Passing Comments
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Aspects of Life in the U.S.A.
CERTAIN sections of the youth of this country have, at times, been subjected to fairly severe criticism, but apparently some of those in the U.S.A. are behaving far more badly.
A recent visitor to the States described what can happen, even in New York. A driver pulling up at the traffic lights may be approached by a teenager holding an ugly looking nail and a demand made that he should give a "quarter." If the driver gets out, there is likely to be a gang of young toughs waiting, out of sight, to damage his vehicle. If he merely ignores the request and moves off on the green light, the paintwork receives a long scratch, so to save trouble, he 'usually pays.
So far almost the worst that happens in Britain is for children to throw stones from bridges on to passing vehicles, but, fortunately, that is not very frequent.
Another of this visitor's comments concerned American workmen, in this case, builders and road
repairers. He saw none slacking and work really did start at the proper time, whilst there appeared to be little or no intermission. Some of the men said to him: "Go back to England and tell 'them' that they are tea-intervalling themselves out of the world's markets."
• Cases for Consideration
nNE of the major problems of British exporters is the provision of adequate export cases strong enough to withstand damage during transit. Venesta, Ltd., Vintry House, Queen Street Place, London, E.C.4, recently demonstrated at their Erith works, by numerous drop tests, the practicability of their pattern 201 plywood cases, designed for export purposes.
The cases are constructed of flat sheets of birch plywood, and have a metal edging along all sides, specially strengthened by a Venesta machine and secured by bifurcated rivets. They possess a high strength-to-weight ratio and provide maximum capacityfor their size, thus saving on freight charges. During the tests, cases containing products of Girling, Ltd., Kodak, Ltd., and Joseph Lucas, Ltd., were dropped in various positions from heights ranging from 4 ft. to 9 ft., from a stationary position, also from a lorry travelling at 30 m.p.h.. In every test, the plywood casing remained undamaged, whereas the boards of a softwood case of similar dimensions, dropped from 9 ft., split badly on both sides.
The cost of these plywood cases is comparable to that of the softwood type, and in some instances where they have been used, exporters have obtained a 30 per cent, reduction in insurance premiums.
Who was Rockin ana Rollin' ?
A COUNCILLOR of a certain city has described 1-1. a modern type of bus as being an ungainly, inelegant, monstrous mass of shivering tin .. , modern to the extent of being able to produce a perfect synchronization of rock 'n roll.
He must be a man extremely hard to please. Certainly visitors to The Commercial Motor Show would be more inclined to disagree with him. The modern 4. British bus is one of the finest examples of engineering; perhaps, however, the gentleman concerned made these remarks after a civic banquet, and was suffering from indigestion.
Profits Lost are Not Regained
THE so-called summer has had a material effect
upon many passenger transport operators, large and small, and as regards both regular services and tours. Even the mystery tour did not hold out much attraction when people saw a coach waiting in pouring rain or high wind.
It has, unfortunately, been proved over the years that traffic once lost during part of a particular
period can seldom, if ever, be regained. For example, at the time of the August Bank Holiday, some seaside towns experienced an enormous influx of people on the Tuesday and public conveyances were then crammed. Many of these visitors, however, would, if the weather had been better, have spent several days there and probably travelled many more miles.