Opinions from Others,
Page 17
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one side of the paper only and typewritten by preterence. The right of abbrevtatton is reserved and no responsibility for views expressed is accepted.
Changing Gears on the Daimler. • The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
-[1500] Sir,—Will you allow me to call your attention to a statement in the article on the Daimler lorry in the issue of THE COMMERCIAL MoTn-a, dated the 21st 'Tunel Your contributor states that it is very difficult to change gears on the C.B. type two-ton Daimler, owing, he states, to a very powerful clutch brake. 1 should like to draw his attention to the fact that there is no clutch brake fitted to the C.B. type, as both the foot and hand brakes act on both rear wheels. He evidently mistakes the clutch stop for a clutch brake. Apparently'The cause of the difficulty experienced by him and his fellow-drivers in changing the gears was that the!eltitch stop was too fierce, and only needed adjustment, and he would then have found that the gears would have gone in and out quite easily.---Yours faithfully, HORACE-S. 0 RICKARDS. Walthamstow.
Motorbus or Tramearl The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1501] Sir,—I have often quoted from memory at motor gatherings the remarkable utterance of Mr. Llewellyn Fell, as President of the Tramway Engineers Association. I came across the other day the Press record of the words actually used, which show the utterance to have been more foolish from its supposed cutting sarcasm than appeared by kny statement of it from rec011ection. It was as follows :— " I venture to think that 20 years hence tramways will predominate, and rare specimerts.of an extraordinary vehicle which was called a motor omnibus will be found in the South Kensington Museum."
Was I or was I not justified in my riposte when I was wont to say :—" This prophecy is more likely to become true of the tramcar, if, indeed,a mnseum could be found with a door wide enough. to take in one of these hulking Bostocl Menagerie vans." The public possesses now a fast) convenient vehicle, which requires no capital expenditure-for separate road making, amounting to 211,0004 to 212,000 per mile, and which, not being confined to. 'tails, can accommodate itself to changing requirements, be used where no tramway could be laid down, and which can never be stopped in its running by zeddents Or obstructions 'blocking the way.—Yours faithfully, J. H. A. MACDOIZALD.
Edinburgh. ,
[Mie have little doubt but that Mr. A. L. C. Fell greatly regrets his inaccurate forecast. Re made it during the black days of the motorbus finance and operation.–En.) Germans in British Workshops.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1502] Sir,—It seems strange that, while Folkestone and some East Coast towns are entreating the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary to remove and intern enemy aliens in their areas, Lord Newton should continue, in the House of Lords, to defend the movement in progress for the liberation of those already rounded up in order that they may be replaced in British businesses.
• We had occasion recently to write in regard to an attempt made by the Friends' Emergency Committee to instal a German in our scientific welding works, reference to which has already been made by Lord Laty mer in the House of Lords. Lord Newton's reply, in which he contrasted favourably the " well-conducted " German with the conscientious objector, looks rather silly in the light of facts recently published in America. It seems that, after the American Government took over the German steamers interned in United States, ports, its inspectors discovered that the German crews had made extensive use of oxy-acetylene cutters partiallY"to cut through the joints and hull-plate seams. In almost all the ships interned in New York harbour this had been surreptitiously but skilfully done, and the sections cut had been carefully painted over so that all traces of the work were obliterated. The purpose evidently was to so weaken the hulls and suPports as to practically assure the sinking of the steamers when they again put to sea. Fortunately, the damage was discovered, and it is gratifying to know that the scientific weldeincan thoroughly repair every part injured. The steamer which sustained the most damage was the best of the fleet, the " Vaterland," valued at two-millions sterling.
In publishing our.protest against replacing interned Germans in British engineering workshops we had in mind the!possibility of activities of this kind. As the Society of Friends' representative disclaimed all. responsibility, there was no other course open to us than the one we took, viz.; to keep the German on the outside of the works.—Yours faithfully,
BARIMAR, LTD, C. W. BRETT, Managing Director and General Manager.
Length of Foden's Run on One-water Filling.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1503] Sir,—With reference to a letter signed "Yorkshire," which appeared in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, dated the 21st June, I think your correspondent must have a wonderfully good Foden when he says that it is .a common thing for him to do 36 miles without taking in water. .1 am sure the mileage is impossible with a standavd five-ton Foden wagon, if fully loaded. Even if he is writing about running home empty the mileage is very great and next to impo-sAible if, as he says, the wagornis runnineon all sorts of roads. Writing as a driver with over 11 years' experience of Foden wagons'I am still unable to do more than 23 miles with a five-ton Foden, maker's number 2176. This wagon is fitted with's. pump and injector, is on rubber tires, and is.using Welsh coal. At present I am driving a three-ton Foden, maker's number 2456, and can only get 33 miles on one.tank full of water, and this only in good weather. The firm which I drive for, Messrs. Samuel Smith (Sheffield),. Ltd.. have an old-type Foden, maker's number 785, which I have driven, but I could seldom get more than 20 miles with one filling and fully loaded. We also had a five-ton Foden, maker's number 958, but with this never got more than 21 miles with one tank of water. This wagon was fitted with two injectors only, and was the second Foden delivered in Sheffield. But, as "Yorkshire" says, a great deal depends on the drivers. To conclude, I must say that " Yorkshire " is either far above the average driver, or that his five-ton Foden is fitted with a very large water tank—not, standard size, at any rate. Pshould-very much like to see this wonderful wagon, and driver as well, at any time when he is passing -through Sheffield.—Yours faithfully,
Sheffield. ID MODEST PRE.
[Other letters on this subject are held over.–En.]