WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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London's First Six-wheeled Buses.
Since October last negotiations have been proceeding between the Public Carriage Department of Scotland Yard and Guy Motors, Ltd., for the approval of the Guy six-wheeled chassis and bus body as a type for service in the area under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police. The Guy vehicle is already in service in certain provincial cities and towns, for example, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Morecambe, Oldham and Norwich, having been the first Sixwheeled bus to be put into operation. The success which it has achieved in the provinces has no doubt had considerable influence with Scotland Yard and has helped the authorities to come to a quick decision te" approve it for London. This approval was finally given on Wednesday afternoon last and Guy Motors, Ltd., have perinission to place a small number of the type with Loudon bus operators. We understand that one of the concerns negotiating for some of the batch is A. T. Bennett and Co., Ltd., which OWDS the fleet of Admiral buses operating in the north and west of London.
'Plain-clothes Bus Inspectors.
The London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., has just appointed a number of plain-clothes inspectors for the purpose of boarding buses and checking tickets as well as for keeping a close watch on adherence to time schedules and seeing that the company's regulations are properly interpreted by employees. The inspectors will produce as their authority to the conductors a badge bearing the word "Official."
For Carrying Hot Tar.
A very interesting 'Vehicle has recently been completed in the works of Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd., Yoker, Glasgow, and it has been delivered to the chemical works department of the Glasgow Corporation. It has been built for carrying hot tar from the gas works to contractors, surveyors, etc., so that the tar can be delivered
quite hot at the places where it is needed.
The vehicle is illustrated on this page, and it comprises a standard 13-type 6-ton Halley chassis on which is mounted a three-compartment tank body ; the compartments hold 500, 300 and 200 gallons respectively. The tank is specially lagged with asbestos,
covered with sheet steel and bound with hoops. Each compartment has a Separate draw-off pipe taken to the rear into a common pipe. A hand pump is fitted at the rear of the vehicle to assist in delivering the tar, or for use in conjunction with a length of hose when it is required to fill barrels or other vessels on the road.
This is the first vehicle of this description which the Glasgow Corporation has put into use.
Paper on the Brunler Boiler.
On Monday next, Mr. Oscar Brunlor will read a paper on "The Internal-combustion Boiler (Brunler Flame) " before the members of the Society of Engineers, the meeting being held in the apartments of the Geological Sodiety, Burlington House, London. The Brunler boiler has been described and commented upon in our columns, and it will be interesting to hear the result of the inventor's recent research .work.
Success of the Motorbus at Plymouth.
The increasing popularity of the motorbus as a means of transport in big towns, and the corresponding decline of the tram, is further illustrated by the results obtained from the municipal services at Plymouth during
the year ended March 31st last. A report presented to the April meeting of the corporation transport committee showed that the number of passengers carried by the trams during the year totalled 34,678,000 as against 35,476,000 in the previous year, the revenue being £212,000 as against £221,000. The number of passengers carried by the buses, however, jumped from 4,357,000 to 7,211,000, and the receipts rose from £36,000 to £55,000.,
It should be painted out that the fleet of buses has been considerably augmented during the year under review and that where the vehicles run along the same routes, as • the trams they cannot be said to compete with the latter, inasmuch as the bus fares are in every case approximately 50 per cent. higher. Mr. H. P. Stokes, the engineer and manager of the corporation's transport department, looks upon motorbuses as invaluable auxiliaries to trams.
A New Air Cleaner.
The Zenith Carburetter Co., Ltd., 40-42, Newman Street, London, WA, will shortly be placing on the market a new type of air cleaner. It is really a compound cleaner, because part of the dust is removed by centrifugal action and -the remainder by actual filtering through felt. The air entersthe cleaner by an outside set of vanes which give it a rotary motion, but this direction of rotation is reversed by an inside set of vanes. During this reversal of direction the heavier dust is deposited, and only the light dust is carried through with the air to the inside of the cleaner. Before it can reach the carburetter, however, it must pass through a series of felt-covered tubes, these being mounted on spiral springs, so that when the vehicle is in motion they are continually vibrating. The filter is, of course, attached to the oarburetter by means of a short length of flexible tubing and is mounted on a convenient part of the dashboard or chassis frame.
The Merits of Gas-producer Plants.
The interesting statement that Belgium manufacturers now claim for vehicles propelled by gas-producer plants a reduced fuel consumption of 35 per cent, and an increase in power by 60 per cent. since the introduction of this class of plant in 1921, is contained in a report which the Department of Overseas Trade has recently circulated dealing with economic conditions in Belgium. It is mentioned that various new types of motorbus and goods-carrying vehicle running On producer-gas wer,e on view at the Belgian Show in 1926 prior to their deapatch to the Belgian Congo. As a result of the satisfaction already given by such vehicles driven by natives, it is said that the use of this class of plant is becoming general in the Colony. A Signalling Sleevelet.
