Passing Comments
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F.B.I. Examines Industrial Trends
A FOURTH inquiry into the condition of British trade, " covering four months, is reported by the Federation of British Industries. Replies from executives of companies broadly representative of the different industries and of large and small firms, numbered 675. They show that there is some foundation for the earlier belief that there would soon be an improvement in conditions, and for the first time since the scheme was instituted the numbers reporting an increase in the rate of new orders slightly outweigh those reporting decreases. This should indicate better times for hauliers, for improvements in trade inevitably provide more and bigger loads.
During two previous inquiries declines in the levels of output were reported. Now the tide seems to have turned, despite the present slight rise in unemployment. There have, however, been further declines in new orders for export, but it must be remembered that this covers the industry as a whole, not necessarily the commercial-vehicle side, which shows trends materially better than average.
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Keeping Castro/in the Van
SUCCESS in developing lubricants for the particular uses
to which they are to be put must depend to a great extent upon extensive research and development work. As an example of this, in the past 10 years these activities have risen 300 per cent, at the Castrol laboratories at Hayes, Middx.
Further to increase them a large extension, equipped with the most modern apparatus employed for research on lubricants, has been opened by C. C. Wakefield and Co., Ltd. There is a. new spectrographic laboratory which includes apparatus for analysing the metallic constituents of oil samples, whilst in the radio-chemical department research is conducted with the aid of radioactive isotopes. Equipment and services have also been provided for more routine work in this field.
In the organic laboratory each chemist has his own supply of compressed air, gas, vacuum and nitrogen, whilst a high-velocity extraction system removes odorous fumes at bench level.
'triking an' Old Note
F is often said that truth is stranger than fiction, but who would believe that a 10-shilling note would be diswered vulcanized into a commercial-vehicle tyre? This , however, exactly what happened recently at the Dundee ranch of Tyres (Scotland), Ltd. A member of their fitting aff, dealing with a Goodyear Hi-Miler truck tyre, noticed ithin the cover in the bead area something which he iought to be a stamp. Further examination showed it be the note in question almost completely moulded into ie casing and covered by a thin film of lubber. Its imoval, however, showed that this would have no effect the tyre's potential life, although it had lost something its value!
On the note being returned to the Goodyear concern at rolverhampton an inquiry revealed that a " bagger-upper " good one for What's My Line!) in the vulcanizing departent, Mr. R. Benton, had missed the note about a year !fore. At that time he was moving stocks of " green " res prior to their vulcanization, and the note, which had !en earmarked to pay a bill on his way home, must tve fallen from his overall pocket.
It is understood that as this was a chance in many illions, searches amongst other tyres are unlikely to .ove remunerative,
'eneva as a Meeting Place
PART from a considerable growth each year the Geneva Motor Show is becoming a focus for quite a imber of associations in respect of their annual meetings. s examples, the European Coacbbuilders Union is holding there its event of this type on March 17 and 18. This will include delegates from Great Britain. Also, the Bureau Permanent International des Constructeurs d'Automobiles is organizing a meeting of the directors of all European motor shows, where, for the first time, they will be afforded the opportunity of discussing the many problems concerned with these.
Some British and foreign manufacturers use Geneva as a venue where their executives and members of the Press can meet their Swiss agents and representatives.