News and Comment.
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This journal is admitted to possess the influence, the men, the standing and the leading circulation. It is exclusively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses throughout the World.
Illustrations and other particulars of the Yorkshire petrol chassis will be found on pages 517 to 519.
Strike Items.
We acknowledge with thanks recent valued advices and notes from supporters under whose eyes various strike incidents occurred. These individual details have greatly assisted us by confirming or developing views to which we have given expression. The recent strikes have sent home once again to the brains of this country's transport enterprises the fact that motor vehicles provide "The only way" by means of which interruption of internal communication can be combatted. Readers are referred to pages 515 to 518 of this issue for current comment, etc.
Others Now Recognize Good Trade Ahead.
Writers in the daily Press continue to give prominence to the increasingly-bright prospects of commercial motoring. A few appear incidentally to take a gloomy view about the pleasure-car side of the industry, and to be inclined to advise manufacturers at least to embrace the two branches. We are content to carry on our settled policy of impressing upon prospective owners the necessity for the placing of early orders, and upon makers the necessity for additional extensions of factories. Sweated Steam-wagon Drivers.
A week ago, with the text before us of a report of statements alleged to have been made by a driver during the course of his prosecution at the Bolton police court, we deprecated the view that steam-wagon drivers were badly treated by their employers. In this particular case, we particularly questioned the assertion that a, steam-wagon driver averaged 120 working hours a week, in exchange for a remuneration of only 30s. We promised to inquire into the circumstances of the allegation in the case of a driver named Brierley, of Pendleton, and we now have pleasure in publishing the employer's reply. It reads :— "I beg to inform you that his wages were 30s. per week, with 2s. per week added at the end of each month if he ran clear of accidents through that month—each month to stand for itself. In addition to this, he had is. 6d. per day in lieu of overtime for each day his wagon was out, so that, if he was out on a Saturday, he had 9s. for overtime in addition to his 32s. per week. With regard to the number of hours, viz., 120 per week, I may inform you that the week he was fined he ran into the kerbstone and disabled the wagon for 36 hours. He did not tell the magistrate that I paid for his board and lodging during that time, but counted that 36 hours in the 120!"
Letchworth Successes.
Letchworth Garden City is by no means a resort of cranks, which too many people in this country still imagine to be the case. Numerous important factories are now in full swing, and several of these have been established since the Lacre Co. built its new model factory in the country. Some of the concerns are run on schemes of co-partnership, where the interests of capital and labour are studied on mutual lines. For example, we are told that the Garden City Press, Ltd., which company originally rented only an acre of land from the Garden City Co., Ltd., has a constitution by which the employees take a first risk in the business, in that, by means. of a charge upon their own earnings, they guarantee an annual dividend of 5 per cent. on all outside capital invested. Their bonus is found in a 10 per cent. addition to their earnings after the above-named dividend on the capital has been paid, as well as any balance of profit entirely for distribution amongst themselves.
Mr. W. H. Crump has taken over the sales management in Lancashire for the Coventry Chain Co., Ltd., and his headquarters are at 28, Jackson's Row, Deansgate, Manchester, where a stock of Coventry chains is kept.
No Motor Breakdown.
Several reports have appeared in relation to the recent march of the London Scottish from Oban to Glasgow, and to certain features in connection with the transport. We are asked by Adloals, Ltd, of Alexandria, to point out that vanr of Argyll construction carried out the motor branch of the work, and that, they did splendid service in every respect.
At Lichfield.
No motor owner or driver can pass through Lichfield without noticing the facilities which are offered by Messrs. Jones and Co., of that cathedral city. Messrs. Jones recently issued a well-arranged map of the district with distances and other succinct information about the main routes passing through Lichfield, and with points about circular tours to places of interest within convenient motoring range.
New Registrations, International Speedometer Control Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £5,000 in El shares, by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., to take over the business of a speedometer, speed recorder and motor accessory manufacturer carried on by J. A. Howard, at 36-8, Pembroke House, Oxford Street, W., as The International Speedometer Control Co. First directors : J. A. Howard and T. W. Morgan. Berks. and Bucks. Motor Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of ..C5,000 in Li shares, and with its office at l96, St. Leonard's Road, Windsor, to take over the business of motor engineers and agents carried on by E. J. Thompson at 28, Frances Road, Windsor, and by the Berks. and Bucks. Motor Works (a limited partnership), at 196, 198 and 200, St. Leonard's Road, Windsor, and 2, Frances Road, Windsor. First directors : Sir Geo. Pigot, Bart., Col. F. F. Mackenzie, Messrs. D. B. Cleghorn, and E. J. Thompson.
