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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is bp the roughness of the roads Over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier. The

The Daimler Dispute.

The disputs between the DaimIr Co. and its workneoplek is curious in more n tha one respect. In the first place this is the first time for over 15 years that any disagreement has occurred which conldi not be settled within the four walls of the factory. In the second place, the men had, by a majority of three to one, agreed among themselves to accept the directors' proposal for a cut of l2i per cont, of the bonus. This latter, even. after the cut, would be higher than that demanded by the men's tradese council, but this latter body refuses to approve the men's decision to accept the profferred terms, and thus there is a deadlock. 'When the factory reopens work will for some time-be concentrated upon the new 20 h.p. pleasure car. The 2-3 ton Daimler is being assembled from the large stock of components in hand, and the stock of spares is being maintained ; otherwise, production of the model has ceased for a period.

The Austin Liquidator.

The announcement of the appointment of Sir Arthur Whinney as receiver of the Austin Motor Co., Lt., has not come quite as a surprise. The general opinion t among those who know the value of the Austin equipment and goodwill is that at the very worst there is more than 1.09. in the pound for everybody, and that the appointment of a receiver is a wise precautionary measure that should conserve the business and protect the rights of. all those concerned. It is the earnest wish of everybody in the trade and in the motor meveinent that Sir Herbert Austin will be able to pull the concern through its difficult time.

Dunlop Tyre Developments.

The information which we give con-. corning Dunlop commercial vehicle tyre developments on page 330 is of more than usual interest, because there has been practically no advance in solid-tyre design for some years. The 10 in, and 12 in. t.yres for motor chars-i-bancs, and made of the new " super cushion" quality of rubber, should catch on, becanse they mean a great-improvement in running and in comfort. generally. The Dunlop Co. have a department specially devoted to development, and a great deal of knowledge has been accumulated there concerning the behaviour under various conditions of the large pneumatic tyre, about whirch.further information will be availablelieer on. .

'Responsibility for Road Damage.

. From time to time The Commercial 'Motor has recorded instances of roads in Glasgow damaged by heavy traffic. Now Lord Ashmore has issued judgment in the action in the Court of Session by the Corporation of Glasgow against Barclay, Curie and Co. for £450 as loss and damage incurred by the corporation in repairing injury alleged t6 have been done to roads by the passage over them of excessive weights consisting of boilers varying in weight from 60 to 70 tons. It was a test case intended to vindicate the right of the. corporation to charge against anyone whose traffic caused extraordinary damage the extra expense incurred in making good the damage. His Lordship said he had come to the conclusion on the facts that there was no reliable evidence on which the specific damage done by the traffic could be determined and assessed. Damage was certainly done by the traffic, but he thought the reasonable inference was that the damage resulted largely from the deteriorated Condition of the roads due to abnormal war conditions, and the consequent want of the usual snore thorough repair and upkeep. Numerous recorded cases in England and Ireland were examined by his lordship, who reached the opinion, on the facts brought out in this case, that the pursuers could find no judicial remedy under the common law of Scotland, and no statutory remedy under the existing legislation.

Until the market is little snore free, the production of the new Enfield-Allday 50 Md. chassis is beinyteld up, and the Waverley works of the company at Small Heath, Birmingham, are fully occupied on the 10 h.p. pleasure car. This is one of the advantages of having more than one string to one's bow, for the works can be kept occupied, and the moment the position improves work that has ' been suspended can be resumed. Car and General Report.

The report of the Car and General Insurance Corporation, Ltd., for the year ended December 31st, 1920, shows that the net premium income for -the period under, review amounted to £889,501, as against £599,170 for the previous year. The claims paid amounted to £441,629, whilst a sum of £160,508 has been reserved to meet outstanding claims. Commission and nianagement expenses at the company's head office and branches amounted to £312,131. After deducting these items, the result shows a, balance to the credit of revenue account of £28,339. After deducting a sum of £875, the 5 per cent. interest (less in-,. come tax) paid or due on the preference shares for the year, 1920, a balance of £27,464 is left, which is to be eatried to general reserve.

Ford Output.

Steady gains, IYAll in sales and production, are reported by the Ford Motor of Detroit. Actual sales in the domestic market for January were 57,208 outornobiles and 1,138 tractors; for Feb ruary 63,6o,3 motor chassis and 1,932 tractors; for March 87,221 motor vehicles and 4,708 tractive,. At present the company have IWO° unfilled orders for automobiles, and the production of the present working force is at the rate of 1,000,000 cars a year.

