WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by. alt difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs,"—john Beattie Crozier.
Operating Costs for Six-wheelei Vehicles.
It had been our intention (as we said in our last issue) to publish in this issue tables of operating costs for six-wheeled vehicles (articulated and rigid-framed). We find, however, that we have not been able to obtain the data required so quickly as we had expected in order to work out all the calculations necessary in time for their inclusion. If possible, we will give these tables in our next issue or, at the latest, the week after.
Possible Improvements in Motorcars.
There is an interesting article in the current issue of The Motor in which, as a result of an examination into the question as to whethdr the motorcar can be improved, the conclusion is come to that it is possible, for it puts forward some 20 practical suggestions, some of which, such as automaticity in brake adjustments, have a certain definite interest to makers and users of commer cial motor vehicles. Our associated journal is asking for criticisms and augmentation of the list and later on a vote of its readers will be taken on the order of importance of the items in the list, and in connection with this vote prizes to the amount of £100 will be offered.
Cardiff's Bus Purchase Plans.
An important acquisition scheme has been decided upon by the Cardiff Tramways Committee and, subject to the formal assent of the council, will be completed. The committee has resolved to purchase the bus undertakings of Mr. Rich, Rhubina, for £19,000 and thus secure a monopoly of bus services in the Llanishen, Whitchurch (Birchgrove) and Rhubina suburbs of Cardiff.
Th.. understanding with Mr. Rich is that, on the completion of the purchase, he will not seek to participate in any other motorbus undertaking in the Cardiff area and that all Mr. Rich's staff be taken into the employment of the council. In addition to an additional revenue of 13,000 per annum which will accrue to the council by the use of the buses of Mr. Rich, economies amounting to £4,635 per annum are estimated as likely to result in the working of the bus department. It is proposed to limit the extent of borrowing to undertake the purchase to £7,000, the balance of £12,000 to be paid, in four yearly instalments, from revenue.
In addition to this extension of activity the council proposes to buy a number of new• buses. To this end Dennis Bros., Ltd., recently demonstrated to the council and officials one of its latest low load-line 30-35-seater saloon buses. This is a type of vehicle to which reference has often been made in our columns and is one which is in use by a number of municipal authorities. The tramways manager is to report on the utility of this type.
Our Next Issue.
• Will our readers please note that the issue of The Commercial Motor dated December 28th will, in spite of the intervention of the Christmas holidays, be on sale in all parts of the country on the usual day of publication?
New Name for an Industrial' Tractor.
During a recent visit to the headquarters of the International Harvester Co., of Great Britain, Ltd., 259, City Road, London, E.C.1, we were told that the McCormick-Deering tractor, which has achieved a considerable measure of success in this country for industrial uses, will shortly be known as the International industrial tractor. The name is being altered so that it may more readily be associated with the company's activities. Addition to the Range of A.D.C. Models.
A 10-12-ton tractor-trailer has just been added to the range of the Associated Daimler Co.'s commercial chassis, the tractor portion being based on the A.D.C, Model 506 chassis, and the trailer portion being a Carrimore.
The framing of the tractor chassis is adequately strengthened, the wheelbase being fixed at 12 ft. 2 ins., tire springs also being of suitable strength, 4 ft. 5 ins. long and 31 ins. wide. The turntable has been specially designed, the lower wheel plate being 38 ins, in diameter, fitted to a. channel carriage which rocks in steel trunnion brackets mounted on
the tractor chassis. A steel casing forms the upper wheel plate, being riveted to the trailer main frame. Brake drums, 24 ins. in diameter, are equipped to the trailer wheels, and the Westinghouse 'air-brake system can be fitted.
The overall length is 33 ft., the length of the body being 22 ft. and its width 7 ft. 5 ins. The height of the trailer frame from the ground is 3 ft. 9 ins., thus giving a very satisfactory load line, made possible by the fact that the frame height of the Model 506 chassis is only 2 ft. 8 ins, from the ground. We illustrate this vehicle on page 560.
French versus British Tenders.
