News and Comment.
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This journal is extensively read by the heads of many wealthy comm.eucial houses.
We have received a large number of enquiries as to where benzol can be obtained. Answers are being posted as quickly as possible ; we deal with a few selected requests on page 392.
Civi.U.A. and Legal Defence.
The Commercial Motor Users Association now has in force a special arrangement with the Legal Department of the Royal Automobile Club, under which an unlimited number of defences can be undertaken each year, in respect of each vehicle owned by a member of the Association, at particularlylow rates. Many members of the Association are availing themselves of these terms and particulars may be had from the Secretary.
Topical Subjects.
Our principal leading article this week is entitled " A Glimpse into 1913." We have sub-divided it, in order to deal with the following topical subjects : (l) " Military Subvention Trials ; " (2) " The -Vogue of the Parcelcar ;" (3)_ " The Motorvan accepted by all : earnings well ahead of Costs ;" and (4) " The Shows." We further deal at length, Editorially, with the motorbus prospects for the year, and with the vexed question of the differences which exist between ownership figures and contracting rates per mile of running. " The Commercial Motor" is the authority on motor transport, the anlY journal officially -recognized by the Commercial Motor Users Association, carrying a larger number of advertisement pages than any professedly similar journal and having by far the largest genuine net sale weekly—i.e., the total number of copies bought by subscribers and the interested public.
In view of the foregoing facts, claims of equality or similarity made elsewhere can be disregarded.
We repeat our good wishes of last week, to all our readers, for the year 1913. Newspaper Distribution.
Wyman and Sons, Ltd., the newspaper people, of London, Reading and elsewhere, is using a 25 h.p. two-ton Karrier box van, and this company also has on order a oneton van of the same make.
"Bradford" not "Bedford."
Dunlop tires are fitted to the omnibuses which are at work in Bradford, in connection with the tramways department of that town, and not in connection with the Bedford tramways. The latter town has a growing fleet of Leyland motorbuses in service, and is not likely to want tramways, either now or later.
We are asked to make this correction, following a slip in the Dunlop Co.'s advertisement last week, but we would add that the " copy" was published as communicated.
B-type and Daimler Sales.
We are happy to inform our readers that Mr. Stuart A. Curzon, who has been so closely identified with the disposal of the L.G.O. Co.'s old fleets, has now been successful in making arrangements with the Daimler Co. for the right to sell both B-type (L.G.O.C) and Daimler three-ton chassis. Mr. Curzon informs us that, in addition to this very considerable extension in regard to his business operations, he would like to have the handling of some promising small car and van proposition in this country'. . Mr. Curzon's address, we may remind our readers, is now 98. Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W.
The Contents of Slot-meters by Motorvan.
One of the illustrations included on page 388 shows one of the latest uses of motorvans, viz., bullion collection and conveyance. The vehicle in question, which is owned by the Tottenham and Edmonton Gas Co., was purchased secondhand, and altered to suit requirements in the shops of its present owners. An interesting contrast is given, between old and new models, by the reproductions which we make. We are told that the economy of collection is not the only advantage in work of this kind. Collectors meet this van at given points, at pre-determined hours, and the system of collection and counting is worked out in detail. After the coins are counted and packed, the van is again used, to carry money to various banks. New Horse-power Rating.
The new Treasury regulations for horse-power rating, which will now affect all payments of carriage tax in respect. of motorcars, are published by us on page 391. They are of very great interest to manufacturers, designers and privatecar owners, but they have no application to commercial motors. Motorvans do not pay carriage tax, whilst motor public-service vehicles and motor hackney-carriages do not, under the Finance Act or 190,9-1910, pay any increase of-carriage tax.
Fodens in London.
Messrs. G. Seamrnell and Nephew, of Spitalfields, E., have issued a• special catalogue in regard to Foden wagons, of which they are able to give early delivery, and the patent " R.S." motor wheel for steam wagons. Recent Scammell sales of Foden wagons include three five-ton vehicles to Messrs. Tozer and Sons, two to Messrs. Facer and Go., and single vehicle,s to Messrs. Chaplin and Co., Messrs. Ford and Walton, Seth Taylor, Ltd., T. and G. Oyler, Ltd., Arding and llobbs, ti.d., and Messrs. Pease and Sons. Three-ton vehicles have been sold by this London firm to Messrs. Savill Bros., Messrs. Lane and Son. the Cobham Brewery, Messrs. Wells and Son, and Fords. Ltd.
Annual Dinner of London and Provincial Motor Carriers, Ltd.
The annual dinner of the drivers and staff of London and Provincial Motor Carriers, Ltd., Fitzalan Street, 8.E., was held at the Horns, Kennington, on Saturday evening last. Mr. D. H. Langhorne, the managing director, in spite of indifferent health, came up from the North in order to take the chair. He pointed out that, during the past year, the company had doubled its fleet of vans, and the contracts in hand would see the fleet again doubled by the end of 1913. In regard to the question of the cost of petrol, Mr. Langhorne indicated that his company proposed to bring into operation a bonus scheme by means of which drivers would reap a substantial share of any saving they could effect by careful driving and by stopping the engine while deliveries were being made ; in this way, mutual benefits should accrue.
A Big Greek Concession.
We are advised that the Greek Government has decided to establish automobile communication between various parts of that King dom. Particulars and conditions of the contemplated services are in our hands, and further copies may be obtained from the Greek Legation, 14. De Vere Gardens. S.W.
Fuel Economy with Selfestatters.
The Adams Manufacturing Co., Ltd., again draws attention to a test with one of its 16 h.p. fourcylinder self-starting engines, as fitted to the 30-cwt. Adams van. The previous example was mentioned in our issue of the 31st October. The further test in question concerned journeys of 377 miles in six days, during which the petrol consumption was 29 gallons, or a performance of 13 vehicle-miles to the gallon. At is. 2d. per gallon, the petrol cost was 33s. 10d. The total number of stops in the week was 930, and these proved to average two minutes each in duration.
On the ascertained basis of one pint of petrol per 21 minutes of run
ning for this particular engine, the petrol consumption during the 930 stops would have been nine-andfive-eighths gallons, equivalent to us. 3d. per week, apart from any saving due to economies in oil and mechanical wear. This petrol saving is, thus, no less than 229 5s. per annum, per vehicle. This possibility should cause many buyers to consider the claims of Adams vans. A 30-cwt. model is built.