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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by Me roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.

A Demonstration of Commercial Sidecars.

At the request of the British Cycle and Motor Cycle Manufacturersand Traders Union, Ltd., the Auto-Cycle Union is arranging a demonstration of commercial sidecars from September 6th to 11th next. Manufacturers of commercial sidecars and three-wheelers weighing less than S cwt. can 'participate in the demonstration. Arrangements are being made so that the machines shall visit a large number of important country and market towns, where halts -will be made so that traders and others interested in this economical. form of delivery unit may inspect the machines.

The types of vehicle which Will take part in the demonstration will be suitable for use in various branches of retail trade. and it is also hoped that others will be equipped for publichealth and other duties of. local authorities. It is also said that taxicabs will be represented.

London-Holiday Traffic Records.

New records wer-d set up during August Bank Holiday by the omnibuses, railways ' and tramways comprising London's Underground group. • During the three days of the holiday,-16,559,088 passengers were carried, this being the highest number ever dealt with during an August Bank Holiday period. A fresh record was also set up for the number of passengers carried by the buses, which transported 13,216,500 people over the three days. This total exceeds the 1925 record by over one million.

An Association for Electric Users.

The Electromobile Association is the title of a new organization which has just been formed with headquarters at 3-7, Southampton Street, London, W.C.2, its secretary being Mr. .1. C. ETvy. One of the objects of the asso

elation is to provide a common ground on which members can foregather and offer information on the merits, adoption, use and fuller development of all types of electrically propelled vehicle, tractor, vessel, etc., in this country fcr

passenger and goods transport, whether they derive their power from storage batteries, self-Contained generators, rail or trolley collectors or by other means. Meetings; lectures, discussions and informal • debates will be held. Membership confers a number of advantages, details of which, together with subscription fees, can be obtained from the secretary at the address given above.

Depreciation and Market Values.

Owing to "the reduction in the market value of motors" the committee of the Norwich Co-operative Society " is setting aside £600 fremits profits as special depreciation."

Lancashire Parade Dates.

We understand that the following dates have now been definitely fixed in respect of parades to be held by the Commercial Motor Users Association. The Liverpool parade will take place on Saturday, September 25th, and that at Manchester a week later, October 2nd.

Scottish Road Restrictions Removed.

Many of our Scottish readers; and those who have occasion to traverse the roads in the County of Stirling, will be interested to learn that the restrictions on the use of certain roads in this county, about which strong representations have been made, particularly by the Scottish Commercial Motor Users Association, have now been removed by an Order of the Ministry of Transport dated July 26th. The roads in question are as follow :— Glinns Road, from Balafark Road at Lernoek Toll eastwards to Boquhan Burn. • Edenkiln Road, from Fdenkiln, Strathblane to Craigend Lodge.

Bankend Road, from Mugdock Village to junction with Strathblane Road.

Hillend Road, from March, between the parishes of New Kilpatrick and Baldernock by Baldernock Mill, to Baldernoek Church.

The Australian Roads Construction Scheme.

The debate on the new Commonwealth Roads Bill, in which provision is made for an expenditure of £40,000,000 during the next ten years on Australian roads, which was scheduled to come under the consideration of the Australian House of Representatives on July '30th, was indefinitely postponed on the motion of Mr. Bruce, the Prime Minister, who said that the Commonwealth Government desired to ascertain thu. official viewsof the separate •States on the scheme, although, with the exception of New-South Wales, all had indicated their intention of signing the agreement.

It-is authoritatively believed that the Federal. Government will be compelled to drop die Bill, thus automatically revoking the proposed extra duty of 2d. a gallonon petrol, which was -intended to help to provide funds for the road Construction scheme.

Ashton and Oldham Passenger Transport. At a meeting of the tramways committee of the Oldham Corporation a special committee reported having interviewed the Ashton-under-Lyne Tramways Committee with respect to the proposals of Oldham as to the adoption by the two authorities of trolley-buses of a lighter type, fitted with pneumatic

tyres, to run on the service between Oldham and Ashton, but the propqaals did not meet with the approval of the Ashton authority.

