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

DUTCH TO BUILD BRITISH OIL ENGINES: Slim. PLAN

pRITAIN has opened wider the door to the Continental market. It

was announced on Monday that Leyland Motors, Ltd., and Van Doorne's Automobielfahrick N.V., Eindhoven, Holland, builders of D.A.F. motor vehicles and trailers, had signed an agreement for the manufacture of Leyland oil engines in Holland.

Work on a factory extension costing £14-m. and covering 300,000 sq. ft. has been Started at Eindhoven. It will be devoted exclusively to the manufacture of Leyland engines and will be able to produce three an hour.

This development was forecast by

The Commercial Motor on October 21. The agreement provides for the manufacture of Albion four-cylindercd horizontal and vertical 0 b.h.p.

engines, as well as of Leyland units. .

It is understood that at the outset Van Doorne's will concentrate on the Leyland -0.350 Mark DE direct-injection engine developing 105 b.h.p. at 2,400 r.p.m., which is used in the Comet range. This engine will be employed in the heavier D.A.F. buses and goods vehicles.

Pending the completion of the new engine works, Van Doorne's have ordered 1,000 Leyland built 0.350 engines. The first of these will be fitted to D.A.F. 7-tonners and 44-46-seat touring coaches. Operators in Holland have placed the first orders for D.A.F.Leyland vehicles.

D.A.F. vehicles with Leyland engines will also be offered for export. Mr. W. A. V. van Doorne, commercial and managing director: said that his cornpany were particularly interested in the Scandinavian and Latin American markets. In some countries, D.A.F. would be in direct competition with Leyland vehicles, but the gross laden weights of D.A.F.-Leyland 1500 series lorries, at 11 tons, were not as high as those of Leyland vehicles.

18 Bodies Against New Load' 'Limits

EIGHTEEN organizations. are opposing the proposals of the Minister of .Transport to impose further restrictions on the movement., of abnormal indivisible loads by road.: .Each is submitting to the Minister. . separate observations, but all are hostile to the

suggested new restrictions. •

A statement issued On Tuesday' by the Road Haulage Association said that the general view formed by a joint meeting of interested bodies (reported in The Commercial Motor last week) was that serious handicaps would be inflicted on important industries without -relieving traffic congestion. The inadequacy -of the road system could not justify measures to prevent or delay the movement of abnormal loads.

Normally, 'dismantling for transport was impracticable for technical reasons, but where it was possible, it was unnecessarily costly. • Organizations opposing the Minister's proposals are:—

HUNGARY HAS TURBINE BUS A SYSTEM of hydraulic transmis sion, in which oil under pressure drives a turbine, has been successfully employed in Hungary on an Ikarus 60 town bus. The oil pump is driven by the vehicle engine.

Reports on the system say that the bus moves away smoothly and acceleration is quicker than with a normal transmission system.

On one test, the bus was allowed to attain a speed of 20 m.p.h. in reverse downhill. Within 6 sec. it was brought to a standstill and driven forward.

TECALEMIT EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS

AS from January 1, Kerry's (Great Britain), Ltd., have become exclusive motor-trade distributors for the complete range of Tecalernit lubrication and vehicle-servicing equipment and accessories.

Express Operators• Want 12% Rise

FOLTR express-service operatOrs in the East Midlands are applying for permission to increase certain of their charges by 121 per cent. They are East Midland Motor Services, Ltd., Midland General Omnibus Co., Ltd., Lincolnshire Road Car Co., Ltd., and Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd.

The application for higher fares on long-distance coach services to and from London, made by the Central Fares Committee (Tire Commercial Motor, November 25 last), will be heard by the Metropolitan Licensing Authority on January 16.

Reading Transport Department was last week given permission by the South-Eastern Licensing Authority to introduce higher fares later this month. It is estimated that the new rates, which include a 2d. minimum, will increase revenue by about £40,000 a' year.

Blackpool Town Council last week accepted a recommendation of the transport committee that workers' and scholars' fares and contract tickets should be abolished (The Commercial .1.totr»-, December 23). The cuts will save the transport department £25;000 a sear.

South Shields Transport Committee have recommended the abolition of workers' fares, a step which, if approved, will offset by £11,000 the recent increase of £13,500 a year in the undertaking's wage bill.

