BIRD'S EYE VIEW
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By The Hawk
Overall winner of one of the five L.D0 Y contests held last week-end was'. Sartain, here seen making a well-judged reverse into the `bay' at Ruislip. lie also won class E(/) (see page 71).
Wot I No Drivers ? Wheel-less vehicles with their
courses directed by remote traffic controls were among the visions of the future projected by Mr. W. Hooper, BMC fleet sales supervisor, at the National Co-operative Traffic Managers' Association conference. After a thorough delineation of the industry's progress over the past 40 years Mr. Hooper recalled how what seemed to be the improbabilities of Jules Verne had, in a relatively short space of time, become accomplished fact. He felt that, in due time, advances just as great might be seen in the road transport industry, perhaps with vans that would pick up power from outside sources and would run on water or in the air as well as on land. For the near future Mr. Hooper looked towards development of the advantages of the fuel cell. At present the cost, weight and complexity of construction militated against it but he commented that those things, like the difficulties encountered in the development of interplanetary rockets, could well be overcome in a relatively short space of time.
A Pack of Lice Applications and Decisions ",
essential if tedious reading for some transport men, are enlivened by welcome gleams of humour. The South Eastern area publication, AD 630, contains an application by W. J. Tilbury, of Soake Farm, Denmead, for a vehicle and livestock container to carry among other things, "Lice stock within 40 miles of Hambleton PO. I should think Mr. Tilbury can expect an early claim by the driver for "scratch money ".
Pioneering Spirit There aren't many of the real old road transport pioneers left now, and each time another one dies I'm forced to wonder if we have the same dogged spirit in the industry today. Perhaps it's no longer needed.
I've just learned of the death of C. J. Partridge, of Layharri, Suffolk, at 91; the coach operating company which still bears his .name was formed well before the turn of the century and although he "retired" in 1942 he was proud that the firm he started with a horse and cart was still controlled by his family—actually his granddaughter and her husband.
Typical of his spirit was the advice he offered them when the latest fuel tax increases were announced: " Don't let them knock you to the ground—and if they do, it's not a mite of use staying there! "
Vision Shattered Whatever outcome may result from the PTA Conference in Brighton, one thing became Increasingly clear as the Conference proceeded—namely, c16
that the impression of the Ministry as an august body was being shattered, once and for all. The way in which Mr. Custance,' deputy secretary of the Ministry, entered into the spirit of things was very well received. The realization that the M.o.T. is, after all, a body of human beings, is one of the most positive steps towards the very co-operation it is seeking.
The presence of a higher ranking official of the Ministry at such a conference was itself regarded as unique and a breakthrough. But the wind of change at the Ministry, started by the flamboyant Ernest Marples, is being carried on by the quiet Scotsman now at the helm. As Mr. Dravers told me, Tom Fraser is a man with the industry's cause at heart, and, like all Scotsmen, a man of his word. In short, a very worth-while combination.
New queen Mary? The Transport Tribunal bears
so much eloquence, much of it well informed, that I often wonder what the result would be if its members exploited their know-how as transport operators. Their education was taken a stage further last week during the appeal of Robert Walker (Haulage) Ltd. against the licence grant to C. E. Barber. (See report on page 40.)
During the discussion on the " multi-purpose " artic condition enjoyed by Mr. Barber, the Tribunal president, Mr. G. D. Squibb, ventured the observation: "1 see there is now a new type of trailer called a Queen Mary! ". Learned counsel vied with one another to tell the president the war-time origin of Queen Marys. Mr. Richard Yorke, always a quick starter, got his blow in first ", I fancy.
Youngest for years I see that the northern section
of the Institute of Transport has elected its youngest chairman for many years—Mr. Kenneth Short, director of F. Short and Son Ltd., hauliers and stevedores in Newcastle. He has been vice-chairman for the past two years and I learn that he hopes to do some stirring up in the coming 12 months. He aims to promote discussion on contentious ,subjects—one of them public relations in transport. He thinks that transport has been the Aunt Sally of the public and the Press for too long and that it is time operators became more articulate. He hopes a public relations paper will be introduced during the next session.
