Passing Comments •
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Not All American A PPARENTLY, the rates Hauliers Receive i—Lfor haulage in America are Adequate Rates . . not being increased sufficiently
to cover higher costs of road transport, for many haulage concerns have been failing recently. Last March the Office of Defense Transportation was, according to "Transport Topics," so alarmed over the prospect of a breakdown of haulage that it prepared orders for the Government seizure and re-allocation of vehicles where their owners had failed, or even for the operation by the Government of such haulage concerns. One of the causes of the trouble has been substantial increases in wages retrospective in their effect.
Means for Saving A METHOD of avoiding Castings with Worn wastage of valuable castStud Holes . . . . ings is used to a considerable
extent in servicing aircraft. It might just as well be applied to parts employed in commercial vehicles. Where a hole has been tapped oversize, or is one in which the threads have become worn or stripped, the hole is reamed out, retapped with a special-tool, and a precision-made coil of stainless-steel or phosphor-bronze wire inserted. This provides a hard, anti-friction, protective lining, particularly for aluminium or other light metals, and the coils engage the standard screw thread, on the size of stud originally employed. Such inserts can also be employed during the course of manufacture, especially in bosses designed to accommodate studs where there is no provision or room for a screwed bush.
Separate Track and MR. E. R. L. FITZPAYNE, Underground Trams IVIof Glasgow, has cast a brick for Glasgow? . . . into more or less tranquil' waters, by his expressed opinion that passenger transport within a city such as Glasgow should involve the employment of an eIecal 2
trically operated light railway or tramway system. The vehicles should, however, have their own tracks, separated from the main roads. According to the "Petroleum Times," he is even advocating that the trams in the city centre should be removed under-, ground, and linked with the existing railway system of this type, which cannot be extended owing to its narrow gauge and small-diameter tunnel. In the suburbs, extension would be by trolleybuses for heavy duty, and petrolor oil-engined buses for the lighter traffic. He claims that the tramways, with ancillary buses, have met the-requirements of the city, and the main reason for the suggested alterations. is that they would reduce road casualties and traffic congestion. These suggestions will stagger some people who believe that the future of passenger road transport lies entirely with the bus and trolleybus.
Broken Bottles and WE have commented several Glasses are a Public times upon the presence of Danger broken glass on our highways. We refer to the variety which is deliberately smashed or accidentally broken and left. Unfortunately, this bad habit appears to be gaining ground. It is not only dangerous to walkers, but to motor Vehicles, as a badly cut tyre may be the cause of a serious accident, apart from the matter of, astage of rubber and labour. In addition, the cleansing departments of municipalities have quite enongh to do without performing unnecessary work in this connection. Anyone caught breaking glass on the roads and leaving it there should be severely punished. It would also help if loyal citizens remonstrated with anyone they see engaged in this dangerous pastime, and, if necessary, the police should be • informed. Most of the broken pieces, other than those resulting from bombing, appear to come from milk and beer bottles, and, occasionally, a glass. Parents shonld exercise strict restraint upon any of their children who play at breaking bottles.
ingine Rebuilders in NGINE rebuilders in the
America Hold Big "U.S.A. have their own Conference . . . representative body, known as the Automotive Engine Rebuilders' Association, Recently 800 of them, together with manufacturers of related products, attended a convention in Cincinnati. Some 60 prominent manufacturers had conference offices, where facilities were available for more personal meetings between them and the rebuilders. The subjects discussed included the selling and servicing of exchange units, engine bearings, and the use of aluminium and magnesium in present and post-war products. A vast increase in the use of light metals in the motor industry was predicted. Self-sealing Tanks to Q011E operators have con be Used on Commersidered the possibility of cial Vehicles? . . . utilizing self-sealing fuel tanks on civilian transport vehicles. Therefore, a few notes on these may be of interest. As used on aeroplanes, they are constructed of synthetic rubber and fabric, the outside being a strong wall of these materials, whilst the lining is a petrol-resisting synthetic. Between these two walls is a fairly thick layer of sticky rubber-sealing compound. When an object, such as a bullet, penetrates this tank, the rubber closes quickly, but not before some of the fuel percolates into the hole. Immediately it touches the sealant, the latter swells and completes the sfaling process.