OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
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Caterpillar Tractors—A Disclaimer.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1568] Sir,—In the official report of the Highland and Agricultural Society's track trials last October we note the following passage :—
" As far as -the committee were able to observe,
the caterpillar machine ha a not been shown .to have any advantage in gripping power over the test type of wheel machine, and when it has to encounter a stiff gradient or greasy land it is very liable to slip." • There are also other adverse references to caterpillar arrangements in the report. May we be allowed to point out that no " Caterpillar " tractor was demonstrated at the above trials ? We were unable to exhibit one because of the commandeering of the whole output of the factories of the' Holt Manufacturing Co. for military purposes. The remarks of the committee were evidently intended to apply to those chain-track tractors which were demonstrated, but amongst such chain-track tractors there was not a single "Caterpillar "tractor made by the Holt Manufacturing Co. "There is only one Caterpillar,' and Holt builds ..it." Whatever the merits or demerits of those varieties of chain-track machines which were shown, it is distinctlY misleading on the part of the committee to suggest that a genuine " Caterpillar " .tractor is defective as regards the points mentioned. We hold no brief for the other makers of chain-track tractors, but a "Caterpillar," by reason of its special design
(the result of over 12 years experience), will do what any wheel tractor of the same power will do, and, moreover, will work effectively when. wheel tractor.; are forced to remain idle by the soft, greasy or other bad state of the ground. —Yours faithfully.,
London, E.C.4. VICTOR F. FEENY, Director.
Safety Link for Ploughs.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
11569] Sir,—We notice with interest your remarks in A'grimotor Notes in THE COMMERCIAL' 'MOTOR under date of the 6th inst., regarding the need for a safety hitch between agrimotor and plough.
. One of our friends, a Mr. Fowler, who is a very keen motorist and Hon. Treasurer of the Bristol and Glow. cesteaahire Automobile Club, saw the need after an unfortunate accident occurred to a volunteer ploughman because of the plough coming in direct contact with rock ; the plough was thrown into the air, considerable damage being done. "The safety link, since it has been introduced, has saved damage to ploughmen in addition to mana repairs in connection with the plough, and wherever they have been used -they seem to have been giving much satisfaction.
The great advantage of this link is that the' loacl can be perfectly arranged for by lessening or increasing the number of turns of ordinary soft iron wire.—Yours faithfully,
BRISTOL 'WAGON AND CARRIAGE WORKS CO., LTD:, A. E. JOHNSON, Manager Motor Department. c47