Although there are 180 members in the Northern section, Mr. Short feels that some fields are not too well represented; he would like to see more hauliers and more air transport people taking an interest.
ENGINE AEC type AV505, 6-cylinder vertical, 4-stroke direct injection diesel, Bore, 4-56 in. (116 mm.) stroke, 5.12 in. (130 mm.); capacity, 502 cu. in. (8 189 cu. cm.). Output, up to 154 b.h.p. at 2400 r.p.m.; torque, 391 lb.-ft. at 1 200/1 400 r.p.m. Normal setting, 149 b.h.p. at 2 200 r.p.m.; torque, 391 lb.-ft. Alternative engine: AEC type AV471; capacity 469 cu. in. (7 647 cu. cm.); output up to 143 b.h.p.; torque 368 lb.-ft. at 1 000/1 200 r.p.m.
CLUTCH Hydraulically operated single dry plate; area of friction surface, 237 sq. in,
GEARBOX Six forward speeds (with overdrive) and reverse; constant mesh except first and reverse which are sliding mesh; unit mounted with engine. Ratios: 1st, 6,63 : 1; 2nd, 4.44 : 1; 3rd, 2-54 : 1; 4th, 1-53 : 1; 5th, 1 : 1; 6th (overdrive), 0,75 1; reverse. 6-59 : 1.
FRONT AXLE Forged " I " section beam with stub axles 2-9,116 in. dia. Hubs mounted on taper roller bearings.
REAR AXLES Two driving axles with fabricated casings and single reduction spiral bevel drive units. Straight through drive with leading axle driven through helical gearing and lockable inter-axle differential. Fully floating drive shafts. Ratios: 5-87 : 1, 6-28 : 1, 7,14 : 1 or 7.85 : 1.
STEERING Recirculatory ball, worm and nut with hydraulic power assistance, Ratio, 35-2 : 1 or 6+ turns from lock to lock.
BRAKES Air pressure operated footbrake on all wheels. Single leading shoe cam expanded. Air-assisted mechanical handbrake operating on all rear wheels. Brake drums 15i in. dia.; linings, in, thick x 6 in. wide front and 7 in. wide rear. Footbrake friction area, 1 188 sq. in.; handbrake friction area, 832 sq. in.
SUSPENSION Semi-elliptic leaf springs, 4 in. wide front and 34 in. wide rear. Both rear springs on each side are interconnected at shackles by balance beam. Telescopic double-acting hydraulic dampers on front axle.
FRAME Bolted construction. Channel section side and cross
members. Maximum section, 12 in. deep x 3 in. flange width x + in. thick. Bumper and twin towing eyes at front.
WHEELS AND TYRES Radial steel cord tyres. Front: single, 11.00-20 on 87-5 discs (10.00-20 on 87.0 discs for 10 ft. 8 in, w.b model); rear: twin, 9-00-20 on 86-5 discs. Spare wheel and tyre Spare wheel carrier except on short wheelbase model.
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT 24-volt insulated return lighting and starting. Alternator of 30 amp max. output with transistorised control. Lead-acid batteries of 110 amp-hr. capacity. Side lamps, headlamps, combined rear lamp units, twin horns, direction indicators.
INSTRUMENTS Speedometer with total distance recorder, oil pressure gauge, air pressure gauge, water temperature gauge, ammeter, indicator lights for generator and headlamp main beam.
ERGOMATIC CAB All steel construction; resiliently mounted to frame; arranged to tilt forward for access to engine. Deep curved one-piece, zone toughened glass windscreen; quarter lights front and rear; rear view windows. Low non-slip steps and wide doors, opening 90. 7 kW fresh air heater/demister; air operated windscreen wipers ; built-in washer jets, two-way adjustable driver's seat.