Replacement Laminated Windscreens

To most people motor-car windscreens are of two types. one simple and cheap and the other complex and expensive. The former is the “Standard” toughened variety lifted on Most production lines and the latter is the laminated type which is tar stronger and safer, although a little more expensive than their toughened counterparts. The popular conception, however, is wrong, for when we recently visited the Isle of Sheppey factory of the Tudor Glass Company and saw VinyleX screens being made we realised that the basic process is quite a simple one. although there are tricks to every game and we would not like to compete against the experts who have an instinctive feel for furnace temperatures. for instance.

Formerly the family business known as Charles Pugh (Glass) Limited, Tudor has endeavoured to retain as much of the friendliness and personal contact as possible, and in this the company has succeeded. In a most congenial atmosphere, the factory produces laminated windscreens (they don’t make toughened screens at all) for all manner of cars and a variety Of bullet-proof windows and screens for armoured vehicle’s. They can also sandwich lettering between the laminates, a facility being used by Ford for their rally cars. Apart from making screens for almost all British-made and imported ears, Tudor has the facility for manufacturing laminated windscreens. tor rare motor cars, In some cases they have patterns in stock, but not if they are able to make their own patterns from the actual ears. This sort of service is not cheap and cannot he done in a matter of days. but at least it is possible. Enquiries should be directed to the company’s head office and factory. Vinylex Works. Queenborough, Kent, ME11 5BB.

—G.P.

A Miniature Digger,

Meccano Ltd. have added their-longest miniature earth-remover in the “Dinky” series of such machines. As if to celebrate the cut-back in expenditure on road-building programmes, this is a model, to 1/36th-scale, of the Atlas AB 1702 excavator. It runs on endless tracks, traverses through 360 deg., and has a realistic gland cab and movable buckets, arms and “hydraulic” rams. No. 984 in the Dinky Toys range, the recommended UK price is £2.75.

The NTEC

The National ‘Inaction Engine Club thrives and will support the usual traction-engine rallies this year, which are enjoyed by many car enthusiasts. At least they can claim to he using British coal, and not the more precious fuels. The last issue of the Club’s journal Steaming a long articles about early steam haulage in Yorkshire and reports of the more important 1974 events, each one listing all the rollers, tractions and waggons that attended. which might well be copied by the car-club magazines. The Membership Secretary is P. R. Dalton. 54. Woburn Gardens, Basingstoke. Hampshire, the annual subscription being 0. The Club is planning special 21-st Anniversary events for this season, including a Steam Parts at Appleford on July 12th/13th.

The Wipac Bisistor

MOTOR SPORT receives its share of accessories for test but prefers to make occasional reference to the worthwhile ones. In this catagory is Wipec`s Bisistor, a coil-like object which enables two batteries to be charged from one generator or alternator, and no interchange of current can take place between them. This Bisistor is the size of the average ignition coil but the PRO concerned never answered our query as to where on a modern car the second battery could be accommodated. However. for boats, caravans, vintage cars, etc.. where an insurance against one battery becoming discharged at awkward moments is sought. this device is obviously of interest. It is suitable for positive or negative-earth circuits and for 12-volt or 24-volt systems but not mixed circuits. Fitting instructions are on the Carton and this Bisistor is Part No. S4752 in the Wipac range of products, the maker’s address being The Wipac Groop, Buckingham, MK18 18H – W.B.