WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"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 ruits."—John Beattie Crozier.
The Forthcoming Show : Admission Charges.
The charges for admission to the International Commercial Motor Transport Exhibition, which takes place at Olympia, have been fixed as follow :— Thursday and Friday, November 17th and 18th, 2s; Saturday, November 19th, is.; Monday to Friday, November 21st to 25th, 2s.; Saturday, November 26th, is., the -prices applying throughout each day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.in.
-New Vickers' Directors.
We are informed by Vickers, Ltd., that Mr: Alfred Cartwright has resigned his seat on the board of the company and that at a meeting of the board held recently General Sir Noel Birch, K.C.M.G., and Mr. G. G. Sim, C.S.I., C.I.E., secretary of thecompany, -were appointed directors.
Smith's Stamping Works Report.
The report of Thomas Smith's Stamping Works, Ltd., for the year ended July 30th last shows a profit of £25,148 after making provision for depreciation and taxation liabilities. After adding the amount brought forward from the previous year (£17,675) and deducting the interim dividend of 2i per cent., less tax (15,000), there is an available balance of £37,823. Payment of a final dividend of 7 per cent., less tax, will absorb £15,000, and leave £22,823 to he carried forward.
Bus Competition Blamed for Rail Wages Reduction.
Decreased profits due to bus competition were urged as an excuse for the reduction of employees' wages by the Belfast and County Down Railway before the Irish Railway Wages Board on Tuesday of last week. As a result of the Board's decision on the application there will be a reduction of 10 per cent. in the wages of the railway company's employees.
Mr. W. F. Minnis, general manager
of the railway, in his evidence before the Board, said road motor competition was largely directed against the company in the matter of goods traffic. He said that the competition against the company for passenger traffic was also great. The number of machines in use was as follows :—January, 1925, 35 buses; January, 1926, 80 buses ; August, 1926, 106 buses ; February, 1927, 103 buses.
A £6,000,000. Toll Road. Speaking at the October meeting of the Birkenhead Chamber of Commerce. Mr. R. J. Hall, chairman of the trans
port section, said ' the proposed £6,000,000 motor roadway from Birmingham to Bromborough would be a toll road, which meant that it was bound to be opposed. He said that they had always paid a toll, which was included in the carriage rate for railway transport. A toll was not an obstacle, as the roadway would enable the cartage service at both ends of the journey to be obviated.
Mr. R. Rowland Hughes (chairman) said there was nothing in the scheme to prevent the insertion of a clause which would enable the railway companies to undertake road transport on the proposed new highwa-i-, Selecting Body Types—A Useful Publication.
. ShOrt Brothers (Rochester and Bedford), Ltd., has just issued the first edition of a particularly well-produced loose-leaf brochure entitled Passenger Vehicles." Although it naturally contains material and illustrations which draw attention to the many types of body which the company produces, it is not intended solely to expound the virtues of its products, but rather to serve as a permanent book of reference. The numerous exterior and interior views of motor buses, motor coaches and trolley buses, together with the brief but lucid descriptions of different types of body used for them, should certainly do much to guide the user or potential user in the selection of .the type best suited to his particular needs.
The brochure is divided into sections, one of the most interesting—and important—being that which contains concise details of the constructional requirements in regard to public service vehicles, the information being compiled in strict accordance with the Heavy Motor Car (Amendment) Order, 1927. In every .sense a useful and informative publication.
A Striking Transport Contrast.
On the occasion or the recent civic week held in Liverpool an old stage coach, which many years ago ran betWeen Liverpool and Chester. was run from the centre of the city to one of the public parks in the outlying suburbs in conjunction with a corporation six-wheeled bus.
The picture which appears on this page affords a striking contrast of old and new methods of public conveyance. The horse-drawn, stage coach seats about 10 people, Whereas the sixwheeled Guy double-deck bus with which it is compared accommodates 70 people. The bus is one of several of the same type run by the Liverpool Corporation.
The London to Gloucester Daily Service.
