News and Comment.
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Thir journal chronicles, fosters, and represents commercial motoring in all its branches : it has a genuine circulation and genuine advertisement support ; members of its Editorial staff possess practical experience and knowledge of the construction and use of commercial motors.
A fortnight from to-day--our 4"Tractor Special."
The weather is upsetting the progress of the War Department's Trials --see pages 533 and 545-549.
Edmonton Board of Guardians decided, at its last meeting, to invite tenders for a motor ambulance as soon as the specifications are complete.
Milnes-Daimler, Ltd., and Christopher Dodson, Ltd., jointly did some very smart work last month, in completing an urgent order for Mexico— See page 534.
Show Topics.
The Aero and Motor Boat Exhibition of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, one of the posters for which is reproduced on page 55o, promises to be a success, no effort being spared to that end.
Messrs. Cording-ley and Company announce that, acting upon representations which have been made to them by members of the motor industry, they will not proceed with the motor show, at the Agricultural Hall, which had been announced to open on the 20th instant.
The Belle Vue Show, at Manchester, which closed on Saturday last, enjoyed unequalled patronage, and we read in "The Manchester Courier" that—" The executive is jubilant, owing to the fact that a record has been created by the attendance of motorists or those interested in the industry." It remains for the pleasure section to be put on a proper basis, and this show will be thoroughly representative,
An interesting photograph of the workmen employed at the Star Motor Works, Wolverhampton, taken when they were leaving the factory at dinner-time, has come to hand. This evidence of briskness of trade at Wolverhampton, to which " Extractor " referred three weeks ago, is unfortunately held over until next week. Kingston-on-Thames Council and Motor Fire-engines.
The Fire Brigade Committee of the Kingston-on-Thames Town Council has recommended the purchase of two motor fire-engines. The report came before the Council on the 23rd ultimo, anti stated that petrol engines would be " less costly, more efficient, and most economical in upkeep." The estimated cost of the two, with fittings for the fire-escape, is
and it is believed that the total annual cost will not be more than ,..;*234, whilst the value of the brigade will be at least double. Consideration was deferred to the Council's next meeting.
Dennis Orders.
Bradford and district appears to be a happy hunting ground for the Dennis company, where Thomas Dyson, Limited, holds the agency. An r8h.p., 25c.wt. Dennis chassis, fitted with Shrewsbury and Challiner tires, is now approaching completion for the Bradford Corporation Tramways Department. This model is a new type, though similar to the larger Dennis models. The i8h.p. engine will have Bosch magneto, the bevel drive for which is taken along the top of the engine; this allows the magneto to be conveniently placed on the dashboard, with all the timing wheels encased and running in oil.
The Dennis agent at Lisbon, Mr. Antonio Dantas, has ordered a number of r8h.p. Dennis motorcabs, its Australian agents a 28h.p. char-4.banes, and McNamara, Limited, of Castle Street, Finsbury, a 4i-ton lorry,
Thornycroft Sales.
A well-finished Thornycroft lorry, supplied to Messrs. George Beaumont and Sons, Dyers, of Huddersfield, has recently left the Basingstoke works. It has a 16h.p., two-cylinder engine, and is designed for loads of two tons. A similar vehicle Has been delivered to the Leeds City Brewery, Limited, whilst other purchasers of the same model include Messrs, Huntley, Boorne and Stevens, engineers, of Reading, and Messrs. William N. Fray and Sons, builders' merchant,-, of Hammersmith. Two sister chassis have just been shipped to Melbourne, through Messrs. Tozer, Kernsley and Fisher, of London. Turning to vehicles of larger weight capacity, a four-ton Thornycroft lorry has been delivered to John Smith's Tadcaster Brewery Company, Limited.
Sheffield Relief Works.
A Mann wagon has been doing good service, in carrying unemployed from Sheffield to the neighbouring relief works, and we feel sure that this latest application of mechanical transport cannot fail to interest some readers. We have on many occasions advocated the use of motor vehicles for the conveyance of labourers or other gangs of men, in order to save wages, and we are aware that many large contractors recognise the wisdom of saving a number of hours, in this manner, by the use of a steam wagon, or even of a rubber-tired char-A-banes. The only question is whether the value of the hours saved is greater than the total cost of pro viding and working the machine, which may be put at a maximum of 5s. an hour for a steam wagon, and double that for a char-a-bancs. In the present instance, we do not know whether the men aboard the wagon (illustrated herewith) are being conveyed to remunerative or unremunerative work. It is certainly a case of "Motoring for the man of moderate means."
R.A.C. Official Tests.