Petrol Storage.
A correspondent challenges the claim, which was put forward by another correspondent in our issue of the 3rd inst., that petrol will not mix with water. He particularly asserts that the very experiment which is recommended by the Hydraulic Oil Storage Co. proves the contrary result. He proceeds : " I have tried this experiment. I filled a glass jar with water and petrol, half and half ; the petrol immediately appeared to rise to the top of the glass jar, but globules of petrol adhered to the sides of the jar all the way down through the water. I then took a small pump and drew off the petrol, but it proved extremely difficult to get the petrol away from the water at the dividing line, after doing which the water retained a strong smell of petrol. I then poured the water out on to some dry ground, when the petrol vapour that was
held in the water immediately and visibly evaporated, the ground being hot and in the sun. It appears to me that the Hydraulic Oil Storage Co. are over confident as to the absolute separation of petrol and water ; consequently, the suggestion of one of your correspondents that petrol might get into the drains still holds good, and also, on the other hand, water might get into the carburetters. The claims appear to be founded on theory."
Irish Motor Services.
Mr. Hobhouse, replying in the House of Commons to a question put by Mr. Clancy, stated that the Development Conunissioners would extend critical but friendly examination to any scheme which had for its object the connection of remote parts of Ireland with central markets by means of motor transport.
The Glin Rural District Council (Co.. Limerick) has instructed its engineer to report in regard to the establishment of a motor service. The object is to develop the trade of the district.
The Belfast Board of Guardians has deferred consideration of the matter of the purchase of a motor ambulance for the present. Mr. W. 0. Spiller is reported to be acting as adviser to the Board. Knight's Wooden Tires. e
Mr. John Henry Knight, of Barfield, Farnham, asks us to point out that the wood used by him is English ash, and that he finds it the only wood which has sufficient elasticity for the duty.
The First Afghan Order.
Our issues of the 10th and 17th inst. contain textual and pictorial references to motors for Afghanistan. With regard to the illustration of one of the twelve 32 h.p. Albion vehicles on order through the Bombay Motor Co., Ltd., of Bombay, we may add that this company holds the sole concession for Albion vehicles in Bombay. One of this local company's representatives went to Afghanistan to discuss the business on the spot—with the successful issue seen.
Army Transport.
It is officially notified that Divisional Training and Army Manceuvres will not take place this year. It is understood that the prolonged drought has much to do with this decision, but it is not denied that other transport considerations have also been factors. Haviog regard to the extensive conditional arrangements into which the War Office and certain large army contractors had provisionally entered, and the carrying-out of which arrangements would have further demonstrated the advantages of commercial motors in both ordinary and exceptional service, we greatly regret the necessity for the adoption of the course noted.
Chrome-Vanadium Steel.
Amongst the many high-grade steels which are now available for use by automobile engineers, chrome-vanadium alloy is undoubtedly one of the most important, chiefly on account of its capacity for resisting sudden shocks and reversals of stress, and for its capacity for " staving off " fatigue. This class of steel is now very widely employed, and for strength, toughness and durability it is perhaps unequalled ; at the same time, it may be worked easily. We have recently received from the author, Mr. W. J. Bithell, of 170, Psalter Lane, Sheffield, a small booklet on chrome-vanadium steel for motor crankshafts, etc. This
booklet., which consists of only 12
pages, contains some very interesting and useful information, and our readers are cordially invited to apply to the author for copies. We may mention that this class of steel can be obtained in any desired form from Ambrose Shardlow awl
Ltd., of the Ealing Works, Attercliffe, Sheffield, which company specializes in the production of crankshafts, axles, ,etc. "Our Motor Services."
There has been keen and pointed competition between Harrod's and Selfridge's ever since the early days of nOg. Selfridge's opening boom was offset, for example, by Harrod's special concert series. The latest evidence of fraternal strife is found in" The Daily Telegraph" of Monday last, where these rivals' announcements in regard to prompt delivery adjoin one another. Our interest lies in the fact that two powerful and representative houses like these should "go all out " over the merits of their motor transport.
