OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
Page 27
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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.
The Trailer Speed Limit.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1913] Sir,—We are conducting our road transport with F.W.D. lorries and Carrimore trailers, capable of carrying a load of 8 tons, and these are equipped with solid rubber tyres. Recently, one of our lorries and trailers, whilst returning to Yarmouth with an 8 ton load, was stopped by a police constable at Postwick for exceeding a speed of five miles per hour, and, at the hearing at Blofield, a fine of 26 was inflicted. We had no idea that with solid rubber tyres we were restricted to a speed of 5 miles per hour whilst drawing a trailer, and feel confident that all users of heavy motorcars will agree that this speed is absolutely of no use for road transport purposes.
We shall be glad to hear from you with any information you can give us as to the law upon this . speed at which heavy vehicles drawing a trailer are allowed to travel, and also if you are able to do • anything with a view to assisting us in common with all other users of heavy cars as to the speed limit being altered. We are afraid, failing sonic alteration in this law, together with the addition of the heavy taxation at present in force, that road transport will be absolictely prohibitive.—Yours faithfully, MERCHANTS. Great Yarmouth.
[We replied to our correspondents to the effect that the action of the police, in summoning the driver of a lorry drawing a trailer at a speed exceeding 5 miles per hour, was in order. We pointed. out that the speed regulations were laid down in 1904, and were common knowledge. If our correspondents were in ignorance of them, we fear that they are equally unaware of the other provisions of the Heavy Motor Car Order 1904 with which they must comply. We added that a draft Motor Car Bill amending the present law is in process of preparation. We have received the following letter in reply, and would suggest that so despondent a view of the situation is not justified, particularly when, after 18 years of speed restriction, there is an early prospect of the speed limit being increased.—ED.
• C.M.]
[1914] Sir,—We thank you for your letter of the 24th ult., and for the information therein contained. We have three four-wheel drive lorries and trailers, and were going in for ITIOTC of these, but, unfortunately, this 5 miles speed limit is too ridiculous. Unless there is some alteration, we shall either have to lay the vehicles up or dispose of them,. as road transport under these conditions will certainly not pay;— Yours faithfully, MERCHANTS, Great Yarmouth.
EsThermo-syphonic Water Circulation Adequate?
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1915] Sir,—We have read the article by your contributor, "The Skotch," dealing with 5-ton petrol lorries in the issue of The Commercial Motor for February 21st. He states that the thermo-syphonic system is no use for commercial vehicles, and that a piunp is quite as important and necessary as a fan. We think that this statement is hardly fair to those manufacturers of commercial vehicles who adopt this method of cooling, as our experience has shown that, providing a good make of radiator of sufficient capacity is fitted and that the water pipes. are of large, dimensions, no boiling will take place with the thermo-syphonie system. We are using two vehicles with this system of cooling, both Commer Cars,. one being* a 5-tonner and one a *tonner, yet, in spite of the fact that most of their work is over rough country roads and lanes (which are very heavy at this time of year, and call for a lot of bottom-gear work), we have.; never had them boil.
Last year the 5-ten lorry ran from Basingstoke to Luton, about 70 miles, empty, without !even having a fan belt on, and no boiling was experienced. This is a 1914 lorry. In addition, we might say that neither the radiators nor cylinders are over washed out with soda or any other solution to remove any deposit ; therefore, we should like to know—Why have the added complications of a pump1—Yours faithfully, For POTTER BROS., Basingstoke. F. R. POTTER.
Successful Clearing Houses.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
D916] Sir,—Having noticed in your recent publicaticins your remarks upon the success attending the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce Transport Department, I think it is only fair that you should also state, through your columns, that the Leicester Chamber of Commerce Transport Department is giving great satisfaction to traders. It is officially recognized in this area and was the first to inaugurate the system of road transport as an alternative route. The department is managed by Mr. E. J. Paine, and has been open for two-and-a-half years now.
When the department was first opened it was agreed amongst the traders that one clearing house would be sufficient, but during the last 18 months there have been several clearing houses in each town operating against one another, to the detriment of the haulage constraetors. Had all the Chambers of Commerce throughouWhe Kingdom opened similar departments there would have been far more satisfaction amongst the haulage contractors, both as regards the stabilizing of rates, payment of accounts, etc.— Yours faithfully, E. J. PAINE,
Leicester. Manager.
The Month of October.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1917] Sir,—I was pleased to see (in the issues of The Commercial Motor for February 14th and 21st) that you were raising ‘ivith the Ministry of Transport the question of the issue of a licence for a motor coach to cover to the end of Ocfober. This is splendid work, and I for one sincerely trust that the Ministry will not turn a deaf ear to the request. Last year I took out a. quarter's licence for each of my 28 seaters because the weather was exceptional, and did well in October, but after that I rarely got a load. I did a couple of football outings, but they really did not pay for the petrol used. Each licence cost me 218, whereas if I could have got my summer licence to run from July to the end of pOctober for 224, I should have been satisfied with the outcome. The extra 26 for the useless months of November arid December cut badly into the profits, and, on the whole, I have decided not to licence after September 30th this year, unless, of course, it is arranged that a licence to cover October can he obtained. The men get the advantage of an extra month's employment, otherwise I would definitely close down in September, because I expect to get nothing out of it after that date.—Yours faithfully, MAN OF KENT, Chatham..