Quicker Coal Handling
Page 100

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EQUIPPED with a Charrold coal dispenser unit, a Dodge lorry, operated by F. A. Shelley. Ltd., of Rugby, can unload eight tons of industrial coal in
20 minutes or 4t tons of coke in 12 minutes when making bulk deliveries, the operators claim. When delivering in bags to householders, two men can deliver eight tons in three hours using the delivery mechanism—made by Charrold, Ltd., of St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. For bulk operation only the driver is needed.
In order to make the vehicle's wheels freely interchangeable with the remaining vehicles in the Shelley fleet, it has three-piece wheels fitted with Michelin • 9.00-20 tyres. Other additional items of equipment are rear Ii elper springs, • front shock absorbers, flashing direction indicators, and front towing eyes.
The Charrold body is a I4-ft.-long sheet-steel hopper equipped with a conveyor belt that draws coal to the rear of the body and into the automatic bagging and weighing machine. The machinery is driven through an Exibro power take-off mounted on the main gearbox. After the sack has been filled and the desired weight obtained the conveyor automatically stops, and the sack is raised to a suitable height for removal by the operative. A 's/ceder counter is used for recording the number of sacks filled.
A portable conveyor is included for bulk deliveries, which can be swung through a large arc, both vertically and horizontally. When not in use, the conveyor is fitted to the side of the body.
£67,000 BIRKENHEAD SURPLUS
WAGE increases now in operation would wipe out Birkenhead Transport Department's surplus during the year ended March 31, last, the general manager, Mr. G. A. Cherry, warned in his annual report. The department had a net surplus of £67,144. Total income was £994,246, compared with £979,528
the previous year. Working expenses were £856,085 (£844.893 in 1958-59).
The undertaking's 221 double-deckers and four single-deckers ran 7,331,143 miles in 1959-60, compared with 7,234,627 miles the previous year.