In our issue dated September 27th NO dealt with the inauguration of a daily motorbus service between London and Gloucester, and gave full details of the luxurious type of saloon vehicle—a Studebaker chassis with Strachan and Brown body—which is being used. The promoters of this venture, Rural England Motor Coaches, Ltd., General Anto Services, Shepherd's Bush Green, London, W.2, has prepared a schedule which gives particulars of the service. The tariff shows that the single fare for the journey is Os. 6d. and the return fare 15s., other centres to and from which single and return tickets are issued being Slough, Maidenhead, Henley, Wallingford, Oxford, Witney, Burford, Northleach and Cheltenham. Children under three years of age are carried free and between that age and twelve years at half fares. A vehicle leaves London at 2 p.m. and arrives at Gloucester at 7.20 p.m., whilst for the reverse journey the starting and finishing times are 10 a.m. and 3.80 p.m.
respectively. In each case a halt is made for light refreshments.
The company has many booking agents in Londen, as well as in the most important centres passed en route, whilst tickets can be obtained from the conductors, with the exception of London and Oxford, where passengers can only be carried by booking at the recognized,pIaces.
Irish Free State Tyre Imports.
During the six months ended with June last 3,536 solid tyres valued at £21,927 were imported into the Irish Free State, as -compared with 2,629 tyres of a similar description valued at £22,239 in a similar period of 1926.
Joint Municipal Bus Services.'
Having considered proposed bus services between Oldham and Manchester and between Oldham and Salford, the tramways committee of the Oldham Corporation has authorized the manager to put into operation in conjunction with the Manchester Corporation a joint motorbus service between the two places and to proceed with negotiations for the operation of the suggested joint service between the town and Salford.
Cornmercial-vehicle Manufacture in Spain.
The Sociedad Ilispano-Suiza, Of Barcelona, • which, hitherto, has been chiefly concerned with the construction
of' cars and aero engines, has recently added a department for the production of motor lorries and buses. Two types of chassis are being made, theSe being fitted with four-cylindered engines Of 3040 h.p. and 40-50 h.p. respectively. One chassis is built as a 3-ton goods model or as a 16-seater bus, and the other is for 4-ton loads or 24-seater single-decker buses. The road wheels can be shod with either solid or pneumatic tyres.
Licences Granted—on Conditions.
Hull Watch Committee has renewed the licences of the East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., subject to the company agreeing that the minimumfare on its buses running between Hull and Beverley shall be 2d more than the minimum fare charged by the licensees already serving the route. Railways, Trams and Buses in Belfast.
Representatives of the three railway companies operating in Northern Ireland recently waited upon the tramways committee of the Belfast Corporation "to advocate co-operation between the tramways and the railways to meet the serious opposition from bus traffic." It was suggested that similar schemes to those conceived at Glasgow should be adopted, including: (a) the introduction of through fares from one railway station to another and from certain stations on different systems to the city centre for ordinary passenger traffic, this service to be supplemented if necessary bya bus service; (b) Co-operation with the railway companies in the matter of through railway and bus fares for workmen; (c) the provision of a service of buses from the railway termini morning and evening to take workmen to and from their work; (d) the introduction of a halfpenny fate between railway termini and the city centre, and a lower scale of charges for special cars for the conveyance of excursion parties between the railway tern:did..
It Was urged that by-laws be adoptedexcluding buses from the centre of the city and that the tramways committee should use its influence to have Charges fixed for the use of palking places by buses.
The deputation having retired, the committee. discussed the matter and gave its general manager authority to confer with the 'representatives of the railway companies, the conference to be without prejudice and not to be binding on the committee of the corporation in any way. • Cross-border Motorbus Traffic in Ireland.
Following the examples of the International Bus Co., and Mr. H. M. S. Catherwood, three further lins services have been inaugurated, which cross the border between Northern Ireland and the •Irish Free State. Two of these are between Buncrana, in Co. Donegal, and Londonderry, the proprietors being Mr. E. Harr and Messrs. Doherty,. respectively, both of Buncrana. The third is between Monaghan and Rallybay, in Co. Monaghan, and Armagh. The owner iii this case is Mr. F. N. Nelson, of Ballybay, who runs four ser-vices in each direction daily. On the Donegal-Derry routes Morris, Ford, Roo and Caledon vehicles are „used, and
on the other only Reos are employed, It has been found that the Customs formalities in connection with the erossing of the boundary cause little inconvenience to passengers.
Emergency Doors Required.
In the ease of the appeal of the Yorkshire (Woollen District) Electric Tramways, Ltd., the Ministry of Transport has made an Order requiring the Bradford Corporation to issue four licences for motorbuses. The licences had been previously refused on the ground that the vehicles were not -fitted with emergency doors.
