The Wheels of Industry.
Page 11
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
This journal, dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with the "Wheels of Industry," continues of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the pacelcar, the military tractor and the steam lorry.
Proposals and Purchases by Local Authorities.
The Medical Officer of Health for Plymouth, Dr. 0. Hall, has urged the immediate purchase of -a motor ambulance.
Further consideration of the purchase of motor water vans by the Borough of Hendon has been deferred until after the war.
The Luton Town Council is considering the imposition of a toll on produce which is brought into the borough by mechanical power.
The Borough Surveyor of Wimbledon is reporting on the purchase of a recently-patented petrol-motor attachment for use with ordinary lawn mowers.
Mr. Charles E. Bygrave, Clerk to the Blackburn Guardians, desires to receive tenders, not later than to-morrow (Friday), for the supply of a light motorvan.
The Shoreditch Borough Council has declined to sanction the paechase of horses, at a cost of L110 each, recommended by the Highways Committee, and has referred the matter back with a view to the purchase of a motor lorry.
A Ford motor ambulance has been purchased by the Sheffield Water Department, whilst the Electricity Department of the same Corporation is purchasing motor lorries. A 32 h.p. three-ton Commerear, with tipping body, is amongst the latter purchases ; an Edison. battery-equipped vehicle' to cost £1000, has been ordered by the health Committee.
Recent Registrations.
Stonehaven Motor Garage, Ltd. (E3000), with its office at 28, Cameron Street, Stonehave.n.
Boucher's Motor and Transport C.o., Ltd. (L30001, with its office at 5, Ellin Street, Sheffield.
Dennis Fire-engine Orders.
The illustration we reproduce herewith is of a six-cylinder 75 h.p. Dennis fire-engine, which has recently been delivered to the Admiralty authorities for use in Devonport dockyard. We understand that the engine passed its various tests satisfactorily, and has now been placed in service.
It is interesting to note that Dennis Bros. are at the present time engaged upon the production of 48 fire-engines for the London Fire Brigade authorities, 18 of which have already been delivered. Of course, full War-Office sanction has been given for the building of these engines. • Albion Deliveries.
The Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., of Scotstoun, under the terms of its partial release for delivery to W.D. contractors and sub-contractors, has taken an order for a further eight thre,e-tonneis, making 16 in all for the same purchaser, to be supplied to Vickers, Ltd., of London, Barrow-in-Furness, and Erith.
£42,800 War-Sale Commission.
The Vulcan Car Agency, Ltd., of Great Portland Street, sued F.I.A.T. Motors, Ltd., of Long Acre, in the King's Bench Division, on the 29th ult., to recover £42,800 commission in respect of a, sale of motor lorries to the Fiench Government,. The evidence showed that the plaintiff company had quoted the French Government in the first instance for Daimler lorries, but that, owing to a prior call upon these by the English War Department, the substitution of F.I.A.T. lorries was suggested and accepted. The plaintiff company passed an order to the defendant company on the 8th October, 1914, for the supply of 300 motor lorries, at £900 each, to the French Government, and four days later the defendant wmpany entered into an agreement to pay the plaintiff company 203 in respect of each vehicle, subject to certain deductions and adjustments in respect of spare parts. The defendant company failed to carry out the order, and alleged that its failure was due to the action of the Italia, Government in prohibiting the export of motor lorries. Counsel for the plaintiff company pointed out that the order of the Italian Govern ment did not prohibit the export of Motor lorries to certain countries, including France and England. • Mr. • Justice Rowlatt decided that the non-happening of the event of delivery was due to the default of the seller, andethat commission was therefore payable. He gave judgment for . the Plaintiff company, for £42,800 with costs, but allowed a stay of execution on the bringing into court of £5000.
Collision with Unlighted Lamp,post.
The King's Bench , Division (JJ. Avory and Lush) heard an appeal on the 27th ult, from a judgment at the Lambeth County Court, in respect. of an action brought by a taxicab driver named Brown against the Lambeth Bocough Council.
