• Home
• Used vehicles
• Product news
• Dealer news
• Compliance
• Buying advice
• Archive

NEWS of the WEEK

CHASSIS EXPORTS HALVED IN NOVEMBER.

BOARD of Trade returns for November show that the value of commercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories imported during that month was £314,474. which represents an appreciable drop on the figure (£490,947) for the previous year.

Exports of commercial vehicles in November showed a slight advance in number, but a material rise in value, the 300 vehicles shipped overseas being valued at £180,350, whereas, in November, 1937, the 279 machines sent overseas bad a value of £79,921.

There was a big drop in the export of commercial chassis, the total of 679 for November last contrasting with 1,411 for November, 1937, the respective values being £154,927 and £273,348. The largest decreases were shown in the figures for British India, Australia and foreign countries.

Liaison Committee Meets Railway Chiefs.

1SJIEMBERS of the Liaison Committee /VI on Road Transport Rates met the general managers of the railways in an informal conference on December 29 in connection with the proposal of the main-line railways that the existing statutory regulation of the charges for the conveyance of merchandise by railway, together with the requirements attached thereto, should be repealed. There was a free and frank exchange of views on the matter, and it has been arranged that a further informal conference shall be held to-day.

Austin Commercials Well on the Way.

T"Eproduction organization in connection with the new range of Austin commercial vehicles is proceeding apace, and the full programme of the company will be revealed in two or three weeks' time. This new enterprise of a leading car manufacturer has attracted much attention, and we learn that it is expected ultimately to employ between 3,000-4,000 people on this new venture. It is many months since the first signs of the new " commercials " were in evidence at the Austin foundry, stamping shop and body-pressing shops, and now the chassis-assembly line is getting into its stride.

Newcastle Operator's Appeal Fails.

IT was announced, on Tuesday, that the appeal by Alfred Bell (Newcastle), Ltd., . Newcastle on Tyne, against the refusal of the Northern Licensing Authority to grant licences for nine more vehicles, had been rejected by the Appeal Tribunal. The appeal was heard in December and occupied four days, as reported in The Commercial Motor dated December 16.

The respondents were Hays Wharf Cartage Co., Ltd., United Automobile alt1 Services, Ltd., and the London and North-Eastern Railway Co.

The application for nine additional licences was made, in the first place, a year ago. Sir John Maxwell, Northern Licensing .Authority, at that time suggested that, as there was some confusion regarding figures, the company should withdraw its application and 'submit a new one. This advice was rejected and the application dismissed.

Mr. Rowand Harker, K.C. (chairman of the Tribunal), announcing the decision, said Sir John Mvovell was justified in his statement that the figures were the crux of the matter.

New T.L.R.T.A. Offices.

THE offices of the Tramways Light Railways and Transport Association are now at 307-308, Abbey House, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1. (Telephone:. Abbey 7341.) The secretary is Mr. Eric D. Croft, M.A., B.Sc.

Transport Lecturer Required.

rLASSES in road transport are to be

formed at the Rochester Technical Institution, and an opening is available for a lecturer on elementary transport management and transport economics. Letters should be addressed " Lecturer," care of the Editor. NEW BRUSH COACHWORK SUBSIDIARY.

OWING to the expansion of business in the body-building department of the Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., Loughborough, this section of the company's works is in future to operate' under the name of Brush Coachwork, Ltd., a subsidiary company specially formed to administer this department. Orders for more than 200 bus bodies, to the value of more than £250,000, and other contracts for coachwork for long-distance and other vehicles are now in hand.

The separate operation of the bodybuilding section of the Brush Electrical concern is part of a general reorganization programme now being pushed forward, which provides for the division of the concern's activities into three main groups.

More Wages Boards Established.

rrHE Minister of Labour has consti tuted and established a further four Road Haulage Area Wages Boards for the Yorkshire, Western, South Eastern and Metropolitan Traffic Areas, respectively. The constitution of the Area Wages Boards for the remaining five Traffic areas in England and Wales is proceeding, and will be effected in good time.

Awards for I.T.A. Papers.

