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By the Exactor.
Power Transmission Through Long Shafts.
It will take some time. I suppose, but airships for goods transport must eventually come along, as, of course, will aeroplanes for the conveyance of mails, etc. In this connection an interesting detail came within my ken the other day. In our construction of airships, following Zeppelin lines, a point of diffieulty was, found in conveying the power from the engines in the gondolas below the airship to the propellers, the latter being situated at the side of the body of the airship some distance above. Power is transmitted by along shaft run th-sough bevel gears. There is• a great amount of" whip" in the shaft owing to. its unavoidable length, and the best engineering brains have been long at Work trying to evolve a method of staying this. shaft but without success, the difficulty being that there is nothing but the framework of the. airship on which to fix the braciets. When Zepps have been brought down, they were invariably so much disabled. that it was impossible to clear up_the point, but on one occasion one of our engineers who could speak German got into conversation with one of the captured Zeppelin crew, and they fell-a-talking and coreparrng notes, more aS engineers than as members 9f. opposing forces at war. The problem n which was worrying him was advanced by our man, hoping for some .elucidation, • and the other said " Ah we have had just the same difficulty. We:could not get over it, and we have had to put up
with it." –
No Germans.' Need Apply.
When solid tyres of German origin were largely used in this country—that is in the far-off pre-war days—the officialst of one concern exercised considerable ingenuity in inventing cede. words denoting commercial rivals. It is interesting to know ,that the Germans regarded the Dunlop Rubber Co. of such importance as to justify the use of the word "Albion" as a code word to denote the premier tyre makers. It is to be hoped that, after the war, so far as this country is concerned anyhow, there will be no need for the Germans to worry about code words at all !
From the Far East.
Everyone will have noted the striking advertisement of Wolseley war lorries packed with happy working troops being transported in the battle area. They are mostly wearing shrapnel helmets, but sitting on the .flap of the van is a contented-Iooking warrior minus headgear of any kind. His face is therefore more easily to be recognized, and thereby hangs a tale. This picture was being scanned out in the Far East by one of the officials of the Pekin-Mukden Railway, a Mr. J. E. Foley, who delightedly recognized the features of his son, Capt. Foley. A note to the Adderley Park works ensured a photographic print being despatched at once to China.
Rhyme and Reason.
The decision in the matter of the annual Rhyming Competition is now made, and the Editorial decree has gone forth. I have much sympathy with,soine of the unsuccessful competitors, especially with those who have obviously wrestled hard with the elusive rhyme and the evasive reason. The first prize of £2 2s. goes to Mr. D. S. Paxton, 337, Park Lane, Macclesfield, and the second prize of £1 is. to the competitor who hauled in the premier award last year, Mr. F. J. Field, of Commercial Cars, Ltd. It looked, at one time, as if that gentleman would have it all his own way again, but, after weighing up both efforts, the full coupon was awarded to the newcomer. We were MO tempted to give a consolation prize to anothei aspirant; but his effusion was like the curate's egg, only good in parts. The following, for instance, is quite all right :— " S stands for Simms, out to ring the Bosch knell And also that soldier-like old Sentinel."
However I give on this page the winner's couplets ; those. of the runner-up will come on in a later issue.
Macclesfield Makes Money.
A is the Atkinson steamer from Preston, Some users l've known have averred "It's the best Jun? "
B is for Barimar—everyone knows; If you've frost-bitten feet they will weld on new toes.
C stands for Chloride, who sell you a battery,
And also for (Joan, whose Clean castings cause Rat,. tery.
D is for Dunlop, of well-known physiognomy. Who proves on your pad that his tyres spell economy.
E the Electrics by Garrett and Sons, The last word in motors for use on short runs.
F stands for Frood, who—whatever the weather— Will tell you (perhaps !) that "there's nothing like leather."
G is the Gas-bag, for which, thanks to Barton, Earlier scoffers now say "He's a smart 'en!
H H is the Halley car, built on the Clyde,
The success of whose springing ensures a smooth ride.
I is the Index that helps my endeavour To pink up two guineas without being clever.
.T is for Judd, Budd udd Suckl, I was told By a man who, when coaling there, captured a cold. K is for Knape, who by no means belies its address telegraphic—to wit, "Enterprise."
L is the Lodge, a good plug with a spark . Like a kick from a mule, or a bite from a shark. 31 stands for Maudslay, whose work at the war -Will long he recalled when the guns cease to roar. N is the National coke-burning steamer— Clarkson has shown he is nowise a dreamer.
O is for Oldfield, whose lamps on your " 'bus " Help you home after dark without causing a fuss. Palladium cars can be had with a " Tiffy " ;* A P1 Will bring one along in a jiffy. Q is the Quality gadget for gas,
A source of delight, to the van-driving lass.
R is the Rubberine filling for tyres ; If rumour speaks truly, there's nnla,ck of buyers.
8 -is the Smith Form-a-Truck, by whose aid.
From a second-hand Ford a one-touner is made.
T—Teniple Press, who afford some assistance In bright'ning our days by the" C.M.'s " existence. U is for Uhas case-hardening steel Made by Mather's, who sure must produce a good ✓ is the VanderVell starter, whose hiff
In the starting of engines eliminates "if."
W is for Wrigley's, consistent exponents Of the wisdom of building your " bus " from com ponents.
Let " X " be the date of the end of the war
Which you'll find as elusive as ever before. Y is the Yorkshire, a steamer of note, Which, in point of quick steaming, gets many a vote.
Z is theZenith, first-class Carburetter, Whose assistance is valued to -fit this last letter.
* Lancashire for M.O.M. Certificate.