T H E T E C H N I C A L N E W S P A P E R O F T H E E L E C T R I C A L I N D U S T R Y
A N E W and c o m p re h e n sive List of S L I D I N R E S I S T A N C E S an D I M M E R S is n o w available
on application.
„ 0 . -
f t * * » f T H
T H E R E H E S T A N D S — symbol of authority in an orderly W orld — con
trolling — directing — obeyed because bsolutely trustw orthy and reliable, s~. fi,
W hat a fitting comparison w ith B IR C H R E S IS T A N C E S , A rm s o f the O hm ’s Law .
Backed by many years o f practical experience in which their reliability has been tested u n d er all conditions, B IR C H R E S IS T A N C E S , in th eir various applications, stand up to their job and can always be depended upon to provide specified service because o f their first-class workmanship.
P le a s e c a l l upon us to help y o u solve a n y R e s i s t a n c e problem.
Resistances
A R M S T H i O H * * U W M ay we qucte you for
any of the follow ing :—
D I M M E R S — R E G U L A T O R S (F ie ld , S h u n t , V o l t a g e ) — R E S I S T A N C E S ( A r c L a m p , C h a r g i n g , R e g u l a t i n g S li d i n g ) — R H E O S T A T S — E L E M E N T S a n d S P I R A L S —A S B E S T O S W O V E N R E S I S T A N C E N E T S a n d G R I D S . H . A . B I R C H & C O . L T D . , W ilo h m W o r k s , W o o d Street, W I L L E N H A L L , S T A F F S
T e le g ra m s: “ W I L O H M , ” W illenhali. T e le p h o n e : W llle n h a ll 494-495 B .R J .e
12 S E P T E M B E R 1947 S I X P E N C E
L ig h t in g S p e c ia lis t s
F o r e m o s t in F lu o r e s c e n t
A n open-ended t ro u g h pend ant fitting s u it able fo r m ost ind ustria l uses. Finished sto v e enam elled w hite internally and cream e x t e r nally. Fitting can be supp lied to ca rry 1, 2 o r 3 Lam ps. A ls o available w ith V it r e o u s Enam elled Reflector.
2 7 6 0
O S B O R N E R D „ A C T O N , L O N D O N , W . 3. Telephone : ACORN 5081 (3 lines)
E S T D . 1780 Telegram s : G EFSO L, EA LU X , LONDON
The Fittings illustrated are available for IM M E D IA T E D E L IV E R Y
A n industrial ceiling fitting w ith built-in control gear arra n ge d fo r easy access.
L a m p h o ld e r c o ve rs in sta n tly detachable.
Finished w hite sto v ed enam el. Fitting can be supp lied to ca rry I, 2 o r 3 Lamps.
E n q u irie s a re in v ite d fo r sp ecial p u rp o s e fittin g s fo r e ith e r tu n g s te n o r flu o re sc e n t la m p s fo r w h ic h an e x p e r t d e sig n in g s ta ff is a v a ila b le .
M A D E I N A C T O N , L O N D O N
O rd e rs a re a c c e p te d , s u b je c t to o u r s t a n d a r d c o n d itio n s o f sale, a c o p y o f w h ic h w ill b e fo r w a rd e d o n re q u e s t.
G E O R G E
FORREST
AND SON LTD
THE E LEC T R IC IA N 12 SEPTEM BERIi947
729
The W a t tm e te r sh ow n is typical o f N .C .S . L o n g Scale Induction Instru m en ts fo r the m easurem ent o f alternating curren ts.
A m m e te rs and V o ltm e te rs being sold at the sam e prices as m o vin g iron types fo r equivalent scale lengths. Sizes range from 2 J " to 2 0 " diam eter dials, every instru m en t being strong, accurate, efficient and w ell-finished, its perform ance fully guaranteed by N a ld e rs ’ experience and reputation.
W rite fo r details and prices
N A L D E R B R O S . & T H O M P S O N L T D .
D A L S T O N L A N E W O R K S , L O N D O N , E.8
Telephone : C LIsso ld 2365 (3 lines) Telegram s : "O c c lu d e , Hack, L o n d o n ’
12 SEP T E M B ER 1947 THE E L E C T R IC IA N
M E M production has already gone ahead by leaps and bounds. Take the 124K splitter, for instance. D uring the
last six m onths production has increased fivefold. W ith other lines, too, we are going all out to catch up with the heavy dem and both for housing and for indus
trial purposes. But dem and is still greater than supply, so th at M E M goods are still hard to come by. To make sure you get a fair share o f available sup
plies, it is still the best plan to keep in touch with your wholesaler.
M idland Electric M a n u fa c tu rin g Co. Ltd., B ir m in g h a m , 11 • Bran ch es in London & Manchester
THE ELEC TRIC IA N 12 S E P T E M B E R 1947
M o r e p o w e r ..
M odern light an d p o w e r installations in the hom e b rin g the e a se a n d efficiency of electricity rig h t to the points at w hich it is m ost n e e d e d , rig h t in fact, to th e h o u sew ife’s elbow . The C om pany h a s lo n g sp e c ia lise d in th e su p p ly of e v e ry ty p e of cable an d flexible for house-w iring.
Nos 5 6 6 5 8 5 6**
Ltd., Magnet House, Kingsway, London, W .C .2
1 2 SE P T E M B E R 1947 THE E L EC T R IC IA N
The m aking o f ‘ F ibreglass ’ is a purposeful conjuring trick . Clear glass m arbles are fused in a p la tin u m furnace, a n d th e m o lten glass is draw n th ro u g h tin y holes in to th re a d s so fine th a t each m arb le becom es more than a hundred miles o f glass fibre.
B ecause ‘ F ibreglass ’ is p u re glass it shares th e fam iliar q u alities of g la s s : i t ’s w aterp ro o f, verm in-proof, acid-resistant, stable. Because ‘F ib re g la ss’
is fibre it has v irtu e s o f its o w n : i t resists g re a t h e a t w ith o u t d isin te g ratin g , is flexible an d resilient, has rem ark a b le tensile stre n g th . W hy is it m ade? ‘ F ibreglass ’ is th e w orld’s b est all-round in su lato r fo r h e a t a n d cold, sound a n d electricity — an d it does a score o f o th e r jobs, from air-co n d itio n in g to electric b lankets.
F IB R E G L A S S L T D ., U A V E N H E A D , ST. H E L E N S , L A N C S. : F I R H I L L , G LA SG O W , N .W . London Office : 10 Princes Street, W estminster, S. W. 1
Is th ere a m a rb le in th e house ?
THE ELEC TR IC IA N 12 SEPTEM B ER 1947
R U G B Y
T H E _ B R I T I S H T H O M S O N .H O U S T p N CO M PA N Y L IM IT E D . R U G B Y . E N G L A N D ./
2 S E P T E M B E R 1947 THE E L E C T R IC IA N
B * ENGINE-DRIVEN T-H ; ALTERNATORS
ANY T Y P E ANY S IZ E
T H R E E 5 5 5 k V A ., 4 2 8 R .P .M .,
1 1 , 0 0 0 V O L T D IR E C T C O U P L E D D IE S E L - E N G IN E - D R I V E N
A L T E R N A T O R S
S P E C I F Y B T H
R liS Y W ° M i
Fine c o p p e r w ire is d ra w n o n B ritish high speed m a c h in e ry usin g D ia m o n d dies, t h u s e n s u rin g a perfect finish and gauge, to m eet the m o st exacting specifications.