The committee decided not to purchase further trolley vehicles, but promised to make an endeavour to maintain throughrunning with pneumatictyred Motorbuses if Ashton will run pneutnatic-tyred trolley-buses in the Oldham area Inst. of T. Petition.

A petition from the Institute of Transport for the grant of a charter of incorporation has been presented to the King in Council, and all petitions for or against such grant have to be delivered at the Privy Council Office by August 28th. Official Orders in June.

Amongst the orders for motor vehicles given out by Government Departments during June last was one which the Air Ministry placed for Ford vans with W. J. Reynolds, London, E. The G.P.O. authoritieS gave out enders for vans to the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., and W. H. Perry, Ltd. , The Crown Agents for the Colonies placed an order for chassis and lorries with the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., and one for ambulances with Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.

The Admiralty placed an order with Stewart and Ardern, Ltd., for Morris lorries. The War Office issued one for vans to A. E. Gould, Ltd., another for six-wheeled chassis to Guy. Motors, Ltd., a third for motor bodies to J. C. Beadle, Ltd,, as well as one for six-wheeled trucks to Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.

A New Bus Company.

An interesting addition was made during the August Bank Holiday weekend to the extensive network ofmotorbus routes in the Darlington neighbourhood by the inauguration of 'a new undertaking—the Express Motors, of -whirl the proprietor is Mr. A. A. Speak, who was until recently traffic manager In the 'United Automobile Services, Ltd. The new company are maintaining an hourly -service between Darlington and Richmond, a distance of about 12 miles, and over a, different route from that previously joining up the two towns. A convenient parcels service is also being worked. The company are using handsame Guy forward-control type 26seaters shod with Dunlop giant pneumatics. We indicated that Mr. Speak was about to set up on his own account in our issue dated-July 6th last.

Railcars for Branch-line Work: The London and North-Eastern Railway Co., who have for some time past been engaged in making exhaustive experiments with rail motorbuses and rail steam coaches, have just made an interesting departure in the Tyneside neighbourhood, by putting a SentinelCammell, coach into regular service for branch-line work.. This unit has enabled the company to accelerate their facilities on the Newcastle to Ponteland branch, and, at the same time, materially to reduce operation costs as compared with running ordinary rolling stock, which was not warranted by the amount of traffic available. In conjunction with the change over, the canpony have introduced a system of cheap daily tickets and weekly season tickets at advantageous terms.

An Appeal Refused.

The Ministry of Transport has dismi!,sed the appeal of Mr. A. R. Greenslade against the refusal ig the Gravesend Watch Committee to renew his

hackney carriage licence.

Prague International Motor Exhibition.

The 18th International Automobile Exhibition at Prague will be held on September 18th-28th under the patronage of the President of the Republic. Preparations for the exhibition are now in full swing, and a large entry of both home and foreign makes is anticipated. The exhibits will include chassis, lorries, tractors and trailers, motor ploughs, private ears, motorcycles and every kind of

accessory. Entries should be sent to the office of the exhibition, Lutzowova ulice,' Prague II.

Taxicabs in Paris.

According to a recent return, there are now over 14,001) taxicabs in the Paris district. Of the total, 3,140 belong to the Compagnie Francaise, 1,059 to the Societii Citroen, 1,321 to the Compagnie Generale, 560 to the Compagnie Metropole, about 3,300 to a -number of small concerns, whilst 4,624 are owned and run by individual drivers. .

Todmorden's Growing Bus Fleet.

The moterbus undertaking of the Todmorden Corporation continues to expand, and at a recent meeting of the town council it was decided that plans should be prepared for the extension, of the corporation garage.. The extension is rendered necessary by the increased" services which are being provided and in order to accommodate the growing fleet of the corporation, whick when buses now on order are delivered, will total 34 vehicles, including 12 single-deckers.

Municipal Tippers for Abroad.

There are many municipal authorities overseas which make their purchases of commercial vehicles in this country, and the names of two of them are borne by vehicles which are illustrated on this page. The first is a Leyland sided lorry which -has been delivered to the Timaru (i.ew Zealand) Borough Council, the chassis being fitted with a three-way tipping body lined with steel. It has drop and detachable sides and tailboard, and a feature of interest is that the latter is operated from the driver's cab ; by this arrangement it is not necessary for the driver to leave his seat when the load has to be tipped. The tailboard is operated by means of a pulley and -coil spring, which has been found to be quite satisfactory in actual use.

