THE rr
ELECTRICIAN
( THE TECHNICAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ELECTRICAL I NDUSTRY
. " • ■ ■ • • •' t'- ^ . r : ' f r ' 'V
.T h e largest aircraft assem b ly hall in th e W o r ld is n o w b eing built at Filton fo r the e re c tio n o f 125 to n giant
“ B r is t o l” B rab azon A ircraft. T h is im m ense stru ctu re , 1,052 feet w id e and 420 feet deep, is w id e r than the length of the
“ Queen M a r y ” o r th e H o u se s o f Parliam ent and c o v e rs 7T acres. M o r e than 5,000 ya rd s o f high and lo w ten sio n cables fo r th e c o m p le x electric p o w e r system and 450 m ain lig h tin g g r o u p s are being supplied and installed by B .I.C allend er’s.
ARCHITECT: Eric Ross, A .R .I.B .A .
CONSULTING ENGINEERS : Brian H. C o lq u h o u n & Partners.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER : A. N . Irens, A .M .I.E .E .
C A B L E S
B R I T I S H I N S U L A T E D C A L L E N D E R ’S C A B L E S L I M I T E D
N O R F O L K H O U S E , N O R F O L K S T R E E T , L O N D O N , W . C . 2
19 S E P T E M B E R 1947 S I X P E N C E '
reliability
• Q u ic k delivery
• H igh efficiency and quick boiling
•Sim ilar construction to
the M e tro vick Radiant boiling plate
• Load in g : 1,500 watts at 2 3 0 v o lt s ; Voltage range : 200/250 volts.
M E T R O V I C K Replacement
Immersion KETTLE ELEMENT
m I« M ^FcTe'£i'N
E L E C T R I C A L " - --- _ _ _ — C O . L T D T R A F F O R D P A R K M A N C H E S T E R 17.
■--- L/A30I
The ‘Right LIGHT
m e t r o vI
c k f l u o r e s c e n t t u b e s^
L. IVJ n I a n d t r o u g h f i t t i n g s
THE E l E C T R IC
1AK
19 S E P T E M B E R i
947805
i
D e sig n e rs and m an u factu re rs o f V a c u u m C le a n e rs and o th e r D o m e s tic Electrical e q u ip m e n t realise th a t m ost service tr o u b le s are caused by fau lty sw itches.
T h e range o f to g g le sw itc h e s offered by A. B. M e tal P ro d u c ts su p p lie s the re m e d y to th is problem .
B u ilt t o w ith sta n d years o f a rd u o u s service, A .B . Sw itch e s defin ite ly c o n s titu te a safe c o n tra c t fo r g o o d co n tact— th e last w o r d in re liab ility.
CONTACT
GREAT SOUTH WEST ROAD,
Telephones : Hounslow 6256.
FELTHAM, MIDDX.
Feltham 2865.
ip S E P T E M B E R ipĄj THE E L E C T R IC IA N
A
Britain's Productive POWEB
No less important than the generation o f electric power fo r industry’s needs are the cables that must convey it to factory, mine and workshop. By ensuring efficient failure-free circuits in many industrial distribution systems, Telcon Power Cables are playing a vital role in helping to win Britain’s peacetime battle fo r production. Made to B.S. and customers’ specifications and suitable fo r use with all voltages up to 22 K. V, Full details and quotations on request,
T E L C O N ^ C A B L E S
U S )
\
T H E T E L E G R A P H C O N S T R U C T I O N & M A I N T E N A N C E C O . L T D .
Head Office: 2 2 O L D B R O A D S T . , L O N D O N , E . C . 2 . Telephone: LONdon Wall 3141 Enquiries to : T E L C O N W O R K S G R E E N W I C H , S . E . I O . Telephone: GREenwich 1040
THE E L EC T R IC IA N 19 SEP TE M B ER 1947
807
s t
(
bpa -y Tu \
j s .
Z k w /W c j
Si n g l e— >
j
Tb b i e f
J ift ifiL h _ L .J
t y p e
“
b, ”
T H R E E C O M P O N E N T S 1 5 0 V . A . C . «0 A M P S .
'i - M
Do u b l e Tb n i e f
S/n û lE S -ù c x / sie 7 Â R / F P P o u B L £ T k f f / F f
E N C L O S E D V I E W ). T Y P E “ B .”
A l s o a v a ila b le :
T Y P E “ C ” T W O C O M P O N E N T S , S I N G L E - T A R I F F , 250 V . A . C . 60 A M P S . T Y P E “ D ” T W O C O M P O N E N T S , D O U B L E - T A R I F F , 250 V .A .C . 60-30 A M P S .
The m odern su p p ly con tro l unit
Providing hitherto unknow n neatness, simplicity and safety, C E M D U - th e up-to-date system of electricity intake and distribution is rapidly bei mg adopted by m any supply authorities. All com
ponents are completely en clo sed ; extensions can easily be effected; any m eter can be fitted and customer’s fuses are rewirable. Types are available to m eet any requirem ent either 60 ampere or and 30 ampere double pole M am Sw itch C ontrol.
Supplied in attractive black or cream stove enamelled finish. W rite fo r full particulars to the sole M anufacturers.
C A * LI5I E
^ E L E C T R I C A L ^
M A N U F A C T U R IN G CO. LTD.
Bentdiffe W orks, Eccles, Lancs.
Phones: Eccles 169J-2-3-4. Telegrams : “ C arle ctrlc" Eccles
i 9 SEPTEM BER 1
947<f> C 6
THE E LEC T R IC IA N
O u r p h o to g ra p h p ro v id es a n in te rio r view , w ith oil ta n k lo w ered , o f th e ‘ S R I A ’ ty p e h a n d -o p e ra te d c o m b in e d sta to r a n d ro to r sta rte r p ro d u c e d b y M essrs. A llen W e st & C o. L td . T h e s ta to r co n tac to r o p e ra tin g links, th e ro to r sta rte r o p e ra tin g a rm , a n d th e in terlo ck sw itch a c tu a tin g
lin k are all o f
Ba k e l i t eL a m in a te d . I n a d d itio n to possessing go o d electrical in s u la tin g p ro p e rtie s,
Ba k e l i t eL a m in a te d is im p erv io u s to th e actio n o f h e a t, oils a n d acids. I t is lig h t in w eig h t a n d easily fab ricated . I t is available in sheets u p to
4in ch es th ick , a n d ro d s a n d tu b e s .
T R E F O I L
BAKELITE <t> PLASTICS
REGD. TRADE MARKS
E ssential M a teria ls fo r E ssential W o rk
B A K E L I T E L I M I T E D • 1 8 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
WHERE THEY USE BAKELITE LAMINATED
Photo by courtesy o f C A .P a rso n s Or C o . L td .
No. 5 -
C O M B IN E D S T A T O R A N D R O T O R S T A R T E R
— A lle n W e s t & Co. L td .
