News and Comment.
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The comment and views of this journal are respected and carry weight, because members of its Editorial staff possess practical experience and knowledge of the construction and use of commercial motors ; for these reasons, too, amongst others, it enjoys an exclusive, genuine and valuable circulation. It is purchased by readers—not given away.
This number completes our second cent ury.
The January meeting of the Executive Committee of the C.M.U.A. will be held, at t, Albemarle Street, W., on Wednesday next, at 2.30 p.m.
" From the Inside "—we venture to assert that the series of articles by " lIomoc," No. 1 of which appears ois pages 355 and 356, will prove of widespread interest.
Messrs. Manville, Burford, Bonsor, Brampton, Dennis, Gascoine, Simms and Straker have been appointed the Exhibition Committee for the March display at Olympia.
Agricultural Organisation.
The progress of the Agricultural Organisation Society, whose President is Mr. R. A. Yerburgh, and whose head offioe is at Dacre House, Westminster, S.W., continues in a satisfactory manner. After seven years' work, this organisation has v67 co-operative societies affiliated to it, and a membership in excess of ici,000.
Lists of Owners.
Particular attentions is directed to the offer which is made on page 362 of this issue. Notwithstanding the steady additions to our lists of owners, we are confident that many of our readers must be in a position to supply fresh names. Needless to say, all lists will be treated confidentially, just as any manufacturer or trader treats his Own list of customers, but they will enable us still further to enhance the useful cha racter of our circulation. Users naturally desire to be informed where to buy supplies, to say nothing of new require_ .ments for vehicles or tractors.
A Special Yorkshire.
The conveyance of vitriol by road motor is likely to be extended, and we illustrate a Yorkshire wagon provided with a circular and removable tank for the purpose. The spaces at the sides of the central tank are available for the carriage of other goods. This machine, which is a repeat order, has a maximum registered axle-weight of less than six tons, and is therefore allowed a legal speed of eight miles an hour. It belongs to Messrs, John Nicholson and Sons, the chemical manufacturers. We learn that a de Dion-Bouton van is doing excellent service for Messrs. Kendal and Company, milliners, of Croydon.
Mechanical Breakdown.
The Car and General Insurance Corporation, Limited, whose head office isat I, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., covers owners of motor vehicles against damage and accidents due to mechanical breakdown. This important departure was instituted in the early part of last summer, and the advantage so offered to insurers has proved to be much appreciated. It is a testimonial to excellence .of construction that such a risk can be insured.
Motor Mails.
Attention is directed to the views of subscribers to this journal who are in direct touch with various motor mai! services (page 370), as regards the general degree of satisfaction which resulted from the performance of the motors during the recent heavy weather. The fact that on only one service were the drifts so deep as to cause suspension compares most favourably with the state of affairs which obtained in the old coaching days, when mail vans were frequently not able to proceed in snowy weather, and when, in respect of others, farmers along the routes were called upon to go out with their ploughing teams to the rescue of his Majesty's mails. It was on the London-Portsmouth road that two vehicles were practically swallowed up in snowdrifts—one near Leatherhead, and one near Petersfield. An increasing number of Kentish paper-makers are using motor vehicles for London and other deliveries.
The Electromohile ambulance, which belongs to the City of London Corporation, continues to do excellent work. It is frequently called to riverside cases, and is seldom out less than six times a dey.
Sirdar Prices.
The Sirdar Rubber Company, Limited, whose principal address is now 21, Crawford Street, London, W., and whose works are at Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts., asks us to state that its trade discount upon pneumatic tires is still 20 per cent, plus five per cent. off the list.
Lyons Motorvans.
T wen ty-five, i4h. p. t w o-cylinder, Renault vans are now in service for Joseph Lyons and Company, Limited, and those are chiefly used in the develepment of that company's tea trade. The wins go far afield, and are proving themselves of great use in these days of close competition.
L.C.C. Registrations.
's fourth ten-Ihousand of motor registrations will be designated by the index mark " L.D.," if the Local Government Board formally approves the recommendation of the Londe]) Comity Council. No less than 7,008 changes of ownership have been is.cerded in the L.C.C. books since the middle of icp4.
Manchester and District Motor Trades Association.
The secretary of the above association asks us to remind our readers in the Manchester district that Mr. C. Y. Knight is to give his lecture, at the Midland Grand Hotel, this (Thursday) evening. A dinner will be held, beginning at 5.30 p.m., prior to the lecture, and applications for seats ought to reach Mr. J. H. Wightman, Palatine Hotel, Manchester, this morning. The cost of a seat is 7s. 6d.
Extraordinary Tire Guarantee.
A prominent garage proprietor, who is numbered amongst our many hundreds of supporters in this branch of commercial-motor sales organisation, has sent to us a copy of a remarkable letter from a certain welt-known tire company which shall be nameless. This letter concerns the terms of a guarantee for the tires upon the back wheels of a I5-cwt. van, and it reads : " We guarantee our three-inch tires to carry a gross axle-weight of 24cwt. This weight, however, is calculated for stationary vehicles. It is, therefore, necessary to make allowances for rough and hilly roads, sudden stoppages, application of brakes, re-starting up hills, etc. You will, therefore, see that the tire fitted is hardly large enough for the work, and we would recommend a tire of at least 90MM. section," The idea of guarantee based upon a statiortary load appeals to us as being distinctly hmnorous, if somewhat unbusines.slike and wholly impracticable: the back tires of anv motor vehicle are required to sustain running and driving stresses.
The First Russian Automobile Factory.
It is reported that Moscow will shortly have an automobile factory, which will be subsidised by the State and occupy itself mainly with the production (ecommercial vehicles. German workmen and engineers are apparently to compose a large part of the producing staff.
Convertible "Commer Cars."