47 V ic t o r ia Street, W e s t m i n * ste r, L O N D O N , S . W . I T e le p h o n e : A B B e y 2771 (Pte. B r. Ex-)
W o r k s : Enfield, Middlesex.
H O P K I N S O M
M O T O R S & E L E C T R I C C O M P A N Y L I M I T E D
R A N G E I N C L U D E S :
Three-phase Induction Motors from V2-100 B H P Single-phase Motors: Split-phase, Capacitor ,
Repulsion-Induction and Slip Ring
H E A D O F F I C E & W O R K S : B i r c h g r o v e • C A R D I F F T E L E P H O N E : W H I T C H U R C H ( C a r d i f f ) 1 6 9 1 -5
C A B L E S : O R I G 1 M O T O R C A R D I F F
THE E L EC T R IC IA N 12 SEPTEM B ER 1947
R E Y R O L L E C O. D U R H A M
P AM P H L E T S O N REQUEST
735
PLUGS AND SOCKETS
V and we m ust ta k e th e c u r r e n t when it serv es o r lo s e o u r v e n tu r e s ." s h a k e s p e a r e U S 6 4 - 1 6 1 6 )
12 SE P T E M B E R 1947 THE E L E C T R IC IA N
O pen m arine-type sw itchboard controlling three 200 kW generators and circuits and incorporating Dorman XL air- break circuit breakers and Dorman " F " type sw itch es as installed on the L.N.E. R ailw ay's n ew cargo liner S.S. Arnhem
(John Brown & Co., Ltd.)
DORMAN & SMITH LTD. ■ MANCHESTER ■ LONDON ■ GLASGOW
G R E A T A C H I E V E M E N T S
6 5 0 t ons of grani te 2 0 0 miles from the
nearest quarry!
STONEHENGE
Out o f date in these days o f refined astronomy. But in those days, what an achievement o f Management and Labour!
W Y L E X
Achievement in Electrical Accessories
G E O R G E H. SC H O L E S & CO . LTD. W Y L E X W O R K S , W Y T H E N S H A W E , M A N C H E ST E R E 2 I4 7
THE E LEC T R IC IA N 12 SEPTEM B ER 1947
737
'r'
D m p r I T D T Y B U R N R ! E R O I N C T O N
HOLES L " B I R M I N G H A M 24
T E L E P H O N E : E R D I N D T O N I 6 1 6 T E L E G R A M S t C A B L E S ‘. P O L E S - B I R M I N G H A M C O D E S : B E N T L E Y S 2?.° A . B . C . 5 ™
AIIASTItA
C A L V A N / S E D S E C T / D N A L S T E E L
LIGHTING STANDARDS
H E X A G O N A L
□ « C I R C U L A R
SEN D FOR CATALOGUE
ENP/46
12 SEP T E M B ER 1947 THE E L EC T R IC IA N
B
D@© QDKK1DSS® aisKil S@@ 0D@©i?D(g wsw 3 1 -KVA DIESEL ALTERNATOR SETS
by Cummins, U .S .A ., all portable, on pneumatic tyres;
Radiator cooled; automatic voltage regulator; V O L T A G E 2 2 0 /1/6 0 cycles which is suitable for lighting; and heating V O L T A G E 400/3/50. T h e sets are so designed as to make them suitable for alteration to standard power voltage, output 25 K V A . Full particulars and quotations on application.
GEORGE COHEN, SONS & COMPANY LTD
WOOD LA N E , LONDON, W.12 A ND S T A N N IN G L E Y , n e a r L E E D S
UULJ
G R O U P
4 7 8/ P . I6 6
5 t o 100 am ps
250 A C D C 3 — 500 A C D C 4
(R ew ireable) (w ith cartridge)
The most advanced form of
fuse design
simplified vibration-proof
S H A R S T O N R D . W Y T H E N S H A W E . M A N C H E S T E R
THE E L EC T R IC IA N
dm. E.W . 16
12 SEPTEM BER 1947
739
SECTIONS
Laminated bakelite sec
tions, machined from tube and sheet materials.
The ease w ith which
“ P irto id ” can be ma
chined makes it suitable for agreat variety of uses.
W r it e for Catalogue No.
P/44.
H. C L A R K E & C O ., ( M A N C H E S T E R ) LT D .
P H O N E : E C C L E S 2001 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 G R A M S : Pirtoid, Phone, M anchester
A T L A S W O R K S P A T R I C R O F T M A N C H E S T E R
12 SE P T E M B E R 1947 THE E L EC T R IC IA N
/ R E G ° T R A D E M A R K \
1 T ektrik ,
A @ P R O D U C T
A P L U N D B E R G & SO N S L T D . (E stab lish ed 1882)
491-493 L iv erp o o l R o a d L o n d o n N 7 180 T o tt e n h a m C o u r t Road, Lo nd on, W . I a n d 7 6 , O l d h a l l S t r e e t , L i v e r p o o I, Lancs,
many other accessories. Every one bears the traditional m ark o f Lu n d b e r g skill and craftsmanship. As with all good things, supplies are restricted, but we are doing our best to ensure equitable distribution
L U N D B E R G
The Type 50 B Variac, handling 7 k V A at 230 V in. represents a valuable addition to tbe Variac range, and will find many applications in industry.
50 B 7kVA In p u t 230 V (tap at 115
V), o u tp u t 0-230 o r 0-270V. Rated c u r re n t 20 amps. M a x. 31 amps.
Excellent deliveries can be arranged. Most types are in stock. Other Variac types range from 165 w atts to 7 kW . W rite for bulletin 424 E and list UAR 747 for complete data.
THE E L EC T R IC IA N 12 SEPTEM BER 1947
H. & D. CHURCHILL LTD.
Wholesale and Export Distributors.
WALNUT TREE WALK, KENNINGTON, LONDON, S .E .ll.
and at
BIRM IN G H A M , M ANCHESTER, GLASGOW and NEW CASTLE
Telephone _ _ _ _ _ _ Reliance 3063.
12 S E P T E M B E R 1947 TH E E L E C T R IC IA N
RATCHET
S C R E W D R I V E R
Easier and faster work without disengaging.
Adjustable for forward and reverse action.
Selected hardened steel chuck parts and carbon steel spindle.
Supplied with three bits.
M O t ° R *
E L E c ‘ i
t v) S
f t r ' « . « D O .
c
3 ~
■' i 0 ^ sTe|egramT e ie p h ^
m e w L O W O ° H Teiepp°ne
T H E E LEC T R IC IA N 1 2 SEPTEMBER 1947
743
LY
S ICS
4M o t « r S t a r t ’
p u r p o s e s
Specialisation alw ays produces the
^>bes£ It is because DALY manufacture only electrolytic condensers that their world-wide reputation m the electrical field stands so high.