In an advice from Copenhagen we learn that the tender of a British manufacturer to supply 11 motorbuses to the toe& corporation has been turned down in favour of a French tender, the company submitting the latter having been awarded part of the contract. It is said that the price quoted by the French company was below that of the English manufacturer. .
Fire Motor Wanted in Bulgaria.
The Sofia (Bulgaria) Town Corporation invites tenders, the last day for receiving which is January 3rd, for a motor appliance, with a reservoir holding 2,500 litres of water, for the use of the fire brigade. Delivery must be made in three months. The estimated cost is 550,000 leva.
New Taxation and Fares on otorbuses.
lir. 0. Cardwell, the general manager of the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., recently gave an interesting lecture on road transport before the Stockport Rotary Club. In the course of this he gave some interesting information relating to the company's activities, and said that it had nearly 200 vehicles in use on a route mileage of About 700. The number of passengers carried on the company's buses in the year ended March last was 16,500,000, and it is anticipated that the number carried in the year which ends in March next will be about 21,000,000. Daring the year to March last 4,500,000 miles were run by the vehicles. The company holds licences for its vehicles to operate over the areas controlled by 50 local authorities.
Mr. Cardwell had something to say on the question of the new scale of taxation which comes into force at the beginning of next year. and said that the position at the present time was one of uncertainty, particularly in regard to the size of vehicle for future use. Whatever the extent of taxation, however. he said, the services were essential to the people, and it might be necessary, if heavier charges had to be met, for fares to be increased in certain eases.
To Commercial Vehicle Lamp Makers.
An opportunity worth grasping is presented to makers of lamps for commercial vehicles who desire to be represented in the Metropolitan area. A manufacturer's representative, fully equipped with staff, offices' and showrooms in a central position, having long experience in the lamp trade, possessing an extensive and valuable connection and being someone whom we can with great confidence recommend, is open to negotiate with a lamp maker who has a really good line of productions suitable for the heavy-vehicle
Market. Letters addressed to S.S.H., (sire of the Editor of The Commercial olor, will be forwarded.
A Halifax Bus Company's Purchase.
0. and C. Holdsworth, Ltd., proprietors of the Rabble Bus Services, ,af Halifax, a company which has extended its activities very considerably during recent years, has purchased from the Bradford Dyers' Association, Ltd., the dye works in Walnut Street, Gibbet Street, Halifax, lately occupied by the C. Armitage and Co. branch of the li.i).A. The premises will be utilized by 0. and C. Holdsworth, Ltd., in connection with its bus-service activities. 'lite buildings have a frontage of nearly 500 ft. in Walnut Street, and consist of large sheds, covered yards and a suite or offices.
4 A Well-equipped Motorcycle Box Carrier.'
A disrinct attempt to popularize the lightweight motorcycle delivery van outfit has been made by the Paragon (Hull) Motor Co., Ltd., of Anlaby Road. null. This concern is listing a 250 c.e. Dunelt with a smart box van sidecar for the price of £50 " all on." The words " all on" have, indeed,. a fuller meaning than that which is usually applied to them, for the Paragon Co. teaches the errand boy to drive free of charge, and the outfit is supplied registered, tax paid and lettered, whilst it is complete with lamps and horn, and is filled up with oil and petrol.
Salesmanship of this kind should go a long way towards popularizing the motorcycle for light delivery work, and the COMOVII ill question is, therefore, to be much commended for the enterprise it has displayed.
A Novel Publicity Van.
Although there are now a large number of special publicity motor vehicles in service, those which possess features of an unusual character still attract considerable notice, and we ore quite certain that the special van illustrated on this page, which has been constructed for Pirelli Tyres, Ltd., will be no exception to the rule. As our picture shows,the body is formed up of a number of sections representing motor tyres. It is framed up in English ash and panelled in 18-in, gauge hand-hammered aluminium. The tyres are facsimiles of those of Pirelli make, and extend from the front of the driver's cab to the end of the body. The back panel of the body is so finished that the rearmost tyre is depicted on a disc wheel. This special body has been constructed by London Improved Motor Coachbuilders, Ltd., 149, Limns Street, London, S.W.1, and is mounted cm a nat chassis.
