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That was the year...
Page 13
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CM was launched in 1905; for our centenary year vve're bringing you stories from years gone by. This week we're back in 1910 and 1960.
1910
Manchester United was in the news even then with the "Red Devils" moving into Old Trafford in February. In the boxing ring Jack Johnson became the first black man to win the world heavyweight crown. Meanwhile in England,murderer Dr Crippen went on trial while Florence Nightingale and King Edward VII passed away. Notable births in 1910 included Mother Teresa, Jacq ues-Yves Cousteau and Artie Shaw...
Irish logic
Commercial Motor's popular "MotorcabTopics" revealed that several associations "of various kinds" were up in arms about the proposed introduction of taxi cabs in Dublin. No less an authority than Balrothery Rural Council approved a motion declaring that it would "...destroy to a great extent the market for farm produce in County Dublin..." Say that again...?
Show time
In a wonderful display of visionary thinking 90 years ago CM's leader column declared that "makers of commercial motors do not want two all-motor shows in any one year", adding:"The likely return to any large proportion of the industry does not justify it." CM's answer was simple have one show for cars and one for commercials...
Getting a grip
In a letter to the editor signed "MotorWagon Carrier" the author opined that"one of the most conspicuous weaknesses of motor haulage is the lack of control which the management has to contend with,over the carrying out of each day's work...a mileageand-speed recorder would go a long way to solve the difficulty..."
1960
In a bid to make the Cold War even chillier U-2 spy pilot Gary Powers got himself shot down over Russia which had Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev banging his shoe on the table at the UN. Fidel Castro did his bit for world peace by nationalising all American property in Cuba:The first contraceptive pill went on sale andTottenham Hotspur was the first club in the 20th century to complete the league and cup double.
Ernestly speaking
Under CM's regular "Men who make Transport (no 22)" was none other than the 21st Minister for Transport,one Ernest Marples. Clearly no one had told him that the DoT was a place for a good snooze as he firmly stated: "You can leave an awful lot to civil servants.., or you can do thing.You can produce ideas and see that they're carried out.1 prefer it that way." The response from his civil servants was not recorded.
Grand national
Up to July 1960 British Road Services`net receipts' rose from ft .2m to Dim while its general haulage tonnage increased by over 7% ."There is evidence to back the boast made of higher eff iciency and a keen appreciation of the specialised needs of customers," said CM. So much for privatisation...
Shifting comfortably
From the 'patent's pending' section:-Patent No 832,615 shows a mechanism by which movement of the gear lever controls also clutch withdrawal and re-engagement performed by an automatic compressed air device." It was 30 years later that MAN fitted Comfort Shift on theTGA to do the same job.