DALY build for all electrical require
ments and welcom e .¿iffietflt electro
lytic problems, priding themselves on the flexibility o f their organisation and ability to supply special types. \
G E N E R A L T Y P E S — \
T Y P E N O.
P.M . 41/8
T Y P E N O.
P.M . 12/6 P.M . 45/6 P.M . 49/6 P.M . 51/6 P.M . 52/6 P.M . 55/6 P.M . 45/8 P.M . 12/8 P.M . 9/8 P.M . 41/8
D A L Y ( C O N D E N S
W e s t L o d g e W o r k s , T h e G re e n , Ealing P h o n e : Ealing 4841.
C A PA CITY 30 M FD 60 M FD 100 M FD 130 M F D 150 M FD 200 M FD 60 M FD 30 M FD 20 M FD 50 M FD
12 SEP T E M B ER 1947 THE E L E C T R IC IA N
new ¿d
'T 'H E possible consequences o f a sudden black-out are too serious for London T ransport to risk a breakdown in lighting. As a safeguard against an interruption o f the mains supply P. & G. Batteries are installed to supply emergency lighting to the stations and certain sections o f the tunnel automatically and on the instant any such interrup
tion occurs. On the Leytonstone tube extension, four sub-stations—
Leyton, New bury Park, Leyton
stone and Redbridge—are equipped with P. & G. Batteries, each com
prising 120 cells w ith a capacity of 400 ampere hours in 10 hours.
P. & G. and E.P.S. is a name backed by 60 years’ practical experience o f this type o f work.
W ith P. & G. Batteries in reserve
—London’s new tube lighting is as safe as hum an ingenuity can make it.
PRITCHETT & GOLD and E.RS.C0.LTD.
|
Formerly The Electrical Power Storage Co Ltd-the first Battery makers|
J O G R O S V E N O R G A R D E N S , L O N D O N , S .W .I
* L ondon Transport buses are fi tte d w ith D agenite batteries m ade by P eto an d R a d fo rd , our associated co m p a n y.
Telephone: S L O ane 7164 Telegrams: S torage, Sowest, L ondon P.G.8 47
THE E LEC T R IC IA N 12 SEP TE M B ER 1947
THE E LEC T R /C IA N —12 Septembsr, 1947.
PAPER
THE SCOPHONY TORQUE MOTOR
an u n o r t h o d o x sy n c h ro n o u s A .C . M o t o r w ith an e xce p tion a lly high t o r q u e for low input. Instantaneous sto p p in g
Some applications for which it is particularly suitable:
A U T O M A T I C T U N I N G D E V I C E S
T E L E - C O M M U N I C A T I O N G Y R O S C O P I C C O N T R O L R E M O T E C O N T R O L
and it is A S C O P H O N Y P R O D U C T
n o n y
36 V I C T O R I A S TRE E T * L O N D O N • S - W- 1
T E L E P H O N E : A B B E Y 4 « J 2
f o r Scientific problems Scophony is at your Service
i
SILICONES
Silicone p ro d u c ts m a n u fa c tu re d by th e D o w C o rn in g C o rp o ra tio n a re now av ailab le i n th is co u n try . T hey in c lu d e :
D.C. SILICONE FLUIDS D.C. SILICONE RESINS D.C. SILICONE GREASES D.C. SILASTIC RUBBER Stocks are sufficient to meet demands for sample and trial purposes. Further supplies are on the way. Enquiries for D .C. stopcock greases and Silicone fluids for high vacuum diffusion pumps should be addressed to Messrs. W. Edwards
& Co., Kangley Bridge R oad, Lower Sydenham, S.E.26, who are the sole distributors o f these particular products.
For all other Silicone compounds please apply to
A L B R I G H T & W I L S O N Ltd ■fff'
D istributors o f D ow Corning Silicones u u „ 49 p a r k l a n e, Lo n d o n, w . i . Phone: Grosvenor 1311
T B W / 2 S L
THE E L E C T R IC IA N 12 SEP T E M B ER 1947
747
ELECTRICAL APPARATUS
e r n e /
A G R O E L E C T R I C A L CO. L T D .
London Office 7 MADDOX ST. REGENT ST. W .l • Tel. MAYfair 4 0 6 8 - 9 • Works : A y le s b u ry . B u c k s .
1 2 S E P T E M B E R 1947 THE E L E C T R IC IA N
N EXT TIME HELL CET AN ATLAS
A tlas lam ps b rig h te n y jp even the m o st brilliant ideas-m en . . . th ro w new light on obscure situations . . . stay steady and strong w hen th e hu m an elem ent fails. M ore an d m ore efficient people are specifying A tlas lam ps because they have checked up th a t for long life an d sheer light value there is no better lam p.
Every A tlas lam p is guaranteed to be m ade to strict B.S.I. specifica
tio n and is tested a t each stage o f m anufacture. W rite fo r term s today.
A COMPLETE O u r lighting engineers will supply you w ith exactly the lighting you need, exactly where you need it. We design and supply modern fittings using new m aterials boldly, yet
LIGHTING SERVICE
olanned with comm on sense an d
‘ eye-appeal’. We offer you a com
plete, individual lighting service.
Why not get in to u ch ? There is no obligation.
A T L A S L A M P S
f o r S T A Y I N G P O W E R
a!3 6
THORN ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES LTD., 105-109 JUDD ST., LONDON, W.C.I Tel. Euston 1185 N O R T H E R N B R A N C H : S T E V E N S O N S Q U A R E , M A N C H E S T E R 1. T E L . C E N T R A L 3X85
N .E . D E P O T : 46 S A N D H IL L , N E W C A S T L E -O N -T Y N E 1. T E L . N E W C A S T L E 24068
THE E LEC TRIC IA N 12 SEPTEM BER 1947
¡TRIA*-
t r a n s f e r s
749
WORD
PREFABRICATED BY
“ T R A P I N E X ”
PAINT PROCESSES
w ith a ll the force o f B r illia n t Colours
T h e “ Painted ” w ord as com pared w ith th e p rin ted w ord, offers all the advantages o f paint over printers’ ink, for use wherever the clarity o f good design and the force of brilliant colours are called for. “ T rapinex ” P ain t Processes
— either p ain tp rin ted transfers (Patd.) or direct prin tin g on m etal, glass, wood, plastics, etc. — use brilliant colours to greater effect, w ith the advantages of being wash
able, w eatherproof and o f lasting durability. T h e process allows the designer unfettered scope.
IN D U S T R IA L U S E S A d d itio n a l to th e m o re o b v io u s uses fo r p ac k ag in g , d isp la y a n d p u b lic ity , “ T r a p i
n e x ” P a in t P r in te d T r a n s f e r s h av e in n u m e ra b le p u rp o s e s in fa c to ry o r office fo r b r a n d m a rk s, m o n o g ra m s , n a m e p la tes, w a rn in g sig n s, d ia g ra m s , in s tru c tio n ,w irin g la y o u ts, d e c o ra tio n s , in o p e n d esig n s, etc.
