RIVAL TO ALUMINIUM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 48, 4 May 1942, Page 2

RIVAL TO ALUMINIUM

AMONG PRODUCTS OF BRITAIN'S CZECH EXILES In a historic London Hall, built from timber of Trafalgar men-of-war, Czechoslovakia has just shown how she has harnessed her experience to the war service of British industry. One manufacturer was forced to leave his leather factory in Czechoslovakia Avithin two hours, leaving nil his equipment behind him. "I brought only what was in my own head," lie says. To-day he is producing boots and shoes for the Aran-, Navy, A.T.S. and W.A.A.F. Another leather manufacturer is working at full pressure on fij'ing helmets for the Royal Air Force. A compatriot is turning out buttons for the Navy, Army and Air Force. A second who had a chocolate factory with branches in Austria and Poland, is suppl\ing N.A.A.F.1., and Service conteens in Britain. Others are making textiles, infra-red raj' apparatus, furniture. One Czecho Slovak master brewer is even brewing lager of the Pilsner type; in Manchester. Processes new to Britain have come in with the exiles. An engineering firm has a new alloy,, light as aluminium. The formula is a secret, for it is being used on war work. By another process non-con-ductive materials, such, as wood, plastics and fibre, can now be elec-tro-plated, thus saving much metal. Forty-six Czechoslovak firms now settled in Britain took part in the London display opened by Dr Edward Qutrata, Czechoslovak Minister of Industry and Commerce. They are only a few of the many now at work in Britain.