WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by ail difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Sleeper-coaches Between London and Yorkshire.
The first expansion of what we may term the Chirgwin-Whiting interests in sleeper-coach services following upon the successful establishment of the service between London and Liverpool takes concrete form on Saturday, December 22nd. On that evening there will be inaugurated a regular service of sleeper-coaches between London and Leeds and Bradford at a fare of 25s. single and 50s. return, as against the third-class railway fares of 23s. 3d. to Leeds and 24s. id. to Bradford, plus the extra charge for a sleeper berth in the ordinary compartments. The comfort on the road coach is, however, almost equal to first-class on the railway.
The service will be run by RoadSleepers (Leeds), Ltd., and both Mr. Chirgwin and Mr. Whiting,, of Albatross Roadways, Ltd.. will be closely connected with the venture. At first there will be a service in each direction every other day, and after the (mating run there will not be a Saturday night run. The departures from Bradford will be at 11 pin. on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Leeds departure time being half an boor later ; the departures from _London will be at 11 p.m; on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The morning arrival at the destination will be at about 8.30.
The coach .(which, by the way, will bear the name "Yorkshire Nightear ") will be built by the Phcenix Coachworks, Ltd., on a 35 h.p. Daimler six-Cylinder chassis (the 0F6 mddel) and will differ from the Albatross coach in that the lower bunks will each be convertible into a pair of seats, as was suggested in the Road Travel Number of The Commercial Motor.
London Independent Bus-operators' Plans.
The annual dinner of the Association of London Omnibus Proprietors was recently held, when Mr. A. G. Partridge, who, it will be remembered, was the first independent operator in London, presided. He said that a year ago there was a slump in the independent bus movement in London, but since that time steady progress had been made and there were hopes of extending the present services. He admitted that in the centre of London there were really more buses than are required, . but added that there is a growing need for more vehicles in the outer suburbs, and that it is in this direction that the independent operators are likely to develop their activities.
A Conference on Chemical Fire Extinguishers.
A conference arranged by the Association of Liquid Chemical Fire Extinguisher Manufacturers recently took place at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, when Mr. A. E. Wiseman, of the Pyrene Co., Ltd., occupied the chair. In opening the conference the chairman welcomed the large number of representatives from fire-brigades, municipal authorities and important menu facturing concerns. He referred to the fact that the meeting was the first of its kind to be held in this country.
It was felt,. he said, by the council of the Association that much good would result Amin the bringing together of makers of fite appliances and-those representing -concerna which have to. face fire risks. It wat mentioned that, during 'the first nine , months of this year lire tosses An this country represented about £8,000,000, this ,figure being nearly £3,000,000 higher than the figure for a simiiiar period of 1927.
Mr. S. G. Gamble, who for 26 ,years was second in command of the London Fire Brigade, brought some interesting facts to light, and said that this country suffers about one-fifth of the world's fire loss. He -dealt with the proper distribution of extinguishers and to the distinct types wheh are in use to combat specific classes of fire such as those involving petrol and oil.
In a Line or Two.
Stoke-on-Trent Watch Committee has decided to grant no further bus licences, 400 having been issued in the city.
Sowerby Fire Brigade has just taken delivery of a new motor fire-engine, this displacing a horse-drawn tender, which has been in use since 1898, and a horsedrawn steam engine which has served the district since 1904.
The Ministry of Transport is to hold an inquiry into the appeal of a motorbus proprietor against the refusal of the Mytholrnroyd Urban District Council to grant licences to ply for hire between Hebden Bridge and Mythohnroyd.
Auto-Stocks, Ltd., has removed to new premises at High Street, West Bromwich. David Brown and Sons Increasing Business.