Ail interesting signalling device taking the form of'a soft white rubber sleevelet, into which is fitted a red reflector, has been introduced by the St. Helens Cable and Rubber Co., Ltd., of
Slough, at the price of Sc. It is intended to be used on the motor driver's right arm for signalling purposes and, of course, should prove particularly useful for driving at night, when the extended arm is often almost invisible.
Many mechanical devices for signalling have been placed upon the market, but some of these are elaborate and sell at too high a price to appeal to the commercial user or driver. In addition, there is no doubt that.signals given by the arm are, after all, the best, and only with the arm can the standard signals recommended by the police and motoring organizations be employed.
The sleevelet can be easily carried, is washable and quite waterproof, thereby protecting the arm in wet weather. It could well be employed by policemen on traffic duty as well as by drivers.
Spain as a Bus Market.
In view of a report to hand from Madrid that the authorities have issued an order requiring the early renewal of much of the rolling stock of companies operating public motor services, there should be opportunities for British manufacturers in Spain. It is estimated that there are now about 400 services in operation in the country, these being largely maintained by subsidies from the postal authorities.
A Travelling Motorcycle Showroom.
With the object of creating greater inteiest in its machinee a German motorcycle concern—the Zschopauer Motorenwerke, T. S. Rasmussen, of Zschopau, Saxony, the makers of the D.K.W. motorcycles—has lately put on
the road and despatched on a tour of Germany a large single-deck motorbus. The vehicle is provided with a special body divided into two compartments, that at the front serving as an office for the salesman during the day and a sleeping compartment at night. The rear section forms the showroom proper, and it contains examples of D.K.W. machines, which are clearly visible through the large glass windows at the sides and back of the vehicle.
Prices of Morris-Commercial 12-cwt. Models.
As from April 25th, new models to carry 12 cwt. have been added to the range of commercial vehicles manufactured by Morris-Commercial Cars, Ltd., Soho, Birmingham.' The price of the Morris-Commercial 12-cwt. chassis is 1158, whilst in the form of a van it sells at £192, and as an open lorry at £108, an enclosed brougham being marketed at £210.
Bus Applications Refused.
Wakefield Watch Committee has refused to grant the application of the West liding Automobile Co., Ltd., for permission to run a direct service between Wakefield and Batley via Ardsley, and that of J. Bullock and Sons, Ltd., to run omnibus services between Wakefield and Blackpool and Wakefield and Scarborough.
New-type Buses for Lowestoft.
At a meeting of the.Lowestoft Corporation a letter was received from the United Automobile Services, Ltd., intimating that the company will shortly be operating new and mare up-to-date vehicles between Lowestoft and Yarmouth and elsewhere in the district. This is in pursuance of its policy of gradually replacing old rolling stock by new machines, and the company anticipates that an independent service of buses will operate between Lowestoft and Gorleston.
An International Six-wheeler.
A new model rigid-frame six-wheeled vehicle has recently been perfected by the International Motor Co., of New York.
In thie vehicle, the two .axles at the
rear, are spaced 46 ins. apart. The drive is through the forward rear axle only, using the conventional chain and radius rod. Two inverted semi-elliptic springs arc employed at each side, one located aboveand the other under the axles. A booster brake is interposed between the pedal and the jackshaft, whilst the emergency brake control is by two separate hand levers acting independently on to the two axles at the rear.
Military Motor Vehicles in Belgium.
The Belgian military authorities are just now devoting special attention to the mechanization of army equipment. Trials are being made with a new gun carriage adapted to be towed by Ford son tractors or Citren-Kegresse chaintrack vehicles, whilst plans for a standard type of military lorry have been drawn up. It is reported from Brussels that the authorities are about to organize a competition to ascertain the best type of tractor for military work, one being used for hauling loads of 2 tons and under and the other for dealing with heavier loads.
A New Tyre Factory in Australia.
A new company has recently been formed under the title of the Goodyear Tyre • and Rubber Co. (Australia), Ltd., to control the production and distribution of Goodyear products in Australia. Mr. W. G. Either, who is a native of Australia, has been appointed managing director. He has had charge of the Goodyear interests in Australia for the past six years.
In connection with this development it is interesting to note that the company is building a new tyre factory on a 20-acressite near 1-Sydney, and it is anticipated that it will be completed and fully equipped for production by December next.
