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OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.

25th May 1920, Page 22
25th May 1920
Page 22
Page 22, 25th May 1920 — OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one side of the paper only and typewritten by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for views expressed is accepted.

Replacing Pneumatics by Solids.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1,730] Sir,—In your issue of May 11th there were two letters by "Y.Z.," one on the above subject, and one on the converse, viz., replacing solids by pneumatics. As to the formes, I quite agree with him in condemning the alteration. Thee is one disadvantage of twin tyres, however, that he does not mention, and a serious one, in my opinion, and that is, that with a heavily-cambered road the weight of the load all falls on the inner tyre, throwing a strain on it that it was never designed to bear, and, though the damage may not be always noticeable, it is the beginning of the end of the tyre, as ithas been overstrained, and where the tyre under this overload_ meets a stone, the chances are that the caavas goes, or is badly weakened at that spot. He suggests as a. palliative using Rubberine or some such filling, but why, when I understand there is a tyre that combines all the advantages of the pneumatic with those of the solid, according to advertisements, viz.lathaa of the N.A.P. Pneumatic Tube Tyre Syndicate, Ltd. ? I hear too, that the company are 'shortly to putam the market single sections that will carry up to two tons per wheel, which is the highest demand they have received, so why have twins with all their admitted disadvantages?

As to his second letter on the converse, where the commercial vehicle is such as hea mentions, i.e., designed only for low speeds, and without suitable brakes or cooling apparatus, it is self evidentfthat only one of two courses isileft open, either use an efficient fool-proof governor, and, have pneumatics on all wheels, or put pneumatics on the front wheels only. The latter course, at any rate, prolongs greatly the life of the engine, and reduces repairs, but in either case the greatest advantages of pneumatics are lost. But, are there not many that do not come within this category, e.g., all those that are also designed for abar-k-banes work ?

Many of the new vehicles ara capable of consider

able speed, and have a high reserve of power at low speeds. I know one which, with nueumatics, anu weighing 4 tons 3 cwt. loaded, and in the makers' hands, did an average of 25 miles per hour on a; bad road, but perhaps "Y.Z." does not consider this a heavy motor vehicle. Apart from prolonging the life of the engines and reducing the repair it is self-evident that, for long-distance deliveries, the high-speed obtainable with pneumatics means an enormous saving in .the number of vehicles required and, therefore, ca,pital, as also in the wages required per ton mile. I am convinced that, given encouragement, resilient shock-absorbing tyres will be produced to take the heaviest loads.—Yours faithfully,

London. EN AVANT.

Benzole Extraction from Gas

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1,731] Sir,—From every side one hears reports of the reduction in output of benzole by the gas manufacturers. The total production is something like one-half of what it was immediately after the Armistice. The extraction of benzole from gas presents undoubted advantages in many respects, and has few disadvantages. The deposits of naphthalene in the gas mains are almost entirely prevented ; not only is this the case, but gas free from naphthalene will actually cleanse the pipe system of the naphtha already deposited. Certainly the removal of the bensole reduces theheating value of the gas by about 6 per cent., but this is made up for to a considerable extent by the removal of the tendency for the carbon to choke the burners and darken the mantles.

Gas manufacturers object to removing the ben.zole in many eases because the old-fashioned burners produce a blue flame with a very poor lighting capacity. Few users, however, have this type of' burner fitted in their houses, and these could easily be replaced by incandescent burners.—Yours faithfully, Croydon. J. J.

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