A SILVER medal and selected books

on transport subjects are to be presented annually by Mr. T. V. Redston, of Servis Recorders, Ltd., to the author of the best paper submitted to the Industrial Transport Association (London branch) and chosen by the adjudicating committee. For the session 1938-39 the subject is not restricted, except that it must relate to industrial t-ansport; for other sessions, a subject will be chosen by the committee of the Association.

Authors must be members of the London branch and not more than 25 years of age. Further details may be obtained from Mr. C. E. Dixon, 42, Chestnut Drive, Pinner.

Books on the Hire Purchase Act. • THREE useful books on the Hire I. Purchase Act, 1938, dealing with the responsibility placed upon traders engaged in such transactions, have reached us from different sources.

The text of the Act with a simple explanation of its provisions and application is issued by United Dominions Trust, Ltd., Regis House, King William Street, London, The second is supplied by Bankers Commercial Security, Ltd., City-Gate House, 39-45, Finsbury Square, London, E.C.2. Both these publications are apparently available free.

The third is priced at 3s. 6d. and issued by the Trader Publishing ' Co., Ltd., Dorset House, Stamford Street, London, S.E.1. G.W.R. ROAD-VEHICLE EXPERIMENTS.

IN a statistical reView of progress

during the past year, the Great Western Railway Co. mentions that, on the road side, the company is experimenting with a tractor fitted with a producer-gas apparatus, using anthracite, as well as with a petrol driven general-delivery vehicle equipped with a twin-cylindered aircooled engine accommodated beneath the body.

Co-operative Societies Demand Road-transport Freedom.

AT a special conference of representatives of about 100 creameries throughout Eire, in Dublin last week, it was agreed to oppose, so far as passible, all attempts at a monopoly of

road transport. The following resolution was passed:— " That this conference of representatives of co-operative societies records its unalterable objection to any attempt to introduce legislation which would give a monopoly of road transport to any company, and calls upon the co-operative societies and the farmers throughout the country to oppose any such proposal by every means in their power."

Senator P. F. Baxter presided at the conference, and Mr, C. C. Riddall, assistant secretary of the Irish Agricultural Organization Society, acted as secretary.

Bridge-widening Scheme in Lancashire.

THE Minister of Transport has made 1 arrangements for work to proceed on the widening of Ribble Bridge, which carries thefl London-Carlisle trunk road over the River Ribble. The bridge, which forms one of the main approaches to Preston, dates back to the coaching era, and its width between parapets is little more than 30 ft., so that it constitutes a

hindrance and a source of danger to traffic.

The bridge and immediate approaches are to be widened to 80 ft. so as to accommodate dual carriageways and two footpaths. The work, which will take about 21 months to complete, is estimated to cost £84,000. It will be carried out by Lancashire County Council, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport.

Do Rail-borne Cattle Suffer Damage?

THERE was a resumed hearing, at Aberdeen, last week, of the application of Mr. J. C. Fiddes, Aberdeen, for two extra vehicles on a livestock haulage service. Mr. Frederick Duncan, a representative of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co., denied that road-borne cattle arrived fresher than rail-borne. During the 11 years he had been canvasser for traffic there had been a decrease in the number of cattle conveyed by rail, but the decrease, he said, was due to the fact that it was cheaper to send the cattle by road. Mr. Ernest Sim, for the London and North-Eastern Railway Co., Aberdeen, said that animals could be insured against injury on the railway for a small premium. Cattle were inspected by the station staff and by the guard during a journey, whilst labels on the trucks showed them when: the cattle were last fed and watered. Mr. Henry Riches pointed out that the railway companies were compelled by Jaw to take these measures. The hearing was adjourned, the time appointed for continuation being February 7.

'Eire Transport Inquiry .Evidence.

PERSONS desirous of giving evidence before the recently appointed Eire Transport Tribunal are requested to supply a summary of the proposed evidence to the Secretary of the Tribunal, 14, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, before January 21.

SEARCH FOR OIL EXTENDS IN SCOTLAND.

AFURTHER development, in the search for oil in Scotland, is marked by the installation of boring plant on the farm of Broomhills, Liberton, Edinburgh, by the D'Arcy Exploration Co. The boring plant, which includes a small 7-in, bore, arrived last week, and work is to commence immediately. A geological survey shows that oilbearing strata extend from the Liberton district to the .village of Swanston, at the foot of the Pentland Hills. The D'Arcy Co. has been experimenting in the Dalkeith area for about two years, and has so far set up five bores.