Motorbus Milestones.

Another milestone has been marked in the history of London's buses by the re, cent completion of the thousandth -K-type. The occasion is suitableto recall that the first two K-types—K1 and K2—were built and put into service in August and September, 1919. This was approximately nine months before. the L.li.O.Co. commenced mass production of this type; K-type buses were first put into service in numbers in May, 1920. We understand that, generally speaking, the K-type bus is performing as efficiently and well as its predecessor, the B-type, and that it costs approximately the same to maintain. It is however, easier on Oil and fuel consumption:

Sir Raymond Dennis, K.l3.E , is expected back about July next.

A Plymouth Extension.

When in 1915 the fine premises in Salisbury Road, Plymouth, were opened as a motor garage by Mr. W. Mumierd, motor -engineer, of 64 and 66, Ebrington Street, Plymouth, it was thought by many that all his requirements for building, repairing, and garaging motors of every description had been provided for for many years to come. That was five years ago.

Since then Mr. Mumford's business has increased in such a remarkable manner that he has found it imperative to add new buildings, and these will give him 3 times more accommodation, The garage opened in 1915 is spacious, measuring 173 ft. by 60 ft., and gives a clear space capable of housing 36 fullsize motor coaches.

It was Mr. Mumford's original intention, when he commenced the additions referred to, that they should be utilized as engineering and body-building workshops, but when about half way through the building operations he realized that, in spite of the large amount of accommodation that was being provided, the premises would be congested. He therefore went further afield and purchased a fine site at Billacombe (one mile outside the Plymouth boundary), and has erected thereon a range of buildings greater in extent than those at Plymouth.

Municipal Matters.

We have received a copy of the "Empire Municipal Directory and Year Book " for 1921-2, which covers the official year of local authorities, i.e., April 1st to March 31st.

The lists of corporations, county, urban, and rural district councils in Great Britain and Ireland and the Overseas Dominions, which include the names of their clerks, surveyors, health, and other executive officers, should be of especial value to such officials and also to those who are concerned in doing business with local authorities.

The special articles on road construction and material, engineering, and building construction, on lighting. municipalities and motors, sewerage anu sewage disposal, public cleansing and waste utilization, fire prevention, public health, housing and town planning, practical sanitation, etc., constitute, it will be found, not only a review of progress made in each of these departments of municipal administration during the year 1920, but also a succinct description of all the approved methods, enabling those in search of the most recent information on the subject to obtain it in one volume. The present edition -of the directoryreaches the 39th annual issue. The price of the publication is 10s. 6d. net.

The second annual motor inspection parade organized by the Aldershot and District CharribCr of Commerce will be held at Aldershot on Whit-Monday. A good entry is promised.

Mr. Leo Swain is for ever extending his ramifications. He tells us this week that he has taken over the selling rights of the well-known OS. speedometers for Lancashire and several Northern counties.

Owing to extreme pressure on space, we are compelled to bold over from this issue "Transport Tips for Tradesmen," " Agrimot's ' contribution on power farming topics, and "Opinions from Others."

The Sphinx Manufacturing Co., of 'Bradford Street, Birmingham, advise us that they have appointed Mr. H. E. Thomas, of Temple Chambers, 33, Brazennose Street, Manchester, as their representative for the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Flint.'

Reverting to their former practice, the Underground Railways are again issuing handy pocket maps of the underground electric system for -the use of travellers. These maps, which should be of special interest, to visitors to London, can be obtained on application to the traffic advertising agent. Electric Railway House, Bread.vvay, Westminster, London, S.W.

Personal Pars,

Mr. J. E. Mallalieu, A.M.I.E.E., of Messrs. Brown and Alallalieu, of the Metropole Garage, Blackpool, has been elected a member of the National Council of the Commercial Motor Users Associtation. His services in this capacity should be of great value to the motor coach proprietors of Blackpool.

