Passing Comments First Coach Over Loibl Pass T HE distinction of
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being the first tourist coach to use the rough shale track between Austria and Yugoslavia, involving climbing the 4,250-ft. Loibl pass, has been gained by a Leyland Comet owned by Jeffways Coaches, Ltd. It was driven by the head of that company, Mr. A. C. Jeffries. On the descent, 45 hairpin bends had to be negotiated, some by reversing on particularly steep gradients.
The coach, which had a 22-seat body by Bellhouse Hartwell, was carrying a party of students to study classical remains in Greece. It was selected for its generous ground clearance and light weight, which enabled none-too-sound bridges to be safely crossed. A five-speed gearbox and two-speed rear axle helped greatly in the achievement. B4
Atomic Measure for Tyre Fabric
A BY-PRODUCT of America's atomic pile is being
employed by the General Tyre and Rubber Co., to measure the thickness of rubberized fabric for tyre casings, as it flows from the calendering machine. The fabric passes between a small stainless-steel capsule containing radio-active strontium and a beta-ray gauge.
• The lighter the fabric, the greater the radiation passing through it. This gives a continuous record and enables the machine operators to discover thick or thin spots in the fabric. These are said to be amongst the chief causes of tyre failure. The device 'is said to have been ordered by all the major rubber companies in the States. The strontium is estimated to •remain effective for 60 years.