News and Comment.
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The issue of this journal dated the 4th prox. will be publibhed on Thursday evening instead of Thursday morning—a few hours later than usual, owing to the incidence of the Whitsun holidays.
We are happy to record that Mr. Geo. W. Watson, inspecting engineer to the C.M.U.A., who has been dangerously ill with pneumonia, is, at the time of going to press, making very satisfactory progress towards recovery.
A satisfactory test of motor transport was made during the recent flight of the military wing of the Royal Flying Corps from Montrose to Salisbury Plain. Some 32 motor vehicles of all kinds, including travelling workshop for repairs, were engaged.
Inquiry Before Legislation.
My. Lloyd George, in the House of Commons on Thursday of last week, in answer to a question addressed to him by Mr. Leach, stated that the matter of the appointment of a Departmental Committee, to inquire into licensing and other matters concerning heavy motor vehicles, was under oonsideration by the President of the Local Government Board. So far as he was concerned, he had no intention to impose a tax upon motorbuses and other heavy motor vehicles under a Finance Act.
End of Subsidy Trials.
The War Office Subsidy Trials, of which the final examinations concluded the programme yesterday and to-day, have proceeded without untoward incident during the last stages. The 100 miles speed trial which had originally been planned for Monday was dispensed with, and a hill-climb took its place.
Certain additional running had to be undertaken by sonic of the contestants in order to make up the total mileage for each ma-chine to 1700. The Thornyeroft, which had cut off a, few corners during the trials, had 11 extra miles to do, The Arsenal machine also had furl ther mileage to compile to make up for that lost through tire trouble at Woolwich. The Maudslay, which was entered late, had to continue 011 Tuesday and Wednesday. There were two road stops on Monday last ; the Dennis wa,a delayed for 35 minutes with a choked oil pump soon after leaving Aldershot, and the Maudslay, through skidding on the wet tar, struck a kerb and broke the top leaf of the near hind spring at Haslemere.
ci2 Paraffin in a Petrel Can.
In the last instalment of our report concerning the progress of the current Subsidy Trials, we recorded that the Leyland vehicle fitted with a Winchester paraffin carburetter had been brought home, towards the end of a day's run, on petrol. We now learn that this was incorrect, and that the mistake arose from the fact that the vehicle had its tanks refilled at Knockholt from petrol earn: which
contained paraffin. The Leyland upon which this device was being tried was the actual Maple van about which we write on page 287. This was not fitted with sprags, as are all regular subsidy models, and, in order that it might not be at a disadvantage from this point of view in the stiff hill-climbing tests, the authorities insisted that the machine should be followed on the worst gradients by someone with a sprag.
Darracq-Argyll.
It is freely rumoured that there is to be an amalgamation between the Darracq and Argyll interests, or in effect that the Darra-cq Co. will acquire control of the Argyll. factory. Lieut.-Colonel J. S. Matthew tendered his resignation of the managing directorship of Argylls, Ltd., on Thursday of last week, but he will remain a director of the company.
The C.M.U.A, Parade.
We shall next week give much information concerning the arrangements for the C.M.U.A. Parade on Whit-Monday, the 1st prox. It is eminently satisfactory to know that a record entry has been received. The Parade Committee closed the lists at 520 vehicles, as that proved to be the absolute limit of aoeommodation in the area which has been selected for the assembly in consultation with the Chief Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis.
The detail organization of the Parade is now occupying the closest attention of all the officials concerned, and we are pleased to know that everything is ready. e learn that Mr. E. Burchett has been appointed as the representative of the Commercial Vehicle Department in connection lrith. the Daimler hire organization at Store Street, Tottenham Court Road, W.
The Dunlop Tyre Co., Ltd., has much cause for gratification in resped, of the successes which have to he recorded to its credit in connection with the recent Light Car Trials in Yorkshire. Singers, Standards, Hillmans and Swifts, all appear to have run satisfactorily on this well-known make of tire. This is interesting information to the light-van owner.
The A.A. and Heavy Traffic.
We learn that the Automobile Association has brought pressure to bear _ upon the Leicestershire County Council to stop the watering of steam wagons at a particular point on the highway between Loughborough and Derby. We are not personally acquainted with the culvert concerning which this activity on the part of the A.A. has been exhibited, but we shall be pleased to have details from any turner or driver who may have been seriously inconvenienced.
Shock at a Distance.
