Opinions from Others.
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Agents and the Solid Tire Trade.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
. [1396] Sir,—Cannot something of a tangible nature be brought about by the leading manufacturers of solid tires in breaking for ever the cut-throat " competition that is in existence to-day? We are one of many agents who handle "solids,!' and find it impossible to obtain fair remuneration for our efforts.
Frequently, and especially in the last few months, have we found that we have been "up against" discounts, quoted by certain manufacturers, with which it is impossible to compete. As agents, we should be able at least to be in the running. You must realize, therefore, that the position of the trade in handling " solids " is a very poor one, especially in our own case, where we have gone to the trouble and expense in installing a tire press. Out of sympathy for this, one would have thought that manufacturers would at least respect our enterprise and exertion, bridle to an extent their generous flow of discounts to users, and adopt some standard form of rebate that would be "fair to all" owners of from one vehicle and upwards. Cannot some pressure be brought to bear on the Solid Tire Committee of the S.M.M.T. to net promptly, by those manufacturers whe agree that the constant price-cutting is a disgrace to the motor trade ?-7--Yours faithfully, Per pro Jona C. BEADLE, LTD. Spital Street, Dartford. B. J. PO1RIN. The Lubrication of " Caterpillar " Chain Tracks and Other Points.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1397] Sir,—It is with very great pleasure that we have noted in your publication frequent extended references to tractors in general and to the "Caterpillar," exclusively our product, in particular. We sincerely hope that your references to tractors and tractor-farming will have proved of as much interest to the readers Of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR in your country as they have to us in this far-distant city, the home -of the C iterpillar." The first item to which we beg to call your attention is that there is only one "Caterpillar "—the tractor Holt bui. Is. Do not say " Caterpillar " unless you refer to the Holt tractor.
Secondly, we call attention to a correspondent's statements [Issue of 20th July.—En.] regarding tractors of this type of construction that are not true of the "Caterpillar." One statement your correspondent makes is to the effect that "it is impossible to lubricate the chains of these tractors in a satisfactory manner." We trust your readers are familiar with the general construction of the " Caterpillar " track, as illustrated at various times in your publication, and as described in an article on the " Caterpillar " in your issue of 2'7th January, 1916. The track, which takes the place of the drive wheels on the ordinary round-wheel tractor, is made up of overlapping shoes and links which foil'', the track chain. This chain runs around two large sprockets—a blank sprocket in front that .simply carries the weight of the track chain and serves as an idler, and a toothed sprocket in the rear that engages with pins and ,sleeves connecting the links to drive the tractor.The weight of the tractor is borne by steel truck wheels that run on the steel rails ;mimed by the upper surface of the links. Thus, the tractor, actually rolls along on these wheels which, as explained above, run not upon the ground but upon the steel track which the machine lays downs rolls over and picks up again. All of this may sound more or less complicated to the uninitiated and, at first sight, the track may appear complicated, but years of experience in the construction of the " Caterpillar" have enabled us to simplify the design of the track to the point that as now built it is simple, long-lived, easily and perfectly lubricated, and wear is confined to cheaply-replaceable parts that keep upkeep expense at a minimum.
A study of the track construction and operation shows that the track shoes are simply laid down and picked up again, so there can be little wear at that point. The truck rollers simply roll over the links, so neither rollers nor links are subjected to any very great amount of wear. Practically all the wear is confined to the pins and sleeves with which the sprocket engages. The track is so designed that these pins and sleeves drop straight in and rise straight out from the sprocket, reducing the inevit able wear to a minimum. Moreover the pins and sleeves are made of case-hardened steel, which is exceptionally wear-resistant, and ordinarily they will last two or three years, when they can be replaced at less cost than a single master gear for a round wheel tractor.
So successfully has friction been avoided and so wear-resistant are the materials from which the " Caterpillar " track is constructed, that in some sans, impossible as it may seem, "Caterpillars " have been known to work successfully with no lubrication of the track. Ordinarily, of course, the track requires B43 lubvication, and the amount of lubrication required depends upon the nature of the ground or road surface. Sand, and mountain roads composed of heavy rock dust, present the most unfavourable conditions, but even under these extreme conditions, the " Caterpillar " has given and is giving completely satisfactory service. Lubrication of the track is taken care of by means of drip oilers, which have proved highly successful. In every case that has come to our notice, the " Caterpillar ' track has given service in excess of the purchaser's highest expectations. A few instances may. prove interesting.