Personnel of Ulster. Select Transport Committee.

THE Northern Ireland Parliament has set up a special cararnittee, consisting of 12 members from the House of Commons and 12 from the Senate, to consider the reports of the Recorder of Belfast, and the McLintock Committee, with regard to public transport in Northern Ireland. The committee is to " report whether any, and if so what, modifications in the recommendations thereof are deemed to be necessary, or to suggest an alternative scheme which will place transport in Ulster on a sound economic basis."

The 12 members selected from the Commons are :—Messrs. Beattie, Byrne, Campbell, Clark, Elliott, Johnston, MacDermott, Minford and Nixon, Professor Corkey, Rev. R. Moore and Major Robinson.

Presentations to A.E.C. Long-service Fmployees.

"A NOTABLE day in the history of 1-14. the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd.," was how Mr, C. W. Reeve, chairman and managing director of the company, described December 34, when he presented 24 out of 27 longterm employees, who had retired during 1938 and previously, with the concern's new long-service certificate, and, in certain cases, a monetary

reward. The total service of these, men, among whom were included two former officers of the company, amounted to 600 years. COACHWORK COMPETITIONS WHICH FOSTER IMPROVEMENTS.

WE have received from the secretary v I' of the joint committee representing the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the Worshipful Company of Coacnmakers and the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers, details of the competitions which have been arranged for 1939. The object of the, competitions is to foster improvements in the design and construction of bodywork, both for commercial vehicles and private cars.

Of the two competitions of chief interest to our readers, money prizes in one are offered for a working drawing of a delivery van suitable for a dairyman for delivering bottled milk, cream, butter and eggs; the basis of the design must be a 15-cwt, chassis of British make. In another competition, with a first prize of £20 and two other monetary awards, an outline drawing of a singledeck service bus, with interior parcels racks and suitable for accommodating 32-36 passengers, is required.

Full details of the competitions may be obtained from the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers, 201, Great Portland Street, London, W.1. The closing date for entries is April I.

French Concern Requires Conversion Sets for Producer-gas.

THE commercial director of Le Gazauto, Etablissements L. Libault, Plagny (Nievre), wishes to get into touch with British concerns supplying castings, etc., for vehicles of current makes, with larger dimensions and higher compressions, and all other accessories suitable for the adaptation of petrol engines to work on producergas. Information on this matter should be forwarded direct, and may be

sent in English. The concern deals with the conversion of lorries, tractors and stationary engines.

A Lathe Handbook Containing Many Useful Tips.

PRACTICAL turners will find much of interest in a new publication, entitled "The New Turner's Handbook," by W. Pitt, obtainable from Messrs. Pitt's Popular Publications, 56, Talfourd Road, London, S.E.15, price Is.

It contains a wealth of "tips " and " wrinkles " that denote its author a man who knows lathe work from A to Z. He claims 35 years' experience. In addition, he possesses the unusual talent of being able to write on practical matters in a brief but clearly comprehensible style. In a few instances, notably in explaining how tools should be ground, the arrangement of screwcutting wheels, and the setting of the tool and slide rest for screw cutting, ul8

Mr. Pitt has recourse to diagrammatic sketches, and, in our view, it is a pity that more such illustrations have not been employed. A case in point is in the section dealing with spring bushes and expanding arbors.

There are 19 pages of tables, among which may be mentioned decimal equivalents of fractions, including sevenths and sixths, and their multiples—an unusual feature—various conversions, tolerances and fits, drill and wire sizes, nine screw-thread systems, and screw-cutting changewheel arrangements.

Company In Formation to Market Weaver Products.

FORMERLY of the British Weaver Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which has gone into liquidation, Mr. W. Gordon Ruggins has formed a syndicate for the purpose of registering a new company, and is only awaiting•advice from the Registrar of Companies as to the acceptance of the title of the new concern. The new business will be directed on the same basis as the old in respect of Weaver products. The same offices and warehouse have been retained.