THE E L E C T R IC IA N i 9 SEP TE M B ER 1947
809
FORTH BRIDGE The bridge is 4 miles ,onS and 451 feet hi8h and was opened March 1890. It-contains 54,000 tons of steel
GRYSE
M A D E I N E N G L A N D
F I F T Y Y E A R S O F Q U A L I T Y & S E R V I C E
B I R M I N G H A M B U R Y S T E D M U N D S L E E D S L O N D O N
B R I G H T O N C A R D I F F L E I C E S T E R M A N C H E S T E R
B R I S T O L G L A S G O W L I V E R P O O L N E W C A S T L E
I f
C R Y S E L C O L I M I T E D , K E M P S T O N W O R K S , B E D F O R D
19 SEPTEM B ER 1947 THE ELEC TR IC IA N
SEEGER CI RCL I PS
FOR L ARGE S nA F T S & BORES T h e only circlip which alw ays rem ains tru ly circular 011 the contact periphery. I t exerts great and uniform pressure on the groove in which it is fitted and can be relied on as a com
pletely safe fixture*
/C/CNT
small diameter spindles
E n g i n e e r s w h o h a v e f e l l t h e n e e d f o r a r e a l l y s m a l l c i r c l i p w i l l w e l c o m e t h e T w i c k l i p w h i c h f i t s i i n a g r o o v e j u s t l i k e a S c e g e r C i r c l i p a n d w h i c h i s m a d e i n j s i z e s f r o m V a t o 15/3 2 .
I f rile fo r ({(‘script ive literature
Manufactured by
I'ho Al TM 10 TIYE FM.IM I IliM, Co. lid.
t h e 1 , h i i : \ . r w 1 i k i \ 11 a >1. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 \ .
P H ON E . P 0 P £ S C I ! O / £ 2 2 0 6 P . B . X j
THE E L E C T R IC IA N j p SEPTEM B ER 1947
811
light to handle and instal
Impervious to rust
E D A interchangeabilité
All sub circuits separately fused
Instantly removable hob a oven interioi
Thermostatic oven control
Simmering device if required
Enquiries to P A R N A L L ( Y A T E ) L T D • 4 3 P A R K S T R E E T • L O N D O N • W 1
i 9 SE PTE M BE R 1947 THE E L E C T R IC IA N
S T O P
USE GLOVERS CABLES
But
Don't Hold Up Manufacture
RETURN EMPTY DRUMS
W . T . G L O V E R & C O . L T D . T R A F F O R D P A R K M A N C H E S T E R 17
THE E L E C T R IC IA N 19 SEP T E M B ER 1947
813
THE ELECTRICIAN i 9 SEP T E M B ER 1947
M M
AS RELIABLE AS BIG BEN
W rite for full details to- E K C O - E N S IG N E L E C T R IC L T D ., E K C O W O R K S , S O U T H E N D - O N - S E A S o u t h e rn Sales Office—5, Vigo Street, London, W . l . N o r t h e rn Sales Office—Kent Street W orks, Preston, Lancs.
W e s t e r n Sales Office—50, Bridge Street, Cardiff. M id land Sales Office—40 & 42, Summer Row, Birmingham.
T H E E L E C T R IC IA N 19 S E P T E M B E R 1947
815
19 SEPTEM B ER J
947TH E E L E C T R IC IA N
G A L V A N /S E D S E C T /O N A L S T E E L
L IG H T IN G STA N DA RD S
H E X A G O N A L
□ R
C I R C U L A R H O T S P E L T E R G A L V A N I S E D
A F T E R
MANUFACTURE
S u p p lie d to N O R T H A M P T O N L IG H T A N D P O W E R C O . LTD.
' - - -
Supplied to
S H E F F I E L D CORPORATION ] L I G H T I N G D E P A R T M E N T
i T n T Y B U R N RS E R D I N C T O N
PO LES L_ B I R M I N G H A M 24
t e l e p h o n e : e . o . n o t o n . . . .
" “ “ “ ¡ y a S S i ” 1“ '.IK '" 1? * “
THE E L E C T R IC IA N 19 SEPTEM B ER 1947
817
l d 0P ^
“ The old ord er changeth, yielding place to new .”
Tennyson.
A
Typical o u td o o r pattern single ratio tran sform ers fo r 33 kV , 66 k V . and 132 kV, 3-phase system s respectively.
C on sid e rab le saving in size and oil content is achieved as com pared j? w ith old er types sh ow n in the backgrou n d.
Manufcfcturers—
CHAMBERLAIN & HOOKHAM LTD., BIRMINGHAM
19 SEPTEM B ER 19
47THE ELEC TRIC IA N
DORMAN & SM ITH LTD. MANCHESTER - LO NDO N • GLASGOW
E 2 H 7
O pen m arin e-typ e sw itchb oard controlling three 200 kW generators and circuits and incorporating Dorman XL air- break circuit breakers and Dorman " F " type sw itc h es as in stalled on the L.N.E. R ailw ay's n e w cargo liner S.S. Arnhem
(lohn Brown & Co., Ltd.)
THE E L E C T R IC IA N l 9 SEP T E M B ER 1947
819
I N factories, mills and workshops throughout the country, managements have discovered the value o f correct lighting as an im portant contributory factor in increasing efficiency.
I f your own lighting arrangements date back some time you
?«r, • • •; ' / ■■■;,>, '/].
will imdoubtedly be interested in the facts and figures ou r lighting engineers can show you.
• : ■ . ; ” i ' i r '- •{ : i'M
I t may pay you handsomely to have your present l i g h t i n g j layout examined, and a B T H Lighting Engineer will be glad to / y call and give you the benefit o f his advice and experience at any
time convenient to you. Please write to B T H Lighting Advisory Service, Bridle Path, Watford. Telephone: W atford 7701/8.
L A M P S W FITTINGS
The British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd., Crown House, Aldwych, London, W.G2
M 4 I I J A
19 SEP T E M B ER 1947 THE E L EC T R IC IA N
To Designers of Thermostatic
Devices . . .
a
W e have recently published an ex
haustive booklet on thermometal calculations and applications. It contains charts showing the relation be
tween deflection, force characteristics and dimensions for straight strips, U shapes, spirals and helices in the thermometals w h ic h w e s u p p ly , n a m e ly S ta n d a rd , Highflex 45, Morflex, Midflex 46, High- heat 47, Saflex, Ruflex and R24-R 530.
Copies of the booklet are available for the use o f designers and others concerned with instrum ents incorporating thermo
static devices.
O ur Technical Service D epartm ent will be glad to give advice on any unusual bi-metal problem not covered by this publication. W rite t o :
HENRY WIGGIN & COMPANY LTD., VY/gg in Street, Birmingham 16
4B / W a / i
I. Stand ard Scale A m m e te r and V o lt - ^ 2. * • ' C l r s c a l e ” A m m e te r and V oltm eter—
m e te r— M o v in g Iro n and M o v in g Coil. ( R p ( 0 | \ D J M o v in g Iro n and M o v in g Coil.
3. D y n a m o m e te r W a ttm e te r. 4- Induction W attm e te r.
Also Frequency Meters, Power Factor Meters, Synchroscopes, Tachometers, etc.
* “ Cirscale ” is the Registered Trade Name o f the Record Electrical Co. Ltd., and applies exclusively to their instruments.
