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No Coaching Required
L'AMED for over 100 years in connection with high-class coachbuilding, the name Bonallack has in recent times also developed a connotation with golf. This is the result of the exploits of Sally, Michael and Tony Bonallack, the proud father of whom is Mr. R. F. Bonallack, C.B.E., the chairman of Bonallack and Sons, Ltd. It was very natural, therefore, that when recently considering What should be done to organize a pleasant day for customers and staff, the directors should decide to hold a golf meeting. As Mrs. Michael Bonallack, née Angela Ward, was also present, there were no fewer than four members of the family of international or county golf status at the meeting. There, perhaps not surprisingly, Sally and her father, partners in the staff competition, succeeded in tying for first place. Many well-known transport operators amongst the guests had travelled considerable distances, some from as far as Scotland, Grimsby and Sunderland.
Mixing the Rich and the Poor
AN interesting method of cutting down the consumption
of fuel in a petrol engine has recently been developed. It is known as "charge stratification." This scheme involves forcing into the combustion chamber, close to the sparkling plug, a combustible mixture, the remainder of the chamber being supplied with one that is much leaner. Special design of the chamber ensures that the burning charge is rapidly mixed with that which would, in the ordinary course, be insufficiently rich to fire. While fuel remains at its present price, the scheme will be welcome.
Cost of Underground Plants
IN this age of atomic fear one of the precautionary I measures being taken by industrialists in certain countries is that of employing underground installations. This is, for example, occupying the whole attention of a large firm of consulting engineers in the U.S.A.
There are " buried " industries in Sweden and others are being planned. Even before the dropping of the first atomic bomb Germany had done a lot of work in this direction and by the end of the last war 14 factories in the Harz mountains had been partially completed. There are others in France and Japan.
It is interesting to consider what these mean in the matter of cost. It has been said by some authorities that if the plant of a light manufacturing industry can be established in an existing mine the cost is increased by only 20 per cent., whereas if a site must be excavated the price, as compared with surface plants, would be 50 per cent. higher. Running maintenance is estimated to be greater by 2-3 per cent.
Conference on Management
MANY well-known executives connected with road transport or ancillary businesses will attend the National _ Management Conference of the British Institute of Management, 80 Fetter Lane, London, E.C.4, to be held at Brighton on November 26-28. The theme will be the challenge of change.
Chairman at the opening address, by a speaker not yet announced, will be the Earl of Verulam, J.P., chairman, Enfield Rolling Mills, Ltd., who is also chairman of the B.I.M. Council.
On November 27, at a sectional meeting, the speaker will be Sir John Elliot, chairman, London Transport. His topic will be "The Role of the Top Executive in a Large Organization." At another sectional meeting on "Wages and the National Economy" the chairman will be Mr. A. J. Nicol, personnel director, Joseph Lucas (Electrical), Ltd., whilst at a third meeting the speaker on "Cost Accounting Under Conditions of Automation " will be Mr. A. Kenyon, accountant, Guest, Keen and Nattlefolds, Ltd., and the chairman, Sir Walter Duckey, director, British Tabulating Machine Co., Ltd.
In the evening two or three of the latest films produced for British industry will be shown.
On the morning of November 28, one speaker, Mr. A. C. Dune, general manager (administration), Shell-Mex and B.P., Ltd., Will deal with "The Effect on Quality of Administration on Technical and Commercial Efficiency." "Security for the Employee" will be the paper by Mr. R. R. Hopkins, personnel and welfare manager, Vauxhall Motors, Ltd.
During the two afternoons, various subjects will be covered by study groups; amongst them will be " Resale Price Maintenance: Is It Out of Date? "; "The Time Factor in Production "; "Co-ordinating Technical Developments, Technical Services and Sales "; "Attracting the Right Type of Man into Management "; "What Should be the Balance Between Technological Education and Management Education?" Another interesting one should be "How to Make the Best Use of Scientists in Industry."
The conference fees, excluding accommodation and meals, are: members £12, non-members £16, wives £3.
The Lion and the Lamb
THE British adeptness at compromise is surely exemplified I in a film recently produced by Geo. W. King, Ltd., of Stevenage. The largest sequence in this film is devoted to the vast mechanical handling scheme installed at the Austin works at Longbridge, where over 17 miles of King conveyors are in use. Yet the company who provided this vital part of one of 13ritain's greatest manufacturing combines are themselves entirely a family concern, now in their second generation.
Other shots show engines from the assembly line of the Standard Motor Co. being transferred to adjoining shops, without any attention from the operator, by powertraverse twin-lift hoists.