WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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.‘ The wheel 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.
. New Year Honours,
The Prime Minister's last f New Year Honours was issued on Friday evening last, and we erstract from it those names of particular interest to the motor and ,vane art industries.
Sir William Beardmore, Bart., chairman and managing director of laTiviliam Beardmore. and Co.,&airman of the Aivol-Johaisten Motor Co., Ltd., is raised to the peerage for public services.
Col. J. W. Pringle, chief inspecting officer of Railways, Ministry of Transport, is appointed a Companion of the Beth.
Mr. W. Peter Rylands, President. of ihe Federation of 13ritish Industries, is elevated to the rank of knighthood.
Buying B. Types.
The . Commissioner of Police has officially announced that he will not licence+, in the Metropolitan area the omnibuses of tho obsolescent Baype 'ceilidh have been .diaoarded • by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., in favour of the larger K and S type vehicles which are now appearing on the streets in 4increasinse numbers. This announcement is made in order that persons who may be contemplating the purchase of these .discarded chassis for running for hire in London may not incur disappointment.
The Commissioner reserves to himself the right to make exceptions (a) in the case of persons • who prove to him that before the date of this notice their negotiations for purchase had progressed so far that they could not withdraw without setionSa loss, and (b) generally, if he is satisfied that the decision Militates against the reesonable Tequire ments of the public for transport. There will be no embargo on the sale of the vehicles for use in the provinces.
-A New Year Auction.
Smallman Bras. are conducting an auction of motor vehicles on Tuesday, January 11th, at 2.15 p.m. An advertisement concerning this auction is published in this issue, but., although the number of commercial vehicles which appears in. the published list of those offered for sale is comparatively small, we are given to understand that a number of others ...will be offered.
From Sir Eric. •
The Editor of The Moor sent a seasonable and peculiarly approprialsegreeting to Sir Eric Geddes, the Minister of Transport, and the latter took the trouble to acknowledge it in a letter which contains so many points of interest to users of all types of mechanically-propelted vehicles that we havee.aaked and obtained our colleague's permission to reproduce it here. Writing trim the Ministry of TransporteSir Eric says:— "Dear Sir,
"I have to acknowledge your very attractive Christmas card, wit-h the licence for a merry Ohrist.mas asei• a happy New Year, and to thank you for the good wishes contain-ed in it.
"In spite of the apparent complication of the. new licence and regulation 'forms, I believe that this time next year, 04
when they are understood and have been inaugurated, they will be found in practice to be no very irksome .burden upon the. motorist-.
"The Roads Bill, which received the Royal Assent last night—in spite of the controversy which has' raged round this form of collecting the taxation (which was unanimously agreed upon by all representative motor and mechanical trar;sport using interests—had an extraordinary passage through both Rouses of Parliament, without a single division upon any point, and I believe that-in the year's to come, it will be looked upon as one of the milestones its the development of road
transport and the freeing of the Toads for the motorist.
'In addition, provision has beenniade in this Bill which prevents every minor offence—regardless of importance—being endorsed on a licence, and it provides that throe years without an endorsement entitles the drive'''. to a cancellation of all preaimis endorsements.
• "I would thare.fore liketo wish you and the motor owner and drives a veey happy and prosperous year in 1921, with a clean licence at the end of it I
"Yours truly (Signed) ERIC. GEDDES."
The Motor—Price Fourpence.p
•
Commencing with the issue of Janu-.4 ary 12th, the price of The Motor will be 4d. The falling tendency in the cost of pa-per is the basis of this decision and it conforms with the promise announced in May (when the last increase was made) to amend the price as soon as possible.
The New Registration.
Readers who have been carefully following The Commercial Motor for the past four weeks will be thoroughly posted upon the requirements arising out of the Finance Act of 1920 and the Roads Act of 1920, these requirements having come into force on January 1st. • Every mechanically propelled vehicle must now be re-registered (although this does not involve the issue of a new mark or registration number or the provision of new identification plates), and in respect of every such vehicle a licence -fee must be paid. The single tax which results, and which can be paid either annually or quarterly (although. the quarterly licences involve a substantial increase in the yearly snip) takes the place of the petrol duty, the licence duty on road locomotives, the fees on registering motor vehicles and the fees on the licensing of motor vehicles which ply for hire. In respect of omnibuses and charslatiancs which are liable for payment of mileage rates . to local authorities, the Roads Act gives the Minister of Transport power to revise forthwith any agreements that may have been entered into under tection 20 of the Local Government Act. of 191.6.
