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Jack-of-all-Trades
Page 42
Page 43
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TWO weeks ago I light-heartedly referred to a startingly wide normal user in an application for a carrier's licence; it ranged from carrying tank commodities to furniture. It is possible, of course. Mr. H. G. Bird, of Bonallack and Sons, Ltd., was telling me this week that the vehicle in question would be fitted with alternative demountable bodies built by his company.
A further insight into this comparatively new technique is given by my colleague, P. A. C. Brockington, on pages 836-838 of this issue.
I suppose there is really no reason on earth why, if he could get it licensed, a man should not—in this fashion—own a combined tipper-van-flattanker-bus. Perhaps, with Bonallacks' help, Pressed Steel would make it into a road-railer as well. Some advanced operator might even make it a hovercraft, as well.
Birch and Bar
T N our innocence, we sent a Christmas card (lush with I huntsmen and hounds apparently out of control outside the old Temple Bar at Theobalds Park) to John Birch, managing director of Birch Bros., Ltd. Mr. Birch is the personality featured above. He thanked us with great courtesy and pointed out that Temple Bar, much as depicted, was their registered trade mark and asked whether we were thinking of infringing it.
B8 It seems that the company adopted the mark in commemoration of the fact that their first omnibuses passed under the Bar as long ago as 1847. The route then was from The Monster. Pimlico (presumably a place of refreshment) to Mansion House. John Birch's father handled the reins going through the Bar at the age of nine in 1878, shortly before it disappeared. It was a happy feat he was glad to boast of to the end of his life.
Under the Spreading.
AGRIMA . SBY blacksmith was fined El recently for parking his van for more than 24 hours in a parking place. How long had the van been there? Eight weeks.
Calendar King ?
y DO NOT really know who could rightly be accorded the I title of." Calendar King," but I do think a strong contender would be the British Transport Commission's publicity designer, Mr. H. D. Muirhead. Apart from a positive flood of general publicity material for the Tilling bus companies' use, every year he produces magnificent calendars for his companies. This year's, which features carriages (horse, not the other firm) maintains his very high standard.
Some time ago the B.E.T. group advertised for a counterpart to Mr. Muirhead—someone they have never had. Whoever he turns out to be, I don't envy him. The competition is too good —which, in a sense, is not such a bad thing. High-class competition stimulates better ideas.
Belted
ASLOW-MOTION film, taken of live subjects testing nylon seat belts on the rocket sled at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, was shown to the Press recently by British Nylon Spinners, Ltd. It demonstrated that even with violent deceleration of up to 12g, a nylon safety harness provides a firm but gentle restraining action, and there is no sign of any dangerous whiplash effect.
At the same time, we were shown a new nylon harness designed by Michael Richmond, Ltd., which is aimed primarily at fleet operators. This is a revised version of the combined hip belt and shoulder strap harness already available to private motorists. It has an adjustable end-plate so that, with only two sizes, it is possible to fit almost any vehicle. I wonder, though, whether eight-wheeler drivers would use them.