The other illustration is also of a three-way tipping wagon, and this has been supplied by • Dennis Bros., Ltd., to the Port Adelaide Corporation, South Australia. The chassis is a 6-tonner, and the operation of the tipping body is controlled by hydraulic means. The Port Adelaide authorities use this vehicle in connection with road construction work.

Guy Tanners for-a London Stores. Guy Motors,' Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, inform us that they • have just received a further repeat order • from William Whiteley, Ltd., the universal providers, for a fleet of Guy 1-tonners. When these vehicles are delivered the company will have 30 vehicles of this make in use.

German Imports and Exports.

Official returns lately to hand show that 356 commercial motor vehicles, valued at £46,700, were imported into Germany during the four months ended April last. All but 49 of the vehicles came from America. The exports of German commercial vehicles during the four months totalled 291 machines, valued at £173,650. Of the total, 118 were shipped to Russia.

A Hull Bus Dispute.

Before the Lord Chief Justice and Justices Avery and Salter in the King's Bench Divisional Court recently, counsel acting on behalf of the Hull Road Motor and Electrical Engineering Co. applied for a rule directed to the Minister of Transport calling on the Minister to show cause why he should not hear and determine an appeal under the Roads Act: Counsel for the applicants mentioned that the company ran motorbuses in and around Hull, and that the Corporation of Hull had declined to issue a licence unless a Specified timetable laid' down by it was -observed. Thereupon the company sought the intervention of the'Minister of Transport and their appeal was heard in Hull, but the Minister declined -to give any decision on the ground that the appeal was not legally before him.

It was stated that a short While ago the Hull, Corporation decided to run buses, of which they purchased a number, but the Minister of Transport de-.

dined to grant them the necessary powers, with the result that the vehicles were sold, coensel mentioning that a company competing with the applicants had purchased them.

It was stated that the corporation had refused to issue an uncenditianal licence, and compelled the applicants to sign an agreement which included a set timetable.

The court granted a rule.

Tractors for Municipal Work in Belgium.

The municipal authorities of Antwerp recently invited tenders for the supply of 10 motor tractors for the haulage of the municipal dust carts and streetwatering machines. The specification called for a tractor fitted with a fourcylinder engine of a capacity of at least litres, and capable, after being started on petrol, of running on

paraffin. A three-speed and reverse gearbox, the incorporation of a differential in the back axle, and a maximum width and length of 4 ft. 11 in. and ne)2

9 ft. 9 in. respectively were specified. The total weight was not to exceed 2 tons, whilst the road wheels were to be fitted with 710 mm. by 90 mm. pneumatic tyres at the front and 1,085 mm. by 185 mm. tyres at the rear.

Irish Free State Imports.

Official returns just to hand show that 22 commercial vehicles valued at £14,318 were imported into the Irish Free State during May last, bringing the total for the first five months of the year up to 104 vehicles (139,786), as contrasted with only 79 vehicles (£18;4.53) in the corresponding period a year ago.

Coal Strike Affects Bus Takings.

Owing to the decreasing number of passengers which make use of the company's vehicles connecting the mining towns in Lanarkshire with Glasgow, the Lanarkshire Tramways Co. have discontinued for the time being their bus service to the city. In the past the company have kept 24 buses engaged on this route, which passes through the important centres of Motherwell, Hamilton, Wishaw and Larkhall, but the traffic returns from the services during recent weeks, and particularly since the coal strike, have so diminished that the company have considered -it expedient temporarily to suspend the running of the buses on the particular route to which we have referred.

One-way Traffic at Wolverhampton.

Experiments in one-way traffic are beine' earned out at Wolverhampton. Thefirst attempt was made a few days ago with Dudley Street, which is a narrow roadway with a dangerous bottle-neck.

A New Barimar Booklet.