The commodious and solidly-built estate car which is sold bv Commercial Cars, Ltd., of Cambridge Circus, W.C., one of which we illustrate, continues to appeal to buyers who want bard service for shooting, estate, station, or general country-house purposes. It proves most economical when used hardest.
Now is the best time for users and their engineers to join the representative societies of commercial motoring; these are the Commercial Motor Users' Association, and the Society of Road Traction Engineers, respectively.
Railway Bridges.
The Midland Railway Company recently lost an action between it and the County Council of Derbyshire, in regard to the maintenance of the roadway upon a railway bridge in the parish of Breadsall. The Court held the company to be responsible, under its own Act, which dates back to the reign of William IV, and ordered it to repair the portion of the highway in question. We make a brief further comment on page 34.
Extraordinary Traffic.
It is becoming yearly more and more difficult for public authorities to establish the plea that motor traffic of any kind is extraordinary. Bristol City Council has been the latest to look into the matter, by means of a special enquiry at the hands of its Sanitary and Improvement Committee, and the report of this body is instructive. Setting out with the idea that it could claim a mileage charge, the committee has reported that no such charge can be levied, whilst its chairman, Alderman Cope-Proctor, in presenting the report of the Council, expressed the view that it was the duty of a highway authority to make highways of such a character as would carry the traffic" They hoped, in Bristol, to get the surface of their roads into such a conclitIon as would accommodate the altered nature of traffic of the period." This is a progressive attitude, and one to which we would direct the attention of less intelligent bodies, who seem to think that the traffic should be hampered by the continued existence of weak and improperly-made roads. Nobody dares to suggest that pleasure motorcars are extraordinary traffic, neither is the idea often promulgated at the present tune in respect of motor vans. Heavy lorries, occasionally, do receive a share of attention at the
hands of local councils, but it is reserved to the owners of traction engines to experience the most trouble. If any readers of this journal are at any time threatened or harassed in respect of allegations or proposed claims, we strongly urge them to communicate with us. The Electric Vehicle Company, of West Norwood, has secured the Metropolitan Asylums Board order for two 5cwt, electric vans.
The Associated Newspapers, Limited, has bought a total of ten oh.p., twocylinder Renaults, from Renault Freres, Ltd., of 19, Newman Street, W.
At Exeter.
Mr. Ernest Gould, managing director of Gould Brothers, Limited, motor engineers, of Exeter, recently occupied :he chair on the occasion of the annual dinner of his company's stall and employees, when a gratifying year's trading was reported, and a presentation was made to Mr. Gould as a token of esteem and respect.
Agricultural Motors for Canada.
Will more British makers compete at Winnipeg this year than did last? Messrs. Marshall and Messrs. Saunderson sent over machines in July last, but there is room for many others. The potential demand was outlined in a special article which we published so long ago as the soth March, 1906, whilst we have not failed to keep home manufacturers informed of matters since then. Our latest information will be found on pages 366 to 367.
The Motor Spirit Enquiry.
The appointment of a Departmental Committee by Home Office Order No. 173,696 was announced shortly before Christmas. The terms of the Order, which is signed by Mr. Gladstone, are : "I hereby appoint Sir Henry Hardinge Cunyngharne, K.C.B., Sir I3overton Redwood, D.Sc., F. R.S. E., Major Aston McNeill Cooper-Key, 11.M. Chief Inspector of Explosives, and lames Ollis, Es,, Chief Officer, Public Control Department, London County Council, to be a Committee to enquire into the sufficiency of the existing regulations relating to the storage, use and conveyance of petroleum spirit ; and to report what further precautions, if any, are in their opinion de sirable as tending to diminish the dans.-
gers attendant thereon. And 1 appoint Sir Henry Hardinge Cunyng-hame, K.C.B., to be Chairman, and Major
1'. II. Crozier, one of H.M. Inspectors of Explosives, to be secretary of the said Committee."
Steam Wagons in Tramway Service.
Not only the London County Council employs motor vehicles for tram purposes : our readers will recollect that the L.C.C. has a number of ArrolJohnstons and Fodens in use. The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, Limited, is using three Foden wagons, one of which we illustrate herewith, for general haulage purposes, such as the conveyance of loads of sand, cement, granite setts, wood blocks, rails and points, rubble, bricks. stones, lime, etc. We understand that great economies have been obtained, in comparison with horse haulage, and that one of the vehicles is largely employed on night work, except when constructional extensions are in hand, at which times all three machines work on the day shift.
Two Snow Stories.
The House of Commons, we learn, was running short of coals last week; no coal merchants were able to get a load there by horses, so a rubber-tired petrol lorry was hired and loaded up. On arrival, acting upon some old order which concerns explosives and probably dates back to the days of Guy Fawkes, the police declined to allow the driver to approach the discharging point for the cellars, and the risk of complete exhaustion of supplies was only removed by the thaw. We do not vouch for the accuracy of the report, but it would have been really interesting had the House been sitting, The other story is one for which we can vouch. Chelsea's steel-shod steam wagons were of no avail : Westminster's wagons with rubber-lired driving-wheels performed invaluable haulage services.
Catalogues Received.
The British Bariquand and Marre Engine Company, Limited, of to, Poland Street, Oxford Street, NV., has just issued its 1909 catalogue of "B. & M." engines. It has been most carefully compiled, and the principal features of this make of engine and its component parts are clearly illustrated and described; further, the prices at which these well-made engines are listed commend the book to all motorvehicle manufacturers whose business does not justify them in making their own engines. A very useful table of dimensions of the company's models is included in the publication, as also is a concise statement on the report of the Society of Motor Manufacturers relating to the horse-power rating of petrol engines. Any of our readers may obtain a copy of this catalogue on application to the company on their at the same time mentioning this journal.