The report of David Brown and Sons (Huddersfield), Ltd., for the year ended September 30th last shows a • profit of £71,950, after providing for depreciation and including income from investments. The balance brought forward from the previous year was £28,382, so that the available total is £100,332. Income tax accounts for 115,060, whilst dividends for the year on the preference shares have involved an outlay -of £14,975. -From the balance of £70,297, a dividend of 10 per cent.; free of tax, on the ordinary shares will absorb £18,000 and will leave £52,297 to be carried forward.
The report mentions that the volume of business tranimeted during the year was substantially higher than for several years past. The company's bonus system to emplOYees has been extended and has resulted in a payment to the works and staff of over £30,500.
New Long-distance Services from Bolton.
Mr. J. R. Tognarelli, of Bolton, has obtained licences until March 31st next for a service from Bolton to Carlisle and Glasgow, and for another from Bolton to Newcastle--under-Lyme, Lichfield, and London, on his giving an undertaking to charge a minimum fare of 12s. 6d. on each of the journeys from the town.
Mr. Tognarelli's application to the watch committee for permission to establish a Service between Bolton and Manchester, via Waliden, Eccles and Swinton, was refused, the committee expressing the opinion that adequate provision for the running of buses on the route hag been made.
A Big Order for Six-wheeled Steam Wagons.
Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., informs us that it has received a provisional order from Samuel Instone and Co., Ltd., 52, Leadenhall Street, London, E.G.,. for the supply of 100 Steam wagon§ of the company's rigid sixwheeled undertype.
The Minerva Report.
Minerva Motors (England), Ltd., has just issued-its first report, which covers a period from September 1st, 1927, to October MA 1928, and it shows that :the net revenue amounted to £21,129. Out of this sum 117,250 was accounted for by •two. payments, on May 1st and December ,1st last, on the 8 per cent. preferred ordinary, shares, and the balance of 0,879 is being carried
forward.
Our Next Issue.
The issue of Tlte. Commercial Mgtor dated December 25th will be on sale throughout the country on Monday, December 24th. Advertisers•shonld note that copy and instructions for this issue must reach our head offices at 5-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.1, not later than' the first post Wednesday, December 19th, or by 10 a.m., if delivered by hand.
' A Hard-worked Trailer.
The H.I.C. 2:1-ton trailer, which is illustrated on this page, is used by Diekeson and French, Ltd., of Eastbourne, in conjunction with a GO tour-wheeled lorry, on a daily service between Eastbourne and London, doing responsible work in connection with furniture removals. The trailer is equipped with a special closed-in body, • panelled throughout inside and measuring approximately 10 ft, 6 ins. long, 6 ft. wide, and .6 ft. 6 ins. high. It is mounted on ball bearings and has steel disc wheels equipped with Dunlop pneumatic tyres of 32-in. by 6-in.
, dimensions.
A special feature of this model is the patent double-acting twin spring drawbar, which takes up all , intervehicular shock, whether it is caused by sudden starting or stopping, or is brought about by irregularities of the road surface. In this way no detrimental .shock is transmitted to the load carried on the trailer, which is an important point in connection with the transport of costly furniture.
Another feature is the patent springing system, which provides easy riding over indifferent surfaces. One of the outstanding characteristics of this trailer is its tracking properties.
A Swiss Motor Show. .
The sixth Swiss International Motor Show, which is to he held in Geneva from March ifith to 24th next, will include a section for motorbuses, lorries and other commercial vehicles.
Built for Carrying Pigs.
An illustration on this page depicts an interesting Dennis 30-cwt. vehicle on air-cushion tyres, which has recently beea supplied to the Marden Pedigree Pigs Co., Ltd„ for the transport of pigs. The company's farms are situated at Chirton, in Wiltshire, and the van is used for the conveyance of pedigree pigs to and from the farm and the sites of various shoWs.
The body was constructed by Messrs. W. and T. Robson, 60, Farringslon Road, London, B.C., and contains four compartments Which are each metallined ; these are electrically lighted and provided with louvres iu the body sides to give ample ventilation. The ramp which is used for reaching the interior has folding sides so that it can be conveniently stored below the body.
