Out and Home. he Raid. Coal-gasB y
Page 15
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Air Delivery.
"The Extractor."
Too Exciting.
When the recent air raid in London was in progress I happened to be in my office, telephoning to a place about 20 miles distant, arranging a business appointment for the afternoon. Naturally I mentioned to' the lady at the other end of the wire, as a matter of interest, what we were going through. The clangonr of the fire engines rushing through the streets could be plainly heard., she told me, over the wire at her end. But when I eventually arrived at my destination in the afternoon I found that the excitement of my news had obliterated all record of my intending visit. Luck, however, was with me
' my man was there. Irreparable.
Being at Ipswich only a few days ago, I found that Ransomes Sims and Jefferies are still acutely suffering from the death of Mr. Harold S. Jefferies.His sudden demise caused a painful shock to large circles of friends; he was taken ill with appendicitis at Sidinouth, and although hopes of his recovery were entertained after the operation he, unfortunately, succumbed. He was the second son of the late Mr. John Robert Jefferies, and went straight from Marlborough College into the Orwell Works about the year 1888.
His sporting proclivities, his tact and judgment when dealing with employees made him extremely popular. I gathered that the engineering trades of the Eastern Counties looked to Harold Jefferies for a lead when difficult labour questions arose. He exerted a power and influence extending far beyond the limits of his own business. He was a bachelor, for many years took a deep interest in yachting, and was made J.P. about a year ago.
Prefers Gas to Petrol.
Great interest is being shown now in the development of the use of ordinary town gas for internalcombustion engines. Many old motorists, even some in the trade whom I could mention, do not realize that a' motor can be run on the domestic article without the use of the carburetter. I was down at Beeston, in Notts., recently, and was greatly interested to see the regular bus service run on town gas. Mr. Barton's explicit statement that if petrol came down to 8c1. a gallon he would still prefer to carry on his business with coal-gas made its impression on me.
No Leakage.
used to hear in my youth in Yorkshire a colloquialism from frugal housewives that milk in a household Was a " snattling" thing, the idea to be conveyed being that it disappeared quickly and mysteriously, especially with children about. The same can be said with greater emphasis of motor spirit and cans. This is obviated with the manufaetmeecl gas taken straight. into your canvas reservoir as every large user will at once perceive.. There is, of course, the same disability that applies to electric vehicles—your field is • limited, but then there are go many trade where short journeys are made ; moreover, the refilling occupies but a few moments.
Even Carriers' Carts.
Char-à-banes trips with coal-gas are an accomplished fact, as we have reported. I was interested at Nottingham to see, and speak with the owner, of, a country "carrier's cart," already established between that town and Cottgrave, who was using the "new fuel," the result being highly satisfactory. Other services will oceur to our readers, such as hotel omnibuses, estate wagons, contractors for munition works deliveries, etc., etc.; it is easy to foresee a rapid extension of the coal-gas method. By Road.
There is one long business trip I always endeavour to carry out by road, that being over the Eastern Counties. It meant, in this year of grace, much conserving of petrol through the winter months, but it was worth it Eastern Anglia is a country by itself, and some of the places at which I desire to call are inaccessible but perhaps the oddest corner of all is that one filled by the works of Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd. Roughly speaking, Leiston lies off the main line and near the coast, midway between Lowestoft and Harwich.
The Old and the New.
No more striking comparison comes to my mind than the old-world offices at Leiston and those of some of the new big petrol-vehicle companies ; both are right, but there is th,e,eharm of age and tradition about Garretts, the engravings of ancestors, in what was formerly the residence and is now the luncheon room, take us back to earlier Garretts some hundreds of years ago. One 'striking show case full of silver cups has been added since I was there last, which naturally elicited -an inquiry from me because great silver cups for steam wagon and traction engine competition are scarce. The trophies were won by a famous Suffolk Punch horse owned by Mr. Frank Garrett, Senior.
By Air.
A very modern note was struck as a result of the next inquiry. Much of Garretts' munition work consists in the building of aeroplanes, and nicely framed on the wall is the first order for spare parts, which arrived per aeroplane, landing in a field hard by. It was duly fulfilled and despatched by the same mode of transport. This original order was rightly enough deemed worthy of a niche in their sanctuary. That was in the autumn of 1916.
011a Podrida.
An old lady on the Nottingham-Beeston bus route observed carefully the gas bag on the top of the bus, and graciously thanked Mr. Barton for his consideration for passengers. It was, to her, obviously designed to protect them against Zeppelin bombs. The shell shattered ambulance reproduced on this page is one of a convoy presented to the British Ambulance Committee (for French wounded) by Lloyds, and it went through a bad time on the Verdun front. The Dueo epring gaiters, with which it is fitted, are in perfect condition.