T R A N S F E R S ON W IN DO W S
“ T r a p i n e x ” P a in t T r a n s f e r s h av e th e u n iq u e ad d itio n a l r e c o m m e n d a tio n th a t, a p p lie d d ire c t to th e glass o f sh o p w in d o w s, th e y h av e n o film o r p a p e r b a c k g ro u n d to th e d esig n to o b scu re th e g o o d s o n d isp lay
—a p o in t m u c h a p p re c ia te d b y re tailers.
d i s p l a y c a r d s a t p o i n t o f s a l e
“ T r a p i n e x ” P a in t P r in tin g d ire c t o n gle a m in g p lastics a n d s tr u tte d o r fitte d w ith sp ecial b o ttle clip s m a k e co m p ellin g d isp la y ca rd s f o r w in d o w o r c o u n te r use.
T h e sam e p ro cess is u se d fo r d isp la y s on railw a y o r tu b e site s, w h ere lo n g life a n d w ash ab ility are im p o rta n t.
A D V IC E freely giv en , b u t w h e n y o u w rite fo r p ric es p lease s t a t e : ( i ) S ize, (2 ) Q u a n tity , (3) N u m b e r o f C o lo u rs, (4) P u rp o se , W o rd in g r e q u ir e d , (6) A ro u g h sk etc h w o u ld h elp . W E H A V E N O S T O C K L I N E S O R P R I C E L I S T S .
TRAPINEX
„PROCESSES.T R A P I N E X (R e g d .) P a i n t T ransfers are f u l l y p a te n te d a n d m a n u fa c tu re d o n ly b y :
I>k'apin'£<I T R A P IN E X LTD., 19,Commerce House, High Rd. (Opp. Town Hall), Wood Green, London, N.22
|'°cis „„mw0 | P h o n e : Bow es P a r k 6 8 1 1 / 3 . G ra m s : “ T ra pinex ” W ood, L o n d o n . Cables “ T ra p in ex L o n d o n
12 SEP T E M B ER 1947 THE E L E C T R IC IA N
That’s why there is
MO# LIFE in a
N ow available fo r all purposes except private radio a n d p riva te cars.
N I F E B A T T E R I E S LT D. , R e d d i t c h , W o r c s .
NIFE All-Steel Batteries
Containers, Terminals and even the Plates are made of steel and practically indes
tructible.
• A ctive m aterial totally enclosed.
• Completely inert on open circuit and does not suffer from local action and standing loss.
• No corrosive fumes.
• Alkaline electrolyte non- corrosive to all cell parts, including terminals.
THE ELEC TR IC IA N 12 SEPTEM BER 1947
T H E
ELECTRICI
E S T A B L I S H E D 1 8 6 1
Bouverie House - 154 Fleet Street - L ondon E C 4 Telegrams : “ b e n b r o t r i c f l e e t L o n d o n ” Telephone: c e n t r a l 3 2 1 2 {16 lines) E ditor: S t a n l e y G . R a t t e e , A .M .I.E .E . Publisher and M anager : J o h n V e s t e y
N um ber 3613 12 S E P T E M B E R 1947 Vol C X X X1X N o. 11
CONTENTS
Views on Current A ffairs ... 753 P ortrait— Professor Willis Ja ckso n ... 756 T he E lectricity A c t ... 757 Fuel E conom y Conference ... 759 M arine J e t P ropulsion ... 761 Electrical Personalities ... 762 P a te n t L aw R efo rm ... 764 B ritish Association M eeting ... 765 Telephone Sw itchboard In sta lla tio n ... 767 Three-Phase In d u c tio n M otors ... 768 A ircra ft Electrical E q u ip m e n t ... 771 E lectricity S u p p ly ... 773 T oronto H y d ro S y ste m ... 774 W elding S ym p o siu m ... 775 L a m p Sales P u b licity ... 776 In d u stria l In fo rm a tio n ... 777 Contracts O pen ... 780 C om pany N ew s ... 781 Commercial In fo rm a tio n ... 782
M I D L A N D S O F F I C E :
D a im le r H o u se , P arad ise S tre e t, B irm in g h am T e le p h o n e : M id la n d s 0784—5
S C O T T I S H O F F I C E : 116, H o p e S tre e t, G lasg o w , C .2 T e le p h o n e : C e n tra l 3970
The offices o f Th e El e c t r i c i a nare closed on S a tu r d a y s i n accordance toith th e “ F iv e - d a y W e e k ” p la n a d o p te d b y B e n n B rotherst L td .
S I N G L E C O P Y (Fr i d a y) • - - 6 d .
(BY PO ST ) - - - - 8 d .
A N N U A L S U B S C R I P T I O N
H O M E A N D O V E R S E A S - - - 30s
Patent Reform
A
L L E G A T IO N S , o fte n re p e a te d , t h a t th e p r e s e n t s t r u c tu r e o t p a t e n t law p e rm its a b u se of m o n o p o ly r ig h ts w ere effectively d isp o sed of in t h e in te rim r e p o r ts of th e D e p a r tm e n ta l C o m m itte e s e t u p to co n sid er w h a t c h a n g e s w ere d e sira b le in t h e P a te n t s a n d D esigns A cts. L a s t w eek, th e C o m m ittee, u n d e r th e c h a irm a n s h ip o f Mr. Ke n n e t h Sw a n,K .C ., p u b lis h e d i t s final! re p o r t, in w h ic h i t finds, a f te r a n in q u iry e x te n d in g ov er th r e e y ears, “ n o in d ic a tio n of a n y g en e ra l desire fo r a n y f u n d a m e n ta l ch an g e in th e p r e s e n t s y s te m o f e n c o u r
a g in g a n d re w a rd in g in v e n tio n b y th e g r a n t of p a te n t s .”
D u rin g th e co u rse of th e in q u iry , h o w ever, a n u m b e r o f su g g estio n s p u t fo r
w a rd b y w itn esses r e p r e s e n ta tiv e of in d u s try , scientific re s e a rc h o rg a n isa tio n s, p r iv a te in v e n to rs a n d p a t e n t a g e n ts cam e u n d e r c o n sid e ra tio n , a n d m a n y of th e s e h a v e b e e n e m b o d ie d in th e s u b stan tial. lis t of re c o m m e n d a tio n s now p re s e n te d to t h a B o a rd o f T ra d e . I n th e ir in te rim re p o r ts , t h e C o m m itte e su g g ested a n e x te n s io n of th e sy s te m of g ra n tin g licen ces w h e re a w id e r u se of a p a t e n t c o u ld b e m a d e ; t h a t t h e C om p
tro lle r sh o u ld be g iv en p o w er to r e je c t a p p lic a tio n s o n th e g ro u n d o f la c k of
“ s u b je c t m a t te r ,” a n d t h a t tw o sp e c ia l ju d g e s, p o ssessin g te c h n ic a l o r scientific q u a lific a tio n s a n d e x p e rie n c e d in p a t e n t litig a tio n , sh o u ld b e a p p o in te d t o h e a r all p a t e n t actio n s.
