News and Comment.
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This journal fosters, represents, and chronicles commercial motoring in all its branches : our regular weekly circulation now exceeds 8,000 copies, exclusive of any exira mailings of special issues.
The meet of commercial motors at Reading, on the 17th instant, promises to be an instructive fixture, Particulars of the arrangements for this meet will be found on page 341, whilst we make a further brief editorial reference to certain questions which have arisen in connection with it. The names of the local reception committee are given on the next page.
Mr. Louis Brennan has written to the " Lokalanzeiger " to deny the a!--sertion that his gyroscope invention was anticipated by Herr Schlick, a Hamburg engineer. Apart from the fact that the inventions are essentially different, that of Mr. Brennan antedates that of Herr Schlick by some two years.
An Adjourned Discussion.
The discussion on the papers which were contributed to the conference of road makers and road users at Olympia, on the 'nth of April, will be resumed in the meeting room of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George Street, S.W., by kind permission of the Council of the Institution, on Monday and Tuesday next, the zoth and nth instant, beginning each day at ii o'clock precisely. The chair will be taken by Sir John Wolfe Barry, K.C.B., F.R.S.
From Luton.
The accompanying illustration is from a photograph of a 3-ton van built by Commercial Cars, Limited, of Luton. It is one of three such vans which belong to Waring and Gillow, Limited, and it is interesting to note that this business resulted for the makers as the consequence of a month's trial with one machine. The first " Komerkar " behaved so satisfactorily, that a second one was promptly ordered as well when the first one was taken over, and the order for the third van was placed about the middle of last month. One of the latest deliveries of a van manufactured by Commercial Cars, Limited, has been to Messrs.
Reynolds, Sons and Company, wholesale provision merchants, of West Smithfield : this van is built of extra large cubic capacity, in order to carry a load of four tons, and it has proved its ability to cover journeys of a 35-mile radius from its base. The inside dimensions are :—iength, in feet ; width, 5 feet ; height, 6:1 feet.
The latest elections to membership of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders include MM. J. A. Niclausse and Leon "Bollee.
The tar-spreading tests were completed early last week, and the value of the steam wagon in this connection was very evident. The loads to be carried are considerable, whilst it is of great importance to provide means of maintaining the correct temperature.
More Prizes.
The Chambre Syndicale de l'Automobile de France is offering a prize of 5,000 francs for the best fuel as a substitute for petroleum spirit, having been prompted to this course by the difficulties which beset those who desire to use alcohol as an alternative.. The same body has resolved to hold a competition in Paris, seven weeks hence, for models of chassis and body-work designed to suit Municipal ambulance requirements. The Maudslay Motor Company (1907), Limited, whose works are at Parkside, Coventry, has found it necessary to. remove its London branch from 213, Knightsbridge, S.W., to more commodious and central premises at 6o, Piccadilly, W. This change of address should be noted.
Our "AU-World" Issue.
Great interest is being taken by many of our readers in our All-World Motorbus Special Issue, which is to be published a fortnight from ti)-day. We have already received a number of requests km* extra copies, together with information that these will be posted to friends abroad. Following our customary practice, we give the minimum number of extra copies that will be mailed by us, apart from our ordinary circulation : these special postage& will number at least 3,000 copies, and the addresses are 13cated in all parts of the civilised globe.
For Travellers.
A smart and comfortable vehicle for commercial travellers' use is illustrated overleaf. It is particularly suitable for drapers, jewellers, fancy-goods warehouses, or travellers in similar lines, and the box-shaped body can be fitted to suit the 'requirements of the various trades. The front seat is very roomy, and well protected from bad weather by a " cab" with a glassscreen in front. Mr. Gould, a representative of Brown Brothers, Limited, of Great Eastern Street, London, E.G., which company markets these vehicles, is seen seated at the wheel. This particular car has been in use for a considerable time, during which, we are informed, it has given no trouble whatever. The chassis is exactly similar to the ordinary to-12h.p. two cylinder, " Brown " touring car. The change-speed gear-box provides for three speeds and a reverse, with through drive on top-speed, and the brakes are of the metal-to-metal type. The price of the car, complete as illustrated, is -132o, and this price includes duplicate accumulators.
Mann Wagons at Bath.