Dundee Corporation have approved a 30 per cent. rise in fares, based on a reduction in the length of stages. The pay increase will cost the city underiaking £40,000 a year and advances in other costs represent another £56,500.

Derby Corporation are to apply for higher fares to offset an increase of .E26,000 a year in wages.

Applications for fare increases have also been made by. the Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd., Thames Valley Traction Co., Ltd., and Brighton Transport Department.

Brighton, Hove and District .Omnibus Co., Ltd., are also understood to be considering seeking hid= rates.

TWO SUSPENSION INQUIRIES ist WESTMORLAND haulier, Mr. IA H. Walling, Tarnside, Crosthwaite, Kendal, is to be• called before the Northern Licensing Authority at Kendal on January 25 to show cause why his 11 licence should not be 'revoked or suspended.

At a public inquiry at Newcastle upon Tyne on January 16, the Authority will call on H. D. Ward, Ltd., Durham Road Farm, Wialsingham, Co. Durham, to show why their C licence should not he suspended or revoked.

NO SPECIAL A LICENCES THE Warrington Warehousing Co., 54 Market Street, Newton-1eWillows, have been refused special A

licence for two lorries (l21 tons) by the North Western Licensing Authority.

.Leeds Buying 80 MonoControl 60-seaters

THE first of 80 new buses for Leeds Corporation was handed over by Lord Brabazon, chairman and managing director of Associated Commercial Vehicles, Ltd., to Ald. J. Rafferty, chairman of the transport committee, on Tuesday. The design of the new vehicles incorporates an A.E.C. Mark V chassis with the mono-control transmission, and the traditional A.E.C. alloy-framed radiator.

Aid. Rafferty, who has lost one leg, demonstrated the ease with which. the mono-control bus could be operated by driving it round a circuit of Torre Road depot. The party, which included Mr. W. R. Black, chairman of A.C.V. Sales, Ltd., Mr. Charles Roe, of Charles H. Roe, Ltd., and many northern transport personalities, was later taken on a full trial run.

The Roe teak and aluminium-alloy cordposite body, which is used for the bus in question, is a medium-weight 60-seater. It is one of a batch of 80 Ordered by Leeds for delivery this year. A further contract for 55 buses is due for completion later.

The lower-saloon main framework is of Burma teak, with screwed exterior panels, and the upper-saloon framework is of aluminium alloy with extruded-section pillars and riveted exterior panels.

Two pass platforms are provided on the staircase.. Other features include interior-glazed aluminium-alloy window • Pans. Widney Famco sliding windows and stainless-steel handrails.

At the celebration dinner, Aid. Rafferty said that force of circumstances had compelled him to alter his former opinion, and to agree that the day of the tram was fast ending.

BRITISH AND GERMAN MAKERS RAISE OUTPUT

LAST ear the British Motor Corporation exported more vehicles than any other motor manufacturer in the world. A total of nearly 200,000 vehicles, valued at £75m., was sent overseas.

B.M.C. output—at the rate of four vehicles every mintite of the working day—was 468,943, which • was 26.7 per cent. greater than in 1954. This total is claimed to he the highest ever 'attained by any British company.

The Ford Mcitor Co., • Ltd„ set new

.records for itself by niaking 356,000 vehicles and exporting 166,000 in 1955. Exports were worth £69m. Overseas sales of commercial vehicles rose by 51 per cent., the best markets being South Africa, Finland, • Spain and .Holland.

The three companies in the German

Borgward group last year produced 78,876 cars and 31,124. commercial vehicles. The Adam Opel Co., a-German subsidiary of General Medors,built

185;340 cars and commercial vehicles. !All. theSe figures were far greater than for 1454.

&R.& Appoint New Managers

ELEVEN new appointments, arising from . reorganization, promotions, and transfers, were announced on Tuesday-by British Road Services.

