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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 rans."—John Beattie Crozier.

Carrying 98 Tons on a 30-wheeler.

One of the most difficult transport tasks which has been undertaken recently was due to be completed last Sunday. The load to be carried was a girder 68 ft. long and weighing over 98i. tons from the Britannia Works of Dorman Long and Co., at Middlesbrough, and made for the new Cumberland Place Hotel, London. The greater part of the journey was performed by rail, but the arrangements included the conveyance by road from Marylebone to Marble Arch on a vehicle and trailer owned by MRS., Ltd., of Liverpool, the outfit consisting of a 14-wheeled Scammell articulated lorry working in conjunction with a 16-wheeled trailer, thus spreading the total load over 30 wheels.

In order to permit manceuvring the girder was arranged to have seven turning points, partly by means of turntables and partly by steering wheels at the end of the 100-tonner and steering wheels at the back of the trailer, the total length of the outfit being 107 ft.

The rail journey on the London and North Eastern Railway was accomplished by ordinary freight train at an average speed of 5 m.p.h., including stops, and a 110-ton well trolley wagon was used. The speed for the road journey' is estimated at 1 m.p.h., and the position of every lamp-post, street refuge, pillar-box and shop front on the route to be traversed has had to be considered. Lucas Profits.

The accounts of Joseph Lucas, Ltd., for the year ended August 7th, 1931, show a net profit of £208,813, as against £232,995 in the previous year. A final dividend of 10 per cent. (less tax), making 15 per cent, for the year, is recommended for payment on the ordinary shares, but the bonus is to be reduced from 10 per cent. to 5 per cent., whilst the allocation to reserve is reduced from £50,000 to £25,702. The amount to be carried forward is £59,889, as against £36,961 a year earlier.

New International 5-tonner.

One of the exhibits on the stand of the International Harvester Co., of Great Britain, Ltd., 259, City Road, London, E.C.1, at the forthcoming Commercial Motor Show at Olympia, will be the new A6 5-to1i chassis, the example on view being a short-wheelbase type suitable for semi-trailer work with payloads of up to 10 tons.

This chassis has an overhead-valve, six-cylindered engine of 31 ins, bore and 51 ins, stroke, developing 67 b.h.p. at 2,600 r.p.m. The clutch is a single-plate unit of 101 ins, diameter, and the gearbox provides five forward speeds and one reverse. The final drive is by spiral bevel and herringbone double-reduction gear. Bendix-type brakes are fitted to all wheels and quarter-elliptic auxiliary rear springs are employed in conjunction with the orthodox semi-elliptic system. The tractor model to be exhi B20 bited will have a wheelbase of 11 ft. 8 ins., and the longest of the other four wheelbases available is 17 ft. 6 ins., intermediate models having wheelbase measurements of 13 ft. (standard type), 34 ft. 2 ins. and 15 ft. 10 ins. On standard tyre equipment of 34-in. by 7-in, pneumatics, with the regular axle ratio of 8.5 to 1, the maximum road speed, on the basis of 2,800 engine r.p.m.. is 34.3 m.p.h., so that, whilst the vehicle has a moderately good speed for the load carried it should, with its five-speed gearbox, show quite an unusual performance on its indirect gears.

Short Distance Hauliers' Alliance: Insurance Scheme,.

The Short Distance Hauliers' Alliance, the office of which is at 6, Stamford Brook Road, London, W.6, has completed arrangements for a scheme of collective insurance for its members' vehicles, which is claimed to result in a reduction of up to 33 per cent. on the ordinary premiums. The benefits cover accidental damage to vehicles, unlimited loading and unloading risks, fire, theft and law costs, and the rates of premium for all heavy vehicles are £16 (country areas), £18 (town areas) and £20 (London and Glasgow areas), the rates for lighter vehicles being less.

Members are safeguarded against tatreasonable conditions should they be unfortunate in their claims experience, and an expert has been appointed whose services will be available free to protect members' interests in respect of claims and to give them all possible assistance. It is hoped that this will be the first of several directions in which the Alliance will be able to give its members practical advantages.

This Issue and the Next.

