WHEELS of INDUSTRY
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"The wheels 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 Crosier.
No Enforced Eyesight Test.
. The impression still exists amongst many people that drivers will be cornPolled to pass tests for sight. This is quite erroneous. The position is that the Minister of Tranport puts forward the suggestion that before the applicant for a driving licence fills up the form he should himself make certain that he can truthfully state that his sight is sufficiently good. If he be in any doubt regarding the matter, he should test his ability easily to read a number-plate at a distance of 25 yards, The original proposal was 30-35 yards.
. Transport Management as a Profession.
'We have received from the author, Mt.' .T. A. Dunnage, E.C.I., F.S.S., ..9.1Minst.T., -Al copy of his latest book entitled "Britain's New Profession— Industrial Transport Management," which is issued by Industrial Transport Publication s, Ltd., Dudley'House, Southampton Street, Strand, London, W.C2, at. the .price of 3s. 6d. net. .,
It points nut that tite management el transport provides remarkable _ opportunities for individual progress in a profession Whiore ability; enterprise and character are wela rewarded. * .Window Regulating Gear. , We regret that iu our Equipment Number we did not refer to the E. and E.1929 window regulator for :coaches and buses, swhich -is Marketed by the. Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd., 2 and 3, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.0.2.
It is an extremely simple self-balancing type, easily operated, with no catches and an instantaneons lock in any position. The rubber face on the capping rail bears against the whole, length of the glass, autoinatiettlly "pushing it against the rubber on the weather rail. . The capping 'rail is hinged on the waist-rail and by lifting it a fraction of an inch pressure on the glass is released. The spiral spring fitted as standard will balance and lift any weight of window up 'to 40 lb. by merely adjusting . the spring Lectures on Transport Economies.
• A course of lectures dealing with the Economics of Road Transport. and ModernRoad Transport Operation is to be given during , the present session at the Kennington' Commercial Institute, Kenniugton Road, London, S.E.11. Full particulars of the syllabus and other details .can be obtained on application to the principal at the address given. Guy's 1931 Programme.
The programme of Guy Motors; Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, for 1931 is most comprehensive, and embodies a wide range of goods and pas senger vehicles. Several new models will be in production and, in the case of existing types, prices have been appreciably reduced, whilst the specifications indicate that the equipment in every case is most complete.
On the goods side there is the .0Ntype 30-cwt. chassis, listed at 1298; instead of £348, the K-type 2-2i-ton chassis selling at £398, as against £445 for the 1930 two-tonner, the T-type 3-4-toot chassis, which is a new model available at £695, the EC6-type 6-ton chassis, . known as the Warrior, which is marketed at 1995, whereas it was previously .£1,025, and the ECS-type 8-ton chassis, designated the Bulwark, which is a new Model, listed at £1,125. The Warrior and -Bulwark each has a six-cylindered engine, an improved-type' radiator 'and a wheelbase of 14 ft. 11 ins. The lighter Models 'are all Propelled' by four-eylin aered -erogineS. .
So .far as six-wheeled goods vehicles are concerned, there, is the 3-5-ten sujtsidy type, which is retained at £1:,060, and the ECZ-type 12-tonnee, this :being a.new model known As the Goliath. Features of the design of the latter, which is a forward-control model, are a slxcylindered. engine, an eight speed gearbox and ierVo -brakes operating on four wheels.. This model will sell at £1,460. On the passenger side there are' two 'Chassis built foe 'carrying '20.:seatCr bodies, these being known as the ONDL type. One has a four-cylindered engine and a longer wheelbase than ,hitherto "(13 ft. 3. in.) and sells at £445, Whilst the other is a new model known as the Victory ; this is fully described elsewhere in this issue. It is listed at £495. The FC32-type Conquest chassis for carrying 32-seater bodies is retained in the manufacturing schedule, but its price has been reduced from £1,045 to £995 when arranged for forward control. When the driver is placed behind the engine the chassis -sells for £965, as against £1,015.
The Invincible chassis, known as the E048-type, which is built for carrying 48-51-seater double-saloon bodies, will continue to be made, although its price has been reduced from £1,145 to £1,120.
The Scottish Show Report.
Elsewhere in this issue we give a . five-page forecast of the various exhibits which will be staged by commercialvehicle manufacturers and their agents in the commercial-vehicle section of the Scottish Show, to be held at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, from November 7th to 15th. Our issue for next week will contain a report of the exhibits, prepared by experts after an actual examination of the various products on view. As is the case with n11 events, of this kind, the report will be well illustrated, technical detail drawings being included.
The New "London Coastal" Station.
It is now stated that building operations in connection with the new station of London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., in Buckingham Palace Road, London, S.W.1, at the corner of Elizabeth Street, are likely to commence by the end of November, and it is hoped that the station will be ready to handle the Easter traffic next year.
