WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Lancashire. Buses.
The Parliamentary Committee of the Lancashire County Council is urging strong opposition to the Morecambe Corporation Bill which seeks powers to provide and run omnibuses as part of the tramway undertaking. The Committee observe that "the bill again raises the broad question as to how far municipal trading should be authorized by Parliament. If the motor omnibuses, .sipon whith the COrporation propose to obtain Parliamentary powers to spend money, operated entirely within the borough, there would probably be no substantial objection to Parliament authorizing the Corporation to incur the expense, as they would have wholly to inamtain the roads over which the omnibuses run. The case, however, takes. a very different aspect when it is proposed that the Corporation should be authorized to raise money on the credit of the rates of the borough to be applied in running omnibuses on highways which are maintained entirely at the expense of another body 'of ratepayers, particularly when the profit, if 'any, that may arise from the operation of the omnibus service will be entirely appropriated to the benefit of the ratepayers who • bear no part of the burden of maintaining the roads.
"There -are no main roads or bridges within the borough, but in the areas set out in the bill along which the omnibuses are to run, 41 miles of main roads will be affected, and 428 miles of secondary and district roads, and numerous county and hundred bridges."
Pontypridd's Electrics.
In a recent report, the engineer of Pontypridd U.D.C. gives some interesting details 'concerning the running of two 2-ton Edison electrics used for refuse collection during the latter half of 1917. The purchase price of the machines was £1020 each, and the tyres that were fitted were guaranteed for 10,000 miles running. The charges over the period concerned, including interest, sinking fund, insurance, renewals, etc., amounted to £410, and operating costs totalled £761. The amount of material handled was 4730 tons making the cost per ton 3s. 2.9d. This figure compares very favourably with the cost for horse haulage on similar sort of work, which ranged from 4s. 6d. to 5s. per ton. 2.8 units were used per mile, the rate for energy being lid. per unit. The approximate saving_of le. 6d. per ton represents £354 for the quantity of material dealt with over the aix months. A third vehicle has now been purchased, whilst a fourth is being obtained.
Serbia to Scotstoun.
A photograph taken in front of the offices of the Albion Motor .Car Co., Ltd., at Scotstoun, Glasgow, is published on page 543. It commemorates the visit of the gentlemen who, as members of the Serbian Mission, were representatives of the most important commercial and industrial" interests in Serbia prior to the outbreak of war. They ars visiting the more important industrial centres of the country under the auspices of the British Government. The commercial motor and road transport are bound to play an intz)rtant part in the reconstruction of Serbia after the war, so that the visit to the Albion works was one of extreme interest to the parties in question. During the stay of the mission in Glasgow the arrangements for the visit were carried out by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce..
Tilling's Profits.
The report of the directors and the balance sheet of Thoraas Tilling, Ltd., have just been issued. The-report shows that the business has ekpanded and developed. The accounts show a net profit on working of 239,014. After payment of interest on debentures and on income debenture stock and the usual dividend on the preferenceshares a dividend 'on the ordinary shares which Will make 10 per cent. less tax for the year is recommended. This will entitle the income debenture shares to additional interest at the rate of 1t, per cent.. for the year. balance carried forward is £28,463, aragainat £35,600 for last year.
"C.M." Staff Vacancy.
• There is a vacancy on the editorial staff of THE COMMEROSAL. MOTOR • for a man (not liable to military service) with a good technical knowledge of motor en-' gineering and a bent for journalism. Apply in writing to the Manager' COMMERCIAL MOTOR, 7-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C. 1.
Manual of the Steam Wagon.
The articles on the "Upkeep of the Steam Wagon" which have been appearing in recent issues of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, have met with a considerable measure of approval, confirming our view that the interest in the subject was sufficiently great to justify the production' of a manual dealing with steam road wagons. Such a manual is now in preparation, and particulars as to date of publication will shortly be announced.
Mr. E. S. ShrapneIl-Smith has recently agreed, on the invitation of 'Sir Evan Jones, to act as adviser on gas traction to the Petrol Control Department.
Motorbus Restrictions.
