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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY

"The wheels of wealth will be slowed or cal agtficalties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughnesa of the roads over which if runs."—John Beattie Crazier.

Post Office Mail Vehicles.

The Postmaster-General states that the present fleet of motors engaged on mail service consists of 2,544 vehicles. Of this total 1,608 are 100 per cent. British and 932 are about 97 per cent. British. The remaining four vans, which are largely of foreign origin, were purchased for experimental purposes. r

More Motors in America.

According to statistics recently publisheu. -the nutnber at motor vehicles registered in the United States during the, year 1928 was 24,493,124, this figure ,...Dmorising 21,379,125 private cars, taxicabs and motorbuses and 3,113,999 motor lorries and road tractors. The figure Tor 1928 shows an increase of 5.9 per cent, over that for the previous year.

A New Bus and Rail Agreement.

The Southern Railway Co. and the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., have, we understand, arrived at an agreement for the operation of bus services in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and Wilts. We learn that a new company, to be known as the Southern National Omnibus Co., Ltd., will be formed with a capital of 1500,000, rind that it will take over from the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., certain services in the counties mentioned and proceed to operate them in. the joint interests of the bus concern and the railway company. Over 50 passenger-transport services will come within the scope of the scheme.

It will be called to mind that a short time ago an agreement of a similar character was arranged between the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., and the Great Western Railway Co. Particulars of this co-ordination of interests were'*given in our issue dated January 8th.

The Reading Coach Disaster.

We have been requested by Lancia (England), Ltd., to point out that the vehicle which Was concerned in the recent fire close to Reading was not of Lancia manufacture, but, apparently, assembled from components.

In a Line or Two.

The tramways ,committee of the Oldham Corporation has agreed to increase by 10 petcent. the wages of the drivers of one-man-operated motorbuses.

An • agreement has been reached between the Manchester Corporation and the Altrincham Urban District Council regarding express bus services in Altrincham.

On December 31st last there were 10,257 motor lorries and motorbuses registered in Finland.

The total quantity of motor spirit imparted into this country during 1928 was 734,738,000 gallons. Russia contributed 47,430,000 gallons, representing about 6i per cent.

The traraWays committee of. the Glasgow Corporation has fixed rates of depreciation frir the current year as follow:—Motorbusea, 25 per cent. ; motorbus plant, 10 tier cent

A Karrier Model Modified.

The largest chassis in the Karrier range of four-wheeled goods-carrying models is known as the K7. It is a 7-tonner and, in the past, has been supplied, with a cqaventional position for the driver, i.e., behind the power unit. The design, however, has now been amended so that the driver is accommodated alongside the engine, with the result that the platform space has been increased from 16 ft. to 18 ft. 10 ins.— the maximum permissible under the Ministry of Transport regulations.

Apart from the fact that tlis model can now be supplied with either 'Ablid or pneumatic tyres (40-in, by in the case of the latter) the chassis isi identical with the model hitherto listed by Karrier Motors, • Ltd:, of Huddersfield.

Trojans to he Built at Croydon.

Owing to the rapid expansion of the commercial-vehicle business of Leyland Motors, Ltd., the Kingston factory where the Trojan has been built is now required for other purposes, and the manufacture is about to be undertaken once more by Trojan, Ltd., Purley Way, Croydon. This new:project will not entail the slightest interruption in the delivery of vehicles and spare parts, and the works at Croydon are being entirely reorganised with a view to centralizing manufacture and distribution.

Edinburgh-London Service Opened.

One day last week ,Thompson's Tours, Ltd., of Edinburgh, inaugurated a new motor-coach service from Edinburgh to London. The vehicle leaves Princes Street, Edinburgh, at 8 a.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Friday and arrives at the Haymarket, London, the same evening. The single fare is 00s. and the return fare 50s. The return journey is made on Tuesdays, 'Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The type of vehicle being used for the service is the new Daimler 0F6 model. A teat run was recently made by the vehicle between Edinburgh and . Peebles, when a number of Press representatives and others was given an opportunity for testing its capabilities. We hope to publish anillustration in an early issue of the type of vehiclebeing used. Personal Pars.

