Correspondence.
Page 19
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The " Gate " at Olympia.
The Editor, " THE CONIMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—I am not surprised at your remarks in this week's issue. The general apathy shown at the stands undoubtedly kept away possible buyers. Enthusiastically and solely representing likely purchasers, I reached the show at 3 p.m. on the opening day. Had I made a mistake? Surely, had come to the Tobacco Exhibition, so numerous were the lordly gentlemen puffing cigars and cigarettes, and strolling around, These, I afterwards found, were the exhibitors
and their " assistants." Seriously, however, I plodded
round file stands, and occasionally I was able to secure a catalogue. I tried again, three days after, at great business inconvenience, with the same result ; I therefore became disgusted, bought a penny" COMMERCIAL MOTOR," and left the building. I certainly was able to learn something for my penny, but very little for my two shillings, and fares to and fro, Exhibitors spend several -hundreds of pounds for their stands, and a few more pounds on capable anti energetic salesmen would be the means of attracting " gate " and enquirers. It may be taken for granted that a " commercial " exhibit does not attract many of the "dead heads" who visit exhibitions pour passer le temps. More than 75 per cent. are interested, and can do good to the trade, but the cold reception—or want of reccption—keeps them. away. Let salesmen and attendants come down to earth, and take a pride in displaying their exhibits, and a better result will be achieved in igo9.—Yours, etc.,
London. "A LIKELY PURCHASER." Ioth April, 1908.
[We think Our correspondent is unduly hard upon the stand-holders as a body, for we recall many instances where alertness and assiduity were con tinuous. Mr. &tummy's observations (see our issue of the 9th instant), we must admit, do bear him out, and the hint might well be taken to heart
in a number of instances.--En.]
RA.C. Certificates and Competitors' Extracts from Them.
The Editor," THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—In an advanced copy of a prospectus of " Resilient Tyres, Limited," which I and doubtless many of your readers have received, there appears an extract from a certificate of the Royal Automobile Club : " On examination after trial, it was found that the exterior of all the covers was in good condition and free from flats," Front an explanatory note, it might be concluded that this was the Club's verdict after a trial of 6,000 miles. Reference to the full certificate, as published in the Royal Automobile Club Journal of 26th March last, shows, however, that the Club's trial relates to 1,153 miles only, and that, during the 1,153 miles, one of the tires was changed. The log of this tire reads as follows in the certificate :—
" Near Hind.—After the first day's run, a distance of r5o miles, the car was locked up in the Club motor house, and nothing untoward was noticed with this tire; on visiting the motor house ten minutes later, it was found that a quantity of the filling had exuded from the valve, owing to the interior of the valve not having been properly secured. A new tire (studded non-skid) was fitted, and, for the remainder of the trial, this tire made a non-stop performance, covering 1,003 miles."
I would ask you to publish this letter, to avoid the possibility of any misconception as to the facts certified by the Club.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
EDWARD H. COZF.NS-TIA2DY.
82, Victoria Street, S.W., t5th April, 1908.
Exterior of Motorbuses.
The Editor," THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir : Should the motorbus companies be induced to give more attention to the comfort of their patrons, by the discussion in your valuable paper of the many defects in the motorbus, you will certainly merit the gratitude of the travelling public.
I would like to point out an error, which your correspond
ent Mr. F. R. Fieldhouse appears to have made. After pointing out the defects of the interior of the " Road Car" motorbuses, he says : " the exterior of the cars are second to none." Well, if he refers to the painting and decoration of the exterior, I agree with him; but, if he would only take the trouble of mounting a car (especially in wet weather), I venture to say that he will not find things quite up to date. Instead of the modern dry seats, he will find the old, broad, lath seats, as of yore, well covered with rain, and the water-proof covers lying about the floor quite unfit for use. As regards covers, it is only fair to say that this is a very general complaint. In fact, some companies have many buses without aprons at all. So what with wet seats, dirty covers, and the vibration, no wonder the motorbuses are not a success.—Yours truly,
Tooting, S.W. "A DAILY PASSENGER."
Non-slipping Devices for Heavy Vehicles.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :--‘-At the bottom of page 556, in your issue of 27th February, you illustrated a non-skid for a heavy wagon. The makers, surely, do not consider this to be a practical fitting if applied to really rough work such as that which most heavy vehicles have to do. In the account of the Manchester Show, you say that the makers are perfectly satisfied with its reliability, but still, even in the face of such an assurance, I cannot but feel that it would be useless on really bad roads. Then, again, take the case of a heavy lorry loaded to its maximum weight, whatever that may be ----I notice it is generally more than the makers say it is, and I have heard it said that the maximum load is when the underside of the platform bears upon the wheel treads : the wagon is travelling along a rough road and comes upon a large boulder or perhaps " half a brick" which is just in a line and at the proper place for one of the pads, or the edge of the socket which holds them, to run over it. Result? Wed, I say, a fracture • the makers say, no harm, but somehow I am sceptical about that. Does a vehicle fitted with these non-skids come within the prescribed legal width ? I have read, in your Drivers News, of men who have bound steel cable round the tires on their wheels with good results, but the drawback to its general use is, of course, the time it takes to adjust when wanted. The Spurrier non-skid is perhaps a step in the right direction, but, as it is illustrated, there is not enough of it, I am afraid, to do much practical good, although the idea is ingenious. I want to see the fitting applied to a wagon's wheels in severe work on the road.—Yours faithfully,
THOMAS NIGHTINGALE.