A New Acetylene Generator.
Thorn and Huddle, Ltd., 151, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, the wellknown lighting and welding engineers, has recently patented an acetylene generator for the lighting systems of motor vehicles. It is claimed that this generator operates on a different principle from other types which are available. A distinctive feature is that a remarkably steady light is given under all conditions, whilst the generator can
readily adapt itself to increased or decreased gas demands. The type which is made for use on commercial vehicles is obtainable in three sizes, these having a carbide capacity of I. lb., 2 lb. and 3 lb.
Opposing a Bolton Bus Proposal.
The Ministry of Transport is to hold an inquiry in connection with the opposition of the London, Midland and Scottish Rail way Co. to the proposal of the Bolton Corporation to run motorbus services on routes in the urban districts of Harwich and Westhoughton.
Irish Free State Imports Up.
A further improvement in the importation of commercial motor vehicles into the Irish Free State is noticeable in the August returns just to hand, which show a total of 55 vehicles, of an estimated value of £30,400, for the month, as compared with 21 vehicles (£6,936) in the corresponding month of 1926. During the eight months ended with August last no fewer than 522 vehicles (136,853) were imported.
Ambulances for Collieries.
In the course of a report, drawn up by Dr. A. J. Cronin, to the Mines Department with reference to the first-aid organization in connection with British collieries, the recommendation is made that every mine should either have a motor ambulance of its own or make satisfactory arrangements for obtaining the tee of ono when required.
Transferring Coach Licences.
13righton Watch Committee has transferred to the Southdown Motor Services, •Ltd., licences for six motor coaches held by Mr. J. Williams, and licences for 12 motor coaches held by Mr, Frank Bevan.
A Fleet of 30-cwt. Lorries for a Distillery Concern.
Seven smart 30-cat. lorry bodies of similar design have recently been built by George Bonallack and Sons, St. George's Works, Cable Street, London, el. These bodies are mounted on 80-cut. Dennis chassis and are to be used by Mr. A. Pearman, 39, Peckham Road, London, S.E.5, for the purpose of transporting, under contract, the products of Booth's Distilleries, Ltd., 83, Turnmill Street, London, E.0.1.
The bodies are smart and are quite spacious, each being 9 ft. long, 6 ft. 6 ins, wide, and having curvedtopped sides. A wide standard-pattern tailboard is fitted at the rear to facilitate loading and unloading. The driver's compartment, which is entered from. the:, near side, is roomy, having seating fl.001111110dation for two persons besides the driver. The seat, beneath which ' ample locker space for tools, etc., is available, is upholstered in blue leather cloth, and a cushioned back-rest is provided.
Each chassis is provided with Lucas electric lighting equipment and is shod with Dunlop 33-in. by 5-in, pneumatics, the spare being housed beneath the chassis frame.
The vehicles—one is illustrated on this page—which will be chiefly employed to transport crates containing bottles, are neatly finished in dark bluewith red, gold and white lettering. Red disc wheels greatly add to their appearance.
Looking Ahead.
Carlisle Corporation has decided to engage an expert, to be nominated by the Ministry of Transport, to advise the corporation as to the best plan to be adopted in connection with the English Street improvement scheme so that it will, when the scheme is completed, meet the requirements of present and future street traffic.
Air Braking for Trolley-buses.
The Westinghouse Brake and Saxby Signal Co., Ltd., has recently received orders for its compressed air brakes from Guy Motors, -Ltd., for eight sets for use on trolley-buses being built for use at Hastings, and from Ransomes. Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., for nine sets for use on trolley-buses being supplied to the Maidstone Corporation.
Motorbus Supersedes Steamboat Communication.
As formerly pointed out in these pages, an agitation has been in progress for some time past in Ardnataurchae, Argyll, with a view to inducing the Postmaster-General to arrange for the mails being conveyed overland from Kilchoan to Acharaele instead of by sea from Ifilehoan. to Oban. The appeals have been suCcessful, and now the new motor service between the two places specified has been duly inaugurated. The distance traversed each way is 22 miles, and it is covered by the motor vehicle in a little over two hears.
I., Passengers are carried as well as the mails, and,. so far as it has proceeded, the scheme seems to work• to the• complete satisfaction of the Post Office authorities and the general public.