As considerable space in this issue is devoted to illustrated descriptions of new and modified commercial-vehicle products, many of them being first announcements, we have been compelled to hold over a number of our usual features, so that readers can obtain the earliest information relating to the 1932 plans of makers. Our regular features, which cater for all branches of the roadtransport industry, will be resumed, or extended to their normal length, in early issues.

The next issue of The Commercial Motor, dated October 27th, will be the First Show Number, and will contain further details of new products, as well as a complete forecast of the component and accessory and garage-equipment exhibits at the Commercial Exhibition.

New Austins for Olympia.

The Austin Motor Co., Ltd., will be shoviing several new models at Olympia. Amongst these is an entirely new chassis of special construction, which allows a low-loading line and is intended for ambulance work. To achieve this object, the engine and transmission are set at an angle, the drive being taken to an offset differential close to the near-side rear wheel. The frame height has thus been decreased by 6 ins, and the side members can be straight at the rear. The wheelbase is 11 ft. 10 ins., and the power unit is rated at 23.5 h.p.

Then them is the Twelve-Six light van to carry 7-10-cwt. loads. This has an exceptionally wide chassis frame and a six-cylindered engine of 13.9 h.p. Being of under 1-ton tudaclen weight, the tar is only £15.

The new 5-cwt. van .employs the Austin Seven chassis, in which the wheelbase is 6 ins, longer than formerly, and the loading space considerably enlarged.

New Alloy Pistons.

Pistons manufactured from an aluminium silicon alloy called Atanoloy are being produced by Mr. A. Mac.N. Brown at his works, 93, Stanley Road, . Teddington, London. They are known as Super Pistons, and the design has been registered. There is a deep ring in the head from which two ribs run to the top of the gudgeon-pin bosses. 'The body itself is so designed as to give an easy transfer if heat from, the head to the skirt. The pistons are, at present, being made only for commercial-vehicle engines.

Mn A. MacN. Brown -will be remembered as the late general manager of Specialloid, Ltd., with which company he spent five years.

First Oil-engined Lorry in S.A.

What is described as the first British oil-engined lorry in South Africa has recently been put in service in Durban by the borough engineer's department of that town. It is a Karrier vehicle with a Gardner six-cylindered engine, and, although overladen, it is said to have climbed comfortably a hill with a maximum gradient of between 1 in 5 and 1 in 6.

Municipal and Private Co-ordination. The transport committee of Plymouth Corporation has agreed upon the desirability of substituting buses for tramcars -between the town and Compton and extending the present route to the city boundary, at Torr Lane. This follows the Western Traffic Commissioner's request for co-ordinated working between the municipality and private concerns.

Portsmouth and Petrol Pumps.

In connection with electric petrol pumps Portsmouth Watch Committee has decided that unless a petrol-intercepting chamber communicating with the main drainage be installed, this type of pump must have an automatic stop which will cut off the flow of.spirit after the pump has delivered a specified number of gallons, but, in any case, not exceeding 10.

Regulations for Leicester Bus Station. The watch committee of Leicester Corporation has prepared regulations in connection with the bus station at Bel grave Gate. These state that buses shall use only the particular stand in the station to which they are allotted and must be driven to it in their order of departure.

Duplicating buses must not be used unless immediately prior to the time of departure the regular vehicle be unable to accommodate all the passengers. Duplicating buses must not be brought to the stand until two minutes before the time that the scheduled bus is due to depart and both vehicles must leave together.

Big Railway Orders for Vans.

The London and North Eastern Railway Co. has recently placed contracts for 100 motorvans and 12 trailers for use in its southern district. Orders have been placed with the following concerns :—Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., Dennis Brothers, Ltd., John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., Carrimore Six Wheelers, Ltd., Morris Garages, Ltd., • Stewart and Ardern, Ltd., Car Mart, ' Ltd. These vehicles are being bought in pursuance of the company's policy to speed up freight traffic by replacing horsed vans b motors wherever it is deemed practicable.

New Overground Buses.

In the past few days 16 of the 25 new Dennis Lance double-deckers ordered by Overw''round, Ltd., an associated company of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., have been delivered. The vehicles are interesting because they have all-steel bodies built by the Metropolitan Cammell Carriage, Wagon and Finance Co., Ltd., Washwood Heath, Birmingham. Details of the body-construction system were given on page 855 of our issue dated August 4th.

