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STRANGE reasons underlie traders '• decisions to abandon railway transport a n d adopt road motors. An important manufacturing concern in this country, which kept to the railways chiefly because it had been "brought up with them," came to realize the value of road transport as the result of the loss of a travelling trunk. The trunk belonged to the managing director's family and it contained effects worth hundreds of pounds. It was sent as luggage in advance and was lost. Two railway companies had handled the trunk, and for a year or more—the trunk never being traced—each company tried to blame the other, neither offering any compensation to the unfortunate owner. He looked into the possibilities of road transport for his company's goods, found that it would be quicker and cheaper, and has never since sent a single consignment by rail.
BRITAIN alone amongst the industrial countries showed an increase in 1931 in the production of electricity by public supply undertakings, the improvenaent being about 4.5 per cent. For the five years 1927-1931 the expansion in the output was 35 per cent. in this country compared with 15.3 per cent. in the U.S.A. and 18.5 per cent. in Germany. In the last two countries there has been an almost continuous decline since the beginning of 1929, so that, electrically, at „least, we have escaped some of the worst consequences of the world crisis.
A26 IN view of the keen interest which is everywhere being displayed in the compression-ignition engine, and which is strongly evinced in the large number of orders which we aae receiving for our new manual on the subject, it is worthy of note that a Bentley car, equipped with a Gardner engine of 5i litres capacity, has been entered for the R.A.C. Rally, an event in which all makes and types of touring car compete, and in which they are caned upon to traverse practically the whole of the country from Carlisle or Edinburgh in the north to Torquay or Eastbourne in the south. We are sure our readers will watch the outcome of the rally with particular regard to the performance of this unique vehicle of so famous a marque.
SPEAKING recently on traffic signs to a Depart mental Committee, with Sir Henry Maybury as chairman, appointed to review the subject, the Minister of Transport said that the task is to secure an orderly and standardized system. There is, he added, an enormous scope for invention and ideas— in fact, it is a fascinating job, and the terms of reference give the committee a very free hand, but it would no doubt bear in mind the new signals adopted at the Geneva Conference and would entirely satisfy itself before recommending any departure from them. He hoped that unification of traffic signs would not result in their multiplication, as that would tend to confuse the driver and increase the number of accidents. He was confident that, as a result of the deliberations, the committee woifid earn the gratitude of every pedestrian nod motorist who used the highway.
ONE of the most interesting of the small machines which will be shown at the Leipzig Spring Fair will be a filing machine to assist in the production of small parts of complicated shape where fine handwork is usually involved. It is capable of producing any work in metal up to 51 ins. thick,and is equipped with a band saw as an auxiliary. The energy required to drive it is 1 h.p, Another interesting exhibit will be a light-sensitive electric cell which is claimed to possess far more favourable characteristics than those at present available. DRIVERS of Beardmore multi-wheeledvehicles frequently speak of the delights of " motoring " with one of the motive units alone—the carrier unit having been detached. We are told that the performance thus obtained is most appreciated in Ireland, where the Beardmore outfit has made particularly good headway.
Near Dublin there is a golf course that is popular amongst certain transport operators, and it is not uncommon to see two or three Beardmore motive units parked outside the club-house on a fine afternoon. The ample power, light weight and high axle ratio combine to make the unit quite useful as a motorcar, but hauliers who use their Beardmores in this way are ashamed to face our costs expert I