Correspondence.
Page 19
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A Creditable Steam-Wagon Performance.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir : -I am sending you under this cover a photograph of my Foden steam wagon and trailer under load of 8 tons 3 cwt. She was workingon Salisbury Plain during last summer, and took 1,419 ions 13 cwt. of goods from the station in 148 working days, loading one way only. She was stopped on one occasion for two hours for some small repair.
I think this is a very creditable performance, and I do not hesitate to recommend the Foden to any intending pur
chasers.—Yours faithfully, D. H. HOUSE. Privett, Gosport, Hants, December 8th, 1906.
Inventors and Power Transmission.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL Mama."
Sir :—I have been greatly interested in your lucid report of Dr. Hele Shaw's paper on " Power Transmission," more
especially as serves to emphasize certain contentions which I have maintained on this important subject. Hitherto, inventors seem to have directed their ingenuity mainly toor, at all events, the results of their efforts have been most evident in—improvements in the medium of transmission between the petrol engine and the driving wheels, with the object of obtaining either certain definite speeds, and power variations, on a continuous range of effort from zero to the maximum. We recognise that the great advantage which the steam engine possesses over its rival of the explosive type is, other things being equal, in its perfect flexibility, and automatic adaptability to the work demanded of it. In order to obtain an approach to the same result with a petrol engine, we have, hitherto, had to content ourselves with the interposition, between it and the driving wheels, of what Dr. Heic Shaw rightly designates " the almost barbarous " change-gear system, the necessity for which, or an alternative means to the same end, in itself, condemns the prime mover as suitable for the peculiar requirements of motor engineering. Surely, it would be well worth while that the attention of inventors should he directed towards discovering a better means for utilising the kinetic energy contained in a gas explosion than we have at present. Of course, I am aware that attempts have been made to solve the problem in a gas turbine, and I myself have partially evolved a rotary motor, in which the power is derived from a rapid and consecutive series of impulses, but, unfortunately, my idea is still in embryo owing to lack of funds. The position of the impecunious inventor in this country is an unhappy one : the cost of provisional protection will be beyond his means, and, even supposing he raises the necessary amount to cover even this expense, he will be in no better position for exploiting his invention which, so far, exists only on paper—nay, even though he manages by hook or by crook to get a model made, he will find that, as a rule, manufacturers will refuse to consider his idea until he has incontrovertibly proved its practicability by actual demonstration on the roads. A valuable idea shoull be marketable, whether a man is poor or not, and I believe that a scheme might be devised to that end. Illy letter has, how• ever, run La such a length that I cannot presume to further encroach upon your space by any suggestion of my own.—
Yours faithfully, ALFRED C. TENNANT. S, The Mount, Liscard, Cheshire, December 8th, i906.
The Provision of Drivers.
The Editor, THE CostmERcIAL MOTOR..'
Sir :—There is no doubt that the provision of drivers is an important and rather ditneult point in connection with motor omnibus services. Whilst most of the old omnibus drivers who have passed through my hands have turned out well, some of them gave me a great deal of trouble through their extreme stupidity. Many of them could not see mat, by giving them instruction, they were being taught a new trade, and my company was paying them, what I consider to be it liberal wage, while they were learning it. Some of them objected to ailing oil and petrol tanks and radiators, and generally assisting. in the garage, and they could not understand why they snould have to commence at the bottom of the tree. Possibly the reason of this was that they had held " elevated positions " for such a long time, having been perched upon the seal of a horse omnibus for many years, like dummies in a Lord Mayor's procession.
While talkingof drivers, I should like to mention dint the important question of skidding rests to a great extent with these men. Provided that the buses are properly maintained, and that the men drive at a pace proportionate to the condition of the road, the accidents through skidding would be far fewer, and I think that, when serious accidcnts of this sort occur, the police should investigate the conditions under which the vehicle is being driven. Motor superintendents, and their men, are largely in the hands of the traffic superintendent, who, in some cases, is.an ignorant man who has started life as a bus conductor, improving in position by some unknown means, while still retaining his extreme ignorance. De has run horse buses for years, and the motor omnibus is an entirely new and incomprehensible thing to him ; he arranges times which tne drivers have to keep under all conditions and quite regardless of the safety of the public. The buses career along the streets " with a view to keeping time," and the prospective passengers are left upon the kerbstone. Mid-day comes, the men have no time for their meals, and the result is that, under these conditions, they are not fit to carry out their work. I consider that the arrangement of traffic is quite as important as the maintenance of the vehicles, and that it should be investigated by the police.
Mr. Emerson's letter regarding the action of omnibus drivers reflects solely upon the management of the motor department of his company capable supervision is necessary in every business.—Yours faithfully, W. 0. SPILLER, General Manager and Engineer, The Gearless Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.
17, Waterloo Place, S.W., December moth, .too6.