At a cost of about £160,000, London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., has acquired this big site of over 60,000 sq. ft., and the old property on it is rapidly being demolished. The new building will be on the corner of the two streets, that portion of it overlooking Buckingham Palace Road being devoted to booking offices, waiting rooms, traffic and accounts departments, whilst that having a frontage on Elizabeth Street
is to be employed as a restaurant and for shops.
There will be one entrance to the parking ground from Buckingham Palace Road, and two exits into Elizabeth Street. One of the latter will take the form of an archway under the building and this will be sufficiently high for the passage of double-saloon vehicles. The parking ground will have accommodation for 70 coaches. It is intended to retain the existing Lupus Street site as a park for coaches which are delayed for some time in London.
The capital of London Coastal Coaches Ltd., has been increased to £100,006, the extra shares issued being taken up by the various associated companies.
Experienced Sales Manager Available.
A man whom we have known for many years and who for the past eight years has been managing in this country the sales and service side of a company marketing commercial vehicles of continental manufacture, advises us that, following the decision of his company to close down its commercial-vehicle department, his services are now available.
Prior to 1922 he had many years of engineering and motor-trade experience, including four years of war service as a Royal Air Force captain (engineer). Be also had a good deal to do with marine work, having been mentioned in Admiralty dispatches in 1917, and he would, therefore, be useful in connection with the marketing of compression-ignition engines for road or marine purposes. He is an associate member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Letters addressed to "Sales and Service," care of the Editor, wilL be forwarded.
Motor Coach as an Editorial Office.
A motor coach equipped with many devices for the efficient handling of Press despatches may frequently be seen speeding over Californian highways to some event of national importance. This mobile pressroom, which was first used by reporters of the San Francisco daily newspapers in covering the series of sham battles during the U.S. Army air manmuvres, at Mills Field, near San Francisco, is claimed to be the first completely equipped vehicle of its kind. It is provided with telegraph instruments, telephones, wireless and a battery of typewriters. The coach is the property of the Pacific Greyhound Lines and, when not being used as a mobile pressroom, is employed as a passenger coach. The interior fittings being interchangeable, it can at a few hours' notice be converted into a pressroom.
Singer Designations.
Singer and Co., Ltd., of Coventry, advises us that the correct designation for its one-totiner is the Singer One-toll Industrial Motor and, when the chassis is fitted with a van body, it is known as the Singer One-ton Industrial Van. Amalgamation Headway at Manchester.
Rapid headway is being made with the Manchester motorbus and coach owners' amalgamation scheme which, as reported in a recent issue of The Commercial Motor, aims at souring co-operation among private undertakings in the cities of Manchester and Salford to overcome licensing probiems likely to arise under the new Road Traffic Act.
The membership of 10 has now been increased to 17, and it is expected that, in the near future, 30 firms will be associated, representing 150 machines.
At the outset chief .attention is being centred on the Manchester-to-Blaskpool route, where a general scheme of rationalization will be put into operation for next year's summer season. By the elimination of overlapping and unnecessary competition it will be possible to ensure more remunerative running with fewer machines.
The new amalgamation is proposing to adopt similar measures on a number of other routes carrying heavy volumes of holiday traffic.
Plans for Novel Bus Stations.
The public works committee of Cardiff Corporation has, on the city engineer's suggestion decided to commence negotiations which have in view the provision of two large town squares, roofed over with glass and lined with trees, as bus termini.
Freeing a Welsh Toll Gate.
Under powers conferred by the Cardiff Corporation Act, 1930, the municil pality proposes immediately to proceed with the acquisition of the toll rights in connection with the Penarth Road toll gate. Glamorgan County Council, Barry and Penarth Urban District Councils and Cardiff Rural District Council are to be asked to contribute towards the cost. It is estimated that the revenue amounts to between £70,000 and £80,000 per year.
Really Endless Fan Belts.
Failures of fan belts, which must be af short length and usually run at high speeds, commonly occur at the joints. Obviously if the joint or splice can be eliminated much has been done to increase length of life and service, This object has been attained in National endless fan belts made by the National Belting Co., Rainham, Essex. The absence of the join gives, in addition, greater strength, flexibility and freedom from stretch. It is proof against the action of the weather, water or grease. In the company's price list is a useful schedule of belt sizes for commercial vehicles of various types ; it should help the maintenance engineer.
In addition the same concern also markets the Universal link-type leather belting for V pulleys. The steel links are of the one-piece variety, so that the pegs cannot work loose. The leather is cured to obtain the maximum strength and to ensure the minimum amount of stretch.
Hauling Disabled 15-tonners at • 4 m.p.h.
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Co., of Clintonville, Wis., U.S.A., has recently completed a special breakdown vehicle for use in connection with the new underground tunnel between Detroit, Mich., and Canada. A .feature of the vehicle is that not only are all 'four road wheels driven, but that it is arranged to be steered and controlled from either end, thus avoiding the need
for reversing. The purpose of vehicle is to deal promptly with motor that may break down in tunnel.