Hilly Bradford-on-Avon.
Certain of the highways in and around Bradford-on-Avon (Wilts.) are both hilly and narrow. Efforts are being made to restrict the, use of certain of these highways, so far as motor traffic is concerned, and communications have been passing between the , Bradford-on Avon U.D.C. and the Wilts. C.C. The former body has addressed a communication to the Local Government Board, with a view to the approval of contemplated prohibitions If any of our readers are interested in the use of the particu lar highways under notice, they should communicate with the Secretary of the C.M.U..:k.
Audible Warning.
The text of the "Motor Traffic (Street Noises) Bill" reads :—
" 1.—(1) The Local Government Board may, by regulations made under section six of the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896, prohibit or restrict the use by drivers of motorcars within any special areas of any particular kind of warning instruments, and prescribe the kind of instruments to be carried and used as warning instruments on motorcars during any particular hours.
"(2) For the purposes of this provision the expression 'warning instrument' means the instrument capable of giving warning of the approach or position of the motorcar required to be carried on a motorcar under section three of the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896.
"2.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Motor Traffic (Street Noises) Act, 1911, and shall be construed as one with the Motor Car Acts, 1896 and 1903.
"(2) This Act shall not extend to Ireland."
Watering Difficulties near Preston.
As many as half-a-dozen drivers of heavy motors have been seen at one time, waiting their turns to take water from a stream between Manchester and Preston. Great care had better be exercised, says a correspondent, who adds : " I hear that the owner of a bleachworks contemplates serious proceedings, re pollution of the water supply, which he has so long used. The proprietor of another business which has just closed down blames also, as part of the cause of his non-success, the presence of oily and other foreign matters in the water." All who are concerned had better take this friendy hint, which comes from a trusty source.
The Light-van Future.
"Yes, there is a tremendous future for the light van," said a gentleman who goes about for demonstration purposes on behalf of the Belsize Co. He met a " C.M." contributor on the Trafford Park aerodrome recontly, and corroborated all that this journal has had to say about the coming exclusion of the horse for use by tradesmen in a big and extensive clientele. Proceeding to refer to both light and heavy transport, he emphasized the Editor's recent words about the lessons of the Manchester strike. "Everybody has come to the conclusion that the horse will not be the means of conveyance in the future. The motor will take a big lead, and take it quickly. The strike showed to hundreds of firms that they must consider motors at once."
He proceeded : " Tn all the big business and shopping centres, there is an almost-exciting interest in this movement. Hundreds of tradesmen would be delighted if they only knew the efficacy of motors for carrying up to one ton. We are supplying one firm with a couple of dozen vans ; and, as we undertake to run Belsize vans at a certain sum per annum, you will readily understand that we are pre pared to back up our arguments in a practical way." Our comment on this advice is, that the Belsize people and others in their position should not fail to turn to the utmost account our comparative costs in the article entitled "The Case Against the One-horse Van," which appeared in this journal's issue of the 5th January last --also those of the 16th February.
Halley Announcements.
A copy of the new Halley catalogue of lorries, vans, passenger vehicles and fire-engines is to hand. The contents are well spaced and attractively disposed. The seemfications cover a range of vehicles to carry loads between 15 cwt. and six tons, whilst a convincing list of owners and testimonials is included. Prices are quoted, including tires, with code words alongside in every case. Amongst the special vehicles illustrated, we note examples of the Halley tramway overhead repair and tower wagons : this type has been supplied to the corporations of Glasgow (four), Salford, Rotherham, Rochdale, Liverpool and Oldham.
Worm-driven Belsizes.
A new light motorvan with a smart body has been put into service by the Autovan Maintenance Co., of 33-35, Augustus Street, N.W., on behalf of the SmithPremier Typewriter Co. Two views of this vehicle, which is of the 1416 h.p. Belsize make, are shown herewith, and from these its appearance and general construction may be noted. The chassis is of the latest 15-cwt. 13elsize pattern, with a worm-driven rear axle, which system of final transmission is, however, optional. The interior is fitted with three shelves, which in addition are divided up by padded barriers for the accommodation of the typewriters. The above contract firm's hire fleet is of growing dimensions and includes Royal Mail vans.