Opinions from Others.
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial 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 the views expressed is accepted. In the case of experiences, names of towns or localities may be withheld.
Speedometers for Commercial Vehicles.
The Editor, TH3 COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1.372] Sir,In the current issue of THE COMMERmr, MOTOR, under "Answers to Queries," you make
the following remarks in answer to " J.A.H.":—" The mechanism of many of the better known speedometers is too delicate to withstand the road vibration due to the use of solid tires."
Speaking on behalf of the " Jones " Speedometer, we may perhaps he allowed to include ours as one of the " better-known" instruments. May we be permitted, therefore, to point out that we have had the privilege of fitting several hundred of our " Jones" Commercial Speedometers to solid-rubber-tired, and even steel-tired vehicles of all descriptions, and call honestly vouch for the statement that, in our experience, we have never yet found one of Our instruments affected in any way, much less injured, by vibration, with the single exception of the shattering of the glass bezels of instruments fitted to the steel-tired Foden steamers owned by the L.C.C.
It is due to us, we think, that you will kindly give as much publicity to this letter as you have accorded the statement which has occasioned it— Yours faithfully,
MARET AND CO. (LONDON). LTD.,
F. E. DicxisTsoN.
Tire Bonuses to Drivers.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
11.27:3] have been much interested in the
wordy warfare which has been raging round the suggestion of a certain tire company to offer prizes to those drivers who obtain certain fixed results, in the use of their tires. Whilst I have noticed a number of conjectures as to the effect such a policy might have upon the drivers and their tires, I have not noticed much remark made as to the probable effect such an offer might have upon the relationship of the employer and the employee.
A useful way in analysing the effect of a proposal is to exaggerate the case, so let us imagine that these bonuses are extended to results obtained by the driver in the use of his machine, oil, sheets, etc., as well as tires. What would be the effect of this upon the driver's mind, and also that of his employer? I am afraid that, in the first instance, "the daily round and commontask " would occupy a small place in the driver's mind compared with the dazzling prospects of "extras all round." His usefulness as a workman would be seriously impaired, and, as a man, I do not think his character would be improved. His chief motive would no longer be, to become a good and useful employee, but to enrich himself by the
prize money of strangers. If for any reason the prizes were not obtained I am afraid that. the article which had failed the driver would receive a very poor advertisement at his hands, and the employer would gradually find that he could only obtain satisfactory results from those articles which carried with their use the most substantial prizes to the men.
Perhaps the worst feature about the suggestion is the effect which such a system would have upon the, loyalty of the drivers to their employers. There are times when a driver is called upon to do things which are distinctly opposed to any interests but those of the business he serves. One cannot always run motors to the best. advantage of either the manufacturers of the machines or the makers of tires, and on such occasions the conflicting interests which would arise in the driver's mind would not tend to make his decision the best for his employer. Considering the employer's position under such an arrangement, it would hardly be an enviable one. In the first instance, he would be conscious that the goodwill of his men was being put up for auction by those from whom he purchased his stores, etc. The proposition he would have to face would be something like this : When I buy tires from " Jones " he charges me so much, and promises they will last for at least 10,000 miles, and carry a certain load, and, if the tires prove good for this mileage, Jones asks me to pay, through him, a certain rebate to my driver. That is to say I must pay my driver a bonus because Jones has proved as good as his word. It is certainly a novel suggestion ! A further point that would arise is that in taking on new drivers the question would arise as to whom the employer traded with as this might materially affect the value of the job. Eventually, of course, employers would begin to reckon these bonuses in when fixing wages, in much the same way that hotel keepers take account of " tips " their servants receive from visitors ; they would, of course, be included in any claims for compensation that might arise between the employer and his drivers.
The whole suggestion is unbusinesslike and undesirable, and one only has to think of what would happen if it were carried out on a large scale to appreciate this fact. If, however, the tire-manufacturing companies are not yet pursuaded, I would point out to them that, after all, an employer has some influence on the life of their tires, and if they insist upon returning a part of the profit on the completion of 10,000 miles, why do they not include in their offer the customer who purchased the tire in the first instance?
"AN Est PLOVER."
