Passing Comments
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Why Always Place A LETTER in our last the Driver at the "issue drew attention to the Side' alleged advantages of seating
the driver of a vehicle in the centre of the cab, or its equivalent, rather than at one side. It was suggested that here he would be able to obtain better vision to the front and sides. In the old days, of course, many drivers were so accommodated, but in more recent years the side position is almost universal, probably, mainly, to permit signalling by hand. Now, however, and since the provision of mechanical indicators on almost every vehicle, this is not essential. We were, consequently, particularly interested in a Fiat troileybus displayed at the Turin 'Show, for in this the driver sits on the centre line. We tried this position, and with the large windscreen and side lights, the view all around the front was remarkable. Certainly the scheme gave us food for thought, it might also appeal to the enterprising designer. It would undoubtedly A20 avoid -the difficulty of having to convert vehicles from rightto left-hand drive when we export to particular countries, provided that the authorities and operators in these agreed to accept this position.
A Handy All-in-one A COPY of the "Daily Map for the Driver's . "Herald" Road Map of Pocket Great Britain was sent to us recently by the. book department of Odhams, Ltd., Long Acre, London, W.C.2. It is issued at the reasonable figure of 2s., and in a single sheet, printed on both sides, covers the whole of Great Britain, excluding Northern Ireland, on a scale of 10 miles to the inch. On the inside of the cover is a map of Greater London, and on the back cover, details of road sikifs. There is a table of distances, a map of roads out of London and a lighting-up timetable—quite a multum in parvo in reasonable pocket size and, what is more, it is printed on stout paper. A LMOST every piece ot 4-1. timber that we employ in this country has to be imported, and any scheme by which even a reasonable quantity could be 'saved should receive attention. We use for various purposes—in housing and even in bodywork—many million feet of tongued-and-grooved (t. and g.) board. We noticed in Italy that such board—but with a difference—is also employed to a large extent. In our report of the Turin Show we published an illustration showing the sides and floor of a lorry built with boards in which grooves are cut for the insertion of separate tongues. By this means there is a saving in each board equivalent to half the width of the tongue. Our method is to cut the tongue out of the solid wood, and it is then probably not nearly so strong as selected strips which can be inserted. They can also be wider without losing still more of the board width, and can be made from odd pieces if these be of sufficient strength. We commend the idea to Timber Control, which might be able to save half an inch or so on every board of this type.
Simple Method of
Saving on T. and G
Board Not All American Roads are Broad
QNE of our readers who is
Highways. . . .
spending a year or two in Oklahoma City, U.S.A., has written to say that since he haS been -there he has seen very few of the famous American highways, the majority of the roads having two lanes, each with a width of only 18-20 ft., and as most of the trucks are 8 ft. wide, one can imagine the small amount of clearance that there is. Yet, these vehicles with gross weights up to 48,000 lb. (over 21 tons) may travel at 50 m.p.h., whilst others, up to a maximum of 60,000 lb., are permitted 40 m.p.h. The police rarely worry about speed offences; consequently, some of these big vehicles reach 70 m.p.h. at times. All the buses have either electric or hydraulic operation for the doors, and air conditioning adds much comfort to travel. Incidentally, our correspondent suggests that he might be able to supply British manufacturers with information about conditions in this area, and if any would like to take advantage of this offer, we shall be pleased to supply his name and address. Presumably, most of them will already have obtained such information.