WHEELS of INDUSTRY The wheels of wealth will be slowed
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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.
Steamers Barred from New Mersey Tunnel.
Yesterday (Thursday) a special meeting of the committee of the Liverpool section of the Commercial Motor Users Association was held to consider the draft by-laws and regulations relating to the use of the Mersey Tunnel and issued by the Mersey Tunnel Joint Committee.
The Commercial Motor understands that all the transport associations in the Merseyside area have received copies and have been invited to submit their observations.
Mr. C. Dudley Whitnall, secretary of the Liverpool Area Committee of the C.M.U.A., in an interview with our Liverpool representative, on Tuesday, stated that what is likely to be the principal bone of contention is the proposal to exclude steam vehicles from the tunnel, a matter which has .been con
stantly before the committee. There are owners of about 300 steam wagons in the organization in Liverpool and district, and it is felt to be distinctly unfair that any handicap should be placed on them. Obviously, the Tunnel Committee is sacrificing a considerable revenue, as these vehicles are employed to a large extent in the port area, but, apart from that consideration, why should a restriction be placed on any class of traffic, steam or otherwise?
Considerable correspondence has passed between the C.M.U.A. Committee and the Tunnel Committee. The C.M.U.A. claims that before the Tunnel Committee reached any decision on excluding any particular class of traffic, the Association should have been consulted. However, it is a reasonable certainty that objections will be forthcoming from the transport industry.
It is expected that the three-mile, under-river roadway will be opened in July next year. Traffic will be divided into four streams-a fast and slow line in each direction. The former will not be permitted to travel at more than 30 m.p.h. or less than 20 m.p.h. ; for the latter the maximum is 12 m.p.h. and the minimum 6 m.p.h.
The suggested toll charges (subject to the approval of the Ministry of Transport) for different types of vehicle are as follow :-Ambulance, 2s.; motor coach or bus up to 14 seats, 2s. 6d.; over 14 seats, 5s.; lorry, 2s. 6d.; lorry with trailer up to 5 tons capacity, Bs. 6d., over 5 tons, 5s.; tank wagon, 35. 6d.; taxicab, 2s.; furniture van, 3s.; furniture van and trailer, 5s.; van (other than furniture) up to 1 ton capacity, Is. 6d., over 1 ton, 2s.
A Guide to Official Statistics in Government Publications.
The annual" Guide to Current Official Statistics" provides a necessary key to the statistical information contained in the hundreds of surveys, periodicals, returns and reports on a wide range of subjects which are published each year by Government departments. It gives not only a list of the titles and prices of official publications containing statistics, but also an extensive alphabetical index E16 showing the nature and scope of the information available on each subject. Volume 11 of the guide (price 3s. net, post free 1 s. 5d., 344 pp.) has recently been issued, and may be obtained direct from H.M. Stationery Office or through any bookseller.
Forward-control Armstrong-Salvors
Progress in the production of the oilengined vehicles made by ArmstrongSaurer Commercial Vehicles, Ltd., has now reached another interesting stage. From the user's point of view, the most important of these is that the Dauntless, Diligent, Dominant and Durable models will in future be available with forward 2ontrol, in addition to normal control, thus increasing the body space provided. Another improvement is the reduction of tare weight, bringing certain of the vehicles into a lower class of taxation.
L.C.C. Classes in Transport Subjects.
We are advised that the London County Council is holding classes in road and railway transport subjects during the 1933-34 session at the Kennington Commercial Institute, Kennington Park, London, S.E.11. The session begins on September 18, and the classes dealing with road-transport subjects are as follow :-Road transport operation, Wednesday, 7.40 p.m. to 8.40 p.m.; rights and duties of transport undertakings, Wednesday, 8.40 p.m.-9.40 p.m.; economics of road transport, Friday, 7.40 p.m.-8.40 p.m.; transport finance and accounting, Friday, 8.40 p.m.-9.40 p.m. There is also a graduateship course in which the subjects of economic geography, statistics, elements of transport, economics, and the law of inland carriage are included.
These classes present an excellent opportunity for students to acquire a sound knowledge of vital road-transport subjects in their different phases. There is, however, need for co-operation amongst the students in order to make them a success, not only for their own benefit, but for the benefit of the industry as a whole.
We understand that the London County Council is also holding similar classes at the North-Western Polytechnic, Prince of Wales Road, London, N. Full particulars may be obtained from the Principal of each of the Institutes concerned.
Two Important Industrial Court Decisions.
Two important decisions have been announced by the Industrial Court, one in connection with the wages of drivers and conductors employed by the Thames Valley Traction Co.", Ltd., and the other concerning the wages and conditions of drivers and conductors of Redcar Services, Ltd.