Many well-known members of the motor and allied trades served in the M.T. -section of the R.A.S.C. during the war, and the acquaintanceships made in France and elsewhere often form connecting links amongst those members who have returned to civilian occupations. Recently we came across Mr. D. Gilbert, late of the 2nd Heavy Repair

Shop, M.T.R.A.S.C., Rouen. He informed us that he is now representing the Improved Steel Co., Ltd., of the Great Bridge Rolling Mills, Tipton, Staffs, in some 13 counties, which we have not the space to enumerate. From the few samples of steels which he showed us, and the prices he mentioned, Mr. Gilbert should have little difficulty in "making good " in his present position. The products of the company include .steel sheets in various qualities, special sections for all purposes, electric steel castings up to 20 cwt. each, etc.

Coach and Hotel Combine.

The new residential hotel, The Woodlands, at Forest Side, Grasmere, which has been established by C. F. Rymer, Ltd., of Cunard Building, Liverpool, will be opened on Saturday next. It was built in 1853. It stands iD its own grounds of 41 acres, overlooking a magnificent landscape. During the coming season the proprietors will run a direct motor coach service from Liverpool and district, so that the association of coach and hotel proprietorships is brought very close, and promises to act to the advantage of the pairns of the coach, because they can embark on their journeys knowing that the questions of catering and hotel aceornmodation at the other end have been carefully attended to.

Municipal Road Materials.

Chiefly with a view of providing as much work as possible for the unemployed in the district, the Cornwall County Council is now supplying other local authorities with road stone from its quarry, and is also proposing to supply tarred stone. At the last meeting of the County Main Roads Committee it 'was reported that. the Herts County Council had accepted the Committee's tender for the supply of 1,400 tons of stone from Hingston -Down quarry, and also that the East Essex County Council bad accepted a tender.

The county surveyor said since the Duchy mine closed he bad been anxious to do as much quarrying as possible in order to provide employment., and he had tried to find a market for the stone produced at, Hingston Down. There were about 35 men employed there, in addition to the men necessary for Cornwall's requirements, and they were getting a reasonable profit.

The Lord-Lieutenant elicited that the employment of these men meant no cost to the county, but, rather, a profit,

The surveyor also reported that he heard there was a serious shortage of tar macadam in the country, and if the Committee approved he • proposed endeavouring to obtain orders fey tarred Hingston stone, as it would enable them to employ still more men. There might also be scope for making paving setts and concrete slabs at this quarry.

United States Oil Output.

Petroleum production in the United States is again on the increase, according to figures issued by the American Petroleum Institute. Figures for the week ended April 2nd show a daily average output of 1,263,370 barrels, as compared with 1,259,960 in the week ended March 26th.

Interesting Coach Proposition.

We have received a letter from a prominent motor coach touring company on the south Coast who are desirous of rent

ing a London office. They have the option of an office, hut the rent required is more than the takings would warrant, and they are therefore anxious to get into touch with several provincial firms who are doing a similar thing, so that the office expenses could be pooled and agreements made to the advantage of all concerned.

Letters marked ," Tourist," c.o. The Editor, will be forwarded.

The Ball Bearing. '

At a meeting of the I.A.E., held 1tii week, an interesting paper entitled "The Ball Rearing in the Making, Under Test and on Service," was read by Mr. H. T Heathcote, M.Sc. The antler adopted the somewhat unusual course of considering, in the first place, the stresses which a ball bearing has to experience in actual ,work, and then went on to deal with the manufacture. The paper contained a mass of useful information, as well as many formula, and was put together in the clearest possible manner. Of particular interest were the tables showing the maximumand minimum clearances and interferences between a ball bearing and its housing, as recommended by the

various manufacturers. •

The author recommended that the revolving ring of a bearing should be about .0005 in. larger than that of its housing, and that the non-revolving element should he a push. fit. He also considered that, subject to there being no internal side thrust, the ordinary side stresses to which the wheel bearings of ears of moderate weight are subjected on the road, could be taken up by journal hearings without over-stressing them. Some interesting results of tests to destruc tion were given, •

A Strange Catch.

Cargoes. of all descriptions were sunk by enemy submarines during the war, and it is a fact fairly well known that on more than one occasion ships with commercial vehicle chassis and -tractors as part of their cargo were destroyed in this manner.

A revelation of an enemy' deed wee recently brought to light by the drifter " Homocea," which, -whilst trawling about 50 miles south of Yarmouth, " caught " a 3 ton motor lorry chassis in its nets. The chassis, whichis a Renault, must have been in the water for three Or more years, and, considering its prolonged immersion, its state of preservation reflects credit on the quality of the materials 'employed in the manufa7c. 'Lure of this. well:known French chassis.

