Opinions from Others.
Page 19
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Chain-driven Stearn Tractors.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR L1355] Sir,—I have read with much interest the letters which have recently appeared in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR re the design of chain-driven steam tractors, but the great feature which I think is necessary to achieve success has not been brought prominently forward. It is correct to have the top pulley side of the chain horizontal so that it may not :Alit the free rise and fall of the engine on its springs. If the chain pulls at an angle it will spoil the springing. The pull of the chain should be at right angles, or nearly so. There is, of course, nothing new in a chain-driven back axle in traction engines, as such engines were in use 60 years ago, and ran very quietly compared with spur-geared engines, but much trouble was experienced with the quick wearing of chains ef those days, as well as from the insecure fixings of the brackets carrying the crank and gearshafts on the boiler.
Most of the chain-driven engines had the crankshaft and change gears immediately behind the chimney, a design to which it may he necessary to revert to get
a successfully sprung tractor. At present. tractors have to be driven slower than steam wagons (although with their bigger road wheels they should have an advantage) on account of insufficient springing. With the good chains now available, why should not the tractor run as smoothly as the steam wagon ?
I enclose page taken from Burrell's 1S72 catalogue showing chairadriven engine, and hope same may be
of interest.--Yours faithfully, FRED PAGE.
British Berna Motor Lorries, Ltd., v. John Yarwood and Co., Ltd., and Others.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAT, MOTOR.
1 13561 Sir,—I feel it is due to Mr. Rance and myself ta give your readers an explanation of the ciremn stauees which led to the settlement of this action, which result no doubt will be reported by you. The more-important action brought by the above plaintiffs against John Yarwood and Co.. Ltd., Motor iigenfabrik Berna A.a., and Bernet Commercial Motors, Ltd., was settled out of court on terms which Provided that the plaintiff company should hereafter have the right to purchase from the Motorwagenfahrik Company of Olten, Switzerland, 50 chassis per annum for a period of three years. and that, so long as they carried out their contract, they should have the exclusive right to the sale of Berns chassis in Great Britain, Ireland and the British Colonies, subject, however, to the right of John Yarwood and Co., Ltd., to be supplied with and to sell 20 Berna chassis which had already been ordered. The terms of settlement further provide that the British and Colonial agency of the Franz factory of Switzerland, which is controlled by the Motorwagenfabrik Berna A.C., shall be given to John Yarwood and Co., Ltd., the effect of the settlement being that British Berme Motor Lorries, Ltd., are hereafter to he the sole agents in Great Britain for the Berna chassis, and that John Yarwood and Co., Ltd., are to be the sole agents for the Franz chassis. Seeing that John Yarwood and Co., Ltd., were to be no longer associated with Berna lorries, they willingly agreed to make no further use of the name of Berna, and to an injunction being granted to that effect.
In the second action, brought against Mr. Rance and myself, we were charged with making lists of customers when in the plaintiffs' employment and obtaining orders from such customers. This accusation, as was stated in court by our counsel, Mr. Romer, K.C., we were quite prepared to disprove in the witness box, both by our own evidence and that of independent witnesses, but, owing, to the settlement of the other action, we were advised that there was nothing left to fight about, and therefore agreed to the settlement of the action brought against us on the terms mentioned in court.
The litigation between all the parties has thus been brought to an amicable conclusion, and, with the exception of 20 Berna chassis which I have to dispose of. my name and that of John Yarwood and Co., Ltd., will hereafter be associated with the Franz chassis made at the Franz factory, of Zurich and Olten, Switzerland.—Yours faithfully. Yanwoon. 8, Bramber Road, Fulham, S.W.
Thirteen Days Work by an 81-year-old Foden.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1357] Sir,—You may be interested to hear the record of 13 days work, ori the part of an 81-year old loden wagon. We have a contract on Salisbury Plain, some 127 miles from our brewery, and the mileage we have done is 1250 miles, delivering eight tons each time. Independently of this we have brought back three six-ton loads, and delivered some eight tons of coal a matter of 14 miles at the other end.
We may mention that we had three shifts of men for this work, but none the less we feel sure that. you will agree with us that this is a fairly severe test for an old wagon.—Yours faithfully,
For THE STAR BREWERY CO., LTD., RONALD CARDWELL.