WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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Big Dunlop Profits.
The annual report and balance-sheet of the directors of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., for the year ended December 31st last has just eeen issued, and shows an increase of approximately 85 per cent, on the net profits as compared with the preceding year. For the year 1924 the net profit amounted to £1,500,151 10s. 9d. For the year 1925 the profits have amounted to £3,207,611 5s. 1d. This amount is arrived at afterproviding for the dividend on the preference shares in Cotton Mills, Ltd., paid to outside shareholders and amounting to a further £43,181 5s.
After deducting interest on debenture stock, income stock and mans and providing for premium on debentures redeemed, there is a net profit of £2,746,229 7s. 2d.
The amount brought forward from the previous year is 1525,151 10s. 9d., and out of this sum thus available the directors have decided that there shall be transferred to general reserve an amount of 111,294,767 17s. 8d., which will bring the amount of that reserve up to £1,600,000. Dividends on all classes of preference shares for the 12 months absorbed £375,000, and it is now recommended that a dividend of 15 per cent. per annum shall be paid on the ordinary shares, absorbing a further £1,008,522, leaving to be carried forward to the next account £593,090 19s. 3d.
The directors say that they have consistently followed a conservative policy, which is rendered even more necessary by the wide fluctuation in the prices of raw rubber. The German and French factories are now working at a satisfactory profit, although a loss has been incurred by the American company. It is proposed to ask the shareholders to sanction an increase in the borrowing facillties of the company by three and a half millions sterling.
Fast New Tank for French Army.
A new type of light Tank has recently been adopted by the French Army authorities after lengthy experiments. The engines for these new Tanks are supplied by Panhard and Levassor, and the chassis by the Citroen Co. The general lines of the chassis are similar to those of the ordinary CitroenKegresse vehicle, but everything about them is naturally made very much more substantial. The engine is similar to that used in the 4i-ton to 5-ton Panhard-Levassor lorry. It is a fourcylinder sleeve-valve monobloe employing steel sleeves, the cylinder bore being 85 mm. and the piston stroke 140 mm.
A six-speed gearbox with fast reverse gears is fitted to the chassis, and in order to facilitate rapid reversing when the Tank is in action, all the controls are duplicated, and two steering wheels are fitted, one facing to the front and the other to the rear. The total weight of the vehicle is slightly over 2itons and the speed complete with armament and with a full crew on board is 37 m.p.h.
The latest type of Kegresse flexible drive is employed. In this the drive is taken from the forward pulley and the
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jockey carriers are spring suspended. The front wheels of the machine are fitted with " V.P." inner tubes. These tubes were described in detail in The Commercial Motor for September 9th, 1924. The " V.P." tube, which is not really a tube at all, appears to constitute one of the most satisfactory tyre fillings for heavy vehicle use that has yet been devised. The .arrangement comprises a
number of cells, or ballonets, moulded into the outer form of an inflated tube. The cells are all inflated during the manufacture to an equal pressure, this pressure being regulated to the weight of the vehicle in the tyres of which the tubes are to be used. The exact method by which an equal pressure is obtained in all the cells is a secret of the makers.
The new French Tank is a machine which lends itself essentially to rapid mass production, a most important feature inwar material. A light .Tank capable of traversing open country at speeds up to 37 m.p.h. should prove a formidable weapon and a difficult target.
Motor Vehicles by Railway.
We are informed that as from April 1st, the charge of 10.s. for the use of a covered truck for the conveyance of a motor vehicle on a passenger or goods train, which hitherto applied to all the railways in the United Kingdom, has been discontinued.
Esco Wheels for Buses.
In recent issues we have made mention of the fact that Greyhound Motors Ltd., of Bristol, are converting A number of their buses to run on pneumatic tyres. We understand that they have decided to fit G.F. Esco Simplex road wheels, made by the Electric Steel Castings Co., Ltd., Pinstone Street, Sheffield, in conjunction with these tyres. The demounting and mounting of the rims and tyres can be simply and easily carried out and, quite apart from the fact that the wheels are immensely strong, their use results in a saving of weight.
Buying Rail Coaches.