Mr. C. D. Cuppleditch, who for some time past has been designer to Joseph Booth Bros., Ltd., of Rodley, Leeds, has accepted the position of manager of Electronnobile, Ltd., of Otley, Yorks.

Mr. H. A. Blackburn, technical assistant for Karrier Motors, Ltd., Huddersfield, and son of the manager of the thuldersfield Corporation tramways department, has been appointed tramways manager at Keighley, in succession to Mr. Ronald A. Hearnley, who has been appointed tramways manager at Southend-on-Sea. Mr. Blackburn has been with Karrier Motors, Ltd., for three and a half years. Prior to joining that company he was rolling-stock superintendent to the Plymouth Corporation transport and tramways department, and commercial assistant to Metropolitan Vickers, Ltd., Trafford Park, Manchester. During Ulf war Mr. Blackburn was an officer in the Royal Air Force.

Mr. T. Graham Homer, general manager of the Thames Valley Traction Co., Ltd., which company has its headquarters at Reading, with branches at Maidenhead, High Wycombe, Ascot and Newbury. received an appointment in 1915 with the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., to inaugurate the comprehensive network of services which are now operated in the Thames Valley by the company with which he is associated, and which was formed in 1920 to take over the services worked by the parent company. The route mileage covered at present is 338, and the services spread from Aylesbury in the North to Camberley in the South, and from Staines in the East to Wallingford in the West.

• Mr. Homer is 40 years of age. Re was trained as an electrical engineer and served at the works of Crompton and Co., of Chelmsford, from 1904 to 1 908, spending a considerable time in the testing department and designing office. Hollowing this, he had experi(oleo with the Neorth Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Co. and the Corporation of Grimsby steam power station, where he served as a charge engineer under Col. Vignoles.

Going to Canada in 1911, he gained valuable experience with the Canadian

Light ma-Power Co., which, incidentally, supplies Montreal with power at 48,000 volts for its trams and lighting. He was later in the testing department of the Westinghouse Co. at Hamilton.

He has been a member of the Institute of Transport since 1926.

With such an extensive experience we can quite understand Mr. Homer being a valuable official of the group of companies with which he is so actively connected.

Sir Henry Mayhury's Lecture.

At a meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers to he held at Great George Street, London, S.W.1, to-night (Tuesday), at 6 p.m., Sir Henry P. Maybitry, G.B.E., K.C.M.G., G.B., will lecture on the subject of " Roads and Road Transport."

A striking photographic record of the progress of the Beardmore taxicab. Note the reduced height and improved appearance of the new Hyper model at the right. It is 6 ins, lower, than previous types, has four-wheel brakes, clear-vision safety glass and semi-pneornritic upholstery. It is also capable of higher speed

and greater acceleration.

Official Orders for March.

Very few orders for commercial motor vehicles were given out during March last by Governmeut departments. The Crown Agents for the Colonies confined their orders to one for chassis placed with Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.,.. this concern also -securing an order for tractors from the. War Office. The Admiralty also placed an order for tractors and trucks with Greenwood and Batley, Ltd.

Seven Years' Traffic Growth.

At a recent meeting of the watch ,committee of the Morecambe Corporation, the borough surveyor submitted the following census comparisens of road traffic by number of vehicles taken at' Easter during the past seven years :— The Priory for 'Wales (Order of St. John of Jerusalem) advises us that it is catering for the supply of ambulance stores for public and individual use throughout Wales, and that its Cardiff depot can supply first-aid outfits for use on motor coaches and other types of vehicle. By purchasing such equipment from the Priory users not only can be sure of obtaining the correct class of article, but also of helping to maintain the charitable work of the Order.

The Liverpool Parade.

