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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 the roughness of the roads over which it runs."-John Beattie Crozier.

The Order on Eight-wheelers.

The new Order concerning rigidframe eight-wheelers came into effect on October 1st. It is known as The Heavy Motor Car (Amendment) (No. 2) Order, 1930.

The Heavy Motor Car (Amendment) Order, 1927, (a) shall have effect as though the following words were inserted after sub-paragraph (iii) of paragraph (1) of article 11 of that Order :

" (iv) In the case of a heavy motorcar having eight road wheels under a non-articulated frame, through a point situated on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and such that a line drawn from it at right angles to that axis will pass through the centre of the minimum turning circle of the vehicle."

, In the case of any heavy motorcar (a) with eight road wheels under a non-articulated frame, (b) fitted with pneumatic or soft tyres, and, if not pneumatics, having a wheel-rim diameter of not less than 670 mm., (c) or so constructed that (i) on the level all eight wheels are in contact with. the ground, and if any one wheel be lifted 6 ins, above the surface the load borne by any wheel is not increased more than 10 per cent., (ii) that the total weight is so distributed that the amount transmitted to any strip of surface contained between any two parallel lines drawn 2 ft. apart at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle shall not exceed 10 tons, then the following modifications of the Regulations shall have effect :--(a) maximum overall length, 30 ft.; (b) maximum weight of any oue wheel, 31 tons; (c) maximum sum of the weights borne by the wheels, 22 tons; (d) maximum weight of vehicle unladen, 11 tons.

27 Per Cent. Licence Increase in Three Years.

According to figures contained in the road-traffic census published one day last week by the Ministry of Transport there was an increase. of 27 per cent, in the number of mechanically propelled vehicles licensed in Great Britain between September 30th, 1926, and the corresponding date in 1929, the actual figures being 1,729,505 in 1926 and 2,196,714 in 1929

Conference of the Motor Hirers' and Coach Services' Association.

4.rrangements are well in hand for the 'annual conference of the Motor Hirers' and Coach Services' Association. The conference has been fixed for October 22nd, at 7 p.m., at the Cannon Street Hotel, when a debate is to be held on the state of affairs created by the operation of the Road Traffic Act. Matters of vital importance to members (in some cases serious difficulties have already occurred) are the protection of existing services and the indiscriminate

granting of licences. The committee has, for some time, been in touch with the Ministry on_ both of these matters.

It will be recalled that the Associa 220 tion was originally the Hirers' Section of the M.T.A., working under the guidance of Mr. H. T. Rickards, who is now the president of the organization. The manner in which this band of pioneers of the early coaching days has obtained a recognition for the Association and the status which it holds to-day is remarkable.

At a recent committee meeting Mr. J. H. Lowe (Grey Coaches) was unanimously elected to fill the office of chairman, rendered vacant by Mr. M. Logette's recent resignation.

Ford Price Reductions.

Coincident with the visit to this country of Mr. Henry Ford an announcement of reductions in the prices of Ford commercial vehicles and private cars has been made by the Ford Motor Co., Ltd. So far as commercial models are concerned the following are the new prices :

10-cwt. delivery van ... £156 10-cat, chassis „ Z128 30-cwt. lorry (10-ft. 111in. wheelii.ase)... .E210 30-mvt, lorry with wider body and twin rear wheels (10-IL 11-in. wheelbase) £220 30-cwt. chassis (10-it. 11-in. wheelbase) 2174* 30-cwt. chassis and cab (10-ft. 11-in. wheelbase). . 4199* 30-cwt. chassis fitted with twin rear

wheels i(13-ft. 1-in. wheelbase) ... £190

30-cwt. chassis and cab fitted with twin rear wheels (13-it. 1-in. wheelbase) ... £215 When fitted with twin rear wheels 27 10s.

extra.

The new prices have taken immediate effect and it is not anticipated that they will be altered during the next 12 months unless there be some remarkable change in costs or taxation.

Orange Bros. Extend Operations.

At the conclusion of a highly successful season Messrs. Orange Bros., of Bedlington and Newcastle, pioneers of the Newcastle-London coach service, are to extend their depot. It is intended to erect in the immediate vicinity of the firm's garage at Vulcan Place a new garage for 30 vehicles. Office accommodation is also to be provided, and it is understood that a further 10 A.E.C. Regal coaches are to be purchased.

