PYRAMID MOWER CLAIM

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28890, 9 May 1959, Page 18

PYRAMID MOWER CLAIM

Production Manager Cross-Examined

1 An admission that he would not be able to cope with fault-finding in the Pyramid mower motors as well as a qualified hydraulic engineer was made by Antony Hamnet Julian, production manager of W. H. Price and Son, Ltd., when cross-examined in the Supreme Court yesterday. The hearing of the dispute between Pyramid Machines, Ltd., and Price and Son, Ltd., over the Pyramid hydraulic mower was being continued before Mr Justice Adams.

Had he not been assigned in October, 1956, to concentrate on fault-finding in the motors? Julian was asked by Mr R. W. Edgley, counsel for Pyramid Machines.

“I was asked to concentrate on the motors, not wholly on faultfinding, but partly,” Julian said. In October, 1956, would you regard yourself as being well versed in hydraulics?—No. You will agree as an engineer that this job with the motors should have been performed by an engineer well versed in hydraulics?—The question has many meanings. You are suggesting. I am an engineer. “You claim to be an engineer?” asked Mr Edgley. Julian: I’m not yet qualified. But you are production manager of W. H. Price and Son?—Yes. Do you suggest you could cope with the job as well as a qualified hydraulic engineer?—l’m not suggesting that. Testing Pumps And Motors

In your employer’s business, is it not usual to test all its pumps in similar conditions to those which the pumps will encounter in operation?—We test our water pumps in artificial conditions of operation, but they are not similar conditions.

Are the public warned the pumps have not been tested?— Pumps may not have had a running test, pumping water. Your studies and your practice of engineering make you know that any pump or motor before being sent out should be tested under simulated field conditions? —lt depends on the circumstances. “I know your position is difficult, but can you give any justification, with your knowledge of engineering, for these motors not being tested to simulated conditions in the field?” asked Mr Edgley.

Julian: I don’t know what the arrangement was.

As a matter of ordinary engineering practice, would you expect such tests to be carried out?—Yes, assuming that the manufacturer is setting the specifications.

Even a pump made to the pattern of someone else should have a pretty comprehensive test before it was sent out?” asked Mr Edgley. “If you are speaking of 1959, and the specifications were that it was to be tested, I would see it was tested,’' Julian replied. Julian admitted he found some positive faults in the motors from October, 1956, on, one being the end clearances df the gears. “Despite your depicting that fault, are we to understand these motors were sent out and sold?” Mr Edgley asked. Julian: There would always be a slip in a hydraulic motor.

Decree Nisi Granted.—ln an undefended petition for divorce on the ground of separation, Mr Justice Haggitt granted a decree nisi in the Supreme Court yesterday to Esther Jean Harmen (Mr H. S. Thomas) against Albert Henry Harmen.