The 10th annual motor parade of the north-western division (Liverpool area) of the Commercial Motor Users' Associatiou will be held in Liverpool on June 8th. Competitions in the steam and petrol-fleet classes will be open to all members, whether they be haulage contractors or not, whilst there will also be classes for non-members of the Association. Entries for the parade close on May 27th. Amongst the awards will be four silver challenge cups.

A Yorkshire Bus Absorption.

We understand that the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., has recently taken over the business of Morton Buses, Ltd., which has been running services between Keighley and Riddlesden Keighley and Morton and Morton and Bingley.

Tenderers for Bournemouth's Buses.

The tramways committee of the -Bournemouth Corporation has received tenders for the supply of five single-deck buses from the makers of A.E.C. , Crossley, W. and G., Daimler, Gilford, Guy, Halley, K artier, Leyland, Thernycroft, Tilling-Stevens and Vulcan buses.

A number of concerns tendered for bodies only, and amongst these were the United Automobile Services, Ltd., Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., E. G. Bell and Co., Ltd., J. G. Beadle, Ltd., Craven's Carriage Co., Ltd., English Electric Co., Ltd., Hall, Lewis and Co., Ltd., Knibbs and Sons, Ltd., J. Martin, Ltd., Short Bros. (Rochester and Bedford), Ltd., and Vickers :(Crayford), Ltd.

Arrangements are to be made for six-wheeled buses of Guy, Karrier and Thorn ycroft types to be subject to a month's trial.

Tynemouth and a Bus Bill.

Reporting upon the Tyneside TramWays and Tramroads Bill the town clerk of Tynemouth recently announced the attitude of the various local authorities with regard to the Bill, and mentioned that, as there was no immediate prospect of a settlement, tbe corporation's petition had been sealed. He advised that an endeavour should be made to arrange a settlement in regard to the reinstatement of the highways and that there should be no interval between the cessation of the tram services and the running of buses. He considered that the promoters ehould

have no voice in services other than those over the existing tram route.

The town clerk suggested that a subcommittee with plenary powers should be appointed to endeavour to arrange settlement on the lines indicated.

Home Office and Street-accident Ambulances.

The Home Office is reported to be circularizing local authorities in regard to ambulance facilities available for accidents on roads, etating that the Secretary of State has had occasion to consider the question as to whether the existing ambulance facilities are adequate to meet present requirements.

Agents Wanted.

We understand that Easyloader, Ltd., which makes an interesting lowloading vehicle, which was described in our issue dated October 2nd last, is desirous of fixing up well-connected agencies in different parts of England, Scotland and Wales. Those interested in the proposition should communicate with the company at 11, Tuthill Street, London, S.W.1.

Municipal Bus-service Co-operation.

The parliamentary committee of the Lancashire County Council has ernpowered the chairman to convene a conference of local authorities in the county to consider the general question of the licensing of public-service vehicles, having regard to traffic requirements and the conditions pertaining to the. various centres of traffic.

A Valuable M. of T. Traffic Census..

The Ministry of Transport will, -in the near future, publish some interesting figures relating to traffic in London and other parts of the country, these having been compiled from an exhaustive census taken during the day and the night. This has been taken over a period of 12 months at 24 selected points and, by working in relays, a 24-hour watch has been maintained.

The figures relating to a day-time count of traffic on 25,000 miles of Class 1 roads in England, Scotland and Wales will be given. It is revealed that vest increases have taken place in the tonnage passing over certain roads and as a. means for relieving congestion at certain periods direction is being turned to the possibility of commercial vehicles making greater use of the roads at night.

Leeds Grants Licences.

The watch committee of the Leeds Corporation has granted licences, for a period of three months, to the Yorkshire (Woollen District) Electric Tramways, Ltd., for motorbuses to ply for hire within the city in connection with a proposed service between Leeds and ElIand, via Morley, Birstall and Brighouse.

A Popular Lightweight.

