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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1867.PDF
620 ff0m JUNE 15, 1939 ^iii.ii.Miniiii •• •• • '. •• •' •iiftffflff>,:---',j- Yii:iM-»'^B^^WIi^^^iB^Wi^^Miiii"F CUD i.S# Tha new type of refuelling tender designed by Thompson Brothers (Bilston), Ltd., and described below. THE INDUSTRY %. 'Ml" « • "."•'* 1' * ilLr »itt * ' Streamlined Refuelling Unit T HE design of a refuelling tender to meet the demands of different air lines presents a number of problems, the most important of which concern the supply of air-free, filtered and non-con taminated spirit. Thompson Brothers (Bilston), Ltd., have just completed a new design of tender for the Anglo-franian Oil Com pany, Ltd., in which the non-contamina tion problem has been solved by using a pump, meter and filter for each grade of spirit, thus obviating systems of con trol valves, drainage and pumped-out auxiliary tanks. Inside the streamlined panels of the tender are cupboards for the storage of equipment. Power for the pumps is taken from a special drive in the gear box. Each pump is controlled by its own lever, which is so inter-locked that when one pump is in operation the other lever cannot be moved. M.P.s at Hanworth S OME seventeen members of the Par liamentary Air Committee followed the recent example of Sir Kingsley Wood when they paid a visit on Wednesday of last week to the works of General Air- crait, Ltd., at Hanworth. After a tour of the machine and various other shops, where they saw how the big programme of Air Ministry work is being carried out, they were taken in groups of four or five to see the mock-up of the G.A.L. 10- passenger pressure cabin twin-engined monoplane. In the same shop as the mock-up was the nearly complete prototype of the G.A.L. Cagnet—a two-seater low-wing "pusher " with twin tail booms. After examining this machine, which is not due to appear until next year, the more enterprising M.P.s went up with Mr. Hollis Williams in the Cygnet. Later they watched Mr. Hollis Williams and Mr. R. A. C. Brie, the latter with the C.40 Autogiro, give two first-class demon strations. Before lunch the local squadron of the A.D.C.C. paraded and was inspected by Rear-Admiral Sir Murray Sueter, M.P. Up at Darlaston QINCE the very early days of the air- w craft industry, Rubery, Owen and Co., Ltd., of Darlaston, Staffs, have made a speciality of aircraft components, turnbuckles, eye bolts, nuts and bolts, fuselage pressings, etc. On a recent visit we were able to see for ourselves how this old firm—it was established in 1884—has kept pace with all the trends of modern development. Quite recently the Company in stalled a new power press, claimed to be one of the largest in the world. Its machine shop is equipped with over 250 automatics of all classes. In another section, thousands of nuts and bolts are produced every shift. Here special machines stamp out cold headed bolts up to 3J per cent, nickel-chrome steel. The threads are cold rolled and finally bolts are treated in a Wild, Barfield furnace. Throughout the works the Company's own inspectors check all parts before they ate passed on to the A.I.D. After a brief visit to these extensive Darlaston Works it is easy to see how Rubery, Owen, Ltd., can efficiently carry out its proud boast that it can "supply quality with quantity." Sheet-metal Workers Off Duty LAST Saturday a special train from Wimbledon took 550 employees of Ranalah, Ltd., to Portsmouth. But this exodus to the South did not stop there. It continued, via the P.S. Grade Fields, to Ryde, where the party was conducted by the Town Band to the Town Hall for lunch. Next came a trip round the Isle of Wight, during which several sheet-metal rollers were themselves rolled—by the sea. This trip, which was attended by representatives of four trade unions, was organised by Mr. J. L. Dalrymple, managing director of Ranalah, Ltd., Mr. J. C. Goldie, the general manager, and Mr. Hastings, and gives some indication of the high esteem in which the em ployees are held by their directors. Ranalah, Ltd., is a firm which specialises in the quantity production of sheet-metal work of the type which cannot be pressed. At its Merton factory in Lombard Road, London, S.W.19, the Aircraft Division occupies several large shops in which production centres on radial engine cowlings, nacelle fairings and other components in which sheet-metal work is essential. Quite recently this company has ex tended into another factory at Tooting, where there are 42 Ranalah wheeling machines and a number of jigs on which the nacelle fairings are drilled with an accuracy which enables the fairings to be supplied to three different air craft manufacturers. Incidentally, the Ranalah people have completed orders for nearly all the leading aircraft com panies. Extensions at Prestwick SCOTTISH AVIATION announce that the manufacturing of aircraft com ponents will begin in their new shop at Prestwick almost immediately. The first shop has been completed for some time, and a large number of men have been employed in it. The premises are now being doubled in size, and the number of employees will be trebled. A large new hangar is also being con structed, and will provide accommoda tion for 40 aircraft. Mr. J. C. Goldie, general manager of Ranalah, Ltd., takes the day off with 550 em ployees, on the occasion of the firm's visit to and round the Isle of Wight last Saturday. On the left is Mr. T. B. Brook, production manager, and on the right is Mr. C. Starkey, works manager.
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