In the former instance, some months ago the Court found that, insofar as drivers were paid less than is. 2d. per hour, conductors less than 111 an hour, and overtime at less than time-and-aquarter the company was infringing the requirements of Section 93 of the Road Traffic Act. A further dispute arose between the Transport and General Workers' Union and the company, because drivers' wages were stall: dardized at Is. 2d. per hour, suitable increases and reductions being made. The Court now rules that, if rates higher than those referred to were paid, the company need not continue them.
In connection with Redcar Services, Ltd., the T.G.W.I.J. made representations concerning the company's stagecarriage operatives, who work in a radius of approximately 12 miles from Tunbridge Wells. The Union submitted that, for the purposes of the fair wages resolution, that area should be taken. it was contended that the rates of wages and conditions of employment of drivers and conductors contravened the Act. .
The company pointed out that it was not possible to take a district so small as that put forward, and suggested that the South-Eastern Area should be considered.
The • Court finds that Redcar Services, Ltd., is infringing the fair wages resolution and the Act by paying drivers less than 1s. 3d. an hour, conductors less than is. per hour, overtime and work on rest days, etc., at less than time-and-a-quarter and by not guaranteeing the payment of a full week's wages to regular drivers and conductors, except in certain circumstances.
International Conference on Tyre and Rim Standardization.
An international conference on rims, tyres and tyre valves was held a few days ago, under the auspices of the Standards Department of the Institution of Automobile Engineers' Research and Standardization Committee.
The proceedings were inaugurated by a dinner given by the I.A.E..to the delegates. Those present included Lieut.Col. C. M. Headlam, D.S.O., 0.B.E., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Leslie Walton, President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mr. R. W. Maudslay, Chairman of the I.A.E. Research and Standardization Committee, and prominent personalities in the tyre and wheel industry of Great Britain, America, France, Italy, Austria and Czechoslovakia.
During the Conference, Mr. W. N. Duff, Director of Research and Standardization, I.A.E.4 acted as chairman. Meat Traders and the Bill.
Representations to the Ministry of Transport against the wages and hours clauses of the Road and Rail Traffic Bill have been made by the National Federation of Meat Traders Associations, which points out that the vast majority of meat traders does not employ drivers exclusively to drive vehicles.
They fulfil other duties, such as acting as slaughtermen, canvassing, serving' behind the counter, etc. When vacancies require to be filled, it is customary to advertise for a canvasser, salesman or slaughterman who can drive a motorvan. The meat trade feels that, if this contentious clause in the Traffic Bill be passed, many members of the trade may be compelled either to dispense with some of their motorvans, or, if they re
tam n them, to employ casual labour Associations affiliated to the National Federation have been asked to write to the Minister of Transport, stating their objections.
L.N.E.R. Extending Road Services.
Further extensive additions, it is learned, are to be made to the motor door-to-door goods collection and delivery services which the London and North-Eastern Railway Co. is developing in the north-east-coast area. Already there is a chain of motor services into rural areas in Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire, and a considerable addition is to be made to the fleet to link up more reinote towns and villages with the company's main line.
An Ingenious Roadside Repair.
A good example of ingenuity in rectifying a mechanical fault at the roadside came to our notice recently in the form of a repair executed by an engineer in the employment of Evan Cooks Depositories, Ltd., Peckham, London, SE., to One of this concern's Leyland lorries.
The trouble lay in the magneto coupling, which was of the moulded-composition vernier type, having serrations on both faces. This, apparently, had been allowed to run slack, with the result that those on one side had all sheared off, leaving a smooth face. The engineer cut the damaged circular coupling into four equal sectors, timed the magneto, and put the pieces back to back, in
pairs, in such a way that they fitted the serrations on the coupling flanges, when the pairs were in place and diametrically opposite to each other.
Ile then joined each piece to its mate with nails, preserving the correct alignment, reassembled them as before, and clamped the instrument in position. We understand that this repair proved effecfive and lasting, and we hope the idea may help others who find themselves faced with the same problem.
A Demonstration Van Proves Its Worth.
The Morris-Commercial 35-40-cwt. demonstration van employed by S. Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd., to bring to the notice of motor traders the various products which it markets, has now left for Scotland. This van has already toured various counties in England and achieved much success.
As can be seen from one of the accompanying illustrations, the interior is extremely well equipped and the different accessories and components are neatly displayed. The company has found that its accessory sales have increased in all the counties in which the van has toured. Apart from the driver, the van also carries a sales representative.
Armoured Cars for Iraq.
Crossley Motors, Ltd., Gorton, Manchester, has received an order from the Crown Agents for the Colonies for two 20-60 h.p. armoured-car chassis for use in Iraq.
Bristol's Interim Dividend.
The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., has declared an interim dividend of 2 per cent. (less income tax) on the ordinary shares for the half year ended June 30, 1933.