This fleet augmentation, The Commercial Motor was informed, is being brought abont for the projected extension of the firm's services to Scotland.

Ready to Manufacture Components.

• An enterprising maker of components, Turner's Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Wulfruna Works, Lover Street, Wolverhampton, has extensive facilities for the production of complete motor units, especially gearboxes and rear axles, tho works being entirely devoted to the production of such units and to general machining for the trade. The company is also in a position to finance the manufacture of new accessories for which there would appear to be a substantial market.

The Future of Halley Motors, Ltd.

At the recent company meeting of Halley Motors, Ltd., Yoker, Glasgow, the chairman announced that the company had entered into certain negotiations with outside interests. Mr. H. G. Gilehrist, the managing director, informs us that under the arrangement proposed the company will continue to trade'under its own name and to produce the range of Halley vehicles as heretofore.

Royal Commission to Resume Meetings.

It is stated that the Royal Commission on Transport will resume. its sessions towards the middle of the present month. Its -Work will, we understand, be confined to the discusion of the details of its final report, which may be ready fOr publication before the end of the year.

Personal Pars.

Mr. G. R. Stratton, M.Inst.T., who, since September, 1926, has been municipal sales representative for liarrier Motors, Ltd., has now been appointed manager of the company's municipal department. Whereas in the past Mr. Stratton concentrated on the passenger side Of the industry, he will, in future, deal also with municipal goods vehicles and appliances.

Prior to joining the Earlier concern, Mr. Stratton was for a number of years general manager of the Sunderland and District Transport .Co., with which concern he had been connected for 19 years, previously having ably filled the position of engineer to St. Marylebone Borough Council.

Mr. Herbert Morrison, the Minister of Transport, has appointed Mr. .Aubrey Clark to be his private secretary, in place of Mr. G. F. Stedman, 'who has been promoted, and Lord Ponsonby, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, has appointed Mr. S. S. Wilson to be his private secretary in place of Mr. Aubrey Clark.

We reproduce on this page a portrait of Mr. F. Mortimer, who is the musical director of Fodens Works Band. It will be remembered that this band recently won the coveted championship trophy at the 25th National Band Festival, held at the Crystal Palace, London. Mr. Mortimer has now conducted the Foden band for a period of EiX years, prior to which he was with the Luton Red Cross Band, in Bedfordshire. The band has already won the Belle Vue championship on several occasions.

In connection with the band's success, Mr. Mortimer pays tribute to the way in which the men have worked 'with him and to the untiring efforts of a director of the company, Mr. E. R. Foden.

Coach Routes Adequately Served.

The watch committee of Oldham Corporation has refused permission tio Archway Motor Coaches, Ltd., London,

to run an Oldham-London daily service, as well as to the Leeds and Newcastle Omnibus Co., Ltd., of Northallerton, to pick up and set down passengers at Oldham, in connection with a proposed Middlesbrough-Manchester service, the committee being of opinion that the routes are adequately served.

Licence-issuing in Essex.

For the nine months ended August 31st last Essex County Council issued 65,116 drivers' licences, as compared with 61,666 for the corresponding period last year. Annual motor-vehicle licences numbered 29,071, contrasted with 28,978 in a similar period of 1929, and quarterly licences totalled 86,159, as compared with 74,722.

Advertisers Please Note.

Advertisers should note that instructions for the issue of The Commercial Motor dated October 21st must reach the head offices (5-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.1) by the first post on Wednesday, October 15th, i.e., one day earlier than usual.

Report of Smith's Stampings.

The report of Thomas Smith's Stamping Works, Ltd., for the year ended August 2nd last shows a balance of .£26,689, after making provision for depreciation and all taxation liabilities. Adding the sum of .£10,029 brought forward from the previous year and deducting the interim dividend of 21 per cent. (less tax), which absorbed £5,000, a balance of £31,718 is available. The directors now recommend that a final dividend of 71 per cent., less tax (mahin.*b 10 per cent, for the year), should be paid and this will absorb £14,531, leaving £17,187 to be carried forward.

During the year the drop-forging undertaking carried on by Clayton Wagons, Ltd., under the name of Clayton Forge, was purchased and a new company registered under the title of Smith-Clayton Forge, Ltd., the whole of the issued capital being held by Thomas Smith's Stamping Works, Ltd.

Registration of the Premier Line.