The Guy OND chassis has been favourably received in many quarters since it made its appearance a short lime ago, and important concerns which

have placed orders for this particular model include the Great Western Railway, which is buying 12 ; the East Surrey Traction Co., Ltd., which has ordered 8, and the Scottish Genera) Transport Co., Ltd., which has indented for 17. In addition, smaller numbers have been ordered by the Wolverhampton and Norwich Corporations and other transport undertateine's.

Steering Gear for Cabs.

We are interested to learn that Cam Gears, Ltd., 73, Southampton Row, London, W.C.1, has recently received an important order for its patent steering gears for fitting to a fleet of taxicabs. We understand that the company's device has been approved by the Scotland Yard authorities,

A Hudson-Essex • Commercialvehicle 'Chassis.

It is announced that the Hudson Motor Car Co., of Detroit, intends to produce a 15-cwt commercial-vehicle chassis, which is to be called the Dover. The power unit will have sir cylinders, and the new chassis will be in every way up to the standard of quality and production for which this company is famous.

The manufacturer is not yet in a position to make a statement regarding price beyond saying that, following the practice of the company in respect of its private cars, the commercial chassis will sell at a figure which is competitive with other chassis of the same class, both American and European.

It may be definitely assumed that the Dover commercial-vehicle range will be increased from time to time in such a way as to keep pace with public demand. It is believed that the first deliveries of Dover commercial chassis will be made about three months hence.

Bus and Trolley-bus Comparisons.

Following the paragraph which appeared in our issue dated April 16th, in which we stated that the general manager of the Hull Corporation tramways undertaking was to prepare a comparative report on the costs of operating trolley-bus and motorbus services on the New Bridge Road route, which is nearly four miles long, we now learn that the report has been submitted and contains the following figures of costs per vehicle-mile, based upon an estimated total annual mileage of 460,000 .

Trolley-bus. Motorbus.

Traffic costs 6.875d. 6.852d.

Al a intenance and repairs ... 2.501d. 2.562d.

Power ... 1,0126. 2.650d.

Capital charges ... 2.436d.. 2.5806.

Total ... 12.824d. 14.6446, The tramways committee recommends that steps be taken to obtain powers to operate trolley-buses.

Glasgow Corporation l'assenger-traffic Proposals.

According to news just to hand from Scotland the two most important proposals of the memorandum which the Glasgow Corporation will submit to the Royal .Commission on Transport are as follow :—The first is that, within the city, there should be complete coordination of the regulation of all passenger-vehicle traffic; that the board of magistrates should be the co-ordinating body, and should lay down the regulations necessary for the safe • conveyance of passengers and the con venience of pedestrians. The second is that there should be a municipal monopoly of passenger traffic in thecity. The corporation has 1,000 trams and 125 buses, whilst there are 849 other buses in Glasgow, all of which are authorized to pick-up passengers within the city.

Dyson Trailers for the S.A.R.

The order which R. A. Dyson and Co., Ltd., the well-known trailer-making concern of Liverpool, recently received from the South African Railways has, we are informed, been increased and the number of trailer chassis which the company is new supplying is 25, these being 4-tonners.

The Shortest Tanner in the World? An extremely interesting conversion has recently been effected by Mr. W. F. Peacock, 5, Wavel Mews, West Hampstead, London, N.W.6. The basis of the vehicle is a standard Ford T-type 1.-ton chassis, which has been altered to make a tractor for pulling a harrow around the dirt track at Stamford Bridge between the motorcycle races.

Each frame member has been cut away to the extent of 5 ft. 'and the wheelbase is now rather under 5 ft., whilst the cardan shaft is only 14 ins. long. The driver's seat is fixed over the rear transverse spring, and the petrol tank is mounted on the rear side of the dashboard. The radius rods have been shortened in proportion to the length of the cardan shaft: and bent se that they are bolted up to the shaft ciming just behind the front ball joint.

Municipal Garaging Problem in Halifax.

The transport committee of the Halifax Corporation • has instructed the borough engineer to prepare alternative plans and estimates for extending the Hall Street depot with a view to the continuance of its use for the housing of the motor, vehicles of the corporation, or of making the necessary alterations required at a certain depot.

