Correspondence.
Page 15
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Motor Omnibus Construction and Use.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :— As an upholder of the motor omnibus in the still burning question of motor omnibuses v. electric trams, will you allow me to mention a few things which, I think, will yet further improve the motorbus, apart from the machinery?
(a) Now that the original danger of too high bodies has been passed, another fault has cropped up in some of the latest Vanguards. The builders have built them much lower and broader, a very wise step to take; but they appear to have fitted them with weaker hind springs, which cause the bus to lie over to the back inside corner (towards the conductor's platform), giving the appearance, to a casual onlooker, of being top-heavy, an appearance which closer inspection gives the lie to. Could not this be overcome in some way, as it causes more swaying?
(b) In the Road Car Company's older Diirkopps there is a very perceptible sagging in the frame, which, 1 have reason to believe, causes many to think them unreliable; this appears to be overcome in the later " Union Jacks." Could not something be done to " cure " this, as there is still many years' wear in them?
Could you inform me, through your valuable paper (I have had same since No. 1), the reason for the sale of the Hastings motor omnibuses, as, having been an inhabitant of that town for four years, I am in a position to state that they were very popular, and that they were the cause of the tramway company withdrawing the front line scheme, even after it had been passed by Parliament ; and, further, that they were very remunerative, the company paying 12 per cent, at the last yearly meeting.—Yours faithfully, " Always Antitram and Probus."
[Our correspondent may be quite satisfied that steps will be taken by the proprietors of older machines to maintain them in an efficient condition for prolonged service. There are no difficulties in the way of stiffening up either springs or frames, but his views magnify the troubles named. The Hastings omnibuses were sold at a good price, and a new lot will probably take their place in due course.—ED.] Clarkson, Limited, Not Financially Interested.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—In the course of a rather numerous correspondence, respecting the working of the Chelmsford steam cars, the exclusive use of which is the chief cause of our great success, I have been asked, on more than one occasion, if it is not a fact that Messrs. Clarkson, Ltd., the makers of the cars, are not the principal proprietors of the concern. I desire to give this suggestion a categorical denial. From the company's inception down to the present day, Messrs. Clarkson have never had the slightest financial or other interest, beyond supplying the cars to order.
No person with any acquaintance with the directorate would dare to make such a suggestion, for my directors include independent gentlemen who are directors of several other large local concerns (one with ,47loo,000 capital), comprising companies dealing with docks, steamers, coal mines, laundries, a hydropathic, a market, and a cemetery. Prior to placing the first order, several makes were tested, and again early last year the show at Olympia was specially visited, with the result that, in the original and repeat orders, the Chelmsford steam cars were selected in preference to any other make, on account of their reliability, smooth running, and absence of noise and odour, as being the '..Pst suited for a town with the physical characteristics of Torquay. Had any other makes possessed these points, they would have obtained the first or later orders in preference to Messrs. Clarkson, Ltd., who never have had the slightest interest in, or control over, the Company. They won on merit alone.
By inserting this you will oblige, yours faithfully, W. ELIOT THOMAS. (Secretary, The Torquay and District Motor Omnibus Company, Limited.) 7, Tor Hill Road, Torquay, January 26th, too6. Users' Experiences Called in Question.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :--1 was delighted with your special number for Builders and Contractors, but would it not be to the interest of all in the trade if the Motor Van and Wagon Users' Association were to enquire into the truthfulness of some of the statements made in that number? Certain of these facts are unlawful, and, to us—who have been working the same class of engine—hardly creditable. That they should be taken for correct by others in the trade, only to find after investing their money that they have got a bogey of what was there represented, would be a pity.—Yours faithfully, F. COVERDALE.
106, Holderness Road, Hull.
January 26th, 1905.
[There is not the slightest reason to question the bona fides of our correspondents who gave their experiences, and, if our correspondent has had less satisfactory results, we must put it down to bad management in the absence of any explanation from him.—ED.1
London's Omnibus Drivers.
The Editor, "TILE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—Will you allow me to say a few words of commendation for the London motorbus driver? I recently rode on one of these vehicles from Piccadilly Circus to Munster Park Chapel, and the way the gears were changed and the traffic negotiated was a revelation. Our driver might he the exception to the rule, but I do not think that it is fair to saddle the driver with the fault of the indifferent running on the part of some of the buses. I cannot help but think that the words " careless drivers" might sometimes more appropriately be "bad depot management."— Yours faithfully,
T. HOOK, junr. H.,ntipstead, January 26th, 1905.
Management of Motor Omnibus Companies.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—I wonder who the gentleman is who " upholds " you in your issue of last week with such excellent taste, lucidity, and sense. Does not the omission of a name suggest to the impartial mind that his authority on motors and motor omnibus managers will be of no higher order than his composition? Surely this young man--for I cannot bear to think of him as other than youthful--must he employed by the company he "knows of," and, maybe, the chief and two assistant-engineers have failed to appreciate him at his own valuation, which would make a man spiteful ! .
Poor friend Turner Smith! What has he done to deserve such eulogistic expressions from such a quarter? No, Sir, managers in so new an industry as that of motor omnibuses are not to be put in the right way by "below stairs " talkers. There is much to do and much to learn, and I ant sure that engineers as a whole will be better advised to do and learn without help from a " Motor Man."—Yours faithfully, PERCY FROST SMITH. For Thomas Tilling, Limited (Motor Department). Peckhani, S.E.
January 29th, 1906.