Opinions from Others.
Page 13
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commer ial motors. Letters should be on one side of the paper only, and type-written by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for views expressed is accepted. In the case of experiences, names of towns or localities may be withheld.
Petrol Losses by Evaporation.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1125] Sir,—In your issue of the 5th inst., page 291, under the heading "One Hears," we notice a paragraph "That petrol in tank store loses about 10 per cent, of its bulk by evaporation in six months." It would be interesting to know what kind of tank store is referred to in the paragraph in question. We have been manufacturing bulk-storage apparatuses for petrol for the last eight years, and, according to our experience, there is no appreciable loss by aporation therefrom, but our tanks are all welded tanks. If the paragraph in question refers to some other type, it would be interesting to the public to know what type it does refer to, as otherwise, surely, the paragraph in question is exceedingly misleading. —Yours faithfully, For and on behalf of THE STEEL BARREL Co., LTD. T. T. HEaTox, Manager. Uxbridge.
C [The report which ranched us referred to storage at ocean landing wharves.—En.]
Appreciation of "The Purchase Department."
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1126] Sir,—We are pleased to note on page 333 of your excellent 12th December issue a notice of our " Phosforum " bearance alloy.
We are particularly pleased at the manner in which the micro-photographs are reproduced, and we consider them an important scientific contribution to the literature of the trade.
We may say that we took special care in having these prepared by the chief experts in micro-photography, so that they should be absolutely correct representatives of the materials in question—not of specially-selected specimens, but of average specimens.
Your remarks on the subject, though brief, are quite to the point, and we are sure will prove of general interest.—Yours faithfully, HENRY WATSON AND SONS. Walker Gate, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Shall There Be Agents?
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1127] Sir,—The first retort one is inclined to make is "Why not ? " Many agents have rendered good service to big-dividend-paying firms as regards motorcars. Is there any reason for excluding agents? After all, not a great many men are fit to be agents for commercial motors. A bit of experience with a motorcycle, or an apprenticeship in a foundry, is not exactly a guarantee of efficiency in selling or repairing heavy motors. Yet some agents do not grasp the fact. But where a man has a spacious garage, smart , mechanics for repair work, and the entrée to firms or companies which ought to have motor lorries or vans, it is clear that he can be a useful intermediary (yclept agent), and that he can persuade many a likely customer to invest, whereas the van or lorry maker might never get in touch direct from the works with the potential buyer, even in the proverbial month of blue Sundays.
An. agent exists not merely to catch orders which would go to a commercial-car works in any case. He must needs create trade ; boom his speciality ; talk of it till those around believe in ]t. And as the labourer is worthy of his hire, so is the agent worthy the modest commission he gets. These contentions apply forcibly in the case of the light delivery van. In these, a great trade is to be done. Advertising is good; postal correspondence is helpful ; but the agent can clinch a bargain better than the 'cutest " follow-up " expert from America or anywhere else. Make it worth the agent's while, and he will find new openings for your products, Mr. Manufacturer. He practically acts as a local traveller for you. If you have good goods, he sells them ; if you offer had goods, he tells you. He knows the bakers and grocers, the tailors and fruiterers, the milliners and confectioners—knows the extent of their trade pretty well, and tells them why they should give up slow horses, or even boy-propelled cycles. Why not reward him for his services ? The fact that some firm or firms may have quoted an inquirer, direct, the same price as an agent quoted, is a mere incident. Would the buyer (if inquirer became buyer) want to be sending by post for replacement parts, or would he like an agent to be close at hand with a supply 7—Yours faithfully, "TYKE."
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1128] read with interest of these protected
agents, and can only say my experience of these people is, if they get the monopoly of conunereial users as well as private users, we may as well go back to horse flesh, as we are hit quite hard enough with local repairs once in their hands. You never know when you are coming out. Only last week, I had a. turning job done which ought to have taken about six hours, and the commercial van was laid up from Wednesday till the following Tuesday, whereas, had we sent it to the makers, one day would have seen the article renewed at less cost.
We will, for one, say no agent, and direct business, and let the commercial business grow.—Yours faithfully, Pp. THE HYGEIA LAUNDRY CO., LTD., Havant. F. J. V. COLLINS.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1120] Sir,—I was greatly interested by Mr. Reece's letter, which appeared in your issue of the 5th December, and I am fully in accord with your correspondent's views in regard to its being right that good agents with garage, staff, repair works and demonstration vehicles should receive support from the manufacturers whose vehicles they sell and act as agents for, to cover their expenses in obtaining orders in their district,. We realized this when we first introduced the Na.pier commercial vehicle, and our arrangements have been made on this basis, which has proved entirely satisfactory to both the agents and ourselves, as evidenced by our continually receiving repeat. orders.
There is no doubt that there is a large future for the commercial-vehicle business, and those agents who now make thorough provision for the sale of the Napier commercial vehicle will undoubtedly reap their rewards during the next few years. I shall be glad to send full particulars of the Napier commercial vehicle and agency terms to any agents who may be interested in the matter, and to show them these Napier vehicles being built at the Napier works here in London.—Yours faithfully, S. F. EDGE. LTD..
H. T. VANE, Managing Director. 14, New Burlington Street, London, W.