Hull Defers Consideration.
Hull Watch Committee has deferred consideration of applications from Messrs. Scotter and Whittaker for permission to run a motor service between Hull and Manchester, and from the East Yorkshire Services, Ltd., for permission to run long-distance services on various routes.
A Sign of the Times.
Shareholders of the Chatham and District Light Railways Co. are meeting to-day (Tuesday) to consider a Bill promoted by the company providing foss the abandonment of the "light railways, tramways and tramroads," and authoriz ing it to irun buses. The company's system has encountered intensive bus competition.
Personal Pars.
To the great regret of those in Nottingham who have had reason to appreciate the value of his work as chairman of the corporation tramways committee, Mr. J. Clarkson has resigned that position and has been succeeded by Alderman A. Tsirney, who has for a long period been vice-chairman.
Mr. Clarkson has served during a period in which the undertaking has undergone its greatest expansion, one of the most notable features being the wide extensibn of the bus system.
Consequent upon Mr. John Aldworth's retirement, after nearly 30 years' service, a new managerial rogime will be inaugurated in Nottingham when Mr. W. G. Marks, now general manages' of the Chesterfield Corporation passenger-transport department, takes up the office.
During the period since 1921, in which Mr. Clarkson has been chairman of the committee, £227,000 has been paid off the capital of the Nottingham undertaking, in addition to which £115,000 has been allocated from profits in relief of rates.
Mr. Rees Jeffreys, chairman of the Roads Improvement Association, sailed for Africa on December fth, and will be away until March or April of next year. His programme includes special investigations of railway and road-transport conditions of operation in South and East Africa and of the features of the new trunk road from the Cape to Cairo.
Ur. Jeffreys will also endeavour to induce various road authorities in the Dominion to send representative deputations to the sixth International Road Congress, which isto be held et Washington in 1930.
Mr. R. U. Lee has just been appointed omnibus superintendent to the Newcastle Corporation.
Salford's Protective Action, Salford Corporation has decided to promote a Bill in Parliament to obtain powers to protect 'its transport system against competition from private motorbus concerns. It • is intended to require local authorities to obtain the consent of the Minister of Transport before issuing licences to bus proprietors to run in competition with the tramways. The Sunsaloon Head.
We learn that Sunsaloon Bodies, Ltd., Castleford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, has in course of manufacture an Interesting new coach head, which is termed the Sunsaloon parlour-coach equipment. An example of the equipment was exhibited on a Star 24-seater vehicle at the recent Scottish Motor Exhibition. The new head is operated by one man from the interior of the vehicle and, by its use, a motor coach can be totally enclosed or the head can be folded back in about one minute.
The new head is adaptable to any type of coach and the fact that it
operates from the centre and is devoid of turn-buttons, press studs and auxiliary fastening devices, presetves all the amenities of the Parlour-type of vehicle.
Latil's Agent in the Free State.
Thos. Thompson and Son, Ltd., 19, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin, has been appointed sole distributor for Latil industrial vehicles in the Irish Free State. The company has obtained delivery of a 5-ton low-loading chassis, a 5-ton tractor, an agricultural and forestry tractor, and a 10-ton road tractor, which are at present being equipped with suitable bodywork.
Municipal Inter-Ay Services.
It is announced that the Bradford and Leeds Corporations have effected an arrangement for the institution of an inter-city bus service and preliminary trials have already been made. At the outset buses run by the Bradford Corporation will be used, and, in this connection, a working agreement has been arrived at between the authorities pending the provision of Leeds municipal buses to run to Bradford.
The Belfast Corporation Takes Control.
Under the agreement for the regulation of bus traffic in Ulster, the Belfast Corporation was, on one day last week, to take control of all public-service vehicles plying for hire in the city.