Premier Line, Ltd., was registered as a private company on October 1st, with a nominal capital of £60,000 in £1 shares. The objects of the company are to adopt an agreement with the Premier Omnibus Co., Ltd., and to oarry on a coach and bus business. The chief directors are Captain P. Masker (chairman), Captain Sir Christopher B. W. Magnay, Bt., Sir George H. U. Lacon, Bt., Messrs. W. Allen, A. J. Schiffer and F. C. Schiffer. The registered office of the company is 2, Leysfield Road, London, W.12,

Inst. of T.'s Continental Congress.

The council of the Institute of Transport has considered a proposal that next year, in place of a congress in this country, a Continental tour and congress should be arranged and be open to all classes of member of the Institute. It is suggested that the tour should take the form of inspectiofis of Italian transport undertakings, as well as works and other visits to certain centres of transport and cultural interest in Italy. As tentatively planned, the party would leave London towards the end of May or early in June, and the tour would occupy approximately 16 days.

Members who desire further information should communicate with Mr. A. Winter Gray, secretary of the Institute, 15, Savoy Street, London, W.C.2, Overseas Orders for Thoruycrofts. • Several important overseas orders have recently been received by John T.

Thornycroft and Co., Ltd. One has come from the Buenos Aires Pacific Railway Co., Ltd., and is for six 3-ton six-wheeIed chassis, another from the Central Uruguay Railway Co. (of Monte Video), Ltd., being for three 30-cwt. chassis, and a third from the China Bus Co., of Hong Nong, which has indented for three 20-seater bus chassis.

An Address Wanted.

We have received a letter of inquiry from a reader who signs himself " Puzzled " and the address on the letter is merely Bradford, Yorkshire. Will this reader please let us have his full name and address so that we may reply?

A Manchester Coach Merger.

An announcement has been made to the effect that 10 Manchester motorcoach concerns, owning about 41) coaches and operating both regular and long-distance services, are about to be amalgamated. It is said that, within the course of a few weeks, a public company -will be formed.

New Zealand Bus Regulations.

We have received from the Commissioner of Transport, Transport Department, Wellington, New Zealand, some copies of a booklet entitled, "Motoromnibus Chassis Ratings." This comprises data and information required by the Ministry of. Transport, New Zealand, and includes the complete regulations relating to the design and construction of buses for use on services in that country.

The brochure is of the greatest inter

est to manufacturers or agents concerned in the supply of buses for New Zealand, and the few copies which we Possess can be obtained on loan by anyone interested.

The Austin Van in America.

The American Austin Car Co., of Butler, Pennsylvania, which is building the Austin Seven car for the American market, has now introduced a light delivery van incorporating the same chassis.

Big Increase in Irish Tractor Exports.

The value of tractor parts, excluding engines and axles imported, during the seven months ended July last, into the Irish Free State, amounted to £789,805, as compared with £353,642, in the corresponding period of 1929. During the seven months under review the exports B22 of tractors from the Free State increased from only 987 (i104,918), in 1929, to 13,718 (£1,431,126) this year, whilst during the same periods the value of the exports of tractor parts advanced from £488,335 to £768,723.

No More Horsed Vehicles for Ripon.

The watch committee of Ripon Corporation has decided to issue licences to " outside " owners only in respect of motor vehicles for which a certificate of efficiency or the hackney-carriage licences of their respective areas are Produced, and to refuse applications for the licence of horse-drawn vehicles.

Compressed-air Equipment.

The B.E.N. Patents, Ltd. 92, Tottenham Court Road, London, W' .1, has just issued a list featuring B.E.N. air compressors and spray-paint equipment. The catalogte gives a good idea of the

extensive range of equipment available and embodies brief constructional details of the different plants listed, as well as indicating the capacities and uses of each. The catalogue should Prove of value to those running garages or service stations.

Nottingham Receives Powers Desired.

A few days ago the chairman of the transport committee of Nottingham Corporation reported that, with regard to the corporation Bill which had been promoted in Parliament, all the powers asked for, within the municipality's boundaries, had been received. Without again applying to Parliament, the corporation may convert any of its routes to trolley-bus working. Protection against outside operators has also been secured.

Fodens' New Model.

We are advised that Fodens, Ltd., Elworth Works, Sandbach, Cheshire, has introduced its new Speed Twelve; this is a rigid six-wheeler, mounted on pneumatic tyres. It is a development of the now familiar Speed Six which attracted so much attention. at Olympia last November. It can carry a 10-12ton pay-load.

