VEN regarding the

12th November 1929, Page 126

12th November 1929

Page 126

Page 127

Page 126, 12th November 1929 — VEN regarding the

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Commercial Vehicle Show there are murmurings in certain quarters that two years is not a sufficient interval between such exhibitions, but we believe that it would be a serious mistake to break the present continuity, and we think that the proof of this is the remarkable improvements which are to be seen at the conclusion of each period of two years. The Commercial Show is one that attracts attention from all over the world and obtains an enormous amount of publicity. Now that we are securing a better foothold in overseas markets it is essential that such interest should be fostered.

IN a neat little brochure entitled "Long Journeys," which we received from Mr. A. Percy Bradley, honorary secretary of The Order of the Road, and which ,contains the subject matter of a 15-minute G20 talk bY the' Rt. Hon. The Earl of ,Cottenhara which was broadcast some little time ago, we' noted a drawing entitled "Loyal Members of the Order of the Road—Taking' the Chairman's Advice." This drawing shows a large number of vehicles streaming. to Scotland, hut the point that mystified us regarding the illustration is that the vehicles are shown proceeding three abreast and occupying the whole width of the road. We trust that this is not according to the chairman's advice!

REGRETS are being expressed regarding the

decision of the London. General Omnibus Co., Ltd., to cease brightening London by lighter-coloured buses. It may be that the colour adopted is rather prone to attract dirt, but it appears to us to be a pleasant change from the somewhat monotonous red. WE should like to tell the driver of van ITC 7676 what we think of him. Just as we were approaching Marble Arch in the Bayswater Road, he dashed, at a speed of 15-20 m.p.h., between the pavement and the bus in which we were travelling. causing a chorus of shrieks from passers-by and passengers. Our driver had to swerve violently and, even then, barely avoided a serious accident. It is a few black sheep such as this man who. bring the road transport industry into disrepute.

THE production of an entirely new taxicab is not such an easy proposition as is apparently sometimes thought. Few passenger vehicles are called upon to do such arduous work as the London cab, particularly with the present state of congestion on the roads.

CHATTING recently with the driver of one new cab which had only been used for a few months, we were informed that the brake drums had been replaced twice because of their rapid wear; the foot brake, at its best, was poor ; the clutch wore out rapidly and, owing to the inaccessibility, its renovation cost f3 for labour only.

This may, of course, haVe been an isolated instance, possibly due to excessively hard driving, but it gives some idea of the work which these vehicles are called upon to perform and how necessary it is to exercise extreme care over their design.

SELLING commercial vehicles requires a good study of psychology if it is to be done satisfactorily. One small detail concerns the siz7e of petrol tanks. A director of a well-known company, who would perhaps prefer to be nameless, told us that he Is fitting larger fuel tanks to all 1930 models to give a wide range of action without refilling. If a driver has to stop, say, every 120 miles to replenish the tank, the owner is apt to conceive the idea that the vehicle is not so economical on 'fuel as P. machine which can travel 200 miles on a full tank !