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See That Your THERE are some drivers Driving Licence is who fail to realize the Correct . . . . importance—in fact, the legal necessity—of holding a driving licence to cover every class of vehicle with which they are concerned. It startled some drivers recently to learn of a case in which a man who held a licence to drive a car was fined for driving a motorcycle. On the face of it, this seems absurd, but it is just one more example of the difficulty which so many experience in remembering all the laws and regulations covering the use of motor vehicles. We wonder, also, how many people sign their licences when they first receive them and on renewal. The omission to do so constitutes an offence.
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Railway rINE of the staff of this Bureaucrats Invite journal had reason to Unpopularity ? . . return hurriedly. to duty, but he had taken the precaution of obtaining a bulk-travel voucher. The station given for the journey was Tintern, but wishing to call at Newport, Mon., he drove there and duly presented the voucher to the railway booking clerk. It was refused, and he was told that he could obtain the ticket only at Tintern, which was some 20 miles farther from London, whilst no alteration on the voucher could be accepted, even if signed by an executive. His train, which it was essential for him to catch, was due in five minutes, and despite a visit to the stationmaster's office, .nothing could be done, 'and he was forced to pay in cash, which, fortunately, he had with him. Everything Was blamed on to the Railway Clearing House, which was said to be A24
extremely rigid in its rules in this respect Bulk travel vouchers are used by concerns which bring considerable business to the railways, and we would have thought that even the bureaucrats of the Clearing House would have recognized that it would pay the railways to be a little more courteous to their important customers. It is this rigidity and lack of personal service that are apt to cause railway passengers so much irritation.
Rubber Panels For FOR years rubber mudBuses Prevent Much I guards have been fitted on Damage many vehicles to prevent the denting and other damage to which these are so often Subjected. Novi?, a further step has been taken, and it is described in "Rubber Developments," the official organ of the British Rubber Development Board. -Mr. W. Astin, general manager of Colchester Transport Department, drew attention to a problem which had been encountered in operating buses in "narrow streets. This was damage caused to the off-side rear corner of many vehicles by minor collisions. He -considered that a rubber panel might effectively prevent this damage, and the Board made arrangements for a suitable grade of sheeting to be supplied for trial purposes. The first of six buses equipped with a panel of this type has been in operation for some six months and is giving every satisfaction. Several others have now
been similarly fitted. The panels are fixed to the body framework by wood strips and screws, and the surface is finished with a flexible rubber paint. They have made very little difference to the appearance of the vehicles, except to prevent unsightly damage. Simple Chemical THE corrosion of many Compound Which metal parts is a process Obviates Corrosion . which is often difficult to arrest, particularly when such parts are partly or wholly out of sight In this connection, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is emphasizing the value of the chemical, sodium benzoate. This is soluble in water and can be used to impregnate wrapping paper or textiles for covering metal parts, obviating the use of grease or wax, also a solution of it, mixed with rubber latex, can be applied to parts in the form of a spray. The chemical, when added to radiators, helps to arrest cOrrosion and the formation of scale, and affords protection for soldered or welded joints, whilst it has an anti-freezing effect. The solution, in suitable Containers, may be employed for the storage of such things as partly fabricated parts, etc. An advisory service concerning the new packing has, we understand, been introduced by Monsanto Chemicals, Ltd., Victoria Station House, London, S.W.1.
Spraying Wheels A USEFUL and practical With Zinc To Prevent I-1 method of preventing Corrosion • • wheel rims from corroding is to spray them with zinc, a process which has been developed by Schori Process, Ltd., Brent Crescent, London, N.W.10.. The zinc is melted and sprayed by an extremely, hot flame, and once treated a wheel will be protected for the life of the vehicle. The process, including shot:blasting, costs about 16s. for a lorry type, but it saves tyre binding and possible damage.