BICYCLE LAMP BATTERIES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 6

BICYCLE LAMP BATTERIES

SHORTAGE AFTER POWER CUTS It is almost impossible to obtain batteries in Christchurch for bicycle lamps. There has been a serious shortage for about a month, stocks being sold out when the restrictions on electric power were enforced. Many people, who could not buy torch batteries purchased bicycle lamps using double-cell batteries and this left cyclists’ normal demands unsatisfied. Retailers said yesterday that otherwise their stocks would have met ordinary requirements. Reserves of raw material held by dry-battery manufacturers were exhausted quickly in meeting the exceptional demand for torch and bicycle lamp batteries. Now no zinc is available and factories are awaiting the arrival of shipments from Australia. One dealer said he understood that zinc had been loaded on the Pamir for New Zealand; but that it was replaced by cement. Manufacturers hope to resume their normal output within a month; but this depends on shipping. It is possible to link two torch batteries side by side and lead a metal tongue to the bulb in the regular type of bicycle lamp: but bicycle shop mechanics consider this job “fiddly.” Torch batteries are not yet plentiful.. Dynamo lighting sets for bicycle lamps came to hand in fair quantities a few weeks ago and many cyclists have preferred fitting these on their machines to waiting for batteries to arrive.