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Delivery Hazards
THE work of delivering the thousands of chassis which leave the motor industry's factories every day of the year. rarely attracts the limelight. A recent incident, however, emphasizes two featufes of
this activity. First, that much of the delivering is carried out by women drivers,, and secondly, that it has many hazards, apart from those occasioned by the weather.
Quite recently, Mrs. Sheila Moore, of Coventry, was found unconscious behind the wheel of an open Bedford coach chassis in a field off a main road in the Midlands. She was discovered by a police patrol, which came along soon after the chassis had gone off the road. Apparently, Mrs. Moore had been struck between the eyes by a starling, which was dead on the cab floor beside her. This knocked her unconscious. Fortunately it appears that no other ill effects were suffered as a result of this mishap..
Conductors Embarrass Policemen
A POLICEMAN of our acquaintance was saying " recently that it was a source of embarrassment to him that bus conductors refused to accept fares from him. He thought that conductors may be under the impression that they should allow policemen in uniform to travel free. Actually policemen were instructed to summon conductors who let them travel without paying.
However, this rarely happened. for obvious reasons. Naturally, as we told him, conductors should collect the fares of policemen, but refrained from doing so A26 either out of respect for a fine body of men, or in the hope of currying favour. It is difficult to be charitably disposed and accept the first explanation. A member of our staff, while serving in the Army, was flattered when he was allowed to ride free on the buses, but found the compliment was no longer conferred when, later, he bore markings of rank.
In these days, when bus' operators can do with every fare collected, the vicarious granting of gratuities to certain passengers by conductors should receive closer attention.
Electronic Analysis of Metals
ANALYTICAL work on light metals which normally takes six cheinists a day, can now be carried out by two men in an'hour under a new system of quality control introduced by T.I. Aluminium, Ltd.,. Redfern Road, Tyseley,Birmingham, 11. It is applicable to other metal-producing industries and is claimed to be one of the greatest advances in the rapid and accurate control of metal composition. An analysis of up to 13 elements. can be -made in less than four minutes, .This is very important in highstrength and other special aluminium alloys where close limits are essential..
The apparatus used is known as the A.R.L. Production Control Quantorneter, which is a directreading spectograph operated electronically. The three components of the device are a unit for exciting an arc or spark, from the metal to be analysed; a spectrometer to measure the relative intensities of the light wave lengths and a recorder which will give direct interpretation of the results.
Trieo "Stars" the Press
rINE of the factors that contributed to the success of a recent social evening held by Trieo-Folberth, Ltd., Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, for members ot the Press was a film taken at the previous year's function. Guests crowded on to the stage inthe Trieo clubhouse to see themselves and their friends on the screen of a device that resembled a television set and incorporated the projection equipment.
This enterprising concern, which is exporting its products to nearly every country in the world, is currently pointing out in its advertising the benefits of changing windscreen-wiper blades once a year. This is one publicity "plug" which really deserves attention. Many a. user is content to leave a blade until it becomes almost ineffective, whereas if it were -changed when it began to deteriorate there would have been the assurance of many miles of clear vision when driving in rain.
To replace a blade when it ceases to wipe clear, . instead of when it scarcely smears the raindrops into a film; is to make a contribution to road safety, quite apart from lending comfort to the driver.
Clarify. the Law AMENDMENT of the Transport Act would provide a suitable opportunity of clarifying the provisions of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, which enable farmers to carry for . hire or reward under C licences for neighbouring farmers. The terms "neighbouring farmers" is ambiguous and, in the opinion of many hauliers, the latitude which the 1933 Act allows is being abused.: The matter has been the subject of negotiations for some time between the Road Haulage. Association and the National Farmers' Union, although they .do not seem to have progressed far. No one would wish to hinder British agriculture, but it is desirable that farmers and hauliers should know precisely.what is legal and what is not.