Unic's New Headquarters, Unic Motors, Ltd., advises us that it is removing to more commodious premises, mid that as from January 1st next the business will be conducted from Unic House, Walnut Tree Walk, Kennington, London, S.E.11.
Tractors for Street Cleansing.
Apparently the tests of motor tractors for the haulage of dust carts and other street-cleansing vehicles, which have been in hand for 25( an° time past in Antwerp, Belgium, have proved successful, as the municipal authorities of that city have just given out orders for another twelve machines. Tractor-lorries to Cheapen Transport Costs.
A six-wheeled Thornycroft tractor lorry which has recently been added to the fleet of Angus Watson and Co., Ltd., Newcastle-on-Tyne, is attracting considerable attention in many northern towns, through which it has to pass in the course of its daily journeys. Royal blue in colour, with orange lines and lettering, it is the first of a projected fleet of similar vehicles which the company intends to put into service with a view to cutting the present high cost of railway freights in an effort to cheapen the cost of food to the public. It is also anticipated that such vehicles will enable the company's ready-to-serve foods to be more speedily disttibuted.
In passing, it may be of interest to note that the company's fleet of vehicles continued to effect deliveries throughout
the country during the period of the general strike. For this excellent work under difficult conditions, Mr. Angus 'Watson presented each member of the transport staff with a gold watch suitably inscribed.
The Power Plant-Fieux Automatic Clutch.
We have received from the Power Plant Co., Ltd., West Drayton, Middlesex, a copy of a brochure dealing with the Fieux automatic and semi-automatic clutches, the rights of which have recently been acquired for the British Empire by this company.
The brochure is well printed and illustrated by examples of various types of vehicle, railcar and municipal appliance upon which these types of clutch have been used with success. It also gives a full description and diagrams of complete clutches and their component parts, concluding with starting-test diagrams.
The company's experts are available to examine any proposals involving the employment of clutches of these types' as well as those concerning its other products, which include gearing of all types, Michell thrust bearings, rolling mills, etc.
The Ford Five-day Week.
The latest industrial development of the Ford Motor Co. (England), Ltd., i.e., the five-day working week, was put into operation at the company's factory at Trafford Park. Manchester, on December 6th. The introduction of a five-day week necessitates a revision in the rates of pay for workers paid on an
hourly basis, and immediate steps are being taken to ensure that the worker is enabled, under the new Conditions, to earn as much in five days as be previously did in 5i days.
All authorized Ford dealers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been advised of the new arrangement so that collections of vehicles on Saturdays may be avoided. It is expected that with the up-to-date plant employed • at Trafford Park the company, will be able to maintain its output in spite of the shorter working week.
More Leylands for Stockton.
In order to permit of service accelerations the Stockton Corporation has decided to purchase four additional motorbuses, these being a 26-seater Leyland, at a cost of £1,140, and three 31-stater Leylands, at a cost of £1,185 each, a total outlay of £4,695.
The First Hathi in Australia.
The original of a picture which appears on this page has just been received from Thornycroft (Australia), Ltd., a subsidiary company of John I.
Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., London, S.W.1. It shows the first Thornycroft Hathi four-wheel-drive tractor after assembly in Australia, en route for delivery to the Australian Defence Department, which has acquired it for artillery transport. Another ff these vehicles has been acquired by the New South Wales Government and we understand thnt in all probability other of
the Australian states will shortly acquire tractors of this kind.
Immediately to the rear of the Rathi tractor a Thornycroft type Al. 30-cwt. lorry is to be seen, and this is one of several vehicles of a similar type recently delivered by the Australian branch of Thornyeroft's to the Government of Victoria.
Death of a Bus Pioneer.
Mr. John Limey, of Langley Moor, a bus pioneer in Durham County, was accidentally knocked down and killed recently on the railway. In 1925 he operated a fleet of seven buses and a number of taxicabs in the Durham neighbourhood, but sustained a heavy loss when his garage was practically destroyed by fire about a year ago.
Smaller Vehicles Demanded.
