The Grocer and the Gudgeon Pin.
Page 4
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By "The Inspector."
I wonder if I am right in assuming that the people who read "The Grocer" are grocers. I surmise that the majority of that authorative and well-established. trade organ's " gentle readers" are in some way or another interested in the fascinating pursuit of contriving that we, or our better halves if we possess them, shall feel as much like worms as possible when we venture to whisper "Sugar ?" (with querying and ingratiating smiles) over the counter. Yes, I am forced to presume that, as a rule, people who read. " The Grocer" are grocers or groceresses doing substitution work, big or little. It is at any rate safe to suggest that none of them are engineers, any more than that they,are fishmongers. It is therefore also reasonable to suppose that its columns are intentionally provisioned with reading matter which shall make a particular appeal to the grocer mind. Listen to this then, Mr. Sugaranspice, of the Broadway, and thrill with the enthusiasm of your calling: In a recent " Grocer " you are informed that if you contemplate buying a motor vehicle to deliver your local supplies you must make sure of the following points:
That there must be a careful lay out of the combustion chamber in order to secure a high and uniforni temperature of the walls.
That the valves are arranged to secure, favourable heat flow in the exhausts to the waterjacketed seat and valve guide.
That the pistons must be so cooled as to keep the temperature of its centre below the' cracking point of the fuel.
And there are two columns more of similar advice to "those about to buy a motor." The grocer who can understand such supertechnical warnings is obviously in the wrong business. Moreover, I doubt if he even exist.
If this excellent trade journal be under the impression that it is catering for the mechanical staff of the wholesale and. retail grocer, I would suggest that few engineers, mechanics, or drivers will consult its pages as their periodical authority on the motor vehicle, its current history-and its technics. The whole thing appears to me to be rather foolish. Appropriate notice of the motor vehicle in its relationship to such a great industry and its delivery pro'ileitis is obviously desirable in the columns of such a publication as the one mentioned, but comment of this kind wants to be served in a form understandable of its ordinary readers. Less appropriate, yet supertechnical treatment does the motor vehicle little good, even if it does it no actual harm, in any specialized trade in which it is used: The object lesson from the columns of " The Grocer" naturally direct one's attention to the form in which salesmen and others should best endeavour to interest their would-be customers. Few "prospects'," as our American Allies call them, are in a position to discuss the effective flow of gases in the valve passages of any particular motor, were they indeed competent to do so. Nor does it appear that the grocer needs to bother his head with investigation as to the maximum temperature reached by the gudgeon pin and as to the consequent approach to the cracking point of the fuel. I do not have to know the particulartemperature at which his Demerara starts to assume that colour which nowada-ys makes it so elusive as to have disappeared altogether, to enable me to try and buy a quarter of a pound of it. It is not well for me to know too much about it, it might do the sugar trade harm in proportion to my own purchases and those of my friends
No; what the grocer wants to know is what weight he can always be safe not to exceed, the fool-proofness of the control, the engine, and other assemblies. How far will the van travel on one gallon of rather poor spirit? What size and shape of body will go on the frame? Can ha obtain spares at prices at least as reasonable as the complete machine? He does not even _want to know the horse-power or whatever foolish description goes for it. He is far more interested in ton-miles than in horse-power. He knows little more than do the manufacturers as to what the latter means by 10-20 h.p., or 17-95 h.p., but he is quite sure of his ground, as to the lengths of his usual journeys and the normal load he constantly wants carting up some steep-graded local street. He would like to know the types of body he can fit, and what such bodies will bold: He cares very little if its axle be live or dead. He is not properly informed on the respective merits of coil or magneto. And in my opinion he does not need t-9 be. The tradesman must be interested in other ways than those.