The London and North Eastern Railway Co., who, over a year ago, carried out extensive experiments with Sentinel rail coaches in the North of England over branch lines, have placed orders with the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., for two passenger rail steam coaches, each with seating accommodation for 52 persons, and with Clayton Wagons, Ltd., for one steam railcar. During the experiments the steam coaches proved extremely economical and were stated at the time to be an effective means for providing accelerated branch-line services without entailing the heavy cost of running ordinary railway rolling-stock. Registrations in America.
According to the Department of Agriculture of America, over 20 million motor vehicles were in use on the highways of the United States in 1925. The total registration was 19,954,347, but there were 96,929 State and Federal Government-owned vehicles not included in this figure. The increase in registrations during the year was 2,360,670, or 13.4 per cent. Florida reports an increase of 46.8 per cent. The registration of commercial vehicles increased by 14.5 per cent, for the whole country.
New York leads in total registrations with 1,625,583 vehicles, followed by California, Ohio, Pennsylliania and Illinois in the order named, all with registrations of over a million vehicles. There is now one motor vehicle for each 5.8 persons in the United States ; in California alone there is one vehicle for every 2.9 persons.
The total revenue from registration fees, permits' etc., amounted to 260,619,621 dollars, of which a sum of 177,706,587 dollars was made available for State highways.
Leyland Passenger Models in Demand.
The various shops of Leyland Motors Ltd., Leyland, Lancashire, are at present very actively engaged in meeting the requirements of a number of important passenger-operating concerns. Amongst these are the United Counties' Omnibus Co., of Kettering, who are buying G.H. 7 chassis to supplement the six S.G. 11 (side-type chassis)
which they recently ordered. Then there are Richard Percival, Ltd., who have ordered a Lioness chassis, on which a coach body is to be mounted ; Messrs. Brookes Bros., of Rhyl, who are adding a Leviathan bus to their extensive Leyland fleet ; and the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., of Atherton, whose prefererwe has. fallen on the company's Lion bus, of which they are buying a number. Three complete Lion buses are also under construction for Lewis and James, Ltd., Newbridge, Monmouth, who intend to use them on their district service. \
Supplies of Standardized Goods.
A scheme has recently been inaugurated under which the Standards Department of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders prepares and circulates lists giving names and addresses of companies who manufacture and supply in accordance with various S.M.M. and T. provisional standards. The standards which have been dealt with first are No. 22, which deals with unions, nipples and nuts, and No. 23, which refers to battery crates, terminal posts and capable connectors.
The Sheffield Parade.
The works committee of the Sheffield Corporation has acceded to the application of the Commercial Motor Users Association for permission to assemble the commercial vehicles taking van in the annual parade held in Sheffield in the fair ground on Saturday, June 19th.
Ford's Profits.
According to a report from New York, last year's profits of the Ford Motor Company, who started business in 1903 with 28,000 dollars capital, amounted to 115,000,000 dollars, or 667 dollars per share, according to reports recently filed by the company. Only three persons—Mr. Ford, his wife and son—own the stock of the company. On the basis of the published figures, it is estimated that every vehicle manufactured in the Ford works brings in a profit of 44.90 dollars to the shareholders.
Bartle's Bodybuilding Activities.
The works of James Bartle and Co., Ltd., Lancaster Road, London, W.11, who undertake commercial bodywork of all descriptions, have recently been reorganized, and a considerable sum of money has been spent on making additions to their premises. The company are now in a position, as indeed they always have been, to undertake commercial work in any quantities and, as many of our readers will know, they have had considerable experience in the design and manufacture of bodies for. goods carrying, as well as passenger transport; .
L.G.O. Co.'s New Bus Station.
Work has recently begun on a new omnibus station for the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., in the forecourt of the main line station at Victoria, and in consequence some rearrangement of the starting points of various services has been made. The new station is to be built on the lines of that which was used for the Exhibition traffic at Wembley, and will take about six wdeks to construct and equip. There will be four platforms-in all, each about 84 ft.
* long, and the movements of incoming and outgoing buses will be controlled from a tower 23 ft. high.
The Value-of a Low Loading Level.
