Passing Comments
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Power Steering Popular in .U.S.A.
T the recent annual meeting of the Society of " Automotive Engineers in America, emphasis was placed upon 'the advantages of power steering as a partial solution of the modern parking problem and to extend the use of large road and cross-country vehicles. It was stated that more than 200,000 vehicles of various types will be equipped with. power steering in 1952.
Women's Eyes on the Buses
THE women of Oxford have been checking up on the local bus services and those responsible for operating and timing them will have to look to their • laurels. The survey was carried out by members of the local branch of the National Council of Women, during a week of 84 hours, at Carfax on routes Nos. 1 and 8; full details have been sent to the Licensing Authority and the town clerk. The week chosen was out of term and the services might have been expected to be normal.
Out of the scheduled number of buses, 24 were missing from a possible 673 on the Saturday and 130 out of 655 on Monday. Some routes showed 526 more scarcity than others. On one day on No. 1 route, there were six buses in the hour instead of 12, and over a two-hour period on route No. 3, only four buses appeared out of 12. On the other hand, in the peak period between 5-6 p.m., the number was sometimes greater than that scheduled.
In many instances, the intervals between buses were far longer than those given on the time-table. Curiously enough, there was far more regularity on the Saturday, despite dense traffic. About 50 per cent. of the vehicles arrived at Carfax within a minute either way of the proper time.
Production in the U.S.S.R.
r.[HE U.S.S.R. is claiming as a whole over 100 per
cent. fulfillment of its industrial production plans for the past year. The average increase being 3,5 per cent. for the gross output, as compared with l950. The following figures are given : pig iron 114, steel 115, copper 114, lead 125, coal 108, petrol 120, oil fuel 145, motorbuses 134, synthetic rubber 120, ball bearings 130, agricultural machinery 115, calculating machines 201—perhaps the big increase in the last named accounts for the other figures.
Nutty Idea for Tyre Treads
p OAD conditions vary tremendously in the vast "area of America, as do the tyre requirements. According to Mr. J. C. Price, of Tyresoles, Ltd„ following his return from a trip to the States and Canada, in certain parts there is an urgent need for special winter treads.
Apart from the incorporation of wire, resembling the company's " Wyresoles," many special tread compounds are used. These include sawdust, walnut shells and various other ingredients of a similar nature which are calculated to provide increased road adhesion, but, he added, mileage suffers. However, Americans meeting these special conditions are willing to fit such special tyres for the winter season 'and store them during better weather.
Where heat and severe running conditions scrub the treads off quickly, it is common practice to sole the tyres six to eight times, provided that the casings arc in good condition.
International Commission on Transport
THE Commission of Transport Users has been
reconstituted by the International Chamber of Commerce, under the chairmanship of Mr. A. G. Marsden, transport adviser of Lever Bros., Ltd., and Unilever, Ltd. The first meeting was heldin Paris on January 24.
The Commission is composed of representatives of the users of the various means for transport who are also members of the technical transport com mittees of the which itself is comprised largely of business concerns and associations closely concerned with transport problems.
The Commission will pay particular attention to the requirements of users in respect of transport and will advise the Council of the I.C.C. and its technical transport committees on matters of special interest. The opinion of the I.C.C. on transport as it affects users is frequently sought by the United Nations and various other inter-governmental bodies.