Apart, from incrustation, • the tyris showed little ill effect, and their condition may he well judged when we state that the vehicle when it was landed travelled under OW of another lorry.

'Tis. an III Wind.

Owing to the miners' strike nod the consequent scarcity of coal, the-re have been very drastic cuts in the Liverpool Corporation Trans-ways services, and dup ing certain times of the day no trains are running at all. Since the buses can only be run at a very considerable loss, for the last few months these services have. been curtailed to such an extent that the buses are only rarely seen in the central city area. The buses, however, have now come into the limelight again, and a seven to eight minutes' service has been organized during_ the times the trams are not

• running. They, cover a 'wide sweep of .routes, and if the coal strike continues 'it is possible there will be extensions At least one firm of motor coach pro. 'prietoes have entered the fray, and one morning between the hours of 10 and 12 noon. there -was a private motor coach service between the outside edge of Sefton Park and the Pier Head. The fare was la., and it did not take more than five minutes to fill a coach with passenger ls willing to pay four times the car fare rather than walk to the city.

Birmingham Buses.

The Birmingham. Tramways Conneittee, presided over by Councillor Lee, had before them, a few days ago, a representation from residents at Quinton protesting against the scale of charges in respect of the Birmingham and Quinton motor omnibus service. It will be remembered that a few weeks ago the residents of Quinton appealed for the maintenance of the service, even though higher fares had to be charged. The committee agreed to experiment for a period of three months with e service for which a through fare of Ode against 6cl. formerly, was charged.

The committee decided to reply to the representation that the matter would be reconsidered at the end of three months. It was stated that, despite the increased fare, a considerable loss was akin being incurred on the service.

Motorbus Owners' Liability.

Marked developments of motorbus and ehar-a-banc.e traffic in Nottinghamshire, where a large proportion of the arrangements in the public interest has been due to the enterprise of the Trent Motor Co., have been hitherto unattended by any conflict with the county administrative authorities, who have manifested a disposition to meet the reasonable requirereents of proprietors. But a ease involving a point of some legal interest has now arisen, it being reported at the last meeting of the county council, under the presidency of Viscount Gal. way, that motor omnibuses owned by W. T. Underwood. Ltd., were running on the main road between Ouckney and Clown, which road approximately for a distance of three miles Le in the county of Nottingham.

The attention of the proprietors of the vehicles had been called to the fact that they had not obtained the consent of the councilto the running of this bus service, and they had also been informed of the -conditions under which such consent would be given, viz., the payment of 2d. per bus mile. The, proprietors had refused to make the application for consent or to pay the mileage charges, and had applied to the Ministry of Transport under the provisions of the Roads Act, 1920, to determine their liability. The particular road, it was explained, was in a weak condition and possessed -dangerous ,corners, consider-able expenditure 'being required to make the thoroughfare, which is narrow, sufficiently strong to carry omnibus traffic. Having regard to these facts, the committee's recommendation was adopted that the council' should resist the proprietors' appeal, and instructed the county surveyor to attend before the Ministry for the purpose of supporting the appeal. The case raises a point of particular importance to owners of motto coaches in general, and the decision will be awaited with considerable interest.

Nottinghamshire Traffic.

Great growth of motor traffic in Nottin hamshire for commercial transport and other purposes has led the county authorities further to elaborate their schemes of effective work on main highways, many of which have been rendered among the best in the country. It was inthis part of the Midlands that the first process-ea in relation to the tar treatment of road surfaces were resorted to, under the direction of the former county surveyor, Mr.' E. P. Hooley.

Concurrently with, the improvement of main avenues of traffic, considerable attention is also being paid by the ,Notts. authorities to necessary works in comieetion with bridges throughout the county. It was intimated at the last meeting of the council by Colonel Sir Lancelot Rolleston that' the estimated expenditure upon highways during the ensuing year amounted to nearly 285,000. Classifipation of roads has now been completed throughout Nottinghamshire, and over 100 miles of highways for the maintenance of which district bodies have been hitherto responsible, have now been taken over by the county council.

Messrs. R. W. Coen the Aluminimn Foundry, 219, Poswell Road, London, E.C.1, advise us that they are now in a position to supply the new hackney carriage plate.

Local Proceedings.

Cannock U.D.C. requires e motor lorry for refuse removal.

