Italy gets container technology in 1927

But these electric cranes must be introduced in a worldwide scale, every major port must introduce them. andit's not onlny electric cranes, it's also ships that allow for efficient handling of containers via cranes. It's lorries and trains able to transport containers from the ports and to the ports - I mean, what's the purpose of everything being transported to ports, packed by hands into containers, packed into (new) ships by cranes sipped to (selected) ports able to unload the containers and then have them unpacked again by hand in the port?

Container transport suffers/gains from network effects, that is you require a huge amount of money invested in infrastructure to have a huge ntwork able to handle containered transportation, then the network will expand pretty much by itself as anyone participating will profit. The problem is the huge initial cost. And in case of Italy, the additional probem is that an international network is required.

However, what could easily be done is establishment of a containerized supply line for Libya.

These are good points, as was Michal B.'s on obstructionism over jobs.

I'm sure the industrialists and generals, once they see the potential, will want this and the adoption/non-adoption in any given country may well depend on local factors.

A lot may depend on how efficient the Italian system appears to work...which given Fascist Italy's OTL record on efficiency could be an issue.
 
A lot may depend on how efficient the Italian system appears to work...which given Fascist Italy's OTL record on efficiency could be an issue.

Well this system may make italian performance in par with the best commercial powers of the time, wile a less corrupt and inefficent nation will surpass all of them starting a race to copy it, this situation will actually benefit Italy, giving some years of adavantage before this happens...

Also note taht infrastructures are useful for mobilizing containers, but OTL on board cranes allows them to reach almost any port and truks an trains requie little work to be retrofitted to carrie containers.
 
Smaller containers

I suspect that, at least for some loads, smaller containers would be in order. 1920's trucks likely wouldn't like modern containers from OTL--too big. Of course, most heavy cargo transport is by rail, so big might work--but would make it less useful for military logistics away from the railhead.

I can easily see pallets one flatcar long, with several truck sized containers for areas with no rail easily available. Roll the train to the railhead, then off load the smaller containers onto trucks.

That might not be necessary for civilian use--almost every industry back then had a railroad siding.
 
I suspect that, at least for some loads, smaller containers would be in order. 1920's trucks likely wouldn't like modern containers from OTL--too big. Of course, most heavy cargo transport is by rail, so big might work--but would make it less useful for military logistics away from the railhead.

I can easily see pallets one flatcar long, with several truck sized containers for areas with no rail easily available. Roll the train to the railhead, then off load the smaller containers onto trucks.

That might not be necessary for civilian use--almost every industry back then had a railroad siding.

This idea was developed and put into use by the Pennsylvania RR in 1929 or so. the Interstate Commerce Comission decided that it was anti-compettitive and killed it in the very early 30's. It takes more than the idea sometimes you need a government that supports it.
 
This idea was developed and put into use by the Pennsylvania RR in 1929 or so. the Interstate Commerce Comission decided that it was anti-compettitive and killed it in the very early 30's. It takes more than the idea sometimes you need a government that supports it.

Good point on the gov't support. The OP mentions Fascist Italy, which has the political power and will to push just such a change if convinced of its military potential.
 
Yup, the general idea was to help Italy to industrialize at a rate sufficient to be in par with France by 1939, 12 years, beginning when it was in a good enough international position to fully benefit from a commercial revolution.

The containerization of goods and the need of retrofitting truks, ships and trains to carry the new Modulo will lead the way for standarization?

Will it make a big difference in eventual colonial wars?

Will it change the italian grand strategy?

will it gain the italians new alliances in the form of trade partnerships and join ventures?

NHBL suggested smaller conainers, may I reply with the idea of modular, interloking, pilable, metallic containers? One of the grat wonders of containers is that they forego the need of a big storage facility to protect your stuff in ports or in distribution nodes, you only need a big open field and (another idea) could be used to build instant fortifications (it happened in Genoa in 2001, to close streets during the G8 events)
 
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The article also notes that the UK was using containers even earlier than your PoD

From Conway’s ‘The Shipping Revolution’: The Modern Merchant Ship


British railway companies had experimented with containers in the 1920’s and 1930’s, but the typical construction of the times, which was wood reinforced with metal created a unit with a heavy tare weight of some three to four tons. The payload was also about four tons so that the tare to payload ratio was about 1:1. This was not good at all and railway operations of the time were in any case fragmented and unsuited to intermodal transport operations.

When change came is was from association with the developing trucking industry in the United States. The lightweight container with a ratio of 10:1 or more between lifting capacity and tare weight was developed in road transport use and transferred to sea transport in the 1950’s.




A very interesting statement is this



Building the Steam Navy, Dockyards, Technology and the Creation of the Victorian battle Fleet 1830 – 1906 by David Evans.

Page 170

Another far sighted plan, this time for containerised transport of coal to the yards, was submitted in December 1846 by the solicitors to the Bristol & Poole harbour railway, who having a floating dock at their Bristol terminus:

…by which means their iron Barges containing the Boxes with Welch Steam Coals...will be placed on the Line and conveyed without shifting, or break of gauge direct to Her Majesty’s Stores either at Gosport or Portsmouth or by means of a Pier alongside of which a Steam Ship may lie and the Coals be placed at once on board – affording thereby a continuous supply of Best Steam Coals in first-rate conditions…

They had submitted a scheme to supply 21,000 tons annually to Mr Russell, contractor for supply of coals at Southampton for the Great Western Steam Navigation Company, the P & O Steam navigation Company, and the Royal West India mail Company, and to the Engineer in chief of the last. And they had agreed to support the plan. There would be a small increase in price, but this would be compensated for by the excellent condition of the coal. This offer was not taken up.





 
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