Barimar, Ltd., 14-18, Lamb's Conduit Street, London, W-.C.1, have just issued a booklet which deals with all phases of scientific welding and other repair work carried out by the Barimar processes. Copies of the booklet can be obtained from the address given above.

Costs of a Karrier Sweeper.

Gravesend's borough engineer reports that the cost of working the Karrier street-sweeping machine during the quarter ended June 30th last was as follows Days worked 791, being equal to £2 3s. 9d per working day.

Average cost per day from August, 1925—June 1926, £2 7s. per working day.

Ori&,i.tial estimate by engineer and surveyor £2 10s. per working day.

Coventry's Bus Profits. Coventry City Council's bus profits for the past municipal year amounted to £12,819, as against £2,614 profit on the

trams. Mr. E. B.. French said these increased profits were due very largely to improved services. A revision of tram and bus fares was agreed upon at a recent meeting of the council. There are to be 11d. stages from the centre of the town, and 1d. stages beyond.

Petitioning Against Police Traps.

The drivers of motorbuses plying for hire on the Lanarkshire routes from Glasgow have recently drawn up a petition of protest against speed traps conducted by the Uddingston police, and when all the required signatures are secured the petition is to be presented to the Secretary' of State for Scotland, the Minister of Transport and the local members of Parliament. The petitioners protest strongly against the treatment which, they allege, the police authorities have lately meted out to them, and add that most of Ahem have been before the Sheriff . for exceeding the speed limit. They comment on the fact that the trap operates -When little traffic is on the toad and only over short distances.

An International Show in Egypt.

The commercial secretary at Cairo has forwarded to the Department of Overseas Trade particulars relating to the first international motor show in-Egypt, which takes place at Cairo from February-15th to March 15th next. The show, which has been authorized by the Permanent International Bureau of Motor Car Manufacturers, will comprise all types -of motor vehicle, motor tractor and bodywork, as well as accessories and equipment and sundry products.

A number of copies of the regulations, plans and other literature relating to the show is available for loan, to those desirous of exhibiting British products, and application should be made to 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1, reference A.X.3437 being quoted.

Protecting Newcastle's Buses.

Despite representations from several quarters, the Newcastle Corporation is adhering to its recent refusal to remove the present restrictions relative to the taking up and setting down of passengers by privately operated motor-bases running to and from the city. A. short time ago the National Citizen's Union made strong representations to the authority and urged that a deputation should be received to review the position. The watch committee, however, has now declined to meet the ddputation and states that, no useful purpose could be served by doing so. Private owners dislike the attitude taken by the municipality which itself runs buses on an extensive scale.

Mechanical Policemen in Copenhagen.

In a few wetks' time it is expected that all policemen On point duty at cross-roads in Copenhagen will be removed, their presence having been rendered unnecessary by the use of an automatic traffic regulator, the invention of a Danish engineer. The "mechanical policeman,'! as the device is referred to, works quite automatically by means of clockwork and shows a red light for " stop" and a green light for " proceed." To give time for traffic proceeding in one direction to get clear before that in the opposite stream, is allowed to move, a bell will ring about 20 seconds before the signal changes and a red light will be shown in allfour directions. The *device has bee» completed in consultation with the Copenhagen traffic authorities and is said to work efficiently.

Modern Bus Reliability.

An instance of the remarkable mileage which can often be accomplished by a reliable make of vehicle -before the necessity arises for carrying out an overhaul is to be found in the experience of Messrs. Viggars and Steele, bus proprietors, of Alfreton, Derby, who run a small Guy bus under the name of the Crimson Rambler. In a letter of. appreciation to Guy Motors, Ltd., the. proprietors say :—" We calculate.that Guy vehicle, No. 8110, has been equivalent to six times round -the world before the engine was overhauled."

This means that the vehicle has covered a mileage of approximately 150,000, and it is all the more creditable when consideration is given, to the fact that it has been necessary to run the engine at high speeds for 12 months during the period that this performance wee accomplished, owing to competition. We are told that the vehicle has covered 140 miles per day regularly since May. 1923. It first of all ran on a route between Kinver and Stourbridge, in Worcestershire, and later between Alfreton and Nottingham. When the engine was taken down the cylindets were rebored, and the original bearings were found to be practically unworn.