To this end it is adapted not only to carry a gang of five men, but is also fitted out to serve as a breakdown machine, as a fire-engine and an ambulance. The power of the engine is such that disabled vehicles weighing with their loads, up to 15 tons, can be towed at a speed of 4 m.p.h.
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Successful Co-operative Coaching. The long-distance coach tours started last year by the Plymouth Co-operative Society have proved successful and next season there will be further developments. The society has accepted ail agency from Main Lines. London, and a growing business is being transacted. c22
A comparative statement accompanying the report and balance-sheet shows that the trade done during the half-year by the motor-conveyances department amounted to £12,871, an increase of nearly 1500 on the figure for the corresponding period of 1929.
Knowledge Available of an Overseas Market.
The Department of Overseas Trade announces' that Mr. H. A. N. Bluett, the British commercial agent at Batavia, will be available at 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1, from November 3rd to 21st, for the purpose of interviewing representatives of concerns interested in the export of British products to the Netherlands East Indies. Applications for interviews should be made to the address we have given, reference 481/1/30 being quoted.
Drop in Canadian Exports.
Canada's trade in commercial vehicles has this year been quiet, particularly as regards the overseas demand. An idea of the shrinkage in the industry may be gleaned from the fact that 7.945 lorries, vans, buses and chassis, valued at £620,890, were, during the six months ended June last, exported from the Dominion, as compared with 20,949 and £1,659,220 in the corresponding half of 1929. India is at present the principal market for Canadian vehicles, followed by East Africa, New Zealand, Spain and West Africa.
A Ford Showroom.
We reproduce on this page exterior and interior views of a Ford travelling showroom, which has recently been delivered to the National Cash Register Co., Ltd., by W. Harold Perry, Ltd., Invicta Works, North Finchley, London, N.12, which designed and built the body. This vehicle has been constructed for showing a range of the user's machines, which are so arranged in the interior that they can be demonstrated without the need for removal, the prospective buyers being accommodated on folding seats placed along the gangway. Power plugs are provided and these can
be connected to the local source of electricity supply for driving those machines which are electrically operated.
Lockers are provided along each side in which surplus machines and Parts can be stored. The National Cash Register Co., Ltd., makes a large number of models to suit a variety of trades and purposes and the new mobile showroom gives the salesman an opportunity for demonstrating the exact type of machine which is required. The various registers are held secure by special clips, which are readily detachable.
The company is running a fleet of 12 new Ford vehicles, which were purchased from. W. Harold Perry, Ltd.
Another Municipal Parcels Service.
The general manager of Oldham's municipal transport has just submitted a report with reference to a proposal for a long-distance parcels service between Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Oldham, Manchester, Liverpool; etc. It was decided that, subject to the result of inquiries now being made proving satisfactory, the watch committee should agree to the schemebeing put into operation.
The Bishop Steering Gear.
Cam Gears, Ltd., has just issued a booklet. dealing with the Bishop camand-lever steering gear. This publication gives particulars of the standard types produced by the company, together with illustrations of other types designed to suit individual requirements. G.W.R. Garage Expansion.
The Great Western Railway Co.'s We.stbourne Park garage, which is the main repair shop for the company's fleet of vehicles in London, is to be considerably enlarged and modernized as a result of the increased traffic and the Substitution of horses by motor lorries, in connection with the collection and delivery of goods. The new facilities will include 10 new inspection pits, separate accommodation for paint and repair work and additional facilities for washing and re-fuelling.
A Six-wheeler on Forestry Work.
A fresh instance of the usefulness of the Morris-Commercial six-wheeler for forestry work has been brought to our notice. Pictures reproduced on this
page illustrate work that has been done near the Baltic coast of northern Sweden. The timber was leaded and hauled qt direct from the first collecting poititin the wood, saving 45 minutes in the loading, employing three men instead of five, and eliminating haulage by horses from the interior to the main dump on the road.
The winch gear on this chassis enabled two men to load six tons of logs in 20 minutes. The upper, of the two pictures shows unloading in progress at a slipway on the Baltic shore. This is 2 kiloms. from a road and no lorry had hitherto been able to get nearer to it than 700 yards, men having to carry the timber for that distance. The lower picture shows the trailer being loaded by means of the winch. Eight tons .(400 cubic ft.) could be carried by the lorry and trailer, with an immense saving of time and labour.
• Coach Operators' Enterprise.
Further enterprise has been shown by the Blyth bus firm of Messrs. T. Allen and Sons, operators of the NewcastleAberdeen daily service. Following the opening of commodious booking offices in the Haymarket, Newcastle, the concern has now opened a booking office in Bon Acord Street, Aberdeen, close to the main thoroughfare.
The new premises, which adjoin a garage, have waiting-room accommodation and are equipped with full toilet facilities, whilst from the neighbouring premises a day-and-night service of taxis is operated for the convenience of the public.
Surrey Licence Finance.
The sum of £644,771 was collected by the finance department of Surrey County Council in respect of motor licences issued during the nine months ended September 30th last, as compared with £589,408 for the corresponding period of 1929.