WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
The Depression in the Coal Industry.
An extremely interesting pamphlet— or rather a 40-page octavo book—has been • issued by the Sentinel Waggon Works, -Ltd., dealing with the cause of the position in which the coal industry now finds itself, and the cure which may be briefly surnmed up (although this summary does not in the least degree do justice to the book and to the arguments contained therein) in the statement that, if coal had only to carry one single Profit, one single handling charge and one single freight charge, it could be sold to the consumer at a much lower price than at present, whilst being charged out from the pit at a figure which would allow of adequate dividends being paid to the mine owners and adequate wages to the miners.
The savings that could be effected in transport if these ideals were aimed at are discussed in the book, and, naturally, the contribution which ctn be made by the steam wagon towards the reduction of transport charges on coal are well brought out. The book is very interesting, and we confidently recommend a study of the facts in it by all who are interested in economical problems. We believe that a copy will he sent on application to the publicity department of the company at Shrewsbury.
Present-day Traffic and Road Wear.
Reporting upon the increasing expenditure incurred upon main roads, Mr. It. S. W. Perkins, the Isle of Ely county surveyor, gives an indication of the main factors which account for the increased costs. He says that the great increase in traffic, which is based on the average weight of all traffic on the roads, is indicated by the census figures. It is not only the increased weight but the altered character of the traffic which affect our roads, as naturally fasttravelling heavy vehicles will, owing to vibration, more seriously damage roads without a proper foundation and built on a weak subsoil.
Mr. Perkins mentions that in the current year's estimates the increased price of tar and materials (chiefly owing to higher railway rates) account for a sum of at least a000 as compared with the previous year.
As a glaring instance of the changed conditions, he points out that in 1911 the total eost of the roads was £24,626, whereas for the current year the estimated cost of surface tarring alone is more than that amount. It mast he recognized that this work is absolutely necessary, otherwise the surface would disintegrate in a very short time under present-day traffic conditions.
Up to about the year 1924 it was possible to maintain a fairly good surface by using water-bound granite patching and surface tarring, but under present conditions Mr. Perkins says this is quite impossible, as a tarred water-bound surface on roads where motor traffic is continuous very quickly develops pot-holes. On many of the roads in the countY. where the surface has been tarred annually for a number of years, the traffic is at present merely carried on
the tar and gravel carpet which, under a spell of unfavourable atmospheric conditions, may give way at any time. It has probably been noticed by those who use the roads frequently that certain sections of the more important roads have in recent years become very corrugated, owing to the -weakness of the under surface and the consequent rolling up of the thick tar carpet by heavy
traffic. In these cases tarring or patching is quite useless and reconstruction is essential.
In 1925 traffic in the county had increased to such an extent that it was considered inadvisable to continue the use of water-bound macadam, and it was decided that tar-macadam should be used for resurfacing the more important roads. This, says Mr. Perkins, was undoubtedly a thoroughly sound policy and will prove more economical in the long run, Nat the first cost of tar-macadam is double that of water-bound road. In addition, over nearly every section of road it is necessary to strengthen the surface, particularly the haunches, before tar-macadam is laid.
The Duthie Trailer at the Royal Show.
Duthie, Large and Co., Ltd., of Athy, asks us to point out that on page 703 of the issue of The Commercial Motor for July 12th, the illustrations of the Duthie Universal tipping trailer and the Eagle hand-tipping trailer have been transposed. The Universal trailer is shown in the photograph numbered two, on the right-hand side of the page.
Will the Road and Rail Meet ?
One of the daily papers recently came out with the sensational (or intended to be sensational) statement that negotiations had been opened up between road interests and railway interests in order that an cud may be put to the present state of competition. We were rather surprised ourselves to get the news, and we are prepared to express the opinion that no such negotiations are taking place.
A Bus Inquiry at Cardiff.
On behalf of the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Cecil Ramage recently conducted an iuquiry at Cardiff into the application of the Cardiff City Council for sanction to extend its bus services in several directions beyond the city boundary under the terms of the Cardiff Corporation (Extension) Act of 1920. Special stress was made by the corporation of its desire to run buses from Cardiff to Barry, via Dines Powis ; Cardiff to Tongwynlais and Pentyrelt, and Cardiff to Pontypridd.
Preparations for the Scottish Motor Show.
