Contributions from Drivers and Mechanics.
Page 19
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TEN SHILLINGS WEEKLY for the Best Communication Received, and One Penny a Line of ten words for any thing else published.
Drivers of commercial-motor vehic.es and tra_tors, and mechanics and foremen of garages or shops, are invited to send short contributions on any subject which is likely to prove of interest to our readers. We.rkshop tips and smart re/'airs; long and successful runs ; interesting photographs all are suitable subjects. Send a post-card, or a letter, or a sketch to us—no matter how short, or how written, or how worded. We will " knock it into shape" and prepare sketches, where necessary, before publication. The absence of a sketch does not disqualify for a prize. When writing use one side of the paper only and mention your employer's name as a guarantee of bona fides. Neither your OTE7i nor your employer's name will be disclosed. Payment will be made immediately after publication. Address your letters to The Editor, 'inc COMMERCLAL MOTOR. 7-75, kosebery Avenue, London, E.C.
Coal Consumption.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the 108. prize this week.
[977] "0." (Southsea) writes: ---" I should like to say a few words about the engine which is shown in the accompanying photograph [We reproduce this herewith.—En.] At the time of writing the machine is at Plymouth ; most of its runs are between Portsmouth, London, and Reading. I have read the recent correspondence with regard to coal consumption, and especially with regard to the reputed performance of the wagon belonging to Thomas Harry and Co., of Upper Clapton. [Letters No. 950, 951, and 952, in our issue for the 2nd Novernbcr.—En.] When the driver of this last wagon has had more experience of long journeys on the road all over the country, he will find that when he has got a full load he will not be likely to he able to use less than 30 cwt. for a 400-mile journey, this to include lighting-up each morning, When I am running in London, I can go from Hyde Park or the Marble Arch to Aldgate Pump without touching the fire once, Any driver who has only done town work has a lot to learn.
'On journeys from Portsmouth to such olaces as Penzance, Bath, Bristol, Guildford, Birmingham, Newmarket, Cambridge or Northampton I average, as a rule, from 3.1 owt. to 4 cwt. for over 50 miles of running. When I am travelling about London. I average about 21 cwt. for 50 miles. This is on a five ton Foden, it must be remembered.
"I have had 19 years of travel ling all over the country with such meehines as Burrell's and Fowler's traction engines. For the last 10 years T have been having experience with Fodens, LeyLinde, Sentinels and Yorkshires. I am happy to say I have never yet had an accident, and I have not yet been left on the road, with the exception of one night, when I was stuck up for want of water. I have had two summonses, one for having no man on the trailer, and the other for the tare weight not being marked on the trailer.
"I have had TEE COMMERCIAL MOTOR ever since it was first published, but I think some of the drivers who write to you put things in their letters which they make up out of their own heads.
"1 do all my own repairs, including tubing. I regret that T have never yet had a chance of being at one of the C.M.U.A. parades. There are lots of good men on the road with wonderful records with their wagons who 'have never had a chance of the sort yet."
A School for Drivers Wanted.
[978] "P." (Walham Green) writes :—"I was anxious to obtain a licence to drive the new 'B' type bus and, after nearly a month's tuition, passed the Scotland Yard test in October last, When I applied to the company for a situation, I was informed that I had better call again in March next. I wasted a month to get the necessary teaching, and during that time could have been in regular employment. As the commercial-motor vehicle has come to stay, would it not be good business if an enterprising engineer procured one of these second-hand bus chassis and started a school for driving and elementary mechanical tuition, so that all this waste of time and loss of money could be avoidedl Few of us would object to a reasonable fee. and the L.G.O.C. seems to overlook the fact that should one of these new bus companies, about which everybody is talking, put any number of new machines on the streets within the next few months, there will be no lack of fully-licensed men to drive them.
"As there is now a great demand for drivers of all classes of commercial motors, the question of knowledge of driving is a most urgent and vital one. I have wondered whether the C.M.U.A. would not ininterest itself in the matter. There are opportunities for bus and cab drivers but none for motorvan drivers."