Mr. A. Whitfield, O.B.E. (diVisional staff and welfare officer, North Western Division, and acting district manager, Manchester district), becomes personnel officer at headquarters; Mr. G. R. Hayes (acquisitions and dispOsals officer at headquarters), training officer at headquarters; Mr. W. E. Bates, M.B.E. (Bolton-Bury group manager), Midland Division traffic officer; Mr. R. J. A. Thody (Leicester group manager), Leicester district manager; Mr. J. .W. Goy (Luton Northampton group manager). Luton district manager; Mr. L. Hill (Ipswich district traffic superintendent), Notts and Derby district manager; Mr. .S. Washington (Stoke group manager), Stoke district manager; Mr. T. W. Thomas (acting district manager, Gloucester); district manager, Gloucester; Mr. F. Lever . (acting district manager, Bristol), district manager, BriStol; Mr. R:V. Cole (acting district manager, Exeter), district manager, Exeter; and Mr. L. E. Briggs (Shrewsbury -Central Wales district manager), Cardiff district manager.

NOTTINGHAM DENIES MONOPOLY CHARGE.

ASUGGESTION that Nottingham Transport Department was trying to gain a monopoly at. Arnold, a district outsidethe city boundary,was made before the East Midland Licensing Authority, on Tuesday, when -Barton Transport, Ltd., sought permission to vary their stage services between Nottingham and Oxion by introducing additional journeys to improve the service to the growing village of Calverton.

Under the variation, the route passed

through a part of Arnold not covered by the existing service, and Nottingham Corporation objected on the ground that it would affect their own services between Nottingham and .Arnold. They suggested that a protection point at Day brook Square should be moved to give additional protection.

It was stated that both Barton Trans port and Nottingham had run services through Arnold for many years, although the city transport services were between Arnold and Nottingham only. Mr. R. Seely Whitby, for the'appli cants, said that although the municipal services had pushed farther into Arnold during the past few years, Barton Trans-Port had not sought additional protection. It was unfair that Nottingham 'should now ask for protection.

Mr. H. C. Morley, traffic manager of Nottingham Transport Department, .denidd that they were trying to claim a monopoly in Arnold. .

Granting the application, the chairmatt), Mr. A. R. M. Ellis, said the Authority was satisfied there was a need for additional journeys and that it was not necessary to extend protection.

Knighthood for S.M.M.T. Leader

EW awards have been made in the Queen's New Year Honours List to men connected with road transport and the motor industry.

Sir Frederick God bcr, chairman of Shell Transport and Trading Co., Ltd., and other concerns, has been created a Baron, and Mr. W. Lyons, a past president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and chairman and managing director of Jaguar Cars, Ltd., becomes a Knight. •

Other awards are as follows:—

LICENCE FOR LIFTS BY CAR: SEPARATE FARES

AROAD service licence was granted by the West Midland Licensing Authority on Monday to the owner of a private car, to enable the motorist legally to carry four other people into Stratford on Avon at a charge of 7s. 6d. a week each.

There was a false impression, the chairman said, that passengers charged at separate fares could be carried in a car without a licence. The applicant, Mr. R. Broad, Ballards Lane, Ilmington, Warwicks, was to be commended for putting himself within the law.

Mr. R. W. More, for Mr. Broad, said that his. client worked in Stratford, eight miles from his home. There was no public transport service and four other people in Ilmington were placed similarly to him.

The application was thought to be the first of its kind.

R.H.A. LONDON DINNER

THE annual dinner of the Metropoli

tan and South Eastern Area of the Road Haulage Association will be held at Grosvenor House, Park Lane. London, W.1, on March 12.

Mobil Reorganize in Midlands

THE Mobil Oil Co., Ltd., have divided their Midland automotive division into two new divisions, to be called respectively the North Midland and South Midland automotive divisions. This •reorganization has become necessary because of the rapid expansion of retail marketing of Mobilgas in the Midlands, it is stated.

The managerial staff of the present division now controls the North Midland automotive division. Mr. S. F. G. Mann will be divisional manager.. The division Will have its headquarters. at Queen's Buildings, Queen Street, Sheffield. The northern area will cover South Lancashire; Smith Yorkshire, Cheshire, North Derbyshire, NOrth Nottinghamshire, .Lincolnshire and North Wales.