Preparations are already in progress in connection with this year's Scottish Motor Show, which is to be opened by the Prince of Wales on November 4th, the venue being the newly completed Kelvin Hall, Glasgow. The show promises to eclipse all its prede= cessors to the north of the Border. The hall is said to be the largest in Great Britain outside of London, yet its immense area will be taxed to its utmost in accommodating the hundreds of " stands " for which sites are being demanded. Balloting for positions has already taken place. In the commercial vehicle and aecessory sections a few late-corners have had •to suffer disappointment, but it is expected that even these will be admitted when some readjustments have been made in the preliminary plans.
Repeat Orders for Albions.
Amongst recent important orders-received by the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., Scotstoutt, Glasgow, are two in the nature of repeats from the Associated Biscuit Manufacturers, Ltd., and the London, Midland and Scottish Rail
way Co. In each case the order is for a number of 2-ton chassis, the subsidy type having been selected in the case of the former concern. Another interesting order received by the company is for a number of bus chassis for the Metropolitan Railway Co.
Wallasey's Bus Plans.
Wallasey Corporation operates a fleet of Leyland motorbuses. and this type of vehicle has achieved considerable popularity in the town. As a resuit of increases which have been made in the fleet, and in view of contemplated expansion, the corporation has had in mind the building of a new garage in which to house the machines. It is estimated to cost f24,000, and at a meeting of the council a few days ago sanction was given to the proposals embodied in the scheme.
Nottingham Co-operative Society's Display.
Interesting indications of the large extent to which commercial motor vehicles are being utilized in connection with one of the biggest businesses in Nottingham, that of the Co-operative Society, the operations of which cover most of the suburban areas of the city, were afforded by a representative display on Tuesday last, on the Victoria Embankment, Nottingham's picturesque riverside esplanade, where the shows of the East Midlands branch of the Commercial Motor Users Association are held annually. All departments of the society participated in the competition for prizes of which those for motors were awarded to Messrs. H. Sansom, J. Pollard, A. Thor, I. Smith and H.1Mann in the order named. The exhibits were of a high standard of mechanical efficiency. The main object of the display is the encouragement of smartness amongst drivers.
Official Orders for June.
During June last orders for a number of motor vehicles were given out by Government Departments, amongst them being the following :—By the Crown Agents for the Colonies, one for motor road-rollers to Barford and Perkins, Ltd., another for lorries to Dennis Bros., Ltd., and a third for chassis divided between Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., and the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd. The War Office placed orders for six-wheeled chassis with John I. Thornyeroft and Co., Ltd., the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd., Guy Motors, Lta., and Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd. The G.P.O. contracts for vehicles included one with Scammell Lorries, Ltd., and another with W. H. Perry, Ltd.
Garage Equipment in Profusion.
. Harvey Frost and Co. (1924), Ltd., 148-150, Great Portland Street, London, W.1, has just issued a new pocket edition of its catalogue describing the range of IIF garage equipment. The booklet deals with a variety of appliances which are of value in the garage and workshop, and complete details of the design and construction of each are given. Much of the equipment is of particular interest to those concerned with the operation and maintenance of comuffircial vehicles.
A Long-distance Holiday Service.
• The north country has seen the inauguration of quite a number of long-distance services during the past few months and another has now been added in the shape of a hi-weekly motor-coach aservice between West Auckland and Blackpool, which for many years has been the holiday resort favoured by a large number of residents of all parts of the southern portion of County Durham. The new aervice—operated by the Elite Services—is run each Wednesday and Saturday from West Auckland. The return mileage is just under 200 and the return fare is £1 is.
Reducing Railway Rates to Meet Road Competition.
The State and private railways in Sweden have now reached an agreement, after long negotiations, for considerable reductions in freight rates in order to meet the competition of motor vehicles. The largest reductions, some of which amount to as much as 50 per cent., are made on light goods for short distances. The average reduction iF.• about 20 per cent. No reductions are made for distances over 235 kilometres or on heavy freights on a big scale. The intentian is to meet road motor competition in parcels, with as little loss as possible in the general earnings of the railway.
The Longest Concrete Road.
Considerable use is now being made of concrete for road-construction work in America, and the largest continuous stretch of surfacing of this character has, we are told, just been completed in America. The road in question is
137 miles long and passes through 29 different towns and villages. It is estimated that the new road will save thousands of pounds annually, for, prior to its being reconstructed, it was costing as much as mo per mile to maintain as a gravel-surfaced highway.
Motors in Bavaria.
According to statistics recently published in Bavaria, there are at the present time nearly 11,000 motor lorries in use in the country, apart from fireengines, water-carts and street-cleaning machines, which increase the total by 230 machines. So far as Munich is concerned, of a total of 14,470 vehicles, 2,581 are motor lorries. There are six times the fun:ober of vehicles in use in Munich to-day as compared with the number in service in 1914.