LancasterCorporation was authorised tie. Previsional Oeder. in 1916 ta providi) end rtin six motor omnibuses within the
Borough and not outside, and by an agreement made between the Lancashire County . Council and the Corporation, dated the 20th June, 1917, the Corporation is restricted from using, on the main roads in the borough, more than five buses within any period of 24 hours.
Now the Main Roads Committee of the County. Councihreports having had an application from the Corperation, supported'by the hical repre,sentatives of the Ministry of Munitions, te •beeallovied-to provide • 12 Meter omnibuses, on the understanding that no more than.10 shall be run Within any Period of ?4 lunirs: It appears from a letter received -from the-Ministry of MitnitionS that the existing transport arrangements in the borough for. conveying the nutnition workers of the National Projectile •Factory are totally inadequate, as the Ministry of -Manitions -have'imw employed at the factory 7500 hands with the probability of an immediate increase to 12,000:
It is pointed out that the workers, especially the women, have a long distance to walk to the factory, and hi bad weather it affects the workers, and eon-Se nueetly the output at the factory. •
The Committee, therefore, recommends that an agreement be entered into with the Lancaster Gar oration to amend the agreement referred to, so as to enable the Corporation; during such time ai the . Ministry of Munitions may require, to provide 12 electrically-driven omnibuses, of which 10 only shall be run during. any . period of 24 hours,on the conditionethate the buses are 'uSed on the -Maid raids within the.beraugh along each:ratites as may be appiaved• by the County Stir
veyor. .
The issue of , the "Board of 'Trade Journal for Zlet'January, deals thd report of the Departmental ComMittee On iren;arid-the raconiniendatiops therein to secure the development of the iron and -steel industries. •
• Experimental sign-posts for motorbusstoppmg-placee are beingerected in parts e f' London:
Runbaken Magnetos.
The progreSs whichhas been..inack in the • British magneto. incluetry .since August, 1914, is truly. ,reinarka.ble. These mantifactarera Which Were established at that time have, due trethe, exigencies ofwar, proceeded apace with such alacrity as to bring their productions, in point of view of efficiency; into the ranks of the foremost buildeth of ignition equipment throughout the world.
In this respect it is interesting to record the commendable enterprise • exhibited by the Runbaken Magneto Co., Ltd., Camp Street Works, Manchester, who have made big strides during; the last few years. We reproduce an illustration herewith of this company's DU4 type of magnete, whichis a type particularly favoured by commercial vehicle users as a class; This magneto is of 'sound construction, and is designed on the beats of experience extending over a lengthy period. The chief advantages claimed for thin ignition accessory; are that it generates an inexhaustible supply of current, the magnetic field being formed of magnets of unlimited life; that no coil is required, the high tensioe current being generated in the armature winding, and that, apart from cables forming connection with the sparking plug's, there are no external connections. Complication of. the nun-tem-Us coettecte tog wire used • on Some ether systems of
ignition is entirely abeent, a point which shotild make for easy location of any slight defect which may oecur. The sparks produced by Runbaken magnetos take the form of intense email arcs which will readily ignite a poor quality charge.
Reliability in Excelsis.
The driver of one of the three Sentinel five-ton steamers owned by Meesrs. Sugden, flour millers, Brighouse, during the recent bad weather [witnessed jn. Yorkshire, suffered an experience, which, to say the least, he does not wish to repeat. A snowfall, a thaw, and then a keen frost, left the roads in the worst possible condition, but leaving home, the driver made the best of things until an the return journey, going down-hill, the wagon commenced to slide. In fifty yards the vehicle made two complete turns, and then, colliding with a wall, knocked it down, and dropped 10 feet into a field wrong side up. Strange to say, neither driver nor mate was injured, and the vehicle was pot in the least damaged. The accompanying photograph was taken a week later, and the wagon will be seen to be none the worse after its acrobatic experience.
The Cali of the Red Cross.