• Motorvan Users in 1896.
In a recent issue of " Progress," the house organ of Lever Bros., Ltd., Major-General S. S. Long, .C.B., in the course of an interesting article on "Transport Through the Centuries," gives s OM details which would seem to indicate that the late Lord Leverhulme was the first in this country to adopt inotorvans for delivery purposes.
He remarks that a very interesting incident lints the company with the repeal of the Red Flag Act in 1896. It is described in a letter from Mr. Frederick Goodall, the chairman of Lever Brothers (South Africa), Ltd., who, in 1896, was the company's advertising manager in London. "As soon as it was decided to introduce the Motor Car Act in Great Britain in 1896, and before the measure actually came into force, Lord Leverhulme gave instructions for three motorvans to be ordered to be used purely for advertising purposes. The day the Motor Car Act came into force there was to be a procession of motor vehicles from London to Brighton at nine o'clock in the morning, but Lord Leverhulme arranged for our motorvans to commence running at midnight, these 'being the first motorcars on the road under the new Act."
Bus Development in Smith Wales. " In our issue dated April 5th We announced the purchase of the bus enter:prise of South Wales Commercial Motors, Ltd., by the Rhondda TraMWEiy,S Co., Ltd., and we now learn that Mr. A. Gray, formerly joint managing director of South Wales Commercial Motors, Ltd., will continue to act as manages of the company under its new ownership. The directorate of the company will be Mr. W. B. Cownie (managing director of Devonport Omnibus Co., Ltd., the Rhondda Tramways Co., Ltd.,
etc.), Mr. P. E. Stanley (director of Devon General Omnibus Co., Ltd.), Mr. T. G. Richardson (manager Rhondda. Tramways Co., Ltd.), and Mr. H. J. Nisbett (Torquay Tramways Co., Ltd.).
It is proposed, in the course of the next two years to increase the fleet operating on routes in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire from 46 to 200 buses.
Republic Sales.
Records kept by the Republic Motor Truck Co., of Alma, Michigan, show that sales of the company's commercial vehicles for March, 1927, increased by 40 per cent, as compared with the corresponding month of 1926. In the matter of sales March proved to be one of the biggest months experienced 'by the company since 1922. That trade is reviving in all parts of the world is further indicated by the fact that the company expects sales in April and May to surpass those of March.
A considerable portion of the increase in Republic business is directly due to the introduction of the Model. 50 and Model 60 six-cylinder chassis. Nut only is the demand for Republic vehicles increasing in the States, but the manufacturing schedule Of the company's foreign department is increasing. Many new Orders are being received from Australia and New Zealand.
A Bosch Plug for the Morris.
• We are informed by J. A. Stevens, Ltd., Upper Rathhone Place, London, ,W.1, that after extensive experiments a new patent plug specially designed to meet the requirements of Morris engines has been produced at the Bosch works. It is known as the mark DM2 long and sells at 4s.
The reach into the cylinder is about 18 mm. The hexagon is of standard width, a novel universal terminal is provided and the plug is demountable.
Wigan's Bus Experiment.
Wigan Council has authorized the tramways committee to suspend temporarily the tramway services on the Platt Bridge route of the corporation system in order to enable an experimental service to be maintained by petrol buses, subject to the consent of the lace and the Hindley District Council. Application is to be made to the Minister of Transport for authority to purchase forthwith three 40-seater six-wheeled motorbuses and six 30-seater four-wheeled buses for the purpose indicated.
A Useful Booklet on Lubrication.
We have just received a copy of the 1927 edition of "Correct Lubrication," which, as many of our readers may know, is a most useful little booklet issued by the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., Caxton House,Westminster, London, S.W.1. The new edition is every bit as complete as previous issues and should make an even stronger appeal to motor-vehicle users by reason of the fact that its contents have been augmented and many new illustrations are included. The reading matter has been modified to bring it into line with modern tendency in engine and chassis design. Some of the mast important chapters in the book deal with the lubrication of the chassis. lubrication of engine components, and how to lubricate correctly, whilst "Troubles and Their Remedies" is the title of a chapter to which those users who
encounter difficulties will naturally turn.
A mileage chart is included which gives at a glance the average mileage at which certain components or assemblies should receive attention. The chart of recommendations is, as is well known, one of the handiest and most valuable features of this booklet, and the company claims that it contains recommendations of the • type of lubricant to employ for every engine and gearbox made.
Progress with Oil-engined Vehicles.
