Correspondence.
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Traction-Engine Restrictions.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir am glad to see that traction engines are to be checked in 'London, and I hope motor-wagon owners will take the hint and arrange that their vehicles are fitted with resilient wheels or shod with rubber tires. The particulars you published about one of Pickford's tractors, and the benehts derived from the use of the Tangent Wheel Company's resilient treads, show that the avoidance of noise also saves the pockets of the owners. Although traction engines because of their great weight, which is so often enormously in excess of what is recorded upon the plates which they bear, give rise to a degree of noise and vibration that cannot be equalled by any motor wagon, there is lots of room for improvement in other classes of mechanical transport than the traction engine, and users of iron-shod vehicles in London will require to make changes if they are not to get into difficulties tco.—Youts faithfully, London. " ROLLER."
New Manchester Salesman.
The _Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR," Sir :—We beg to advise you that the services of Mr. Ralph F. Wilson (formerly in charge of the Albion Motor Car Company's Sales Department) have been secured by Halley's Motors, Manchester, Ltd. Mr. Wilson will be in charge at Manchester, where we feel surc that his natural zeal and .energy, combined with his thorough grasp of the commercial vehicle business, will soon show itself by the advent of a large number of " Halley " vehicles into the Manchester district. We understand that large, and up-to-date premises have been taken, and will be opened some time in June.—Yours faithfully,
HALLEY'S INDUSTR/AL MOTORS, LTo., Yoker, Glasgow, Isth May, 1907.
Motorbuses in the Argentine.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :--I am sending you, under separate cover, a photo of the Scott-Stirling buses which are running for the Ferro Carril de Buenos Aires at Pacifico, Bahia Blanca. They have seven vehicles in all, five in service, one in reserve, and one undergoing repairs. These. have now been running for seven months and are of the same type as the ones now on the streets of London. In fact, the first two to .arrive here were originally intended for the " Pioneer " services. You will notice that the bus in the extreme right of he photograph has a longer wheel-base than is usual. with Scott-Stirling vehicles. This I lengthened myself,on account of the extremely rough ground over which the buses have to run. With the short wheel-base, the vibration was -so great that the bodies gave way and had to be strength,ened with iron brackets, etc. I am now remodelling one
bus for running on the tramlines, which have been laicl for electric traction by the above company, who are the sole concessionnaires. As the population is so small, and is scattered over such a large area, it is unlikely that the cars will start running for at least another five years, if at all. We have two steam trams which have been in service for
the last two years, but they are very unsatisfactory, on account of the smoke, sme-11, and frequent derailments. There is a great opening in this country for lorries and other types of heavy commercial vehicles, and also for agricuitural machinery, stationary motors for pumping and driving machinery for all purposes. I have re-_-.jved several enquiries for the latter, and also several for motorbuses.
In Buenos Aires a big business is to be done in all types
of commercial vehicles, but they require to be introduced by an enterprising company. Several North American firms are already in the field, and are doing good business, but their vehicles are very inferior to the British-built vehicles. Some two years ago I delivered two Milnes-Daimler lorries to a firm in Buenos Aires; now they have six and some more on order. This firm employs from 200 to 250 horses and carts daily, and, like many others, complains that the animals and fodder grow more expensive day by day, but they find that the motor lorries do four times the amount of work of the horse carts. The motor lorry can, also, be adapted to do such work as threshing and towing other vehicles from the docks to the sheds. There is a large demand for motor launches, thid for inspection cars suitable for railway companies, contractors, etc. A preference is given ta petrol motors here, owing to the high price of coal and the scarcity of water suitable for steam engine boilers ; petrol and oils do not differ much in price from those in England. If any of your readers wish information or are looking for an opening for their manufactures, I shall be glad to hear from them. I shall also be glad to hear from any firms which make a motor and gears for attaching to existing tramcars ; four sets would be required.
I hope this letter may be of interest to your readers, and that more business will be done with us out here by English manufacturers. I have "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR " sent out every week, and find it a great boon,—Yours faithfully, A. R. VICKERS (Superintendent Omnibus Department). Bahia Blanca, South America, 13th April, 1907.
Loitering Stage Carriages.
The Editor," THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—I notice that a violent attack has been made on my letter re " Loitering Stage Carriages " by " Snowball," and he challenges my statements. Well first let me tell him that at the time I am speaking about, there was a three and four minute service on " No. .5 " " Vanguard " route, and it only wants a couple of minutes " back "on the first two points, and the next "No. 5" will catch you up on the third, unless he has been having "back" as well. Secondly, if the regulation about stopping at points exists,
then why is it not enforced? With reference to journeys lost, if you stand waiting at corners, and take half as long again to do a journey, it stands to reason the full number of journeys will not be done, unless the car stops out all night. As to the breakdowns, I would like to tell him that I have to earn my living, and it is to my interest to keep the car on the road. My bread and butter is of more importance to me than what people think of my " mechanical knowledge." I expect he complains of this sort of thing. A little while ago, one morning I was going along, and hearing a rattling sound, 1 looked and found that my distance-piect bolts had worked loose. I stopped the engine, got down and tightened them up ; whilst doing so, an opposition bus went by. My conductor (it may have been " Snowball ") came round and rated me, saying, " You, might have waited till we had got to the terminus and then tightened them," whereas, had I gone much further, they would have sheared off, and then we would have lost a journey waiting for the road engineer to bring some fresh ones. I reckon that showed his " mechanical knowledge." I said nothing ; started my engine and went on (after two minutes' delay). As for stopping because we are too lazy to drive, this is absolutely absurd; it requires no comment.
If I had my way, as he says, motorbuses would soon be off the road. That remains to be seen, and he says he understands that buses are run for the travelling public's convenience—what convenience is there in sitting in a bus that stands still longer than it moves? It makes a nice shelter when it is showery, perhaps, but I do not exactly see where the company's profit comes in when the passengers go on
the trains and the " tube " (which does " keep moving "; that is why it gets them) instead of riding on the motorbuses, which could easily beat them if allowed to, and that without exceeding the limit. In conclusion, Sir, I think I may say that although " Snowball " has challenged my statements, he cannot prove them false—ask any driver! Anyhow, my shot struck home.—Yours faithfully,
KEEP MOVING.
The Editor, `.` THE COMMERCIAL MozoR."
Sir :—After reading " Snowball's" letter on page 277 of your last issue, criticising that from " Keep Moving," published the previous week, one cannot help thinking that the letter of the former was written in a fit of petulance and without giving any consideration to the points raised. To suggest that a driver wilfully lays up his bus in order to "show oft" his "mechanical knowledge" or because he is"too lazy " to drive, only shows base ignorance on " Snowball's " part. When at least one operating company has less than 40 per cent. of its buses on the road (the remainder undergoing alteration or being overhauled), and consequently a very large number of drivers and conductor S are 'earning practically nothing, it is not reasonable to suggest that a driver will throw away his bread and butter when he gets the chance of earning a day's pay_ Perhaps " Snowball " is one of the unfortunate conductors who feels he must slang someone, and proceeds to do so in the manner peculiar to a certain class of men whose reasoning powers are somewhat limited.—Yours faithfully,
J. THOMAS.