Passing Comments
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Engine Which Makes WE understand that the Maximum Use of VY Aluminum Company of
Aluminium . America has built, for experi mental purposes, a petrol engine, in which the maximum possible use is made of aluminium and its alloys. They are employed for crankcase and cylinder head, cylinder block, manifolds, connecting rods and piston, timing-chain cover, pump housings, etc., and the total weight saving, on a modem six-cylinder unit, is said to be 175 lb. The engine has been illustrated in some American papers and is now undergoing road test.
Interesting Activities of the Brockhouse
Concern SOME of the remarks made "recently by Mr. E. B. Burton, chairman, and Mr.
J. L. Brockhouse, managing director, of J. Brockhouse and Co., Ltd., are worthy of more than passing note. . The first stated that many of the works of this concern, with its large and varied interests, would be able to turn over to peace-time products inimediately they were permitted to do so. Others would require transitionary periods, but none would be very long. He, like many others, pleaded for a relaxation of all the controls with which industry is surrounded to-day, except those necessary for the proper protection and safety of the country. He stated that the overwhelming bureaucratic system which this war has produced definitely proves to everybody, except those blinded by .prejudice or political tags, that it dues not, and cannot, function as effectively as private enterprise. It invariably creates frustration, delay and, ultimately, stagnation. Mr. Brockhouse expected that in the period immediately following the war the company would be most• busily occupied, principally by buyers in the transport, building and domestic fields, who will require large volumes of goods. He made particular reference to the Turbo Transmitter, the new forhi of hydraulic "gear," which is likely to find a 'welcome place, especially in p.s. vehicles; the company thinks the prospects of this device sufficiently hopeful as to• justify taking a considerable interest in the American rights. He also referred to the potentialities concerned with Lewin municipal appliances.
• • Improving Passenger SPEAKING on transport in Transport Services In h-) Tasmania, its Minister for
Tasmania Transport said recently that it was inevitable that the bulk of the passenger services after the war will be by road. This was because of. the relatively short distances between the populated centres there. The Transport Commission is drawing up extensive plans for such bus services, with thoroughly modern vehicles equipped for maximum comfort and to cope with the climatic conditions experienced. Incidentally, practically all rail passenger services' will be undertaken by fast, oil-engined trains operating in conjunction with the road services.
Interesting Queries A S examples of the varied Concerning Postwar rIa• nature of the hundreds of queries that we receive, we may quote two which arrived last week by the same post. One was from a dealer in motor parts in naglidad, who wishes to be put into contact with well-reputed buying agents who are prepared to buy spares for him on a commission basis. The other came from a passenger-vehicle operator who wishes to be referred to suitable people who can give expert advice on the equipment and layout of a large double-deck bus garage, including a maintenance depot for coach, bus and lorry bodies. Space and equipment will also be necessary for undertaking mechanical repairs to cars. Incidentally, if these requests catch the eye of interested parties we shall be pleased to put them into touch with the inquirers. ,
Developments . .
FROM the little town of Vevey, in Switzerland, comes an oil-engined agricul
tural tractor, built by the Ateliers de Constructions Mecaniques de Vevey S.A., and possessing some interesting features. It combines simple mowing and heavy ploughing with transport work on the highway. The gearing aflerds five wellgraded speeds, permitting field work at under 2 m.p.h., and a road speed of 12 m.p.h. The steering and layout are arranged so that it can turn about one of its rear wheels, enabling the smallest areas to be cultivated. To permit this, there are, apart from the ottlinaly foot and hand brakes, two others which allow either of the back wheels to be held. This scheme also permits a wheel to be locked if it tends to spin on soft ground. A patented device provides rapid connection between tractor and implements.
A Swiss Tractor Features Agricultural. with Novel