Rubber suspensions highlight exhibition
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WHILST the only commercial vehicle displays at the diamond jubilee exhibition of the John Bull group in Leicester last week were a Midland Red partially built single-decker and a Commer Maxiload converted by the North Derbyshire Engineering Co. Ltd., the interest shown by a large number of visitors in the rubber suspensions of these vehicles gave them the status of a highlight.
The now well-known independent front suspension and toggle link rear suspension of the Midland Red bus feature Metalastik rubber springs and bushes, which are also a feature of the North Derbyshire tandem axle oscillating beam bogie of the Maxiload. All Midland Red buses, including double-deckers, will in future be equipped with the types of suspension system mentioned.
Of more general interest, the forecast was heard that an air-rubber suspension may be available at some future date.
Mr. Ronald Wragg, managing director of the North Derbyshire company, reported growing interest in the advantages of rubber suspension for tipping vehicles and that a rubber based system had been developed for single axles.
Pope Ltd. Changes Name: H. C. Pope Ltd., Weedon Road Trading Estate, Northampton, recently acquired by the Firman Group, Peterborough, has changed its name to Hi Pope Ltd. as a preliminary to an expansion prograrnme.
A31 Improvements: Another mile of carriageway is to be added to the Folkestone-Honiton trunk road (A31), bringing the total length of continuous dual carriageway to about four miles between Femdown. Dorset and Ringwood, Hants. Work will start soon and is expected to last about a year. GEC Wins Contract: GEC Road Signals Ltd. has been awarded a contract by the Ministry of Transport for the provision, installation and maintenance of vehicle queue detectors for the West London area traffic control experiment.
For Hong Kong: Thompson Bros. (Batton) Ltd. have just had an order for 10 truckmixers of 6/7 cu. yd. capacity from the Flat Hill Quarry Co.. Kowloon, Hong Kong. Guy Warrior III chassis with AEC 470 engines will be used, the mixer power plants being Ford 592E diesels.