New Mills U.D.C. is to spend £300 on the purchase of a 1 ton motor lorry.

The sum of £2,100 is to be spent by Dorking U.D.C. on the purchase of a motor fire-engine.

The L.C.C. is to purchase a motor ambulance from Seammell and Nephew, Ltd., for R299 12s.

The expenditure of £2,000 on a motor fire-engine is under the consideration of the Andover Fire Brigade Committee.

The sub-committee of the Glasgow Corporation Tramways Committee has recommended the purchase of three 2 ton Caledon chassis.

Straker-Squire, Ltd., are to supply the Marylebone B.C. with three new or reconditioned 3 ton petrol motor chassie. The price is put at £1,400 Swansea Corporation Health Committee has instructed the borough surveyor to obtain estimates for the supply of two more Edison electric lorries.

Both the Newcastle Corporation and the Tyneside Tramways and Tremroads Co: have applied to the Government for permission to run motorbuses in conjunction with the tramways.

Having regard to the provisions of the Roads Act, 1920, fixing the new rates' of duty in substitution for all payments in the nature of mileage charges, save in exceptional circumstances, Southend Town Council has resolved that no charge be made for the use of roads by omnibuses plying for hire in the borough.

Having considered the question of the adoption of motor traction andconcluded that the time has arrived when their means of transport should he co-ordinie ted, and the control and maintenance of vehicles placed under one committee in order to save expense and get the full use out of the vehicles purchased., and to be purchased, the Greenwich Borough Council have appointed a special committee to deal with the matter.

B.A.T. Report.

The report of the directors of the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., shows that the net traffic receipts anti other revenues, alter providing for depreciation, during the year ended December 31st, 1920, amount to £44,932. After the deductions of administrative and general expenses, interest on loans and other items chargeable to revenue, there remains a surplus of £28,321, making, with the B13,b17 brought forward from the previous year's accounts, a total of £41,838. This sum is to be appropriated by the allocation of 26,622 to reserve and by the payment of a dividend on the ordinary shares at the nate of 10 per cent, per annum,, amounting to 215,000, which will leave a sum of £20,216 to be carried forward.

Institute of Transport Doings.

An ordinary meeting of. the Institute of Transport is to be held on May 9th at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George Street, London, S.W., at 5.30 p.m., when a paper will be read by Mr. D. Ross-Johnson, C.B.E., entitled " Waterborne Transport ; An Early Form of Traffic Development with

Specific Relation to Canals and Inland

litaterways."

A lecture to graduates and students is to be given on May 6th at the Royal Society of Arts, Adelphi Street, London, IrV.C., at 5 p.m. The lecture will be delivered by Mr. D. J. Owen, and entitled' Docks and Harbours ; General Structural Lay-out, Systems of Controls, Operation and „Charges." A special meeting for graduates and students is to be ha/ on May 13th at 5 p.m., when a discussion will take place on ten-minute papers submitted by graduates and students, and on the proposed formation of students' societies.

Early application for tickets should be made to the hon. secretary, H. E. Blain, Esq., G.B.E., at the offices of the Institute, 2 and 3, The Sanctuary, Westminster, London, S.W.1.

Wirral Motorbuses.

The jciint service of motor omnibuses which is being maintained by the Coiportions of Birkenhead and Wallasey between the Imo Municipalities has been of such utility to the public that the corporations have arranged for an extended time table, which will permit of later running.

S.M.M.T. Personnel.

Mr. A. S. Mays-Smith has been unanimously 're-elected president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders for 1921-1922. Mv. H. G. Burford and Mr. T. C. Pullinger, .C,B.E., have been elected vice-presidents. Mr. H. H. Hobson has been re-appointed hon. treasurer.

At the first meeting of the society's new Council, which has now been completed by the co-option of representatives of Agents' Section, Ltd., and the Scottish Motor Trade Association, a letter from the Ministry of Transport to Mr. MaysSmith was read, thanking him for his offer of assistance made on behalf of the society in connection with the strike arrangements. Mr. Mays-Smith reported the considerable amount of work which had been done by the staff of the society in this connection for the Ministry of Food.

The United States Rubber td.,

of 47-48, Farringdon Street, Co.,London, E.G., announce a substantial reduction, in the price of Nobby Cord giant pneumatic tyres for motor lorries. Those interested are advised to *rite for the new price list, which is now ready.