O f th e re c o m m e n d a tio n s c o n ta in e d in th e fin al re p o r t, p e rh a p s th e m o s t im p o r t a n t is t h a t a d v o c a tin g th e re m o v a l
M anufactured by
SIMMONDS & STOKES LTD.
V I C T O R I A H O U S E , S O U T H A M P T O N R O W , L O N D O N , W. C. I H O L B O R N M J7 Current
Price List cancelled.
Neza L ist available.
Interlocked
Switch Socket w ith C o ver and 3- or 4-pole Plug For E l e ctr ic L i g h t in g
a n d P o w e r , T r a n s m i s s i o n , C o m m u n i c a t i o n , P o r t a b l e Tools, etc.
C I. Switch
W E A T H E R P R O O F M E T A L - C L A D S.P., D.P. & T.P. SWITCHES S W I T C H S O C K E T S
N D P L U G S
A L e o n a rd -T h e r m o st a t ic Ste a m a n d W a t e r m ix e r p ro v id e s hot w ate r a t co n tro lle d te m p e ra tu re f o r w a s h in g a n d p roce ss.
H O T W A T E R M A D E O N L Y W H E R E W A N T E D — O N L Y W H E N W A N T E D — C O M P L E T E C O N T R O L O U T F L O W T E M P E R A T U R E — N O H E A T S T O R A G E A N D R A D I A T IO N L O S S E S — N O H O T W A T E R PIPE
L I N E S — N O E X P E N S I V E ^
E Q U IP M E N T — E A S Y T O FIT— j r
E A S Y T O C L E A N — E A S Y T O f f k
M A I N T A I N — T A K E S U P 7 **
LIT T L E M O R E S P A C E T H A N A N O R D I N A R Y S T O P V A L V E
— T H O U S A N D S IN USE.
• fc W R I T E F O R P A M P H L E T Q U O T I N G R E F .: 1 6 0 /1 8 5 7
le c m A c l- T fte A M c s fa tic
S TEAM & W A T E R M I X E RS
(P A T E N T E D ) W A L K E R , C R O S W E L L E R t CO.,l t dC H E LT E N HAM GLOS.
6 1.1 8 5 7
Unidirectional or reversing, with or without self-] ] switching, 100/110 or 200/250 volts A.C.
F I N A L S H A F T S P E E D S :
R e v e rsin g M a x 6 0 0 R . P . M . 2 7 m in . per rev.
U n id ire c tio n a l M a x 2 8 0 R .P .M . 6 0 m in . per rev.
T O R Q U E : R e v e rsin g 6 0 lb s. in . m ax.
U n id ire c tio n a l 3 7 lb s. in . m ax.
F o r : Operating valves, dampers or rheostats, cinema projectors, rotating screens, illuminated signs, small working models, Geneva movements for drum- type switches, rocking baths, work movement, soldering and welding fixtures, continuous turning, feed of light strip under process.
(R.Q.3.), S e n d f o r L is t N o . 3 0 2 -1. D
0 R A Y T 0 N R E G U L A T O R & I N S T R U M E N T C O , L T D . W E S T DRAYT ON W est D r a y t o n 2 6 1 1 M ID D L E S E X
15% FUEL U P T O
S A V E S
P* FOR ILLUMINATED MODELS 'A D V ER T IS IN G S IG N S . FLASHERS
THE E L E C T R IC IA N 12 SEPTEM BER 1Ç47
751
G E T your custom ers to tak e p recautions against frost now . T h e S anton single-elem ent A N T I-F R E E Z E R effectively prevents freezing u p o f all kinds of water tan k s— dom estic a n d in d u strial. Easily installed, or available as a su b mersible u n it, th e S anton “ A n ti-freezer ” uses very little cu rre n t, can b e con
nected to existing electrical circuit at any convenient plu g p oint, renders system proof against freezing.
'A N T /F R E E Z E R ’
T h is line w ill b e in h eav y d e m a n d th is a u tu m n . W r ite to - d a y fo r fu lly illu s tra te d le a fle t to :
S A N T O N L T D . • S O M E R T O N W O R K S • N E W P O R T 15 M O N • T E L . : 71211 C A I I 7 0 I
12 S E P T E M B E R 1947 T H E E L E C T R IC IA N
E (a) Screw -in fType
w ith w atertight ter
minal box. N o - SI.83 and S I.123.
Tested in W a r Service. Originally made to prevent the freezing of water on ships in Convoy to Russia, and now adapted for domestic use— these heaters have proved their efficiency under the’_most arduous conditions.
(b) Screw -in T yp e w ith standard te r
minal box. N o . SI.82 and.SI.I22.
(c) Sub m ersib le t y pe w ith h o o k -o n cable tube. N o . SI.84 and SI. 124.
T rad e m ark S A N T O N .
ch em ical p ro cesses fro m b ein g c laim ed in the. sp ecificatio n . T h is p ro p o s a l will b e w elco m ed p a rtic u la rly b y t h e se c tio n s of t h e e le c tric a l in d u s tr y c o n c e rn e d w ith t h e d e v e lo p m e n t of in s u la tin g m a te ria ls a n d d ielectrics. I f a c c e p te d , i t w ill en d a th o ro u g h ly u n fa ir d is c rim in a tio n u n d e r w h ic h th o s e w ho in v e n t a ch em ical p r o d u c t, p o ssib ly a f te r y e a rs o f c o stly r e search , a re a t "p re se n t fo rc e d e ith e r to p a t e n t t h e m e th o d of m a n u f a c tu r e —-a r o u n d a b o u t a n d se ld o m s a tis fa c to ry s tra ta g e m — o r to su rre n d e r m o n o p o ly rig h ts a lto g e th e r.
P aten ts Procedure
O F th e o th e r p ro p o sa ls, m a n y h a v e as th e ir o b je c t th e sim p lificatio n a n d c h e a p e n in g of p ro c e d u re a n d t h e r e m o v a l o f in co n sisten cies, a n o m a lie s a n d a n a c h ro n ism s w h ic h e x p e rie n c e a n d re c e n t decisions h a v e b r o u g h t t o light.
T h e co m p ro m ise so lu tio n su g g e ste d for sa fe g u a rd in g th e rig h ts of th e em ployee- in v e n to r v is-à -v is h is em p lo y er, u n d e r w h ic h t h e b e n e fit of a n in v e n tio n m a y b e a p p o rtio n e d b e tw e e n th e tw o p a rtie s, w o u ld h e lp to rem o v e a f r e q u e n t cause
befo re ; a g a in s t th e e n c o u ra g in g to n e of th e s e figures, h o w ev er, is th e f a c t t h a t d u e to th e s trik e in th e Y o rk s h ire p its som e 250 000 to n s of coal w e re lo s t to in d u s tr y la s t w eek, a n d a f u r th e r 200' 000 to n s o r so h a v e gone th e sa m e w a y since.
