OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
Page 29
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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 preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for views
expressed is accepted.
Extra Braking Power for Lorries.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2346] Sir,—It is well recognized now that a man will give better services if the conditions under which he works are made more comfortable. I do not think that sufficient attention has beeh given to the question of the comfort of those who have to drive heavy lorries all day long. I think that manufacturers would do well to study this point, as, in the case of a firm who contemplate making additions to their fleet, the drivers often. are consulted as to which of the vehicles already owned is giving the most satisfaction. Now, in a case such as this, a driver usually has one pet vehicle which he prefers to drive above all others. His judgment is no doubt mainly guided by the fact that certain vehicles are more reliable and give better Service than others, but those vehicles which are uncomfortable and exhausting to drive will not be recommended, no matter how many other good points they may possess.
A stiff steering will set a driver against a vehicle : a fierce and untamable clutch will have the same effect. In many lorries the position of the pedals, standing high above the. floorboards, will tire a man in a long day's drive.
The brake " Booster " described in your number of April 14th should enable pedals more like those of pleasure cars to be used, with better braking results than the uncomfortable pattern so often met with. This device seems to me to be very simple and unlikely,to get out of order.
At the same time it should enable the brake levers to be arranged so that the effort necessary to apply the brake is reduced without increasing the movement of the pedal. Little points like this, if. studied by manufacturers, would help them in obtaining repeat orders.—Yours faithfully, Preston. M. J. ROBERTS.
The Atm of the Parades.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2347] Sir,—With reference to " Driver's " comments to the C.M.11A. parade, I should like you to know that his views are held by many more drivers who have been on parade for some years. • You see, it is not fair to expect a driver who has to do his own repairs, and to load and unload his vehicle when it is working, to bring the machine to the same condition as the other fellow who has an extra man to load and unload, and a fitter to do his repairs, while he simply cleans the vehicle.
As a matter of fact, I can point to two instances of vehicles being driven straight from the paintshop on to the parade ground.
I am sure that the engineer's prize was not meant to be awarded in a case like this.
And, another thing, why not a separate 'class for steam wagons? How does anybody expect the same condition to obtain in a steam wagon as appears in the petrol class (as per Shell-Mex or Wethereds) ? Why, it is an impossibility I I am entirely with _" Driver's" views that proficiency and efficiency should count for more than spit and polish, although I, myself, hate to see a dirty engine of any kind.
Trusting you can find room to publish this, I will conclude with the hope of seeing a few alterations in the mode of awarding prizes at the next show.—Yours faithfully, E. A. JOHNSON, London,
No. 1 Russian Oil and Its Substitutes.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2348] Sir,—With reference to the anonymous advertisement in your issue of April 21st regarding Russian oil, I should like to point out that the intended quotation : "Of the seven oils tested, No. 4 (Russian oil) . . ." is somewhat misleading. If your readers will refer to my paper in the " Proceedings of the Institute of Automobile Engineers," Vol. 18, Part 2, page 227, oil No. 4 is there described as No. 1 Russian. [In Mr. Nickinson's paper read before the members of the Institute he described his experiences with seven different kinds of oil in. the, lubrication of bus engines, referring to eachoil by a number. "No. 4" was the oil that gave the best result.—En., C.M.] Now, No. 1 Russian oil is a definite article of commerce, whereas "Russian oil" may mean anything. I should like to warn purchasers of No. 1 Russian oil to make sure they are getting the genuine article, as there is, unfortunately, oil on the market sold as No. 1 Russian which is not up to standard. I have seen some of the samples of this inferior oil. About a month ago I had a sample of oil labelled "pale Russian oil" submitted for contract for No. 1 Russian; this was submitted by -a firm of repute, but the only similarity it had to No. 1 Russian was the colour. It seems a great pity to me that such an excellent oil as No. 1 _Russian should be in any way imitated.--Y_ours
faithfully. H. D. NiefoNsoii, Peckham, London, S.E.15. Tilos. TILLING, LTD.
Reducing the Weight of Passenger Vehicles.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2349] Sir,—With reference to the article, "Reduring the Weight of Passenger Vehicles," in The Commercial Motor of April 21st, we think, though it is generally understood that heavy vehicles are the main causes of rapid road wear, it is not so fully realized by municipal officials what a tremendous saving can be effected in their own area and throughout the country if all corporations employ lighter vehicles in relation to the passenger capacity thereof. The maintenance of roads forms a huge annual expense to the country to be met by actual ratepayers either through Government taxes or local rates.
In the ease of the ordinary provincial 30-seater single-decker, the weight of the full human load only represents little more than one-third of the gross load, the actual vehicle being the weighty part. Tf, therefore, a considerable reduction can be made in the weight of a vehicle, there is sure to be an appreciable saving in road wear and tear, especially in the case of some municipalities who keep services of 30 to 50 vehicles always on the roads. We think co-operation should exist between municipal roads departments and tramway undertakings, in order to employ vehicles which are not likely to damage the roads so much. A saving of 25 per cent. in unladen weight not only means less road wear, but also lighter petrol consumption and longer life for the tyres.—Yours faithfully, Wolverhampton. Guy MOTORS, LTD. L. E. LOVELAND,