As the Newhaven Rural District Council has objected to the size of the standard buses run in the district by Thomas Tilling, Ltd., the company has agreed to run smaller vehicles and has now obtained licences from the Brighton Watch Committee for five pneumatic-• tyred saloon vehicles.
A " Limited-stop " Bus Service.
As was mentioned in our last week's issue the new motorbus service between Edinburgh and Glasgow is proving highly popular, and the 20-minute service in both directions is likely soon to prove quite inadequate for the traffic that is being created. Already some interesting developments are being
found necessary, and amongst these is the use of a number of " limited-stop " vehicles, which were put on ore road a few days ago.
These conveyances, which are slightly smaller than the ordinary buses, are scheduled to complete the journey between the two cities in 21 hours, and instead of stopping wherever hailed or requested they do so only at the more important towns and villages, and then only at certain specified points. At places near to Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively they only pick up passengers on the outward run and drop them on the inward run. The result is that speed is increased and much time saved.
An hourly service is maintained from early morning until late at night, and this arrangement is quite independent of and apart from the ordinary service vehicles which stop wherever desired and run to a 20-minute time-table.
A Passenger-service Expert Free.
We know of an expert in passengervehicle transport who, as proprietor and, later, as director of an important provincial service, has had an extensive experience, and who, having now diaposed of his interests in big company, is desirous of getting into touch with commercial concerns overseas where the experience in question can be put to good use. We shall be glad to forward to him any letters addressed V.S.G., care of the Editor of this journal.
A Mountain Motorbus. Service.
A motorbus service is now being run between Clermont Ferrand, France, and the summit of the well-known Pay-deDome, 4,800 ft. above sea-level. A new motor road has lately been completed to the top of the mountain, the distance from Clerruont being about 12 miles.
A £50,000 Mountain Road.
We are informed that the famous Talylln mountain road in Merionethshire, which was seriously damaged by flood last July, is being reconstructed of concrete for a distance of eight miles, at a cost of £50,000.
Motors in Middlesex.
Middlesex County Council reports that in the year ended March 31st last the total number of vehicle licences issued iii the county was 104,660, and the reveuue derived therefrom amounted to £559.637. Compared with the preceding year, these figures show an increase of 26,532 in the number of licences issued and £98,357 in the amount of revenue. Of the total number or: licences, 80,g85 were issued by rhe. local taxation licences department, the balonee of 23,775 being issued at the variore; poet offices in the county.
The number of drivers' licences issued during the same period was 73,362, producing a revenue of £18,341. For the eorresponding period of 1924-25, the total -number of licences issued was I.:0,365, producing a revenue of £15,091.
Motor Salvage Cranes.
A booklet which should prove of particular interest to the motor tradein geeeted is that which Herbert Morris, Ltd., of Loughborough, has just published, for it contains particulars of the various types of motor salvage _crane and other garage equipment for lifting and shifting which the company markets. The openieg pages deal with a newly patented device for facilitating the salvage of broken-down and damaged vehicles, and the illustrations which are published serve to give a very good idea • -lf the different types of lorry and other classes of crane which are available for such Is (wit.
The W.D. Buys a Sweeper.
One of the most interesting deliveries which the Lucre Motor Car Co., Ltd., 78. York Road, London, N.1, has recently effected is that of a type L threewheeled sweeper, which has, been supplied to the War Department. It is a standard machine and incorporates in its design a four-cylinder engine developing approximately 12 h-p., a leather-faced cone clutch, a two-speed-andreverse gearbox, the final drive being by
roller chain to the rear wheel. The brush is mounted in a semi-circular
• guard which is carried on detachable pivots attached to the frame; it is dis, . posed at an angle between the wheels at the front and at the rear. Amongst recent orders which the company has received for Lacro sweepers can be mentioned those feran the corporations of Bristol, Glasgow. Plymouth and
whilst the Johannesburg municipality is also buying similar machines.
A Travelling Exhibition and Cinema Show.
