Passing Comments
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Simple Casting Method A N interesting method of which Gives Great " casting which largely over
Accuracy comes the need for machining. as it can produce articles of reasonable size to an accuracy limit of ± 0.002 in., is known as "lost wax." The primary pattern can be of suitable wood or metal, and a die of soft metal is produced first, this, in turn, being employed to form a wax pattern. This is used in the ordinary way to make a mould, except that it is melted out afterwards, following which the mould is baked and the metal for the final product cast into it. Obviously, any number of wax patterns can be obtained from the soft metal die.
State Transport Must CO-OPERATION has be serve Export Trade come so much a feature of fficiently our daily life, that we are apt
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to forget how far we have come from the days when man depended entirely upon his own efforts for sustenance, and the other necessities of life. So much is this the case that it might not be untimely to point out to the Road Haulage Executive, that although, after February most consignments of goods by road over long distances will fall into its hands, it will still depend very much upon the goodwill of its clients. In our view, it is frequently losing itself in consolidation and reorganization, instead of maintaining an efficient service. On January 13, we reported the experience of a small engineering company in London, which failed to receive parts needed for an overseas shipment. We now learn that, as a result, no further letters of credit have been received from the overseas customer for A24
the monthly consignment of goods which hmj been ordered. Moreover, the goods concerned were motor parts which are also obtainable from the United States. The order for these parts had been won in the face of mfich competition. If it has indeed been lost, and this is not yet certain, then the R.H.E. must be partly to blame. Overseas buyers expect deliveries on time, and if they fail to get them they look elsewhere for supplies. The RILE, as the chief longdistance transport agency of the country, must ensure that no export orders are lost because a trader cannot promise punctual delivery.
3EVERAL papers have recently published letters from a man who stated that he applied to a Civil Service Selection Board for an appointment as a Ministry of Transport driving examiner. Amongst the questions asked him were: " Do you agree with nationalization?" and " Do you want to become a Government snooper?" He replied " No " to each, and was not appointed. The Civil Service Commission stated that it was not concerned with a candidate's political views, but it was considered reasonable to ask for his opinions on current topics in order to assess his general ability. An answer from the Treasury followed much the same lines, and said that the questions had to cover as wide a field as possible and were quite in order. They had no political implication, but were solely to test the quick-wittedness of the applicant—apparently he was not quite quick-witted enough.
Curious Questions to Applicant for Ministry Post
It's Hard Luck on J\ MIDST • a nation-wide the Heavy Vehicle "demand for better roads,
Driver local authorities throughout the country have played their part by causing a positive plethora of islands, roundabouts and bollards to appear in the middle of our already Overburdened highways. Whilst agreeing that these, obstructions serve to reduce the speed of vehicles, particularly over cross-roads, many people feel that to restrict the flow of traffic is a retrograde step, in complete opposition to the highway policy of the past few decades. It is said that these measures help to reduce accident figures, but the only real accident prophylactics are wider and one-way roads, better surfaces and, the elimination of obstructions. Drivers of heavy vehicles, the turning circles of which often exceed 60 ft., can only view with alarm measures which restrict the overall available width of the carriageway. They know that wide pavements and islands in the road itself mean much more wheel-winding for them, and while executing these manceuvres, the tail of the vehicle is often swung across the road, thus causing further obstruction and congestion.
A Calendar which QOMETH1NG new in calen Serves Two Useful dais has reached us from Purposes the Eyre Smelting Co., Ltd., Tandem Works, London, S.W.19, for apart from its artistic merit, it carries on the back a useful size-and-weight chart of the company's phosphor-bronze and gunmetal rods, thus making it a dual-purpose production, although only those who knew the chart was there would benefit. However, this is a small point, and the combination is space-saving on the wall. It is an idea which might be followed on calendars issued by producers of other suitable materials Or articles.