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Big ,Interest in Small Shows
NOT everyone, however interested, can visit the
biennial Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court, nor that held in Glasgow. This is probably the reason why smaller shows, usually staged by big agents, are so popular. For example, nearly 9,000 people visited the premises of Blakes Motors, Ltd., of Manchester, during their recent exhibition of Vauxhall-Bedford products and those of the leading manufacturers of accessories and components interested in the range of vehicles displayed. In addition, the show was visited by 71 parties of schoolboys, each party numbering 20-24.
At the show, a presentation was made of a Bedford 28 h.p. engine complete with clutch and gearbox, all part-sectioned, to the Salford Education Committee, and it is now in that city's technical college. •
Wide-base Rims
WHILST wide-base rims are in general use on " private cars their advantages are not recognized as they should be in connection with the use of giant tyres. Such advantages may be summarized as: increased life of the tyre tread, improved bead per formance, which remark also applies to the tube and flap, and improved vehicle handling.
On 8-ft.-wide vehicles from 4-ton unladen weight and upwards, space should be available to permit the use of wide-base rims and when this is possible, the practice is to be recommended.
Seven Years of Progress
SCOTLAND has developed an important business in the manufacture of road tankers, these being produced by the Dalzell Electric Co., Ltd., Belshill, Lanarkshire. They are the only company producing such tanks in that country. Some of the chassis are also Scottish, being of Albion make, but tanks are being designed for 63 different chassis in Britain.
DaLzell claim to have a world-beater in cement carriers, but numerous other commodities are catered for, such as margarine, chocolate, many liquids, including acids, and even powders.
The chairman and managing director, Mr. W. Anderson, recently said that only seven years ago he left his work as an electric welder on locomotives to start with £100 capital in an old forge. Now he has on his books inquiries for 7-50 vehicles for overseas.
Pennsylvania C. V. Accident Rate Reduced
Tim findings of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Joint Safety Group Accident Causation Study, covering the entire period of turnpike operation, have recently been released.
In the period under review, 13.8 per cent. of all accidents were accounted for by vehicle failures. These accidents were caused by brakeand steeringmechanism troubles and loss of wheels, i.e., failures of parts receiving heavy wear. Whilst lorries accounted for only a small proportion of these accidents, the percentage was more than in other categories of failure.
Concerning driver behaviour, commercial-vehicle drivers were held responsible for 24.7 per cent. of the accidents. Under a sub-section of the same heading, "Failure to cope with road conditions," only 9 per cent, of the total was attributed to drivers of commercial vehicles.
Whilst car drivers were blamed for 87 per cent. of "deficiencies in routine driving skill," only the remaining 13 per cent, were considered to be caused by the commercial-vehicle men.
Of , the 412 accidents caused by "highway . hypnosis," or the lulling into semi-consciousness on a straight road free from roundabouts, while driving, 25 per cent. involved commercial vehicles.
Wheel Wobble On a Bus
ONE of our correspondents has expressed interest . in opinions from some drivers concerning Bristol buses. He corroborates what fine vehicles these are, but points out, that some of the LS. models which his company are operating have some trouble with steering wobble at speeds of 30-35 m.p.h. According to him everything has been checked, but no cause can be found. Now dampers supplied by the Bristol concern have been fitted, but the wobble is still not quite cured.
He would like to know if any other p.s.v. operators have experienced this With their vehicles and if any special cure has been found effective.