Opinions from Others.
Page 16
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Speedometers for Commercial Vehicles.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL Moms,.
[1073] Sir,—During the last 12 months, we have been supplying Leyland Motors, Ltd., Leyland, with a large number of "A.T." speedometers, and they have just placed with us a contract for another 100 of these instruments. They inform us that our speedometer has proved to give the best results out of three or four different makes that they have thoroughly experimented with, hence their reason for placing a large order for these speedometers.
We think you are well aware that we are the sole North of England and Wales representatives for the A.T. Speedometer Co., Ltd., and we shall be happy to give commercial-motor users all information on inquiry. Hoping you will find the above statement interesting to your readers, in view of the uncertainty that exists as regards speedometers for commercial use.—Yours faithfully, LEO, SWAIN AND Co. 237, Dean agate, Manchester. '
Independent Petrol Supplies.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1074] Sir,—We have just had a sight of a letter, which is apparently being sent round to the members by the Committee of the A.A. and M.U., in which they ask them to fill in a postcard stating what amount of petrol they are prepared to contract for in the event of the Association being able to secure a supply at is. 2d. per gallon, including present tax. We feel sure, in 'flaking our protest against this infamous unfair trading, we shall not stand alone— not only in the motor trade, but in the motoring world generally.
The A.A. and M.U. was founded for the prevention of unfair treatment to motorists, and was, surely, never intended as a source of supply in any shape or form? The Committee are men who have to discriminate between fair and unfair treatment, and we are surprised that they can put this scheme forward, which is without doubt a most unwarrantable and unjust treatment of the motor trade.
No reason is given for this step in their letter, and we think, as the oldest motor house, we are justified in asking the secretary to give an explanation through the medium of the Press.-Yours faithfully,
Albany Street, N.W. FRISWELLS, LTD.
We believe the motor trade makes only a paltry profit runt of handling and selling petrol. if so, why this excitement? We welcome any action that may cheapen supplies, but we doubt whether those who propose to form new oompanies realize: (al the capital needed ; (bi the time required to acquire and develop sources of supply ; (e) the necessity to market all petroleum products and not petrol only.—Eo The War Office and Standardization.
The Editor, TEE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1075] Sir,—I have been a. little puzzled to follow your recent treatment of the Mechanical Transport Committee, especially when I recall, as a regular subscriber to Your journal, the powerful way in which you advocated standardization some two years ago. Your reference back to the leading article, in the issue of TEE COMMERCIAL MOTOR for the 22nd September, 1910, under the title of " Chaotic Mechanical Transport for the British Army," prompted me to turn it up in my volume.
I think you should be very much flattered by the closeness with which the officers concerned have followed out your own suggestions, although I see that you clearly did not anticipate the exclusion of final transmission by worm gear or by chain. At the same time, much of the uniformity for which you contended will undoubtedly be secured, and the War Office will be put in the position of placing considerable orders itself, or of encouraging owners to place considerable orders, without the disadvantage of diversity of type.
Anybody who chooses to turn back to your long article on the subject, which I have mentioned, and which I have myself reperused, might almost be excused for blaming you—if blame there be—for the adoption by the War Office of this standardization and subsidy scheme.—Yours faithfully,
R. J. WILLIAMS.
[We In not know that much blame attaches to anybody in this matter— except that the War Office, for some reason or other, allowed certain snanufatturers to get ahead of others. We approve the prinoiple of standardization, hut do not approve of the limitation of final drive to one of the bevel type. We also consider that the 20-ewt. speciticatio will result in the production of an uncommercial model, for reasons which we have clearly stated on more than one occasion.—E04 Owner-drivers and Trade Terms.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1076] Sir,—It was on your advice, some 18 months ago, that I invested tile proceeds of a small legacy in motorcabs. It was a matter requiring a great deal of nerve and determination—to me, anyhow, as small men cannot afford lightly to lose X800 in business dealings or departures. However, after an interview with you at your office, I decided to take the plunge, and I became the owner of two modern 14-16 h.p. cabs, which are at present on the streets of London and doing, I am glad to say, quite well.
Although the cabs are showing a good profit, and I have been able to acquire a third cab out of my profits since first becoming an owner, I feel that, if suitable facilities were given me by some co-operative concern or company, I could very quickly further enlarge my fleet and become quite a prosperous man. I am aware that there are concerns styling themselves co-operative companies or syndicates which are nominally supposed to be run in the interests of the owner-driver or the prospective owner-driver, but I cannot say that I am very much impressed with them or their methods.
I am naturally. somewhat averse to taking in a partner and sharing profits with him, but I feel, as a fairly-sound business man, although only in a small way, that I and men in similar positions should be able to command better terms than we do from garages, oil companies, manufacturers, etc. If a man takes, say, a grocer's shop, and invests 21000 in it, and it becomes a paying concern, he has no difficulty in getting wholesale terms from manufacturers and such-like people. Taking my cabs altogether, I have to pay practically the same amount for them as I would have to do in the case of their being privately-owned ears run for my own pleasure —except the lid. rebate on my petrol.—Yours faith fully, " ONLY PARTLY SATISFIED."