Aiming at Perfection in Gas-producer Manufacture
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A High Reputation for Efficient Workmanship has Always Been Enjoyed by the H.S.G. Concern. Under • the New Management it is Being Guarded as Jealously as Ever
A PPROPRIATELY situated at the rt. foot of a well-known South Wales mining valley, is the works of Messrs. High Speed Gas, wherein is manufactured apparatus for operating road . transport on the products of the colliery. Its personnel are to-day's representatives of the group of pioneers who, nearly 10 years ago, introdirced the H.S.G. producer-gas plant and who have -played a big part in bringing it to its present stage of development. '
In those far-off clays a lone battle was being fought by the few longsighted enthusiasts who possessed the vision to anticipate what is now the present. Then petrol was plentiful, and , so was antagonism, to those who urged the need for providing an alternative, against the time when supplies would diminish and demands would increase.
To-day, producer gas in the transport world is almost news item number one, and operators are jostling one another to obtain plants. Nevertheless, quick "production is hot the sole concern of the gas-producer makers. They still find time for research, and they are still as keen on keeping up the quality of the product as in the past.
So jealous of the H.S.G. reputation are those whose care it is to-day, that instances are to be found in the„manufacturing processes employed that are almost tantamount to painting the lily. We remarked recently, when we spent several hours at -the firm's Treforest
, works, " Surely there is no need to be so particular about the accuracy with which some,of these operations are performed," and later, " A hot-stuff massproduction engineer would never tolerate such an elaborate construction for such an unimportant part.– " No part of anything made in this factory is unimportant," replied Mr. Palmer, the general manager, who was conducting us ai-ound. "Moreover, if you give a man a ' thou.' he will take an inch_ To relax the rigidity with • ;vhich the tolerances and so forth, indicated on the Mile print, are adhered to constitutes introducing the thirm edge of the wedge. There ii a psychological aspect, too-. Let your workman know that only the best will do for H.S.G. and he will aim always at perfection and take a just pride in his work. If you once suggest that a carelessly turned-out job is good enough, he will lower his standards and lbse some of his self-respect and his grip an the job
at the same time, arid then the rot may set in."
We had been looking at the grid that bears on the sisal pack in the filter. It is circular and built up of steel strip, the members comprising a centre, a series of concentric rings and six radial pieces. At every junction each part is slotted for half its depth and let into the past it crosses, and all the joints are welded. To make it is a slow operation, even with the use of a slotting machine, but the completed article is as sound as could be wished.
As another example, a certain screw cap is formed from an internally threaded pipe joint with a plug screwed into it, the plug, when home, occupying only the central part of the joint barrel. Besides being screwed in, the plug is also brazed and then the hollow back of the cap is cleaned up by boring out the exposed threaded part and facing the plug.The back Is drilled diametrically for a toinmy bar. In finished form
looks first class, and is permanent and gas-tight.
Merit of Good Work
Let it not be thought that we are criticizing the methods employed, in these works. For good workmanship, on the _contrary, we have the highest respect and admiration. Furthermore, we have often thought and sometimes *said, that prodeter-gas 'plants might be made to look tidier with advantage.
This reminds usof an outstandingly neat apparatus we-saw in course of construction. It is the smallestl9inodel made and is suitable for small vans. It was actually being installed on a Morris 8 h.p. car, and is so compact, well. balanced and well-finished that it does not give the impression of having been put on as an afterthought. We hope to publish a picture of this set in the near .future. It is 21 ins. wide, 27 ins, high and 9 ins. thick.
A feature of this 11.S.G, establishment is that it is virtually a self-contained shop in which is done practically every operation entailed in the making of producer-gas, plants f?om raw materials—sheet, strip, bar, tube, etc. Only a small number of pressings—such as filter and hopper covers—and a few castings—for instance, hand wheels and mixer bodies—are Imported as parts.
Obviously, therefore, the works is well equipped and well staffed. The management is fortunate in having among its 40 employees a sufficient proportion of fully , skilled operatives to maintain output and quality, the number being supPlemented by young men from the local training centre, most of whom are displaying marked competence and aptitude for the somewhat specialized work they are now doing.
Outstanding among the machines, a large-capacity profile flame cutter attracted our attention, together with two sheet-metal rollr two bending machines, a big lathe, a comprehensive installation of acetylene welding appa*ratus, and an electric arc-welding plant. Gas-tight welding being of major importance, a system of exhaustive testing for producers, filters, etc., has been developed, every unit being subjected to pressure and suction and closely inspected for leaks prior to being passed out.
Before leaving, we went for a trial run in a Morris-Commercial Dictator, having a big van body and equipped with H.S.G. plant for H. Moreland and Sons, Ltd„ maker of jangland's Glory" matches, and we put it through its paces over a route including some of the most difficult road conditions that that part of South Wales can provide. The manner in 'Which it negotiated gradients of 1 in 6, its responsiveness to calls for full power immediately after long descents, and its smooth pulling at low speeds in top gear, impressed us particularly, During a run of about two hours in this mountainous country over the awkward roads that abound among the mining villages, no snag of any sort made itself evident in connection with the gas apparatus.
Messrs. High Speed Gas, whose London address is '18-26, Brewery Road, London, N.7, list six standard plants .(the small one referred to above is not yet included under this heading) as follows (prices include fitting):— Model 1, 18-in., for vehicles of up to 4 litres engine capacity, £180; (2) 20-in., 4-5 litres, £200; (2a) 22-in., 5-6 litres, £215; (3) 24-in., 6-8 litres, £230; (4) 26-in. by 24-in., 8 litres and over, £245; trailer plant, 18-in„ 4 litres, £210. An electric blower for starting costs £15 extra.