T H E R E C O R D E L E C T R I C A L C O . L T D . , B R O A D H E A T H , A L T R I N C H A M , C H E S H I R E . Tel.: Altrincham 3221/2. 'Gram s.: " Infusion," Altrincham. London : 28. Victoria Street, S .W .I. Tel.: Abbey S I48.
THE E L E C TRICIAN 19 SEP TE M B ER 1947
821
Let us have details o f your
requirements.
— we shall be glad to quote.
w
&!&*;!&£>%!■
A n a c o S
" r e g d.
RODS * BARS • WIRE & STRIP
IN
C O P P E R , B R O N Z E & C A D M I U M - C O P P E R
F R E D E R I C K S M I T H & C O M P A N Y
( Incorporated in The London Electric Wire- Company and Smiths, Limited)
A N A C O N D A W O R K S • S A L F O R D 3 • L A N C S
19 S E P T E M B E R 1947 TH E E L E C T R IC IA N
I S E N T H A L T h e relia b ility o f an Ise n th a l R h e osta t far e x ceeds th a t w h ic h is fre
q u e n t ly attrib u te d t o the slid in g type. Y e a rs of e x pe rie n ce in de sign and m anufacture have give n t o w h a t w o u ld o th e rw ise be an o r d in a r y c o m p o n e n t an e x t ra m a rgin of d e p e n d ab ility m a k in g it an o u t sta n d in g typ e in rh eo sta t p ro d u c tio n . T h is Isenthal
ISENTHAL £
R H E O S T A T S R h e ostat gives u sers an in fin ite v a r ia t io n o f c u r re n t in the field c ir cuit w ith a m in im u m of space and an absence o f jo in ts. T h e p h o s p h o r - b ro n ze b ru sh e s are sp e c ially selected t o p ro v id e the m axim u m co n ta ct cleaning p ro p e rty, and the resultant s m o o th n e ss of p ro g re ssio n sets a n e w s t a n d a r d o f efficien c y.
___________
■ T f l Ducon W o rk s , Victoria Road,
I I I I _ North Acton,
• B L . London, W .3
THE E L E C T R IC IA N 19 SEPTEM B ER 1947
823
T h is tim e, gen tlem en , I got a n A T L A S ’
A tla s la m p s p u t g o o d lighting ‘ o n th e m a p ’ . . . c a n even sh o w u p tric k y sales p ro b le m s in a m o re fa v o u ra b le light . . . stay b rig h t w hen b u sin ess gets dull. M o re a n d m o re e n te rp risin g p eo p le a re specifying A tla s la m p s b ecau se th ey h ave checked u p w ith en g in eers a n d electricians th a t fo r lo n g life a n d sheer light v a lu e th e re is n o b e tte r lam p .
E very A tla s lam p is g u a ra n te e d to be m a d e to strict B.S.I. specification a n d is te ste d a t e a c h stage o f m a n u fa c tu re . W rite fo r te rm s to -d a y .
A CO M PLETE L IG H T IN G SERVICE O u r lighting engineers will supply
you with exactly the lighting you need, exactly where you need it. We design and supply m odern fittings, using new m aterials boldly, yet
planned with comm on sense and
‘ eye - appeal ’. We offer you a c o m p le te , in d iv id u a l lig h tin g 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
THORN ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES LTD.,
105-109 JUDD ST., LONDON, W .C.I.Tel. Euston 1183 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 ST E R 1 . TEL. C E N T R A L 3 1 8 5N .E . D e p o t : 46 Sandhill, N ew ca stle-o n -T y n e 1*. T el. N ew castle 24068
A1 3 8
19 SEP T E M B ER 1947 THE E LEC T R IC IA N
a m S t a f f a c u t s c o u m e t a li *
Mfc to»« th V u S S « ’ “* “ " “ ho“ r “
s ts s s * i s i T r . sss%« a —
■S-ar-T
L E V t o n s t o n e 3 r ^ ,^ —
£> .»
THE E L E C T R IC IA N 19 SEP TE M B ER 1947
A CONCRETE UTILITIES DESIGN
825
W A R E . L I V E R P O O L . A B E R D A R E . G L A S G O W . I P S W I C H . M O R E C A M B E
CONCRETE UTILITIES LTD.
W A R E - HERTS
W A R E 449/50 T E L E P H O N E :
1 9 SEPTEM BER
1947, THE E L EC T R IC IA N
★ F a u l t
L o c a liz i n g & T e s t in g o n E l e c t r i c M a in s
By F. Charles Raphael, M .I.E .E ., F .I.E .S ., etc. and Charles A. G rover,
M .I.E .E . -
20s. net.
“ A n essen tially practical tex tb o o k , and the authors m ake available a w ealth o f experience ac
cu m u lated over m an y years.” —El e c t r i c a l Re v i e w-
E l e c t r i c D i s c h a r g e L ig h tin g
By F. G . Spreadbury, A .M .Inst.B .E.
15
s. net.
cc S h ow s h o w m od ern typ es o f discharge lam ps have ev o lv ed and explains th e relation betw een th e spectra em itted and th e pressure and nature o f th e gases in v o lv ed .” —El e c t r i c i a n.
E l e c t r i c F i l t e r s
By T . H . T urney, P h.D .
25s. net.
A sim p lified treatm ent o f th e four-term inal n et
w orks com m on ly u se d in T elep h o n e w ork, covering filters, attenuators, phase-sh iftin g n et
w orks and attenuation equalizers.
Parker Street - K ing sway W .C . 2
P I T M A N ^ B O O K S
W E M A N U F A C T U R E
Covered bars, washers «.rings,machined p a rts, tu b es round a. square, fle x ib le &.
m oulding sh eet, tapes, s h a p e s , e t c .
GIBSON.TODDeCO.LTD
A L B E R T M I L L S H O L U N W O O D L A N C A S H I R E
^ T E L : F A I L S W O R T H 1 5 2 0
DUNDAS
M A T E R IA L S Varnished Cloths
IN S I L K S A N D C A M B R I C S
Tapes
IN S E W N A N D S E A M L E S S B I A S FO R M G ua ra n te e d to B .S ./.S p e c ific a tio n
& CO. H
L T D .
W E L L IN G T O N M IL L S PO RT DUNDAS i GLASGOW . £ . 4 Telephone : Douglas 5866 (3 lines)
CA.BIE5AN .d P l .AS ltd .
9 NEWTON RD L EE D S . 7.
TH E E L E C T R IC IA N 19 SEP T E M B ER 1947
82?
I 9 SEPTEM BER
1947THE E L EC T R IC IA N
^
E N G L I S H E L E C T R I C
c / I i r - B l a s t
SW ITCHGEAR
“ E N G L IS H E L E C T R IC ,” Air- B la s t S w it c h g e a r can be employed for all duties to which Oil-Break Switchgear is applicable, and for all standard voltages from 3.3 kV to275kV.
66 kV. 800A. ISOOMVA. Air-blast Circuit- Breaker
I m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e s
Elimination ofoil fire hazard.H igh speed operation.
Rapid arc interruption.
C onsistent performance.
Extremely low arc energy.
M inim um maintenance.
M inim um contact erosion.
Mechanical simplicity C om pact and space saving.
All parts easily accessible
Publication S G / 105B obtainab le o n req uest from Sw itch g ea r D ept. Stafford.