Oas owner of a "-Caterpillar," after running his tractor anore than 6000 miles, found that the upkeep expense of the track, including a liberal allowance for depreciation, was less than the tire expense of his pleasure automobile. Another man, who had used a wheel tractor for sonic years previous to the time he purchased a "Caterpillar," says this of the " Caterpillar " after a year's use : "The outfit has not cost me a cent in repairs it still looks as good as new. You cannot see any wear on the track at all. I figure it will last three years before rebuilding is necessary." In two years, a " Caterpillar " owner who used his tractor largely for contract work, did $18,483.00 worth of, work (about 23700) with a total repair cost of less. than $200.00 (240). We might go on and cite scores of similar cases, but these are "straws which show which way the wind blows." Your contributor's later statement, that. "it would almost appear that the most efficient type of tractor for general farce work is that fit.ted with ordinary driving wheels, and not that utilizing a track-laying chain, is doubtless occasioned by a double misunderstanding on his part. First, be assumes that the track upkeep is expensive, which we trust we have shown is not the case. Second, he assumes that tractors of this tyPe are designed especially for work on !oft. swampy' ground, and are not, therefore, to be recommencied for general work. For work on soft, swampy ground other tractors, and often even horses,. cannot be used, so that the Caterpillar " stands alone, in a class by itself, in its ability to do such work. However, the " Caterpillar " has advantages not confined to that work. Round-wheel tractors, tvorking upon almost any farm land, pack the grcnind with their drive-wheels to such an extent that. crops are seriously damaged. The " Caterpillar " has its weight digtributed over such agreat surface by means of the tracks that the pressure per square inch under the tracks is less than that under a horse's hoof or a man's foot—only about onetenth that of the ordinary round-wheel tractor.
Another advantage of the " Caterpillar " is found in its avoidance of slippage. Rcnurd-wheel tractors. with small contact between their drive wheels and pround surface, lose much of their power in slippage. This slippage, though slight when light loads are drawn, rapidly increases with the size of load hauled and, with the heavy loads the tractor is generally required to pull, is responsible for a very considerable loss of power. The "Caterpillar" tracks provide so much ground contact that slippage is completely out of the question—the " Caterpillar " delivers its full drawbar horse-power, without waste or loss. For the foregoing reasons the " Caterpillar " is a tractor for every sort of tractive and belt work—not tor a few special conditions. Not only can it perform work that other tractors cannot do, but it does all the work other tractors do and does it better. Equipped with round wheels,. this tractor would stand on a par with the hest of that type. Equipped. as it is, with tracks, the " Caterpillar" stands in a class by itself _ These are not mere claims, coming from an unquestionably-biased sourde, because the " Caterpillar " has repeatedly been awarded highest honours at expositions, motor shows and contests of international importance. Notable among these was the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, held in this B44 country during 1915, which awarded the "Caterpillar" the Grand Prize—the, highest possible award.
The writer realizes that these remarks are rather extended, but begs the tolerance of yourself and your readers, and trusts you will appreciate the motives that prompt him. To one who has "grown up" with the "Caterpillar," who has been identified most of his life with its development, it seems particularly unfortunate that a contributor to your publication should pass unfavourable judgment upon the " Caterpillar " after casual observation. We have, however, the satisfaction of knowing that the" Caterpillar" really has made good. To Mr. Benjamin Holt, inventor of the " Caterpillar " and present president of this company, and the only surviving one of the founders of the company, as well as to us of the second generation' it is gratifying to know that there are today more than 3000 Caterpillars," in 25 different countries of the world, working sticcessfully and giving satisfaction to their owners.—Yours faithfully,
THE HOLT MANUFACTURING CO., By PLINY E. HOLT, Tice-President. Stockton, California.
[Oar own editorial opinion of the " Caterpillar " i3 highly favourable, as more particularly expressed in our descriptive and illustrated article of the 27th January last, to which Mr. Pliny E. Holt refers at one Part of his letter —ED.]
Cost of Running a Five-ton White Truck.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1398] Sir,—Further to your recent article giving the cost of running of a White five-ton chassis, the following, which is the White Co.'s estimate, may be inter
esting heaviest item is depreciation, and here owners of White trucks throughout the world figure 23 per cent, of the initial investment as annual depreciation, and we have made our calculations on this basis. This drites the capital figure off in four years, but the trucks are still good for similar service for at least two years, and even then have a fair market value. To our knowledge, a White truck has never yet worn out in commercial service; many vehicles are scrap in two years service. We would be quite justified in spreading the depreciation over a period of six or eight years, but we have adopted the safe course of deleting the capital sum in a very short period.
The five-ton White. chassis is capable of doing six miles to the gallon of petrol. Experience has shown us that this figure is generally exceeded, but we have endeavoured to put the worst possible feature on motor traction as far as cost is concerned. The fiveton figures run : — Petrol ... 5.50d. per mile.
Oil ... ••• _13d• „ „ Tires ... ••• ... 1.56d. „ 7.19d. „ „ On this basis a five-ton truck running, say, 35 miles per day, would cost 21 Os. lid., and for a year, run:. ning, say, 10,000 miles, 2299 Ils. 8d., to which we have to add :— Depreciation, 23 per cent. on 21050 ... 262 10 0 Insurance ... ... 17 0 0 Driver at £2 5s. a. week. (As we have said before, this should secure a first-class driver capable of carrying out running adjust
ments.)... III 117 0 0 -9
summary 29 11 8 2723 1 On this basis a five-ton White costs 1.45s. per fiveton mile to run. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that these figures are based on the present abnormal price of petrol and oil.—Yours faithfully, WRITE MOTORS AND ACCESSORIES, LTD