 15,000 rupees and headquarters at Gateway Road, Apollo Bunder, Bombay.
Inst. of T. Yorkshire Section.
The Yorkshire Section of the Institute of Transport is holding its February sessional meeting in the Council Chamber of the -Leeds Town Hall on February 9th at 5.30 p.m. Sir John Eaglesome, K.C.M.G., will on this occasion, deliver a lecture, illustrated by lantern slides, on the subject of "Transport in Africa."
Fordson Tractor Changes.
It is announced from Detroit, U.S.A., that, owing to the general increasing use of rubber-tyred wheels on Fordson tractors in industrial work, the amount of toe-in on the front wheels has been slightly decreased to reduce tyre wear. This change has been effected by reducing the length of the tie-rod from 37i ins. to 37 21-32 ins.
Republic Endurance'.
Although there are possibly quite a number of commercial vehicles now in use which have seen 10 or more years' service, it is doubtful whether the first vehicle constructed by many makers— certainly not those who were connected with the industry in its pioneering days —is still to be found in harness. Yet this is true of the first industrial vehicle to leave the works of the Republic Motor Truck Co., in America. The machine—a 11-tonner—was built in 1918, and after completing 100,000 miles over a period of nine years in the service of the Diamond Milling Co., of Livermore, passed into the hands of another owner in the same town, since when it has credited itself with a further 30,000 miles' running.
With the exception of one valve stem which was broken, necessitating the use of a new valve, the engine retains all its original components. The four-cylinder power unit is disposed under the , driver's seat, whilst the gearbox is mounted aniidships. The final drive is by chain, a form of transmission which has lost much favour in the States since the date of the manufacture of this vehicle, whilst in light models of this type the solid tyres, bolted direct to the large wooden wheels in the case of the Republic lorry, have been almost entirely supplanted by pneumatic and cushion equipment.
Safety Codes for Road Users.
The National "Safety First" Association, 119, Victoria Street, London, S.W. 1, has just issued, in booklet form, a safety code for road users. It is divided into four sections, and the hints in the respective parts are directed to motor drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and children.
The code for motor drivers has been in circulation for some time past, and that it has proved of inestimable value is suggested by the fact that nearly half-amillion copies have been sold. The hints which are given in the booklet possess an educative value, and, if followed, should materially assist in the reduction of road dangers. The price of the new booklet is 4d., and each code can be purchased separately.
A New Forth Bridge ? '
Those municipalities who are interested in the proposal to construct a road bridge across the Firth of Forth, near Queensferry, recently met in Edinburgh and considered various aspects of the suggestion. • It is estimated that the new structure will cost about £4,000,000, and the site suggested for its erection is within a few yards of the present Forth Bridge. It is stated that the Ministry of Transport is prepared to bear 75 per cent, of the cost of a preliminary survey. With the exception of the representatives of the Midlothian County Council, all those present expressed the view that the Ministry of Transport should bear the full cost of this survey.
A Record Run Across the Arabian Desert.
The Eastern Transport Co. (England), Ltd., 13a, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1, have recently received a cable which states that their motor service
across the Arabian desert broke all records on January 24th, when the journey between Rama& and Damascus— about 580 miles—was covered in 15, hrs. 26 mins., • instead of the usual scheduled time of 28.hrs. ; The vehicle used on the run maintained an average speed of 37 m.p.h.; and the achievement is all the more Creditable when it is considered that .150 Miles of the journey were made over snow-Covered ground.
A Dodge Brothers _vehicle, fitted with Dunlop tyres, accomplished this remarkable feat.
A representative of the French High Commissioner for Syria acted as an official observer, in order that the time taken could be verified by his Government, for which the Eastern Transport Co. carry the mails, as well as those of the British Legation at Teheran.
Motor Shipbuilding Progress.
The motor ship has definitely established itself as a more economical type of craft than the steamer, and the result is that more orders are being placed for oil-engined ships than for those equipped with steam-driven plant. The output of oil-engined vessels this year will be double that of the previous 12 months.
A full analysis of the position of the p22
motor shipbuilding industry appears in the February issue of The Motor Ship, together with many informative articles, including illustrated descriptions of the North German Lloyd passenger „liner " Fulda," and a 4,000 b.h.p. Sulzer twocycle. engine.
By Permission of Porthcawl.
The Porthcawl Urban District Council has assented to County Motors, Ltd., instituting new bus services between Portheawl and Tondu, via Aberbaiden and Cornelly and Porthcawl and Neath via klaudlam. The assent is subject to arrangement being made under which no overlapping of competitive services will result.
Progress in Metallurgy.
The 32nd volume Of the journal of the Institute of Metals, which invariably contains a comprehensive review of progress in metallurgy, has just been issued. This volume runs to 832 pages, and it includes, in addition to 13 communications presented at the autumn meeting of the institute, the May leetore, the autumn lecture, the seventh report to the Corrosion Research Committee, and ani,bstract section which contains much informative matter.
Bus Stands at Blyth.
Myth Corporation has' decided that all omnibuses • (whether Observing a definite time-table ornot) plying for hire between Blyth and Newtham only must take Up their stands immediately to the east of the Willow Tree Inn, in Place of the stands at present indicated. Proprietors in the district have been notifiedof the change by the town
clerk. — • Bus Results at Cardiff.