Under an arrangement with the corporation, however, buses entering the city from the country were authorized to carry passengers whose journeys were entirely within the city. In such cases, the fares were remitted to the corporation and an allowance made to the bus owner for running costs. It was also possible for privately owned
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buses to operate in the city, but the vehicles were under the control of the corporation's tramways committee.
An important point in the traffic agreement is that the Ministry of Rome Affairs may authorize a private company to operate on a city route if it considers that route to be inadequately served by the corporation vehicles.
Changing-over to Buses.
The ,Tarrow and District Electric Traction Co., Ltd., is to follow the lead set recently by a number of other tramway concerns, and is to run motorbuses in place Of trams. To this end it is promoting a Bill seeking power to effect
the change-over on the whole of its routes. Another concern making a similar application is the Tyneside Tramways and Trtunroads, Ltd.
Chesterfield Licence Refusals.
Chesterfield Watch Committee has refused to grant the following applications for bus licences :—Haxby, Tealby and Co., Ltd., of Retford, for a service from Chesterfield to Lincoln and Gainsborough, and the Gladwyn Parlour Car Services, Ltd., of Mansfield, for a service from Nottingham to Liverpool, via Chesterfield.
Newcastle's Bus-service Expansion.
The transport department of the Newcastle Corporation, which is slowly but steadily increasing the number of motorbus services worked in the immediate vicinity of the centre of the city, is proposing to open up a circular route embracing High Heaton, South Gosforth and Cowgate.
U.A.S. Profits.
During the year to September 30th last, United Automobile Services, Ltd., which is now in its seventeenth year of operation, made a gross profit of £135,287, a figure which is £29,584 higher than that for the previous year. After deducting a sum of £80,203, which is set aside for depreciation, the net profit is £55,084, as compared with £48,807 a year earlier. An allotment of £5,000 from the profits for the year brings the general reserve fund up to £40,000. The dividend is maintained at 30 per cent, on an increased capital, involving a disbursement of £48,050. The amount to be carried forward is £12,438, as against £15,313 brought into the year's accounts.
Railway Road Haulage Services.
Rapid headway is being made by the London and North-Eastern Railway Co. with the scheme for the provision of road motor services in various large
centres of population, as a means of recapturing haulage business. During a recent week two services were instituted, one linking up Leeds and Harrogate, And the other Leeds and Bradford. It is understood that either similar services are to be opened up shortly in the Tees-side and Tyneside districts and elsewhere where road competition is keen.
A Booking Agency's Activities.
To cope with increasing long-distance business coming from the East Northumbrian neighbourhood, Messrs. Coxon's Motor Booking Agency, of Newcastle, have opened a branch establishment at Exchange Buildings, Whitley Bay. This booking firm are associated with between 20 and 30 operators running day • and night long-distance services from Newcastle.
S. Smith and Sons' Trading.
The report of S. Smith and Sons (M.A.), Ltd., which has recently been issued, covers a period of 53 weeks to August 4th last, and it shows a net profit of £160,937, as against £147,172 in the previous year. The dividend declared on the participating preference shares is 171 per cent, for the year (14 per cent, the year before), and the deferred shares receive 37i. per cent. for the year, as against 25 per cent, in the previous year. '
A sum of £10,000 has been written off patents and the reserve account benefits to the extent of £25,000, bringing it.up to £200,000. The carry-forward is £43,079, as compared with £34,203 in the previous year. During the year 100,000 new preference shares of £1 each were issued, and the balance of the debentures, amounting to 152,570, -was redeemed.
Stockton's Growing Bus Fleet.
The transport committee of the Stock ton Corporation, which already runs 39 buses, mostly Leylands, has decided to purchase -a further six double-deck buses.
The corporation has purchased six Leyland 51-seaters of the double-deck covered-top type during the past six or seven months, and these are proving very satisfactory. At the present it is interesting to note the Stockton municipal services are carrying at the rate of 500,000 passengers a month.
=Tyne Bridge to Carry More Bus Traffic.
