ETHER AIDS STARTING IN ARCTIC TEMPERATURES APSULES of ether, similar
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to the " bulbs " used with the ordinary domestic soda siphon, solved a wartime problem of starting engines at temperatures of 72 degrees F. below' freezing point.
The story behind this development was told at a meeting of the Northwestern Centre of the Institution of Autorndbile Engineers, at the works of Leyland Motors, Ltd., by Mr. R. Barrington, M.Sc:' (research engineer, Joseph Lucas, Ltd.), Mr. W. A. Bevis, B.Sc. (electrical development engineer, C.A.V., Ltd.) and Mr. K. Brook (chief Diesel engineer, C.A.V., Ltd.). They presented a paper entitled "Recent Developments in Low-temperature Starting of Petrol and Compressionignition Engines."
The most promising aid to the starting of big oil engines, they found, was the use of ether. Ultimately a special ether carburetter was developed, a capsule containing about a teaspoonful of ether being punctured by a special device.
The work was difficult in its early stages, because the ether exploded violently and caused the engine to run backwards, with disconcerting results. ibis research work made 'possible the starting of engines at 72 degrees F. below freezing point.
In the ensuing discussion, Mr. S. Markland, director and chief engineer of Leyland Motors, Ltd., revealed that the intensive work of the three speakers had enabled Leyland Tanks, equipped with the easy-starting device, to he shipped to Russia in 1941-42. .
TRAINING SCHEME FOR BODYBUILDING INDUSTRY
DISCUSSIONS have taken place between the Ministry of Labour and the body-building industry, and a scheme of training for new entrants has been agreed which is now being brought into operation. Certain classes of tradesmen trained in the Forces have been accepted as skilled craftsmen. •
The. Minister of Labour gave this information last week in a, written answer to Mr. G. Thomas, who was concerned at the labour shortage.
12,000,0841 ORDER FOR ROLLERS
AT the annual general meeting of Marshall, Sons and Co., Ltd., Mr. Ashley S. Ward, chairman and managing director, referred to the company's £2,000,000 contract for the supply of road rollers to the Indian Government. He said that the contract was being dealt with partly in India, using the Government of India Ordnance Factories, in aciation with the Tata Company, of India, a-nd Marshall, Sons and Co, (India), Ltd.