Passing Comments
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Traffic to be Freed •r_RADUALLY, but not from Delays by before time, the horse as Horses • a means for haulage is dis appearing from the streets of London and other congested areas of population. For years it has been out-dated and one of the prime causes of traffic delays, and the railways, which probably now employ the largest number, must have cost trade and industry many millions of pounds because of their slow yielding to the pressure of modernization. They still employ some 7,000, which will, as supply permits, be replaced by the mechanical type. Other leading users are also effecting replacements as soon as possible. Here are opportunities for the battery-electric vehicle as well as the petrol type.
Example of StandardiTHE producer of Schrader zation Which Sets a valve equipment draws an Precedent interesting comparison be tween the standardization effected in this and the lack of it in so many other parts of a motor vehicle. It is pointed out that the greatest problem facing British industry to-day is to reduce costs, and the most obvious way to do this is to give the workers more and better equipment. but this means further standardizatirm. More things must be made alike, not necessarily finished products, but certainly Many of the components that go into A2fi
them. If a manufacturer be producing, say, 10,000 a year each of 20 items, all fulfilling the same function, but each slightly different in shape and size, costs are bound to be considerably higher than if he could have a straight run of 200,000 a year, all alike. Thus the Schrader valve core for any size or make of vehicle, commerical or private, is interchangeable. It can be used also for any motorcycle, aeroplane, and even record-breaking car, whilst all garages can have a standard air chuck.
President of Retread cPEAKING at the annual Manufacturers Felici"—I meeting of the Retread cites Press . . . . Manufacturers' Association,
the president, M r. R . Emanuel, said that the motor and commercial-motor road transport industries, with their innumerable manufacturing, distributing and retailing ramifications, are particularly fortunate in their Trade Press. The journals which serve them display not only technical knowledge and commercial commonsense, but also provide valuable comments and criticisms. presented with a healthy vigour. He added that the Association's code of minimum standards for retreading was a landmark in the industry, and one of the reasons that the process, having proved itself to the Nation and individual in war, had maintained its status in the economically difficult years since.
DURING his trip to the Western Hemisphere, Sir William Rootes, chairman of the Rootes Group, who returned to England a few days ago, said that he has discovered there a great potential market, not only for cars, but also for trucks, buses, tractors and equipment. The dominant factor, however, if we are to benefit by this, is high quality combined with reasonable price, and our vehicles must become more competitive. At present the scarcity of dollars provides us with an opportunity to establish important business in areas formerly primarily supplied by the U.S.A. In Britain we must increase to the maximum, by mechanization, our production per man-hour, and more material must be provided. It
Important Factors in Trade with Western Hemisphere .
will be an immense task to make ourselves self-supporting by the time that America's Marshall Aid ceases to operate.
Using Cleansing Fluid A N interesting minor use of for Fitting Ball 1-1 an I.C.I. degreasing plant Races . was brought to our notice dur
ing our visit to the Red and White works at Chepstow The cleansing fluid used in this is maintained at about 400 degrees F., and in it are popped, for 30 seconds or so, ball races, so that they can be expanded and thus fitted more easily on to their shafts. This has proved effective and is a saving of time and trouble, whilst there is no danger of the races or operators, losing their tempers.