WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by alt dieculties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs,"—John Beattie Crozier.
The Roads and Transport Exhibition.
The Public Works, Roads and Transport Exhibition will be held at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, NJ, from November 14th to IPth ineIuSive. As in past years, the exhibition will be attended by representatives of GovernmentDepartments and of municipal authorities throughout the country as well as by certain authorities abroad.
The exhibition will afford an opportunity for inspecting materials and plant used in connection with many branches of municipal work. A number of papers will be read during the• period of the Congress, some of which will prove of direct interest to our readers.
Additions to List of Olympia Show Exhibitors: Our readers will remember that in our issu-e dated July 12th we pub lished a preliminary list of exhibitors in the various sections of the forth coming Commercial, Commercial Vehicle Exhibition, to be held at Olympia. from November 17th to 26th next. The following names can now be added:—
Motor Vehicle and Bodywork Section : Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Ltd. ; Wilson Motor and Engineering Co.
Accessory and Component Section : A. E. Bennett and Co.; Cooper's Mechanical Joints, Ltd. ; Dominion Motor Spirit Co., Ltd.; Garnett, Whiteley and Co., Ltd. ; Kasenit, Ltd.; Lemplugh Spring Seats, Ltd.; Lang
Wheel (Jo., Ltd. :Morgan, Crossley and Co., Ltd. ; David Moseley and Sons,
Ltd.; National Employers' Mutual General Insurance Association, Ltd.; Thomas Smith and Sons, of Saltley, Ltd. ; J. Stone and Co., Ltd.; Hubert H. P. Trist and Co.
Garage Equipment Section: De Vilbiss Co., Ltd.; Fred J. Gordon and Co., Ltd.
In addition, the British Cycle and Motor Cycle Manufacturers and Traders Union, Ltd., is making a collective exhibit of motorcycle combinations which can be used for commercial purposes.
A York Passenger-vehicle Problem.
The tramways and motors committee of the York Corporation, has recently reconsidered its recommendation that petrol buses be substituted for trolley-buses, and it has had laid before it a statement prepared by the city treasurer in regard to the liquidation of the debt on the railless system. This shows that the capital debt outstanding at April 1st last was 18,866 (vehicles 111,326 and equipment and other works 14,540). The vehicles have to be paid off within four years and the equipment and other works within 13 years from April last. If the system were discontinued and this amount paid, off in one year it would mean a 5d. rate.
If the system were discontinued and the 31inistry of Transport allowed the debt to be redeemed in the same numB20 her of years as at present the annual cost would be £1,768 for the years from 1927-1928 to 1930-1931, and, subsequently, £518 until 1939-1940.
If the system is continued and the revenue account shows a yearly gross profit of 1857 (which was the average for the three years to March 31st last), the result would be, after providing for interest and sinking fund, a loss of /1,069 for the years from 1927-1928 to 1930-1931, and a profit of 1181 from 1931-1932 to 1939-1940. Thus the net loss during the 13 years would be £2,647.
After considering the matter the committee has recommended the council hot, at present, to make an order on the original recommendation.
Railways and Tramways and Bus Competition.
On the suggestion of the managers of, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the London and Noithl@astern Railway, the tramways committee of the Glasgow Corporation has agreed to hold a conference with the railway companies for the purpose of examining the position as regards railways and tramways as affected by the unrestricted and subsidized competition of the motorbuses and, if possible, to consider some scheme of co-operation and co-ordination in respect of the control of passenger traffic.
A Silvertown Lubricants Appointment.
We learn that Mr. Owen Colverd has been appointed to the neWly created post of manager of the motor department of Silvertown Lubricants, Ltd., a member of the staff of which he has been for the last 17 years, spending the past six months in visiting the United States, India, China, South Africa, South America, etc„ in the company's interests. Mr. Colverd is a well-known research chemist and thoroughly, versed in the technical side' of the oil industry.
Birkenhead's Big Bus Profits.
According to the annual report of the tramways manager of the Birkenhead Corporation covering the year ended March 31st last, the working of the tramways service involved a net loss of £2,778, whilst the motorbuses yielded a gross profit of £30,049 (net 116,032), of which 113,300 was devoted to the relief of the rates.
Gramophone Recording on a Motorvan.
An interesting development in connection with gramophone recording has recently been effected by the introduction Of' a mobile outfit by the Gramophone Ca.„ Ltd., of Hayes. The company is using a Lancia-vehicle for the work, and it comprises an up-to-date recording moth with a complete electrical installation, so that the gramophone records can actually be made away from the orthodox studio etinipment. The body contains all that is required to ensure perfect recording. The eleetrieal equipment in&rides battery-charging gear and two machines which allow the making of two records simultaneously by the His Master's Voice patented process. • In order to minimize the effects of vibration, the chassis is usually jacked up during the time that the recording apparatus is in use. Cables are then run from the van into the building where the artistes perform, and are there attached to microphones, loud-speakers and telephones. The telephone allows a condue-, tor to :keep closely in touch with the recording staff in the van, and the loudkspeaker enables the first test to be played back from the wax to the artistes.
The mobile outfit has already proved its worth and successful use has been made of it in many centres. At York Minster recently, records were made of the choral music sung at the services to celebrate the 1,300th anniversay of the founding of the Minster in 627.
Taxes on Road Motors in Egypt.
The Department of Overseas Trade has just issued a report dealing with the economic and financial situation in Egypt up to May last, and it contains certain information relating to the road transport services of that country. At the time the report was compiled Alexandria was the only place in Egypt where motor vehicles were subject to a. horse-power tax, but the use of meehani-cal road yehieles is extending so rapidly and placing additional -burdens on the roads that the Government has decided that motor traffic must contribute to the cost of road construction and maintenance in the form of taxation. A law is, therefore, being drafted which, according to present intentions, will subject all motor vehicles, whether for private or public service, to a horse-power tax, and, in addition, in the case of motorbuses, to a tax based on carrying capacity.
At the end of April last the number of motor vehicles (lorries, vans, cabs and buses) registered was as follows :— Provinces, 3,451; Cairo, ; _Alexan dria, 1,280; Port Said, 155.
The traffic department of the Cairo City Police is doing its best to ensure that 'only 'properly -constructed vehicles are used for passenger carrying, and at the time the report was prepared new bus 'regulations were being. drafted. As the licences for all such vehicles whch do not .conform with the now regulations will :not be renewed, it is antieipaled the there will be a demand for chassis, bodies and complete buses.