News and Comment.
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Our Circulation (Certified) is Double that of all Similar Journals Combined.
Upwards of 2,000 copies,. of our Japanese Supplement were mailed last week.
The Smithfield Catt:e Show was opened on the 41h instant, and the exhibits are briefly dealt with on pages 269 and 270.
A company has recently been formed in Italy to build motor vehicles and motor boats under the Thornycroft patents. Count Gamba is chairman of the company, and the other subscribers are influential people in northern Italy. Works are being constructed at Spezzia, this being regarded as a suitable p!ace fur both classes, of work, in additioo to which a goad supply highly-trained mechanics are available from the Government Arsenal in that famous town and port. Application has been made to the Vienna Municipality for a concession to let out motors on hire : the number of motor cabs in the city is to be increased.
The Albion Motorcar Co„ Ltd., of South Street, Scotstoun, Glasgow, has drawn our attention to a circular which has been issued by a company recently formed in Glasgow and called the Scotia 'Motor Conmktny, The Albion Company not unnaturally regards it as an unwarrantable liberty that one of the illustrations in the circular should be a repro:int:Lion of an Albion block which anoears in the Albion Company's own catalogue. We w6h to draw attention to the fact that the Scotia Motor Company has no connection whatever with the Albion Motorcar Co., Ltd., and we hope that, if any confusion has arisen in the minds of our readers, this disclaimer will make the matter clear.
The Cumberland Chamber of Agriculture unanimously adopted the followingresolution at its last meeting, when the chair was taken by Lord Lonsdale :—" That in (he opinion of this chamber motorcar licenses should be materially increased according to horse-power ; that the money received therefrom should be naid into a national fund to he dispensed over the counties in proportion to their mileage; that the speed limit be abolished and power given to county and other authorities to limit sueeds in special places; that DO license to drive a motorcar be granted to any man who cannot speak the English language; and that the special attention of the Motorcar Commission be drawn to the dangers caused by head-lights in their present form."
1906. Feb. 3-18
o 9-17 Mar, 24-81
Our next special issue will appear on January 18th. FIVE THOUSAND extra copies will be posted to builders, contractors, brickmakers, etc., in all parts of the United Kingdom. The directors of the Car and General Insurance Corporation, Limited, whose head office is al t, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., have appointed seven assistant secretaries to aid the general manager and secretary, Mr. e'rcderick Thoresby, in his conduct of the business. The present appointments are : Messrs. W. F.. Burton (engineering); P. J. Caudle (claims);
E, Gardiner (accounts); N.V. Hinde (live stock); A. "Toad (policies); H. P. Nicholson (secretarial); and H. Whitcomb (motorcars). All these gentlemen have been associated with Mr, `Moresby for considerabrle periods. Readers of " TlIF COMMERCIAL MOTOR who desire to be furnished with a complete index to the first 26 numbers can obtain a copy on sending a penny stamp, to cover postage, under cover to the manager, The Ryknield Engine Co., Ltd., of Burton-on-Trent, has issued a circular in which it is pointed out that negotiations are now practically completed which will facilitate the rearrangement of the company's work. Under these, the old company will go into voluntary liquidation, and the whole business will be taken over by a new company now in course of formation. This is in agreement with our own announcement on the matter. Mr. G. Pollard, the late engineer and manager to the Birmingham Motor Express Company, was the recipient of a handsome smoker's cabinet, from the employees of the Birmingham company, on the occasion of his leaving that city to take up his new appointment as deputy engineer to the London Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., of which Mr. R. Bell is chief engineer. The chair was taken by Mr. William Roberts, and Mr. Pollard was also presented with a silver cigar case by the officials of the Midland and Birmingham Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.
The " New Era " petrol fire extinguisher, which is exclusively made by the Valor Co., Ltd., of Rocky Lane, Aston Cross, Birmingham, is certainly the vogue with motor amnibus and railway companies. One of the latest orders is for 50 extinguishers, to be supplied to the Albany Street garage of the London Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. The makers hold valuable testimonials from various motor companies, many of which testify to the fact that the use of its extinguishers has unquestionably saved life on some occasions. The equipment is relatively inexpensive, and no commercial motor dep6t is complete without this useful fitting Germany wants still more money for her ambitious naval schemes, and the Government brings forward proposals for a number of new taxes for meeting the necessary votes; amongst them is a motor tax, limited, however, 10 voitures de luxe and exempting automobiles serving for the conveyance of goods, or such as are used for industrial purposes only, for instance, motor cabs and omnibuses. The remaining categories of automobiles are laid under taxes up to 1;7 les. a year. Possibly the owners of cars are well able to pay the tax, which, if imposed, would not hamper the industry ; but to have 'brought within the scope of taxation the industrial or commercial motor industry, which has only just begun to feel its feet, as it were, would have dealt a heavy blow to German makers. Mr. C. Hooydonk, late of to, Sandland Street, Holborn, is now established in larger premises at o. Leather Lane, Holborn, at which address he carries a large stock of component parts and accessories.
The " Rocket " Motor Omnibus Syndicate, Limited, has been registered with a nominal capital of £6,000 in -/-,1 shares, the principal object being to adopt an agreement with a. Mr_ H. Hiscott. The registered office is at 79, Salisbury House, London Wall, E.C.
