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The board of directors of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., has appointed Mr. Albert Healey, who, since 1927, has been technical manager at Fort Dunlop, to be works director at Birmingham in succession to Mr. J. L. CoRyer, who temporarily took over the position after the death of Mr. J. T. Bandies. Mr. Healey has also been appointed to a seat on the local board.
Mr. Collyer has joined the company's headquarters staff in London, so as also to be available for work in connection with other factories of the company at home and abroad.
Mr. Hamlyn M. Drake has been appointed chairman of the D.P. Battery Co., Ltd., of Bakewell. in succession to his father, the late Mr. B. M. Drake, who was associated with D.P. batteries so long ago as 1888.
On November 22nd Mr. F. G.
Bristow. M.Inst.T., secretary of the Commercial Motor Users Association, 50, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1, completed his 25th anniversary as chief executive officer of that association. Mr. Bristow is an exceptionally capable and active member of the commercialvehicle industry, and has given devoted service to road transport. A portrait sketch of Mr. Bristow and a résumé of his career were included on page 193 of our issue dated September 29th.
Thornycroft's Trading Reviewed.
The 30th annual general meeting of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., was held a few days ago, when Sir John E. Thornyeroft, K.B.E., M.Inst.C.E., managing director, presided. After dealing with the accounts (to which reference has already been made in our columns), the chairman mentioned that the vehicle side of the company's business has been seriously affected by the general state of trade. He added that, to some extent, the new regulations ofthe Ministry of Transport have caused users to delay placing orders, owing to the uncertainty of obtaining licences, but he expressed the view that the new regulations, as they affect the standardizing of design, will probably be beneficial.
He made some remarks on heavy-oil engines and said that it was no use obtaining great improvement in fuel
consumption if the saving be offset by increased maintenance charges. He thinks that those who are expressing the opinion that all motor vehicles will shortly be using heavy oil instead of petrol are neglecting to take into account the effect which a special form of taxation might have on this fuel.
An Efficient Liquid Jointing.
A liquid jointing, which is claimed to make gas-tight joints on engines, is sold under the name of Holdfast by Brown Brothers, Ltd., Great Eastern Street, London, E.C.2. It will stand the effects of high pressure, considerable heat, steam, petrol, oil, gas, etc., and is said to make a perfect joint without the use of gaskets, although where the thickness of a copper and asbestos gasket is provided for in the manufacture of a component, Holdfast will improve the durability and exclusive powers of the joint. The jointing is sold in tins at prices ranging from is. 3d. to 6s. 6d.
Progress of the B.S.A.T.A.
At the recent half-yearly meeting of the Ballast, Sand and Allied Trades Association, it was announced that the membership is now 231. It is evident that the loading-line and delivery-ticket system, which has been the main plank on which the association has worked, has become a recognized means for accepting delivery of materials which are sold by the cubic yard. The number of loading-line plates issued for the use of members is 2,750.
The central committee of the association has been supplemented by five regional committees. It was reported that a suggested arrangement with the Short Distance Hauliers Alliance failed to materialize, as it was felt that any agreement with an organization concerned in regulating prices would be detrimental to the present policy pursued by the Ballast, Sand and Allied Trades Association.
A Paper on Transmission.
At the next meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, to be held at the Royal Society of Arts, John Street, London' W.C.2, on December 1st, at 7.45 p.m., Mr. L. H. Pomeroy, managing director of the Daimler Co., Ltd., will read a paper entitled "Transmission." Mr. Pomeroy's paper will deal specially with the question of fluid transmission.
The paper will subsequently be read at the Birmingham, Coventry, Leeds, Manchester and Wolverhampton centres of the Institution.
Subsidies for Gas-producer Buses.
The Uruguayan Consejo de Administracion Departmental is endeavouring to make Uruguay less dependent ' on imported motor fuel and to encourage the use of the timber resources of the country. With this object a subsidy of 50 pesos per month is to be granted to the first 10 gas-producer buses to be put into service in Uruguay.
Good Orders for Albions.
As indicating the improvement in business conditions, it is interesting to learn that Albion Motors, Ltd., Glasgow, secured during the week ended November 14th orders for over 100 machines of different types. It will be recalled that the company recently received an order for 116 30-cwt. chassis for the Indian Government.
Haulage Charges for Snow Clearing.
Westminster City Council is recommended to place contracts for the supply of tipping lorries, for emergency snow-clearing work, with the following concerns :—H. Sabey and Co., Ltd., at 7s. 6d. per hour ; Burn Transit, Ltd., at 6s.; W. E. Chivera and Sons, Ltd., at 6s.; Cliffords (Fulham), Ltd., at Os. Lid.; and Murrell's Wharf, Ltd., at 85.
New Radiator Hose Clip.
Intended primarily for the attachment of radiator-hose connections, the introduction of a simple clip is announced by Amal, Ltd., Perry Barr, Birmingham. The largest of the four sizes now available costs Is. 2,d. retail, and fits any diameter from 21 ins. to 2f ins. Other sizes priced at is.' 10d. and 3d. cover the entire range of sizes down to n The P.C. Starter Ring.
We recently gave particulars of the P.C. toothed starter ring for flywheels, this being a type the position of which can be altered so that the wear caused by the entering pinion is distributed more evenly. This device has now been taken up by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., under a sole licence for vehicles of 2 tons and upwards or 20 passengers and over. Those interested can receive further particulars from this company, although, as regards vehicles of under 2-ton capacity /and for fewer than 20 persons, information can be obtained from the patent agents to the inventors, Messrs. Hughes and Young, 9, Warwick Court, High Holborn, London, W.C.1.
Lifting 71 Tons 141 Ins.
A useful heavy-duty hydraulic bus jack capable of lifting 71 tons to a height of 144 ins, is being marketed by the Service Equipment Co., Ltd., 30, Gordon Street, London, W.C.1.
The jack, which has a minimum height of 6 ins., is of robust construction and carries three castors. The hydraulic plunger is pivoted to the frame by means of a chrome-nickel pin capable of withstanding a horizontal pressure of 30 tons. A safety device prevents the accidental lowering of the jack while it is in operation, and a by-pass valve obviates the possibility of overloading. The effort required to raise a vehicle by means of the S.E. jack is slight and it can easily be manteuvred into, any required position. The price is £27 10s.
Worcester C.C. Vehicle Costs,
In his annual report, Mr. B. C. Hammond, the surveyor of Worcestershire, shows that there has been a farther improvement in the working costs of the 'municipal vehicles, particularly with regard to the new fleet. The council has seven Garrett steamers and one Clayton, as well as 11 Leyland motor lorries. The cost per ton was 30.207d. and the cost per mile 5.688d. In arriving at the costs the following items have been included :—wages of drivers, steersmen and• loaders, fuel, stores, depreciation, repairs' renewals, registration and insurance charges.
During the year three new Leyland 5-ton lorries were purchased to replace other vehicles. These machines commenced operations early in the year and proved, by increased output and reduced costs, the advantage of replacing old units.
The foregoing figures refer to transport operated directly by the department and have no reference to the vehicles worked by the delegated rural authorities, which machines passed to the actual ownership of the council early in the year.
"Safety Week" Arrangements.
" Safety Week" is to fie continued next year, but it will comprise a series of "safety weeks" rather than one national week. This procedure has been decided upon by the National "Safety First" Association after consideration of the reports received from chief constables and local " Safety First" Councils.
Next year the experiment is being tried of running separate " safety weeks" in various localities at different times. That for the London area has been fixed for May 2nd-8th, and it will coincide with the National Safety Congress, which is to be held in London during that period.