Accident Returns for 1030.

The 1930 report of the RegistrarGeneral states that deaths resulting from road accidents involving mechanical vehicles numbered 6,404, as agairist 4.49'2 in 1927, 5,251 in 1928, and 5,799

in 1929. In considering the annual increase one must not overlook the contemporary development in the use of the roads generally.

Institute of Transport's Programme. The Institute of Transport has issued its programme for the session 19311932, and it contains a list of many attractive fixtures, not only in London, but at certain provincial centres where district sections have been established. B21 Result of a Traffic Census.

The census of road traffic, which is taken annually by the Automobile Association at over 100 points in Great Britain during a week of 77 hours, reveals this year, for the first time since the war, a slight decrease in the number

of vehicles using the roads. In all, 2;645,881 vehicles passed the A.A. census points, a decrease of 123,603 com pared with the figure for 1930. The return shows that whilst industrial vehicles, including motor coaches, increased by 11,389, private cars were lower by 65,104 and motorcycles by 69,888.

' A New Coach Bodybuilder.

Bromilow and Edwards, Ltd., the well-known Bolton concern of tippinggear makers, has recently added to its activities that of coach bodybuilding. The production of the first body—a well-equipped 29-seater—was celebrated a few days ago, when the mayor of the town, Councillor Warburton, examined it. He is the director of a concern which, for many years, has run commercial vehicles, and with him on the occasion of the visit were Councillor W. Bradley, F.I.M.T., A.M.I.E.E., chairman of the transport committee and head of an important motor concern, W. Bradley and Co. (Engineers), Ltd., also Mr. A. Christy, a coach owner and active worker on behalf of the industry, and others.

A Triplex Works Visit.

Nearly 30 members of the Industrial Transport Association recently paid a visit to the works of the Triplex Safety Glass Co., Ltd., at King's Norton. The party, which included Mr. W. Oldham, chairman of the association, and Mr. J. A. Dunnage, its secretary, was received by Mr. Graham Cunningham, the managing director of the Triplex concern, who conducted the members around the works and explained the processes relating to the manufacture of safety glass. At the present time the output of Triplex safety glass is stated to be over 12,000 sq. ft. per day. Its popularity has increased remarkably.

Smith's Stamping Works Report.

During the year ended August 1st, 1931, Thomas Smith's Stamping Works, Ltd., made a profit of £8,387, after making provision for depreciation and taxation. Adding the amount brought forward and deducting the sum for the interim dividend of 21 per cent. (less tax), there is an available balance of £20,730.

822 The trading of a subsidiary company, Smith-Clayton Forge, Ltd., resulted in a loss of £17,330 for the year, provision for meeting which has been made by transferring £17,500 from the reserve.

A final dividend of 2-1 per cent, is to be paid, making 5 per cent. (less tax) for the year. As this will account for £4,687, £16,043 is the carry forward.

Saurer Manufacturing Arrangement.

It is stated that the licence granted to the M.A.N. Co. for the construction of Saurer vehicles in Germany has lately been cancelled and that, under the auspices of the Austrian and Swiss Saurer concerns, a new company with headquarters in Munich has been organized to continue the construction of Saurer vehicles for Germany.

Saving on Starter Maintenance.

A new device to reduce the cost of maintaining the electrical starting equipment on motor vehicles is being adopted by certain makers and will, we understand, be on A.E.C. vehicles to be exhibited at Olympia. It is a new type of starter-gear ring for the flywheel which can, by the removal of a few setscrews and one or a number of retaining

plates, be eased a and the ring turned so as to bring a new set of gear teeth into use. This is made possible owing to the fact that the only effective damage to the teeth is caused by the piston-like engagement of the starter pinion at only three or four points, according to whether the engines have six or four cylinders, the engine stops being always against compression.

It is thus possible readily to change the operative zone of the gear teeth from a worn part to an unused part. This procedure can be carried out eight times with a six-cylindered engine.

The new device is known as the P.C., and further particulars can be obtained from the patent agents for the inventors, Messrs. Hughes and Young, 9, Warwick Court, High Holborn, London, W.0.1.