It appears that considerable progress must be taking place in the United States of America in connection with the construction of oil engines of comparatively small size ; in tact, plans are being arranged for a 24-hour race for oil-engined cars. The rules provide that each car must be started with the driver inithis seat, and on any fuel, but oncel.started, all electrical ignition and other fuel must be disconnected, so that the engine will run on low-grade oil.
Hot tubes are not to be employed ; in other words the engines must be of • the Diesel type and each vehicle must ,stop every two hours and start again under its own power. Neither size nor design is being limited, and a prize of $25,000 has been offered.
R.I.A. Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting of the Roads Improvement Association was held at the Surveyors' Institution on Wednesday of last week, when Mr. Rees Jeffreys occupied the chair. As might be expected, the chairman had much to say concerning the raiding of the Road Fund by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and mentioned that Mr. Winston Churchill lied deprived the roads and bridges of this country of about 26 million pounds
collected from road Users under a statutory guarantee that the money would be used for road purposes. He touched" upon the railway influence in this matter, and added that there had been an organized attack by railway interests on road traffic. Mr. Jeffreys summarized the lessons to be learned from the past and stressed the need for transport interests to combine, the keynote of his remarks in this connection being that transport shduld be considered and dealt with as a whole.
At the meeting the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:— President, H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught; vice-presidents, Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Rt. Hon. Sir William JoynsonHicks, Sir Edward Manville, W. Rees Jeffreys, Sir Edward Iliffe, Lt.-Col. Moore-Brabazon, the Earl Russell ; chairman, W. Rees Jeffreys; hon. treasurer, Sir Edward I-Wee; vicechairmen, Col. R. E. Crompton, W. Worby Beaumont.
Merchandise Marks Act, 1926: Proposed Exemption of Petroleum.
The Board of Trade has given notice of WI intention to exempt petroleum and liquid products thereof from the requirement that imported goods bearing a British name or trade mark must be accompanied by an indication of origin. Any communication on the subject should be addressed to the Secretary, Board of Trade, Great George Street, London, S.W.1.
A Reo Tractor-lorry.
What is believed to be the first semitrailer to be coupled up to a lien Sprinter chassis is depicted in an accompanying illustration, the original of which we have received from the Nuneaton Autocar Co., of Queen's Hall Buildings, Queen's Road, Nuneaton. A point which is particularly worthy of note is that the body, which is 19 ft. long, 7 ft. wide and 8 ft. high, is constructed of Sundeala panels. Another point of interest is that the body, including the crutch, weighs under 12 cwt., the complete vehicle weighing about 3 tons. The carrying capacity
of the outfit is 4 tons, and on its first run from Nuneaton to Southampton with '3itons of furniture the journey was completed in 6i hours, the fuel return showing that an average of 11 miles was run to every gallon of petrol used.
Second Thoughts.
Had the Preston Corporation adhered to its decision to prohibit motorbuses running into the central area of the town the people in the outlying dis tricts would have had their first experience one day last week of the effect of the embargo. The hackney carriage sub-committee of the watch committee which drew up the list of alternative stopping-places adopted by the town council, however, met a deputation consisting of representatives of several urban and parish councils in the neighbourhood and of the bus companies concerned. This enabled the opposition to suggest another scheme which, it was thought, would cause less inconvenience to the companies and their passengers, and at the same time help the corporation to solve the problem of traffic congestion in the main streets. The new proposals are now under consideration.
Forbidden on the Parade.
Weston Council has decided to make an order prohibiting motor coaches and motorbuses from standing on the parade (save with the special permis sion of the council). It is to insist that such vehicles shall proceed to a garage, parking ground, or private yard after, discharging passengers.
New Cab Fares in London.
Just after we had closed for press with our issue for last week it was announced that the Home Secretary had made an Order prescribing a new scale of fares for taxicabs in London, and this took effect as from May 1st. The scale is based on a charge of 3d. for one-third of a mile or 3/ minutes, with an initial charge of 6d. for a distance not exceeding two-thirds of a mile or 7i minutes. The charge for each pack ao' carried .outside the passenger compartment is 3d. and 64. is charged for each additional person carried beyond two. Until it is found possible to effect the necessary alterations to taximeters the fares payable will be approximately three-quarters of the meter reading. It is interesting to note that the new scale of fares applies to all types of cab, so that charges on any twoseaters licensed will be the same as for the larger types.
Considering Passengers' Comfort.
Stoke-on-Trent Watch Committee has considered the question of seating accommodation in omnibuses, and after an examination of a vehicle. presented for inspection by the Potteries Electric Traction Co., Ltd., has decided that, in regard to omnibuses already licensed, it be an instruction that where seats are placed over the wheel-arches they shall be raised so as to give the maximum amount of comfort to the passengers. In regard to new vehicles the council is to insist upon the seating arrangements complying strictly with its regulations. A Garner Lorry for a Milk Contractor.
