AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Passing Comments

13th June 1947, Page 26
13th June 1947
Page 26
Page 27
Page 26, 13th June 1947 — Passing Comments
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

How Great Skill Made THE Journal for June of the Many Unexploded " Institution of Mechanical Bombs Harmless... Engineers contains a particu

larly interesting lecture by Mr. H. J. Gough, C.B., M.R.E., D.Se„ F.R.S., chief engineer of Lever Bros., and Unilevers, Ltd., and formerly Director-general of Scientific Research and Development, M.O.S. It deals with the subject of bomb disposal, which was very much in our minds not long ago, when unexploded bombs threatened seriously to interfere with production in our industry and others. The main problem was practically always in connection with the fuse. The Germans did everything possible to ensure that this could not be removed or put out of action without exploding the bomb. Practically all were•operated electrically, a reservoir condenser in the fuse being charged from a 150-volt battery as the bomb left the aeroplane. Further condensers controlling the instantaneous or delay-action devices were included, these being charged through high-resistance leaks. There were many variations. In one, a small tube of Thermit was ignited, the heat from this melting a wax pellet and freeing a clockwork time mechanism. Some were so sensitive that, once alive, the slightest vibration caused detonation. The main interest lies in the • amazing ingenuity of those engineers and scientists who had to neutralize these many fuses In some cases, the electricity was discharged by injecting steam or using a slightly Conducting liquid. 'Quick discharge would have operated the fuse. Clocks were stopped by heavy and powerful electro inaanets. which, although the wheels were non-magnetic. forced their. steel spindles against the bearings. Others were frozen by carbon-dioxide snow or liquid Oxygen. Clock mechanism was also jammed by forming a vacuum and then allowing sugar solution to enter. Cases were cut by trepanning machines, and thesolid explosive melted and blown out by steam. 'Even dental impression powder was sometimes mixed with sugar solution to prevent strikers piercing. detonators.

How "Titanic" Loss PrIIE famous liner," Titanic, Affected the Editor of I hit an iceberg in the Atlan

tic and sank on April 15, 1912. Our readers may wonder what connection there is between this and "The

Commercial Moto ." Actually, it influenced the present Editor in the matter of a career. A few weeks previous to this date he had read a paper on carburation before the graduates of the Institution of Automobile Engineers. As a result, he was offered the position of works manager of a carburetter concern, despite his then tender years. This post was subject to confirmation by the managing director of the company. He, however, was lost with the ship, and the carburetter concern itself did not long survive. Some other people in the industry may have had their lives materially altered by incidents beyond their control, and we would be interested to have details, which, if of sufficient interest, will be published (1CCASIONALLY the ‘-"honorary treasurer of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund receives welcome donations from good wishers who have profited hy some unexpected source of income. The latest is one of 2 guineas from Mr. W. J. Lord, F.I.M.T , whose literary talents have at last been recognized by the acceptance of a recent article on post-war conditions, contributed to a Coventry paper. Mr. H. G. Reilly, the present treasurer, trusts that other literary amateurs will follow this good example set by the managing director of the Coventry Motor Mart.

Benevolent Fund Benefits from a Liter ary Effort .

Filter Expert Ras Fine WHILST the name Vokes is Collection of Fire" inseparable from filtering devicps, it is not everyone who knows that " C.G.," as he is affectionately referred to by his staff, is also a keen collector of firearms. We were recently shown some remarkable examples of craftsmanship dating back for hundreds of years. The decorative work on the butts. of some of the pieces can be described only by the word beautiful. Mr. Vokes can boast, too, of a fine collection of swords-, one of which, we were given to understand, being worth several thousands of pounds. In all, it is probably one of the finest private collections in the world, and we would hesitate to give a figure for its total value.

DUNLOPS' general advertising manager, Mr: H. W. Eley, recently stated that advertising has made motor vehicles cheaper. He could remember that when there was very little publicity they cost much more than the present prices for greatly improved articles. He pointed out that good advertising increases sales without the overheads being raised pro rata, thus reducing the cost of the finished products to the consumer He claimed that the earliest advertisement on record was some 3,000 years old. It was issued by a landowner for a runaway slave and was on a scrap of papyrus discovered in the ruins of Thebes.

Good Advertising Increases Sales and Reduces Costs .


comments powered by Disqus