Personal Pars.
Mr. Frank Shorland, who has been connected with the Talbot company for about 20 years, has for some time been suffering from slight internal poisoning, and has been compelled, under doctor's orders, to resign his position with the company, and he has gone to Vienna to consult a specialist. When he is restored to health he will no doubt seek a fresh field for his activities.
While at Eastbourne recently we paid a visit to Manafields, Ltd., the wellknown automobile engineers and agents, of 21, Cornfield Road, to see one well
known to us--Capt. E. I. Short, the sales manager.
The company is doing excellent business in both commercial vehicles and private cars. As regards the former, it is agent for Vulcan, Graham Brothers (associated with Dodge Brothers) and Ford products. The garage has the most modern equipment, including a remarkable washing appliance supplied by B.E.N. Patents, Ltd., the water being sprayed at 300 lb. pressure. It is possible to wash a vehicle completely in from 10 to 15 minutes and, generally, no brushing is required. We were afforded a practical demonstration on our own car. One advantage of this appliance is that it occupies little space.
Capt. Short commenced in the motor industry by joining Talbots in 1904, passing through every branch of the works during the four years he was there. He then -joined Napiers, of Acton, and was two years in the machine and test shops, after, which he spent periods of one and two years respectively with the New Engine Co., of Acton, and the Aster Engineering Co., Ltd., of Wembley. Until the war he was manager of the Uxbridge Motor Co., but was commissioned in August, 1914, and did much useful work with the Second and Third Heavy Repair Shops. He was invalided out of the Army at the end of 1917 from the after-effects of being blown up at St. Omer by an aerial torpedo. He was then for four and a half years sales manager to Vincents, of Reading, leaving there to join Caffyns, Ltd., of Eastbourne, for which company he was sales manager for three years until he took his present position a year ago.
Protecting the Trams.
Halifax Corporation has agreed to grant licences to Messrs. Hirst, of Ripponden, for buses to ply for hire on routes between Halifax, Millbank, Rishwortb, Oldham and Halifax, on the understanding that protective fares are charged on those sections of the routes which compete with the tramways, both inside ad outside the borough.
3,612 Coaches Invade Blackpool.
During the August Bank Holiday week-end (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) no fewer than 3,612 motor coaches entered Blackpool. The police took a census of road traffic between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on each of the three days. The returns show the following results :—Motor coaches, Saturday 1,558, Sunday 786, Monday (August 1st) 1,268. Other totals registered during the three days were 1,163 motor lorries, 623 motor vans, 13 steam wagons and 308 horsed vehicles.
Get-you-home Ideas.
"How to Get Home "is the apt title given to a little booklet which Sterns, Ltd., Royal London House, Finsbury Square, London, E.C.2, has just issued. The object of the booklet is to help drivers of commercial vehicles when they are faced with troubles that may happen in the course of their daily work, and it gives hints on getting a ditched or bogged vehicle back on to the road, as well as indicating what should be done when certain mechanical accidents, such as a broken axle, a leaking radiator, a broken fan blade, a broken petrol pipe or a bent steering arm and similar difficulties, are encountered.
But for the fact that the booklet contains at the end a chart of recommendations for the company's motor lubricants, it possesses nothing of an advertising character, and the advice given is founded on practical knowledge of the subject.
Benefits Conferred by a New Coastal Road.
Tyne.side and East Northumbrian motorbus proprietors are, at the present time, deeply interested in the traffic possibilities of the new coast road, which, when it is opened for use in the course of the next few weeks, will reduce the distance by road between Newcastle and the seaside at Tynemonth by at least a couple of miles. In the past road transport has been unable to compete effectively with the railways for traffic between the city and the coast. on account of the bad road surface and the roundabout nature of the existing main roads between the two points, but
n9°
when the new highway is opened motor vehicles should be able to provide an even quicker service than. that now given on the electrified railway.
Karrier Municipal Deliveries.
Amongst the recent municipal deliveries which have been make by Karrier Motors, Ltd., Karrier Works, Huddersfield, are two which are shown in the accompanying illustrations. One machine consists of a 6-ton hydraulic three-way tipping wagon, which constitutes a repeat order from the Lunesdale Rural District Council. The chassis used for this vehicle is the company's K5, which has a wheelbase of 15 ft. but in this case the wheelbase was shortened to 13 ft. The vehicle is fitted with a steel-lined body having drop sides 20 ins, deep and a standard type of canopy. The engine in this particular model is a four-cylindered unit developing 50-60 h.p.
