IN YOUR OPINION
Page 73
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Rate-cutting
' WOULD like to refer to the letter "Forced Out by Rate Cutting" published in your July 3 issue. In company with the writer I have, in the past, been given the opportunity of taking part in the haulage work mentioned. My recent conversation with an executive of the fertilizer company supplying the Farmers' Co-operative Association leads me to dispute the conclusion arrived at by the writer.
From the information I have it would seem that your 'correspondent has been confused by the arrangement between sellers and buyers of the material. I understand that this has permitted interested parties other than Norfolk hauliers to participate in the movement of the traffic. Indeed, I have been assured by a responsible person that at present Norfolk hauliers are taking no part in this business whatsoever. Thus it would seem that the accusation of ratecutting levelled at Norfolk hauliers is unfounded.
King's Lynn. mAuRicE C. LoAms, Norfolk.
What is a Handbrake?
I READ with great interest the editorial in your issue of I July 10 headed " What is a Handbrake?" The comment that "at one point a panel felt impelled to recommend the fitting of air-pressure boosters" I found particularly interesting. Let's look at this from another angle. Oki vehicles such as the Albion FT3, with no vacuum or air assistance, required a woven asbestos lining as this produced a very high coefficient of friction in relation .to pedal pressure. Modern vehicles such as the Dodge T 308 and the Albion RE 29, with air brakes, require a very hard moulded lining in order to give reasonably long life. Use a woven lining on the RE 29 and you get no life at all— use a normal moulded lining on the FT3 and you have no brakes! Hence you have a vicious circle.
The Affect How does this affect the handbrake? The brake lining is suited to air-assisted systems, whilst the handbrake is mechanical. As your editorial suggests, your handbrake must be air-assisted unless separate brake shoes are used for each system, as on the old Morris taxis of the 1935 era. Drum width prohibits this, of course.
There is probably no complete answer to this problem. but I can suggest an answer which is available for any present system--a lining which does produce woven-type friction and moulded-type life. This is manufactured by a Bristol company under a type-name HM2, and is, so far as I can ascertain, the only brake-lining producing a better friction after a descent of Shap than at the beginning.
Edinburgh 4. W. P. MITCHELL.
Scotland.