Opinions and Queries
Page 54
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"Pirates" in Bodybuilding
THE state of affairs described by The Hawk" in
his paragraph "Cut-price Bodybuilding" (The Commercial Motor, March I) exists all over the country. The suicidal methods outlined by him are, perhaps, not to be. greatly feared in the long run, but there is another insidious system that does harm.
In this case, the offending bodybuilder is asked by a vehicle agent to quote for, perhaps, a cattle-truck body. He does some research behind the scenes to discover the identity of the operator and quotes him a price which is, in effect„ a trade rate. Having done so, the bodybuilder asks to be excused from tendering to the vehicle agent, as he has "already quoted someone else for the job."
If the tender for the particular job were £400 retail, less • 12+ per cent, discount to the trader, the " pirate " bodybuilder would quote £350 direct to the operator. By this method he does not have to cut his prices unduly, but nattirally receives most of the orders.
This system of trading gives operators., the impression that vehicle agents just .sit back and take huge profits for doing nothing. Most bodybuilders rely on vehicle agents for 95 per cent. of their business, and we ourselves have great respect for most of them. In 37 years of trading with them we have not had one bad debt.
Pirates soon find that they become boycotted by traders, so in time they become even more redundant.
Saffron Walden, Essex. T. E. OSBORNE, R. W. Osborne and Son.
Transport and Street Names
wiTH reference Co your recent paragraphs on street
names with transport associations, my fellow citizens of Manchester must walk around with their eyes closed if they can supply only the few examples which you quote. The Manchester street directory is a veritable reproduction of an Earls Court catalogue. Apart from the Austin Street already mentioned, what about Bedford Street, Morris Street, Humber Street, Ford Street and Thames Street, Bradford Street and (just over the boundary into Stockport) Jewett Street. If you want some heavy stuff there are Albion Street,
Crossley Street, Guy Street and Daimler Street. Then there are Leyland Avenue with Lion Street and Beaver Street to match, Bristol Street, Fowler Street and Atkinson Street. Amongst the older names are Garner Street, Gilford Street, Halley Street and Vulcan Street. If there is not an A.E.C. Street, at least we can muster a Regent Road and a Reliance Street.
Now for the components: Engine Street is a good start for Gardner Street, Meadows Street and Perkins Stied. Becoming a little mire detailed, how about Pump Street, Axle Street and The Drive?
.As for general descriptions,. in addition to our Tram Street, we can supply Tipper Street, Tipping Street and CarriageStreet.
As a few reminders of the hazards of the road there are Fog Lane, Cyclist Street, Police Street and Zebra Street.
If there is little for you in Tank Row, there's always Cycle Street and Walk Street.
Cheadle. • Cheshire CHRIS W. HEAPS.
Guard Rails for Vehicles
TN connection with the Ministry of Transport suggeSted I requirements as to guard rails, particularly between wagons and trailers, the latter, would seem to be difficult to meet. In my view the only practicable answer to promote safety, would be to close-couple the trailer, ,using dwarf towbars and round-nose trailers. This is done with some American vehicles, especially where state regulations limit the length. Probably the best answer is to employ more articulated vehicles.
Guard rails may do something to reduce accidents in the case of vehicles, but they will undoubtedly be a nuisance from the maintenance aspect. All such restrictions point to the need for building those long overdue safer roads—that will probably not be until vehicles are nose to tail from London to Edinburgh.
The 30 m.p.h. limit for heavies may, become legal but if we do not have new roads, it will soon be difficult for them to do more than 20 m.p.h. How badly this compares with the U.S.A., where heavy vehicles constantly run at speeds of 50-60 m.p.h.
Doncaster, Yorks. J. W. MORRIS.