Opinions from Others.
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Editor invites correspondence on all subpas connected with the use of commer ial motors, Letters should be on
one site 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.
Night Storage Accommodation.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
,4(i3 j Sir,We shall be glad if you will put our name on the list for night storage accommodation of commercial-motor vehicles of all sizes. This depot is open day and night, and is the largest commercialmotor-vehicle depot in Birmingham. We hold all necessary stores for steam and petrol vehicles, from the steam road locomotive to the one-ton petrol Veit icle.—Yours faithfully,
T. C. AVELINO AND CO, (BIRMINGHAM), LTD. 91-93, New Canal Street.
Tare and Axle-weight Markings upon Vehicles Weighing Two Tons (or less) Unladen.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,461] Sir,Most registering authorities seem imbued with the idea that any commercial vehicle must !I:%4' marked on the side the speed in miles per hour,
: axle-weight of hind and front axle, and the tare weight. Hence, when purchasers of a new commercial vehicle apply for registration, they are always handed the form used for heavy motorcars. The new owner yonsidcrs that the registering authority knows more about the matter than anybody, and he religiously carries out any instructionsthat arc then given to him. We, in consequence, see on the road vehicles weighing not more than 30-cwt. which are painted and marked all over—for all the world as if these light vehicles were being run under the Heavy Motor Car Order. If the new vehicle weighs two tons light (or Icast, that is without load, water, fuel and (sometimes) body, it can then run up to 20 miles an hour. it requires only the usual motorcar registration], and it is to be marked with the name of the owner to prevent the Revenue Office claiming payment. of the carriage licence, the vehicle being used for trade purposes only. Yours faithfully. " ANNOYED:: Free Legal Defences.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1, Iii51 Sir,—You are aware that under the present terms of membership a member of this Association is entitled to Free Legal Defence twice in any one year. The reasonableness of this limitation will be appreciated when the other advantages are considered, viz :— FREE ASSOCIATESHIP of the Royal Automobile Club.
FREE COPY of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR post free weekly (if ordered).
FREE COPY of the " B.A.C. Journal " post free.weekly.
FREE ADVICE on Commercial-motor matters generally.
FREE EXPERT ADVICE.
There is no limit, however, to the number of times that a member may seek the advice of the Solicitor on legal matters free.
The General Committee, at a recent meeting, resolved, at the request of a member, that members should be given the option of having—beyond the two free defences as at present—additional defence, WITHOUT LIMITATION, on their payment of a further 10s. per vehicle per annum, up to six vehicles, and of 5s. per annum per vehicle in respect of any add itional vehicles above six.
In view of the fact that subscriptions are payable on 1st January, 1 should be glad if you will draw attention—by publication of this letter—to the fact that, the Association desires to have an expression of opinion from each member as to whether he desires to take advantage of this new feature. In the event of an affirmative, I shall want to know the number of vehieles to be so covered.—Yours faithfully, FOR THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR USERS AMOCIATION. FRED. G. BnIsTow, Secretary.
S9, Pall Mall, S.W.
Relative Tire Wear on Steam and Petrol Buses.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
C1,100-1 Sir,I read with much interest Me. Clifford's letter [No. 1,138.—En.] with reference to the above subject. In his letter he appears to argue that steam buses are easier on tires than petroldriven vehicles which have ordinary forms of changespeed gearboxes. By vehicles, I take it, Mr. Clifford n lean s omnibuses. It cannot be fair to compare steam buses with other forms of internal-combustion-engine]] vehicles. With buses, tire wear is entirely dependent on acceleration and deceleration. Mr. Clifford will not, I think, claim the same powers of acceleration for the steam bus as can be obtained by the internai-combustion type of bus that is now run by the London General Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.
In your " News and Comment " [p. 272.—ED.7 you suggest that your readers may be able to give valuable information about commonly-achieved mileages upon the driving wheels of three-ton steam wagons, as well as upon motorbuses." So far as the comparison of buses with steam and internal-combustion engines goes, tire wear must be greater on the vehicle with the greatest powers of acceleration, which quality is a .sine qua non nowadays for up-todate motorbuses. I hold that the powers of acceleration of the internal-combustion motorbus are far and away better than any steam bus on the road ; so that, the longevity of tires on the steam bus, in comparison with that of the internal-combustion bus, really " cuts no ice."
In comparing steam wagons on rubber tires with internal-combustion wagons, the first cost of tiring the latter must be less than the former, since the total dead load is so mutih higher in the case of the steam wagon. On all sides, therefore, the internalcorn bustion-engined vehicle gives better results than its steam colleague, in regard to comparative cost of and longevity of tires.
By the way, I cannot find the word tire in " Nuttall's Standard Dictionary." I am of the opinion that all or nearly all of the advertisements in your paper spell the word wrongly, i.e., with a "y " instead of with an " i."--Yours faithfully, T. C. AVELINO.
rOur correspondent, in the manuscript of the above letter, followed the xample of many tire makers, and erroneously spelt tire with a " p."We Imre helped him out editorially, it will be noted!—En.'