Are There Remedies for the Ills of Wheels ?
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THE title of your article, " The Ills of Wheels," in
your issue dated September 10, is a good one. I agree that it gives much useful advice from orthodox wheel makers to orthodox w'heel users, but in view of the amazing advance in the mechanism of motor vehicles, it seems strange. that wheel structure has not moved forward to the same degree. To-day's wheel, with its vertical connections, etc., was used by the Pharaohs 3,000 years ago. This did not matter much on a chariot, because the wheel was subjected to the stressing of only 1 or 2 h.p., but it is about time somebody woke up to the real mechanical needs of the much higher power now applied through wheels.
Recently,I submitted a special design of wheel to certain authorities, and they were sufficiently impressed to ask for a trial under operating conditions. Honestly, when engineers see for themselves what stands out a mile as a requirement for efficient wheel construction, it is astonishing.
In my view, it is all bunk to say that there is an average of only one failure in 10,000 wheels. I have
personally visited over 20 hauliers, and-have not found one who did not have a few fractured wheels on his scrap
heap. F. W. BAKER. Stourbridge.
WITH regard to the article, "The Ills of Wheels," " which appeared in your issue dated September 10, it is certainly interesting, and most transport men will be in agreement with your remarks.
After, however, reading the article, "Tyre Conservation -and Timely Repair," by Mr. F. W. Baker, published on August 27, it seems to me that the trade should invite further information from him.
Nobody can doubt such an authority as the Goodyear Co., and if, as this concern alleges, so many tyres were wrecked and barrels of wheel bearings were found to be fractured, Whilst Mr. Baker claims to have found a remedy for the evil, perhaps some of the other troubles which you dealt with in the first-mentioned article can also be put right. T. H. MORGAN.' Cardington.