THE ENGLISH ELECTRIC COM PANY LIMITED
L o n d o n O f f ic e : Q U E E N 'S H O U S E , K I N G S W A Y , L O N D O N . W . C . 2
W O R K S :
STA FFO R D - PRESTON - RUGBY - BRA DFORD - LIV ER PO O L
Interior view o f a block-house containing on ' English Electric ‘ 66 kV. Air-Blast Circuit-Breaker forming port o f an outdoor substation installation.
THE E L E C T R IC IA N i 9 SEPTEM BER 1947
T H F p SJILIW£KA%i]
1 1 1 1 1 f e BtêWNA S j
ELECTRIC!
E S T A B L I S H E D 1 8 6 1
Bouverie House - 154 Fleet Street - London E C 4 Telegrams: “ b e n b r o tr ic f l e e t London” Telephone: c e n t r a l 3212(16 lines) Editor: S ta n le y G. R a tte e , A .M .I.E.E. Publisher and M anager: J o h n V e stly
S um ber 3614 19 S E P T E M B E R 1947 Vol CXXX1X N o. 12
CONTENTS
Views on Current Affairs ... 829 Portrait : Mr. F. J . E llio tt ... 832 A .P .L .E . Conference ... 833 S tre e t L ighting ... 835 L ig h t F ittin g s as E x p o rts ... 839 H igh Power Sw itchgear T estin g 840 I .E .E . Transm ission Section ... 841 E stim ating Three-phase Power Factor 843 B ritish E lectricity A u th o rity ... 844 E lectrical Personalities... 845 Testing D ynam ic Balance . . . ... 846 F uel E conom y Conference ... 847 L a m p Sales P ublicity ... 849 In d u stria l In fo rm a tio n ... 850 C ontracts Open ... 854 E lectricity S u p p ly ... 855 Generating P lant E xten sio n s ... 856
C om pany N ew s ... 857
Commercial In fo rm a tio n ... 858
M ID L A N D S O F F IC E :
D aim ler H o u se, Paradise S treet, Birm ingham T elep h o n e : M idlands 0784—5
S C O T T I S H O F F IC E : 116, H o p e Street, G lasgow , C .2 T e le p h o n e : Central 3970
The offices o f T he E le c tric ia n are closed on S atu rda ys in accordance w ith the “ Five-day W eek” plan adopted by Benn Brothers, Ltd.
S IN G L E C O PY (FRIDAY) - - 6 d .
(BY POST) - - - 8d.
A N N U A L S U B S C R IP T IO N
H O M E A N D O V E R SE A S - 30s.
Export Plan
T H E G o v e rn m e n t’s l a t e s t p la n fo r b rin g in g a b o u t a b a la n c e of o v e rs e a s tr a d e w ill in e v ita b ly in v o lv e a s u b s ta n tia l re -d ire c tio n of in d u s tr ia l e ffo rt, a n d , re la tin g th is to th e e le c tric a l in d u s try , w h a t do w e fin d ? W h a t a r e th e fa c to rs lik ely to a ffe c t th e e x p o r t p la n ?
I n th e firs t plaoe, b e fo re th e p la n c a n b e p u t in to o p e ra tio n , th e m a x im u m s u p p lie s of e le c tric ity w ith in th e n a tio n ’s g e n e ra tin g c a p a c ity m u s t b e re a d ily a v a ila b le , a n d th e coal sto c k s h e ld b y th e p o w e r s ta tio n s m u s t b e o f a v o lu m e a d e q u a te to m e e t a ll em ergencies, sh o u ld d e liv e rie s b r e a k dow n o r b e d elay e d b y w e a th e r co n d itio n s.
W ith r e g a r d to coal, w h a t is th e p o s itio n ? O n e of th e b la c k e s t p e rio d s in th e h is to ry of t h a t in d u s tr y so f a r a s o u tp u t is co n cern ed , w a s t h a t co v e rin g th e su m m e r of 1946 a n d th e w in te r m o n th s t h a t follow ed. D e s p ite th i s b a d re c o rd , ho w ev er, th e M in istry of F u e l p e rs is ts in u sin g la s t y e a r ’§ fig u res a s a c rite rio n . T h e co al p ro d u c e d so f a r th is y e a r, w h en c o m p a re d w ith t h a t in th e s a m e p e rio d of 1946, is a d m itte d ly h ig h e r in vo lu m e, b u t in v ie w o f l a s t y e a r ’s re c o rd is n o th in g m o re th a n a p e rc e n ta g e of w h a t i t o u g h t to b e if th e d a n g e rs of la s t w in te r’s c risis a r e to b e a v o id e d . A t A u g u s t 16 th e to t a l o u tp u t of coal w as 121.4 m illio n to n s , since w h e n a n d u p to S e p te m b e r
6, a f u r th e r 11 m illio n to n s h a v e b e e n ra ise d , m a k in g a to t a l of 132.4 m illio n . T h e ta r g e t s e t fo r th is y e a r is
200m illio n to n s, b u t sim p le a r ith m e tic sh o w s t h a t — ev en ta k in g in to a c c o u n t th e o u tp u t d u rin g th e th r e e w eek s of th is m o n th — th e
o
p r e s e n t r a t e of p ro d u c tio n w ill q u ite p o ss ib ly le a v e u s s h o r t of th e ta r g e t b y o v e r a m illio n to n s .
E lectricity and Coal
R E L A T I N G th e a b o v e fig u re s to th e su p p ly in d u s tr y , w e fin d t h a t a t th e e n d of A u g u s t th e a v e ra g e c o a l s to c k s h e ld b y e le c tric ity u n d e r ta k in g s a m o u n te d in v o lu m e to 5.3 w e e k s’ w in te r su p p ly , w h e re a s fro m a n e n g in ee rin g p o in t of v iew a m in im u m o f
6w e e k s is re g a r d e d a s n e c e s s a ry a t th i s tim e of th e y e a r, in o r d e r to m e e t th e se a so n a l f a c t o r s of t h e n e x t s ix m o n th s . I n th e s e c ir c u m s ta n c e s t h e d ifficu lties w h ic h m a y fa c e th e s u p p ly i n d u s t r y . t h i s w in te r a p p e a r to b e a lm o s t a s fo rm id a b le a s w e re th o s e la s t y e a r, in t h a t t h e d e m a n d fo r p o w e r d u rin g th e co m in g m o n th s w ill re q u ir e g e n e ra tin g c a p a c ity to m e e t p e a k lo a d s o v e r lo n g p e rio d s o f tim e e a c h w o rk in g d a y , w ith a h e a v ie r co al c o n s u m p tio n in c o n seq u en ce. I t is tr u e t h a t th e r e is m o re c o a l in h a n d a t th e p o w er s ta ti o n s t h a n th e r e w a s a t th i s tim e la s t y e a r, b u t b e a rin g in m in d th e f a c t t h a t d u r in g th e e ig h t m o n th s of th is y e a r so fa r, t h e t o t a l u n it s g e n e ra te d a m o u n te d to 27 269 m illion, o r 4.6 p e r c e n t, m o re t h a n d u rin g t h e c o rre s p o n d in g p e rio d of 1946, a n d t h a t th i s fig u re re fle c ts th e a rtific ia l s a v in g im p o se d b y t h e d o m e stic s p a c e h e a tin g b a n s h o r tly to b e re m o v e d , to g e th e r w ith th e r e s tr ic tio n s o n s t r e e t lig h tin g o b ta in in g d u r in g r e c e n t m o n th s
— u n le s s co al d e liv e rie s a r e su fficien t to m e e t c u r r e n t n e e d s, t h e 5.3 w in te r w eek s’
s u p p ly b u ilt u p d u rin g t h e s u m m e r m a y h a v e to b e d r a w n u p o n a t a n u n e c o n o m ic a l r a t e fro m th e s a f e ty p o in t of view .
