The Wheels of Industry.
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This journal, dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with the "Wheels of Industry," continues of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the parcelcar, the military tractor and the steam lorry.
The Leeds City Council desires to buy two motorbuses for its Shadwell route.
Recent Registrations.
B. A. Gaunt and Co. (£7000), to take over a taxicab-supply business at 2, Castle Arcade, and Hartburn Lane, Stockton-on-Tees.
Turner and Gardner, Ltd. (£2000), by Messrs. Jeffery, Wild and Lovett, 95, Cohnore Row, Birmingham, to carry on business as motorlorry agents and builders.
Mr. C. (Paden) Davies.
We are sorry to learn that Mr. Charles Davies, a popular and energetic member of the Foden organization, has been laid up for a few weeks with an injured kneecap. He hopes to be about again in a week or 10 days. This paragraph will no doubt explain to many of Mr. Davies's friends the cause of their not having seen him of late.
Westcliff's Chars-a-banes.
The Westcliff-on-Sea Motor Chara-bancs Co., Ltd., carries on an interesting programme of tours, notwithstanding the fact that five of its motor chars-a-banes were commandeered. One tour, lasting a week, and with a return fare of eight guineas including hotel accommodation, takes the passenger from Southend to North Wales and back.
Royal Engineers Wanted.
There are vacancies in the Royal Engineers, Railway Transport Sections, for N.0.0_s and men having good experience in connection with the handling of internal-combustion engines. Competent men, physically fit for service, need not necessarily be under the ordinary age limit. The engines in question are moderately high-speed petrol sets up to 180 b.h.p. Applications may be addressed to the Editor, in envelopes marked "Royal Engineers."
British Motorcab Co., Ltd.
The British Motor Cab Co., Ltd., shows a. profit of £8600, for the year ended the 31st March last, compared with £52,200 for the previous year. Interest received brings the total profit up to 215,900, compared with £57,100. No dividends are paid, and the whole available balance, inclusive of 21600 brought in, is carried forward. It is stated in the report that the rate of depreciation has been reduced. The rolling-stock is valued at 2521,900, compared with £599,600 a year ago. The company has undoubtedly been confronted by exceptional difficulties" since war broke Grit.
• Lamp-lighting Times.
Light up your lamps at on Thursday, 6.57 on Friday, 6.55 on Saturday, 6,51 on Monday, 6.48 on Tuesday, and 6.46 on Wednesday.
The above times are for London ; in Edinburgh light up 44 minutes late') Newcastle and Birmingham 37 minutes later, Liverpool 42 minutes later, and Bristol 40 minutes later. For Dublin, the lighting-up time, reckoned in the local mean time for the district, is 25 minutes earlier than Greenwich time.
Delivery Prospects for Users.
The announcements of various members of the industry, in the advertisement pages of this issue, bear testimony to the important change in the situation, ti ua, orders from the War Department, which is proceeding. We announced the imminent cessation of orders for two-tonners in our issue of the 5th ult. (Vol. 21, page 474), and a fortnight-later, in our issue of the 19th ult. (Vol. 21, page 512), we stated that "it is likely that the existing degree of freedom which sonic British makers of commercial motors enjoy, relatively small though it be, may shortly be exercised on a larger scale."
A practical release to the maximum extent of 25 per cent. of the output of three-tonners is the result for quite a number of makers. The principle of gradual release, in favour of which we wrote very strongly in our issue of the 15th July, has been adopted, but the position of holders of the subsidy certificate is at the moment a little uncertain. It appears to us that they will be prejudiced in respect of future commercial business if they are not released proportionally. We hope they will be given equal treatment. Preference in delivery will be given to W.D. contractors and sub-contractors.
It is clear, from the happenings of the last few months, that the responsible officers who are charged with purchases for the A.S.C., MT., thoroughly realize that the heavy-motor industry has "played the game" in every possible way as regards output. The official view, therefore, is clearly that it is desirable that the War Department should do the best it can for the manufacturers, and the present measure of release is undoubtedly timed in relation to the large influx of American-built chassis. The immediate needs of the A.S.C., MT., have been well met, and initial reserves of considerable magnitude have been secured : we cordially agree that the building. up of further reserves can be undertaken more slowly. This should help British manufacturers to retain their commercial customers.
There is Only One Commercar.
We are requested by Commercial Cars, Ltd., of Luton, in view of several inquiries which the company has received, and of inisunder-7 standing in some quarters, to give publicity to the fact that Commercial Cars, Ltd., is in no way concerned, directly or indirectly, in the manufacture or sale of any other type of industrial-motor vehicle, except the Commerear. Polytechnic Lectures.
Petrol motor classes, and classes in allied subjects, will begin, at the Borough Polytechnic Institute, London, SE,, on the 27th inst. Copies of prospectuses may be had on application to the principal.
Electric Equiptnent.
A new price-list for electric-lighting and starting sets, and of electrical accessories, has been issued by C. A. Vandervell and Co., Warple Way, Acton Vale, W. The catalogue gives net prices for the existing war conditions.
More London Buses.
The total number of licensed motorbuses operating OD the London streets on the 31st of last month was 2221. This shows an increase of 16 over the figure for the prevous month, and compares with a total of 3319 one year ago-1098 fewer.
A Visitor from New Zealand.
We are informed that Mr. J. B. Clarkson, who is well known in the motorcycle and motorcar business in New Zealand, will be in this country in September with a view to entering into negotiations concerning commercial vehicles. His address when he arrives will be at the Hotel Cecil, A Discovery.
The German technicalpaper, f` Der Motorwagen," published in a recent issue an illustrated description of the well-known Albion method of embodying the water circulating pump and the fan in one form of construction mounted on the front of No. 1 cylinder. This is rather late in the day for such astute news gatherers as our foes.
Where to Buy Ensigns.
We are asked to state that, with reference to our recent notice concerning the output of the British Ensign Motors, Ltd. whose threetonners are, as we stated, all British make throughout,all . inquiries for this machine should he sent to the office of the London Motor Exchange, Baker Street, and not to the registered London office of the Ensign Co. at 118, Brompton Road, as we indicated on page 10 of our last issue.
Mr. J. C. Percy.
We are interested to learn that
Mr. J. C. Percy, of Dublin. one of the founder directors of Mecredy, Percy and Co., Ltd., was recently selected by the War Office authorities, as one of four members cif the Central Council for the Promotion of Recruiting in Ireland to pay a visit to the trenches in France and Flanders. Mr. Percy has been most active and successful in the matter of promoting recruiting in the Emerald Isle.
B42 Report on a Leyland.
Writing to Leyland Motors (1914), in appreciation of various Leyland lorries which he has driven, Driver T. A. Brandon tells of a machine which was impressed from John Grey, Ltd., of the Livingston and Cameron Mills, Burnley, and with which he went through the retreat from Mons and the battles of the Marne and Aisne, subsequently proceeding to Ypres in October last. The machine there received its first wounds in the shape of several holes in the canopy and radiator top blown off by shrapnel. He speaks very highly of the behaviour of the lorry through all this trying period. In June last, after examination and overhaul, it was found that practically nothing was the matter, and it was reported as in "thoroughly good mechanical order." Its Wood-Milne tires had covered 4894 miles up to the tirrie of writing.