AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Opinions from Others.

19th February 1914
Page 16
Page 16, 19th February 1914 — Opinions from Others.
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Tractor-drawn Fire-Engines.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1316] Sir,—I have read with great pleasure the correspondence in your paper entitled " Tractors for Fire-Engines," and I quite agree with, my friend Capt. Seymour, of the Henley tire Brigade, that it is a. first-rate way of getting to long-distance fires. I made my first trial trip with a second-hand 35-40 h.p. Humber machine, with la men and one of Shand's 300gallon steam engines, round our LT.D.C. district. We found the motor did its work wonderfully well; one hill we took is three-quarters of a mile long and fairly steep. We took this on second speed and at the rate of 14 to 16 miles per hour.

My Council has now entered into a contract with a firm of motor engineers in this town to supply the Brigade with this. tractor for fires and drills, at a retaining fee of £12 per annum. This machine, when not in use, is always kept in our fire station, and is r(gularly placed there at night-time ready for use. We find no trouble whatever from skidding when turning corners ; our roads are tarred and greasy when wet. [See " Fire Bird's" letter, 5th February, 1911.] We have used it several times for out-of-district fires, and during November, 1913, we were called to a farm eight-and-a-half miles from our town, which distance we covered in 211 minutes (engine, 11 men and driver, 20 lengths canvas hose); the roads on. this particular journey were very wet and heavy. I should like to know throngh your paper if any brigade adopted this means of traction before 28th April, 1913, as this was my first trial trip-, and my Council then accepted this method of travelling to fires. I thought we were the first to put such means of travelling on the road. We always carry our pole and sway bars in case we have to pitch the engine in a place where the motor cannot haul us, and with a. few willing hands, or a pair of farm horses, the engine can easily be brought up into position.

I also find the steamer tracks in the wheel marks of the motor in turning sharp corners, and with a careful and competent driver there is no fear of any mishap. It is a pleasure to sit on the engine when going to a fire and feel you a-re moving and are not having the anxiety of the poor horses on your mind,

I enclose you a copy of letter received from an Insurance Co. in connection with a fire we were called to the other day. [-This is reproduced—En.]

I am sure if a few of our friends only knew of this way of getting about, they would take it up at once. We not only use the motor for hauling the engine,

but use it for all fires in our U.D.O. district, where 37E3 have a good supply of water from hydrants, and now I am trying to get my escape fixed on the body of motor, which I hope to do before long.

I do not call the motor tractor a " makeshift." I consider it an up-to-date appliance where a motor fire-engine cannot be afforded.

I add our scale of charges:— Use of fire engine, etc., in U.D.C. radius, free; use of motor tractor in U.D.C. radius, ; use of firo engine outside U,D.C. radius, £5 Ss., if engine is not used (steam not raised), £3 3s. ; use of motor tractor (steam not raised), £2 10s, to £3, according to distance; tractor for drills, etc., 10s. each tbne.—Yours faithfully, HERBERT 0. LEE, Chief Officer. Bishop's Stortford Urban District Council Fire Brigade.

[EXTRACT FROM LETTER.] From the Midlands Farmers Mutual Insurance Society, Ltd.

Stratford-on-Avon.

Dear Sir,—I should like to take the present opportunity of complimenting the fire brigade upon their exceptionally smart turn-out.---Yours very truly,

(Signed) R. CHISHOLM, Secretary. [We think it was in 1904 that a Wolseley tractor, designed to Cant.

Wdls's instructions, was tostEd extensively by the r..c,c.., :ma was found uncontrollable on London streets_End

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1317] Sir,—I am pleased, at your request, to give a few furtherparticulars in respect of the tractor we use for drawing our steam fire-engine. As much weight as possibleis put into the tractor itself ; its body carries 1500 ft. of leather and -canva-s hose, and there is seating accommodation for 10 men. The connection between the tow bar of the chassis and the fore-carriage of the engine is of triangular shape, a-nd is 2 ft. 6 ins, in length. The estimated weight of the tractor is 35 cwt., and of its load, ho-se and gear, 10 cwt., and of eight men, say, 9 cwt.

Whilst travelling we have as yet experienced no difficulty ; the engine runs well in the car tracks. We have not had much experience, it is true, upon roads in a greasy state, but I think, in our own locality, we shall not be greatly troubled in this respect. The main roads in the borough are all Tarmac, and these are washed and cleaned of surface deposits at intervals. Outside the borough the roads are maintained by the different authorities, controlled by the county councils of Berks, Bucks and Oxon. As arule they are macadam, steam-rolled and periodically tar painted. We. have always proceeded with caution, and intend to continue doing so-, -especially when taking -corners.

consider, to beon the safe side, that no higher speed than 12 m.p.h. should be attempted. We are never likely to have occasion to take a very long run. The district from which we expect " calls " could be covered by a circle of eight-mile radius.

In connection with this method of bringing in existing ste-am plant, I note that Exeter, besides having a new motor engine, uses a steamer in tow. Abingdon, Bishop's Stortford, Shanklin, Marlow, Alresfoni, and Kettering have all written me for information, and most of them have aIrea-dy picked up a chassis. I believe, also, that the Earl of Macclesfield, at Shirburn Castle, Oxon, in addition to having a first-class motor engine, has a steamer that is drawn about by a motor.

I am glad to have read your editorial experiences with regard to motor-trailed fire-engines on bad roads, and am. pleased to have this subjectventilated.—Yours faithfully, TRomAs H. S.Eymoira,


comments powered by Disqus