M.R.S., Ltd., Buys 20 Oilers.
ivf.R.S., Ltd., the well-known haulage concern, has placed an order with the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., for 20 Mammoth Major oil-engined sixwheelers, the vehicles being for delivery during September and October next.
Official, Orders in June.
June last proved to be another quiet month as regards the orders for motor vehicles given out by Government Departments. The War Office placed a contract for bodies for Morris-Commercial 12-15-cwt. chassis with John Chalmers and Sons, Ltd., Itedhill, and one for chassis with the Austin Motor Co., Ltd. It also ordered tractors from VickersArnastrongs, Ltd., and the Weybridge Motor Engineering Co., Ltd.
The Air Ministry gave orders for tractors to Tractors (London), Ltd., and to W. Anison Bull, Otley. The Crown Agents for the Colonies placed a contract for Karrier lorries, whilst the G.P.O. authorities ordered a number of Morris vans and Greenbat electric trucks.
Canadian Statistics for 1932.
The Dominion Bureau of Statistics at Ottawa has recently issued its "Automobile Statistics for Canada, 1932." It shows that the 18 companies manufacturing or assembling motor vehicles in the Dominion in 25 separate factories bad a production during the year valued at 43,801,389 dollars, a decline of 27 per cent, during the 12 months. Last year's production included 10,095 commercial vehicles, covering lorries, buses and chassis. Of the 1932 output, 15 per cent. were commercial vehicles with a capacity up to 1i tons. Registrations of motor vehicles in Canada last year totalled 1,115,503, a drop of 7.2 per cent, on the 1931 total.
A Sales Opportunity in India.
We would refer those interested to a small advertisement under a box number in this issue, in which the English manager of a transport concern in India, who is now in this country, inquires for oil-engined vehicles up to three tons and garage equipment, including battery-charging outfits and workshop tools.
Next Year's Inst. of T. Examinations.
The Institute of Transport announces that the next examinations for associatemembership and for graduateship will be held frm April 26-28, 1934, in' London and at a number of provincial and overseas centres. Full particulars and sets of previous question papers may be had on application to the secretary of the Institute, 15, Savoy Street, London, W.C.2.
Britain's Hold on Indian Market Increases.
During the fiscal year ended March last India imported 2,676 vans, lorries, buses and commercial chassis, valued at £307,297, contrasted with 4,302 (1499,062) in 1931-32 and 8,913 (11,061,920) in 1930-31.
Although the United States still heads the list with 1,793 machines, this figure is a drop from 8,236, whereas the imports from Great Britain increased from 435 to 517 vehicles. The imports from Canada declined from 598 to 338 units and from all other countries from 33 to 28.
Iraqi Pipe-line Ready Next Year.
Oil will be flowing through the northern section of the great Iraq pipeline, which is to cross 600 miles of desert, by September, 1934, provided that the present rate of -work on the line is maintained. Thus, this part of the project will be finished 15 months ahead of the date for the completion of the work.
Under the terms of the concession, the Iraq Petroleum Co. is to finish laying the pipe by the end of 1935, but it is confidently expected that all the work will.be completed well before that date.
R.H.A. Council Meets.
At.,the council meeting of the Road Haulage Association held in London on July 26. a further batch of 113 applications for membership was received and approved.
The activities of the Association in the various areas are being well maintained. The West Midland area representative attending the meeting reported that two committees that had been examining the question of haulage rates have submitted comprehensive reports, one dealing with long-distance rates and the other with local or short-distance haulage. The council was also informed that this question is under deliberation in other areas, and decided to appoint a committee to examine the reports.
In connection with the Road and Rail Traffic Bill, the president and chairman reported upon the procedure followed by the British Road Federation and the steps to be taken before the Bill is finally passed.
Progress of the Dardelet Self-locking Screw.
One of the most interesting types of screw thread developed during recent years is the Dardelet self-locking, in which, at the root of the thread, is a conical or inclined surface, whilst the thread on the nut is comparatively narrow, so giving the nut a small amount of freedom to slide longitudinally when pressure is exerted on its underside. Thus, when a nut is screwed up on a bolt or a load applied to the bolt, the nut thread is wedged tightly on to the cone at the base of the bolt thread, so providing a most effective locking action ; therefore, the nuts do not require to be castellated, pinned or otherwise secured.
The effectiveness of the device has been proved by experiments carried out at the National Physical Laboratory.
The maker is British Dardelet Threadlock, Ltd., Chase Road, London, N.W.10, and the company is receiving regular contracts from many leading concerns who are using bolts with this self-locking 131.8 thread on various parts of chassis. The progress made, especially during the past few months, has necessitated considerable extensions of the manufacturing equipment.
Dennis Bros., Ltd., is using the Dardelet thread on the wheel studs of its new 2-tonner. Another well-known user is Guy Motors, Ltd.