In the accompanying picture are seen a Seabrooke two-ton lorry and a Ford van, which, in addition to the ordifiary work during the daytime, are uejI in, comacction with National Motor VijIu teer . work for the conveyance of the wounded, . The Ford has .fittings for carrying one, stretcher, while the Seabrook(' accommodates four lying-down cases. The latter is the properl of Messrs. Grace and Sutcliffe, Keig ley, and is hired by the Stockbridge Finishing Co., a branch of the 13radford Dyers' Association, The lorry is in its third year of action, and: averages 12,000 miles a year. Twice a week it journeys to Manchestar taking fini bed pieces, and, returning With-. unfinished cloths. The rest of the week is fully occupied in local journeysThe fitting for taking four stretchers is an ingenious arrangement which only requires three minutes to fit. Made of channel steel, the whole fitting is simply placed, into
the van, and when opened out it locks into position and is rigid enough to bear the weight of the four men. .028
More Electrics for Glasgow.
The electric vehicle is held in high esteem by tkhe Corporation of Glasgow. As is well 'known, the municipality is maintaining 8everal vehicles of this type which have proved highly successful.
Recently it came to the knowledge of the City Engineer that the Scottish Wholesale Co-operative Society was prepared to dispose of two electriqs, and he forthwith brought the matter to the notice of the Corporation with the recommendation that one or both should be purchased for the city's use The recommendation was accepted, a sub-committee being vested with the requisite authority to acquire one or both of the vehicles.
The 1918 edition of the Wellcome Photographic Exposure Record and Diary, notwithstanding the' War and its previous high standard of excellence, is of increased utility. It is chiefly notable, of. course, for its intelligent exposure meter, and that extremely useful feature, " Photography Simplified." The prite, la., remains unaltered.
Tar Spraying Saves £3000.
The adoption of tar spraying the roads has proved highly satisfactory in the Borough of Deptford. Not only has the dust nuisance been mitigated, but there is a pronounced improvement in the road surfaces, which have been strikingly preserved. Notwithstanding the heavy _increase in 'the coat of materials, the actual cost of the work has come out at less than the estimate. The benefits accruing from tar spraying, however, are not only manifest in the cost of maintenance, hut the expenditure on scavenging and watering is also down, over £3000 having been sa,ved under this heading alone.
Lamp. Prices Cp.
J. and R. Oldfield, Ltd., Warwick Street, Birmingham, the well-known makers of Dependence lamps, notify us that on account of the situation that has arisen regarding prices of materials consequent on the increase in wages under recent awards made by the Committee on Production, and further owing to increased labour costs effecting them under the same authority, they are compelled to revise the prices of all their manufactures as and from lat. January, 1918, on the basis price of materials and labour'prevailing at that date. Owing to the disproportionate rates of increase that occur in respect to certain classes of materials as compared with others, it is not possible to arrange for revision of prices on the basis of percentages, and, therefore, it is necessary to make new prices operative for each article' Mannlectured. Such prices will be subject to amendment, in the event of any further increase of-cost of production (direct or indirect) dun to advance in rates of wages granted under the Munitions of War Acts, or any other award made under the direct authority of the Ministry of Munitions or Ministry of Labour. They hope to be in a position to submit a schedule of new prices very shortly.
. An -award has been made by the Chief Industrial Commissioner, relative to the rates of commercial drivers (horse and mechanical), stable and garage hands and motor and trailer men in the carting industry in Great Britain, whereby, inter alia, a war wage. of 20s, a week on pre
wax rates is now granted to the men concerned. Provision is made in. the award for revision three times a 3wr,
Recent Registrations.
Middleton and Wood, Ltd., with a capital of 215,000 in 21 shares, to be car and coach proprietors, taXicals owners, contractors, etc.
Ernest B. Ward and Co., Ltd., with a capita] of 21000 in 21 shares, to carry on the business of haulage contractors by steam and motor lorries.
Frank B. Dunn, Ltd., with a capital of 21000 in 21 shares, to take over the business of carting agent and contractor and general carrier, carried on at Castle Street, Hull.
Knox Manufacturing Co. Ltd., with 3 capital of 22000 in 21 shares to be mechanical, electrical, chemical and general engjneers, electricians, manufacturers of steam, electric, petrol and other machinery, etc,
. Cass's Motor Mart, Ltd., with a capital of 23000 in 21 shares, to :take over the business carried on as CUB'S Motor Mart, and to carry: on the business of motor and electrical engineers, etc. Registered office is at 5, Warren Street, St. Pancras, London, N.W.