With the object of popularizing the use of nitrates, sulphate of ammonia and other artifice] manures amongst French agriculturalists the Comptoir
Francais de l'Azotc, 57, Cheussee d' Alain, Paris, recently sent a travelling exhibition and cinema show on a tour of Ifrancc. The equipment, which is carried on a 1-ton Renault van, comprises not only samples of artificial Illallures and photographs of farms utilizing them, but also the necessary fittings for enabling a display to be made at any suitable spot in a village or agricultural district. The . fittings include trestles, table-top, three large panels, with the photographs attached, and a top canopy, the last-named being supported from the van roof.
A small cinema projecting set is also carried, this being worked by the driver of the van while an official gives a short lecture on the value of artificial manures. Since June last the vehicle he visited over 70 different centres in France, with the result that the value of artificial manures has been brought to the notice of 4,000 agriculturalists.
Tenders for a Gully Emptier.
The drainage committee of the Portsmouth Corporation reports that it received the following tenders for the supply of a 1,000-gallon gully and eesspoolemptying machine with equipment for street flushing, watering and sewer cleansing e—.Atkinson-Walker Wagons. Ltd., 1,100 gallons capacity, price £1,070; Clayton Wagons, Ltd., 1,000
gallons, £1,155; Dennis Bros., Ltd., 1,000 gallons £1,375; Eagle Engineering Co., Ltd., 1,000 gallons, £1,425 to £1,525, according to make of chassis ; John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., 1,000 gallons £1,271; Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd., 4.00 gallons, 1975; Lafily (England) Co., Ltd., 500 gallons, £1,100 ; Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., 1,000 gallons, £1,l 90; John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., 700 gallons, £1,300, and 820 gallons, £1,501; Turner and Blakeway (Leyland machine), 1,000 gallons, £1,300; and the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co., 750 gallons, £1,195.
After considering these tender's the committee arranged that the Clayton, Dennis, Fowler, Leyland and Sentinel appliances should be demonstrated. The Dennis and Leyland vehicles were the only ones fitted with road-washing equipment, whilst the former alone was provided with squeegee apparatus. After seeing the demonstration of the vehicles, the committee has recommended that the tender of Dennis Bros., Ltd., at £1,375, be accepted.
Next Year's Royal Welsh Show. The dates fixed for the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, at Swansea, in 1927, are July 29th and 30th and August 1st and 2nd. The proceeds of gate money at the 1926 Show, which was held at Bangor, amounted to £4,236.
Leyland Employees Entertained:
On December 9th, 300 employee's of Leyland Motors, Ltd., sat down to supper in the specially decorated main hall of the large canteen at the company'S works at Leyland asthe guests of the directors. . Supper was followed by an entertainment, given by members of the works and staff. Mr. J. (1. Parry Thomas, the famous racing motorist, was present, as was the party of enthusiasts which recently' completed a journey in a solid-tyred Trojan car from Singapore to London. The chairman of the company, Mr. S. Toulmin, J.P., presided. • An Exhibition in Ceylon.
A section for commercial motor vehicles and tractors is being included in the All-Ceylon Motor and General Engineering Exhibition, which is to be held at Colombo, from January 6th to 16th next, under the auspices of the Automobile Club of• Ceylon and the Motor Traders' Association. Ceylon, with its 4,500,000 population, of which but 8,500 are Europeans, has expanded considerably as a market for motors during the past few years, so that the exhibition should provide an opportunity for bringing British machines to the notice of buyers in Ceylon.
Canada's Tyre Exports.
According to figures just issued by the Canadian Bureau of Statistics, the number of solid-rubber tyres exported from Canada in October, 1926, was 498. The total exports for the year ended October last amounted to 8,829 solid tyres of a value of 297,034 dollars, these figures comparing with 10,417 tyres of a value of 231,400 dollars in the previous 12 months. Sofar as pneumatic tyres are concerned, 94,654 casings and 83,837 inner tubes were exported in October of this year, the value of the casings being 984,580 dollars and of the inner tubes 161,660 dollars.
nig Orders for Tilling-Stevens.
Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., of Maidstone, informs us that amongst recent orders which it has received for its Express gear-driven chassis are many repeats. These include an order for 30 for the Southdown Motor Services, Ltd.; another for 25 chassis from the Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd.; whilst six others of the same type ate being supplied to the tramways authorities at BlackpooL
Taxation Exemption Asked for Disinfecting Vans.
