Opinions from Others.
Page 15
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A Vaporizer that Takes All Fuels.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1130] Sir,– Now that the question of Homeproduced fuel is being largely discussed as an alternative to petrol, which has already reached a prohibitive price and which promises to rise still higher in the immediate future, we think it would be a matter of considerable interest to your readers to know that the new fuel, benzol, can be as efficiently and economically used by the " G.C." vaporizer as are the commonest grades of paraffin. A further advantage of the "G.C." system is that benzol can be mixed with paraffin in any percentage and give the most perfect results in energy and flexibility.— Yours faitiafully, THE G.C. LTD. 11, Hart Street, W,C.
Which Mr. Louis Peter ?
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[11313 Sir,—We are sorry to see that on page 326 of your issue of 12th December you state that Mr. Louis Peter is now identified with the Liga Gummiwerke. This is misleading, as naturally the trade will imagine that Mr. Louis Peter, whose name appears under the title of the Mitteldeutelle Gummiwarenfabrik, Louis Peter, A.G., is now connected with our company. As a matter of fact, this Mr. Louis Peter has nothing whatever to do with our company, and Mr. Louis Peter, who is one of our directors is a nephew of this gentleman. Our Nir. Louis Peter, who used to be with the Mitteldeutche Gumraiwarenfabrik, Louis Peter, A. G. also, left this company, together with other gentlemen, and formed the present Liga Gummiwerke.
As we want it to be known to the trade that we have nothing whatever to do with the Louis Peter of the Mitteldeutsche Gummiwarenfabrik, Louis Peter, A.G., we would request you to mention this fact in your next issue. By doing this you will oblige.—Yours faithfully,
THE LIGA GUMMIWERKE, LOUTS PETER. Frankfurt, a.M.-Hausen.
Hydraulic Petrol Storage and Frost.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[We hope the risk of cionf aeon is removed.--Eo.]
[1132] Sir,—We note under the heading of "One Hears " in your issue of the 5th inst., a remark "that petrol in tank store loses about 10 per cent, of its bulk by evaporation in six months."
In reference to this, we think it may interest you to know that, by the adoption of our hydraulic system, the evaporation from this source is entirely eliminated, inasmuch as in our tanks there is no air space for vaporization.
We may mention that we are installing the largest petrol storages in London for a new omnibus company, and we have now working several other installations for different omnibus and taxicab companies. We have had no trouble in regard to frost where our system is employed, as, in most cases, the water cistern is inside a garage, and we think were garages ever to become so cold as to freeze our system, the motorbuses or cabs, etc., would also freeze up.
Should a very severe frost occur, all trouble can be eliminated by merely hitching up the main watercontrol valve so as to allow a slight trickle of water to run during the night, or any time that the system is not in use.
Our method of storing petrol is in use in the United States, in places where the temperature goes 20 to 30 degrees below zero, but we never hear of any complaints of freezing up.—Yours faithfully, 3, Ringsway, W.C. BYWATER AND CO. Tilting Tests of Motorbuses.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[[133] Sir,–Your illustration of the tilting of an uniaden Daimler motorbus to an angle of 43 degrees from the vertical, which is published on page 345 of the issue for the 19th inst., recalls earlier calculations and illustrations of a like nature. I observe that you refer to these in the paragraph which accompanies the reproduction. It is quite clear that a double-deck omnibus of standard pattern can be safely tilted to an angle in excess of 40 degrees from the vertical, but demonstrations of this kind are scarcely comparable with events as they may happen on the highway in service. It is not easy, I would like to point out, to calculate the safe angle of tilt for a motorbus under possible conditions which may arise. For example, take the case of a vehicle sideslipping, or which is a worse case still, of one slipping sideways bodily, and coming in contact with the kerb at relatively-high velocity. It here becomes a question of kinetics, and anybody who likes to run out the figures will see that the safe angle of tilt may very well be reduced to one of 20 degrees, or less, from the vertical. That possibility of catastrophe does not take into account the giving way of the bolts which hold the body down to the frame.—Yours faithfully,
R. J. WILLIAMS.
[The occurrences which our correspondent pictures have, of course, to be recognised as conceivable possibilities. The practical safety of the motorbus is proved by the occurrence of no such overturning in many years of practice. Once only, according to official records, bee the body come away from the frame, and there were serious grounds on that occasion for the belief that the holding-down bolts had never been secured. The angles of cross-fall in London thoroughfares will probably be reduced year by year, and the surfaces etill be kept in a cleaner condition. Furthermore, drivers are better able to avoid side-slip.—Eo.] "Two Points of Law."
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1134] Sir,—You have already in one of your issues stated that the use of a trailer does not lessen the speed at which a vehicle can travel in point of law. When Mr. S. F. Edge introduced a luggage carrier with the Napier car, I understand that the use of this was prevented by reason of the fact that legally it was taken to be necessary for any vehicle drawing a trailer to travel at a speed not exceeding five m.p.h. We., therefore, heard no more of the Napier luggage trailer for use with motorcars. If, however, your contention that the use of a trailer does not limit the speed of the vehicle is correct, how handy such a trailer as designed by Messrs. Napier would be to the touring owner, or to the vehicle that fetches the guests from the station. The luggage, instead of being brought up by a luggage cart, could be placed in the trailer, and luggage and guests would arrive at the house at the same time.
A most-important question for commercial-motorvehicle users, is—What is the unladen weight of a motorcar ? A vehicle fitted with rubber tires, the unladen weight of which is under two tons, can travel at a speed of 20 miles an hour, and does not require to have the speed and axle-weights painted on the frame. I take it, that the unladen weight of a motor vehicle, is the vehicle without body, fuel or accumulators, since it is held that the body, fuel, accumulators, etc., may be considered part of the load. Will you please clear up once and for all the two legal points raised above '1—Yours faithfully.
"ENQUIRER."
[It is only when a trailer is hauled by a motorcar that weighs two tons or less unladen, that the speed may legally be a maximum of 20 mph. A heavy motorcar, i.e., one with an unladen weight in excess of two tons, even though it he fitted with rubber tires, may not legally draw one at a speed in excess of 5 imp h. As to the definition of unladen weight all removable portions of the body-work, except the bare platform, are often allowed to be excluded.—Eo.]