Passing Comments
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Angels Two-two
PASSENGER transport operators would do well to examine, where they exist, the wording of their fare conditions in the light of an embarrassing position in which the general manager of a municipal undertaking was recently placed.
Two nurses, boarding one of his department's buses with 22 children, all of whom were under four years old, refused—much to the conductor's consternation—to pay for any of their charges. They pointed out the department's appropriate condition, which clearly stated: " Children are not counted as passengers until they attain their fourth birthday "and there was nothing else the undertaking could do.
Many concerns specify that where more than one child under age are travelling together only one is carried free, and it would appear that operators who do not safeguard themselves with a similar clause would be advised to consider its insertion.
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"Wolf" Cries
nNCE upon a time there was a little boy who, with fabulous results, cried "Wolf! "Today there are many road authorities like him. They leave warnings of temporary hazards long after the dangers have been removed, with the result that all signs indicating road repairs in progress and other obstructions tend to become discredited. Even the Automobile Association is not free from guilt.
There are. still also many signs indicating hills that might be dangerous to horsed carts and pennyfarthing bicycles, but are unnoticed by drivers of motor vehicles. They, too, vitiate the effectiveness of warnings on hills that are severe by modern standards.
In the interests of road safety, all obsolete warnings should be removed, and signs giving notice of temporary obstructions should be uprooted by the retreating workmen.
A Worthwhile Visit
nNE of the most interesting visits that can be paid to factories engaged in the production of motor vehicles is that to the immense -works of the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., at Dagenham. The company make a point of extending a hearty welcome to parties, with the proviso that no children under 10 years of age can be admitted.
Bookings can be made by letter or telephone (Rainhain 3000, Ext. 133), giving as long notice as possible. During the summer months, arrangements can be made, through the Ford dealer organizaticin or other associations, to take parties to the works by river, but the minimum number in this case is 60. Tours take place from 9.30-11.30 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. from Monday to Friday inclusive, and the average number of visitors per day is about 400. • What many find surprising is that the works, in which there are nearly 19,000 employees, are so self-cOntained. Ships bring iron ore and other supplies from Africa and elsewhere direct to the long jetty; coal also arrives here by ship and many of the products leave in the same way. The company make their own coke, electricity and steel, even supplying electricity to the national grid, and the total daily output of commercial vehicles, cars and tractors is some 1,250. America is now the most important customer for tractors, almost ex clusively oil-engined. This has developed export trade for other concerns such as Simms Motor Units.
Tyre with Special Characteristics
THE B. F. Goodrich Company of America have
produced an interesting form of all-purpose truck tyre which they describe as being built "upsidedown." This term applies, however, only to the breaker strips, two of which are inserted between the inner plies of the carcass instead of in the normal position, close to the tread. At the latter point, however, there is a patented nylon shock shield, also in two layers.
The tread is comprised of extremely stout ribs, each with a double curve and much deeper than in an ordinary tyre. There is also a circumferential centre rib which widens as wear occurs, thus reducing its rate.