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The Red Flag
AS a sign of impending danger the red flag has been
replaced in most cases by red lights, traffic lights and stop-go signs. However, when G.P.O. telephoneservice vehicles are at work, the red flag is still hung out to indicate a road hazard. Unfortunately, the flag is apparently looked upon by some of the crews as a licence to cause an obstruction.
Often these vehicles can be seen at dangerous bends, parked at road junctions and standing at intersections. In many cases the vehicles are left on the road when a grass side-strip is available. Obviously they must be close to the work site, but the crews should be encouraged to exercise the utmost consideration towards other road users. Display of the red flag does not bestow rights of couldn't-care-less parking.
Coaching in the Old Days
wELL known to many people in the commercial TY vehicle industry, Mr. A. Binns, truck sales manager, London, for Rootes, Ltd., recently told an amusing story of the early days.
It concerned a Karrier Coach on solid tyres, with brakes on the rear wheels operated by long rods and a metal-to-metal transmission brake. A party of ladies of mature age was to be taken for a run and, no one else being available at the time, Mr. Binns took the wheel.
The passengers were enjoying themselves so much that they asked him to continue beyond their normal destination and, at one point on the new route, the coach was running down a curving hill with a terrifying drop on one side and a cliff on the other. Using the normally powerful transmission brake, he
suddenly heard a click and realieed.that it had failed. He then had recourse. to the hand.brake, but the main rod snapped...
Fortunately, in those days there was little else on the roads, so Mr. Biniis pulled gently over to the off side and " rubbed " the coach along the cliff, hearing the door handles snapping off one by one, but eventually it came to a standstill. Immediately following this, he received a sharp crack over the head from an umbrella wielded by an excited elderly lady who ekcIaimed: "I have never seen such disgraceful. driving in my life! "
In view of the fact that he had probably saved her life and those of the others, he thought that this was a little unfair but was toe, relieved to make a retort.
New Gears for Old
THERE may be operators who experience difficulty in obtaining replacement parts for some of the more elderly vehicles. This applies particularly to gearing. A company who, whilst being specialists in the cutting of gears and handling big corn:acts, are willing, if necessary, to produce "one off," are the Northern Manufacturing Co., Ltd., of Gainsborough. They had a fine display at the recent Engineering and Marine Exhibition.
Naturally, a very small order such as this would be
somewhat expensive, but if the cost of setting up could be spread over only a few more, it would be greatly reduced. Any type of gear work can be undertaken, including spiral bevels and hypoids, also a type known as the .zero!.
It should be remembered that it would be almost futile to order "one off" anything else than a pair of gears, for a new pinion can seldom be made to mesh satisfactorily with one that is worn. This applies particularly to the final-drive gears, which are subject to such heavy stresses.
"Do Not Mount the Pavement"
ON the bridge which crosses the River Taw at Barnstaple, North Devon, is a notice to the effect that vehicles must not mount the pavement. This would seem to suggest that drivers had been in the habit of doing this, which is not at all likely.
Although the roadway is narrow it is ample for the traffic it carries and the same applies to the pavement. Why it should be necessary to keep such a notice standing is something that probably the local authority could explain.
During the summer months traffic in and through Barnstaple is particularly heavy, hut _despite long hold-ups everyone seems pleased with life and this includes the police, who are most courteous.