The illustrations which are reproduced at the foot ,of this page depict an S.D. Freighter which has recently been supplied by Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd., of Letchworth, to the Ever Ready Co. (Great Britain), Ltd. This machine has been put into service especially for the haulage of dry batteries on Slingsby trucks. It is necessary to convey the batteries a distance of about a mile from theft' company's main factory to their warehouse, and before the S.D. Freighter was purchased two lorries were employed. Furthermore, all batteries had to be transferred from the Slingsby truck to the lorry platform by hand. owing to the high loading level, but with the S.D. Freighter, which is
provided with two small hand winches, the fully laden trucks can be quickly hauled into the van interior by one man, This is an excellent example of the advantages which a vehicle with a low load-line offers in certain circumstances. The ease with which loading and unloading operations can be performed contributes towards expediting the work, and this factor results in valuable economies being effected.
Blackpool's Acquisition.
The tramways committee of Blackpool has considered the question of the acquisition by the corporation of Mr. William Smith's motorbuses, and the tramway manager • submitted a statement containing particulars and valuation of the various vehicles. A purchase price having been agreed upon the Corporation undertook the continuation of Mr. Smith's fins service on and after April 19th. An application for permission to run a motorbus service direct from Lancaster to Blackpool has been deferred for consideration at the next meeting of the watch ,committee.
Personal'Pars.
The subject of the portrait on this page is Mr. P. J. Rays, a gentleman who is well known and his a host of friends in the motor industry and is now occupying an important position on the selling side of Stewartsand Ardern, Ltd, the sole London7, distributors for Morris products.
At one time he was managing director of Hays, Standen and Co., Ltd., and at another period of his business career sales manager of Small and Parkes, Ltd„ the proprietors and manufacturers of the well-known brand of Don friction fabrics.
Mr. Rays is a man of striking personality, thoroughly businesslike, but a good fellow for all that. Like his present chief, Mr. Gordon Stewart, he is a great worker and is usually to be found in his office long after the rest of the staff has departed. Much of his success as an organizer is due to unbounded enthusiasm, and it was he who recently escorted us round the remarkable new premises which his company have almost completed in the main Uxbridge Road.
We are pleased to learn that Mr. H. Bell Thompson, the energetic director and general manager of Sterns, Ltd., is making a good recovery after his recent serious illness and operation. Mr. Thompson has a long connection with the oil industry, and we believe he actually joined Messrs. Sterns in a junior capacity over 35 years ago. His record with the company is one of unceasing endeavour, and we are certain that his many friends in the motor Industry will wish him a speedy return to health and business activity.
We are advised that Mr. John Gifford Leonard and Mr. Julian Maynard Leonard have been admitted as partners in Messrs. Carless, (lapel and Leonard, the well-known fuel company.
North American Production.
The United States Department of 'Commerce reports that the February production of commercial vehicles was 40,805, of which 37,522 vehicles were made in the United States and 3,283 vehicles in Canada. The revised commercial vehicle figures for January are as follow :— United States, 29,651; Canada, 2,978.
" The Karrier Gazette."
The above title is that given to a little publication which is being issued every two months by Karrier Motors, Ltd., Karrier-Works, Hudders
field. No. 1 of this interesting house organ has just reached us, and in. it the company clearly and concisely express,1 their aims in connection with its issue. The April number contains a summary of the latest Karrier passenger .models produced, together with pictures of several types, and the go-ahead policy of the company is typified by the illustration of a six-wheel rigid-frame bus which decorates the cover design. Space is devoted to notes relating to six-wheelers and a brief description of the. R.S.C. road sweeper, sprinkler and collector, which is largely used in municipal circles, is given. The service and repair sides of the company's activities are not being overlooked, and details of this organization will appear in the journal from time to time. The first issue is completed by a tabulation giving abridged data and prices of the range of Karrier 1926 models.
Popularity of Aluminium Wheels.
At the recent annual meeting of the British Aluminium Co., Ltd., Lieut-Col. Stephen H. Pollen, the chairman, stated that amongst the new uses of aluminium particular interest attached to aluminium alloy road wheels, with which experiments have been proceeding for some time past. He added that these wheels have proved thoroughly satisfactory and lead to a considerable saving of weight, especially in the case of heavy omnibuses and similar vehicles. Several important companies are steadily replacing steel wheels ,by aluminium wheels. Some Of the latter type have now run over 120,000 miles.
