1200 CONTAINERS A WEEK
Page 15
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
How 350 Girls Turn 12 Miles of Rubber Fabric into Gas-bags.
When Tins COMMERCIAL Moron, some months ago, advocated the utilization of coal-gas as the alternative fuel to petrol to keep the high-road motor transportation business of the.
country going, the sceptics smiled and the captious critics ridiculed the proposal. They saw a thousand and one reasons why the scheme could never succeed, failing, in their conceit, to recognize that it was either an accepted wartime expedient or nothing.
Features of the Container.
For the first few months progress was slow.It was pioneering, and in common with all new movements many difficulties arose and bad to be overcome. But the days of difficulty are past. Tho manufacture of flexible containers has settled down into an established industry. Progress is still being recorded ; each successiv,eweek brings its crop of accepted improvements: the movement is increasing in po•pularity with every succeeding day ; and the cry is going up —Still they come.
During the past two menthe the tide of accelerated and increased production Las set in swiftly. The latest firm to embrace big scale manufacture is the Lyon Spencer combination, whereby the firm of Ernst Lyon, Ltd.,' of 91, Bond Street, London, W., have been able to take advantage of the facilities, resources and experience of C. G. Spencer and Sons, of Highbury, London, N., the well-known balloon manufaCturers.
These works are excellently equipped for the task, and now that they have got into their stride in regard to the new range of endeavour it is possible for the demands of the trade to be metmore satisfactorily.
This oonta,iner possesses many interesting features. In the first place it is rectangular, with ingeniously-disposed -hinged battens to ensure preservation of shape when inflated, as well as positive relapse of the hag within its protective valance upon deflation. The dashboard equipment is neat, as well as the lead to the engine, which is through a flexible metallic tubing, complete with check valve to the inlet manifold, where
is mounted an auxiliary valve coupled up to the accelerator pedal control. The connections are both neat and simple. The container is made from gas and waterproof rubber fabric similar tu that
used for balloon manufacture. The capacity of the works is such as to enable 200 containers ranging from 100 to 1000 c. ft. capacity to be turned out every day, or approximately 1200 per week. The staff engaged upon this task comprises a small army of 350 girIe and 110 men. Fashioning the 1260 containers involves the use of 15,000 to 22,000 lineal yds. of fabric 42 ins. wide. The sections are cut out by means of electric cutters, which ensure uniformity. In completing the seams 24 miles of tape are used.
Special precautions are deserved to ensure strength and gas-tightness at these points. The jointis first lapped, then treated With solution, sewn, and the stitches covered with tape which is also sewn and treated with solutien.
• To carry out the necessary sewing operations a battery of 200 power-driven sewing machines is available, which in fulfilling a week's work consume 448 spools of sewing cotton, each weighing 2 oz. = 56 lb. of cotton mall. -Dressing • the seams runs away with 1680 lb. of rubber solution.
That the Government is alive to the possibilities of coal-gas as a motor fuel is borne out by the orders which are now in hand, for the Royal Air Service, Navy and Army Canteen Board, and the R.N.A.'S., the work ranging from a bag of 200 c. ft. capacity for fitting to a peneel van to one of 950 c. ft. for a char-abanes.
The firm is also specializing in a line which will appeal to users of the Ford car. This is a 250 c. ft. container, involving extension over driving seat whin is supplied for £16.
Accelerating Recharging,
The time invariably occupied in charging-op the flexible container—from 8 to 15 minutes—according to capacity, is being advanced as a serious objection to the coal-gas movement. But Tath's Commercial Garage, of Wakefield, accelerates charging at the garage. By arrangement with the local gas company a large 6-in. main has been laid down together with rotary motor and two branch valves. In this way two cars can be charged up simultaneously and very quickly, the inflation of a 200cubic ft. container occupying one minute.