MR. HUGH W. MAYNE, whose portrait appears on this page, is well known in the municipal-transport world as a representative for the Daimler concern, and we now learn that he has been appointed assistant sales manager to Mr. F. G. Couch, sales manager and director of Transport Vehicles (Daimler), Ltd.

Certain changes in the executive direction of the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., became effective on January I. MR. A. R. SMITH, M.I.M.E., ceased to be general manager and became a director.

TONNAGE FOR THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER.

IN furtherance of a scheme for 'modernizing its fleet of six 6-tonners J. W. Taylor (Transport Contractors), Ltd., was given authority, at Manchester, last week, to substitute six new vehicles for six older but similar machines.

The applicant also asked for four trailers to be replaced by two small vehicles, wanted for collection and delivery purposes. This was vigorously opposed, on behalf of the railway companies, which also brought up the point that the legal address of the haulage company was Albert Square, Manchester, whilst the base was Preston, and a large bulk of the carrying was between Liverpool and London,

Mr. II. Backhouse, in stating the case for the applicant, pointed out that the total tonnage would be increased by only five VMS and that this would be restricted to 'collection and delivery work. In similar changes, the railway company had had no less than an extra 20 tons, on one occasion, in Manchester alone, MR. H. S. COOPER, A.C.A., relinquished his position as secretary,, also becoming a director. These two gentlemen now function as the chief executive officers. MR. P. HENNESSY, formerly purchase manager, is now general manager: MR. J. M. AITKEN SMITH, A.C.A., is secretary, and Mx. A. Br.ouNT is appointed purchase manager.

Mx. PERCY ELLISON, general manager of the Eastbourne Motorbus Department, is to retire. He has served the undertaking and the bus committee of Eastbourne Town Council for 32 years.

In the list of New Year Honours appear the names of MR. WILLIAM

CHAMBERLAIN, chairman of the North-Western Traffic Commissioners, who receives the honour of Knight Bachelor, and that of Mr. H. S. E. VANDERPANT, chairman of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, who receives a similar distinction.

MR, E. G. DALTON has taken up an appointment with John I. Thornycroft and Co.', Ltd., in the Metropolitan traffic area, having resigned his position with Rootes, Ltd. He was previously associated with the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., for over 16 years, prior to which be was in the service of the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., for a • similar period. T.A.C. commrrrEE—FESTINA LENTE.

IN() meeting of the special committee of the Transport Advisory Coujicil, set up to report on the railways' " square deal " claims, took place last week. Independent discussions, however, were continued, and it is believed that conversations with representatives of the docks are, taking place. No meetings of the committee itself will take place until the outcome of the independent discussions is known.

Trunk Road Improvement Near Dundee.

AINISTER of Transport has asked IV.I.Perth and Kinross County Council to put in hand immediately a scheme for the widening and modernization of the Perth-Aberdeen-Inverness trunk road, between Longforgan and Invergowrie, for a length of about 1/ miles. The existing road has a single carriageway, 21 ft, wide. The number of vehicles using the road approximates to

3,000 daily and owing to the large percentage of heavy commercial traffic the average daily tonnage is nearly 8,000.

At a cost of about £50,000, it is proposed to widen the road to 100 ft.

More Lorries and Buses in Northern

Ireland.

D ETURNS of the Northern Ireland motor-vehicle census, taken on September 30, 1938, reveal that the total number of Commercial vehicles on the road was 11,686, an increase of 613 over the number recorded on the same .date in. 1937. With the exception of hackney vehicles, all classes of commercial vehicle showed an increase on the 193/ figures, The vehicles are grouped under the following headings :—Goods-vehicles, 8,612 (8,317 in 1937); agricultural goods 'vehicles, 550 (411): agricultural engines, 784 (589) ; road locomotives and tractors,. 60 (48); hackneys, 1,680

(1,708). .

Some Useful Diaries.

ING'S PATENT AGENCY, LTD., 146a, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4, has published a useful little diary for inventors and patentees.

A new edition of the transport diary

and handbook has been issued by Industrial Transport Publications, Ltd., Dudley House, Southampton Street, Strand, London, W.C.2 This is referred to as a " complete transport office for. the pocket," and contains a large section of compressed information of value to all operators, including tables of road and rail mileage, taxation, speed limits, points on .licensing and wages, maintenance hints, etc. There. are also 16 pages of maps. The price, including postage, is 2s. 8d.