Additional passenger-transport facilities between Tyne and Wear are to be
provided as the result of 'the action, of Newcastle Watch 'Committee • in granting 14 bus licences to the Sunderland and District Transport Co.,Ltd. The new service will be worked by ,way• of the new Tyne Bridge; over -which: only the vehicles of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., have been, sofar, sanctioned• to run, that compapy. having 66 licences and , workingvehiclea direct to its £25,000bus station now nearing completion and already partly opened in Worswiek Street.
A Co-operative Society's Purchases.
, It was reported at, a meeting of members of the Plymouth Cooperative Society that it had been decided to purchase two Morris-Commercial 1-ton chassis for the bread-delivery department. Consideration is also being given to the purchase of a 2-ton Albion vehicle for the Pomphlett depot, whilst a Morris-Commercial 30-cwt. vehicle is being bought for the Millbrook depot.
In reply to a suggestion that the society's motor coach fleet should be modernized so that it could compete on an equality with the fleets of private traders, Mr. W. J. Lapthorn stated that the society was taking seven of its old coaches off the road and replacing them by new and up-to-date vehicles, details regarding which would be reported at the next meeting.
Result of a Tynemouth Inquiry,
• The Ministry of Transport has now announced its decision in the dispute between the United Automobile Services, Ltd., and the Tynemouth Corporation, the details of which were given in a report of the inquiry appearing in a recent issue of The Commercial Motor. The decision is that no Order shall be made, or, in other words, that the Ministry upholds the corporation in its action in declining to give permission to the company to run through the borough, via Preston village, to the new coast road, on its myth to Newcastle service. Instead, the corporation offered the company an alternative route on the outskirts of the town, where, the company contended, there was little or no traffic. As a protest, the company carried passengers from the borough free of charge.
Gloucester Prefers Buses.
At its December meeting, the Gloucester City Council decided to abandon the municipal tramways between Stradbrook Crossing and St. Paul's Church, and between Barton Gates and Tuftley, and to remove the train tracks. It is understood that a municipal bus service will be provided en these routes. .
This decision has been arrived at after long controversy. The tramways have never paid, and the tracks required to be relaid.
• As reported some 12 months ago in The Commercial Motor, a referendem to ratepayers of the question as to whether the trams should or should not be replaced by bilges resulted in a large majority vote being given in favour of the establishment of bus services.
. Rotherham Favours Standardization.
The Rotherhani Corporation tramways manager reports that the proportion of Messrs. Guest's rolling stock which the Doncaster and Rotherham Corporations will Svc to take over is three vehicles. He has suggested that, as the vehicles are not standard with the corporation's fleet, he should Sell Rotherham's portion for the best price and be instructed to purchns.e a Bristol low-loading chassis, and a Roe body as a replacement. ,The tramways committee b.as agreed -with this suggestion.
Agricultural Research in 1927.
The third volume of the Royal Agricultural Society of England's annual summary of the scientific and economic research work in agriculture, not only at home, but abroad, has just been issued dealing with the year 1927. It is priced at 1s. 3d., post free, and has 190 pages containing much informative and invaluable matter of interest to agriculturists.
There is a specific section set aside for agricultural engineering and under this heading there is a section dealing with power, this containing references to tractors, the use of producer-gas and electricity. Agricultural implements receive their meed of attention in this section and reference is made to those used for corn harvesting, potato harvesting and sugar-beet harvesting.
The information in the book has been collected from all available sources, put together in non-scientific language by acknowledged authorities, and is, therefore, of unusual interest to all those who wish to keep abreast of the times in modern agriculture.
A Popular Refuse Collector.
Considerable interest has been evoked by the dustless-loading Freighter introduced by Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd., of Letchworth. This type of vehicle has recently been adopted by the City of Lougon authorities, whilst the municipalities of Esher, Eastbourne, Darlington, Coventry, Lincoln, Harrogate, Hitehin and Shipley are amongst those which have placed orders for it. The maker is preparing for a big output of this type of vehicle during the forthcoming year.