The certificates of performance, relating to the recent Club tests at Cricklewood, of the Allen-Liversidge frontwheel brake and of the Kempshall tire, have now been issued. With regard to the brake, the certificate concludes :—" The brakes were effective, and did not interfere with the steering, unless the wheels were locked_ The adaptation of this known principle proved to be effective both as a brake and as a side-slip preventative." The Kempshall tire is certified as an allrubber tire by which " non-slipping properties can be effectively obtained."
Errata.
We regret that several slips occurred in the pressure of making up and passing the last two issues of this journal. Will those readers who keep files please note the following :—Page 481 (col. 3), for "loss " read " cost "; page 507 (col. t), for " Brown " read "Maxim"; page 513 (col. 2), for Fiat " Motorcar " read Fiat " Motorcab "; page 518 (col. 2), for " vertical ' read "horizontal "; and page 526 (col. 2), for " services " mad " surfaces."
French Motor Manufacturers.'
At a recent meeting of some of the important French motor manufacturers chiefly belonging to that party which is in favour of the discontinuance of the annual salon, it was decided to proceed with the inauguration of a Chambre Syndicale des Construeteurs d'Autornobiles, on the council of which motor manufacturers only will be eligible for election. At present, the trade is more or less dominated by two bodies, viz., the Syndicale de l'Automobile et du Cycle, and the Syndicale de l'Automobile.
We acknowledge with gratification the congratulations upon our " Manchester Show Special." Several additional photographs are reproduced herewith, and "The Extractor" has something to say on page 537.
Automobile Engineers.
Next Wednesday, at the Institutio of Mechanical Engineers, interestin papers will be read by Messrs. G. II. Baillie (Carburettingexperiments), H. Ballantyne (The chemistry of petrol), and Bertram Blount (On specifying the quality of petrol).
Motor Ambulance Wanted.
The Middlesex District and Joint Smallpox Hospital Board is about to purchase a motor ambulance to convey patients from the different districts to the hospital at South Mimms, near Barnet. This will enable the neighbouring local authorities to send their smallpox patients to the hospital, instead of their having to provide temporary accommodation locally, in cases of emergency, owing to the distame patients have to be conveyed.
Motor Insurance.
The second report of the Motor Union Insurance Company, Limited, shows a net premium income of 4'52,592 (previous year, L36,366). Claims (estimated and outstanding, together with commissions, these being stated as a combined sum) amount to £38,2 T 5 (last year, LI5,757), whilst management expenses are only 4:6,949 (last year, 1.'6,340. One-third of the net premium income is set aside to meet the liabilities under unexpired policies, and rhe directors are then able, after bringing in ,;840 from the previous account, to show a balance to the good of 4.3,895. From this, it is recommended that 4-2,000 (the amount standing on the asset side of the balance sheet as "goodwill") be written off, that a dividend of 71 per cent., which absorbs 4-goo, be paid, and that the balance of 4-99s. be carried forward. The Motor Union, as holding 200 fully-paid £m shares, thus benefits for the year to the extent of 4.15o in cash.
An instructive comparison is provided by the claims ratio for the two years. Claims apd commissions paid and estimated outstanding, which are, somewhat unusually, lumped together in this company's accounts,
were only 43 per cent. for the year ended the 24th December, 1907, corn pared with no less than 72 per cent. for the corresponding period under review—an alarming increase, even if 4-5,000 be allowed for agents.
Dunlop Rim Patent.
The marketable value of the Dunlop detachable rim has recently been considerably enhanced by a legal decision iii Germany. This has prohibited a German motor manufacturing company from continuing to make detachable rims which were considered to be infringements of that made by Dunlop, which rim, by the way, was first patented by a French engineer named Pataud, who was the claimant in the action to which we refer, and in which litigation he was supported by the legal advisers of the Dunlop Rubber Company, Limited.
Acton Declines to Build1Stables.
At the last meeting of the Acton District Council, the question of enlarging the Council's stud and stables was brought up, it having been recommended that accommodation be provided for 52 additional horses, at a cost of 4.1o,000. Councillor Page, in moving that the consideration of the subject be postponed for at least 12 months, said that nothing would be lost by delay, and there might be a great advantage, in view of the strides that commercial motors were making. Councillor Crane, in supporting Councillor Page, alluded to the depression in the horse trade, and said that omnibus companies were disposing of their stables in order to find capital for more motors. Councillor Hunt said that he thought that it would be very unwise to build additions to stables, as it must be obvious that every day increased the prospects of motor haulage. If stables were put up now, they would probably have to be abandoned in a few years' time.
In the result, the motion of Councillor Page was carried.