Encouraging Gas Vehicles in French Colonies.

TEHICLES equipped with gas pro. ducers' using wood carburants or wastes of vegetable origin, and spare parts for such vehicles, have recently been exempted from the sales-tax applicable to imports in the French West African colonies of Mauritania, Dahomey, Ivory Coast, Niger, Guiana and French Sudan. The import duty on such vehicles has also been reduced. from 8 per cent. to 1 per cent. CHECKING FUEL CONSUMPTION BY METER.

ATEST taking only a few minutes is all that is necessary to ascertain petrol-consumption figures, when using •a new meter produced by Mr, Stanley Toole, 47a, Cherry Tree Lane,

Stockport. Connections have to be made to the carburetter and fuel pump; the meter is then hung in the' roof, and the vehicle run a short distance, after which the relevant figure can be read from the gauge. Prices range from £2.

New Swedish Vehicle Under Way.

ANEW works for the manufacture of lorries and buses is to be started at Seederharim, Sweden, early this year, states Reuters Trade Service from Stockholm. The name of the company will be Aktiebolaget Automobilfabriken Thule. The works 'will, at first, turn out about 100 vehicles a year. Three different types will be produced, a bus and two lorries. A £250,000 CENTRALIZED TRANSPORT DEPOT.

WESTMINSTER City Council has erected a large highways central depot and garage at Gatliff Road, London, S.W.1, at which is being centralized the loading into barges, lying in Grosvenor Dock, of all refuse collected in the city, the garaging of all the council's transport vehicles, the stores and workshops. The new depot has cost nearly £250,000 and is now

in occupation by the highways department.

With a view to making more generally known the progress which the council has made, during recent years, in its work of improving the public-cleansing services in Westminster, we were provided yesterday (Thursday) with an opportunity of inspecting the new depot, and details of its layout will be given next week.

Ulster Vehicle-tax Concessions.

AS announced in the Northern Ireland Budget, earlier in the year, the reduced rates for commercial vehicles came into force on January 1. The reduction of these rates represents a concession of £35,000 from the Road Fund and applies only to goods vehicles and to hackney vehicles with seating capacities in excess of six passengers.

Shipping Guide for Hauliers.

THE following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from January 6 to 14 inclusive :-Docics King George V. 12; Royal Albert, 8; Royal Victoria, 6; Surrey Commercial, 8; West India, 6; South-West India, 5; Tilbury, 8; Tilbury Stage, 4; Millwall, 6; Royal, 1; London, 1. WHARVES: Hay's, 6; Tilbury Jetty, 4; Regent's Canal, 1.

Proposed Hardy Spicer and Lay-cock Merger.

IT is understood that a scheme is being formulated for merging Hardy Spicer and Co., Ltd., and the Laycock Engineering Co., Ltd. A new company known as Birfield Industries, Ltd., has been formed with the object of taking over the two concerns. Both the former concerns are very well known in the industry as suppliers of propeller shafts and couplings, and between them they cover the majority of British-built commercial vehicles.

An Instruction Book on Tyre Repairs.

RECENTLY issued by Harvey, Frost and Co., Ltd., Bishop's Stortford, is a new tyre-repairing instruction book, which should be of much value to traders, service engineers and others engaged in the practical work of tyre repairing. It deals comprehensively with tyre examination, equipment and vulcanizing materials, and gives specific instructions for repairing all classes of damage, both large and small. It is well illustrated, and the pictures and diagrams clarify all the important details associated with tyre-repair work. The manual is published at 5s.

The index to Volume 67 of The Commercial Motor, covering the issues from February 11 to August 5, 1938 inclusive, is now available, and a copy may be obtained, price 6d., by writing to the Editor. A MILLION BORG AND BECK CLUTCHES.

THE millionth clutch to be produced in the factories, at Leaming ton Spa, of the Borg and Beck Co., Ltd., was completed on December 22. The fact that over a million clutches of this make have been manufactured since the factory was established in 1931 is a striking tribute to the efficiency of the design and the method of manufacture behind it.