G enerating P la n t
T H E G o v e rn m e n t re c o g n ise s t h a t th e e x p o r t d riv e w ill m a k e d e m a n d s u p o n th e e le c tric a l in d u s tr y , a n d a p p re c ia te s t h e n e e d fo r c a p ita l e x p e n d itu re o n s u c h th in g s a s n ew b u ild in g s a n d m a c h in e ry . I n th e c irc u m s ta n c e s , t h e p ro g r a m m e s fo r p o w e r s t a t i o n e x te n s io n s w ill b e p r o ceed ed w ith in t h e n o r m a l w a y in a n e ffo rt to m a k e g o o d th e s h o r ta g e o f so m e 200 M W of p l a n t n o w o b ta in in g , a n d to re p la c e t h e o v e r-a g e m a c h in e s w h ic h a r e e a c h y e a r g ro w in g in n u m b e r . T h e co m p le tio n of s u c h p ro g r a m m e s m u s t b e r e g a r d e d a s a f ir s t e s s e n tia l to th e su ccess of t h e e x p o r t d riv e a n d a r e a
g u a r a n t e e of a n e a rly b e tte r m e n t of c o n d itio n s in th e su p p ly in d u s try . T h e p r o g ra m m e s to d a te a r e p ro c e e d in g a s b e s t th e y c a n in th e c irc u m sta n c e s, b u t th e tim e re q u ire d to c o m p le te e x te n s io n s—
c o m p a r e d w ith p re -w a r— is a fa c to r y e t to b e re c k o n e d w ith , e sp ecially w h e re c iv il en g in e e rin g is co n cern ed . T h e l a t e s t p l a n t to b e a d d e d to t h e n a tio n a l g e n e ra tin g re s o u rc e s is th e 45 M W e x te n sio n a t th e V alley S ta tio n of B r a d f o r d C o rp o ra tio n , w h e re th e ce re m o n y of s ta r tin g - u p w ill b e c a rr ie d o u t to -m o rro w , S a tu r d a y .
N ew Pow er S tations
O F sp e c ia l in t e r e s t in r e la tio n to th e e x p o r t d riv e a re , to o , t h e p ro g ra m m e s p r e p a r e d b y th e C e n tra l B o a r d fo r p o w er s ta ti o n e x te n s io n s fo r 1951 a n d 1952, w h ic h p ro v id e fo r th e in s ta lla tio n of a d d i
tio n a l p l a n t a m o u n tin g in th e a g g re g a te to 3 923 500 k W a n d in v o lv in g a n e x p e n d itu re of n e a rly £190 000 000. T h e p ro g ra m m e s , w h ich in c lu d e th e c o n s tru c tio n o f 14 f u r th e r n e w s t a tio n s — sev en in e a c h y e a r — c o m p rise o v e r 60 s e p a r a te p ro je c ts , a n d p ro v id e fo r 2 306 500 k W to b e in co m m issio n b y th e w in te r of 1951 a n d 1 617 000 k W b y th e w in te r of 1952. H ith e r to , i t h a s b e e n t h e p ra c tic e of t h e B o a r d to p la n a d d itio n a l g e n e r a t
in g p l a n t fo u r y e a r s a h e a d a n d , a s f a r a s po ssib le, to a r r a n g e fo r w o rk o n n ew s ta ti o n s to b e b e g u n five y e a rs a h e a d . I n view of th e lo n g er p e rio d s n ow r e q u ir e d fo r t h e c o m p le tio n a n d co m m issio n in g o f n e w p la n t, h o w ev er, t h e B o a r d h a v e th is y e a r e x te n d e d th e ir p la n s to c o v e r in r e s p e c t of e x te n s io n s a s w ell a s n ew s ta tio n s n o t o n ly t h e f o u r th , b u t also t h e fifth y e a r a h e a d . A t p re s e n t, w o rk is in p ro g re s s a t v a r y in g s ta g e s o n e a rlie r e x te n s io n p r o g ra m m e s w h ic h p ro v id e fo r t h e in s ta l la tio n of a b o u t
6000 000 k W of a d d i
tio n a l p la n t, in c lu d in g 17 n ew s ta tio n s , b y t h e w in te r of 1950 a n d th e se , w ith th e e x te n s io n s p la n n e d to m e e t t h e a n tic i
p a te d n e e d s b e tw e e n n o w a n d 1952, th u s e n v is a g e th e p ro v isio n of n e a rly
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0k W , in c lu d in g 31 n ew s ta tio n s , a t a n e s tim a te d c o st a p p ro a c h in g £450 000 000.
E lectrica l E xp ort T arget
T H E
s t a t e m e n t m a d e b y S i r St a f f o r d Cr i p p s w h e n a n n o u n c i n g t h e e x p o r t p l a n l a s t w e e k , c h a r g e d t h e e l e c t r i c a l m a n u f a c t u r i n g i n d u s t r y w i t h t h e t a s k o fTHE E L E C T R IC IA N 19 SEP TE M B ER 1947
831 ra is in g t h e m o n th ly s h ip m e n ts of elec
tr ic a l a p p a r a t u s b y 215 p e r c e n t, b y th e e n d of 1948, w h e n c o m p a re d w ith th e m o n th ly r a t e o f 1938. A c c o rd in g to th e B o a r d o f T r a d e r e t u r n s o n o v erseas tr a d e , go o d s c la s se d a s e le c tric a l a p p a r a t u s do n o t in c lu d e h e a v y ele c tric a l m a c h in e ry b u t ra n g e fro m w ire s a n d c ab le s to d o m e stic ra d io , fro m house se rv ic e m e te r s to la m p s, a n d in c lu d e such o th e r e q u ip m e n t a s b a tte r ie s a n d a c c u m u la to r s , te le p h o n e a p p a r a t u s a n d so on. S h ip m e n ts of s u c h g o o d s b y th a e n d o f 1948, sh o u ld , if t h e G o v e rn m e n t t a r g e t is to b e h it, re a c h a v a lu e of
£4.3 m illio n e a c h m o n th , w h ich com p a r e s w ith £3.7 m illio n in J u n e la s t a n d
£4.9 m illio n in J u l y ; t h e a v e ra g e m o n th ly v a lu e of e x p o r ts o f th i s ty p e fo r t h e f ir s t h a lf o f th i s y e a r w a s £3.5 m illion.