Parking at Coventry. • Consideration is being given to the question of parking spaces by the Coventry City Council, and a proposal is under consideration for adapting an old highways depot between Little Park Street and Cheylesmore to accommodate 200 vehicles.

Power Farming in Morocco.

In order to encourage the:use of farm. tractors and mechanically-operated agricultural machinery in Morocco, the Government of that country has recently decided to offer to Users an " acquisition' bonus" of 10 per cent, of the value of all inch lant acquired. during 1926.

Useful Lubrication Outfit.

The Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., Caxton House, Westminster, London, S.W.1, have recently added to their range of garage equipment for use in connection with the sale of lubricating oil by placing on the market a useful cabinet containing a complete range of all grades of Mobiloil in round sealed quart cans. ThO eabinet is enclosed by a two-piece door, oh the inside left-hand portion of which an abbreviated chart of the company's recoiamendations is fitted. The possession of a cabinet of this kind enables a garage proprietor to give lubrication service for various types of engine and gearbox.

Additional quart-can equipment, consisting of a neat display rack 'designed to cal.ry. 24 of the new milk is also available, as is a "milk-bettle ','_basket to carry eight cans. It should be mentioned that the display rack is provided with ' a stout galvanized iron guard, which can be locked-in-position for the purpose of preventing pilfering. .

Karriers for Municipal Users.

Amongst many orders recently received by Karrier Motors, Ltd., Karrier Works Huddersfield, those from munici pal authorities th figure quite prominently. The company have receiveda repeat order from the Huddersfield Corporation Tramways Department for a fleet: of 1% 30-seater single-deck -huses,.whilst, on the goods-carrying side they are supplying a 50-cwt. low load-line hydraulic steel tipper to the Nottingham Corporation, an RB-type sprinkler and sweeper' to the Hull Corporation and an RSCtype sprinkler, sweeper and collector to the Tilbury Urban District Council and the Crompton (Oldham) Urban District Council.

Repairing Roads for Bus Traffic.

At its last meeting the Haverfordwest Rural District Council received a letter from Messrs. Green's Motors, whose services extend throughout Pembrokeshireand Carnaarthenshire, complaining of the state of the road between Broad Haven and Haverfordwest. The compauy. stated that ruts were 'extraordinarily deep, and asked that the road be immediately repaired.

Several members stated that a bus concern who provided facilities throughout a -wide area deserved consideration from the council, and it was agreed that the repair work should. be pit in hand.

Bus Stands at Gloucester.

The streets committee of the Gloucester City Council has had under consideration for some time past the question of bus stands, and the following places have been sanctioned :—Eastern and western sides of Worcester Street, near Northgate Street junction, for omnibuses running north and north-east. For buses running south, northern side of Commercial Road, near its junction with Southgate Street; those runnihg east, western side of Clarence Street, near junction with Barton Street ; and for those travelling west, a stand at the north-east side of Westgate Street, near St. Nicholas Church.

Licences will be granted for the period ending April 30th, 1927, on the distinct understanding that time-tables be strictly adhered to; that the above stands be used; and that no omnibus shall remain on any stand for a longer period than 20 minutes.

A Price List of Chains.

Hans Renold, Ltd., Burnage Works, Didsbury, Manchester, have sent us a copy . of their new price list for the 1926-1927 season, in which substantial price revisions are announced. Attention is also drawn to a complete new series of duplex chains, which has been introduced to meet the demands of space limitations and compactness of drive. Complete details are given of the various Renold standard drives which are steadily increasing in popularity. The company ask us to mention that the resources of their technical staff are at all times available for those who require assistance in the selection cf any particular form of drive.

Aldershot Bus Company's Success.

The fourteenth ordinary general meeting of the Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., was held a few days ago, when the report of the company was considered. During the past year traffic receipts on the company's vehicles, interest and other revenues amounted to £187,131, and after deducting £178,964 for fuel, operating, maintenance, administration and general expenses, licences, rates, taxes and depreciation, there remains a net profit of £8,167. This .sum is increased to £13,035 by the amount brought in from the previous year. A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum on the ordinary shares is to be paid, and eller this allocation is made £5,000 remains to be carried forward.

