Passing Comments
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Important Agent and rHATTING a day or two ago
Operator Maintains with Mr. Phillip Rickards,
Good Business . . of Charles Rickards, Ltd., the
head office of which concern is at Spring Street, Paddington, London, W.2, we found him reasonably optimistic, particularly regarding the large commercial-vehicle interest of this concern. He described this as " going_great guns." The company has voluntarily shut down nothing. The commercial fleet now numbers some 120, including 10 coaches which are retained for official duties. The total represents a reduction of about 60, which have been requisitioned for military and other purposes. The company is to be congratulated upon the recent confirmation of its Royal Warrant of Appointment, and is one of the few concerns to have received this honour, as all were cancelled when the present King came to the ;throne. Mr. Harry Rickards, despite advancing age, is at business in London almost every day, although he lives in Oxfordshire. Mr. Robert Rickards, junr., has bad the misfortune to be -turned out of his house by bomb damage, but luckily neither he nor his family were present at the time of the incident in question. A N interesting suggestion r-kcomes from the Lincoln Electric Co., Ltd„ Welwyn Garden City, Herts. This refers to possibilities in the saving of time and labour in welding. It is considered that throughout the country-welding.operators are employed on this actual work, i.e., in maintaining the arc for an average of only 15 minutes in each hour. To increaAe this percentage is of great importance. The operator, may • himself cut the ineffective time by increased activity, and in this respect 10 per cent. saving would amount • to nearly 4,000,000 man-hours per year. Much time, however, could also be saved by distributing the work, so that the welding operator does not perform the usual scaling and cleaning. Often, -this could be done by unskilled labour, which would release over 3,000;000 man-hours for additional welding. Perhaps • even more fruitful savings could be effected by the increased use of jigs and fixtures, handling and revolving devices, so that the total saving would be very considerable. Lincoln engineers are trained in the use of such equipm-ent and are prepared to give .advice on this matter without obligation.
Save in Welding Time and Increase Production
What Will be the.. WILL the steam vehicle evei Future of the Steam " again become popular? Our Vehicle? contributor, " Azote," in his
informative article on methane, published on October 25, gives a hint in this direction. Personally, we have always regretted the gradual eclipse of this typically British machine, whkh, if we had had it in large numbers, would have proved invaluable at a crisis like the present.
Beer is a Food—the nNE of the oldest and most Question is Now •-"bitterly contested argu
Settled ments is that relating to the nutritive qualities of beer. Opinions on the point vary between the widest conceivable extremes. At the same time, it has to be admitted that the public, generally, is not inclined to argue the matter at all : its members express themselves as quite unconcerned as to its value as an article of diet : their only concern is to be ableto acquire it as and when they feel inclined and without restriction as to quantity. Now, however, thanks to the almost volcanic energy of Mr. G. F. Goodwin, Secretary, West Midland Area of Associated Road Operators, the question is settled once and for all. He has, from authoritative quarters, the view that beer is a foodstuff and as such should enjoy any priority of transport afforded to foodstuffs generally. Good for Goodwin. Stout fellow.
New Lighting Safe THE new " halfpenny " light Only When Using ing is certainly an advantage Head Lamp from the A.R.P. point of view
and makes little difference when the use of the official masked head light is permitted, but without the latter it is almost hopeless from the driving aspect. We, therefore, hope that police and, in certain areas, the military will not enforce any black-out of the head lamp unless the position be particularly dangerous. From what we have seen during the past few days, there are already far too many accidents.