A Stabilized Ether for Addition to Petrol
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ON ruesdae last a new factory, which has been built by the Brittol Syndicate, Ltd., on the Great West Road, Middlesex, was officially opened by an inaugural luncheon attended by members
of the trade. Brittol, which is a stabilized ether, is being employed by several fleet operators in the proportion of about one part per 300 parts of petrol, the chief claims made being that it promotes easy starting and rapid combustion, also that it improves the mileage per gallon obtained to the extent of about 15 per cent.
If ordinary ether be added to petrol it will evaporate selectively, so that, after quite a short period of time, none of the ether remains. As a result of many years of research, however, it is claimed that Brittol, 89 per cent. of which is ether, is a stabilized product in which the ether is kept under control. Under normal conditions of storage it will remain in the petrol almost indefinitely. Tests which have been carried out by independent users indicate that Brittol confers the advantages which are claimed by the maker. This new substance is now being sold by about 1,400 garages throughout the country, and it is to meet the increasing demand that the new factory has been constructed. Experiments are also being made with the addition of Brittol to vaporizing oils and to fuel oils. It is now being tried in petrol for aircraft engines, the maker claiming that the very small proportion of Brittol which is required has practically no effect upon the flash point of the fuel.
The factory is a modern building, fully equipped for research, and the apparatus includes an H.F. chassis dynamometer and a number of Heenan. and Froude brakes for engine testing. These facilities are at the service of Britt)l users wishing to make investigations..
The substance is made in a series of tanks, which are fully "protected from Ere by a special ventilating plant, and are blanketed with nitrogen to the same end. Plans have been made for a considerable output of this substance, find space is available to increase the production in the future as the demand becomes still greater.
New Registrations in October.
A Ministry of Transport return shows that the number of motor vehicles registered for the first time under the Roads Act, 1920, during the month of October, 1933, was 20,916, as compared with 20,434 in October, 1982. This year's total includes 5,080 goods vehicles and 240 hackney vehicles as contrasted with 3,869 and 210, respectively, for a year earlier.
British-made Ochsner Refuse Bins.
Owing to the increasing demand for the Qchsner hygienic refuse bins and dustless collecting equipment for household and road-refuse systems, Hygienic Refuse Containers, Ltd., 39, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, has been formed to control the • British patents relating thereto. Mr. T. H. Wagstaff, who is well known in municipal circles, has joined the board of directors.
We understand that arrangements have been made for the manufacture in Great Britain of the equipment 4Result of Industrial Designs Competition.
The Royal Society of Arts, John Street, London, W.C.2, has issued a report on this year's competition of industrial designs. The prize, offered by the Incorporated Institute of British Decorators for, a design for the decoration of an airport-station refreshment room, was awarded to Mr. C. R. Fowkes, whilst another, offered by the Beitish Portland Cement Association for a concrete tram or bus shelter, was awarded to Mr. C. E. Tooley. In other sections. prizes offered by Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., K.L.G. Sparking Plugs, Ltd., and Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies. Ltd., were awarded.
Engineering Uses of Rubber.
An informal meeting will be held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Storey's Gate, St. James's Park. London, on Friday, January 12, at 7 p.m., when there will be a discussion on rubber and its engineering uses, the subject being introduced by Mr. B. D. Poilift, M.Sc.
Parade of Farm-transport Vehicles.
"Transport on Lund" is the subject of a lecture to be given by Mr. Warburton, who farms on an extensive scale at Shillingford, during the Second Power Farming Course which is being held at Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport, Shropshire, from January 1-0. In addition, a parade of road vehicles specially adapted for agricultural users will be held A Sternol Diary.
We have received from Sternol, Ltd., Royal London House, Finsbury Square, London, E.C.2, a useful little diary known as "My Car." It can be obtained either direct from Sternol, Ltd., or from W. H. Smith and Son, Ltd., the price being is. net, or Is. 2d. by post.
Gilford's New Works.
The Gilford Motor Co., Ltd., is now in occupation of its new factory at Brentside Works, North Circular Road, Park Royal, London, N.W.10. In addition to the company's chassis-buildin4 activities, which will be conducted from the new works, Wycombe Motor Bodies, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Gilford concern, which also operated from High Wycombe, is installed in the new works. The head office and service department of the company, at present operating from 471a, Holloway Road, Loudon, N.7, will be linked up with the new factory as from Monday next, December 18. The sales department's activities will continue from Westminster Bridge Road, London, S.E.1, until early in the New Year, when it will also he transferred to Park Royal.
Bringing all the various departments together under one roof will undoubtedly lead to increased efficiency in all sections of the company's business.
Improved Boston-London Goods Service.
To improve the service already operated on its Boston-London route, Frank Thompson and Co., Spilsby Road, Boston, Lincs., has bought two new six-wheeled lorries--a Leyland Cub and a Bedford articulated outfit. The company rims from Boston to London on six nights a week. Farm produce and canned vegetables from factories in the town comprise a large part of the loads.