Non-standard Numbers
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I'you should think that quantity producers of vehicles spend all their life turning out thousands of identical chassis, a visit to the Bedford works at Dunstable would soon disabuse you of that idea. When I was there recently, over 60 different Bedford chassis were on the 1--mile production line, and it is not uncommon for three weeks' production to roll through without an identical specification being repeated, 1 was told.
There are 179 basic Bedford models listed, which total is doubled if you include left-hand-drive versions of each. Then there are 102 items listed as "regular production options and these, too, are subdivided. I gather there are 144 tyre options, 49 different ways in which rear axles can be assembled from 20 basic types, 78 variations on 11 front axle designs. 144 permutations of engine, 47 versions of gearbox and so on.
I am indebted_ for the figures to Bedford's Glyn Davies, who claimed that if I cared to stand at the end of the Dunstable line for three or four years. it would be possible (though not. in fact, likely) to see, a quarter of a million Bedfords go past without any two being identical. A nice invitation, but I had, regretfully, to point out that I really couldn't spare the time.
Axle by Axle
T N theory, the sum of individual axle weights should give the total weight of the vehicle. The practical validity of this theory has been substantiated by people who have checked weighbridge records. It has been reported by various operators.
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however, that a discrepancy can exist between the two methods and if these reports are correct, it can only be assumed that the fault lies in the design or condition of the weighbridge and that off-centre location of an axle on the platform gives a false reading unless. it is partly balanced by a second axle at the far end of the platform.
• On the same theme, a visitor from America told me that it is common practice in that country for operators of articulated vehicles to fit the tractor with an hydraulic mechanism that can be used to move the coupling relative to the axle centre. This can be very useful when axle loads are being weighed individually on a weighbridge. he said, Useful in what way?
Changes ?
the Chancellor going to replace with a single corporation x the present income tax and profits tax on businesses? answer is that he would like to, but he is not yet sure Aber it is worth while. A scheme has been outlined, and it ow being compared with the existing system.
y next April, the Chancellor should be able to pronounce way or the other. While this is going on, he is considering gporating into the framework his ideas for a possible paytax of 4s. per employee.
lite good reason for deferring consideration for 12 months lat by this time next year we may be entering the Common rket—where the employers' share of the social security den is higher than in Britain. In France and West Germany . nearly three times as much as here, believe it or not.
tannel Digging
it to be a Channel tunnel or a bridge? Following the stateent by the chairman of the Channel Tunnel company that ecision was likely to be made by the Government on the ter this year, there has been further developments. At a :ting of Press representatives last week, Sir Richard Costain ared that the best way of constructing a tunnel for this type link was by laying a concrete tube in a trench made by iging. , appears that whether the tunnel be bored or dredged there ant chance of a vehicle being allowed to drive through it. s would involve the provision of a highly efficient ventilation em—a luxury altogether too costly. Ventilation, of course, ild not be necessary on a bridge, but the cost of constructing ridge (say the tunnellers) would be twice that of a tunnel,