• Continent Wants Two-speed Axles
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DoRMSH commercial-vehicle mann
facturers lose many direct sales overseas because their chassis are not equipped with two-speed axles or auxiliary gearboxes, Mr. A. J. 011ivier, Benelux service representative to the Rootes Group, told a member of "The Commercial Motor" staff at the Paris Salon.
Mr. 011ivier remarked that many Continental chassis are now equipped • with auxiliary double-ratio drives; which are regarded as a necessity on longdistance haulage. Operators expect a • 5-ton machine to draw a trailer and because the average-sized oil engine of 70 b.h.p. is fitted to British machines of this payload capacity, they considered them to be underpowered. His experience has shown the need for an engine output of not less than 90 b.h.p., and that shock absorbers on the front axle are essential.
It was noted that Renault, Berliet and other Continental manufacturers already fit shock absorbers to goods chassis. " The Commercial Motor" is informed by a reliable source that a well-known proprietary British six-cylindered 100 b.h.p. marine engine is to be modified and offered as an alternative power unit in the 5--6-ton vehicles, for overseas. It will be .an alternative unit to tile present 70 b.h.p. engine used in. domestic chassis.
HAS 1.4200 MEMBERS AAT the. fourth annual general meeting of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, the presideht, Mr. G. Mackenzie lunner, referred to the fine record of work and progress, and the keenness Of the members. Membership was increasing steadily, at the rate of over 200 per annum, and the total was now nearly 1,200. The Institute was on . a sound financial basis, and in future, three issues of the Institute's Proceedings would be published per year, instead of two.
TRACTOR PLANT MODERNIZED
WliAT may be regarded as an opening ceremony for the modernized assembly plant of David Brown Tractors, Ltd., Meltham, took place last week when Mr. Jack Jones, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, visited the factory and spoke to the workers.
"CLOSED SHOP" OPENED A T the request of the passenger transport committee, Leeds City Council has rescinded its two-year-old resolution requiring employees of the municipal transport undertaking to be members of a trade union.
LORRIES TO REPLACE BOATS AS from the end of this month, it is proposed that cargo steamers shall cease to call at Greenock, and that road transport will be used to distribute goods to Clyde towns. Only the islands of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae will be served by cargo boats.
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