The definition of unladen weight has 'now been amended, so that it agrees more exactly with the actual unladen weight of a vehicle. The maximum un. laden weights of vehieee have also been increased. Every commercial vehicle is taxed on its unladen weight, and every hackney vehicle is taxed on its seating capacity. A tax is also payable on agriculture' vehicles which are not used for haulage; on agricultural vehicles which are used for haulage in connection. with agriculture; on tractors ;on locomotives and on traction engines. We shall be pleased to send, on receipt of a postcard, a copy of the schedule of taxation. We are also willing to reply to any question :put to us by readers concerning the registration and licensing of their vehicles.
One month's grace is to be allowed in respect of the re-registration of vehicles which were already registered on December 31st, but no new vehicle may be taken on the road on or after January let, unless all the formalities in connection with registration and licensing has been complied with. .
From now onwards, every registered vehicle must display its licence card in some form of holder in a position near or attached to the windscreen or on the near aide of the vehicle in a line with the driver's seat, or, in the case of a locomotive, in a line with the footplates.. Licences must thew Clearly to the near side of the Toad so as to be visible to any person Standing on that side, and failure so -to display the licence will render the vehicle liable to be stopped and the owner liable to proceedings. The import duty of 6d. per gallon on petrol is cancelled as from January 1st, but the right to payment of the 3d. per gallon rebate Is continued until July 1st, and all applications for rebate must. be made before that date, but it must be quite clearly understood that this rebel' e can only be obtained on petrol upon which duty has in fact, been paid.
. 'Short-distance Rates.
Local haulage and, cartage rates at Liverpool have been reduced as from January 1st.
This decision on the part of firms
• employed in this .class of work is said to have been prompted by the desire to make the port of Liverpool attractive to traders, as against other .ports of the kingdom.
At the present time in Liverpool there is hardly a trade that does not cornplain of the slump in business, and this naturally has reflected itself in the carrying industry, which lately has been quieter than for a long time past. Depr.1%sion in cornmercial circles, together with the additional working costs consequent upon the increased payments in wages and overtime to employees, have i.nade matters all the more difficult.
Rope reigns supreme, and it is trusted that, as a result of the re.dut:flon of the present percentage increase by 15 per cent., more short-distance haulage will be available.
No reduction in distance haulage rates is contemplated; asa matter of fact., coinpetition has in some instances diminished them to the lowest economic point.
New Ford Plant.
Messrs. Henry Ford, and Son intend to erect a hydro-electric pIant and motor factory near Troy, N.Y. While the proposition has been considered. for mcniths as almost a certainty, some points remained. to be adjusted before the firm could go ahead with the Scheme. All obstacles have now been overcome, and the. plans are almost complete.
The application of Messrs. Henry Ford and Son, Inc., is for a licence to authorize the construttion, operation, and maintenance of a hydre-electric power plant on the site of the Government dam at Green Island for the purpose of utilizing the surplus water at that point for a manufacturing plant.
Municipal Parcels Delivery.
A report of the .13radford •Corporatipli states that the inter-town parcels traffic between Bradford, Leeds, -Halifax, and the Heavy Woollen District, hoz grown very considerably, due Very largely. to the mucth smarter delivery which is given by tramway as compared /with_ that given by the railway companies. The number. of parcels handled in this. connection dur
ing the year -was 81,885. Parcels for Leeds are being carried to that city by the rail-has battery vehicle which is admirably adapted for the work.
The British Motor Cab Co.'s Misfortunes.
The experiences of the British Motor Cab Co. for the year ended March 31st reveal much disappointment, which is more pronounced than that which resulted from the report for the previous 12 months.