Vulcan Activities.
The South African representative of the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906): Ltd., Crossens, Southport, cabled the company a few day ago to the effect that the Vulcan exhibits at the recently held motor show in Johannesburg created a favourable impression. We are told that a number of orders was secured, amongst them being one for a bus chassis of the smne type as that recently supplied to the Southport Corporation.
The company's home activities continue to expand, and amongst recent orders which they have secured are those from Messrs. Haigh and Howard, Manchester ; J. Vipond and Co., Ltd., Pontypool; J. Kenworthy and Son, Ltd., Manchester; and 3Ir. Kenneth McLennan, Stornoway. One of the most interesting orders is that for a low-loading promenade runabout for Mr. Tom Cary, of Skegness, a seaside resort in which a number of similar vehicles is already in use.
More Guy Buses for St. Helens.
As the result of good service obtained from the use of six Guy buses which have been in service for some time past, St. Helens Corporation has now given a repeat order to Guy Motors, Ltd, Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, for several 30-seater buses, which will be of the low load-line, dropped-frame type.
H.B. Trailers on Order.
Sheffield Steel Products, Ltd., Templeborough Works, Sheffield, advise us that they have received an order for three H.B. patent tipping trailers from the United Glass Bottle Manufactuers (Charlton), Ltd. An Artistic Van Body.
M. R. Boell, of " Le Cinemeubl6 " Co., of Paris, has just purchased a Latil van for the transport of film furniture, stage properties, etc. The side panels of this van have been
painted by a well-known futurist exhibitor at the " Salon des Independents." One cannot always admire the efforts of futurist painters, but the colour combinations which they invent are often wonderfully attractive. This certainly applies to the decoration of the handsome Latil van in question, to the colour scheme of which the accompanying illustration cannot unfortunately do justice.
Our French correspondent was blandly told that the off-side panel represents the interior of one of the largest film studios in Paris during the production of a super-fdra drama. We are asked to believe, too, that on the other side of the van the panel shows an exciting stunt film in process of being made ; an aeroplane is seen flying through the Mt. Cenis tunnel.
A Vast Network of Bus Services.
Amongst the most progressive of the provincial motor omnibus companies in this country are Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., who maintain a vast network of services from their headquarters at Preston. We have on several occasions referred to the company's growing activities, and we note frimn a map which is included in their bus time-table for April that their services now extend so far south as Widnes, to Liverpool, Southport and Blackpool in the west, so far east as Roehdale and Colne and to Barnoldsvvick in the north. The company's buses serve a number of important industrial centres and link up many of them with less-populated areas.
11,1.A. Annual Meeting.
The 39th annual general meeting of the Roads Improvement Association wilr he held at the Surveyors' Institution, Great George Street, Westminster, London, S.W.1,'on Thursday, April 22nd, _.at 5 p.m., when, in the absence of H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught, E.G., G.C.V.O., president, the chair will be taken by Mr. W. Rees Jeffreys, vice-president and chairman.
North Wales Bridge Tolls..
Conway Town Council, which acts as commissioners of Conway Suspension Bridge, has decided to reduce season tickets by 50 per cent for vehicular use of the bridge. Two years ago such a ticket cost 18 for motor vehicles, whilst lest year it was 30s., and henceforward it will be 15s. Tolls for single crossings by all classes of vehicle were made 12 months ago, and the commissioners will consider at an early date further Modification of these tolls. Thebridge was made a free bridge to pedestrians 20 years ago, when the council decided to collect the tolls direct instead of letting them out by contract. Since that date there have been various revisiting of tolls for wheeled traffic, the present scale being 50 per cent, below that then
in force. • .
Karriers for Many UseS..