The company does not, however, confine its products to screws with the Dardelet thread, hut is manufacturing ordinary V types in either B.S.F. or Whitworth sizes, also making a speciality of socket screws.
Restrictive Legislation ht Indo-China.
The Government authorities of IndoChina are introducing a system of licensing for commercial-motor road transport. The licence will stipulate the services for which vehicles may be used—goods or passenger transport, or both—and whether for regular or 'occasional operation.
In the case of regular services; con ditions will be imposed as to routes, the number of vehicles that may be used, time-tables and maximum tariffs. Heavy fineS are profided for running vehicles without a licence, and where the offence is repeated the vehicles may be confiscated.
Personal Pars.
Mr. Pat Murray, of Swansea, formerly a member of the staff of the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., who is well known in the South Wales motor trade, is leaving for London to join the staff of the Texas Oil Co., Ltd.
Mr. W. E. Gough, chairman, and IVIessrs. Thomas White and Howell M. Davies represented the Omnibus Owners Association (South Wales) in a party of South Wales business men which, in the last week of July, toured Belgium to examine industrial methods.
Big New Welsh Depot for R.O.P.
Russian Oil Products, Ltd., has intimated that the scheme to erect a large West :Wales storage and distribution depot, adjoining Llanelly Harbour, which was suspended owing to the embargo on Russian products, is now to proceed.
A Van for Transporting Domestic Animals.
We reproduce on this page an illustration of a special van which has recently been supplied by Messrs. Wylie and Lockheed, the Glasgow distributors for Compeer Cars, Ltd., to the Glasgow Dog and Cat Home.
The chassis is a Commer 20-25-cwt. model, and the bodywork is of ash, the framework of the doors being covered with sheet steel so that the dogs and cats cannot scratch at the woodwork. The interior is ventilated by louvres, as well as through holes in the partitions of the compartments. The door of each section has a slam lock. There are two floors, which slope towards the centre for draining purposes and a gutter communicates with a vertical pipe at the rear end. The floors are removable so that the interior can easily be cleansed and disinfected.
The exhaust pipe is carried to the back of the van so that there is no danger of fumes entering the compartments, in the design of which particular care has been taken to avoid any corners or metal edges likely to cause injury to the animals.
A Handbook on Patents and Trade Marks.
Kings Patent Agency, Ltd., Wardrobe Chambers, 146a, Queen Victoria Street, London, B.C.4, has recently issued the latest edition of its booklet dealing with patents and trade marks. It refers to matters which are of vital importance in industry and commerce, and outlines the present law in this country, stressing the need for enlisting expert aid in the protection of industrial property by patents, trade marks and designs. A copy of the booklet can be obtained by writing to the company at the address we have given.
Big Slump in I.F.S. Tractor Exports.
Seven tractors, valued at £754, were exported from the Irish Free State during the five months ended May last, as compared with 1,302 machines and £130,280 a year ago. The value of the exportsof tractor parts amounted to £24,168, as against £43,181 in the first five months of 1932. Careful Railway Drivers.
The presentation of awards gained in the 1932 "freedom-from-accidents" competition by L.N.E.R. motor drivers and carters in the London and suburban areas took place at Kiug's Cross on Sunday last, For the past year 302 men entered the competition and 273 qualified for awards as follow :— Oak Leaf Bars.-79 lor men in possession of gold medal for 10 years of freedom from accident. Gold Medals.-17 for 10 consecutive years' Freedom from accident.
Bars to Silver Medals.-.21 for men in possession of silver medals for 5 years freedom from accident.
Silver Medals.-21 for 5 consecutive years' freedom from accident. Diplomos.-65 men qualifying for silver medals. Mr. J. Rogers, London Cartage Manager of the London and North-Eastern Railway Co., occupied the chair at the meeting and was supported by Mr. A. R. Wilson, Southern Area, Cartage Manager, and cartage supervisors from the principal stations. The presentations were made by Mr. Wilson.
Federal Supervision for U.S. Oil Industry.
Federal supervision of American petroleum production is provided for in a proposed code for the oil industry, submitted by the National Recovery Administration to the oil leaders, states a message dispatched from Washington on Tuesday last.
• Triplex Co. Comes of Age.
On Wednesday last, August 2, the Triplex Safety Glass Co., Ltd., celebrated its 21st anniversary, for it was on August 2, 1912, that the first board meeting of the company was held. The original factory was at Hythe Road, Willesden, and when the company began its sales campaign there was very little interest in safety glass. Now, however, the company's product is widely used.
The present board of the company includes Lieut.-Col. 0. C. Clare, D.S.O. (chairman), Mr. Graham Cunningham (managing director), Mr. Reginald Delpech (sales director), Mr. W. R. Lyttleton, and Major A. E. Phillips.