858 REPORT—1899, 
copper adheres firmly to the silver, and together they form the reflector, 
which is subsequently separated from the glass mould by placing the whole 
in cold or lukewarm water, and then gradually raising the temperature of 
the water to 120° F., when the metal reflector will leave the glass mould, due to 
the unequal expansion of the two. The concave surface of the reflector obtained 
is an exact reproduction of the surface of the mould and has the same brilliant 
polish, and requires no further treatment to answer all the purposes of a reflector 
with the exception that it must be coated with a film of some suitable metal to 
prevent it tarnishing. Palladium is found to answer this purpose best, as a bright 
coating can be deposited rapidly to any desired thickness. Palladium resists tar- 
nishing and the heat of an arc to a wonderful degree. 
4, Signalling without Contact, a New System of Railway Signalling. 
By Witrrep 8. Boutrt, Assoc. MInst.C.£. 
5. Our Lighthouses of the English Channel in 1899. 
By J. Kenwarp, C.2., PSA, 
This Paper dealt with the Sea Lights and Lightships of the English Channel ; 
enumerated them from West to East; described their origin, characteristics, and 
intensities; referred incidentally to certain French Lights on the opposite coast ; 
reviewed the various illuminants of gas, oil, and electricity, as also sound-signals ; 
and suggested the probable condition of lighthouses in the near future, 
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. Recent Experiences with Steam on Common Roads. 
By Joun I. Toornycrort, £.#.8. 
Introduction. Hancock’s vehicles; difficulties of early builders; revival of 
interest during past few years; the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896; objec- 
tions to the present tare limits; current French practice; the Lancashire lurries; 
suggested amendment in the law as to tare limits; case of a vehicle transporting 
ten tons net; House of Commons Committee, 1832, extract from Report; expe- 
rience on Russian railways; motor vehicles with trailers. 
The Thornycroft Vehicles.—(1) One-ton steam van; description; the air con- 
denser; advantages and disadvantages of air condensers; air condensers with 
radiating gills and circulating fun. (2) The Chiswick dust carts; description ; the 
boiler; engine; gearing; steering; air condenser. (3) The steel tip-wagon; con- 
struction; annular boiler; engine; speed of vehicle; availability for different 
services; wheels; steel disc wheels; latest practice in wheels; felloe drive. 
(4) The passenger carriage; belt differential gear; action of belt gear; belt adhe- 
sion to pulleys; further experiments. (5) The brewer's dray; performance in 
actual service ; cost of running; controlling arrangements; boiler; engine; feed- 
heater; superheater. (6) The chainless steam wagons; traction engine practice 
in transmission gearing; description of the chainless drive; the spring drive; 
speed ; hill-climbing power; two-speed gear; free engine. 
Summary of leading features in latest designs.—Vhe motor vehicle; boiler ; 
engine; feed-pump; injector; steering-gear; variety of service; choice of fuel ; 
the driver ; the repair shed; table of results ; comments on table of results; con- 
cluding remarks, : 
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