The company spent £286,619 on reconditioning vehicles, and made a profit on manufacture and sales of £12,300. In all, the outlays were £294,265, and the income £19,262, so that a sum, of £275,003 was added to the deficiency of £215,000 !brought forward from the previous year, making an accumulated debit balance Of £490,003, which is equal to '43 per cent. of the paid-up capital of £1,138,500. Touching on the reconditioning of vehicles, the report offers' two explanations : (1) The increased cost of the rene, vation of. vehicles' owing to the conditions of industry, and (2) the poor state of the cabs. The cause of the latter May be expressed in the directors' own words: " The requisition by the Government of Fenn Lane garage Obliged us, during the war, to transport hastily and without the possibility of proper arrangements• much rolling stork from that garage 'to the other two. As the outcome of this, the exigencies of space obliged us to pack the cabs upon one another without allow.mg for access to any vehicles except these near the entrance to the bays. As and when the reconditioning and sale 'of the first of the cabs allowed access to the remainder, we ascertained that, the greater part of them had been partially stripped and • that' the most important
• parts had been removed. In these eir':• cumstances; the valueof the rolling stock we 'anticipated in our last balance Sheet could not be realized. The result has been that the company; Which now posesSes only, in addition to the Renault cabs sold under hire-purchase, a number Of -stripped chassis which mayfurnish parts for replaceinent and, say, 150 Chariron four-cylinder cabs, has had to write downthe hook value of its rolling 'stock -by a very large amount." • .
In addition, Certain of the reconditioned vehicles were sok/ to a company who were unable to fulfil their obligations to take delivery.
The directors 'state 'that they propose "to realize as may lzhest be possible in the circumstances the' assets of the company far which it has no present use."
The Paris. Motor Show.
During its meeting on December' 14th, Le Gonotte d'Organtration des Expositions de l'Autornobile, dtt Cycle' at des Sports decided to organize a motor salon in 192i at the Grand Polaris. This salon, 'which will be the 16th. will be held from October 5th to 16th, 'and, the rules regarding it 'will be available shortly.
Water for Steam Wagons..
What is becoming an important question, owing to the rapid development of heavy motor transport throughout the • country, is that concerned with the supply of water to steam motor wagons, States the annual report of the Liverpeol Water Engineer. During tho war special facilities were provided by the erection cif stand-pipes within the city and also on the main routes leading into the city. These fittings have not proved wholly satisfactory, as they are subjected. to very rough handling, and experiments are now being made with a view to providing a more satisfactory apparatus. Additional watering stations will be required, as at present it is found
bepoesibl.e to prevent the drawing of water rom fire hydrants. This practice is a most dangerous one, for hydrants are frequently found broken owing to im
proper use by unauthorized persona. The existence of broken hydrants which are not known to be , defective, might have serious results in the event of an outbreak of fire.
A Mexican Show.
A National Automobile Show is to be held in Mexico City in March, 1921, and -the committee in charge announce that every automobile manufacturer of prominence having distributing agencies in Mexico will berepresented.
.An Unregistered Convoy.
A Lincolnshire agricultural company were recently surprised When seiren_nsf their lorry drivers were summoned for driving without 'identification plates. The defendants were under the impression that new vehicles could be driven on the high roads with a plate bearing the words "to be registered.' upon them, and also stated that they had reeeived permission from Scotland Yard to drive in this condition. The Bench held that Scotland 'Yard had' no power to de this and each driver was fined 10s.
Road Monopoly.
Having been informed that the cost ryf widening a road between Upton and Moreton village, along which it was pro-. posed to run a motor omnibus service, would be £3,063, the Crosville Motor Co. have informed the Wirral Rural District Council and the Highways Committee that the amount was very considerable, but they were prepared to pay for the widening of the road in question providing the council would grant them a monopoly and not charge the usual 3d. per mile.
Emphasis was given by different members of the council to the question of being asked to give up authority over the road, and it was suggested that a committee should be set, up to. meet the Crosville Co. and the Birkenhead Corporation? who had previously asked for permission to use the road. It also transpired that neither of the above parties was prepared to pay for the cost a widening the road unless it was assured of a monopoly.
Another suggestion was that. the council should have the road widened themselves and charge the motor companies an increase in the cost per mile, but this was .thought by the clerk not to be a good policy, as there was little or no chance of getting back the initial cost. A committee was appointed to meet' the companies concerned and report at the next meeting.
France and Oil Companies.