Metallic; Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., with a capital of 215,000 in 21 shares, to take over the business of tube factors and electrical engineers carried on by the Metallic Seamless Tube Co., Ltd., at Corporation Street, Birmingham, and elsewhere, as a branch of their general business of tube makers.
Rag Trade Ambulances.
• The rag and shoddy traders of West Riding provided last year two wellequipped motor ambulances for service with the Red Cross Society on the Italian Front. Unfortunately, one of these machines was wrecked by an enemy shell, whilst the. other had to be abandoned during the early winter Italian debecle. In order to replace these machines an effort is now being made by Mr. II. F. Shaw' of Dewsbury, tcesecure donations. Mr. Shaw is generously 'providing one machine anti a sum of 2809 is needed for the purchase of the other. It has been agreed that if the car for which subscriptions are being raised survives the ‘perils of service in Italy, it shall be returned to Yorkshire at the end of the war.
Ambulance Equipment.
The 'equipment of present-day ambulances has been brought to a fine art. All detailed work, whether it be in the
construction of the bodywork or in the•design of the ehassis i3 embodiedto secure the utmost -comfort and ease for the patient. r Many_ of these ambulanees serve as portable operating the,attes besides other diversified .duties. When an operation is being carried out and X-ray apparatus is being uSed, this .latter equipment is very often driven from the car engine. ;Theaccompanying illustratioieshows a Westinghouse-Morse rockerjoint chain drive from engine to dynamo for operating equipment of this nature. We are given to understand that the Westinghouse Brake Co. s Ltd., 82, York Road, King's Cross, London, N., have supplied quite a number of these 5 h.p. elrivefiefor this novel and useful service.
the,King was much interested in this outfit, when inspecting it a short time ago, before it was sent Overseas.
Barunar Welding. .
Although for some days past we have been experiencing weather . temperatures far above the average for the time of the year, there is no reason to suppose, bearing in mind the uncertainty of the Euglish climate, that there will not be a sudden reversion to winter conditions sooner or later. With the change is almost bound to follow a train of troubles for the commercial-vehicle user in the nature of frost-cracked cylinders and radiator cliffi culties. On such occasions the assistaneo of the welding specialist is appreciated. Barimar, Ltd.; the established welding engineers, of 10, Poland Street, Oxford Street, W., have made a speciality of this class of repair: They have recently informed us that, iu view of the many diffieulties attendant on • motor' transport operation at the present time, they have made special arrangements for dealing expeditiously with fractured cylinders and radiators.
The accoropanying illustration will give a good idea -of the class of work tackled. The crack, it will be seen, is an extensive one, but it affords commendable testimony to the value of Barimar service to learn that a neat and effective repair was carried out by the company's experts.
LocalProceedings.
York Corporation Street Committee has decided to purchase a Foden steam wagen for 2830. • •
• Uxbridge Urban District Council ,is considering the 'question of providing the Fire Brigade with a motor engine.
Chelmsford T.C. has now decided to purchase a Panherd motor chassis for 2150 for the pespoSe of hauling its fireengine.
In agreeing to the purchase by the York City Council of another motor omnibus, .the Board of Trade insists that gas. and petrol he 'Used as the motive
power. • " _
There were only 177 street accidents (five fatal) in . the' City of London last quarter, as compared With • 258(five fatal) . during the. corresponding period
a year ago. .
Hull Education Committee has adopted recominendritian of the Principal of the 'Technical College for the j purchase of machine details from the Daimler Motor Co: at a' cost of 240.
The sub-committee of the Belton Corporation appointed to consider the purchase of an electric vehicle has now accepted the tender of Messrs. Drake and Gorham for a one-ton electrio In "The Extractor's" note of the 31st ult. a .paragreph appeared to the effect that Mr. Sadler had left the service of Allda,ys and Onions, Ltd. This should have referred to Mr. Charles Daniels, who has been in the service of the company for 28 years.
Following the description in our last issue of the Recordograf, an instrument for keeping check ona vehicle's running, we learn that Messrs. Reid, Sto,pforel and Ridd, of 14, Clifford Street, New Bond Street, London, W., hold the sole selling rights fer this accessory in the United Kingi:lom.