Buying Heavy-duty Thornyerofts, One of the biggest orders recently received by John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., has come from the transport department of Lever Bros.. Ltd., which has ordered 22 vans of the 5-ton and 6-ton types.
A Compact Fire Blanket.
In answer to numerous inquiries as to the existence upon the mark.et of a portable asbestos fire blanket, our attention has recently been drawn to the fact that G. T. Riches and Co., Ltd., of 19 and 20, Store, Street, Tottenham Court Road, London, W., has recently marketed a useful outfit of this nature, it being a product of the Cape Asbestos Co., Ltd. It is made of asbestos cloth which, it is claimed, is chemically pure. The blanket, when not in use, fits into a cylindrical metal sheath 17 ins. long and 10 ins, in circumference; the weight 'complete with sheet and case is 41 lb. The simple operation of spreading the sheet upon the ignited area is calculated completely to extinguish the fire.
The price of this compact device is 15s. 6d. to trade users, although it is available at a slightly lower price when bought in quantity, and it can be purchased by the public for 39s. ad.
Heavy Bus Taxes Foreshadowed in the Free State.
The Government of the Irish Free State intends to make bus operators pay more for the use of the roads bY their vehicles. In addition to the mileage tax foreshadowed in a recent issue of The Commercial Motor, the contributions of solid-tyred vehicles to the Road Fund are to be heavily increased. Since the announcement was made that a mileage tax would be the subject of a Bill to be introduced in the Irish
Free State Parliament after Christmas, strong protests have been made by individual bus owners and by the Irish Bus Owners' Protection Association. The Association, indeed, has appointed a committee to wait upon the Government.
The Government, however, does not appear to be perturbed. Recently, Mr. Ernest Blythe, Minister of Finance, made the first official announcement on the subject. He said the Government intended to make the buses contribute more substantially to the upkeep of the roads. At present they only contributed 4.6 per cent, of the Road Fund.
Apart from the mileage taxes, of which details have already been given in our column,s, solid-tyred vehicles of the fast-moving type would have to pay a 50 per cent, additional road tax, ant solid-tyred vehicles of the slow-moving type would have to pay 25 per cent. additional road tax. The money raised by both forms of taxation (mileage and road tax) would go to the Road Fund. Needless to say, the Minister's announcement has been received with apprehension in Irish bus circles.
Wheelbase of the Leyland Titanic.
In our issue dated December 4th we described the special apparatus used by the London, Midland and Sottish Railway Co., at Heysham, for the shipping of large vehicles to Ireland. In one of the illustrations we showed a Leyland Titanic six-wheeler being lifted and it should be noted that the wheelbase of this vehicle is 29 ft. 6 ins., and not as given in our caption to the'picture.
A Good Year's Trading.
The seventh annual general meeting of Sheffield Steel Products, Ltd., was held, in Sheffield recently, when the chairman of directors, Mr. C. P. Johnston, presided. Dealing with the financial results of the year's working, the chairman said that, whereas last year the company made a trading loss of £9,769, it has this year made a profit of £25,011. The net result of the year's working was a profit of £25,779, as against a loss of /21,444 a year earlier.
The company has adopted the policy of endeavouring to strengthen its position by accruing new lines for manufacture which are capable of yielding a substantial profit. As many of our readers will be aware, the H,B. trailer, which is manufactured in a range of sizes, is included in the list of products marketed by the company.
No Motor Traffic on a Shatddin Road.
Shanklin Urban District Council has asked the Isle of Wight County Council to approve a scheme for strengthening Chine Hill in order to preserve the roadway. Having inspected the road, the county highwOs committee cannot agree to the suggestion, and has decided to ask the Ministry of Transport for au Order for the total prohibition of mechanically propelled traffic on the road. Meanwhile, the urban district council has taken steps for the protection of the public by temporarily closing the road which is considered to be dangerous.