Test of an Anti-dazzle Lamp Bulb.
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The British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd., Crown House, Aldwych, London, W.0.2, has recently submitted for test under the Royal Automobile Club rules a pair of headlamps with Mazda Lund bulbs. According to the Club's test report No. 754, a driver using this kind of lamp, when approaching a pedestrian dressed so as to be seen only with difficulty, would be able to pick him out when the distance between them was 238 ft., provided the pedestrian was no further from the beam centre than half its width, i.e., 13 ft. ; on approaching lamps of this type at an eye level of 4 ft. 6 ins., the dazzle effect was found to cease so soon as the distance became reduced to 150 ft.
The bulb is of special shape, the portion behind the focal point being approximately hemispherical and the forward Part frusto-conical. The front closure has concentric wave ridges, and the upper part of the bulb behind the front closure has a covering of dark blue spray.
Big Decline in American Exports.
No improvement is as yet discernible in the overseas demand for American commercial vehicles. On the other hand, the returns now available for the first half of the current year show a further marked decline. Thus, we learn that only 12,260 vans, lorries, buses and ehassis (valued at 11,149,100) were exported from the 'United States during that period as compared with 26,890 (£3,133,603) in the corresponding six
nvnths a year ago, aud no fewer than 11'2,782 (i12,228,556) in the first half of the boom year of 1929.
As contrasted with three years ago, the six-months' shipments show a decline in number of 90,522 and in value of £11,079,456.
Tho bulk of the exported vehicles continue to be of the 1-11-ton type.
Motor Fuel Agreement in Germany.
As a result of long negotiations at Munich between nearly all the importers and home producers of motor fuel in Germany, agreements have been entered into for several years for the participation of the various firms in the supply of motor fuel and special kinds of petrol for German consumption. The sale conditions agreed upon correspond on the whole to those under the -previous conventions.
C.M.I7.A. Meetings in the North to Consider Salter Report.
Following the publication of the recent Road-Rail Conference Report, the northeastern division of the Commercial Motor -Users Association arranged a number of meetings, some of which have already been held. Others to take place will be held to-day at the Institute of Literature and Science, Wood Street, Wakefield ; on September 12th at the Davy. Hall, Davygate, York ; on September 13th at the Temperance Hall, Princess • Street, Huddersfield, and on Sentember. 14th at the Exchange Hall, Town Hall, Dewsbury. Each of the meetings commences at 7.30 p.m. At all of these meetings the report wi't he explained in detail and freely discussed.
The Road and Rail Battle in Switzerland.
According to an official report recently issued by the Department of Overseas Trade, no real progress was made in Switzerland in reducing competition between road and rail transport during 1931, and the situation in the country is similar to that in many other countries where these forms of transport are well developed. Apparently, only feeble attempts at co-operation have been made, and the general atmosphere is one of strained relations.
The State Railways and the principal private railways are endeavourin-g to meet road competition, especially for freight traffic, by granting tariff concessions and by concluding agreements with associations, or even individual firms, for the regular transport of goods exclusively by rail. In order to recover Part of the traffic lost, they established in 1926 a road-transport organization of their own, and this has direct as well as indirect control over a large number of lorries.
Although it is said that to some extent it has accomplished its purpose, there is still a heavy loss to the railways.
Patent Acts Amendment.
We aro informed by Messrs. Hughes and Young, patent agents, of 9, Warwick Court, High Holborn, London, W.0.1, that, commencing from November 1st, the stamp fee for filing an application for complete patent will be in-Teased £1 and, in addition, the term of provisional protection will be extended 12 months.