D ead Hand o f B ureaucracy T H A T t h e in d u s tr y w ill re s p o n d t o th e e x p o r t a p p e a l m a d e to i t is n o t in d o u b t, b u t su ccess o r fa ilu re of t h e p lan m u s t b e s h a r e d w ith t h e G o v e rn m e n t, in t h a t w ith o u t a m o re w illing c o -o p eratio n o n th e p a r t of officialdom in h a s te n in g th e is su in g o f licences o f e v e ry k in d , th e w heels of in d u s tr y c a n n o t r u n a t th e ir m a x im u m m o m e n tu m . A n im p o r ta n t f a c to r a ffe c tin g p r e s e n t p ro d u c tio n , a n d o n e w h ich t h e G o v e rn m e n t a lo n e can overcom e, is t h e n u m b e r of d e p a rtm e n ts w h ic h h a v e to b e c o n su lte d b e fo re d e cisions o n p rio ritie s c a n b e re a c h e d . If th e e x p o r t d riv e is to b e m a d e a t t h a t te m p o w h ic h in d u s tr y w o u ld a t t a i n if fre e d fro m b u re a u c r a c y , th e G o v e rn m e n t m u s t c u t it s p ro d u c tio n o f red t a p e fo r h o m e c o n s u m p tio n in fa v o u r of facilities fo r e x p o rt.
Load Staggering
T H E sc h e m e e v o lv e d b y th e C e n tra l B o a r d in a s s o c ia tio n w ith th e C om m is
s io n e rs a n d th e E le c tric ity J o i n t C om m itte e , w h e re b y e a c h su p p ly u n d e rta k in g w ill h a v e a ta r g e t m a x im u m d e m a n d to w h ic h th e lo a d m u s t b e re d u c e d w h en c a lle d u p o n t o do so, beco m e s effective n e x t m o n th , a n d in v iew o f th e e x p o rt p la n th e tim e fo r o u r v a rio u s in d u s trie s u p a n d do w n th e c o u n tr y to a d ju s t th e m se lv e s to th e sch em e is, th e re fo re , in so m e c a se s b e co m in g u rg e n t. I n d u s tr y , g en erally , h a s b e e n le f t in n o d o u b t a s to w h a t is e x p e c te d o f i t in th e e x p a n sio n o f e x p o r t tr a d e , a n d th o u g h s e ttin g
ta r g e t fig u re s w h e re o v e rs e a s s h ip m e n ts a r e c o n c e rn e d m a y b e th e o re tic a l, t h a t r e l a ti v e to m a x im u m d e m a n d u p o n elec
tr ic i ty g e n e ra tin g c a p a c ity c a n be e m b a r ra s s in g ly re a l. I n th e c irc u m s ta n c e s , if lo a d sh e d d in g o f th e ty p e e x p e rie n c e d la s t w in te r is to b e a v o id e d , p r o d u c tio n p ro g ra m m e s b a s e d u p o n th e d e m a n d fo r s te p p in g u p e x p o r ts m u s t be d r a w n u p in s u c h a w a y t h a t th e local e le c tric ity a u th o r ity k n o w s w h a t i t s d e m a n d is lik ely to b e a n d w hen, a n d in a w a y t h a t a n y p a r tic u l a r in d u s tr ia l o rg a n is a tio n m a y k n o w w h e n i t s m a x i
m u m d e m a n d u p o n th e u n d e r ta k in g m a y b e m a d e . G iven t h a t c o -o p e ra tio n , th e s u p p ly in d u s tr y w ill n o t o n ly b e ab le to m e e t th e d e m a n d s w ith in th e c a p a c ity of th e g e n e ra tin g p l a n t a v a ila b le , b u t do so w ith a m in im u m of in c o n v e n ie n c e to it s c o n su m e rs in th e fo rm of lo a d s h e d ding.
P u b lic L ighting and E xp ort Trade T H E a tt e n ti o n of a la rg e se c tio n o f th e in d u s tr y h a s th is w eek b e e n fo cu sed on S o u th p o r t, w h e re th e A sso c ia tio n of P u b lic L ig h tin g E n g in e e rs to -d a y , F r id a y , c o n clu d e s a v e ry su ccessfu l five- d a y co n feren ce. A p a r t fro m th e in te r e s t ro u s e d b y t h e v a r io u s s p e a k e r s on lig h t
in g su b je c ts , n o few er t h a n te n d e m o n s t r a ti o n s of s t r e e t lig h tin g w e re s ta g e d , in c lu d in g la m p s of th e flu o re sc e n t ty p e . E lse w h e re in th is issu e b rie f d e s c rip tio n s o f th e in s ta lla tio n s a r e g iv e n a n d fro m th e s e i t • w ill b e a p p re c ia te d h o w th o r o u g h ly th e m a n u f a c tu r e r s e n te r e d in to th e s p ir it of th e co n feren ce, in s p ite of th e difficulties w h ic h h a d to b e s u r m o u n te d w ith r e s p e c t to m a te ria ls . A p a r t fro m th e ir v a lu e in t h i s c o u n tr y a s a m e a n s of lig h tin g o u r s tre e ts , i t w a s m a d e clea r a t a m e e tin g of th e E le c tric L ig h t F it tin g s E x p o r t G ro u p l a s t w eek t h a t s t r e e t lig h tin g fittin g s, a m o n g o th e rs , c a n , a n d a re , m a k in g a s u b s ta n ti a l c o n tr ib u tio n to o u r e x p o r t tr a d e . O n th is p o in t i t s h o u ld n o t b e o v erlo o k ed t h a t o n e o f th e w a y s of p ro m o tin g th e o v e rs e a s m a r k e t in s t r e e t lig h tin g e q u ip m e n t w o u ld b e to lig h t a ll o u i Own s tr e e ts in s u c h a w a y t h a t o u r p o te n tia l c u s to m e r s a b r o a d m ig h t b e in v ite d to see in o p e ra tio n w h a t is b e in g offered th e m . I f a ll o u r ow n p u b lic lig h tin g a u th o r itie s saw w isd o m in g o o d s t r e e t lig h tin g , th e n a n y sa le s re s is ta n c e p u t u p b y o u r o v e r
se a s frie n d s w o u ld b e less difficu lt to o v erco m e.
7 9 SEPTEM BER 1947 THE E L E C T R IC IA N
Portrait—Mr. F. J. Elliott
One of th e m a n y electrical engineering in terests en jo ye d by Mr. E llio tt is th a t concerned w ith rural electrification, for u n d er his guidance som e 90 p er cent, of th e farm s in a 95-acre rural area w ith o u t th e W o lverh a m p to n boundaries, have been connected since 1930. H e is, too, a m em b er of th e E .D .A . R u ra l Electrifica
tion A d viso ry C om m ittee.
* * *
Before going to W o lverh a m p to n seven
teen years ago, Mr. E llio tt w as a t Bristol w here, am ong o ther responsibilities un d er
ta k e n , he changed over a 93-cycle single
phase su p p ly sy s te m to th e standard three-phase a t a cost o f £1 000 000. I t to o k five years to com plete a n d involved th e laying o f 105 m iles o f h .t. cable and th e com m issioning o f no few er th a n 175 su b -stations.
A S Chief E n g in eer a n d M anager of th e W o lv erh am p to n u n d e rta k in g , Mr.