The appliance shown in the second picture is one of the well-known ESCtype sweepers which the company has just supplied to the city engineer's department of the Liverpool Corporation. This appliance has alreadynehieved much success in municipal circles.
Garner Works Busy.
We are told that the factory of Garner Motors, Ltd., at Tyseley, Binningham, Is working under ftill-production conditions. The demand for the company's various models is on the increase and extra staff has recently been taken On to deal with the many orders in hand. The Garner 30-35-cwt. vehicle, which was recently introducecl, is proving very popular, and the 50-cwt. overtype model is also much in demand.
German-Dutch Motorbus Services.
As a result of negotiations between the Dutch and German Governments the passport regulations have been relaxed so as to facilitate the inauguration of week-end and holiday motorbus services between Dusseldorf, Germany, and Arnheim, Holland. A similar international service has also been started between Emmerich and Arnheifit.
The Pagefie1d System Favoured.
Whitley Bay and Monkseaton Urban District Council, one of the few municipal bodies in the north of England now using horsed transport for refusecollection work, has resolved to modernize its facilities. To this end several types of mechanical vehicle have been experimented with, and it has been found that the Pagefield system is the most economical under local conditions. One Pagetield lorry and four containers are to be purchased and the authority is also to buy a Kerrier motor sweeping machine. The total cost of the motorization programme is 12,855.
More Long-distance Bus Services.
The north country, which has played quite an important part during the past few months in the development of long-distance regular bus services, has seen two interesting innovations along these lines in the past few days—namely, the inauguration of limited-stop daily services linking up Tyneside with Leeds and Edinburgh respectively.
The Newcastle to Leeds service, which has been delayed on account of licensing difficulties for three or four months, was duly opened upon Wednesday of last week by the LeedsNewcastle Omnibus Co., Ltd., which is employing roomy and luxuriously appointed Gilford 20seater saloon buses. Halts we made on each run at either Ripon or Darlington for a meal, and the total time taken for the through trip is four and a half hours. This is longer than the time for the same journey by rail, but in this respect passengers have ample compensation in the shape of a big saving in cost, for, whereas the rail fare is about 25s., the return charge by bus is only 15s.
By arrangement with a number of prominent omnibus concerns, which provide services radiating from most of the larger towns • along the direct service route, connections are made at Ripon, Darlington and Cheater-leStreet, with buses running to all parts of the districts surrounding these places, thereby giving a useful an.dcomprehensive service extending over the whole of the north-east coastal neighbourhood.
The new service to Edinburgh, which was started on Augunt 8th, covers a 120-mile route and occupies approximately eight hours, including halts for meals. This is being operated by Amos Proud and Co., Ltd., of Choppington, and ,buses leave Newcastle and Edinburgh at 8 a.m. daily.
Three-month Licences.
Lancaster Watch Committee has passed a resolution to the effect that upon the expiration of existing omnibus licences, and with a view to obtaining greater control, no licence shall, in the first instance, be issued for a longer period than three months. Tests for Reo Chassis.
As an illustration which we reproduce on this page clearly indicates, the hilly nature of the country in and around Bristol forms an admirable natured testing ground for Reo chassis, for which Harris and Hese11, Ltd., is sole concessionnaire in Great Britain and Ireland. The chassis shown in the picture is a Reo Pullman, and it is to be seen climbing a gradient of 1 in 6. Some idea of the severity of the hill can be gauged by the location of the docks in the background. Each Reo chassis is subjected to four separate tests before it is permitted to pass into the hands of the user. The test load shown mounted on the Reo Pullman chassis consists of four tons of concrete blocks.
A Bus Decision Reversed.
A committee of the Port Talbot Borough Council decided some little time 'ago. against the extension of the bus service in the area by Bridgend firms who with to ply for hire in the district, and whether or not this was good policy was the question raised at a recent meeting of the council. ' As a result of discussion of the matter the council has decided to reverse its committee's decision and to permit additional services to be established.
Costs for a Sweeper.
The borough engineer of Gravesend, in a report on the costs for the Karrier motor sweeping machine, points out that the cost per day has been 12 9s. ed., as compared with the estimate of £2 10s. given when the machine was purchased.
A New Roller-bearing Crankshaft.
In some cases there have been difficulties in satisfactorily designing crankshafts for employment with roller bearings. In a new design emanating from Germany, to avoid too large rollerbearing dimensions, the crankshaft is made, as usual, in parts, but the method of doing so is rather interesting. The crank pins are provided with 24 conical gear teeth at the ends, corresponding internal teeth are cut in the crank arms. It is then possible to cornLine the pins and arms in all the angles now used on crankshafts, and this with nothing but standard parts. The respective portions of the shaft are held together by bolts passing through the hollow pins.