Service for Fargo Vehicles.

Last Wednesday Lord Stalbridge, chairman of the board of King Hall Sales, Ltd., the Loudon distributor of Dodge Bros. vehicles, opened a new and well-equipped service station for Chrysler and Fargo vehicles, in Park Road, St. John's Wood, London, N.W. The building was formally christened by Mr. C. Morton Lomax, managing director of Chrysler Motors, Ltd., and the Auto Sales Co., Ltd., of which Mr. W. M.

Bailey is managing director, built it at a cost of over £100,000.

The new premises occupy a space of nearly 1,000,000 cubic ft. and have accommodation for close on 600 vehicles, whilst a large stock of spare parts is kept to cope with every contingency. The building has been designed • on modern principles and is of most imposing appearance. Showrooms are situated on two floors, and a comprehensive range of vehicles is available for inspection.

Inspecting a Tyre Factory.

We understand that during the course of the forthcoming Motor Show at Olympia arrangements are being made by the Firestone Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., to take interested traders from Stand 471 to Brentford for a tour of inspection around the modern Firestone factory on the Great West Road. A New Signalling System.

The General Electric Co., Ltd., -Magnet House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, has recently devised a luminous signalling system for coaches and buses, in order that timely warning may be given to other road users when such vehicles intend to stop. The system comprises a rear lamp bearing the word "stopping," which synchronizes with a red lamp on the dashboard, a number of bell pushes provided for the use of passengers, in addition to two pushes for operation by the conductor. A passenger wishing to stop the vehicle presses one of the bell pushes, which illuminates the rear " stopping " light as well as the " stop " light on the dashboard, thus advising the driver that he is required to bring the vehicle to a standstill. So soon as the passengers have alighted, the conductor • operates a device which

extinguishes the lights and serves as an indication to the driver that he can proceed.

The system is electrically controlled and can be worked from the existing lighting and starting accumulators.

Ransomes Passenger-vehicle Bodies.

Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., Orwell Works. Ipswich, has just produced a catalogtie giving details of the different classes of body which it builds for motorbuses and coaches. In the main, the bodies are depicted through the medium of half-tone illustrations in sepia, but line drawings serve to show -quite clearly the Ministry of Transport regulations for different types of publicservice vehicle. An abridged specification of the compaily's standard ' bus bodies is given. •

The company tells' 'us that it has just received an order for 25. saloon-bus bodies for -Greeii Line Coaches, Ltd. The

type chosen is a 20-seater body in which all the seats face forward, and a front door and a rear emergency exit are included in the design..

Market for Motors in Turkey.

A report on the market for motor vehicles in Turkey has been prepared by the Department of Overseas Trade and is available for issue to concerns which have their names entered on the Department's special register. A copy of the report can be obtained from the Department at 35, Old Queen Street, London; S.W.1, by quoting reference No. AX 10257.

An Ambitious 12,600-mile Tour. Mr. Geoffrey Malins announces that he is organizing an industrial-development expedition which, at the end of this year, will leave England for Africa. A convoy of British vehicles and a motorcycle unit will carry Mr. Malins and his companions across Europe to Stamboul, through Asia Minor and Palestine to Egypt, and thence through Africa to Cape Colony—a distance in all of about 12,000 miles. The first object of the expedition, it is stated, will he to demonstrate the value of British goods and to Throve that Britishbuilt motor vehicles can hold their own anywhere.

Castings or Weldings ?

On Thursday, October 16th, a meeting of the Institution of Welding Engineers will be held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Storey's Gate, London, S.W.1, at 745 p.m., when Mr. P. L. Roberts will read a paper entitled "The Replacement of Castings by Weldings," to be folloived by a discussion. Vans for Belgian Railways.

The Belgian State Railway Exploitation Co., in Brussels, recently invited tenders for the supply of 43 vans. Twelve concerns, representing Belgian, French and American mantifaCturers, competed for thok tirder ; the tenders ranged from £169 to ,£349 per vehicle, the lowest being that submitted by the Chevrolet agents in Belgium.

