Germany Gaining a • Hold in Belgium
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ra ER MAN commercial-vehicle exports L.1 to Belgium jumped from 185 in
1949. to 1.924 in 1950. in' the same period. British commercial-vehicle exports advanced from 4,022 to 6,619, compared with 141 which Were shipped to the country in 1938. -Production figures for the German comrnrcialvehicle industry indicate that • a high proportion el the total consists of lightvans and utilities. • ' The value of Britain's exports to Belgium in 1950 was E2,283,642.
French exports of commercial vehicles to Belgium also continue, to increase. In 1949, the total delivered was 1,611. compared with 2,386' in 1950, American contributions to this market are declining, however. In -1938, 6.120 American vehicles were imported into Belgium; in 1949, 8,094, and last year, 5.672. Giving these figures, the British Chamber ot Commerce in Belgium refers to the growing emphasis on economy in the country. Statistics indicate that Belgian buyers prefer complete vehicles and chassis rather than unassembled vehicles, except in the case of public service vehicles. • Details of complete vehicles imported in 1950 are as follOwSs Light vans and utilities; 3,815; road haulage tractors, 19; goods vehicles under .3 tons, 53; over 3 tons 1, and miscel ianeous types, 30. • . Chassis exports from Britain were 'as follows: Buses and coaches, '61' assem bled goods vehicle chassis. 2321; unassembled chassis, 304; other types, 14.
BIG EXPORT BUSINESS FOR MARTIN WALTER AAN order for 120 Morris Utilavan 5-cwt. models has recently been completed by Martin Walter, Ltd.. Folkestone, for Cologne. " Utilavan " is the name used overseas for the Utilecon statiOn wagon. Other export orders include 16 5-cwt. Utilecons, nine Junior Utilabuses based on the Morris-Commercial J-type.. 10-cwt. :van 'chassis, and" 12 Senior UtilabuseS. having the Morris-Commercial 15-20-cwt. van chassis, for Australia. Bangkok has taken four Utilabos atnbulatices," a further 25 ambulances ,have, been supplied to Pakistan,' :and, six Utilahuses to
MauritiuS.. , •• •
IS "FIRST IN LINE" OBLIGATORY? •
A DECISION by Glasgow magisIThtrates that a person hiring a taxicab at a rank need 'not, take the first in the line, is to be "contested by the Glasgow Cab-Owners' Association. It is stated that the magistrates, in encouraging selection by hirers, hope to force owners of older vehicles to buy new models.
Already, the owners are protesting against the magistrates' decision to do away with vehicles made before 1937. They point to the strict police tests made every year.
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Men in. the News
MR. L. P. LORD, chairman of the Austin Motor Co., Ltd.. sailed on Tuesday in the " Caronia " for Canada.
• MR, LEWIS M VMS and MRS. D. YOUNG have been appointed members of the South-Eastern Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee.
MR. W. H.SAUNDERS, chairman of Raybestos-Belaco. Ltd., is to retire. MR. L. A. POTTER has been appointed senior director in charge of the company. Mr. Potter was formerly with Ferodo, Ltd.
-MR. A. :R. PURVES, B.Sc. (ENG.), • A:M.1NsT.PET., formerly .assistant works engineer (Charlton), has been appointed engineering superintendent (road services) of the London Transport Executive.: .He will be responsible for all work in connection with inspection in road-service workshops and at contractors' works, rolling-stock development and experi. ment, design and specification of rolling stock, and technical administration of contracts. MR. T. C. Batt_ A.M.I.Mecti.E., formerly assistant plant engineer, has been appointed plant engineer (buses and coaches).
