Opinions from Others.
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The ECMr invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one sice Of the paper only and typewritten by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for views expressed is accepted.
Chain Track phis Ordinary Motor Vehicle Equals Agrimotor.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1404] Sir,—Taking a very keen interest in the matter of good production, which, in my opinion, is one of the most serious problems we have to overcome, I beg to ask for a few lines of your valuable space.
1 note with pleasure that Mr. S. F. Edge has been appointed to have charge of the supply of implements and machinery required for the cultivation of additional land for food growing. I cannot, however, see that it is possible to obtain a sufficient supply of tractors in time to be of efficient service for this year's crops. Time is of paramount importance; the ploughs should be turning up the new land now. I beg to ask your consideration of the following sug
gestion, and, if you consider it practicable, I shall be pleased if you will bring it to the notice of Mr. Edge; or use it in any way you think best.
In your issue of 28th December, page 390 (new patents), you show a caterpillar-type attachment for fitting to ordinary motor vehicles. In case this attachment has been thoroughly tested and proved practicable, and a supply is obtainable or could be obtained quickly, the situation could be relieved very considerably. I feel certain that a large number of owners would adopt it. Motors at present standing for lack of drivers could be put to good work, and at the same time reduce the number of tractors imported, relieve shipping and reduce initial cost. I will gladly equip some of my vehicles if a suitable attaehment can be obtained. The real success of the
additional food production will depend principally on motor traction. It is " up " to all owners to render every assistance in their power.—Yours faithfully,
Oregson Lane, Preston. J. HODSON.
[We deal editorially with this proposal.—ED.] "Pressing" Charges in Liverpool.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1400] Sir,—I beg to advise you that a meeting of those interested in the pressing on and off of solid tires in Liverpool and district was held on the 8th inst. In consequence of the large advance in labour, it was unanimously decided to charge the following rates, as from the 1st February, 1917 : MM. sizes.—Each tire up to and including 100 section, 3s. on or off.
American sizes.—Each tire up to and including 4 ins. 3s. on or off. Mi. sizes.—Each tire over 100 'section, 4r. on or off.
American sizes.—Each tire over 4 ins., 4s. on or off.
I shall be obliged if you will kindly refer to this matter in your next issue.—Yours faithfully,
ERNEST J. WALKER, Divisional Secretary,
The Motor Trade Association. 5, Castle Street, Liverpool.
Whitening of herbs.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1406] Sir,---T have been interested in your editorial in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR of the 21st December, 1916, on the whiteniog of kerbs, and agree with you that this is one of the little jobs that would be far better, in my personal opinion, carried out by some sort of committee or combination of the municipal authorities, rather than individually.
As done now, it is certainly difficult to whiten kerbs extensively and regularly, the work being generally effected by men often more or less old and infirm and their equipment seldom consists of anything better than a pail of whitewash and a broom ; consequently their working efficiency is exceedingly low. Do you not think that a couple of men with any kind of motor vehicle, combined with a tank of suitable whitewash, and one of the simple compressed airspraying devices which are sold for painting ship sides and whitewashing large buildings, would enable one to tackle this problem rapidly? Probably one vehicle and two men, working on every fine night, could keep quite a large area sufficiently whitened.
I do not know whether the authorities have given much attention to the composition of the whitewash or not, but I think the addition of certain binders of a. glue or size-like character to ordinary lime wash would probably prolong the useful life of the whitening very considerably.—Yours faithfully,
• 3. W. BEATICHAMP, Engineer and Manager, West Ham Corporation Electric Supply.
We are inclined to think that some special kind of apparatus mast be evolved. The pail and brush is a crude method of whitening on the large scale. A small truck, to be pushed along the channel by hand, close to the kerb. with a regulated delivery on to a revolving brush might serve. A certain amount of experimentation is unavoidable, to meet the new circumstances.. A sprayer, we are afraid delivers too thin a film, and consequently the limewash would run whereas one really wants it applied in a fairly uniform line, which apparently will involve a mixing of slightly thicker consistency than is usual for marking out a tennis court, or for E raying. What about using the volunteers? As to the use of glue, we agree. A durable limewash is recommended to us as follows:—Slake oue bushel of ordinary stone lime with boiling water, keeping it covered during the process; strain it, and add two pecks of salt dissolved in warm water, 61b. of ground rice put in boiling water and boiled to a thin paste, 1 lb. of boiled Spanish whiting. and 11lb. of first-class glue or gelatine dissolved in hot water. The ingredients should be thoroughly amalgamated, and the mixture allowed to stand several days before using. It should be kept in a kettle or portable furnace and applied hot. The actual consistency can no doubt be varied by the water addition, according to observation in use—Ko.1
Higher Railway Rates.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1407] Sir,—When emptying some trucks of read stone at a small station near here, the stationmaster showed me a new order he had received, viz., that in future all tractors, motor wagons, etc., left standing on the wharves would be charged for at the rate of 2s. per night, even if hauling rail-borne goods. If this is carried out, it will come heavy on small contracts, as at present the deliveries are very irregular, and we have to stand more nights than we care about. It means adding 14s. per week to our expenses, and, as we are in competition with carters, it handicaps us a good deal.
I take it that they could hardly charge us for 'coxing the trailers set overnight? It is a great convenience to be able to load while steam is getting up, and leave the other trailer loaded, so as to get the two away in daylight, and load last and first thing. Can you stir the matter up? They tell us they want the trucks emptied, and then put obstacles in the way,— Yours faithfully, WM. VAUGHAN. Bretford Hill, near Rugby.
[We refer to this topic on page 434._En.l
Compensation for Char-a-bancs Owners.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1408] Sir,—Re your note in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR of the 14th December, 1916, "Compensation for Char-k-bancs Owners," allow me to state that in my estimation such owners are a very law-abiding lot, and a lot that take their medicine very quietly, or I think we should have seen more discussion and opinions fexpressed in the trade journal (namely, the " C.M.") on a good many people having their businesses taken clean away by the restrictions placed on the char-lebancs owners. I refer chiefly to owners who have no changeable bodies, and who chiefly rely on touring and passenger carrying ; also to owners who are situated in districts where very little, if any, lorry work is to be had.
I contend such owners are justly entitled to compensation, but the amount is the difficult question, as char-h-bancs work fluctuates a good deal ; sometimes one is too busy and the work cannot be got through, and at other times rather quiet, different times of the year make a difference. One year cannot be taken as a criterion for another, but last August, when the ban was placed on owners, things were promising, and I claim that under the present strain workpeople need plenty of fresh air, after having their chins on the. grindstone week after week, and what is char-it-bancs but a poor man's motorcar? The congestion of the railways at the present time and curtailment of train service call for this question to be moved. Then comes the motive power. Owners are told to use substitutes, but there are too many of these things on the market, as some owners have found out to their cost, and every owner is not, a chemist, nor does he spend £500 to £800 on a thing to have the vital part ruined by using substitutes. Why do not we hear of people in other businesses, after having their living taken away by the authorities, told to get on with some substitute, instead of being compensated? Well, one thing is sure, that the country's revenue will suffer a little while the present state of things exists, as there Will be more than one char-is-banes stored away this month—no use, no licence ; and the owners will show their patriotism by releasing their paltry few gallons of petrol allowed them per month, so that some private pleasure-car owners will have a little more to fly about with, and at the same time suffer loss through depreciation, etc.—Yours faith
fully, " SQUARE DEAL."
[We trust that char-a-bancs owners will arrange to use cosi-eas as fuel—Eu.1