OPINIONS and QUERIES
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The Silent Third on Commercial Vehicles.
The Editor, TITE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[3905] Sir,—I notice that one maker is advertising a certain model with a four-speed, silent third gearbox, Through the medium of your excellent paper I would like to find out whether the silent third is a mechanical advantage on a commercial vehicle. Admittedly the vehicle is quieter, but I would like to know whether there are other mechanical gains.
It always strikes me that a silent-third gear is more complicated --to maintain, and when it does wear it becomes far more noisy than the ordinary type of gear with straight teeth.
If you could publish this, in order to obtain replies from actual users, I would be more than obliged.
I would like to congratulate you on your good articles dealing with road-rail transport.
Basingstoke. MICHAEL FIELD-RICHARDS.
An Owner-drivers' Association.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
139661 Sir,—My comment to Mr. Norman Lachan's letter in your issue of January 13 is that I shall be glad to hear from anyone interested in the formation of an owner-drivers' association. I am always willing, moreover, to assist, so far as my limited leisure permits, owner drivers seeking advice.
Two young men, who had read my various articles, wrote to me for such advice and called on me at my invitation. An hour's conversation was sufficient to gauge their resources, forecast their prospects and, in that case, I fear, not encourage them unduly.
London, S.W.11. E. H. B. PALMER.
Battery-electric Vehicles Required.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[3967] Sir,—It was with much interest that we read the article in your issue of November 25 on the era of the electric vehicle.
We would like to hear more about this matter and would be glad if you would kindly communicate with the manufacturers of these electric vehicles, asking them to send us their complete catalogues, price lists and further particulars.
At this moment we are interested in a very light electric vehicle, capable of carrying from 4-5 passengers. This vehicle may very well be a threewheeler and we shall be pleased to hear from the makers if they would be willing to supply us with only the electric instruments, in such a way that we could eventually build the chassis and bodies locally.
We expect this small ear to have a working radius of about 100 miles a day.
AIITOMOBIELHANDEL yin KOEK AND Co. Postbox No. 144, Medan, Sumatra.
Woods Which are Free from Warping.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[3968] Sir,—We were very much interested in your article, "Woods that Resist Fire and Weather," in your issue dated December 30.
As you will readily realize, it is essential that all wood used in the making of the Pronto bell contact should be absolutely free from warping, and from the description of iroko this would seem an ideal material for our purpose.
During the past two years we have used only specially seasoned mahogany, which has proved, on the whole, satisfactory, but the possibility of swelling and warping has to be considered.
We should be very glad if, through the medium of your valuable paper, we could obtain more information concerning iroko. J. WHITAKER,
Keighley. for Pronto Bell •Contacts.
Uroko can be obtained from many places in London, and, no doubt, in Yorkshire, too, as it is one of the most commonly used Empire timbers, but we cannot name a timber merchant in Keighley. However, there is sure to be a merchant there, or near there, who stocks this wood, and we would refer you to Denny, Mott and Dickson, Ltd., 170, Regent Road, Liverpool. This concern is a large importer of Empire timbers, and would be able to guide you. Regarding the qualities of this wood, we cannot add more than is contained in the article, except that it is cheaper than mahogany. It is officially a nonshrinkable wood, and seeing it is largely used for cabinet work and interior finishing apart from wagon building, we think that it would be ideal for your purpose.—En.]
Private-party Publicity.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[39691 Sir,—The season of 1932 closed with complexity still existing with reference to the legality in announcements of private-party outings. It appertains to all sections, church, political and tradespeople, interested in the welfare of the outings as a business, whereby such organizers desire to give full publicity to their venture by open public announcements. In many cases these are open to hypercritical comments as to the permissibility legally, and sooner or later some specific case will be cited for ruling by the powers that be.
Owners of vehicles readily appreciate the valuable asset of a connection amongst Remised victuallers and their patrons, and members of this section are now viewing their responsibility more acutely than the average tradespeople. In the Midlands, many of the leading brewery concerns are most definite in instructions to their house managers "that they, must not identify themselves with the organizing of any privateparty outing from the house which they manage." This in itself has meant much loss to those catering for this class of private-party work.
In the past publicity has been very prevalent, notices appearing in practically all parts of these houses, which, at the present time, constitute a breach cf the regulations, in respect to the fact that such work should be covered by a tours licence, and thus be termed a publicly advertised tour.
There appears much to be said in respect of this matter ; whilst many claim their rights to take patrons of the house on a private-party outing, the question arises as to the right to advertise, even within their own house, which alone constitutes an advertised tour during permissible licensed hours, although endorsed for patrons and customers only. What is the legal definition, in such a ease, of what constitutes a patron or customer?
The alternative which, no doubt, would obviate case legality, would be the formulating of a patrons' and customers' outing club, by entrance fee, contributions and. constitutioned procedure. This would thengive leave for members' publicity boards to be exhibited within and without the premises and legally make an outing binding amongst its members, with its secretary acting as hirer upon their behalf.
