Passing Comments
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A Vehicle Maker's HE manufacture of some
Demand for AgriI motor vehicles involves cultural Produce . . considerable dependency on
the farm. An exhibit at the World's Fair, New York, shows that for every million Ford vehicles, the following products of agriculture are used :—cotton, 81,000,000 lb. ; corn, 500,000 bushels; wool, 3,650,000 lb. ; linseed oil, 2,400,000 lb. ; molasses, 2,500,000 gallons; castor oil, 250,000 lb. ; leather, 1,500,000 sq. ft. ; goat's hair, 350,000 lb. ; turpentine, 2,000,000 lb. ; soya beans, 2,000,000 lb. ; timber, 112,000,000 ft.
National Farmers' HE National Farmers' Union Envies the Union is annoyed at sug
Motor Industry. . . gestions put forward recently that farming is a business and should be able to live without assistance from the taxpayer, and that 80 per cent. of the population are town dwellers, who want to obtain their agricultural products upon a reasonable economic basis. The Union points out that if present price levels of manufactured goods be a guide to this basis, farmers would be delighted to enjoy them. Most products cost the consumer 80 per cent. more than pre-war prices, food only 40 per cent. more. If the latter were raised to 80 per cent., town dwellers would pay
annually £400,000,000 more for their food. Farmers could then, according to the N.F.U., have a little fun in reminding the motor industry, for example, that it is a business which should not need a protective duty of 33? per cent. There does not seem to be any point in this comparison, because the two industries are as far apart as the Poles, but the motor industry always stands up to be shot at, although it provides far more and better-paid employment than does agriculture, and at least enables an enormous number of people to purchase what the farmer produces.
A Fine Array of IN no more than eight years Modern Precision 'the good reputation that has
Machine Tool . . been established by the Perkins oil engine is remarkable. The works in which it is made are not large, but they are efficient, and to this, no doubt, may the success of the unit be in part attributed. Recently we inspected the company's new machine shop which has been equipped during the past year. It contains nothing but 100-per-cent. modern machine tools of first-class snake, and is a fine example of the last word in up-todate precision manufacturing plant. By its means deliveries are being much expedited, which will be good news to many chassis builders and operators. Partial Ban on ORSED vehicles are now Horsed Vehicles "barred, between the hours in Paris . . . , of 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., from an . area representing almost the whole of Central Paris. These are the peak hours when traffic conditions are hectic. Hand carts also come under the ban. Horses may still be ridden during prohibited hours, but who would want to ride a horse in the centre of Paris in these days?
An Antique Bus Q OMEONE writing recently
That Had No 1--P in the Paignton Observer
Brakes . . referred to an interesting steam bus, which was the first mechanical public-service vehicle to run between Paignton and Torquay. This creation, the owner of which still lives in Plymouth, was apparently a sheer joy from the points of view of control and flexibility. It is startling to hear that it had no brakes at all, but we understand that it could pull up within its own length at 30 m.p.h., when the engine was reversed! Vital parts of even the best engines and transmissions, however, have a habit of collapsing at times, and we hesitate to dwell on the thought of that noble bus careering downhill with only its driver's will power for retardation!
A Coach Rally OTOR rallies are a familiar
Being Organized "'form of "sport,'' but a in Switzerland . . rally of motor coaches appeals
to us as a distinct novelty. Such a function is being organized by the Automobile Club of Switzerland for July 13-16, Montreux being the focus. It is an international event, including a concours d'elegance and comfort competitions. Special marks will he given for performances on certain Alpine Passes, and there will be braking trials. Applications should be made to the Montreux Municipal Council, as the Club is responsible only for the technical side.