Lorry Rodeo to Improve Driving
TO encourage safe driving in Quebec and to reduce the number of accidents involving lorries, employers and union organizers in the haulage industry 'are collaborating to hold a lorrydriving rodeo in Montreal this autumn. The Canadian Army, which already holds similar events throughout the country, has been asked to participate by permitting winners: in its competition to compete with winners in the civilian rodeo:
The project,. a joint one of the Automotive Transport Association of Quebec and the Transport Workers' Union is still in its initial stages. Representatives from the A.T.A. and the union have asked the provincial Government to institute a safe-driving week this autumn. during which the three-day rodeo will be a highlight. Winners of the Quebec competition will compete with winners from other Canadian provinces at the national event next year.
NO C-LICENCE REFUNDS: T.R.T.A. WANTS DETAILS
DECAUSE the Ministry of Transport
has been unwilling to amend the law to allow a refund to he made to those who surrender unexpired C licences, the Traders' Road Transport Association is seeking evidence of the importance of such a concession.
When certain changes take place in the organization of a business a new legal entity is created. Old C licences have to he surrendered and new ones obtained. There is no provision in the law for any allowance to be niade in respect of the-unexpired period.
Members who have suffered financial. loss on this account should give details to the T.R.T.A. national secretary, 146, New Bond Street, London, W.I.
SOUTHEND SEEKS ECONOMIES
TO consider economy measures which might offset Southend Transport Department's estimated deficit of .142,000 this year, a special sub-corninittee has been formed by the town council.
The transport undertaking's general manager had suggested that various alterations be made in the fares structure, including the introduction of a 2d. minimum, and the council has agreed that steps should be taken to raise charges again. Another matter considered is the curtailment of evening services to 10.30 p.m., instead of 11 p.m.
Alderman E. N. Selby criticized the delay by the Licensing Authority in making decisions on applications to raise fares.
ADVANCED RESERVATION DERM ISSION to run buses over a
bridge not yet constructed and along a road also not yet built has been applied for by Nottingham Transport Department. The application is one of a number made to operate services outside the city boundary to serve a new estate.
Fixtures
FUTURE meetings of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers include the following:—
September 12:—North-Western centre, visit to Hepworth and Grandage, Ltd., Bradford, 2.30 P.M. East Midlands centre, opening meeting of 1951-52 session, Mechanics Institute, Nottingham, 7,30 P.m. September 18:—Midlands centre. lecture on brake servicing by J. Kinchin, Crown Inn, Birmingham. 7.30 p.m. September 19:—North-Western centre, lecture on heating and ventilation by F. Duncombe. Victoria Hotel. Wigan, 7.30 p.m. London centre, visit to Maidstone and District Motor Services. Ltd.. Maidstone, 2.30 P.m.
September 20:—North-Eastern centre, lecture on garage equmment by R. M. Walker, Hotel Metropole. Leeds. 7.30 p.m.
Sentember 25:—North-Eastern centre. M. Walker's lecture. Duneim Hotel. Durham City. 7 P.m.
SCRAP QUICKLY EXAMINED WITH increased proportions of scrap VV material being used in the production of steel, many expensive machining operations may be completed on a billet or casting before a flaw is discovered.
A magnetic sorting bridge has been introduced by the General Electric Co., Ltd., Kingsway, London, W.C.2, which. working on a comparative basis, will indicate any variation in dimensional or metallurgical properties of two samples. The apparatus affords a non-destructive method of testing ferrous samples for variation in chemical composition, heat treatment, hardness, depth of carburization and like characteristics.
A SELF-SEALING PUNCTUREPROGF TUBE ATYRE inner tube which although pierced by a nail or other object, will not deflate, has been put into production in America by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.
Made entirely of butyl—a form of synthetic rubber—the tube has three layers, the outer one, which forms the tube, being of a tough, heat-resistant type of butyl. Inside this and in the area of the cover tread, is a second layer composed of specially compounded butyl. This second layer resists the tearing or enlargement of a hole caused by a puncturing agent.
On top of this is a third layer consisting of a special soft form of butyl. This rayer is actually the sealing agent, as when a sharp object passes through the tube, the soft material adheres to it and effectively prevents air leaking out.
Despite the particular form of construction adopted, it is said that such a tube is light in weight; it sells for less than other types of tube.