250,000 Motor Vehicles to be Broken Up
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THE Ministry of Works has announced that during the next 18 months some 250,000 disused Motorcars and other vehicles will be broken up by the Ministry for weapons of war.
Car breakers throughout the country are already dealing with about 1,500 vehicles per week. No* the Ministry is setting up its • own depqfs to augment the facilities and increase the rate of recovery. All surplus Government vehicies• no longer, roadworthy are being dealt with at these depots, and at present there are about 25.000, mainly saloon cars impressed in 1939, converted into ambulances, etc., for the use of the N.F.S. and local autho rities, available for treatment. Few were suited to the purpose for which they were required, but have been in constant use and have proved well worth the 230-£50 paid for each.
It is estimated that after removal of useful spare parts, which will be handed to the Ministry of Supply for reuse andrepair, these vehicles alone will yield the following tonnages of materials:-20,000 of iron and steel. 500 of cast aluminium, 250 of sheet aluminium, 125 of rubber, and 250 of textiles. In addition*, there will be 100,000 tyres for reuse, retreading or reclaiming, and, quantities of white metal, copper-, bronze and glass.
The chief Government depot is at the Crystal Palace, where 4,000 vehicles have been dumped, and a small squad of men, none with previous experience`of the job, but under a carbreaking expert, is dismantling 50 vehicles per week, After being stripped of all fabrics, insulating rubber, non-ferrous metal, fittings, etc., the bodies are piled and set on fire. During this process a quantity of body solder is melted down. This, together with the other non-ferrous metal, is raked from the ashes.
Gas torches then cut the chassis into furnace sizes, which are stacked for easy loading. Engines are removed as units and dismantled by women, the stripped cylinder blocks being sent to a foundry. Bronze worm wheels, aluminium brake shoes, brass nipples and rubber buffers are all removed from axles, oil from sumps is returned for refining, and all ball bearings kept
for further use Much of the electrical gear is also recovered.