A Transport Association's Delegation to the U.S.A.

A comprehensive programme of visits, etc., has now been arranged for the delegation of the Industrial Transport Association, 17-18, Wateri, Lane, Great Tower Street, London, E.C.3, which is proceeding to America during the first week in September and will return a month later. The delegates will travel tourist third cabin, anOas the entire cost of transport, accommodation and meals is estimated to be about c£80, 1100 should suffice for the entire expenses of each member.

Cordial invitations have been received from the National Industrial Traffic League and the Associated Traffic Chitis of America, its kindred but much older organizations across the Atlantic. Thirteen days will be spent in various visits, including Niagara Falls, the General Motors plant and Ford works at Detroit, the International Harvester Corporation works at Chicago and the Goodyear Tyre' Co.'s works at Akron. Places will also be visited in Pittsburg, Baltimore and Now York. .

On its return the delegation will prepare and publish a report, and evidence will, be tendered to the Royal Commission on'Transport..

BusinesS men interested, should communicate at once with the 'hon. secretary so that steamer reservations can be made.

Information Required.

One of our readers has received an inquiry for Jeffery.-type sanitary motor vehicles. .

• Another desires quotations and details concerning tools used in the manufacture of' motor-coach seats. This inquiry • is somewhat vague,, but we presume that it refers particularly to press tools. . . We shall be glad to receive . any information regarding the.-above `-so that we may pass it on to; the readers concerned.

Lancashire Traffic Census.

The Ministry of Transport proposes to take a census of traffic on the Class II roads in Lancashire during August next. The most recent census on these roads was taken in 1926, when traffic was recorded at 157 points in the administrative county. The cost of these operations was 11,140, towards which the Ministry contributed 50 per cent.

Whilst the highways committee is prepared to defray oue-half of the cost of the proposed census, it considers it undesirable that it should be taken in August, as, owing to the holiday season, the figures obtained from a Census taken then would not provide a true index to the normal and industrial

character of the traffie the connty. The committee considers that the most

suitable. Month is October.

Bus Powers of a Tramways Company, . Parliamentary Commissioners, sitting,

recently in Glasgow, considered an Order promoted by the Lanarkshire Tramways, Co.., by which power is sought to change the name of the campuny, to provide for the abandonment of the tramways owned by the company and to enlarge the powers with regard to the running of buses and the

restriction of competition. It was stated at the inquiry that the traffic receipts between 1924 and 1928 had steadily diminished.

The Commissioners decided not to accede to the request for restriction of competition, and expressed the opinion that the company should be called upon, in the event of the tramways being abandoned, to make good the roadway or to contribute monetarily to this end. With these reservations the Commissioners found the preamble proved. It is reported that out of 768 motorbuses licensed in Lanarkshire the promoters are the owners of 65 only.

Co-ordination on a Long-distance Service in the North.

We learn from Chorley of a scheme of co-ordination which is to be instituted this summer between Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., and the Scottish General Transport Co., Ltd., to facilitate the working of a limited-stop service between Manchester and Glasgow, by way of Ambleside and Carlisle. A stop will be made at Chorley, and the watch committee of the Chorley CorPoration has granted licences in respect of six buses belonging to the Scottish company, which wilt participate iu the proposed service. It is reported that the Bolton Corporation has declined to license the stopping of these six vehicles in Bolton for the purpose of picking up and setting down passengers.

Unusual Recommendations at South Shields.

That a toll of a penny should be levied on every passenger taken into or out of a town by private motorbus is an unusual and somewhat drastic recommendation which has been made by the tramways committee of the South Shields Corporation. It is one of 10 proposals made by the committee.

A Scottish Concern's Purchase.