Pees for Vehicle Inspection.
At a meeting of the Watford Watch Committee the chairman reported on the question of the fees payable by the corporation to the inspector of vehicles. The committee recommends that the inspector be paid three guineas per annum for the inspection of the whole of the " National " fleet of buses, And 3s. 6d. in respect of the buses of other owners. Furthermore, it is recommended that a fee of 2s. 6d. be paid for each taxicab examined.
Popularizing Tractors for Road Haulage.
With the object of further developing the use of tractors for general haulage as well as agricultural work in Germany, the Hanomag Co., of Linden, Hanover, recently sent a caravan on a demonstration tour of the country. Two models of four-cylindered tractors are made, one developing 28 h.p. and the other 50 h.p., these being provided with either interchangeable road and stralted-rim wheels, or creeper tracks. The caravan consisted of one of tha 28 h.p. wheel-type machines hauling a trailer on which one of the 50 h.p. chain-track tractors was mounted.
Ratepayers and a Municipal Bus Service.
At a meeting of the Caerphilly Chember 'of Trade and Ratepayers Associa
tion it was resolved to petition the local urban district council to "sell out" its bus undertaking to private enterprise. This decision was arrived at on account of the losses incurred in running the municipal service. It was contended that an equally efficient bus service would be provided by private owners, without ratepayers carrying the liability of any loss which might result. it was also decided to ask the council to contract out its haulage work instead of doing it by direct labour.
Municipal Support for Private Enterprise, The Ebbw Vale Urban District Council has notified the Newport (Mon.) Watch Committee that it desires to support the application of private bus proprietors for licences for through express services on the Ebbw Vale to Newport and Cardiff routes. The Ebbw Vale authority states that it bases its sup port on the inadequacy of existing railway services to meet the public demand and on the fact that the railway stations are not readily accessible from the centres of population.
Bolton Refuses Permission.
At a meeting of the Bolton Watch Committee a letter was considered from the Furness Omnibus Co., Ltd., stating that it had inaugurated a limited-stop express bus service between Barrow-inFurness and Manchester, via LancaSter and Preston, and applying for permission to pick up and set down passengers in Bolton. The request was considered but, however, not acceded to.
Newport Bus Results.
The operation of the buses of the Newport (Mon.) Corporation in the 1926-27 financial year resulted in a net loss of £1,176, as compared with a net loss of 11,285 in the previous year. In the past year the buses ran 304,249 miles and, carried 1,403,942 passengers. It is pointed out that considerable loss was sustained by the general strike and the .prolonged stoppage in the coal industry.
The Belfast Omnibus Company's Enterprise.
The Belfast Omnibus Co. has reduced its fares from Belfast to Portrush and Portstewart, distances of over sixty miles, to 4s. Special discount tickets are being issued in books of twelve for the price of six tickets. These tickets, however, may only be used for single trips and must not be tendered for return fares.
The company has recently issued a statement refuting a story circulated in the North of Ireland that the company was entirely English. The general manager, Mr. C. W. Batten, states that the authorised capital is 1200,000, of which 1110,000 wasP subscribed in the initial stages Of promotion in England, and £102,000 was subscribed in Northern Ireland, leaving a balance of 148,000 for allotment in Ulster. Only 11 of the company's 709 employees are from England and Scotland.
The Legality of Municipal Trading.
The bus committee of the Merthyr Tydfil Corporation has received a letter from Messrs. Simons, Smyth and Daniel, solicitors, who, writing on behalf of clients, protest against the council undertaking private-hire passenger-carrying work and question the legality of such trading. The committee ha z decided to ask the Ministry of Transport for its view of the matter and to consult the Glamorgan County Council. The attitude of the Merthyr Corporation -e7i1I then be made known.
Steam Trams to Go?
In view of the steady advance of motor traffic, the Wicklow County Council has taken action to consider the abandonment of the Dublin to Blessington tramways. The Blessington trams are drawn by steam locomotives and •run on rails alongside the county road. They really represent an obsolete form of dansport, and English visitors to Dublin usually find in them a subject of considerable amusement.