The usual practice, when not employing the P.C. gear, is to make the toothed ring either integral with the flywheel or to shrink it on. In the former case, an expensive replacement is necessary, whilst, in the latter, the ring must be removed and another shrunk into position, with the result that the cost of replacement often amounts to £15.

Dimensions of the New Albion.

We have been asked by Albion Motors, Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, to point out that the bore and stroke of its new overhead-valve engine are n ins.' and 44 ins. respectively. We stated that the crankshaft journals were n long and the crankpins 2# ins. These dimensions are the diameters, not the lengths. From Coal Mine to Road.

A particularly interesting talking film has been produced by the British Tar Association, and was recently exhibited before 150 surveyors from London and neighbouring counties. It will be exhibited to local authorities and surveyors, and in schools and colleges all over Britain. It takes about 20 minutes to show, although a shorter version, occupying about five minutes and entitled "Tar," will be exhibited at several hundred kinemas.

The film shows that one of the principal economic reasons for the use of tar is that both tar and stone are available locally, and that transport costs are, therefore, reduced to a minimum. The gas and coke-oven industries produce annually aver 2,000,000 tons and give direct employment to more than 200.000 men, whilst 800,000 miners benefit indirectly.

Reduced Railway Traffic.

Railway statistics for July, 1931, which have recently been issued by the Ministry of Transport, show that the total number of passenger journeys (excluding those made by season-ticket holders) taken on all standard-gauge railways in Great Britain during that month, was 106,890,741, a decrease of 3.3 per cent, compared with the corresponding total of the previous year. The journeys taken by passengers at reduced fares decreased by 1,504.646, and those at ordinary fares by 2,111,908.

The total tonnage of freight conveyed (excluding free-hauled traffic) was 21,861,083, a decrease of 2,609,663 tons

compared with July, 1930. Freighttrain receipts amounted to £7,418,982, a decrease of £791,809 in the year. The freight train miles run were 591,790 less than in July, 1930.

No Heavy Traffic Diversion.

The Ministry of Transport has declined to confirm an Order sought by Harrogate Corporation for the diversion of long-distance coaches and heavy goods vehicles from the centre of the town. In the Minister's opinion the Road Traffic Act does not permit the fixing of routes for particular classes of public-service vehicle, but the highways selected must be open to all such machines.

A Body Designer Available.

We know of a chief body designer of 16 years' experience in all branches of the trade who is available for engagement. He has held positions of importance in the industry and, apart from design, is well trained in the preparing of detailed specifications and ,estimates. He also has a knowledge of metal-frame construction and has invented an interesting system of composite framework. Letters addressed to "Body Designer," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.

Motor Spirit M6rger.

It is interesting to note that the companies hitherto known as the Redline Motor Spirit Co., Ltd., and Glico Petroleum, Ltd., have been merged under the title of Redline-Glico, Ltd., with head offices at 16, Charles Street, Haymarket, London, S.W.1. Redline-Glico, Ltd., will market all the brands which have been supplied up to the present by ,the merging concerns.

Assembling Federals in Canada.

Federal commercial vehicles, which have hitherto been imported into Canada from the United States, are now being assembled at Windsor, Ontario, for the Canadian market.

Armstrong-Saurer Chassis Names.

We are advised that the chassis names of the products in the petrol-vehicle range marketed by Armstrong-Saurer Commercial Vehicles, Ltd., Broadway Buildings London, S.W.1, are as follow :-5:,913, Pioneer ; 6BL, Persistent ; 12BL, Powerful. Those chassis equipped with heavy-oil engines are identified as follow :-4.130D, Diligent; 5ADD, Defiant; 6BLD, Dauntless; 12BLD, Dominant.

Oil or Petrol Engines ?

We regret that, owing to the repetition of a line of type, a wrong construction may have been placed upon a remark made by Mr. Shrapnell-Smith in a recent address on the subject of " Will Oil Displace Spirit for Traction and Motoring?" What the author actually said was :—" The old hot-bulb engine had a compression ratio of about 7.5 to 1. New features had followed one another rapidly since 1922. Compression ratios of 14 to 1 to 19 to 1 were used successfully."