LECTURE ON SWEDEN
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THE London meeting of the Institute 1of Road Transport Engineers which took place on December 19 was one of the most successful yet held. The subject dealt with was the visit to Sweden, in October, of over 50 members.
As an exception to the general rule, ladies were invited, and many attended, making a total of over 200 in the Hall of the Royal Empire Society. Other honoured guests were the First Secretary of the Swedish Legation, Baron Lagerfelt, and the Press Attache, Mr. Edling, also Mr. H, T. Dutfleld (president of the National Road Transport Federation and chairman of the Road:. Haulage Association), accompanied by his wife.
Three members participated in giving the lecture: the president, Mr. G. Mackenzie Junner, who also showed over 40 slides; Mr. Henry Rossington, who ,gave a talk and fine coloured films; and Major P. M. A. Thomas, who dealt with technical matters.
Baron Lagerfelt expressed thanks and said how much he had enjoyed the meeting. Mr. Duffield was heartily applauded for his great efforts on behalf of road transport, and he, later, th-anked the president and other lecturers,
The loan of a slide projector by the Royal Society of Arts was much appreciated.
It is hoped that at least part of the lecture will be given and slides shown at one or more of the Institute's provincial centres.
NEW SALFORD HIRE RATES HlRE charges for five Bedford 'vehicles recently purchased by Salford Central Garage Committee have been decided as follow:-4-5-ton tipping lorry, 7s. 3d. per hour, £3 per day, £15 per week; 10-cwt. van, 5s. 6d. per hour, £2 5s. per day, Ell 5s. per week. These rates provide for the vehicles to be supplied only with drivers, any additional labour to be charged at the recognized rate.
TO FACILITATE STARTING
vASY starting under the worst condi
tions is the claim made for the Hymatic hand-priming _pump, a device made by the Hymatic Engineering Co., Ltd., Redditch, Worcs. The system consists of a small hand pump fitted conveniently in the cab, and one or More.' jets screwed into the induction Manifold.
Copper pipes of -diameter connect the pump to the fuel supply line and jets. Operation of the pump dram fuel and injects it in highly atomized form into the induction manifold. No soldering is required.
REGENT AVERAGES 26 M.P.H. FOR 420 MILES
I–I A DELIVERY journey to Scotland was recently combined with a practical demonstration of the A .E.C.
Regent Mark 111 passenger chassis. The model was the standard type equipped with the A.E.C. 9.6-litre sixcylindered oil engine Fluid Flywheel and air-operated preselective gearbox, as well as Westinghouse-A.E.C. compressed-air brakes. Ballast was carried and the gross weight of the chassis was 10 tons 11 cwt.
A carefully timed run was made from Southall to Glasgow. and 420 miles were covered in 16 hours, at an average speed of 26.2 rn,p_h, The engine was kept running throughout the journey, including stops. During the run, fog, hail and sleet were encountered. FOOD WILL BE DELAYED
FOLLOWING telegrams of protest which Leeds and District Grocers' and Provision Dealers' Association sent to Members of Parliament for constituencies in. Leeds and other parts of the West Riding, the Association has forwarded to the M.P.s a letter amplifying its objections to the Transport Bill.
The Association contends that the retail trader should have the right "to operate his own vehicle for the carriage of his own goods without mileage restriction," and it suggests that a 40-mile limit on C-licence holders
( Above) As part of a 24-hour service to operators, the Victoria Motor Co. (Bristol), Ltd., has recently introduced this Thornycroft Sturdy breakdown tender. It is based on a 6-ion chassis and is particularly well equipped. Among other items, a power winch is provided for pulling out bogged vehicles. The tender MS fitted out in the' Vidoria company's own workshops. (Left) One of the new Leyland range of chassis designed specifically for the export market. Its strong construction shows to advan
tage in this view.
would inevitably mean delay in the delivery of food to retail shops by manufacturers and wholesalers."
PREPARE FOR THE WORST
THE time is approaching when the desirability of fitting non-skid chains will he felt. Parsons Chain Co., Ltd., Worcester Road, Stourport-on-Severn, has issued two leaflets dealing with its range of non-skid chains.
One of them describes the new Parsons all-metal emergency tyre grip, which consists of two short lengths of chain and screw mechanism to enable the device to be fixed to the rim. INDUSTRY THE BUTT OF BUNGLERS
DURING the war, Vokes. Ltd., was asked on a Tuesday morning to produce a new design of air cleaner for aircraft. The device was designed and a prototype made on the same day, and on the following day it was tested in an aeroplane. On Saturday night, 256 air cleaners of the new pattern left the works. The Government contract for the work arrived some' months later.
This example of initiative by private enterprise and delay by a Government department was quoted by Mr. C. G. Vokes at a recent luncheon, when he received a presentation from members of the company.
Mr. Vokes said that under nationalization high-speed work of the kind that he had described would never be achieved.
Another example of Government bungling concerned the importation of a device from America for the Air Ministry. After filling up countless forms, over a period of weeks, a state of deadlock with the Board of Trade was reached, and it was not until Mr. Vokes threatened to import the equipment without a licence that the Board issued one.
Defending management against recent unfair attacks, Mr. Vokes said it was not nationalized industry that had won the war, and that only those with technical skill and industrial experience could run industry.
EXPORT POLICY CRMCIZED
APLEA for greater discrimination in the supply of British vehicles to foreign markets was made by Sir George Kenning, .I.P„ in Sheffield, on December 19. He pointed out that some of the foreign countries to which manufacturers were being forced to send vehicles were still in the debt of Britain. No relief of the dollar shortage and no improvement of the sterling position arose from such action.
Sir George referred to the uncertainty created in industry by the Government's policy of nationalization, which he strongly criticized. He spoke of the "valiant part" played by the haulier in helping to win the war.
ENGINEERING ADVISORY 'COUNCIL FORMED
E Minister of Supply has set up an Engineering Advisory Council to provide a means for consultation with employers and workers in the engineering industry. Matters normally handled by the joint organizations of employers and trade unions in connection with wages and conditions of employment are excluded.
"CAT'S-EYES" TO BE ENCOURAGED •
THE Minister of Transport wishes to encourage the use of " cat's-eye " studs in suitable circumstances. In urban areas, where street lighting is adequate, these studs are not required. In country areas they can often be used with great advantage to traffic, and the Minister has called the attention of the highway authorities to this fact.