I t w a s p o in te d o u t in Th e El e c t r i c i a n
tw o w eek s ago t h a t th e coal sto c k s th e n h e ld b y poiwer s ta tio n s w ere e q u a l to a b o u t five w eeks’ d e m a n d on p re s e n t e le c tric ity c o n s u m p tio n figures, b u t if th e in d u s tr ia l p ro d u c tio n n e e d e d t o m e e t t h e e x p o r t d riv e re a c h e s th e v o lu m e h o p e d fo r, th e lo a d u p o n o u r g e n e ra tin g c a p a c ity m a y c au se w in te r sto c k s of coal to b e d ra w n u p o n a t a r a t e g r e a te r th a n a t p r e s e n t a n tic ip a te d . S h o u ld th is p ro v e to b e th e case, th e loss o f o u tp u t in c u r re d b y th e Y o rk s h ire m in e s o f th e N a tio n a l C oal B o a r d m a y serio u sly r e a c t u p o n th e e le c tric ity su p p ly in d u s try , p a r tic u la r ly if a n e a rly co ld s n a p h e ra ld s th e w in te r m o n th s , a n d n o tic e o f th is p o ss ib ility sh o u ld b e ta k e n b y th e M in istry o f F u e l b y a d v a n c in g th e p r e s e n t r a t e o f sto c k -b u ild in g .
N ew E xport P lan w o u ld n eip ro rem o v e a jiojuuliu v, n .
o f ill-feeling a n d , still m o re imporl&9>tir— T H E te r m s o f th e G o v e rn m e n t’
e n c o u ra g e t h e em ployee n o t w o rk in g u n d e r a specific re s e a rc h c o n tr a c t to p u rs u e in q u irie s o u ts id e th e s t r ic t course of h is d u tie s. M ach in ery w h ich is p r o p o sed fo r e n a b lin g m a n u f a c tu r e rs c o n te m p la tin g a n e w p r o d u c t to a s c e rta in b y m e a n s of a d e c la ra to r y ju d g m e n t w h e th e r o r n o t th e y w o u ld in frin g e a n e x is tin g p a t e n t is a n o th e r w elcom e su g g estion. W ith re g a r d to th e n a tio n a lise d in d u s trie s, t h e C o m m ittee assu m es t h a t th e s e w ill n o t h a v e th e sa m e e x te n s iv e r ig h ts a s th o s e po ssessed b y t h e C row n, a n d in d iscu ssin g th e l a t t e r ’s u s e of p a te n t e d in v e n tio n s , th e v iew is s u p p o rte d t h a t licensees, a s w ell a s th e p a te n te e , m a y h a v e a claim to c o m p e n sa tio n .
Coal Stocks
D IS T R I B U T E D s to c k s o f co al a t th e e n d o f J u l y r e a c h e d 11 985 000 to n s , of w h ich e le c tric ity g e n e ra tin g s t a ti o n s h eld 3 531 000 to n s , re p o r te d to b e th e h ig h e s t t o t a l sin ce 1942, w h e n th e a v e ra g e w a s 3 707 000 to n s . T h ese figures a r e c o n
s n ew e x p o rt p ro g ra m m e w h ic h a re . to b e a n n o u n c e d b y Sir St a f f o r d Cr i p p s,
P re s id e n t o f t h e B o a rd o f T ra d e , to -d a y , F rid a y , w h e n h e a d d re s s e s a m e e tin g of r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s of e m p lo y e rs’ o rg a n is a tio n s a n d tr a d e u n io n s a t t h e C e n tra l H all, W e s tm in s te r, a r e a w a ite d w ith liv ely in te r e s t— n o t u n m ix e d w ith som e a n x ie ty . M ore c o n tro ls a n d re s tric tio n s e n ta ilin g g re a te r a n d p ro lo n g e d sacrifices will, u n less a c c o m p a n ie d b y in s p ire d a n d re s o lu te le a d e rsh ip , h a v e a n e g a tiv e effect. I f t h e G o v e rn m e n t fails o n th is occasion to p ro d u c e a w ell-considered, p ra c tic a l ¡scheme g iv in g re a s o n a b le p r o m ise of success, i t w ill f u r th e r u n d e r m in e th e confidence of o rg a n ise d la b o u r, a n d of th o s e in d u s tria lis ts a n d em p lo y ers w ho h a v e n o t o n ly sh o w n th e ir w illing
ness t o c o -o p e ra te in a n y n a tio n a l policy t h a t w ill c a rr y u s safely th r o u g h th e p re s e n t em erg en cy , 'b u t w h o h a v e , th r o u g h th e F .B .I., s u b m itte d to th e G o v e rn m e n t p ro p o s a ls to m e e t th e crisis.
I n th is c o n n e c tio n i t is t o ibe h o p e d t h a t th e d isc u ssio n s w h ic h Mr. Mo r r i s o n, a s
THE E LEC T R IC IA N 12 SEPTEM BER 1947
755 a c tin g P rim e M in iste r, M r. Be v i n, M r.
Da l t o n, S ir St a f f o r d Cr i p p s a n d o th e r M in isters h a d w ith re p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f th e F e d e r a tio n la s t w e e k w ill h a v e h a d som e effect, fo r m a n u f a c tu r e rs , called u p o n to p ro d u c e t h e e s s e n tia l g o ods fo r th e o v e r
se a s m a rk e ts,, re q u ire n o t o n ly a n a s s u ra n c e t h a t th e r e w ill (be a v a ila b le a d e q u a te s u p p lie s of m a te ria ls , b u t also c le a re r in s tr u c tio n s a s t o h o w a n d w h e re th e y c a n se c u re p r i o r it y fo r o b ta in in g th e m .
A M aterials P ro b lem
O N th e l a s t p o in t ra is e d in th e p re c e d in g n o te , th e r e a p p e a r s a t p r e s e n t to b e som e u n c e r t a in t y a s to p ro c e d u re , fo r in a le t te r t o t h e “ D a ily T e le g ra p h ” la s t w eek S ir Th o m a s Ea d e s, v ic e -c h a irm a n a n d m a n a g in g d ire c to r o f th e A u to m a tic T e le p h o n e a n d E le c tric Co., L td ., s t a t e d t h a t h e h a s n o in fo rm a tio n , d ire c tly o r in d ire c tly , fr o m a n y d e p a r tm e n t o f th e G o v e rn m e n t on h o w t o secu re p r io r ity . f o r m a te ria ls fo r e x e c u tin g o rd e rs (from h a r d c u rr e n c y a re a s w h ic h h is c o m p a n y h a s o n i t s b o o k s, th o u g h if a s s u re d of s u c h m a te ria ls in th e p ro p e r v o lu m e a n d a t th e r i g h t tim e s , h is c o m p a n y c o u ld e m p lo y som e 2 000 to 3 000 a d d itio n a l p e o p le . S ir Th o m a s a d d s t h a t n e ith e r h e n o r h is m a n a g e rs o r s u p e r in te n d e n ts c o u ld a ffo rd tim e to go r o u n d t o h a lf a d o z e n G o v e rn m e n t d e p a r t m e n t s to a s c e r ta in j u s t w h a t w as n e c e ss a ry to se c u re t h e n e c e s s a ry p rio ritie s , a n d h e a s k s w h a t s te p s sh o u ld foe ta k e n . W ith efficien t d ir e c tio n b y th e M in is try c o n c e rn e d s u c h a p o s itio n c o u ld n o t arise.