The line now costs the ratepayers in the Wicklow guaranteeing areas 2s. 8d. in the £, of which 1s. 4d. is a permanent fixed charge in respect of dividend on guaranteed capital, the balance ,being the cost of maintenance due to loss in trade. For some years the county council has been agitating to have, the system scrapped or nationalized, or the dividend charge liquidated, and now it has appointed three of its members to confer with a similar number from the Dublin County Council, through,the area of which a portion of the line runs, and to consider whether it should not abandon the railway altogether.
Guy Trolley-bus Users.
Guy Motors, Ltd„ Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, claims to have built the first six-wheeled, double-deck trolley-bus. that was put into service, this having been delivered to the liVolveihampton Corporation about 12 mouths ago. After having had consistently good service from this vehicle for several months, the Wolverhampton Corporation. placed an order with the company for 10 trolley-buses of this type for use on the Seclgley and Pennfields routes on which the tramways system has been abandoned. The tramways on the Tettenhall and Willenhall routes have also been discarded; and to serve these districts the -Wolverhampton authorities placed a further order for seven Guy six-wheeled trolley-buses. The chassis follows the standard Guy design of six-wheeler construction with swivelling rear wheels and-large pneumatic tyres. The Rees-Stevens electric plant is used in the Guy trolley-bus,
C24 and this is also a Wolverhampton product, being supplied by the Rees-Roturbe Manufacturing Co.
The company's latest order for trolley-buses 'comes from the Hastings Tramways Co., which is buying eight: double-deck six-wheelers of the Wolverhampton type.
A New Trunk Road for Lincolnshire.
It is proposed to build a new trunk road at Stamford, Lincolnshire, where the present London-to-York road passes through the town, in which there are many dangerous corners. The proposals inelude the ereetion of a viaduct over what is known as "Freeman's Common," in the centre of the town.
The highways committee of the Kesteven County Council has approved
the proposals. It is hoped that the Ministry of Transport will 'make a grant of 75 per cent, of the total cost, which is estimated at £44,000.
Stamford Town Council has also unanimously approved the schme, and undertaken to pay one-third of the amount of the difference between the Government grant and the total cost, it being expected that the Kesteven County Council would pay the balance,
The Traffic Pool Proposal.
Questions regarding the proposal for a London traffic pool. were asked at a meeting of the London County Council, and it was explained that suggestions in this direction had been put forward by the traffic advisory committee, but had • not yet been officially submitted to the L.C.C. The council 'has so far expressed no opinion on the matter and can, therefore, impartially Consider any proposals when they are submitted.
A Continental Delegation.
party of delegates from Munich recently completed a six-day tour of London, during which tiansport facilities, arterial roads, and certain of the works of Government and local authorities
were .studied. The delegates paid a visit to ths overhaul works of the Loudon General Omnibus Co,, Ltd., at Chiswick, and also evinced keen interest in the arrangenients for the ctintrol of traffic in London. They were. entertained at an official 'luncheon over which the Minister of Transport pre,sided. •
Buying Vickers' Bodies.
Amongst the contracts :which ore in hand in the body-building shops of Vickers, Ltd., at Crayford; are 10 covered-top double-deckers, which are. to -he mounted on ASsociated Daimler chassis for the Birmingham Corporation, mm 10 of asimilartype .which the Walsall Corporation is buying and having mounted on Dennis chassis.
Two railway companies hdve also recently ordered Vickers' bodies, one being the Metropolitan Railway Co., which is buying four 25-seaters for Albion chassis, and the other the Great Western Railway Co., which has ordered a 32-seater for mounting on a Maudslay chassis.
A Carlisle Bridge Scheme. Steps are, being taken to widen the Eden Bridge, a narrow structurenear • Carlisle, tarrying the main road between England and Scotland on the west side of the country, which, for some years past, has been recognized to be inadequate for present-day road traffics needs. The highways committee of the Carlisle Corporation is contemplating a scheme of widening to 70 ft. at a cost of approximately £60,000, and the Ministry of Transport it to be approached with a view to securing a grant towards the work.
A Change of Address.
Automatic . and Electric Furnaces, Ltd., informs us that it is now installed in larger offices and works at Eleefurn Works, North Road, London, N.7. The company's new works have been equipped with lifting equipment to deal with electric furnaces up to a weight of 6 tons. A large demonstration roam, fitted with different types of furnace and adequate facilities for quenching the largest articles which are likely to be dealt with, has been installed.