The gross expenses in connection with the Cardiff Corporation's bus undertaking in the nine months ended December 31st last amounted to £38,627, as against £20,547 in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. The giosS income totalled £46,659, as against £31,062, the balance, Tossed on to the next revenue account, being £8,032.
The balance of income over expenditure, after making all due capital charges, etc., amounted to £2,703.
Long Loads by Leyland.
There are many classes of load which cannot be conveniently transported by the railway, but which can be satisfactorily hauled by road, although special equipment may often have to be called into use. Take the case of a transportation task recently undertaken by Viney and Co., Ltd., of Preston, which involved the haulage of three steel barges constructed by the Lytham Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. to the order of the Niger Co., Ltd., the vessels being for service on the River Niger.
They are flat-bottomed, light-draught vessels with paddle wheels at their sterns. After the construction of the boats they were subsequently tested and, later, dismantled, the machinery being despatched separately to Liverpool, and the hulls carried by a Leyland steamer and two-wheeled trailer in the manner shown in the picture on this page. Heavy baulks of timber were employed as a cradle between tractor and trailer, the forward ends being mounted on a speci 1 turntable above the rear axle of the steam wagon.
The size of the barges made it imperative to use road vehicles, for, although the weight of each vessel was only' tons, tons, the length was 50 ft. and the width 12 ft. The hulls were subsequently tran s
ported to the Liverpool docks,..a distance of some 46 miles, without the slightest hitch, due, in a large measure, to the great experience which Messrs. Viney have had in this class of haulage and to the efficient running of the Leyland steamers which they employ.
Inst. of T. Midland Centre.
The inaugural meeting of the graduate and student section of .the Midland Centre of the Institute of Transport took place some days ago, when Sir Herbert Austin presided.
Sir Herbert referred to the magnitude of modern transport problems, and said that transport had not attained to that pitch Of perfection in this country which it had reached'in the United States. He 'expressed the view that a considerable amount of assistance could b given by the Institute in the solution of many of the problems with which the country is faced to-day, so far as transport is con ,cernneed.con e develop ments ' ,
'tended that recent had produced a stateof affairs in the great centres of population that re-. quired drastic regulations for their control, for transport, he added, had become the most pressing problem with which municipalities had to contend.
South Wales Road Schemes.
Strong protests were made at a Meeting of the Glamorgan Main Roads Comndttee anent the alleged holding-up of vital road improvements in the county by the Ministry of Transport. It is said that the Ministry is delaying approval of contracts provisionally accepted by the Committee from contractors for road works and representations are to be made to the Government on the point.
An important new scheme decided upon by the committee is the construction, at an estimated cost of 190,000, of a by-pass road on the southern side of 13ridgend. The new road will begin at the junction of Waterton Road and follow the line of the general district road to Broadlands.
The Glamorgan County Council, too, is to confer with the Carmarthen County Council on the construction of a new road from Pontardulais to Pontyffynon, which aims at improving communications between Swansea and the mining valleys to the north and Carmarthen and mid-West Wales.
Cab o Carburetter Heaters.
Messrs. Theo and Co., 32, TarIeton Street, Liverpool, inform us that they have reduced the price of the Cale carburetter heater by 50 per cent., and that in future the heaters will sell at prices ranging from 15s. to 21s. The chief claims made for the Cabo heater are that it ensures perfect vaporization of any grade of petrol or benzole, and that it gives greater power and better acceleration. The heaters are supplied complete with all attachments, air regulators, etc., the only extra being that for flexible tubing. The heater can be adapted to fit any type of engine.
Piston Rings in the Making.
"The Life Story of the Cygnet Ring" is the title of a well-produced little booklet which has reached us from the London Piston Ring Co., Ltd., 6066. Rochester Row, London, S.W. 1. The company have been concerned with the manufacture of piston rings for a period of 14 years, and the experience they have gained during this time has provided them with a first-hand knowledge of the class of piston ring which is best adapted for various types of internalcombustion engine.
From the story which is contained in the booklet, and which deals with the various stages in the manufacture of a Cygnet piston ring, it is apparent that each process is undertaken with the utmost care and precision. A few helpful hints are included in the booklet, which can be obtained from the company at the address given above.
Local Proceedings
West Ham Corporation is seeking powers to -run motor omnibuses.
Morecambe Corporation has decided to purchase a Harrier road-sweeping machine.
The Swansea Stores Committee has decided to purchase a new 4-ton lorry at a cost of £960.
Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council has decided to invite tenders for the supply of a motor ambulance.
Taf Fechan Water Board has given. an order to Messrs. Turner and Morgan, of Newport, for the simply of a reconditioned lorry at a cost of £332 10s.
Morecambe Corporation has decided that it is not desirable that Marine Road and Victoria Esplanade should be used as hackney carriage stands and has asked a committee to consider the purchase of land for the parking of such vehicles.
The highways committee of the Wandsworth Borough Council recommends acceptance of the following quotations :—For a gully-emptier at £1,100 from the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co.; for a road-sweeping and loading machine, at £945, from Harrier Motors, Ltd. ; for a wagon-loading machine, at £175, from Dtlillar's Machinery Co.