News and Comment.,
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This journal has an exclusive, genuine and maintained Circulation: memberi-of its Editorial staffl have practical experience and knowledge of the construction and use of commercial motors. _ Several usual features, are unavoidably curtailed or withheld, owing to pressure on our space this week.
Our report of the Royal Show at Newcastle-On-Tyne will be found on pages 429 to 439. It is on sale in the showyard (from 3.45 p.m. on Wednesday), i.e., within 3o hours of the opening.
An interesting article, and one written without, any excess of scientific terms, in order that its import may be appreciated by the non-technical user of com mercial motors, is included in this issue . (pages 416 and 419).
;Annual General Meeting of the' "Shell" Company.
. On Tuesday, the ;oat ultimo, the 'annual general meeting of the "Shell' Transport and Trading Company, LiMited, was held at Winchester House, Broad Street, E.C. An interim dividend of 5 per cent. (i.e., at the rate of so per cent. per annum) was advised as the result of the present year's trading to date, and a final dividend of 5 per cent for the year 1907 was payable on the TSt instant, thus making 75 per cent. on the ordinary shares for the year's trading during 7907. Sir Marcus-Samuel, who was in the chair, assured the assembled shareholders that there is no need for apprehension in the matter of a plentiful supply of spirit in the future, and he stated that the estimated consumption of petrol, during the present year, in Great Britain, was likely to reach 120,000 tons; Great Britain is, at pi esent, the largest consumer of petrol spirit in the world.
-We have every reason to believe that there will be a considerable" excess sUpplv for the next few years, and the progressive attitude of the " Shell " group hasbeen one of the chief auses.
De Dion-Bouton (19071, Limited, has paid an interim dividend On its otdinary shares, for the six months ended the 31st March last, at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum.
John I. Thornycroft and Company, Limited, has recently taken an order for a 16h.p., two-ton, builder's van from Messrs. Allen and Company, the well-known contractors, of Westmin
ster, S.W. f•
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,JAKI 2,--; Consular Reports.
The British Consular report on the trade of Sicily for 1907, which has just been issued by the Foreign Office, pro_ vides the information that the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs has been deliberating on proposals to institute motorcar diligences in various parts of the. island. A British syndicate appears to have been negotiating for a postal concession with subventions from the Ministers for Posts' and Telegraphs and Public Works.
The British Consul at -the Pirkeus (Greece), in his annual report just issued by the Foreign Office, states that a few motor lorries have recently been Out on the road between Marathon and Athens for the conveyance of passengers and fresh fish. A report got about that a considerable number. of these vehicles were to be used for trans_ port of goods between Athens and the Pirams and this caused great excitement amongst all classes owning carts and horses, etc. There was a public demonstration, which it was feared might end in a' riot, but, fortunately, nothing serious occurred, Owing to the bad roads, absence of stores where fuel can be purchased, and want of repairing shops in the country, it will he some time, in . the Consul's opinion, before motors come into general use. Indiarubber Tires.
Apropos the article on page 421, wr are interested to learn from the Polac Tyre Company that its tires prove( highly successful in the recent Italian mail van trials, which were held from the znd to the 220d ultimo, under th( auspices of the Italian Government, and which were exceptionally severe.
Cab Bodies, Bayleys, Limited, of Newington Causeway, S.E., has a number of orders in hand for cab bodies, and web, illustrate one such body herewith : example is fitted with a canopy, the ' body framing being of oak and ash, and the panels of mahogany. The use if of cloth for trimmings is generally avoided by this company, as the directors regard it as unsuitable for public, service. Prices, naturally, vary withi,'41 the specification, but intending pur-f chasers may quickly ascertain details, on application to this well-knowny maker. This same maker constructed; the body for the " Unic " van illus..' trated in our issue of the 4th ultimo (page 345 ante), to the order of Messrs. E. and R. Garrould, of Edgware Road, in which case both the painting and lettering are an effective advertisement.
Brightening London's Streets.
One very interesting result of the Introduction of the motor vehicle to the streets of the Metropolis is the added colour and polished brass-work which -exists to please the eyes of those whose sight is dulled by the constant succession of grimy buildings, and oft-times grimier streets. Until the advent of the motor, the tendency had been to reduce the coach-work of both private and public-service vehicles (with the exception of the omnibus and the fireengine) to the colour of the "poor girl's refuge "—black. This negative prevails upon both the carriages of the aristocracy and the plutocracy, and upon the "hansom " and "growler." With the coming of the motorcab, we are cheered by yellows, reds, blues, greens, and by every possible shade which ingenious coach-painters can devise. This, of course, is only a return to the early days of the century when colour in private coaches was common, and admired ; but, in the interests of the general brightness of the City, we would plead that the fashion which has been inaugurated during the past two years should become a permanent one. We should regret any relapse into the funereal modes of horse-drawn vehicles, either in point of speed or colour.
Dennis Deliveries.
Three Dennis vans are illustrated at the foot of this page. Two of these are for Messrs. Gurney and Company,
family grocers and wine merchants, of Hereford, one being kr 3o-cwt. loads, and the other for t5-cwt. loads. The third vehicle, on the left, is a van for the Dennis Company's Hereford agent, Mr. H. Bracewell, of Llaskett, Llandinabo, Hereford. The 3o-cwt. van has a four-speed gearbox, with gate control, and a through drive on the third speed, the fourth §-peed being geared up for greater petrol economy.
Turning to another part of the country, Manchester, we are interested to learn that, during the same week, the Dennis Company, through its local agent, Mr. J. P. White, of 57, King Street, Manchester sold a 4oh.p., fourton lorry to the Garside Brewery Company, Limited, and a 35h.p., three-ton van to the East Lancashire Paper Mills. Both these buyers are very large users of horse plant.
These and other orders are the outcome of references which the Dennis Company is now able to make to old users, and one of which, dated the t5th instant, from Mr. S. W. Luxford, of Floral Street, Covent Garden, who bought a two-ton Dennis van in 1905, we quote herewith :—" I have pleasure in stating that I purchased a two-ton motorvart from you, in 1905, which has been running ever since, and during the whole of this time the worm drive has never been overhauled. It is still running as good now as the day it went out, and from the inspection of the worm wheels they appear to be without the slightest trace of wear. I have used this car daily, in my business of delivering perishable goods to and from Covent Garden to my various branch shops in London and the suburbs, and have found it invaluable as an aid to quick delivery, which is a most necessary condition for the perishable goods which I handle."
Road Improvement.
The Roads Improvement Association announces that it is prepared to carry out official tests Of any methods, apparatus, or material connected with the repair and maintenance of roads, and especially for the prevention of surface dust, that may be submitted to it for the purpose, provided the Council of the Association is satisfied that the results are likely to be of public value. The Council will frame special regula
lions to govern each test, but the general regulations and other particulars may be obtained on application to the honorary secretary of the Association, at r, Albemarle Street, W.
Motor Tax in Austria.
There lies before the Austrian Parliament a Bill for taxing automobiles, at sums varying from ro to 300 crowns
each (8s. 4d. to los.). Clause 16 exempts military vehicles, ambulance wagons, automobiles used-by sick-fund doctors, omnibuses, lorries, and rollers.
Estate Cars.
Commercial Cars, Limited, of Luton, and Cambridge Circus, W.C., is making a speciality of its "Norfolk" country house and estate car. The body from one of these vehicles, in one of its three modifications, is illustrated on this page, and the company has sold upwards of twenty during the last few months. As a station omnibus, to carry passengers, servants and luggage, as a shooting brake, with special gun racks and cartridge lockers, or as an estate lorry, the vehicle is unsurpassed.