Rubber v. Steel Tires.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,374] Sir,—The remarks of your correspondent "Motor-Wagon Carrier" in your last issue will, no doubt, be agreed with by the majority of steam-wagon owners, and it is from practical experience that I find rubber tires to be so costly when fitted to steam wagons that they are, if a reasonable profit is to be earned, practically prohibitive. The only advantage is the speed at which vehicles so fitted may be driven, and it may be contended that a rubber-tired machine is a very useful stand-by for the urgent delivery of loads, but how many carriers are so fortunately placed as to be able to afford so expensive a reserve. The use of a trailer is of little gain, as the speed, which, from the carrier's point of view is the only advantage, is thereby reduced to the five-mile limit. The contention may be urged that the shock-absorbing properties of rubber tires will add materially to the life of the machinery, but this, in my experience, has not proved to be the case, and, presuming that it were, the smaller earning power, in comparison to the cost of running a wagon with rubber tires, as against one whose wheels are shod with steel, is quite sufficient to retard their coming into general use. I agree with your correspondent that it is a matter for great regret that further latitude was not allowed by the authorities to the wheel to which he refers, and which is apparently the same as the one with which I had some experience. Several carriers in various parts of the country experimented with wheels during the winter months, at considerable expense, with a desire to keep up a reasonably-efficient service, and to prevent skidding—admittedly a serious source of .danger to life and property. It may appear that manufacturers are somewhat lax in their production of a suitable tire, but it must be acknowledged that the present state of the law, which requires a tire to be flat, is not encouraging to the laying out of capital for experimental purposes. Motor haulage is with us, and undoubtedly it has come to stay, and the -sooner the law is amended to meet modern requirements the better.
Motor carriers in Lancashire are especially handicapped in that they have frequently to run through one important borough where the officials seem to have nothing else to do but lie in wait to detect the slightest infringement of the law. It is my humble, but at the same time honest, opinion that, but for the excessive zeal displayed by the officials referred to, the practical experiments with a well-considered tire, and one that certainly was within a reasonable measure of success, would have been allowed to go on, and there is reason to believe that a tire would 'have been evolved which would in all probability have met that very pressing requirement of the motor car
rier.—Yours faithfully, " INTERESTED." Roads Improvement.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,375] Sir,—The attached letter has been forwarded to-day to all local highway authorities inGreat Britain by the Roads improvement Association. I shall be obliged if you will give it publicity.— Yours faithfully,
THE ROADS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (INCORPORATED), WALLACE E. RICHE, Secretary.
Caxton House, Westminster, S.W., 27th May, 1911. [Cory.]
" I am directed by the Council of the Roads Improvement Association (Incorporated), an organization representing some 150,000 of all classes of road users, to ask you to be good enough specially to consider the following suggestions in connection. with the repair of roads under your jurisdiction, which, if adopted, would materially increase the comfort and convenience of every form of traffic using the public high ways.
" (a) Loose Metal upon Road Surfaces.—Consider able damage and expense are incurred by all users of vehicles fitted with rubber tires owing to the injury caused by loose metal being left upon the highways. At the lowest estimate the extra cost of repairs and renewal to tires thus caused is now so heavy that highway authorities arc earnestly requested to take all possible steps to avoid this cause of damage. A needless strain is also imposed upon horses when having to drag loads over loose stones. Now that steam rolling has been introduced universally the practice of leaving unrolled metal upon the roads should, as far as possible, in the interests of the community at large, be avoided. "It is suggested that road surveyors should lend their valuable assistance by issuing instructions to their steam-roller gangs that when a road is being repaired no portion should be scarified and left, or re-coated and left with the stones loose, but that only so much stone should be spread as can be rolled or beaten clown before the gang ceases work for the night. Where, however, owing to a break in the weather or similar circumstances, it is not possible to avoid that some metal should be left loose, the unrolled portion should specially be guarded and its position shown at night by suitably-placed lamps. "(b) Roadside Grass Margins or Verges.—In the
past. it. has sometimes been the practice of highway authorities to collect the loose sweepings and mud scraped off the road in heaps on the grass at the side of the carriageway, Frequently these are not removed and the grass again grows over them. When the verges are re-cut and trimmed high scarped kerbs are left which are undoubtedly, in these days when so many vehicles use the road at night, a source of great danger ; several serious accidents have already occurred from this cause. Now that the traffic upon our roads has increased. so enormously it frequently happens. when two vehicles from opposite directions are passing that one of them is compelled to run on to the grass verge and, if at this point the high scarps above mentioned are met with, there is a danger of the wheels striking them and failing to mount the scarped face with the consequent risk of accidents of a more or less serious character.
"To avoid this it is suggested that roadmen should be instructed always to slope roadside grass verges towards the channel so as to avoid leaving a high scarped edge. This can always be done by raking the soil from under the turf and beating it down so as to give the desired slope.
" The Council of the Association feels sure that it may count upon the fullest consideration of these suggestions from you and your Committee. and it would be grateful for any observations upon the proposals."