Passing Comments
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Dangerous Parking by Coaches
A WELL-KNOWN danger spot is the junction 1—k between Clarence Lane, leading from the Roehampton Gate of Richmond Park, and Roehampton Lane. It has, however, been slightly improved by the recent demolishing of a cottage at the south corner.
Just after 9 a.m. on Monday of last week—a peaktime for traffic—the hazards at this spot were greatly multiplied by the foolish parking of three large coaches. One was immediately to the left of the exit, the other two, close together, within a few feet to the right.
All traffic was reduced to a single line and the exit from Clarence Lane was completely blinded from that coming in both directions. A member of the staff of this journal could have emerged only at the greatest risk without the fortunate aid of his passenger, who had to act temporarily as a traffic controller. He continued this for a short time before returning to his seat.
It is not known how long the vehicles were there, but it was noted that they were filled with children, who were also imperilled, but to a lesser degree.
Coaches are deservedly popular and are usually handled with care and discretion, but the comments concerning this particular convoy should have made the ears burn of those responsible. .
School for Gas-turbine Technicians mucti has been said and written concerning the
possibility of developing gas turbines for road transport purposes. The great problem, however, is sometimes the lack of technicians fully conversant with the latest developments in these interesting power plants.
In this connection, it is appropriate to draw attention to the excellent School of Gas Turbine Technology, which is situated at• Farnborough Place, Farnborough, Hants. This is a particularly useful facility inaugurated by Power Jets (Research and Development), Ltd. For the quality of the tuition and the practical experience given, the fees cannot A26 be considered excessive. For example, this year the fees for short courses of a few days to about three weeks range from 25 gns. to 60 gns., and they. cover such subjects as the design and applications of industrial gas turbines, the theory and design of compressors, and combustion and heat exchangers. The design courses are of approximately postgraduate standard, whilst others treat the individual subjects at a more advanced level than do the standard gas-turbine-design courses. Where available hostel accommodation in the school is provided at 5 gns. weekly.
Recently, a party of members of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers was entertained there and was most impressed by the thoroughness of the training, the large number of power units displayed and the practical demonstrations.
Printed Circuits for Vehicles?
I N many modern small machines and devices employing electricity, the mass of wires which would otherwise be required is often largely replaced
by what is known as the printed circuit. In its simplest form, originally developed for radio receivers, this consisted merely of conducting lines printed on to insulating sheets, but the latest types are far tnore elaborate and may be formed by coating one or both sides Of a plastics sheet with copper foil, protecting certain parts with a special ink and etching the remaining foil away witb acid, just as in black making.
The question arises as to whether something of this nature could beneficially be employed to replace a good proportion of the many wires involved in the various circuits of a motor vehicle. Normally, printed circuits carry only small currents, but in the case of a motor vehicle, the amperage would have to be fairly high.
A reference to "something in the wind" in this direction was made to a member of the staff of this journal recently, and it was then alleged that many thousands of printed circuits had been ordered by an important motor manufacturer, but the reason for this action appeared to be somewhat obscure. The circuits were said not to be for radio equipment.
Admittedly, the " internals" of many an instrument panel and the backs of facia boards do look a mess of wiring, but it is difficult to believe that they could be replaced adequately by printed circuits.
Embankment Race for Taxi-drivers ?
AAN amusing suggestion concerning taxi-drivers was made by Peterborough in The Daily Telegraph of July 26. He pointed out that Thomas
Doggett, a 17th-century comedian, bequeathed a sum for an annual race between watermen—the cabdrivers of his day—to take place in perpetuity.
Actually, the Fishmongers Company spends more than the original sum annually on the event and prizes. The idea is now put forward that some latter-day comedian might leave some money for a taxi-drivers' race along the Embankment. Peterborough also queries whether this would not be a good opportunity for a contribution from the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers.