FIRST FIRE-ENGINE WITH HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION.
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Although the authorities at Birmingham have, for some time past, successfully operated fire tenders equipped with hydraulic transmission, Edinburgh Fire Brigade had the distinction, recently, of commissioning the first fire-engine similarly equipped—a Leyland, shown in the accompanying illustration.
In this field of use, the Leyland hydraulic transmission has many ad. vantages, for apart from obviating gear changing it gives a rate of acceleration which enables the scene of a tire to be reached more quickly.
Other equipment of the Edinburgh machine conforms with the Leyland standard low-loading chassis used for fire-engine service. A 600-800-g.p.m. pump is mounted amidships, three delivery outlets being arranged 011 each side. In addition to a suction inlet
provided on each side, there is also a farther inlet at the rear to facilitate working when water supplies, are difficult of access.
The body is totally enclosed and divided into two compartments, one for the driver and the other for the crew, which is accommodated on longitudinal seats.
A feature of the main longitudinal lockers is that they are accessible from inside as well as outside the body, whilst there are further lockers in the skirting.
Russia's Third Huge Five-year Plan.
Now that the Soviet second five-year plan is approaching its end, preparations are in hand for the third plan, which is to be started next year. So far as the automobile and tractor industry is concerned,, all the chief factories are to be enlarged,
Outstanding among these is the Molotov plant in Gorky, which, after reconstruction, will have a capacity of 500.000 vehicles per year. Of these, 400.000 will, according to the Monthly Review of the U.S.S.R. Trade Delegation in Great Britain, consist of 30-cwt.
lorries. The productive capacity of the Stalin plant in Moscow is to be increased to 100,000 3-ton lorries per year.
Extensions are also to be made to the three tractor works in Chelyabinsk, Kharkov and Stalingrad. The latter two of these are now beginning the production of track-laying tractors of medium power, in place of wheeled machines.
The third five-year plan requires an annual output of 120,000 track-laying tractors, of which 40,000 will be medium-power machines.
Roumania to Build its Own Motors.
Poids Lourd " reports that 521 vans and lorries and 245 buses were sold in Roumania during 1930, an increase of 9.4 per cent. over 1935. The bulk of the vehicles were of American manufacture, with load capacities between 1 ton and 3 tons. It is re ported that a number of Roumanian iron' and steel makers has drawn up plans for establishing a large national motor-vehicle factory at Brasov, 40 per cent, of the necessary capital to be provided by the Government.
A Complete Guide to Gaskets.
We have received a copy of the 1987 " Gasket Guide," issued by J. Payen, Ltd., Church Street, Chiswick, London, W.4, which claims to be the biggest gasket maker in Europe. Its 236 pages give particulars of all joints and gaskets for a, remarkably comprehensive range of vehicles. Practically all are illustrated and every one is numbered to facilitate ordering and despatch,
1,50(1 " Safety First " Awards Presented.
The annual presentation of safetyfirst awards in the London and Home Counties Area was made by the Lady Mayoress at the Guildhall, London, on Monday. Over 1,000 awards were madeto drivers, whilst 436 medals were won by drivers who were linable to attend the presentation.