Mr. V. C. Beaumont has been appointed manager of the South Midland automotive division. The headquarters will be in Beaufort House, New Hall Street, Birmingham. The division will cover Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Leices tershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

EXTRA JOURNEYS GRANTED IN THREE-CORNERED FIGHT

THE East Midland Licensing 1 Authority last week granted part of an application by the South .Notts Bus Co., Ltd., for additional facilities on the Nottingham-Clifton Green stretch of their service" Lough-. borough. The application was opposed by West -Bridgford Urban District Council and Nottingham Corporation, both 01 whorri share with South Notts in a service between• Nottingham and the Clifton housing estate, The company were authorized to run additional journeys for -workers from I:Ionday. to Saturday, hut • were refused permission to provide a half-hourly service during the off-peak period from Monday to Friday, and a half-hourly service on Sunday morning.

Mr. R. Seely Whitby, for the applicants, said there would • be 6,400 potential passengers from the estate. Since the estate had started, the demand For bus services had increased enormously.

As the 'estate had developed, South Notts had often to operate duplicates, triplicates and sometimes quadruplicates on the service.. Referring to the joint service. Mr. Whitby said that since it was introduced, the number of journeys had risen from 569 to 2,567.

[An appeal by West Bridgford and Nottingham against a decision of the Authority granting permission to South Notts to re-time one Of their journeys on the joint service was dismissed by. the Minister of Transport more than two years ago. (The Commercial Motor,' October 16;

Bedford Prices Up

ElitEDFORD prices have risen. On Li Tuesday, Vauxhall Motors; Ltd., announced that they were compelled to increase prices in" the ,face of "-further mounting costs." Typical prices, with purchase tax, are as follows:— NEWCOMERS. TORE ADMITTED ?

PRAISE for the work of road-rail negotiating committees was voiced by Mr. S. W. Nelsoh., Western Licensing Authority, last week. A newcomer successfully sought a licence to tow caravans, and the Authority told the legal representative of the objeetors that it was a pity that the application could not have been dealt with by the negotiating committee.

It was explained that, on principle, newcomers were 'not invited to appear before the committee.. When Mr. Nelson suggested that they Might be, the objectors' representative said he would pass on that view to those concerned.

35 SAFE YEARS: CASH AWARDS A WARDS were made last week to -1-1. three London Transport .bus drivers, each of whom had 'a record of 35 continuous y,..!ars of safedriving.. They were Mr. Henry Pritchard, aged 68, Mr. Ernest Craig, aged 65, and Mr. James Culling, aged 65.

Each received a silver cross from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. the highest award yet made by ROSPA, and a cash gift .of £25 from London Transport. The three men have driven nearly 2nt. miles without blameworthy accident: • TRIPLEX PLAN APPROVED QTOCKHOLDERS of the Triplex

Safety G lass Co., Ltd., have approved the proposal to acquire the entire interest in Triplex' (Northern); Ltd. Triplex (Northern) has hitherto been owned jointly by Triplex Safety Glass and Pilkington Bros., Ltd., who had a 51-per-cent. interest.

Coach Owner Warned About Schedules

ABARNSLEY oriach proprietor, who provided miners' services, was warned by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority last week over his alleged failure to keep to schedule. It was stated that one day he had" slept in" and the miners had to be paid compensation for not winking. The National Coal Board had complained to the Authority.

The beet-ice' of Messrs. Hargreaves and Bibbing, Darlield, fiatinsley, , was renewed for six months. The Authority told Mr. H. Hargreaves, a•partner. that

he would watch the service in future. , . .

SINGAPORE LOC,KOUT ENDS:

• 3,000 STILL ON STRIKE

THE 43-,day lockout of some 1,600 employees of Chinese bus operators in' Singapore ended last week, after agreement had been reached.

As a contribution to the settlement, the, Singapore Government agreed to .reirnburse the fuel tax for December already Paid by the operators, and they arc recommending the city council to refund a proportion of road tax.

Employees of the Singapore Traction Co., Ltd., who serve the city area, were still on strike after 94 days. A court of inquiry into the causes has been set set up by the Minister -of Labour.

NEW JOINT COMMITTEE? TINANCIAL matters concerned in establishing a proposed joint transport committee for Rossendale are being considered by the local authorities of Rawlenstall, Haslingden and Ramsbottom.

Haslingden Transport Department had a surplus of £98 in the year ended March, 1955, compared with £1,031 in the previous year.

