Opinions from Others.
Page 24
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The Editor invites correspondence On all subjects connected with the use of commer,ial motors. Letters should be on one side of the PaPer only, and type-written by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility
for views expressed is accepted. In the case of experiences, names of towns or localities may be withheld.
Fodens in Bath.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1092] Sir,—We note the article on page 116 of your current issue entitled, " Heavy Vehicles in Bath." Since the majority of heavy vehicles in that town are Fodens, we do not think you are justified in omitting to mention them. The following are a few names of owners of Foam wagons in Bath ;— City and County of Bath, Guildhall (2); W. A. Sheppard, Ltd., Sydney Wharf ; Coles Bros., Contractors, Peasedown St. John ; J. Elton, Echo Villa, Batheaston (2); Hayward and Wooster, Walcot Street ; Stothert and Pitt, Ltd., Engineers (2); Bath Gas Light and Coke Co., Upper Bristol Road, We hope you will give due prominence to the above facts as your article is undoubtedly misleading.—
Yours faithfully, FODENS, LTD.
[The paragraph in question was merely a note concerning three specific vehicles. There was no intention of giving a list of owners in that town. We, however, willingly publish our correspondents letter. There arc, of course, representatives of a number of other makers in Bath.--ED.j David Brown's Worm Drive. A Correction.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL 'VICTOR.
[1093] Sir,—On referring to the description of " A Well-designed Worm Drive " on page 128 in your excellent journal, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, we notice that this is a trifle misleading, as the load is equally distributed between the two journal bearings carrying the differential box and not between the two thrust bearings as mentioned in the first sentence of your description.
The last sentence should also rend " .. relatively to the journal bearings and the differential . . ." the whole point being that the two journal bearings carry an equal load, whilst with the ordinary method of mounting the worm wheel midway between these two bearings the load on one becomes far in excess of the load on the other, due to the side thrust on the worm wheel.
We should esteem it a favour if you would kindly correct this misapprehension in your next issue.— Yours faithfully, DAVID BROWN AND SONS (HUDDERSFIELD), LTD.
Suggested Boarding-house Co-operation.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MoTon.
[1094] Sir,—In August you mentioned that Douglas. I.O.M., was a. good place for inaugurating an up-todate motor ehar-k-bancs service. 'With many years' knowledge of the beautiful island, I quite agree with you. The great difficulty will be in the use of tact and diplomacy to get a start. We have commenced this year here, which is 30 miles from the Isle of Man, and a direct service of steamers has been running this year, and will run next season. We have had trips by motor from here for I.O.M. passengers to the Lake District. We have Connmer Cars carrying 34 and 30 passengers at moderate fares.
Douglas wants for a start three up-to-date ears to run trips daily (morn and afternoon) to the beauty spots at moderate charges. If the council will not license at first, the difficulty might be got over by the co-operation of several of the best boarding-house proprietors, who should run booking offices for passengers; and they should be shareholders in a 20 per cent, venture.
I should be pleased to get into touch with Mr. Kaig, of Sefton Hotel, and others I know who have email private-hire cars for their hotels, f know of a
South Coast Seaside resort where such a service has been of immense benefit in attracting visitors. Motor chars-a-banes are now so well upholstered and so perfectly sprung that passengers are often more comfortable than in touring cars.
We are in a good position regarding experience of the kind of service required and geographically are situated well to make a huge success should we be encouraged.—Yours faithfully,
WHITEHAVEN MOTOR SERVICE CO., LTD.
T. MEAGEEN.
Discounts on Sales.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1095] Sir,—We have been interested to see the correspondence from London Provincial Motor Carriers, Ltd., in your valuable paper re selling commercial motors to users at trade prices. This practice is giving people the impression that the motor trader gets such discounts as SO per cent. and 25 per cent. off the list prices. They simply cannot believe that when buyers get 10 per cent, discount from the maker they are frequently getting the van at the same price at which the agent buys, We know of one case now, where a big commercial motor manufacturing firm are simply filled up with orders and yet continue quoting a bigger discount to the purchaser than they give to the agent. lt will easily be understood that garages cannot keep open without profit ; and it would be a bad thing for the motor owner were he to find himself broken down and not able to secure parts or any assistance because the action of the manufacturer had been such as to close down the garage, and thus deprive the user of the assistance which a garage affords in ease of trouble. Surely, "the labourer is worthy of his hire," and garages, in many instances keeping open night and day, must receive some benefit in order to continue. The manufacturer himself will find if he ignores the local agent that he will experience the unpleasantness of dealing with every little complaint from the buyer, in many cases trivial, but which to the inexperienced user is often sufficient to cause him to give a van a bad name through no fault of its own, whereas these complaints, if carefully and tactfully handled by the local agent, are soon explained away, and the owner made into a satisfied user.—Yours faithfully, J. GRAHAM REECE. Liverpool.