NEW TRAMWAY TROLLY POLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13996, 31 August 1907, Page 4

NEW TRAMWAY TROLLY POLE

A successful trial was made at tho tramway airsheds yosterday morning of a reversible olect.ric tnumvhy trolly polo, which has somo distinct advantages ovor tho trolly jxilcs now in use. Tho new invention differs materially in construction and design from tho rigid polo at prceant in use, and is worked on a. tubular telescopic principle which enables it to_ remain constantly on tho overhead wires, irrcspectivo of tho direction in which tho car may bo travelling. When a car reaches a terminal point under tho present system the conductor has to leave the roar of tho ear and proceed to tho other end, trailing tho rigid polo after him, and soino time is always occupied in getting tho pulley to attach itself to tho overhead wires. While this operation is taking placc tho clcctric current is disconnected and the car is loft in darkness. On tho telescopic principle of "The Lindsay Reversible Trolly Pole," which was experimented with _ yesterday, the trolly never leaves the wire, and tho light is consequently kept burning continuously. Tho mechanism of tho polo, which has been patented, is extremely simple. In a strong, hollow iron tube, which is attached to the top of tho car in the ordinary way, a powerful spring is affixed, and into this tube a. second length of tube or polo is inserted in n tcleecopio manner. The pressure from the overhead wires on this joint presses the spring down, and the pole is thus contracted or extended as the conductor or driver, without leaving the car, may desire. It is furthei claimed for tho invention that in the event of an impending collision with ;i runawa> car the reversible principle can be 60 promptly ■applied that a car in danger can reverse its course, and run away from the threatened impact. The patentees of the new polo are two local working tradesmen— John and Robert Lindsay,—and tho matter of forming a comparl/ to work the patent was placed by them in tho hands of Mr G. S. Thomson, who informed our representative that sufficient capital had already been subscribed for preliminary purposes. Yesterday's trial,'-took place in tho presence of Mr Alexander (tratfio manager) and a number of other tramway officials, and at the conclusion of the experiments tho traffic manager expressed liis willingness to give the manager of the compny a certifioate that tho pole would do all that was claimed for it. Unlike the rigid one-piece poles now in use. the pressure from the overhead wires and olectric current is distributed evenly on the new polo and. is not all concentrated on one sido as at present. This latter principle, _ it j'q claimed by tlv} patsntsss, will diminish

to ft considerable extent the frequent bending of poles, and will obviato the ncoassity for straifihtoiunp: them after they havo been some time iii ueo