An action was heard at the Clerkenwell County Court, a few days ago, when Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd., was the defendant, and Mr. W. T. Olive and his wife the plaintiffs, to recover £.50 for damages alleged to have been sustained in the following circum
stances. It appears that, on the l'oth November last, a motor van accidentally ran against. the frontsteps and door of the plaintiffs' house in Victoria Park Road. Mr. Olive and his wife,were at the time in a. back room. Owing to the shock, it was stated, the male plaintiff had lost his employment, because his value to his employers Fad been impaired by his unfit condition.—Verdiet for defendant.
An Excellent Booklet.
Manufacturers are rapidly beginning to realize the necessity for providing carefully-compiled information for those who have machines of their manufacture to look after. The careof the chassis is a cult which is rapidly growing, arid not the least evidence of this is the production by the larger manufacturers of very high-class handbooks, which deal adequately and in commonsense manner with the methods which are hall-marked as the correct ones for the care and management of their special machines. One of the best booklets of this kind, of which it has been our fortune to reeeive a copy, is that issued recently by the Wolseley Co. It is the seventh edition of the Wolseley InMonad-ion Manual. and is published at os. net. Not the least interest
J. and E. Hall, Ltd., has recently shipped a 2:i-ton open-sided lorry to the order of Mr. L. Carey, of Amblamana, Galaha, Ceylon, and this company also has a similar vehicle on order for the Pantiya Tea. and Rubber Co., Ltd., Ceylon.
A New Devon Service.
The Exmouth Motor Carryin,s Co., Ltd., of North Street, Exetel, has instituted a daily motor-lorry service between Exmouth and Exeter, with its receiving and delivery offices opposite the railway station at Exmouth, and at the Crown and Sceptre Hotel, North Street, Exeter, Licence Endorsements.
We trust that the Bill which wile introduced by Mr. Joynson-Hicks, M.P., supported by Messrs. Arthur Stanley, Cathcart Wason, Douglas Hall, and Captain Murray, in February last, to amend the Motor Car Act, 1903, in relation to endorsements of driving licences, will not be lost in the "scramble " this Session.
The Bill provides that endorsements may be made and continue "for such period, not being lesa than .one, month or more than 12 niont.lis, as the Court thinks fit," in respect of an offence under Section 1 of the Act—driving recklessly or negligently, etc., and that the same limitation of time shall apply to any endorsements under Section 4 of the Act—exceeding the legal speed limit. This matter isof considerable interest to every driver of a motor vehicle.
The Commercar Station Bus at Luton.
At Luton, recently, Ilichai Rowell, a driver in the employ ci Commercial Cars, Ltd., was summoned for (a) driving a heavy motorcar (a light char-k-bancs) in a manner dangerous to the public, and (b) -for travelling at a speed which was estimated at between 20 and 25 miles per hour. The prosecution stated that the car had passed a tramcar at a dangerous speed, and that a motorcar was not like a tramcar, " which had a line on which it ran, and people could avoid it "(sic). Mr. Taylor Parkes, defending, elicited from the tram, driver that it was impossible to drive the Luton trams at more than 12 miles an hour ; in fact, " that was all they could get out of them." It was pointed out to the magiArates by Mr. Parkes, that the motor vehicle weighed under two tons, and could therefore travel at a speed not exceeding 20 miles an hour under the Act. The driver had had a clean licence for eight years. The Bench, after some consideration, imposed a fine of 125. 6c1. with 17s. 6d. costs, and an endorsement. The summons for exceeding the limit was dismissed.
chi Hancock's Daimlers.
The following testimony is from Hancock's, the well-known brewers and bottlers, of Cardiff : "Our experience with Daimler commercial motor vehicles has been quite satisfactory. When we wrote to you on the 10111 January, 1913, we then had one lorry and were ordering another from you. At the present time, as you are aware, we have five vehicles. The fact that we have been gradually increasing the number of vehicles is, we think, prob
ably a more satisfactory testimonial than any letter describing their particular merits.'
Business in Bradford.
A. B. Wardman and Sons, Ltd., of Cambridge Street, Harrogate, has opened a branch office at 20, King's Arcade, Bradford, and is desirous to receive trade catalogues at that address. This company holds the Yorkshire representation for Rolls-Royce
and cars but it is prepared to handle other lines.
New Registration.
Preston Embee Motors, Ltd. (6000), to acquire the business of general carriers and motor engineers now carried on by If. W., A. E., and W. E. Merigold.
Change of Address.
The Gaulois Tyre Co., Ltd., intends to move its London house to larger and more convenient premises at 186, Great Portland Street, W. This new address will, of course, also apply to the company's representation of Bergougnan solid tires.
48, not 25.
The Continental Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., notifies us of an error in the information which it sent to us with regard to its new concave solid tires. Those which they described as having a carrying capacity of 25 cwt. really have a total capacity of 48 cwt.