T he E lectricity A ct
T H E p u b lic a tio n o n T u e s d a y o f th e E le c tr ic ity A c t se rv e s a s a re m in d e r, it o n e is n eed ed , t h a t th e f u tu r e s tr u c tu r e o f th e s u p p ly i n d u s tr y in th i s c o u n tr y h a s b e e n fin ally d e te r m in e d , a t le a s t fo r som e y e a rs to com e. T h e re h a v e b e e n m a n y w ho, fro m sin c e re c o n v ic tio n , h a v e o p p o se d n a tio n a lis a tio n a s b e in g a t w o rs t in im ic a l to th e in t e r e s t s o f th e c o u n tr y a n d a t b e s t a h a z a r d o u s e x p e ri
m e n t a t th e p r e s e n t tim e . T h e decision, ho w ev er, h a s n o w b e e n ta k e n , a n d e v e n th o s e w ho w ere a m o n g th e b it te r e s t c ritic s of th e B ill w h e n i t w a s firs t p r e se n te d , w ill w ish t h a t th e c h a n g e-o v er to Sfcate-ow nership n e x t A p ril w ill b e
a c c o m p a n ie d b y a s little d is lo c a tio n a s possible, a n d t h a t th e in d u s tr y u n d e r its new d ire c tio n w ill c o n tin u e to be in s p ire d b y th e sa m e p ro g re ssiv e s p ir it a s h a s a n im a te d i t in th e p a s t . O n a la te r page, a re v ie w is g iv e n o f th e c h a n g e s m a d e b e tw e e n th e f ir s t d r a f tin g o f th e B ill a n d it s in c o r p o ra tio n on th e s t a t u t e book. T h a t th e A c t is th e b e tt e r fo r th e se a rc h in g c ritic is m — w ith w h ich th is jo u r n a l is p r o u d to h a v e b e e n a s s o c ia te d
—o ffered b o th w ith in a n d w ith o u t P a r lia m e n t th e r e c a n be no d o u b t. B u t, w hile fro m n o p a r t o f th e A c t d oes i t follow t h a t t h e in d u s tr y is n ow s e t o n a re tro g ra d e p a th , n e ith e r c a n i t b e s a id t h a t c o n tin u e d p ro g re s s a n d e x p a n s io n a r e a u to m a tic a lly e n su re d . T h ese q u a li
tie s d e p e n d o n th e h u m a n ele m e n t, a n d in th e p a s t h a v e re s u lte d la rg e ly fro m th e in itia tiv e allo w ed to in d iv id u a l e n g i
neers. T h e firs t a p p o in tm e n ts to th e C e n tra l A u th o r ity a r e ev id en c e t h a t , fo r th e p re s e n t a t le a s t, th is f a c t w ill b e recognised. I t w ill be th e p ro b le m of th e f u tu r e to e n su re t h a t i t is n o t fo r
g o tte n .
U .S. P lan t Shortage
A T a tim e w h e n t h e d is c re p a n c y b e tw e e n th e in d u s tr ia l c a p a c ity of th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d t h a t o f t h e re m a in d e r o f th e w o rld is a n e v e ry d a y to p ic o f c o n v e rs a tio n , i t is in te re s tin g to le a rn t h a t th e p ro s p e c t of a sh o rta g e of U .S. g e n e ra tin g c a p a c ity is n o w e n g a g in g t h e se rio u s a tte n ti o n o f p u b lic u ti li ty a u th o r itie s . A d e m a n d in excess of s u p p ly in m a n y in d u s tria l a re a s , n e c e s s ita tin g a t le a s t a n a tio n a l a p p e a l fo r eco n o m y , if n o t som e a c tu a l r e s tric tio n on n o n -e s s e n tia l c o n su m p tio n , is n o w th o u g h t to b e lik ely th is w in ter. L a s t y e a r, w ith a to ta l n a tio n a l c a p a c ity o f 50 m illio n k W , th e reserv e h a d fa lle n to below te n p e r cen t., a figure c o n sid e re d c ritic a l. N ow , th e p o w er in d u s tr y e s tim a te s t h a t a n e t a d d i
tio n of te n m illio n k W w ill h e re q u ire d in th e n e x t few y ears. D u rin g J u n e th is y e a r, th e a v e ra g e w eek ly o u t p u t o f th e in d u s try w a s a b o u t 4 600 m illio n k W h , re p re s e n tin g a n in c re a se o v er th e p r e v io u s y e a r of 13 p e r c e n t. E x te n s io n s to g rid n e tw o rk s a re e x p e c te d to p ro v id e som e re lie f to th e m o re serio u sly o v e r
lo a d e d s ta tio n s , h o w ev er, a n d i t is n o t th o u g h t t h a t a s itu a tio n of “ crisis ” d im en sio n s w ill arise.
12 SEP T E M B ER 1947 THE E LEC T R IC IA N
B
Jack so n was educated a t th e local G ram m ar School an d en tered M anchester U niversity, w herehe g rad u ated w ith 1st class H onours in E lectrical E ngineer
ing in 1925. E ven a t th is early stage h e h a d decided u p o n a n academ ic career, a n d follow
ing a y e a r’s research w ork a.t M anchester for th e M.Sc. de
gree, he held an ap p o in tm e n t as lec
tu re r in E lectrical E ngineering a t th e T echnical College, B radford, from 1926 to ’29. Realising th e need for indus
tria l experience, he t h e n joined the M e t r o p o l i t a n - Vickers E lectrical Co., L td ., as a college apprentice.
T ow ards th e end of th is course, how ever, th e appeal of academ ic life re
asserted itself and he joined th e staff
of P rof. Miles W alker a t th e College of Technology, M anchester. Much th a t has hap p en ed to h im since th a t tim e Jack so n a ttrib u te s to th e guidance a n d inspiration w hich he received from Miles W alker, and on th e la tte r ’s retire m en t he arran g ed to join E . B. Moullin, now Professor of E lec
trical E ngineering a t Cambridge, in th e E ngineering L ab o rato ry , Oxford. F rom O ctober, 1933-36, Jack so n devoted him self largely to extending th e research w ork on dielectric m aterials w hich he h ad sta rte d a t th e College of Technology, b u t a t th e sam e tim e he acted as T u to r in E ngineer
ing Science to a n u m b er of. th e Oxford colleges. I n 1936 he to o k th e D .P hil.
degree of O xford, a n d in th e sam e y ear w as m ade a D octor of Science of th e U ni
v ersity of M anchester.
A t th is stage he re tu rn e d to th e w orks of th e M etropolitan-V ickers E lectrical Co.
as a research engineer a n d for th e n e x t 2\
years acte d also as personal a ssista n t to D r., now Sir A rth u r, Flem ing. T he a ttr a c tio n of U n iv ersity life rem ained, how ever, an d h is long-standing am bition was re a lised w hen, in 1938, he w as appointed to th e ch air of E lectrotechnics a t his m o th er
U niversity, M anchester.
spent a considerable proportion of his lim e in London as a m em ber of G overn
m e n t Scientific and T echnical Com m it
tees a n d a t th e associated Signals a n d R a d a r R e
search E stab lish m en ts of th e Minis
tr y of S upply an d M .A .P., b u t he con
tin u ed his teaching w ork a t M anchester U niversity a n d was responsible th ere for a M inistry of Supply research team en
gaged p articu larly on v ery high fre
quency an d dielec
tric investigations.