THREE NEW SALES OFFICES

ANEW sales office at 16 Cumberland Place, Southampton, has been opened by the Northern Aluminium Co., Ltd. The Manchester area sales office has moved to 23 Princess Street, Manchester, 2. A new sales office is to be opened on January 16 at 57 Bute Street, Luton.

BECLAWAT PRICES HELD

pq EC A W AT prices are to be held at 1--/ their present levels .until at least June 30. Mr. G. Anthony Beckett, managing director of Beckett, Laycock and .Watkipson,T Ltd., Acton Lane, London, N.W.I0, has told' customers and suppliers that the effects of increased costs have been offset by improved production techniques. enabling prices to be stabilized.

RAIL GOODS RECEIPTS DOWN INCREASED road competition, particularly from ancillary operators, is partly blamed by British Railways for a drop of £54-rn. in receipts for goods and livestock traffic in 10 months. of 1955.

New Association to Free Sales

A N effort is -being made to break down the tendency towards the restricted sale of oils and accessories by garages and service stations. With this object in view, the Motor Accessories Manufacturers' Association has been formed.

The Association's objects are to promote the unrestricted sale and display of accessories, tyres, batteries, oils and other procipcts. The promoters are C. C. Walefield and Co., Ltd., W. B. Dick and Co., Ltd., Henry Prichard and Co. (1947), Ltd., Mr. John B. Pillin, of the Wakefield Group, Alexander Duckharn and Co„ Ltd., United Lubricants, Ltd.

50 ELECTRICS FOR MIXED DELIVERIES

IETY long-wheelbase 25-cwt. 1 battery-electric chassis have been ordered from Wales and Edwards, Ltd., Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, by Independent Dairies, Ltd., London.

The vehicles are built with a deck to carry 17 milk crates and a rear cabinet in which bakery products or groceries may be contained.

Many dairymen find that the delivery of bread, confectionery and easily packaged groceries increases the earnings of a round.

Experienced Men for Top Transport Jobs

CONTROL of British transport at the higher levels should be in the hands of experienced transport trade unionists, instead of in the hands of men whose lives had been spent in other than the transport industry, Mr. Hector Hughes, Labour M.P. for Aberdeen North, has told the Minister of Transport.

Mr. Hughes said last week that he had asked the Minister to consult with the Prime Minister to devise a better technique for controlling • transport Organization.

The ordinary day-to-day transport work was excellent, but there was something lacking in the top control. In support of his view, Mr. Hughes instanced the large number of serious railway and road accidents that had occurred recently, and emphasized the urgency of the matter.

SCOTTISH ROAD POWER CHANGE

TRUNK roads in Scotland, and I grants to local highway authorities for classified roads, will become the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland on April 1. An order-incouncil, transferring these powers from the Minister of Transport, was laid before Parliament last week.

Bans to Keep Traffic Moving

HIGHWAY authorities in different parts Of the country, faced with increased traffic, " are turning more and more to considering, and in some cases imposing, traffic restrictions in an effort tO keep the traffic moving," states Mr. F. D. Fitz-Gerald, national secretary of the Traders' Road Transport Association, in the current issue of the T.R.T.A. Bulletin.

The Association's campaign against bans on . deliveries by commercial vehicles had three aims, he said. One was to bring to the notice of highway authorities the serious disruption to the movement of goods which would be caused if bans were increasingly imposed. Another was tO point Out that the effect of certain restrictions was only to shift congestion from one place to another.

A constructive, instead of restrictive, approach to the whole problem should be secured

Tilt CARNET SYSTEM TO BE ' EXTENDED?

A. PARTIAL extension of the T.I.R. carnet system has been recommended by the inland Transport Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The T.I.R. carnet is a Customs document which permits the transport under seal of goods by road across one or more frontiers. The committee wish it to apply to bulky or heavy goods which cannot be carried in closed or sealed vehicles or containers.

The committee, who have been meeting under the chairmanship of Mr. Zoltan Matyassy, of Hungary, took a number of decisions during their recent session, and agreed upon the continuance of the work of sub-committees and working parties. Procedures for the preparation and signing in May of a series of transport and Customs conventions have been laid down by the committee.