It is claimed that these shafts are as strong and rigid as cranksh,afts forged in one piece. The rollers are small, and they run directly in the hardened and ground big-ends. Crankshafts of this type have been run experimentally at speeds of over 5,000 r.p.m., and are claimed to have perfohned well even on two-bearing crankshafts for four-cylindered engines with the bearings 18 ins. apart.
Gloucester's Bus Powers.
A few days ago the Gloucester City Council decided to make application to Parliament for powers to operate motorbuses in place of tramcars in rural districts. Extensions to the Guy Works.
Some idea of the increasing demand for Guy vehicles of different types can be judged from an accompanying illustration showing a section of the new body-building shop which "has just been completed at Wolverhampton, but is not yet fully occupied. The shop itself is approslmately 43 yds. wide and has six bays each 15 yds. deep. Eventually this new shop will take in the whole of the work in connection with body construction, including cutting up the wood for making the structural part of the framework, to painting. In the first bay arrangements have been made for a row of woodworking machinery to be installed, this being driven by underground shafting. During a visit which a representative of this journal made to the Guy works we noticed a large -number of doubledeck buses of the petrol and trolley-bus types in curse of construction, whilst, as will be seen from the illustration, a single-deck body for a six-wheeled chassis is shown in course of construction.
Death of a Pioneer.
Mr. Thomas lleu, aged 67, of Blyth, a leading member of the passenger and goods-carrying industry in. East Northumberland, died on July .28th. Ile was one of the pioneers of passenger motor services in the Blyth district and was the owner of a fairly extensive fleet of motors for transporting passengers and goods.
A Service for Holiday-makers.
For the benefit of the large numbers of County Durham residents Who each year spend their annual holiday in the Whitby and Scarborough districts, the United Automobile Services, Ltd., has recently introduced a 60-mile through service between Durham City and Whitby, via Middlesbrough. The new route is proving extremely popular, for it not only enables passengers to make the journey at a cheaper rate than by railway, but also provides a quicker means of transport than the existing rail facilities, which are of an infrequent and roundabout character. Passengers for Scarborough alight at Whitby; where other omnibuses convey them to their destination.
A Three-beast Cattle Float.
We reproduce on this page an illustration of a special cattle float which the Efficiency Motor Co., Ltd., of l3ristol, has just supplied to Mr. Cecil Wills, of Old Sneed Park, Bristol, for transporting beasts to various parts of the country.
The chassis is a standard Ford tonner with an Olson 30-cwt. extension and Futter gearbox. The body is of special construction, and possesses two separate ramps, enabling the cattle to be easily loaded or unloaded without
the necessity for backing. The tailboard forms a ramp, and a similar ramp can be brought into use at the front on the near sideafter two hinged sections of the side have been opened. The body will comfortably accommodate three medium-sized beasts or two large anitnals, and we are told that it has prayed very satisfactory in enabling cattle to be transported quickly over long distances -with the minimum of inconvenience.
• Licences on Conditions.
Morecambe Watch Committee has decided that the application of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., for licences to run a through omnibus service from and to towns in Lancashire be granted temporarily until September 30th, under certain conditions relating to the picking up and setting down of passengers, particularly so far as the borough and Heysham are concerned.
Nuneaton Bus Proposals.
Proposals for the inauguration of a miinicipal bus service by the Nuneaton Corporation were made again at last week's meeting of the town council, when Councillor W. T. Smith moved that the necessary steps be taken to apply for Parliamentary powers to in stitute such a service. Councillor F. Johns opposed the proposal on the ground that there was no necessity for municipal omnibuses in Nuneaton, which already had an excellent passenger-transport system.
Alderman W. Reader said the council should first ascertain whether neighbouring places, such as Hinckley, Bedworth and Atherstone, would allow through services.
Voting on the recommendation was equal and the mayor gave a casting vote against the proposal.
Coventry Prefers Buses.
There are several new streets to be built in Coventry along which a certain section of the city council recommends that tramcars should be run, the other section taking the view that
omnibuses would he much better. At a recent meeting the general trend of ideas can be judged by the fact that a motion proposing a double line of tramways be constructed along Corporation Street (one of the new main thoroughfares) was heavily defeated. Coventry, as is well known, has, in the Past, adhered very closely to the tramways system and this is the first real indication of apy change of front.