The Scottish General Omnibus Co., Ltd., has acquired the Northern Omnibus Service, a concern which operates on routes in the counties of Inverness,

Nairn, Moray, Banff and Aberdeen, and runs through services from Inverness, via Nairn, •Forres and Elgin, to Aberdeen. The Scottish General Omnibus Co., Ltd., with headquarters in Larbert, runs extensive services from Glasgow, Falkirk, Stirling, Dunfermline, Crieff and St. Andrews. The company, with its associated companies, owns a fleet of nearly 500 vehicles.

Irish Free State Bus-tax Increase.

The only taxation alteration in the Irish Free State Budget is an increase of 150 per ant, in the licence duty payable by bus owners. Thus, a 20-seater bus taxed at 12 per scat, which formerly paid £40 per year will in the future have to pay £100. This increase has come as a severe blow to Irish bus owners. It is proposed to make the new rate of taxation payable from July 1st next.

A Service Acquisition in Yorkshire. The West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., has taken over the services and vehicles of Riddleston Buses, Ltd., operating from Keighley tie Bingley.

Revenue from Road Motors.

A return has just been issued by the Ministry of Transport which gives particulars of the gross receipts from the taxation of road vehicles for the period from December 1st, 192S, to February 28th last and of the number of new motor., vehicles registered during the months of December, 1928, and January and February, 1929.

The gross amount received .1:1 pay'tient for licences during this perie I was £15,733,036, this sum, of course, being subject to deductions in respect of rebates, refunds, statutor3 deductions, including costs of collection and administration and the proportion due to the Exchequer from the net reouipbs of the taxation of motorcycles and vehicles taxed on horse-power, The returncontains details of the total number of licences issued and surrendered durino.' . the three months ended February 28th last, and of the approximate number of licences current on that date. The total number of motor vehicles, excluding tramcars and those for which trade .licences are issued, was approximately 1,481,000, including 301,000 goods vehicles and 75,000 motor hackneys: During the three months in question 62,113 motor vehicles were registered for the first time, thislfigure including 10,590 goods vehicles and 1,471 motor hackneys.

Ministry Decision Favours an Operator.

At a recent meeting of the watch committee of the Sheffield Corporationthe decision of the Minister of Transport was reported in the case of the recent appeal by A. Kitson, Ltd., against the refusal of the city council to grant licences for motorbuses to operate upon a service to Treeton.• The appeal having been upheld by 'the Minister, the committee granted two licences to the operator in question. Armoured Car Six-wheelers.

We publish on this page an illustration which depicts an interesting • use to which the Guy six-wheeled chassis is being put. It will be seen that this machine is built for duty as an armoured car, and it forms one of 22 similar outfits which have been -supplied to the order of the India Office. The chassis is equipped with the Guy Patented 50-90 h.p. six-cylindered engine and an eight-speed gearbox, and

it is a type which will travel over practically any class of unmade country; this feature is one of the outstanding merits of the six-wheeler. The armoured body is arranged se that four machine gnus can be carried and it is said to be impregnable against rifle and machine-gun fire.

The vehicles of this type which are being supplied form part of the contract for 123 machines which Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, has ;hist completed for the India; Office, the balance of 101 'vehicles consisting of ammunition and artillery lorries.'

A Tyneside, Bus Registration.

An interesting development in Tyneside circles is the registration of Bittydon " A " Omnibuses, Ltd., as a private company, with registered offices at Blaydon Haughs. Llaydon, near Newcastle, having, a capital of £30,000 in £1 shares, for the purpose of operating motorbuses and coaches.

Establishing a Fire Brigade.

Billingham Urban District Council, which is responsible for the control of a largo area in the southern portion of County Durham, where the 4jeeent development of a huge chemical 'Works has opened up the district, is contemplating the formation of an up-todate fire brigade. The council proposes to purchase fire-engines and equipment.

Swansea-London Coach Service., We understand that Cook's Safety Conches, Ltd., has applied for licences to ply for hire in Swansea in connec lion with a long-distance service between London and Swansea. In order that this service should n-ot compete with those provided by local undertakings the watch committee has granted the licences on condition that the vehieles operate from afixed terminal point and that a minimum fare of 3s. be charged.