BY ASHLEY TAYLOR, A.M.1.R.T,E,Assoc. InSt. T.
Page 61
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Austrian Attractions
THE hospitality of Vienna, scene next April of the eighth Conference for Public Cleansing, has long been famous„ The off-duty programme on this occasion will, it seems, offer particularly strong attractions. Furthermore, the city's location in Central Europe makes it easy of access for representatives of many nations. In addition to the address by Mr. Alan Barton, general manager of Birmingham's salvage department, Mr. S. Sundqvist, of Stockholm cleansing department is also to speak on efficiency and management in the service. .
Vehicles used for refuse collection in Germany are to be surveyed by Dir. i. R. Kaupert of Bad Schwartau and street cleansing appliances by Baudir. Tope of -Hannover. A session is to be devoted to public cleansing and equipment in Russia and others to research work and incineration developments.
Slimming Treatment
THE back lane, a legacy of Victorian planning often to be found in northern towns, is a feature that may easily restrict the employment of large modern cleansing vehicles. A year ago cleansing officers were asking Shelvoke and Drewry Ltd, if it was not possible to apply some shrinking process to the 35 cu. yd. Pakarnatic design so that they could have a unit that would more easily negotiate tight corners in the circumstances just mentioned. The result was the 20 cu yd. model, which made its appearance at the last Ihstitute of Public Cleansing Conference in June. A week or two ago I was able to see a demonstration machine at work in Salford, its 6 ft. 6 in. width, 8-ft. wheelbase and 35-ft. turning circle enabling it to work with ease in a 10-ft. passage. Although narrower than usual there was ample room for two men to work at the hopper loading rail and I was assured that considerable savings had been made as compared with the normal times for the rounds when operated with standard machines.
Room for More
FOLLOWING successful operations in the ambulance building field, Busmar Ltd. of Blackpool recently. made a successful tender for the supply of eight dual purpose fire appliances to the Lancashire County Council. The first of the completed units was delivered earlier this month. Incorporating a Bedford KELZ six-ton chassis of 157-in, wheelbase, the Blackpool appliance employs a body of composite construction, the forward and rear ends being clad with fire-resistant colour:-impregnated glass fibre material and the remainder covered in 18 s.w.g. stucco pattern aluminium.
A notable feature is the ample locker space for carriage of ancillary equipment. The driver's compartment and crew cab are integral with the rest of the appliance; as a safety precaution the crew seats face rearwards. Provision is made to carry a 50-ft. all-steel Merryweather fire escape, 35-ft. and 15-ft. alloy extensions, and a hook ladder. The main pump delivers 100 g.p.m. at 100 lb pressure. A Coventry Climax lightweight pump is also carried.
Seeing is Believing
IN order to provide first-hand knowledge of the facilities available, members of the public at Bristol were invited during October to attend an inspection of snow clearing equipment and thousands came to examine various recently acquired units. Among items displayed were six Rolba Snowboys, two Rolba self-propelled ploughs, two Atkinson road gritters, also 33-in. and 22-in. Bunce path clearing ploughs. Elsewhere I was interested to hear of a demonstration of the Sisis Truspred 90, a unit which is mounted on the hydraulic lift of a tractor and is specially designed for the spreading of neat rock salt. This machine will spread down to oz, per sq. yd.; it is a product of W. Hargreaves and Co. Ltd., Macclesfield.
Fell Work
For transporting men and materials over the hills in connection with agricultural and constructional operations, Glasgow Corporation Water Committee has accepted the tender. of Messrs. Alexander MacLarty, of Crieff, for the supply of a Westerasmaskiner Snow-Trac ST4. This is to be used in the Loch Katrine area. As reported in The Commercial Motor last February, this Swedish cross-country tracked vehicle is powered by an air-cooled Volkswagen engine and with a load of seven persons is stated to be able to surmount slopes of up to 1 in 1.65.
Cleansing Compact
WHAT the Rootes organization cheerily describes as a " Manxed " Bantam is being used by Stockport Corporation Cleansing Department for operation in confined spaces, particularly in back lanes. Using a chassis with wheelbase reduced from 8 ft. 2 in. to 6 ft, 3 in., this is an extremely tractable machine; it carries a 480-gal. tank and equipment by the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co.