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How London Transport 1 . Saving Rubber

19th November 1943
Page 23
Page 23, 19th November 1943 — How London Transport 1 . Saving Rubber
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

WTHEN japan seized most of the W world's sources of rubber, transpOrt. engineers were confronted with formidable problems, and there seemed some excuse for those who felt misgivings about the ability of such undertakings as London Transport to' surmount the obstacles presented, but they reckoned without, the ingenuity, patience and resourcefulness of. the Board's engineers. .

-The main questions were; Was it possible to do without rubber in spine items, and which? Could efficiency be maintained, and how? What items, must be treated as.essential?

To. commence, all articles having a rubber content were grouped into four categories:----{a) those which should no longer be made of rubber; (h) those ili which a reduction of rubber could be effected; (c) essential articles which could use a lower quality; (d) essen 'dal articles requiring' at least 10 cwt. of . rubber compound per annum. Tyres were excluded, as they were dealt with on a rationed basis by Tyre Control.

There were some curious transformations. One was the substitution for solid rubber of hat felt encased in lowgrade rubber, for such purposes as traction-motor nose suspensions. This

was so satisfactory that; subject to costs, it may be continued .permanently. Miner hand grips were replaced by a plastic. knob 'on a short length of rope, made sufficiently rigid by encasing the rope in a• spiral 'steel spring. Tiakelized cambric was used for other items; as also were fibre, canvas, leather, leatheroid and linoleum; Here, 'possibly, rubber will not be reintroduced.

'Rubber wings were replaced by sheet steel, whilst. destination-blind linen glued to several thicknesses has temporarily ousted Window glazing rubber and cab. mats. Old canvas hose now serves as mud flaps. "Wooden slatted seats have, in some cases, replaced the luxurious rubber and moquette-covered type.

• In. the tram and trolleybus section, of 295 stock items made of rubber and rubber compounds, an alternative material was evolved for 153; in 49 ' others, rubber was dispensed with.' Here alone the annual total saving in weight of new rubber is over 4 tons, and of low-grade rubber 21tons. In coaches and buses a further economy -was to use lower-quality. rubber for mounting blocks, buffers and' hose piping.

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Locations: London

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