F . J . E llio tt can tru th fu lly claim to h ave n o t only help ed to b u ild th e su pply in d u s try from sm all beginnings, b u t to possess a p ractical know ledge of th e in d u s try b ro a d e r in its outlook th a n m an y o th ers h a v e h a d o p p o rtu n ity to acquire.
Mr. E llio tt, in his career, h as b een asso
ciated w ith tw o p a rtic u la rly in terestin g u n d ertak in g s, nam ely, B ristol a n d W olver
h a m p to n . H e joined th e form er in 1910 a fte r com pleting h is education a t U niver
s ity College, B ristol. H is progressively responsible positions th e re in clu d ed engin- eer-in-charge of ro ta ry su b -statio n s, and la te r in charge of th e m ain generating sta tio n , a ss ista n t consum ers’ connection engineer an d a s s ista n t m ains engineer.
T h e h ighlight of th is period, w hich ended in 1930, w as his w ork on th e £1 000 000 change-over schem e from a 93 cycles single-phase su pply to a sta n d a rd three- p h ase system . T his took five years, d u rin g w hich 105 miles of h .t. cable were laid a n d 175 su b-stations placed in com
m ission. D uring th e change-over, 45 su b sta tio n s w ere raised from
6kV to 11 kV w o rk in g ; Mr. E llio tt also helped to refram e th e existing system of consum ers’ an d m a in s’ records.
I n 1930, he joined th e W olverham pton e le c tric ity d e p a rtm e n t as chief engineering a s s ista n t, a n d w as soon w orking on a w holesale reco n stru ctio n of th e
6kV system . T h e lin k -u p betw een th e local u n d e rta k in g a n d th e grid h a d doubled th e
m axim um possible sh o rt-circu it kVA, an d i t w as found necessary to replace or m odify m ore th a n 300 sw itches in some 150 su b statio n s, a n d instal new gear a t th e g en eratin g statio n w ith a ru p tu rin g capa
city of half a m illion kVA.
Mr. E llio tt m ade a su rv ey of th e W ol
v e rh a m p to n d.c. system , plan n in g a change-over schem e in 1933, an d in 1937, supervised a change from a tw o-phase n on
sta n d a rd su pply in th e residential areas.
B y 1933, l.t. m ains h a d been laid in every W olverham pton street.
O ne of Mr. E llio tt’s lasting in terests is a n am bitious ru ra l electrification schem e, u n d e r w hich some 90 p er cent, of th e farm s in a 95 acre ru ra l a re a w ith o u t th e borough boundaries h ave b een con
n e c te d u p since 1930. T he linking-up of th e rem ainder is alread y w orked o u t in d etail a n d now aw aits m aterials an d labour. I t is in terestin g to n o te th a t th e tariff ra te offered to th ese ru ra l consum ers is sim ilar to t h a t in force in th e tow n area.
Mr. E llio tt’s ru ra l electrification w ork, how ever, goes beyond th is, a n d h e sits on th e E .D .A . R u ra l E lectrification A dvisory C om m ittee, as well as on tw o o th er com
m ittees of th e association. H e is, also, a m em ber of th e C .E.B . C onsultative T ech
nical C om m ittee, C entral E n g lan d D istrict, an d a past-C hairm an of th e South M idland C entre of th e I.E .E .
THE E L E C T R IC IA N 19 SEP T E M B ER , 1947
A.P.L.E. Conference
833
Street L ighting Problem s
T H E a n n u a l conference of th e Asso
ciation of P ublic L ighting Engineers opened a t S o u th p o rt on M onday an d the proceedings th ro u g h o u t th e week more n early resem bled th e ch aracter of pre-w ar gatherings th a n a n y h eld since th e end of hostilities.
IN D U C T IO N O F P R E S ID E N T
T he an n u al m eeting of th e association in th e Cam bridge H all, on M onday a fter
noon, w as followed b y th e official opening of th e conference b y th e M ayor of South
po rt, Counc. Jam es P e e t, J .P ., an d the in d u ctio n of th e president, Mr. Thom as W ilkie, public lighting engineer of Leicester, one of th e original mem bers of th e association. I t is his second term of office, h e having been elected p resid en t in 1930. I n th e evening, a reception w as given to th e delegates in th e F loral H all b y th e M ayor, Aldermen an d Councillors of S o uthport.
O th er social functions during th e week included a reception for th e ladies a t th e electricity d e p a rtm e n t’s showroom s in L o rd S treet, on T uesday a ftern o o n ; a luncheon in th e F loral H all on W ednes
d a y ; a n d a reception b y th e P resident a n d Mrs. W ilkie in th e Floral H all on T h u rsd a y evening. T o-day th ere is a tour b y m o to r coach to Chester, v ia Mersey T unnel, H oylake an d W est K irby.
On W ednesday evening th ere was an official inspection of th e outdoor dem on
stratio n s of stre e t lighting comprising a v a rie ty of installations for Classes “ A ” a n d “ B ” roads, a n d also a display of lam p colum ns for m ain ro ad a n d side road lighting, in th e Princess G ardens.
T he m orning session on T uesday opened w ith th e A ddress b y th e newly-elected P resid en t, w ho said t h a t th ree points he h a d m ade in his P residential Address seventeen years ago, m ight usefully be m ad e again. F irstly , h e suggested the need for legislation w hich w ould lay upon local au th o rities th e definite responsibility for providing efficient stre e t lighting, in stead of continuing it as a perm issive service. Too often th e installation of lighting, or otherw ise, an d m ore so th e sta n d a rd thereof, was decided on purely financial grounds.
Secondly, it w as desirable th a t stre e t lighting should be th e concern of a q u ali
fied official, especially in th e larger ad m in istratio n areas. I t should be divorced com pletely from e th e r gas or electricity u ndertakings. The proposed nationalisation of those industries m ight
D iscu ssed at Southport
m ak e divorcem ent inevitable an d , indeed, several local au th o rities w ere considering th e position t h a t stre e t lighting would occupy a fte r th e vesting d ate. A uthori
ties w hose ad m in istrativ e lay o u t did n o t perm it of a sep arate organisation, should a t least authorise one official to specialise in stre e t lighting a n d should ensure th a t, if a t all possible, he should be u n d e r th e d irect control of a com m ittee or sub-com m ittee, w hich w ould deal solely w ith lighting.
Mr. W ilkie’s th ird p o in t was th e failure, so far, to deal effectively w ith th e p rob
lem of ro ad safety. H e suggested th a t the a p p ro p ria te M inistry should nam e in every local a u th o rity , a com m ittee or official, in w hom w ould be v ested full a u th o rity a n d com plete dictatorial powers to d e a l'w it h all m a tte rs of ro ad safety.
N o public service, he added, w as m ore con
cerned w ith ro ad safety th a n lighting, an d th e M inister w ould receive from lighting officials th e ir w hole-hearted co-operation.
R E S T R IC T IO N S N O T JU S T IF IE D
T he P resid en t expressed his personal view th a t th e recent an d existing restric
tions in stre e t lighting were n o t justified b y know n facts a n d th a t th e y should be w ith d raw n im m ediately. Local authorities should be encouraged to raise existing lighting sta n d a rd s, a n d th is w as m ore th a n justified b y th e relatively sm all a m o u n t of coal involved even in full pre-w ar lighting.
