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Passing Comments

16th December 1955
Page 38
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Page 38, 16th December 1955 — Passing Comments
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Who's Who at the Shelter?

nVVELLERS on Ditchling Common, Sussex, are

shortly to have a bus shelter of their very own— or are they? It is already in process of construction, but doubts have been expressed about those who will get most benefit from it.

In the summer, local farmers can graze their cattle on the common and the animals have always considered that they have priority rights. In old times, when there were fewer motor vehicles on the road, drivers often had to stop to clear a passage for themselves at a bridge over the railway where the walls offered cattle protection from the sun.

It will not be surprising, therefore, if those who pass that way next summer will see the shelter full of contented cows, while mere bipeds are being grilled in the sunshine.

A "squeeze" (V-shaped) stile, to give access to the shelter, has been suggested, but this type of obstacle is not always easily, negotiable by passengers of generous girth.

"The Simms Story"

A N interesting and well-produced book entitled "The Simms Story " was recently received from Simms Motor Units, Ltd. It concerns the history of the company from 1891, written by St. John C. Nixon. What a wonderful story it is, for it owes its origin and most of its material to that outstanding man Frederick R. Simms who did so much for the British motor industry, not the least being the founding of the Royal Automobile Club and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Born in 1863, it was in 1888 that he was attracted by the I.C. engine produced by Gottlieb Daimler. In 1891, he inaugurated Simms and Co., consulting engineers, and two years later established the Daimler Motor Syndicate, Ltd., to exploit this engine and other Daimler patents. He may have invented the B30 term "motor car" for he used this in a letter written in 1891. Later he became associated with Robert Bosch and produced the Simms-Bosch low-tension magneto.

His many other inventions range from motorcycles and military vehicles to aircraft engines. The company who bear his name are continuing to play, under the chairman and managing director, Mr. G. E. Liardet, a most active and prominent part in the motor industry. An excellent reputation has been won for the accuracy and efficiency of their products in the fuel-injection and electrical fields, whilst a recent development has been the absorption of a company producing components in plastics.

Dr. Glanville Praises

0NE of the most enthusiastic and popular members of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers is Mr. S. E. Pepler, .A.M.I.Mech.E., A.M.Inst.T., chief engineer, Keith and Boyle (London), Ltd., and chairman of the Institute in succession to Mr. J. W. C. Hedges.

At the recent dinner dance, he and Mrs. Pepler joined the president in receiving the guests at this increasingly popular function.

The guest of honour was Dr. W. H. Glanville, C.B., C.B.E., Director of Road Research, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who was much concerned in helping to solve the problems of the bouncing bomb.

In proposing the toast of the Institute, he referred to the vast industry that the road transport engineer had to look after, with perhaps 10Dm. h.p. at his elbow—greater than was used for all other purposes in Britain. One-seventh of the total expenditure of the country went on road transport and road travel whilst the increase in traffic on the roads this year equalled that for the two previous years. In this development, the Institute had a vital part to play.

Goods Locos Add to Fog

NOW that we hear so much against factories, offices

and private houses using smoke-producing fuels, why can we not do something to prevent the emission of smoke from the engines of our heavy freight trains?

"One very foggy night recently," writes a reader, "when I was waiting with many others at a railway junction for an express delayed by the bad visibility, a goods train crawled into the station and stopped, occupying the whole length of the platform. After some minutes it reversed slowly out again over the changed points onto a branch line. During the whole of this operation its engine's squat funnel was belching thick, black smoke to mix with the foggy air we had to inhale. If we are to be fined for smoke production there seems to be no reason why the railways should enjoy exemption."

Pioneer Company's Diamond Jubilee

yJHEN the last of the seven horses employed as motive power in the transport business of Frank Grounds, Ltd., was found dead in its stall by Mr. Frank Grounds on the first morning of his honeymoon, he went -out and bought an elderly Wolseley car and fitted the body from the horse-drawn cart to its chassis. This vehicle is believed to have been the first commercial motor vehicle to have been offered for hire in the Birmingham area, thus setting a fashion which was quickly followed.

This incident and many others of the pioneering days of the commercial vehicle were recalled by Mr. Frank Grounds at the annual staff dinner of his company, held in Birmingham recently, after he had been presented with a portrait of himself to commemorate the 60th anniversary of this well-known and appreciated concern.


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