During the past year the company's business has extended appreciably, new routes having been opened and facilities on existing routes increased. New vehicles have been purchased, and addi B24 tional garage accommodation has been Provided at Guildford, Woking and Ewhurst.

Some idea of the progress made by the company can be gauged from the fact that the traffic receipts increased by £28423 in the year under review, this largely being brought about by the addition to the fleet of 32 vehicles; the total number of vehicles run at the end of the year was 143. During the 12 months the number of passengers carried by the company's vehicles was in excess of 9,000,000, which is 2,000,000 more passengers than in the preceding year.

Albions for Overseas.

The popularity of Albion vehicles with users in overseas countries, and particularly with Government authorities, has for long been noteworthy, and it is not surprising, therefore, to learn that the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, continue to receive many orders from such sources. Amongst those that have recently been received is on for the supply of two chassis, one a 2-tonner and the other a 3-tonner to the State Penitentiary, Long Bay, New South .Wales. These machines were sold by Mr. T. D. Chapman, a wellknown motor agent in Sydney.

The Petrol Pumps Bill.

The London County Council reports that it has had under consideration the Roadside Petrol Pumps Bill. The Bill was a Private Members' Bill and its object was to enable highway authorities to permit the erection of petrol supply pumps on the edge of the roadway. A similar Bill was introduced in the session of 1924, but did not make any progress. Having regard to the resolution of the council on December 11th, 1917, expressing the opinion that it was undesirable to permit the supply of petroleum spirit or petroleum oil from fixed stand pipes in the streets of London, the council gave instructions for action to be taken to secure, if possible, the rejection of the Bill. The Bill, however, was not proceeded with..

Joint Bus Control.

Shipley Urban District Council has agreed to combine with the urban districts of Otley, Ilkley, Guiseley, Yeadon, Bandon and Burley-in-Wharfedale in forming a joint committee, under Section 57 of the Local Government Act, 1894, for the purpose of exercising all powers vested in the district councils as to the licensing, inspection and regulation of motor omnibuses which ply for hire in any part of the urban districts.

Local Proceedings.

Glasgow Corporation has decided to purchase another motor lorry.

Dover. Corporation is considering the purchase of two small motor mowers.

Dover Watch Committee is considering the provision of a motor fire tender.

Oldham Corporation is to obtain prices for a 1-ton motor lorry for the gas department.

Oldham Corporation is to obtain tenders for a tower wagon for the electricity department.

Shipley Urban District Council has decided to purchase a 30-cwt. Thornycroft motor lorry at a cost of £582.

Uxbridge Urban District Council recommends the purchase of a Bean motor ambulance at a cost of £562.

Isle of Ely County Highways Committee recommends the purchase of a 1-ten lorry for the works department.

Sheffield Watch Committee has accepted the tender of Dennis Bros., Ltd., at £1,432 for the supply of a fire-engine.

Coulsdou and Purley 'Urban District Council has accepted the tender of IL Pratt, Ltd., of Sutton, at £274 for the supply of a Fordson tractor.

Salford Corporation has accepted the tender of Crossley Motors, Ltd., at £676 for the supply of a chassis for the tramways departinent.

Manchester Corporation has voted £500 for the purchase of a motor tipping lorry for the public health department.

Glendale Rural District Council has in hand a scheme for the purchase of a motor fire-engine in order effectively to safeguard properties and stock in the important surrounding agricultural area.

Birkenhead Corporation has decided to commence a bus service from Woodside Ferry to Cavendish Drive. Powers are also to be sought for new services to Upton Village, Meals Common and

Bermuda Road,•New Bridges at Stratford-on-Avon.

The Warwick County Council has recently adopted a scheme for constructing a new bridge at Stratford-on-Avon at a cost of £40,000.

A plan for relieving the congestion on Clopton Bridge, Stratford-on-Avon, by building a new one is also under consideration.

A Dorman Appointment.

Mr. H. F. Smallwood, who has acted for some time past in the capacity of chief designer to W. H. Dorman and Co., Ltd., has been appointed sales and technical director of the company.