Mr. A. E . M archant (B arking) an d Mr.
R o b e rt Bell (E rith) co n trib u ted a p ap er on “ S treet L ighting in R elation to R oad Safety, Traffic Problem s an d Crime P re v e n tio n .” W ith th e g reat an d growing den sity of traffic on th e roads, sta te d th e au th o rs, th ere w as increasing responsi
b ility for ensuring its passage w .th the least danger to itself an d others. Increased visibility during th e h ours of darkness w ould assist m aterially in th e problem of reducing ro ad accidents a n d casualties aris
ing from them . G iven p len ty of light in our streets, th e forces of law an d order w ould h ave a reasonable chance of dealing w ith crim e ; w ith o u t it th e ir ta s k w as m ade m uch m ore difficult. Good stre e t lighting increased th e effective stren g th of a police force, since i t n o t only enabled a n y police
m an to w atch a considerable area an d to observe from a distance, b u t i t te n d e d to discourage m alefactors owing to the increased risk of detection.
I t was su b m itted t h a t m erely to have effective lighting for th e roadw ay w as not sufficient; fo o tp ath s, too, should be well
19 SEP T E M B ER
1947THE E LEC T R IC IA N
lighted. A reasonably even level oil visi
b ility w as essential. A t nil costs, p atc h y lighting, w hich w as a fru itfu l cause oE acci
d ents, m u s t be avoided. U nless and u n til one com m on s ta n d a rd of stre e t lighting was generally ad o p ted , difficulties would co n tin u e to be en co u n tered . I t w ould bo useful as a n e x p ed ie n t if it w ere
possible to devise som e form of g ra d u a tio n of lig h t from one system to a n o th e r w hich was contiguous to it. T he lighting of isolated a reas should be avoided w herever possible.
F ro m th e safety p o in t of view, th e colour of th e light m u s t also receive consideration.
Mr. J . W oodhouse (Sheffield lighting d ep artm en t), in a p ap er on “ M aintenance of P ublic S tre e t L ig h tin g ,” re a d a t th e aftern o o n session, said th ere w as g re a t need of th e ap p lica
tio n of th e opinion of th e M inistry of T ra n s p o rt’s D e p a rt
m e n ta l C om m ittee on S treet L ighting th a t satisfacto ry m ain ten an ce w as of no less im portance th a n correct design. T he ques
tio n of m ain ten an ce should be considered in relatio n to th e design of a n in stallatio n in th e first in stan ce. In Sheffield th e y con
sidered t h a t a n in stallatio n w as “ new ” for only tw o w eeks; a fte r t h a t it m u s t be w atched an d cared fo r as a n y o th e r in stalla
tio n in th e city, rem em bering t h a t it would h a v e to sta n d fo r m an y y ears a n d t h a t its efficiency m u s t n ev er fall below a certain level. A fter describing th e p ractice ad o p ted b y his d e p a rtm e n t, Mr. W oodhouse said illum ination, m easurem ents p rovided a t th e m o st only a check on m ain ten an ce ; th ey did n o t tell w h a t w as th e cause of th e fall in illu m in atio n . C auses of d e terio ratio n w ere sufficient to require p lan n ed a tte n tio n .
D r. S. E nglish (technical director, Holo- piiane, L td .), in a p a p e r on “ S tre e t L ig h t
ing P h o to m e try ,” read a t th e m orning session on W ednesday, said now t h a t th e p re p a ra tio n of a revised s ta n d a rd specifica
tio n for stre e t lighting h ad been tem p o rarily a b an d o n ed b y th e B .S .I. C om m ittee, who h a d decided to co n cen trate on th e p ro d u c
tio n of
8. code of p ractice based on th e recom m endations of th e M inistry of T ra n s
p o rt R e p o rt of 1937, th e stre e t lighting engineer m ig h t well w onder w h at m easure
m ents he should ta k e to serve as a check on th e satisfactoriness or otherw ise of his in stallatio n a n d also as a check on th e m ain ten an ce of th e in stallatio n to a certain degree of its original perform ance. There th e y cam e u p a g a in s t a problem , th e solu
tion of w hich w as a long w ay off, a n d th e b e st m eth o d s of ap p ro ach in g t h a t solution w ere v e ry m u ch m a tte rs of personal opinion. If th e y k e p t in m in d th a t th e u ltim ate aim w as th e p ro d u ctio n of good
general visibility, th e n it was obvious th a t th re e m ajo r factors m u st be considered, n a m e ly : (
1) th e brightness of th e ro ad surface a n d b a c k g ro u n d s; (
2) th e b rig h t
ness of ty p ic a l objects or o b structions on th e ro a d w a y ; an d (3) glare. A fter discuss
ing those essential factors in tu rn , D r.
English spoke on th e considera
tion of p o rtab le photom eters.
T here were now available, h e said, th e visual com parison ty p e an d th e photo-electric ty p e. T he visual com parison ty p e, though regarded b y some as outm oded, w as, a s a m a tte r of fact, th e m ore useful in s tru m en t, since it could be u sed as a foot-candle m eter, o r as a d irect r e a d i n g brightness m easuring in stru m e n t w ith th e g reatest of ease, a n d in th e h a n d s of an experienced o pera
to r surprisingly accu rate re a d ings could be obtained. H e described a new lum eter, an d said stre e t lighting engineers w ould find th a t in stru m e n t a n im provem ent on, a n d a w o rth y successor to , th e in stru m e n t th ey k new so well before th e w ar.
Mr. R . W . Steel (C heltenham borough electrical engineer), whose p ap er on “ Side S tre e t L ighting ” was re a d a t th e T h u rsd ay m orning session, drew a tte n tio n to m any of th e problem s confronting th e illu m in at
ing engineer in designing stre e t lighting for w h at are know n as side streets, an d gave exam ples showing how th e problem s were n o t fully recognised in th e p a st, an d how m odern practice followed th e principles underlying th e recom m endations of th e D e p artm en tal Com m ittee on S treet L ig h t
ing as laid dow n in th e ir final re p o rt p u b lished in 1937. H e suggested th a t th ere should be m ore th a n tw o groups of roads for stre e t lighting purposes to p erm it g reater m o u nting h eig h t an d h ig h er values of illum ination in som e roads now falling w ith in G roup B. A tte n tio n w as draw n to th e problem of light obscuration b y trees a n d a proposal m ade th a t th e m a tte r should be considered b y th e bodies concerned a t n atio n al level. T he p ap er also a tte m p te d to show th e probable tre n d of side stre e t lighting in th e fu tu re.
* * 4
T he discussion on th e p a p e rs read a t the conference will b e given in a b s tra c t in th e n e x t issue, as owing to unavoidable p ressure up o n o u r pages th is w eek i t is beyond p ractical politics to do m ore th a n give a precis of each p ap er.
T h e proceedings a t th e an n u al m eeting of th e association on M onday, to g e th e r w ith th e re su lt of th e election of officers, are, how ever, given o n p. 838.
M R . T . W IL K I E