The plaintiff's taxicab came into violent collision with a refuge in the middle of the road, on the eth January last, and the judge of the County Court held that, Whilst he believed the plaintiff's story that the lamp was out at the time of the accident, there was nothing to show how it came to be extinguished, or how long it had been extinguished, and there was no evidence of negligence either by the lighting company or by the defendant Council in the superintendence, management or control of the lamp. The County Court, judge also found that, the general lighting of the place Was adequate and reasonable having regard to police regulations. The appeal was dismissed, no negligence having been shown or provedon behalf of any of the parties responsible for the lamp. A New Glasgow Depot.
The Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., manufacturers of the Lothian commercial chassis, has opened a depot in Glasgow, at 165 and 167, West Graham Street, Charing Cross. This company bases its design and manufacture upon long years of successful experience as proprietors of motor lorries and motor omnibuses.
Tip-wagon Costs.
The surveyor to the Hambledon (Surrey) R.D.C. has been -using a five-ton Dennis tipping wagon for a considerable period. He finds the Working cost per annum, inclusive of all outgoings, maintenance and depreciation, to he £629 Is. 5d., compared with, for the same work with horse plant, E951 Os. 6d. This handsome economy deserves to be noted by, for example, the Shoreditch Borough Council.
Mersey Ferries.
All users, and other interested parties, are cordially invited to attend a meeting, at the Hotel St. George, Lime Street, Liverpool, on Monday next, the 8th inst., at 2.30 pan., when various matters connected with the working of the LiVerpOol-Birkenhead goods ferries will be discusSed. The meeting has been called by the Manchester, Liverpool and Counties Commercial Motor Users Association. but it is open to non-members who are affected by the working of the ferries, or by the condition of the approaches to them.
"Out and Home."
Now that the best golfing weather appears to have come to an end for the time being, we have been successful in persuading " The Extractor" to promise to devote his weekends exclusively, in future, to the preparation of copy under the title which heads this paragraph. There has been a considerable interval since this interesting and long-established feature last appeared in our pages. but we trust that our contributor's copy will in future arrive more punctually and regularly, to the satisfaction, we feel sure, of a. large number of our readers.
Lancashire Routes.
A conference took place on Wednesday of last week, at the County Council offices, Preston, in regard to proposals which are in band for an understanding between heavymotor users and the Lancashire County Council, to the end that certain weak roads shall be avoided. A list of the highways which are by tacit agreement to be experimentally avoided, will shortly be available for circulation.
The proposal is an extremely-interesting one, and we comment upon it at some length in the course of a leading article on the second page of this issue. Sale of Old Paris Bus Material.
In our issue for the 21st October on "Our Despatches from the Front" pages, we referred to a reserve price which the military authorities had fixed for damaged body equipment of 414 buses. This read 2932 frs., but should have been £232 sterling. A private offer of £2000 was refused.
Knox Tractors.
. Mr. Charles H. Fryer advises us that his company, the London address of which is 11, Southampton Row, W.C., has in hand very large orders from the Allied Governments for standard Knox tractors and tractor-lorries. Even demonstration machines have had to be sent out of England, in order to help the company to meet the demands which are now placed upon it by France, Russia and Greece. It is likely that. the company's entire output will be required for military pur= poses for an indefinite period.
Yorkshire Loose-lea! Catalogue The Yorkshire Commercial Motor Co., of Pepper Road, Hunslet, Leeds, has issued an admirable series of loose-leaf catalogues. One before us contains 26 pages, printed on one side only, and is a production of winch aa,c underta,kmg can well be proud. The essential units of the Yorkshire steam system arc made clear by line drawings and " ghost" photographs ; some are coloured in order to render their import clearer. The -working of boiler and engine are particularly treated in this fashion. Illustrations of types follow, including a number of end-tipping and side-tipping bodies, whilst five pages are devoted to convincing testimonials. The last two pages of the catalogue contain abstracts from the Heavy Motor Car Order of 1904. The contents are finally pinned together in a safe fashion. Loose-leaf catalogues, appropriate to any trade, can be supplied.