Perhaps some fellow readers will offer their views on the practicability of the above? These would be
greatly appreciated. MARK SCOTT. Birmingham.
[Mr. Mark Scott has raised a most difficult and delicate matter. In endeavouring to throw a little light on the subject, a Traffic Commissioner has given it as his opinion that a private party is limited to 'members of a company of people definitely bound together by some recognised common tie, apart from the purposes of the particular journey in question." On the basis of that view, it is impossible to make up a "private party" by advertising, and the idea of forming a club specially for organizing coach tours is at once put out of court. In any ease, to attempt to evade the law in this manner is not a wise policy, because it must obviously alienate whatever sympathy the Traffic Commissioners may have for those harassed by the contract-carriage regulations.—ED.1 Interesting Particulars of the Fiat Petrolengined Rail Coach.
The Ed-tor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[3970] Sir,—In your issue of December 23, 1932, we noticed a brief paragraph headed "Italy Interested in Railcars," in which you mention Our 50-seater model in such a way as to lead one to imagine it is on the lines of the "Micheline."
We beg to draw your courteous attention to the fact that our railcar is not of the Micheline type, it has no rubber tyres, but ordinary railway-type, steel tyred wheels, yet the springing and insulation of the body are such that the passengers' comfort is quite undisturbed by noise or jolting.
H.E. Benito Mussolini recently travelled in one of these cars between Rome and the new town of Littoria, built on the Pontine marshes, and expressed his satisfaction with the machine and with its speed and comfort.
The car is driven by an ordinary six-cylindered petrol engine of 130 b.h.p. at 2,000 r.p.m., mounted on one of the two four-wheeled bogies. The engine is of the overhead-valve type with detachable head and battery ignition.
A four-speed pneumatically operated gearbox is fitted, provided with a reversing gear enabling the four speeds to be used in both directions. The controls are arranged at each end of the car, so that it can be driven from either end. Air and hand-operated brakes, acting on all the eight wheels of the coach, are fitted.
Cooling is by pump-circulated water and two radiators, one at each end of the car. A complete electrical equipment for starting, lighting, etc., is installed.
In the transmission is also incorporated a free-wheel device, which can be put out of action or used, at the B40 driver's discretion. All the axles are carried in roller bearings.
The light, all-steel body accommodates 48 passengers on well-sprung, leather-upholstered seats.
We regret that we have not available a complete technical description in English of this new vehicle, but we are at your disposal for any further informa tion you may require. FIAT. Turin.
Advice Wanted on Starting a Small Haulage Business.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[3971] Sir,—I would greatly appreciate your advice in the following matter :—My brother-in-law and I are considering the purchase of a lorry for long-distance haulage. We have no previous experience of this business, our only qualification being that we are trained engineers; in all other respects we are fairly normal !
In the selection of a vehicle our choice has fallen on a 2-ton long-wheelbase drop-sided lorry, fitted with auxiliary springs and heavy-duty high-pressure tyres ; we chose this vehicle principally because we like its mechanical features.
It has been suggested to us that we can purchase the truck on the hire-purchase system from a clearing house, which would give an undertaking. to keep the lorry loaded; in other words, a preference in all loads they may have, subject to obvious contingencies, such as trade conditions, strikes, etc.
We had entertained the idea of employing as a spare driver, a man of long experience in this class of work. He would assist us in securing return loads and receive a wage and commission on all business secured by him. This, of course, until such time as we get to "know the ropes."
Accordingly, I have approached a clearing house, and as the result of a preliminary discussion have ascertained that in order to secure the aforementioned vehicle ready for the road (tax, insurance number plates, etc.) a cash payment of about 180 is required, the balance being payable over a period of 18 months at about £13 per month.
(1.) Realizing that we shall have to work bard and long hours, do you consider it possible for the two of us to earn a fairly respectable living?
(2.) In view of economic conditions, is the present time unpropitious for the venture?
(3.) Is there any imminent possibility of the licensing of haulage vehicles coming into force, and, if so, will the small haulier be wiped out?
We have been interested onlookers of the haulage business for some years, during which time we have been enthusiastic subscribers to your paper: we are consequently familiar with your Tables of Operating
Costs. HOPEFUL. London, S.W.6.
[On general grounds the project you outline in your letter is quite sound, so long as you do not place too much reliance upon the promise of the clearing house to provide you with work. I think you will find, if you look carefully into the proposal form, that the clearing house very carefully safeguards itself against any claim by you arising from non-provision of profitable work for the vehicle it has sold you. I do not put this forward in any way as being a legitimate cause of grievance against the clearing house. It would not be businesslike for it to give a complete unqualified guarantee.
(1) There will not be a living for two people in the operation of a single 2-ton lorry. The average net profit per week for the operation of that size of vehicle is from £3 to 14.
(2) The present time is as good as any other for your venture.
(3) I do not look upon the licensing of hauliers as "an imminent possibility," nor do I believe that, if it does occur, it will be permitted to react unfairly on the small haulier, who is already legitimately engaged in the business —S.T.R.1