The photograph of the three Mann wagons which are employed by the Midland Railway Company, at Bath (reproduced on page 340), forms, we think, an excellent testimonial to the satisfactory results obtained by the Company from them, as, starting with one wagou, it has been found advisable to purchase two additional vehicles. Mann wagons have been used by this company for over twelve months.
Berna Orders.
The accompanying illustration is of 35h.o. Berna motor wagon which has recently carried out a most successful trial for Messrs. Hewitt Brothers, of Grimsby. We illustrated several Berna lorries, belonging to Ind, Coupe and Company, Limited, of Romford, in our special issue of the 23rd ultimo, and we are glad to be able to report that one of them, of 35h.p., continues to give good results on regular journeys between Rumford and London (about 121 miles), as well as on deliveries in the county of Essex within a 15-mile radius of the brewery. It is stored at the company's depot in Garden Street, Whitechapel, and it has proved to average nine miles to the gallon. When extra haulage pressure occurs, the lorries have done two double journeys between Romford and London in a day, a total distance of 50 miles, and have averaged 350 miles in five days : these satisfactory records are largely due to the fact that solid rubber tires are fitted to all wheels.
Anothdr of the three lorrles, with a 24h.p., two-cylinder engine, has a load capacity of 31 tons, and is worked from the Twickenham depot as a base, serving various parts of Surrey and Middlesex, whilst the third machine, an 18h.p. Mo.-cylinder van, with a carrying capacity of two tons, is at work from the Burton brewery, in con nection with the company's depots at Leicester, Derby. and Lichfield. This last-named van 'sometimes carries a load from Burton to each of the towns in a single day, and it averages about 300 miles per, week, and its low fuel consumption enables it to travel ii miles to the gallon. In the Manchester district, the Berna vehicles are sold by Messrs. G. W. Lowcock and Company, Commercial Motor Garage, Gaythorn.
France and Agricultural Motors
The application of the motor to agri_ culture in France is steadily growing, and the month of May has seen another company for the exploitation of agricultural motor vehicles come into existence at; 'Arras. This company, which is called the Societe des Automobiles Agricoles, is calling up a working capital of only Lto,000. Its raison d'etre is the selling or loaning of tractors, wagons, and all kinds of motor vehicles applicable to agriculture, all of which are to be supplied under contract by a company now forming at Arras, which second company will carry out the work of constructing the vehicles, will undertake all repairs, and will place garages at the disposition of the Societe des Automobiles Agricoles. The sole agency in France for the sale and hiring-out of the Saunderson "Universal" agricultural tractors is reported to have been secured.
Argyll Board and Staff.
Mr. Wm. Alexander Smith has undertaken the duties of managing director of Argyll Motors, Ltd., in addition to the chairmanship, and Mr. E. H. Watson (Argylls, London, Ltd.) has joined the board. Mr. A_ M. Thomson continues as general manager, with Mr. Allan Coats as assistant manager, whilst the secretary, Mr. Cruickshank, will have Mr. Robert McCormick as assistant. Every change due to Mr. Govan's death has been made from the Argyll Company's own staff, and this proves the excellence of the organisation.
Reading Meet.
The constitution of the local reception committee is as follows : — The Mayor, Councillor Edward Jackson, J.P.; the Chairman of the Tramways Committee, Alderman Field, J.P. ; the Chairman of the Highways and Lighting Committee, Councillor W. E. Collier ; Alderman Partitt, J.P. ; Councillor E. P. Collier, J.P. (S. and E. Collier, Limited, Brick and Tile Manufacturers); Nit-. Barnard Messer, J.P. (Messers, Limited, Timber Merchants); Mr. Herman Burney, B.A. (Secretary of the Royal Berkshire Hospital); Mr. W. Binns (Tramways Manager); Mr. John Bowen (Borough Engineer); Captain J. S. Henderson (Chief Constable); Mr. T. P. Brown (Postmaster); Mr. Mid 'Witherington (Sonning-onThames); Mr. F. Soundy (Messrs. S. M. Soundy and Son, Corn Millers, Reading); and a representative of Huntley and Palmer's, Limited (name not yet commUnicated). The Town Clerk of Reading, Mr. W. S. Clutterbuck, is acting as honorary secretary to this committee, and Mr. W. Vincent, Castle Street, has offered free garage the night preceding the meet.