OPINIONS and Q UERIES
Page 47
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MANY SOLID-TYRED WHEELS ILLEGAL AFTER 1946 THE latest position regarding the use of solid tyres is that the appropriate regulation was subject to an amendment sheet dated March 20, 1946 This gave January 1, 1947, as the ultimate extension to which vehicles may operate on the highway with solid-tyred wheels having a rim diameter of less than 670 mm.
There must be large numbers of hauliers who will be faced with making immediate conversions as an alternative to withdrawing their vehicles from service.
In view of the virtual impossibility of obtaining disc wheels and pneumatic tyres with which to effect conversions, and having regard to the still acute shortage of labour, should not some pressure be applied to the authorities with a view to postponing the time limit until the position is more favourable for the purchasing of newer or more modern pneumatic-tyred equipment?
Uxbridge. W.R.B.
DO BUS MEN DRIVE 'COACHES WHILE " RESTI NG " ?
HAVING recently left the Forces, I have been seeking
employment in my usual civilian occupation as a heavy-lorry driver. I have held a licence for 20 years, also an H.G.V. licence, and a 17-year London Safety First (Driver's) award, including the Gold Medal.
I have applied to several concerns, but I find that they appear to be full up with men who have been taught to drive while in the Army. Amongst the coach operators I found that many of the men who are driving coaches to-day are London bus drivers working on their rest days.
I hope that you will excuse my writing to you on this subject, but I have not been able to obtain a copy of your paper since I have been back in England, yet I was able to get my copy regularly every week at W. H. Smith
and Sons in Brussels, Belgium. J. HARRISON. London, S.E.9.
MORE COMFORT FOR LICENCE APPLICANTS
SOME little time ago, road operators were given in the trade Press the probable requirements of the Regional Transport Commissioners in the matter of licence renewals.
May I suggest at least one requirement that the road operators would like to see instituted as soon as possible by the Metropolitan R.T.C. I refer to the thoroughly disgraceful state of affairs that exists in the A and B licence section at Romney House in the reception of applicants.
There we have quite a large room, and in one corner of this is a small " cattle " pen, about 3 yds. square, in which the long-suffering applicants stand wedged tightly together, all perforce obliged to hear each other's business and see, I have no doubt, each other's documents. The applicant unfortunate enough to stand nearest the door can also anticipate a blow in his back every few seconds, unwittingly given by each newcomer.
This should at once be remedied, at least by enlarging tly: space mentioned and by providing adequate seating for those who are elderly, or who must wait some time Additionally, it should surely be possible to provide a long partitioned counter with suitably worded notices, under which applicants could apply for their respective licences, make inquiries, etc., and thus avoid the standing around awaiting the tardy attention now evident. Incidentally, the partitioning suggested could well be extended to other departments, the C-licence, for instance, as it would at least afford a little privacy.
Personally, I would also like to bear tha'. some of the staff had voluntarily refused to read the daily and, especially, evening papers until after business hours, unless, of course, I am mistaken in thinking that such time is 5.30 p.m. and not 3.30 p.m. APPLICANT. London, W.5.
SIZE MARKINGS ON AMERICAN SPANNERS
I HAVE been a regular reader of "The Commercial I
Motor" for the past 16 years, and I know that it finds its way into the hands of a great number of fitters engaged on transport work, therefore I think that the following may be of interest to many of your readers.
Recently a discussion arose among our fitters regarding spanners, which began by one of them producing some which were stamped S.A.E., and declaring that they were made for a different type of bolt and nut to those with which they are all familiar.
Eventually, I convinced them that this was not true, and that the only difference between the S.A.E. and the more common type of American spanner is that the S.A.E. is marked with the diameter of the bolt it is made to fit, whereas the others are marked with the size "across fiats" of the bolt head.
With American bolts, this " across-fiats " measurement of the head is usually one and a half times the bolt diameter, so that for a 4-in. diameter American bolt a 4-in. S.A.E. spanner is used, whereas a 4-in, spanner of the ordinary American type can be used on the same bolt head. J. F. STARFORD, A.I.R.T.E. Stanmore.
A BRIEF NOTE ON THE SWEDISH TRIP •
MAY I submit my remarks on what impressed me in IviSweden during my recent visit as a member of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers?
(1) The great attention to detail in organization; members of the visiting party will appreciate this.
(2) The cleanliness of streets, stations, p.s.v.s, work. shops and workmen. In repair shops, care is taken completely to segregate dismantling (and its consequent dirt) from assembly. Even workmen's lockers were divided for dirty overalls and walking-out clothes.
(3) The friendliness and good manners of the people; the politeness of shop assistants and road transport employees being very marked. Some strikingly courteous salutations between employer and employed were noted during the inspections of works and vehicle depots (4) The lovely lakes, buildings, new roads and fine. crisp weather.
(5) The only " disturbing " factor being the unsuccessful attempt to make a Scania-Vabis vehicle disintegrate over a proving course—it seemed likely that the ' pas. sengers " would experience this first.
Altogether a most interesting, instructive and enjoy.
able trip. J. H. VINCENT. Sanderstead.