The health committee of St. Pancras Borough Council reports that under the provisions of the Finance Act, 1926, the annual licence duty payable on the council's motor disinfecting vans will be increased from £12 to £26 per vehicle as from Stmuary 1st next. These vans
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are used for the conveyance of bedding, etc., from houses where eases of infectious disease have occurred and from hospitals. The committee believes that it was not intended that the duty on motorvans used for such purposes should be increased, and points out that ambulances, road rollers and vehicles used in connection with the fire-brigade service are exempt from licence duty.
It is strongly of opinion that this exemption should be extended to disinfecting vans, and recommends that the attention of the Minister of Transport be directed to the matter, with a request that he will consider taking the necessary steps to obtain exemption from licence duty of motor vehicles used in connection with the public health service.
A Durable Road.
It is claimed that a road which has recently been made under the supervision of the borough engineer and surveyor at Middlesbrough solves the problems of low cost and durability and
possesses non-skid properties. The road consists of a continuous metal carpet with steel and iron plates, constructed in the form of grids, with bars and voids, and this was laid in a concrete foundation while in an unset condition. Concrete was then worked into the voids on the surface of the plates, thus binding the foundation an...1 the metal carpet. We are told that in a recent test of concrete slabs formed in this way heavy blows with a steel hammer failed to separate the grids from the concrete, whilst severe heat was also resisted.
Cheaper Parking at Bradford.
At a meeting of the Bradford Markets Committee the markets superintendent reported upon the extent to which the motor park at Coppy Quarry was being used, and the committee decided to recommend that the charges for the parking of vehicles, fixed by the committee on June 10th last, be reduced by one-half, namely :—For not exceeding two hours, from is. to 6d., and exceeding two hours but not exceeding eight hours, from 2s. to la. Local Proceedings.
• Portland liraan District Council has decided to install a petrol pump at its depot.
Swansea Corporation has purchased a new chassis for the motor ambulance at a cost of £135.
Bradford Corporation has authorized the purchase ol a motorvan for the tramways department.
Brighton Corporation has authorized the purchase of a Vulcan motorvan for the electricity department.
Stalybridge Corporation has appointed a sub-committee to deal with the question of mechanical transport.
Douglas (I.O.M.) Corporation has asked a sub-committee to report upon the suggested change of traction for the front.
Carlisle Corporation has asked a committee to inspect and report upon various types of street-sweeping machine.
The sanitary committee of the Bristol Corporation recommends the Purchase a three Lacre motor sweeping machines at a cost of £1,565
Bristol Corporation has accepted the tender of the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., at £94, for the installation of a petrol pump at the disinfecting station.
It is stated that the Walsall Tramways Committee proposes spending a sum not exceeding £20,000 on the purchase of new motorbuses as and when they are required.
The tramways committee of the Glasgow Corporation has asked the manager to report as to the desirability of running a bus service between Maryhill and Portia.
Blyth Corporation has authorized the borough engineer to prepare plans of the omnibus routes in the borough, so that the question • of a revision of the routes. may be considered at the next meeting.
The tramways committee of the Portsmouth Corporation has now recommended the purchase of eight double. deck six-wheeled motorbuses from Karrier Motors, Ltd., at £1,672 per vehicle.
The tramways committee of the Douglas Corporation has considered the use of motorbuses on a section of the tramways service maintained by horses, but decided to continue the horsed service during the winter.
The tramways committee of the Bradford Corporation has accepted the tender of the Associated Daimler Co., Ltd., at £1,426, for the supply of a demonstration trolley-bus built to the corporation specification.
The stores committee of the Swansea Corporation has accepted the following tenders for the supply of solid tyres :Leyland and Birmingham Rubber Co., Ltd., £4 6s. 6d per pair, and Messrs. 'Sackett Bros., Swansea, £3 7s. id. per pair.
The Hastings Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade has decided to purchase a new motor ambulance.
The Metropolitan Asylums Board has decided to purchase a 12-cwt. van and a 10-cwt. trailer for the Downs Hospital for Children.