One of the most recent deliveries which have been made by Henry Garner, Ltd., Tyseley, Birmingham, is shown in illustrations appearing on this page. The vehicle has been supplied to Messrs. W. Kemp and Son milk contractors, of Loildou. The chassis consists of the maker's AEO forward-drive type and incorporated in the design is the company's patent hinged side wings `which give an unique degree of accessibility of an overtype model. The body has been made to accommodate 32 fullSized milk churns, and when the tailboard is made to serve as an extension of the floor, four extra churns can be carried.
• We understand that this vehicle has taken the place of a heavier lorry, which has been more costly to operate owing to the fact that the churns are only partly filled and the full carrying capacity was not utilized. The total weight of the load does not exceed 21. tons, but it is necessary to have a good loading space. The sides of the body of the Garner lorry are hinged and can be removed if desired. One of our pictures shows that the height of the body is such as to make for easy loading and unloading of the churns. The lorry is being used for collecting milk from farms in the Norwich district.
Orders for She-iflex Vehicles,
The Shefliex Motor Co., Tinsley, Sheffield, has recently received orders for Sheffiex chassis from a number of users, these including one from the Hull Co-operative Society, Ltd., for a 40-50cwt. chassis on semi-pneumatic tyres, and another for a vehicle of the same capacity, from Messrs. Coupe Bros., builders' merchants, of Sheffield. The company is also building several 30-40cwt, chassis for users in York and Rotherham, that for• a timber merchant in the latter centre being a repeat order.
Boiler Transport by Leyland.
_. In our issue dated April 19th we published an illustration of a Leyland platform lorry carrying a boiler weighing about 71 tons. We learn that the capacity of the vehicle, which is in the service of Messrs. William and James Goodier, of Preston, is 8 tons, and not as originally stated by us. The owner has a number of boilers of this type to deliver to bIeachiog works in Lancashire and uses a fleet of Leyland vehicles.
Municipal Transport Co-ordination.
The roads and works, drainage, parks, open spaces and cemeteries committees of the Portsmouth Corporation have conferred with a sub-committee of the finance committee on the question of the co-ordination of the stores and transport services of the corporation. The question of re-organizing the stores and transport departments has been very carefully considered, and the composite committee obtained the services of Captain F. W. Cable, A.M.Inst.C.E., who is in control of the stores and transport departments of the City of Westminster for the purpose of advising it on the subject.
The composite committee realizes that there are many points in Captain Cable's report which will require de
tailed consideration, but it feels that the broad principles expressed therein are such as might be generally approved. At the outset, however, it holds the opinion that the first step which should be taken with a view to re-organizing the stores and transport services is to appoint a man whose duty it would be to advise the council on and to carry into effect the re-organization of these services. It, therefore, recommends the appointment of a stores and transport officer at a salary of £600 per annum, rising to £750 per annum,
New Motorbuses for I.O.M.
There arrived at Douglas (I.O.M.) on April 22nd the first motorbus of the fleet which the Cumberland Motor Services, Ltd., intends to ply for hire between Douglas and the ether island towns. The
chassis is an Associated Daimler and is equipped with Dunlop 7-in, pneumatic tyres on all wheels, twins being used at the rear. The 'body has been built by Messrs. Massey, of Wigan, and accommodates 28 passengers in well-shaped seats upholstered in leather. The rear portion of the body is reserved for smokers and tracks are provided for small parcels and packages.
The new bus is painted red, and across the centre panel is the word " Isilanxiand," which is the name adopted by the company for the island service. It is intended to register a separate company in the Isle of Mau.
American Cornmercial Vehicle Exports.
The current year has witnessed a further increase in the export trade in American commercial vehicles. The latest returns available are those for February last, during which month no fewer than 10,120 vehicles, valued at 11,204,939, were exported from the United States, as compared with 5,877 vehicles (£822,886) in the corresponding month a year ago. For the first two months of the respective years the returns show an increase from 11,01$ vehicles (11,569,058) to 17,833 vehicles (12,303,247). Australia is far and away the largest purchaser of American vehicles, having so far this year taken nearly 36 per cent, of the total shipments, and it is followed by Brazil, Denmark and the Argentine, in that order.
Residents in one of the districts Hobart (Tasmania) are asking the local corporation to provide an omnibus service and have expressed their willingness to guarantee 150 towards the purchase of tickets for the first three months.