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Replacement or Overhaul?
THERE was a discussion on "Fast Vehicle a Replacement or Emphasized Maintenance" at the annual meeting of the Society of Automotive Engineers of America. One authoritative speaker said that the fast replacement of mass-produced light vehicles, with the maintenance reduced to the lowest point consistent with safety and reliability, appeared to be the objective thinking of most fleet owners. He quoted some interesting figures, amongst them being
the following: It took 1.2 hours to overhaul a carburetter but only 3 hours to build it; 28.5 hours to overhaul an engine and 110 to make it, and 1.3 hours to repair a distributor and only 2 to produce it.
This seemed to favour the use of replacement parts, especially if these could be obtained direct from the manufacturers. On the other hand, he considered fast replacement to mean giving a life of as long as 10 years, or 500,000 miles, to heavy trucks. Unit replacement, with either new or reconditioned components, could keep down maintenance costs, and he remarked upon the apparent need for semi-mass production unit-overhaul shops for the heavies:
Skin Hazards Obviated
THE use of barrier creams, with particular reference a to their industrial application, was recently convincingly demonstrated by Innoxa Laboratories, 1 Eden Street, London, N.W.1. Manufactured in two categories, water repellent and water soluble, the cream is applied to hands which have been washed and thoroughly dried immediately before application. The effectiveness of the water-repellent category with full-strength hydrochloric, sulphuric and other strong B2
acids, alkalis and solventS, was not impaired by repeated washing.
In connection with tyre changing and repair, servicing, chassis and body repairs, painting, and other operations in the road transport industry, the watersoluble type not only protects the hands from irritants contained in oils, petrol, dopes, lacquers or paints, but quickly expands when in contact with water, easily bringing off all grime and oil.
Plastic " Peridomes"
A N American has invented a new device, called a " peridome," which, in conjunction with a specially constructed mirror, enables drivers to see everything on a horizontal level without distortion. Made in the form of a turret on the roof of a vehicle and constructed of transparent plastic, it is claimed to be the first three-dimensional lens giving undistorted vision of height, width and depth without optical devices.
An Ancient Fire Engine
AREADER in Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand, Mr. T. Aldridge recently saw in a copy of The Commercial Motor a story concerning the oldest lorry in that country and has written to draw our attention to another vehicle, in the form of a Cadillac fire engine. According to the New Zealand Herald, this was the oldest motor fire engine in commission in the world. The machine arrived at Thames, New Zealand, in 1910 and had covered 6,000 miles. It has now been bought by an Auckland packaging exporter, who is to drive it across the United States, to which it will be dispatched at the end of July. After this it
will be shipped back to New Zealand, while the owner flies to Britain.
Incidentally, Mr. Aldridge mentions that he welcomed Sir Reginald and Lady Rootes at Mechanics Bay, Auckland, on their arrival from Australia, recogniring the former from a portrait in this journal.
At a reception in Auckland, Sir Reginald said that he would be very surprised if Britain did not become a much bigger industrial power than she was today.
Queer Queuers
BUS-STOP signs are Usually placed at the edge of the pavement with a notice saying on which side of each the queue should be formed. This allows free passage for pedestrians.
A reader tells us that on the outskirts of his town, at a fare-stage stop much used by school children, the sign is against a hedge and the children line up across the pavement. Adults accompanying them never suggest that they should conform to custom. There seems no reason why the sign should not be moved to conform with the normal practice.
Chemical Engineer Honoured
ONE of the world's foremost authorities on petroleum chemistry, Dr. Gustav Egloff, has been honoured by what is known as The Washington Award—an honour conferred upon an engineer by his fellow engineers for accomplishments which preeminently promote the happiness, comfort and wellbeing of humanity. This was founded in 1916 and is administered by the Western Society of Engineers of America.
Dr. Egloff was born in New York, started to study civil engineering, but saw greater opportunities on the chemical side. In 1917, he became director of research of the Universal Oil Products Co. He holds over 300 patents on inventions covering the processing of oil, coal and shale oil and the chemical derivatives of hydrocarbons. His particular interest is in the cracking and refining of petroleum. He has already been honoured by 34 countries.
Amongst previous recipients of the Award were Herbert Hoover, Orville Wright, William D. Coolidge and Henry Ford.