Out and Home.
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N.T. Tires and Mud. Magneto Material. " Expert" Tale
By "The Extractor."
Mr. Alec flora' until recently draughtsman at the well-known Peckham coach works, is now with a Territorial regiment, attached to a Kent depot, and driving an officer's car.
It will be seen by the accompanying letter that Mr. Fenner, the general manager controlling the K.T. tires, gives many reasons why K.T.s, with their peculiar formation are invaluable for roads of quagmire and for snow. The points he makes about portions of the tire being shot away and the tire's being still effective are quite good ones. Meanwhile, I am sure that the Editor will welcome further correspondence from makers and inventors on this seasonable topic.
One or two talks with British magneto makers lately reveal the fact that they are proceeding very satisfactorily if slowly. One renowned electrical concern could turn out by now very large quantities -of all sizes but for the difficulty in obtaining the insulating material. The operation of winding the small armatures was perplexing to the British operative, but that has been surmounted, and the results are quite satisfying. There is an American magneto of which I hear excellent accounts, which on one _famous American motor-bicycle, for instance, is used exclusively. This has a great sale in this country. So, taking it altogether, OUT magneto troubles should not last very long.
His hair, I believe, was curly. He had blue eyes, .a Rock of Ages expression and I think he had the words "motor expert" on his business card. He .certainly designated himself as the chief engineer of his motor company, and the gentleman he was interviewing could get no lucid answerit to some simple inquiries -which he put as to the type of engine and transmission in use. "What is the horse-power of your engine ? " and the following illuminating replies, of course, cleared up everything. "Our vehicles, when driven carefully, never exceed the speed limit, so there need be no fear.that there is not sufficient power developed." "Is it chain or gear drive ? " was the first query. "Both," was the confident reply.
C33 Dear Mr. Extractor,
In the issue Of COMMERCIAL MOTOR for the 5th
November, under the heading "Out and Home," there is one paragraph headed "The Great Mud Problem" and another under War Items, which, if read together, produce food for thought, because they show that some brains have been strenuously exercised on the part of the Czar or his advisers, and that, foreseeing difficulties which will accompany the use of motor transport during the winter campaign, the Russian authorities have given orders to fit a large fleet of armoured vehicles and transport vehicles with K.T. tires. This is not the time or place to enlarge upon the many merits of K.T. tares, except to say that such important authorities as the War Office, the Office of Works, the London County Council and dozens of fire brigades have used them for many years. We have amongst some of the most eminent users of K.T.s for light touring cars, Lord Fisher, Sir Percy Scott and Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. The last two named gentlemen have actually sent Us unsolicited testimonials, and those amongst others will justify the emphatic claims we make, which are as.follow:—No endless tires, pneumatic or solid, will enable any vehicle to be used with reliability or certainty in the war area when wet weather sets in, or when the ground has become
"churned" by constant traffic, and if, added to these conditions, there is a fall of snow, then the vehicles will be totally out of action.
K.T. tires will enable a vehicle to be pro pelled under all the above conditions. Further, while a pneumatic tire would become useless after being hit under fire, and would so put the vehicle out of action, it would be possible still to travel with K.T. tires even if some of the rubber studs were blown away or maliciously cut. In fact, it every stud were so removed the vehicle could still be used, because there is a layer of rubber between the perforated rim and wheel which would act as a cushion to reduce road shock, while the perforations in the rim would act as a gripping device upon the road.—Yours faithfully,
THE COMMERCIAL TYRE Co., LTD., L. FENNER, Manager.