Bird's Eye View
Page 60
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Higher Still and Higher
By The Hawk
DURING recent weeks 1 have heard whispers about a small oil engine which is said to have a maximum speed of more than 4,000 r.p.m. I imagined that this was a highspeed version of one of the well-tried small engines already in popular use. However, it appears that I was wrong. I have just learnt that it is a new unit under development by an established manufacturer of oil engines who, to the best of my recollections, has not previously shown an interest in the small high-speed range. The reference in the description of the new C.A.V. distributor pump (The Commercial Motor, October 5) to the effect that it has been possible to test this type of pump up to speeds of 4,200 engine r.p.m. may not have any connection with this particular engine— but we can wait and see.
Patience Unrewarded
AT a Press conference last week I asked Sir Brian Robertson, chairman of the British Transport Commission, what effect the railway modernization plan was likely to have on British Road Services. Sir Reginald Wilson, who was sitting beside him, smiled broadly.
Sir Brian rose solemnly and stiffly, and said that the Commission favoured a measure of competition between the railways and B.R.S, They would not handicap one section . of the Commission's undertaking for the benefit of another. But I still want tc know what effect the railway modernization plan is likely to have on B.R.S.
Hopes Dashed
D EADING the White Paper on "Proposals for the RailIN. ways." my pulse quickened when I reached para. 78. The British Transport Commission were complaining about the cost of maintaining level crossings. Good, I thought, they are going to do something about eliminating them.
My hopes rose when I read that since 1938 the cost of manning crossings had risen from £220,000 a year to flm. a year. I chualed gleefully at the masterly understatement: "Often, moreover, the staff at these crossings, though in continuous attendance, are by no means busily employed." Para. 80 took the silly smile off my face. "The Commission, therefore," it said,. "consider that the time has now arrived to review the statutory provisions which require attendants at all public level crossings."
Not-so-great Expectations
THIS passage brought to mind an anecdote of Mr. Peter Masefield when he was president of the Institute of Transport. Visiting Ireland, he said, he was halted at a level crossing at which one gate was open and the other was shut. After sitting in a state of unertainty for some time, he climbed the signal-box steps and asked the signalman whether he intended to open or shut the gate. "Well, to be sure, I don't know," said the signalman. "I'm half expecting a train"
Czechs Look West
ONE of the foreign visitors to the Motor Show was Mr. Rudolf Vykoukal. chief engineer of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Motor Production. He was in a group of Czech officials who came to Britain with a triple mission: to promote sales of Skoda cars, to buy British ones, and to pick up new ideas on vehicle design and production. Trade possibilities result from the new agreement recently signed between the two countries which earmarks £350.000 for the purchase of about 1.000 British cars, and promises licences for the import of Czech models.
Closer links with Britain are part of Czechoslovakia's new n20 westward look (commercially, at least), and I had a frank discussion with Mr. Vykoukal about the plans of his own industry. Commercial vehicles, he said, were now taking a back seat to cars, as 'the emphasis has shifted from military preparedness to an export drive into competitive markets. Current lorry production is about 12,000 and will rise to 15,000 in l960, whereas the output of cars is to grow from the present 20,000 a year to 55,000. Tatra, Praga and other commercial-vehicle factories have low priority as regards new investment.
Expense Justified
HE acknowledged that some of the unusual features of Czech lorries entailed costly production methods. An example is the swing axles of the Tatra models (The Commercial Motor last week), which have no universal joints. Each opposing half-shaft terminates in a crown gear which engages one of the pinions extending from its respective differential, permitting wide vertical movement around the pinion axis.
Mr. Vykoukal thought that the cost of making these additional bevel gears was justified on large lorries, in view of the proven reliability of the system and its constant-velocity characteristics.
No False Pride
IT must have cost the makers of the German Tempo I Matador a good deal of national pride to reach the decision to replace the Heinkel engine by the Austin A50 14--litre unit. This, I understand, is to be done early in the New Year. Apparently there is something that Britain can teach the Germans after all. Fifth columnists, please copy. As it seems unlikely that the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., would offer German commercial-vehicle operators an engine superior in performance to that used in Austin light vans, it may be expected that the MO unit will soon be employed in the Austin light range.
After-lunch Repeat
IF one waits long enough, events sometimes repeat themselves. Ten years ago I responded for the guests at the first annual luncheon of Associated Road Transport Contractors, Ltd. Last week, at almost the corresponding time, the performance was repeated. Much, however, had happened to Artco•in the interim. From flourishing in pre-nationalization days, they lost their majority share holding to what is now British Road Services. In fact they could have been closed down, but either as an act of grace, or through B.R.S. being otherwise engaged, they escaped, and have re-purchased sufficient shares to save the position. Now over 11 years old, Artco is again growing in membership and fleet strength, and the chairman, Mr. M. W. Harris, and his directors, arc to be congratulated on their pertinacity.
No More Parrots
SAILORS no longer come down from the sea with dittyboxes, sea-bags and parrots in cages. They come ashore in lounge suits, carrying attach6 eases—indeed, looking like stockbrokers, we are told. This social upheaval has had unfortunate consequences for Mr. A. Wilson, a north-western haulier, who finds that "seamen's baggage," the main work of a vehicle which he acquired from another operator, has gone overboard.
J. R.,Lindsay, North Western Deputy Licensing Authority. heard the sad story last week and extended the normal user of Mr. Wilson's A licence to "second-hand furniture." I trust this does not mean that sailors are now stripping their ships of their furnishings. Recalling the extraordinary things. that emerged from troopships at the end of the war I should not be surprised at anything.