A group of deputies has introduced a Bill providing for ss still stricter control of oil companies in France, and in French colonies and protectorates. The Bill prorides that the companies must have their offices, documents, and accounts in French territory, the State reserving. to itself the right to examine the records of transactions, the correspondence, and The accounts. Secret agreements are forbidden_ The stock must he personal, and at least two-thirds of it must belong to French citizens or French corporations, Two-thirds of the directors must be French, and the president, the managing director, and the technical directors and auditors must all -be French.
After the provisions laid down in the Bill have been approved existing firms will have to comply with the conditions, and thereafter if they fail they will be liable to sequestration. In time of war all plant, including means of transport and tankers, will he liable to requisition by the authorities,
C.M.U.A. Drivers' Examinations.
The lath annual examinations of riverst_organized by the Commercial Motor U861.3 Association, with the object
of encouraging drivers to take a per i sonal interest n the driving and condi
tion of their vehiclesF, and to run theta without accident, will take place during the last week of April. 1921. These examinations, which hitherto have been confined to London and the Home Counties, will now be open to any driver in Great Britain, and will be held in various.provincial centres. Each driver who Obtains mare than a fixed percentage of marks will receive a money prize, a medal, or a certificate. There will be several prizes, each of the value of £10, £5, £3, £2, .£1 10s., £1, and 10s.
There will be three classes of examinee° tions, each of which will be divided into three sub-classes, as follows :— Class 1.—National Championship Exa,mination (written and practical): (a) steam; (b) petrol; (c) electric. Class 2.—Divisional Championship Examination (written and practical): (a) steam; (b) petrol; (c) electric. Class 3. — oreneral Examination (written only): (a) steam; (b) petrol; (c) electric.
Full particulars of examinations may be obtained upon application to F. G. Bristow, E.G.'. S., F. S. S., A.M. In s tsT general secretary, Commereial Motor Users Association, 50, Pal Mall, London, S.W.1.
A New Chain-track Vehicle.
The illustrations on this and the following page show a new type of chaintrack vehicle which was recently demonstrated before officers of the U.S. Army Ordnance Department.
The picture below shows the vehicle adapted as a gins mount for carrying a 155 mm. gun, whilst the picture on the opposite page is, of a dight arinoured tank. The vehicle, which -was demonstrated at the works of the Front Wheel Drive Motor Co., in Hoboken, New Jersey, was designed by Mr. Walter Christy, asrd it is claimed to possess many improvements over the types now in use. One of its important features is the removable chain-track belt. Over ordinary roads this belt may be removed and the machine can then be Tun as a,i ordinary vehicle, which greatly increases its speed.
Benzole Prospects.
At the present 'time, when the need for home-produced motor fuels is becoming more and more urgent, it is unfortunate that the production of benzole in this country is BO little. To-day it is somewhere between twenty and tiventy-five million gallons per annum, and it must, be"remembered that, quite apart from the
motor industry, dye and rubber industries are considerable buyers, and are dependent upon this material fox carrying on operations. Unfortunately, the new Gas Regulation Act will not tend to alleviate the situation when it comes into operation, as previously benzole could be extracted without affecting the value of the gas; this, in the future, will not be the ease, and the result is almost certain to be a diminution in the limited supply.
Weighty Traffic.
At it meeting of the -Sewage Disix,sal Committee of the Glasgow Corporation, the breakage was reported of manhole covers and. frames by the transit of excessive traffic betwean Messrs. Harland and Wolff's works in Lancefield Street and Finniestort Wharf. The town clerk reported that ,aer action, at the instance of the Corporation, was at the, present time before the Court of Session on the subject of responsibility for damage to street paving by heavy traffic. The committee decided to recommend that Messrs. Harland and Wolff be held sesponsible in the meantime for the damage to the manholes, pending the result of the action referred to.
Aerial Transport.
Some of the particulars contained in a White Paper on aerial transport, recently imued and covering a. period from April let to September 30th, 1920,,play be of interest to our readers. The total number of machine miles for the period was 699,600, -Which is considerably greater than the figure for the previous six Mouths. The total number of passengers carried was 32,345, and the goods tonnage 84, compared with 25,i tons for the previous six-monthly period. The value of imports by air have risen from 2131,615. to 2376,606, and the exports front 263,743 to 16E1..300. As regards the transport of mails, a steady increase is shown. •
The efficiency of the London-Paris, London-Brussels and London-Amsterdam services are 76, 94, and 84 per cent. respectively.