100 Buses for New Colombo Corporation

T'HE Ceylon Minister of Transport is I to ask for sanction to buy 100 buses, at an estimated cost of Rs.5m., to form. the nucleus of a proposed bus corporation for Colombo.

Existing operators in the city earlier signed an agreement with the Minister and undertook to improve services, but they have now been asked to explain why they have not fulfilled their obligations. The Minister's remedy for this alleged failure is to establish a corporation.. '

The companies include the South Western OmnibuS Co., Castle Street Omnibus Co., Ebert Silva Omnibus Co. and Elmo Omnibus Co. Each has been sent detailed statistics of the number of buses specified under the agreement and of those actually operated, the extent of services provided and others required to be run, also the times at which certain checks were made.

Forty-five Leyland buses are soon to he exported to Ceylon, and one Colombo operator wishes to standardize its single-decker fleet on this make. The South Western concern are to take 35 vehicles and the Wijaya Bus Co. 10.

Twenty-five of the South Western vehicles will be Comets for use on the Colombo-Galle road, and the remainder, which are for service in Colombo, will he underfloor-engined models. Locally built bodies will he provided for all 45 vehicles.

DOCK DELAY INVESTIGATORS

THREE new appointments have been I made to the Ports Efficiency Committee, which, at the request of the Minister of Transport, is investigating delays to vehicles at docks.

New members are Sir Robert Letch, general manager of the Docks Division of the British Transport Commission, Sir Eric Mil!bourn, honorary adviser to the Minister of Transport on shipping in port, and Mr. Leslie E. Ford, general manager of the Port of London Authority. Sir Douglas Ritchie has resigned from the committee because of ill health. Mr. F. A. Pope has resigned because he has ceased to he a full-time member of the B.T.C.

TOO MANY BODYBUILDERS

BRITAIN'S productive capacity for coach and bus bodies is, according to the annual report of the directors of Park Royal Vehicles, Ltd., substantially in excess of home requireffients. Conditions during the year ended September 30 last were extremely difficult.

Export trade continued to be hampered by the practice in many countries 01 supporting local production. '

Park Royal Vehicles, Ltd., arc producing more bodies and cabsfor the A.C.V. Group's new range of vehicles, and future prospects are more hopeful than they were a year ago.

Mr. Littlewood Refused Extra Journeys

I N a deferred decision, the Yorkshire Licensing Authority has refused to allow Mr. C. G. Littlewood, of Sheffield, to operate 48 more journeys to Torquay, and to extend his period of operation to include the first two weeks in October.

He has, however, been authorized to pick up and set down passengers at Dronfield and Chesterfield.

Mr. Littlewood's application, the hearing of which was published in The Commercial Motor on December 16 last, was strongly opposed by other coach operators and the railways.

EXTRA PAY FOR IRISH ASSEMBLY MEN

THE trade unions concerned are expected to accept an award by the Irish Labour Court of an extra 30. an hour for a 45-hour week for 1,240 workers in the Irish motor assembly trade. An increase of 51d. an hour was originally sought. This was opposed by the Irish Motor Traders' Association.

The Court recommend that the revision should operate from the first full weekly pay period after November 25 last

SERVICE FOR RALLY DRIVERS

CO-DRIVER of one of the two A.E.C. coaches which are again being used to carry the wives and luggage of British competitors in the Monte-Carlo Rally_ this month will be Mr. H. F. (Bruce) Ells, joint publicity manager of A.C.V. Sales, Ltd.

Both coaches are operated by Sheffield United Tours, Ltd. The one that will carry luggage will have its seats removed and, on arrival in Monte' Carlo, will be converted into a mobile bar.

Co-ops. Hostile to Motor Trade

" WE should all ensure that the wholesale and retail societies co-operate in purchasing and take every penny from the motor trade," said Mr. H. M. Dick, manager of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society's transport and motor trade department, when he addressed co-operative managers in Glasgow.

He said that the motor trade debarred the co-operative movement from entering their field, although manufacturers were sympathetic. The department distributed vehicles for the movement, but did not receive full discounts.

Last year the department supplied 98.2 per cent. of the vehicles delivered to societies, and this year hoped to turn over £3m.

