Correspondence.
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Second A.C. Communication.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir have pleasure in enclosing herewith the prelimin ary list of entries for these trials, which the Automobile Club considers will be one of the most important series it has ever held. Of the great value of the trials from an industrial point of view there can be no question. The trials will comprise 30 days service of each vehicle and daily examinatioii by the judges, the length of the daily run varying according to the class of vehicle. Every vehicle will be under the constant observation of the Club's officials, and the conditions of the trials will approximate to i hose of actual service. There will be four centres, namely, Oxford, Kidderminster, I.eicester, and Cambridge. The entries close at 12 o'clock noon on Wednesday, August 23rd next. I earnestly ask you, on behalf of the committee of the Club, to give as much publicity to these trials as possible, in view of their industrial importance and the great future which lies before the mechanically-propelled delivery van, not only in the more expeditious delivery of goixls, but in linking together isolated parts of the country with the towns and cities.
Yours faithfully, August ist, 19(35. J. W. ORE, Secretary. [The preliminary list of entries is given on page 419. We also deal with the matter in a short editorial.—F.D.1
Commercial Motors for India.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :I have been asked by the promoters of a motorcar transit company, now in course of formation, to secure quotations for an efficient and moderately-priced petrol car. At present the company intends running a service between Chamarajanagar and a town sorne forty miles distant, or to another place on the same road twenty-two miles away, but the question of mileage has not been definitely settled upon yet. The road under consideration is a provincial one, but the surface is properly metalled, gravelled and, afterwards, rolled; in the rainy season the surface becomes heavy, owing to the formation of ruts and pools of water. The rand, in summer, also has soft patches and ruts here and there, and there are about a dozen gradients, each from a quarter to half a mile in length, the steepest being about I in 20. The engine is to be of the internal-combustion type, constructed to use kerosene oil, as this is easily procurable in our neighbourhood at a reasonable price and is used for lighting purposes. We have two distinct kinds of heavy oil in this district. The first is called Java oil, which is moderately light and clear; the second, imported from Burmah, is a heavier oil, of a reddish-yellow colour, but is not thoroughly purified. The flash point of both the nbove-mentioeed oils is 125deg. Fahrenheit. It is intended that any car bought shall have two interchangeable bodies, suitable for both passengers and baggage carrying work, and it will he required to run at a maximum of 15, miles per hour as a pas senger vehicle, The vehicle is to have a capacity of eight to twelve persons, excluding the driver and conductor, and must have accommodation for about 4011). to Solb. of luggage per passenger. When used as a lorry, the machine will be required to carry a maximum of weight of two tons, at a rate of six to twelve miles per hour. The chassis only will be bought, with a platform for bolting down either of the interchangeable bodies. The engine should be provided with two carburetters, or vapourisers, suitable for working with both of the oils mentioned above; This being the first attempt to run a motor service in these parts, it is looked anon by the public with some misgivings as to its practicability, but, as soon as goed results can he shown, there is no doubt that other public-service vehicles will be put into operation. The price quoted should include duplicates or triplicates of all the wearing parts that require to be replaced more than once a year, and it should also include the charges for packing and delivery as well as insurance and freightage. The machine and parts will be for delivery to the Port of Madras, India. Ouotations may also include the cost of a passenger and baggage body.— Yours faithfully, N. 1•Z: RISTIN A TEXGW. Chamarajanagar, Mysore Province, India. Coal and Coke for Motor Wagon Boilers.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :--Your article on the fuel question is of special interest to me, as I am just 110AV engaged. in trying to solve the water question. A nay remarks suggest themselves, and may be of general interest. It is not generally recognised that rail locomotives are required, under two Acts of Parliament, to be constructed to, so far as is practicable, " consume their own smoke." When one conies ta think of it, no boiler-maker would concur in a description of his apparatus except on this basis, so that the term " consume their own smoke is relative Dilly and depends more on the fuel than on the furnace. The first point that I differ with you or; is that forked gas coke, unfortunately, does make sparks; so much so that the wear and tear of tar sheets is very heavy. Spark arrestors very materially choke the draughts by throwing back the dust and stopping up the smoke passages. Secondly, gas coke when fresh is excellent, but out of a stock heap it often contains as much as 45-50 per cent. of moisture, which has not only to be purchased at about 12S. per ton, but has further to be carried and then evaporated at its own expense before the heat is applied to its proper service in the boiler. Coke from small works is generally superior, though not as even in quality as that from large ones. Thirdly, you make no mention of furnace or chemical cokes; the latter is moderate only, but is to be considered in the districts where it is produced. Furnace coke is excellent, and some makers will supply a kind too small for the cupola, but larger than breeze. This is clean and not very expensive; it can be used when gas coke goes above is. per ton—a ton being worth about 25cwt. to 28cwt, of gas coke. I find the semi-anthracites prohibitive in Lancashire, on account of the carriage and heavy loss in transit and, further, in breaking up and carrying in the hunker.
If some firm could supply navigation coal in the small cobs in which the true anthracite is obtainable, there should be a market; further, briquettes of navigation dust might he a very handy fuel in many ways, and excellent for long trips, as the bunker capacity is invariably too small for gas eke.—Yours faithfully.
For the MANCHESTER MOTOR TR AN SPORT CO. LTD., C. 13. NIXON, Managing. Director.
Chester Street, Oxford Street, Manchester.