A bout a y ear ago he severed his long connection w i t h M anchester to tak e u p his p resen t a p p o in tm en t as P ro fessor of Electrical E ngineering a t th e Im perial College of Science an d Tech
nology, L ondon, in succession to Prof.
C. L. Fortescue.
P rof. Jack so n w as a m em b er of th e I .E .E . Council from 1938 to 1941, w as re
elected in 1945 an d has been C hairm an of th e In s titu tio n ’s R adio Section during th e p a s t session.
F o r his published p apers in th e journal he h as been aw arded six I .E .E . prem ium s, in cluding th e D uddell an d A m brose Flem ing prem ium s.
H is p resent ou tsid e scientific activities include m em bership of th e Scientific A d
visory Council of th e M inistry of Supply, of th e R adio R esearch B oard an d of the E xecutive Com m ittee of th e N .P .L ., while on th e educational side he is a m em ber of th e C entral A dvisory Council for E ducation in E ngland of th e M inistry of E ducation.
H e is a m em ber of th e A th en æ u m Club, Pall Mall, plays ten n is as a diversion from his professional in terests, b u t claims th a t gardening is his m ain h o b b y an d relaxation.
H e is m arried, h a s tw o d au g h ters and lives in Cheam, Surrey.
D uring his chairm anship of th e I.E .E . R adio Section he h as show n him self to be a read y speaker, capable of th e subtle hum our for w hich L ancashire m ay be said to have some fam e.
THE ELEC TRIC IA N 12 SEPTEM BER 1947
757
The Electricity Act
The E lectricity A c t, w hich received th e R o y a l A ssent on A u g u st 13, was pub lish ed in final fo rm a t th e beginning o f th is w eek. During th e course o f its passage through P arliam ent, a total o f nearly nine h u n d red am endm ents were p u t dow n against th e Bill, of w hich a b o u t 360 were accepted. I n its original form , the B ill was sum m arised at length in our issue of J a n u a ry 17, and th e m ore im p o rta n t alterations were reported h) our pages as th e y were agreed to by G overnm ent spokesm en in S ta n d in g C om m ittee
“ E ,” th e H ouse o f C om m ons and th e H ouse of Lords. T he following resum e outlines some of the changes w hich have ta ken place in the original stru ctu re, w ith particular emphasis on those a m en d m en ts concerned w ith th e overall com position of the nationalised in d u stry . M any a m en d m en ts rectifying drafting obscurities an d a series of im p o rta n t changes in th e proposed m echanism for taking over com pany- an d m unici
pally-ow ned un d erta kin g s have, fo r reasons of space, been ignored.
T
H E basic d uties of th e B ritish E lectric ity A u th o rity —to generate o r ac
quire supplies of electricity, to provide bulk supplies to A rea B oards, w hile co
ordinating d istrib u tio n b y th e B oards an d exercising a general control ov er th e ir policy, a n d also to provide supplies itself to ce rta in classes of consum ers—
rem ain unchanged in th e A ct. I n the clause defining th e d uties of th e B oards, how ever, a c e rta in tig h ten in g of th e p h ra s ing h as th e effect of m ak in g th e prom otion of econom ical m ethods o f generation, transm ission a n d d istrib u tio n , e tc ., p a r t of th e “ exercise a n d perform ance ” of th e functions of th e B oards in stead of, as before, a n o b ject of th e ir policy. F u rth e r, th e A rea B oards are now req u ired to
“ secure, as far as practicable, th e de
velopm ent a n d extension of supplies to ru ra l a re a s .” To a sub-section dealing w ith th e sim plification of tariffs h a s been added a phrase req u irin g also s ta n d ardisation of m ethods of charges. A d
ditional functions of th e C entral A u th o rity an d A rea B oards include th e assistance of persons o u tsid e th e scope of th e A ct, w hen req u ested , in research affecting tho supply of electricity. T he A u th o rity an d Area B oards, w hen m aking provision for advancing th e skill of employees an d for im proving th e efficiency of equipm ent, will now consult w ith an y organisation appearing to th em to be ap p ro p riate.
M A N U F A C T U R IN G P O W ERS
In th e im p o rta n t section dealing w ith the pow er of th e A u th o rity to m anufac
tu re p la n t a n d fittings, a sub-section h as been a d d ed m aking it clear t h a t th is pow er does n o t e x te n d to m an u factu re for ex
p o rt purposes.
A lterations h a v e b een m ade to th e con
stitu tio n of th e C entral A u th o rity a n d th e Area B oards. T he A u th o rity will now consist of a chairm an an d n o t less th a n four n o r m ore th a n six o th e r m em bers.
An additional qualification for w hich m em
bers of th e A u th o rity m ay be selected b y th e M inister is experience in th e genera
tio n an d su p p ly of electricity. F o u r o th er m em bers (previously “ n o t m ore th a n four ” ) will be ap p o in ted from chairm en of th e A rea B oards, in ro tatio n , w hile a n additional m em ber, as in th e original Bill, will be ex officio th e chairm an of th e N o rth of Scotland B oard. A m inim um size h as also been set fo r th e A rea B oards, w hich are to consist of a chair
m an an d n o t less th a n five nor m ore th a n seven o th er m em bers. A gain, experience of electricity supply is recognised as a possible qualification for m em bership. An additional m em ber will be th e chairm an of th e C onsultative Council in t h a t area.
M IN IS T E R A N D T H E B .E .A .
In defining th e bo u n d aries of th e A rea B oards, th e M inister will now m ake his decision a fte r consultation w ith th e C entral A u th o rity . A sim ilar req u ire
m en t to consult w ith th e B o ard s con
cerned is laid up o n th e M inister w hen a n y v ariatio n of area boundaries o r th e form ation of a new area ta k e s place.
In his relatio n s w ith th e C entral A uth o rity , th e M inister will give directions of “ a general ch a ra c te r ” a n d prep are, in consultation w ith th e A u th o rity , a general program m e fo r m easures of reorganisation o r such w orks of developm ent as w ould involve su b sta n tia l o u tlay on cap ital account.
C o n su ltativ e Councils, of w hich one will e x ist in th e a re a of each A rea B oard, h ave h a d th e ir com position m ore precisely de
fined as a resu lt of am endm ents. Consist
ing, as before, of n o t less th a n tw e n ty nor m ore th a n th irty persons, ap p o in ted b y th e M inister, th ey will also ta k e n o t less th a n h alf nor m ore th a n th re e d ifth s of th e ir m em bership from a panel of persons n o m inated from am ong m em bers of local au th o rities in th e area. T he rem ain d er of th e m em bership will be ap p o in ted , a fte r
12 SEPTEM BER 1947 THE E L E C T R IC IA N