The projected new company which is approaching completion by interests connected with the White Cab and Carriage Company, Limited, of Bentley Road, Liverpool, has had the effect of running up that company's £,1 shares to 45s. on the Liverpool Stock Exchange.
A most attractive commercial motor catalogue has been issued by Messrs. Moss and Woodd, of Banister Road, Kensal Rise, London, NAV. Interesting particulars are given of the Orion series of commercial vehicles, and numerous
illustrations assist the appreciation of the merits of the stem. Omnibuses are a special feature.
We illustrated a combined road watering and sweeping motor, invented by M. Muller de Cardevan, in our issue of September 7th, and intimated that this vehicle was to be brought to England. It has now arrived, and demonstrations of its capabilities have been given to various of the London municipal authorities.
The Berlin Association for First Aid is re-organising its transport on a motor basis, and has made a beginning with a 12h.p. electric ambulance, built by a local firm. Our Berlin representative was informed by the secretary that the ambulance, which made a successful trial trip, still required some finishing touches, and would not be put. on the streets until about the middle of December, and that the new vehicle would be used only for very urgent cases. It ran with delightful smoothness over the trial course.
An amusing complaint was made at the last quarterly meeting of the Lincolnshire (Kesteven) County Council. One of the members stated that the hie-hways were now in such perfect order as to make the steep bilis very dangerous for horses descending them with heavy loads. The chairman of the highways committee regretted that their roads could be too good, and suggested that a " grip" be left by the side of the roads to steady horsed-wagons with heavy loads. The highway surveyor was instructed to take steps to remedy the danger complained of--another concession to the horse at the expense of the motor. The vital question of petrol supply for commercial motors forms the theme of a striking article in the current number of " The Motor," from the pen of Mr. Henry Sturmey. We consider the subject of sufficient interest to every reader of "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR to justify our quoting this article in full, and we are sure that consideration of the points so tersely stated on page 271 of this issue will bear in upon everybody that it is their duty to support immediate action in the direction of rendering secure a relatively unlimited supply of petroleum spirit. No insuperable difficulties exist to prevent the exploitation of fresh fields and refineries which would be entirely and exclusively controlled by the British motor industry. Evidence is not lacking to show how prolific are the oil fields of the world, and that they are proved already in areas by no means difficult of access. There is no time to be lost.
Further to the announcement on page 239 of our last issue, it has now to be reported that at the meeting of Chelsea Borough Council, held on November 29th, a report was received from the borough surveyor, Mr. T. W. E. Higgens, in connection with the proposal which the works and general purposes committee is at present considering. The scheme provides for the purchase of sufficient vans to enable the surveyor's department to carry out the work of collecting house dust and refuse without hiring horses and carts. The borough surveyor reconunended the pulling down of old buildings in Lot's Road, and the erection on the site of motor sheds, with substantial concrete floors. As a good
deal of the old material could be re-used, the work would only cost about £.900. On a motion being put forward that the work as recommended be carried out, one of the coun
cillors suggested that the consideration of the matter be
postponed until a definite decision had been arrived at as to the desirability of purchasing the motor vans. In reply, it
was pointed out that the sheds could be used for the storage of horse-drawn vehicles, and the motion was then agreed to.
The London Road Car Company, Limited, has not lost any time in anticipating one of the proposed routes Of the Motor Bus Company Limited. The Mile End to Putney service, via Burdett koad, Aldgate, Mansion House, Strand, find Piccadilly, which is approximately to miles in length, was inaugurated on Monday last. It is a pity that those who draft prospectuses for new omnibus undertakings do not take the trouble to get up-to. date,information. A company which appealed to the public for £50,oce-, of debentures early this week quoted the fact thayethere were too motor omnibuses in London last Sepuanber : a statement of this kind is comparatively archaic, so rapidly do motor affairs move forward nowadays.
Complete success attended the issue of £200,000 preference shares by the London Motor Omnibus Company, Limited, and ,4;15,o,00ti ordinary shares as part of the authorised capital of the London Motor Bus Company, Limited. The return to the subscribers is dependent on good management alone.
The first annual dinner of the British Empire Motor Trades Alliance was held at the Holborn Restaurant on Monday evening last, when Mr. Herbert Austin, chairman, presided over a representative gathering of members and guests. Among those present were Messrs. Frederick K. Simms-, T. B. Browne (honorary treasurer), Sidney Straker (president, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), Claude Browne, Edmund Dangerfield, W. Rees Jeffreys, the Hon. C. S. Rolls, Nlessrs. S. F. Edge, Claude Johnson, E. M. C. Instone, T. F. Woodfine, and J. B. King (secretary). In proposing the toast of " The British Motor Industry," Mr. —Molls remarked that he now saw no occasion to deal in anythingbut British-built cars, and that it was his intention to adopt the same policy in regard to accessories of all kinds. Mr_ S. F. Edge, in responding, expressed the view that there should be a British section at the next Olympia Show, and that motor boats and commercial motors should be exhibited elsewhere. Mr. Claude Johnson, who subnutted the toast of " The Alliance," recommended the .appointment of a Paris correspondent who would secure firsthand news and advices for members in regard to international competitions; he paid a high tribute to the Chairman, whose name was coupled with the toast. Mr. Herbert Austin, in the course of his reply, appealed for more general support from members of the motor industry, and emphasised the fact that the Alliance worked in perfect harmony with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, as was evidenced by the presence that night of Mr. Sidney Straker in the seat of the principal guest of the evening.