Mr. Dick forecast compulsory fitness examinations for goods vehicles in the near future. He recommended that societies should buy the best vehicles for specific work, avoiding used vehicles and overloading. He commended the tubeless tyre, particularly for light models.

Quantity production of bodies had been achieved, affording a degree of standardization of body shells, but the ideal of a standard van was still remote. The customer-entry type of mobile shop was more hygienic than the outside-service type and reduced the sickness rate among staff.

Rising transport costs remained a problem. Operating expenses had advanced by 142.05 per cent. above the 1951 level.

4m. VISITORS TO SCOTLAND

OVER four million people visited Scotland in 1955 and spent about i'50m. These figures are records, and coach operators have done much towards their attainment. It is thought that the tourist trade can be further expanded, although last year's good weather accounted for an increase.

The Scottish tourit season now starts early in April and finishes in early November, whereas before a drive to expand tourism began it lasted only from July to August.

£60 A WEEK FROM CUTS

RECENT cuts in bus services are expected to save Grimsby Transport Department about £60 a week. The last departures from town terminals on weekdays are now made at 11 p.m., instead of 11.15 p.m. One-man-operated buses, which have been running successfully on two routes for some time, have been introduced on another service.

HAULIER TURNS TO PACKING

WITH the revival of the pre-nationalization haulage concern of Burrows Transport, Ltd., an associated company, Burrows Packing, Ltd.. has been formed with a factory at Feltham. A large contract with a well-known electrical manufacturer has been secured.

Puerto Rico• Buys U.K. Mobile Shops

AN order valued at F3-45,000 for mobile shops based on Commer 5-ton chassis has been placed with Smith's Delivery Vehicles, Ltd., Gateshead-on-Tyne, 11, by the Migros Federation of Co-operatives. The vehicles will be operated in Puerto Rico, where the Government have sponsored a co-operative organization to reduce the cost of distributing food.

The vehicles are being supplied through the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd., whose export manager, Mr. Thomas Taylor, last year acted as consultant to the Puerto Rican Government.

Smith's are opening a new extension to their factory this month. Last year, over a third of the company's turnover was represented by export orders.

NEW FLOOR-CLEANING MACHINE

D ECENTLY added to the range of

Matling industrial floor-cleaning machines is the Neptune, which can' be used selectively for wet and dry scrubbing and polishing.

For wet scrubbing, water and a detergent mixture -is fed from a 5-gal tank through a controlled sprinkler immediately -ahead of two rotating brushes driven by a h.p. electric motor. Steelwire brushes are used for dry scrubbing and for polishing, special brushes are fitted. Brush changing takes only a few seconds.

Complete with two sets of brushes, the machine costs E105., The makers are Matling, Ltd., 28 Caxton Street, London, S.W.1.

Vehicle that Runs on "Melons"

rLAIMED to be able to traverse "•—• snow, sand, mud, swamps, rocks and even broken glass, the Rolligon. now being developed by the 'United States Government, employs a novel form of wheel which represents a complete departure from current methods of transport.

The Rolligon drive was invented by Mr. William Albee, of Carmel, California, U.S.A:T and consists of large low-pressure melon-shaped tyres carried directly on hubs and driven from above by rollers. These rollers also distribute the weight of the vehicle on to the

Rolligon bags.

The tyres, which have been made. by Goodyear, work at 11-5 p.s.i. and are thus able virtually 10 swallow up obstacles. Because of the low working pressure, air leaks take a long time to put the vehicle out of commission.

At the moment the top speed for which the Rolligon has been designed is in the region of 14 m.p.h., but by advanced bag design and variable inflation pressures, higher speeds should be Possible. Four large test vehicles have been built by the United States Army for use in Greenland. These have been matched against other designs of offthe-road vehicle with a. high measure of success.

HEADLAMPS IN DAY FOG

A RECOMMENDATION to drivers .1—i to use headlamps, rather than side lights, in daytime fog has been made by the Royal Automobile Club. Side lights, it is stated, have such a low intensity that they can rarely be seen in a fog before the outline of the vehicle is visible.

The Road Research Laboratory have found that dipped headlamps can be seen about twice as far away as the vehicle itself, and undipped headlamps three times the distance. There should be no glare.