What the" C.M." Suggested.
The questioes of heavy motors having a man in charge of the trailer, and that of the. desirability of local authorities erecting signposts to 'direct attention to alternative roads, have recently been dealt with in The Conthiercio2 Motor.
Representations on both thesesubjeots have just been •made to the St. Helens (Lancs.) Highway Committee, to whom it had been suggested by. one of the local organizationi that (1) a reduction should • be made in the speed limit for motor traffic through the town; (2) that trailers attached to heavy motors should be compelled to have a person in chains of the trailer; and (3) that motor traffic should be directed to special roads. The conn mittee decided to prepare a list of the principal danger points in the town and to post warning notices.
Association of Road Transport Clearing Houses.
At the quarterly meeting of the Asseciation of Road Transport Clearing Houses, held at Manchester, the principal matter under discussion was the question of the fusion and linking up of cleating houses, and negotiations on the subject, we are informed, are still proceeding.
The Liverpool Clearing 1-louse reports that great progress has been made during the year • just concluded, and the loads provided total between 50,000 and 60,000 tons.
A Taxation Booklet.
The solicitor to the C.M.U.A. has compiled for the benefit of members a 24-page 'booklet, indicating, the new rates of duty payable upon cinitinercial Motor vehicles as from 'Jan-nary let, together with a summary of the principal reg-ulalions governing the licensing and registration of such vehicles, which also came into force on January 1st
A lhnited number Of coPie'S' of the booklet are available, and any user of commercial motor vehicles-may receive a copy post free upon application to -F. G.• Bristow, general secretary, Commercial Motor Users Association, 50, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1,
Local Proceedings. .
Nuneaton Town Council is to borrow £1,962 for the purchase of a motor fireengine.
Horsham Urban District Council has purchased a motor tractor for the fireengine.
-Walthamstow U.D.C. requires a loan of £5,025 for the purchase of steam wagons.
Dudley Corporation has obtained permission to raise a loan of 22,700 for a motor fire-engine.
Bridlington Corporation has decided to employ an expert to test motor vehicles, for which hiring licences are sought..
Willesden Fire Brigade Committee recommends an expenditure of £350 on the Morryweather motor fire-engine which was purchased in 1911.
Glasgow Corporation Electricity Committee proposes to provide a garage at a cost of £1,200 at the Partiok substation.
Preston Corporation 'Streets Committee recommends the purchaseof a steam wagon from Messrs. Atkinson and Sons for 21,260.
• Willesden Council's electricity coininittee propose to purchase a light petrol lorry at a cost of £250, and it reconstructed heavy petrol lorry of 3 to 4 tons capacity at a cost of about £400. "
Totnes T.C. will shortly consider a motion calling attention to the desirability, in the interests of economy, of obtaining, motor lorries as an alternative to the present system of having the haulage work done under contract.
The L.G.O.Co. notifies the Heston and Isle-worth Urban Council of its 'intention to open up a service between Hounslow and Southall witb. the scheme it is considering of extending the services in tho outlying portions of Middlesex.
The Associated Equipment Co.'s tender to supply four 2-ton chassis as
London General Omnibus "s." type chassis with \VD. lorry bodies for 525 each has been recommended to the Metropolitan Water Board for acceptonce.
The Metropolitan Boroughs Standing.
Joint Committee is asking the London Borough Councils to support it proposal to promote legislation with a view to motor omnibus companies lating required to contribute to the cost of road maintenance in the metropolis. .
Yarmouth Town Council as decided to take expert evidence with regard to the hest way of relaying the permanent way on the Caister section of the tramways. In the meantime the question of the substitution of omnibuses has been adjourned.
The L.C.C. is lending the Haminersmith Borough Council 'i3,404 for the purchase of thefollowing vehicles ; pet ml motor road roller, £761; six 3L ton electric wagons for the collection of house irefuse, 29,936; garage accommodation, etc., £1.72,3; and one 25-30 h.p. Sunbeam motorcar, £975. The' Finance 'Committee of the L.C.C. reports that these prices are reasonable, having regard to current, prices. The repayment period is five years.
The United States Rubber Co., 47-48, Farringdon Street, London, E.C. 4,' announce to the trade substantial red'u'ctions in the list prices of Dominion tyres and tubes.'