Darlington's Profitable Trolley-buses. At a recent Meeting. of Darlington Town Council some interesting figures were given regarding the profitable working of the municipal trolley-bus system. Sir Charles Starmer said that the vehicles had carried 10,000,000 passengers during the past year, or about 800,000 more than during the four pre

'ions years. Furthermore, they ran about 40,000 additional vehicle-miles. The surplus profit on the working of the trolley-buses was £4,922, but that figure was reduced to £3,739 because of a loss which was sustained on petrol buses run for an experimental period.

G.E. Garage Equipment for 1031.

We have received from Joseph Bradbury and Sons, Ltd., Braintree, a copy of its 1931 catalogue dealing with the company's new range of G.E. garage equipment. The publication covers a wide variety of appliances, including brake testers, camber gauges, crankshaft tools, jacks of several designs and riveting machines for brake facings. The catalogue is well illustrated and comprehensive details of the various G.E. devices are given. Readers of The Commercial Motor._ may obtain copies on application to the company at the above address. )323 Successful British Trolleybuses in Belgium.

One of our correspondents who has recently returned from a visit to Liege reports that the five electric trolleybuses lately supplied by Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., of Ipswich, to the Societe des Tramways Unifies de Liege et Extensions, are proving exceedingly popular with the travelling public, evidence of which is afforded by the fact that the receipts on the routes on which they are working, instead of declining as when trams were used, are now on the up grade.

While in Liege, our correspondent was fortunate in meeting M. L. Noirfalise, one of the directors of the concern, from whom he learned that although the trolley-buses are running on one of the hilliest routes in the Liege district, they are giving every satisfaction.

Not only is the route exceptionally hilly, but it is also an extremely twisty one, and as a result of this fact difficulty was at first experienced in keeping the trolley on the overhead lines, but this trouble has now been overcome.

It will be remembered that in our issue dated September 9th we published a description of these vehicles.

For Carrying Cement.

The Cement Marketing Co. is a big user of motor vehicles and it has recently ordered nine DG6 steam wagons and five DC4 wagons from the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., of Shrewsbury, and three platform lorries from Commer Cars, Ltd., Luton. Of the latter, two will be G6 6-7-tonners and the other a G2 two-tonner. In each case the order is in the nature of a repeat.

Applications of Tapered-roUer Bearings.

In connection with the forthcoming Motor Show, British Timken, Ltd., Cheston Road, Aston, Birmingham, has prepared a new publication which covers the application of Timken tapered-roller bearings to motor vehicles. The information which it contains should be of value to commercial-motor makers and users, as illustrations of bearing mountings, data on bearing selection, fitting practices, closures and assembly are giveu. Furthermore, designers will find the information helpful when making preliminary drawings. The illustrations embodied clearly show the application of the bearings to different parts of motor vehicles.

Another Leeds-London Service?

The watch committee of Leeds Corporation has adjourned consideration of an application from the Hale Garage Coach Co., Ltd., for licences for 12 coaches to ply for hire within the city in connection with a proposed service between Leeds and London, via Pontefract, Doncaster, Retford, Newark, Grantham, Stamford, Stilton, Huntingdon, Royston, Ware and Hoddesdon.

Trains Taken Over for Abandonment.

Walsall Corporation has recently taken over from the South Staffordshire Tramways Co. the portions of the tramways system between Walsall, Wednes bury and Darlaston. The change-over marks an important development in the passenger-transport services of the Black Country. It is said that by the end of this year a fleet of double-saloon buses which Walsall Corporation has ordered will be commissioned for service, in which event the Wednesbury and Darlaston tramways will be abandoned and replaced by motorbus services.

Improving Approaches to Dock Areas.

Representatives of Poplar Borough Council recently met London County Council officials when plans and estimates for the improvement of dock approaches, as suggested by the Ministry of Transport, were submitted.

They comprise widening the entire length of Bridge Road to 60 ft. and removing two existing swing bridges, as well as constructing a new road from the junction of Garford Street and Bridge Road to intersect West India Dock Road between Commercial Road and Gadord Street, at Limehouse Causeway. The widening of Prestons Road to 50 ft. between the dock bridges and the reconstruction of Prestons Road railway bridge are included in the projected scheme.

The estimated cost of the work and the acquisition of property is £183,080, although the cost of work within the borough of Poplar is placed at £140,000. It is thought that the Ministry of Transport will contribute a sum equal to 50-60 per cent, of the cost, and the chairman of the improvements committee of the L.C.C. suggests that the balance should be shared equally by the county council and the borough council.