180 b.h.p. Engine in New Heavy Tractor
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fiDRELIMINARY details of a new I Vickers Armstrongs heavy duty tractor were given at _a Press conference in London last week. Machines of this type have so far been available only from America. Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., has spent £1,000,000 on the development of the new machine, production of which at the rate of 500 a year, is scheduled to commence in 18 months' time at the company's Newcastle-on-Tyne factory.
Development has taken place over the past three years, and during 1951, pre-production models will be supplied to operators for trial. The machine weighs over 14 tons.
The power unit is a Rolls-Royce sixcylindered oil engine which develops 180 b.h.p. at 1,800 r.p.m. This engine is one of a range of three, mention or which was made in "The Commercial Motor" on March 25 and May 6, 1949.
Jack Olding and Co., Ltd., Hatfield, has been appointed the sole world distributor and concessionnaire for the Vickers tractor. On July 12 the company ended its association with the Caterpillar Tractor Co., of the U.S.A. Spares for Caterpillar tractors will continue to be supplied by Jack Olding until the Caterpillar company makes other arrangements.
American production of heavy iractors is at the rate of 15,000 a year, of which 19 per cent, are exported. The Vickers tractor is probably second only in power to a new Allis-Chalmers machine with a G.M.C. 250 b.h.p. engine.
B.A.C.A. SEEKS STANDARD DESIGNS QTANDARDIZATION of agriculsi tural machinery is one of the aims of the British Agricultural Contractors' Association. The Association will be represented on a committee set up by the British Standards Institution to consider appropriate plans.
This information is contained in the latest B.A.C.A. progress report. Discussions are taking place on the Association's application to increase lime-haulage rates. The recent schedule issued by the Ministry of Agriculture showing an increase of 71 per cent, was unacceptable to the B.A.C.A.
BREARLEY MISSES THE LIGHTS
ANapplication by Brearley's Tours, Ltd., Halifax, to operate half-day coach excursions from Halifax to Morecambe, during the illuminations, has been refused by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority.
At the recent hearing, Mr. Clement Brearley, managing director, said he was unwilling to agree to the Railway Executive's suggestion that the concern should not operate the proposed coach excursions on days when there was a railway excursion from Halifax to Morecambe. This 'proviso, it was stated, had been accepted by other operators in the area. EIGHT HONOURS AWARDS IN I. OF T EXAMINATIONS
EIGHT candidates were awarded 1.–,honours in this year's Institute of fransport examinations. Three of them were road transport students
Mr. D. Watson (Glasgow), Mr. J. H. Hughes (Liverpool) and Mr. I Harris (Manchester) were awarded honours in Parts 1 and 11 of the associate membership examination. Mr M. Omerod (London) gained this distinction in Part 1. and Mr. A. Campbell (Glasgow) arid Mr. P. B. W. Cox (Kenya) in Part 11.
Honours in Part II of the graduateship examination went to Mr. W, .T. Burness (London) and Mr I:. A. Palmer (York).
Over 1,250 candidates—a record figure—sat for the examinations, which were held in 26 centres in the United Kingdom, as well as in many overseas centres.
BIG EXPANSION BY L.T.
DURING the past year London Transport has, by introducing 270 extra vehicles, carried out the largest programme of improvements to bus services since the restoration in 1946 of the war-time cuts. Twelve new routes have been brought into operation, 16 routes extended and the peak-hour services on 76 routes strengthened
Further improvement will depend more on the availability of staff than of buses, for at present London Transport needs another 200 drivers and 700 conductors.
AMERICAN WAGE MELT?
DEMAND1NG a pay increase of 35s. a day. 1,100 lorry drivers in New York have stopped work, with the rtsult that practically all building in New York and Long Island has been brought to a halt. An earlier attempt to stop the strike failed, when an offer of another 21s. a day was rejected.
Mr. J. W. Pratt, whose appeal against the Scottish Licensing Authority's decision was to have been heard yesterday, has abandoned the case.