Passing Comments
Page 30
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
R.A.C. Services to A CONSIDERABLE exten Associate Members sion of the services Extended . rendered to associate members
of the Royal Automobile Club has been announced. Of particular interest is the inclusion in the private goods section of the option of the " Get-You-Home". service, hitherto excluded. This has necessitated a revision of the subscription rates and there is now a choice of two classes of membership—ordinary of £2 2s. per annum per vehicle (including the new facility) and unit membership at £2 2s. per annum per unit of one or two vehicles, but excluding both the "Get-YouHome" and licence-reminder services. With the ordinary membership, the driver of an included vehicle can obtain conveyance for himself and his crew to his destination. Failure through lack of fuel is also met by facilities for a supply to be taken to him, if coupons be available The same consideration is open to owners of private-hire cars. Inquiries can now be received at the head office of the R.A.C. A28
during week-ends. Members who run private cars abroad can also enjoy a new servicedesigned to cover the cost of the removal by goods train of an immobilized or damaged car to an appropriate Continental port, and its reception in Britain.
Finding Minute Flaws HE magnetic method of in Non-Magnetic ascertaining the presence of Materials . . cracks in finished or semi
finished parts is well known. With it, use is made of a solution containing fine iron particles, which settle in the cracks and show up clearly. More recently a white fluid for this purpose has been developed. Now General Electric of America is making use of a method resembling this but applied to non-magnetic materials. It is known as the fluorescent-penetrant process, and requires the employment of specially compounded oil and powder. the inspection being carried out under ultraviolet light. It is claimed that minute defects which would otherwise be invisible are clearly indicated.
New Carbon TetraWE are all familiar with the chloride Extinguisher " carbon tetrachloride type with Added CO2 . . of lire extinguisher, but an
American concern has gone a step farther. Its latest extinguisher is tilled with this material but, in addition, it has a small carbon dioxide cartridge the pressure of which delivers a gas-charged fluid to distances up to 30 ft. The capacities range trom a quart to 5 quarts.
Loading the Dice A TRENCHANT article in Against Cheap Road 1-1 the April Bulletin of the Transport . . British Road Federation
points out that although the British Transport Commission has denied that it is 'its policy to force the public and traders to use rail services, a foretaste of the situation which could develop is indicated by the Draft London Area (Interim) Passenger Charges Scheme. This is intended to increase the bus and Underground Railway fares whilst cutting those for suburban railways. Yet the declared object of this scheme is merely to remove anomalies in present charges. The fact remains that the public will have either to pay increased road fares or travel by rail. Any attempt to integrate all forms of transport by charges schemes or other methods means artificially tilting the scales in favour of the railways.
Much Greater EthylIT is reported that a large lead Production in 'plant to produce tetraethyl Britain lead is to be built in Cheshire
under the auspices of a group of oil companies including Shell and the Anglo Iranian. It will probably be some time, however, before this can he brought into action. Meanwhile we shall continue to pink on Pool, as the small quantity of ethyl made here is mostly exported.