Amongst the many recent orders Placed for Karrier vehicles, mention can be made. of the following as of interest: Passenger vehicles: Four rigid .six-wheelers for Cape Electric Tramways, Ltd., Cape Town ; two 32-seater singledeck buses for the Ryburn Garage Co., Ltd., Sowerby Bridge ; two 39-seater single-deck buses for Messrs. Oliver Hart, Coppull, and Skewen Garage, Skewen, Glans,; a 29-seater single-deck bus chassis for Messrs. Hughes Bros.,
Hanley. •
Goods vehicles (repeat orders) : Two 6-ton three-way tippers for the East Suffolk County Council ; two 65-cwt. chassis and one 6-ton chassis for the Liverpool Co-operative Society, Ltd. ; one 4-ton chassis for the Cumberworth Erick and Tile Go.;, 3-to1 lorries for the Leeds Corporation Waterworks Department and Messrs. R. H. Inman, of Huddersfield ; and a 2-ton chassis for Simpson and Slater,Ltd., of Notting
ham. . • Overseas orders being executed by Karriet Motors, Ltd., include a number for 25-cwt. and 30-cwt. chassis for Australia. 30-cwt. chassis for South Africa, and 65-cwt, chassis for Singapore.
So far as municipal models are concerned, the company have recently re ceived a repeat order from the Poplar Borough Council for a sweeper and collector, and another for a R.S.C.-type sweeper, sprinkler and collector' from the Bridlington Borough Council, and a third from the Leicester 'Corporation, which is buying a 4-ton gully flasher: Canadian Output Increasing.
_ The output of motor 'vehicles in Canada in January and February of this year was easily the greatest for any period of two months • since the war, 38,840 vehicles being manufactured, of which 6,193 were lorries.
Costly "White Lines."
It is interesting to rote that for holidays and " red letter days," when road traffic is likely to be heavy, the Prescot Council (near Liverpool) will restore-tO prominence the recently marked oat "white lines." The surveyor told the committee at its recent meeting that on the granite setts they had in Prescott it
was necessary to paint the lines twice a week. That would mean an expenditure of close on £250 a year, and would mean practically a 2d. rate. It was decided that the lines be discontinued except on days when the races were held or the traffic was abnormal.
Farmers and the Agrimotor..
The gradual decline in the number of horses available for farm Work has resulted in many farmers turning to the use of the agrimotor. As indicating_ to some extent the renewed activity in this direction it may be mentioned that on one day recently the Ford Motor Co. consigned a trainload a twenty Fordsons from Trafford Park, Manchester, to 'the depot of Stanhay,' Ltd., Aishford, Kent, and on the same day twenty-two other Fordsons left for:
different parts of England. • •
Guatemala Rescinds Import,Duty.
In order to encourage the use of, motor lorries and tractors the Government of Guatemala, has placed on the duty-free list, for six months from February 3rd, motor trucks of from' 1-2 tons capacity and all tractors.
The Trojan Service Manual.
Leyland Motors Ltd. have just issued the first edition of a service manual for the Trojan vehicle. This is extremely well put together, and is intended to indicate by a number of simple illustrations and by lucid language the mechanical construction of the various components of the chassis and of factors concerned with its efficient maintenance and upkeep. The Manual is divided into two parts, and each contains a clear exposition of the subjects dealt with. Apart from indicating the simplicity of Trojan design and serving to direct attention to ingenious features, the contents of the manual assist in the solution of problems which may be encountered and give useful information on the subject of overcoming them in the easiest and simplest way. The Trojan factory is at Kingston-on-Thames.
Refuse Collection at Swansea.
In. our issue for April 6th we dealt with the Question of refuse collection at Swansea, saying that the Chief Constable of the borough, in his annual report, had made certain comments regarding the refuse collection in the borough, with the suggestion that overlapping of collections should be avoided.
Mr. R. Heath, the Borough Engineer and Surveyor, writes to tell us. that the information contained in the paragraph is entirely wrong, that the Chief Constable has made 'no such suggestions, and that his annual report contains nothing referring to refuse collection.
It would seem to us that a mistake, has been made by our local correspondent, with whom the matter has been taken up.
Coach Parking at York.
The parks committee of the York Corporation has considered the question of the charge for parking vehicles on Knavesmire, and.decided to fix it at 2s. 6d. for chars-A-banes.
Roof Lamps of Many Patterns.
Dixonia, Ltd., 4, Portsmouth Street, Kingsway, 1,071(1011, W.C.2, 'have just issued a booklet which deals with their various accessories, some of which are particularly desigaed for use on commercial vehicles. The company specialize in the manufacture of roof lamps for motorbuses and other types of etermercial vehicle, and can offer a number of different types.