Passing Comments

1st June 1956, Page 70

1st June 1956

Page 70

Page 71

Page 70, 1st June 1956 — Passing Comments

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Thumbs Up for Tacking Machine

A SUSSEX reader tells us that before he saw our " article on Industrial Staplers, Ltd., he had watched what was evidently the Titan Trigger Tacker being used to prepare a South Eastern Electricity Board's shop display. Folds of a background curtain were being tacked down to a board in a matter of minutes and, thinking of his own efforts when laying carpets, he decided that one of these machines would save not only time, but thumb nails and much unparliamentary language in the borne.

Help With the Spares

IN addition to the problem created by the scarcity of spare parts, another difficulty is facing operators who repair their own vehicles. Speedy and courteous attention by the spares departments of the vehicle manufacturers is vital if operators' livelihoods are not to be jeopardized by unnecessary delays in the supply of spares.

• Some concerns are losing the respect of otherwise satisfied customers because of the dilatory manner in which their storekeepers attend to customers. In many instances, more care in the identification and location of parts would hasten the meeting of requirements. But even where the latest stores equipment

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and methods are employed, unsavoury practices have crept in. For instance, cases where "palm greasing" is necessary if a tolerable standard of service is to be obtained are not unknown.

Managements should do everything possible to prevent such practices and customers should not hesitate to draw their attention to any lack of proper treatment.

Better" Under Feet" Than Under Wheels

THE increasing number of young children killed L and injured on our roads is causing general anxiety, and drivers, who are always being exhorted to take especial care, feel a lot more could be done by the parents, especially the mothers.

Many new council houses arid flats are tenanted by young working-class couples with small children under school age and these, being "under mother's feet" when she is doing her chores, are turned out to play by• themselves. Dolls, tricycles, scooters and household articles (borrowed as playthings) litter the road and small owners dart out under van wheels to save their treasures from destruction.

Driving along these roads at about 10 a.m. there is seldom an adult in sight, and drivers wish that the police could do an occasional patrol.and issue friendly warnings to those who should be responsible.

Our Tyre Makers Should

THERE is more in a tyre than meets the eye. This

fact is emphasized by the experience of some operators, elsewhere in the Commonwealth, with home-produced covers. Some have been found to differ as much as 3 in. in circumference, which causes trouble when they are paired with others.

Certain operators have found that imported tyres on their lorries achieve double the mileage of the home products. This is of great importance in some areas where tyre costs may come only second to wages.

Reducing Wear by 50 per cent.?

RECENTLY introduced into this country is a

synthetic lubricant known as Bardahl. With the addition of 10 per cent. Bardahl to a conventional lubricant, it is claimed that wear is reduced by as much as 50 per cent. and frictional losses by as much as 20 per cent.

It would mean carrying out a carefully conducted test for The Commercial Motor to support these claims, but some idea of the qualities of Bardahl can be gathered from short-term running in an extremepressure test machine.

A member of the technical staff of The Commercial Motor who witnessed such a test was particularly impressed. A pressure that caused the machine to stall with a straight lubricant on the steel rollers had no effect when Bardahl was added; in fact, it was almost impossible to stall the machine.

Noticeable wear was apparent when a straight lubricant was used, whereas there were no visible signs when Bardahl was introduced. It is fairly expensive but should prove an overall economy.