Opinions from Others.
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on
one side of Me paper only, and type-written by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility
for the views expressed is accepted. In the case of experiences, names of towns or localities may be withheld.
'Production First : Transport Next.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,344] Sir,—Manufacturers of road-transport machinery have done much good throughout the country, by reducing the cost of haulage, without always reaping the reward they deserve. The values of commodities are dependent on cost of transport ; the decrease of such cost is of the utmost importance to the community, and, so long as facilities of transport are increased, without damage to, or with compensation for, the use of the roads, every manufacturer of road-transport machinery should get his :reward for the good work he is doing. In many cases he misses this reward, from the fact that he is competing with the railway companies. So soon as he introduces a machine to compete with the rail-ways, they naturally undercut. his price and secure the work for which lie has built probably a special form of machine. It may be that one of the reasons cf our pre-eminence in the manufacture of roadtransport machinery is due to this constant competition with the railways, combined with the fact that the railway and the steam locomotive are of 'British origin.—Yours faithfully,
" BRITISHER."
Bonuses to Drivers who Take Care of Their Tires.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
t1,3/5] Sir,—We have pleasure in enclosing, here-with, copies of two letters, which we recently sent to owners of commercial vehicles, suggesting to grant a bonus of 5s. per tire to drivers as soon as such tire has exceeded the guaranteed 10,000 miles. This scheme, which is more-clearly detailed in the enclosed .copies, undoubtedly will interest you, especially when we tell you that the replies which we received have been most pleasing. We have now resolved to carry our scheme out at the earliest-possible moment. We append, also, a few phrases that were used in letters which were received from our friends :—
"I feel sure my drivers will enter enthusiastically into this scheme."
"We are favourably impressed with your idea." "We consider this scheme a very-good one." "Your scheme is certainly interesting, and we have no objection to your granting a bonus" " We consider this an excellent idea."
"We need hardly mention that we shall be pleased to give our sanction to this arrangement, as, when a driver takes an interest in the life of his tires, his careful driving directly affects the condition of the machine itself."
"We think this is a good plan."
" We have no objection to your granting our driver a bonus."
These opinions, we think, are conclusive.—Yours faithfully,
THE CONTINENTAL TYRE AND RUBBER CO. (GREAT BRITAIN), LTD.,
F. C. ALLEN, Sales 11anager.
[COPY No. 1.]
"As we have not yet had the pleasure of supply' ing you with our Continental solid band tires, we beg ' to suggest to you a scheme which we should think will eliminate all risk that may exist, in your opinion, since you have not had any experience with Continental solid tires so far. What we propose is to supply our
tires under the usual 10,000 miles guarantee, but, in addition to this, providing you are agreeable, to grant a bonus of 5s. per tire to the driver, while in your employ, of the vehicle on which Continental solid tires are running, as soon as the tires upon it have exceeded the guaranteed 10,000 miles.
"In putting forward this suggestion, we do so as much in your interests as our own, as we feel certain that, through this scheme, each of your drivers will take a personal interest in the tires on which the vehicle is running, consequently drive carefully, and save your engine in order to earn the promised bonus, which we suggest paying out through your good selves.—Yours faithfully, (Signed)
"CONTINENTAL TYRE AND RUI3BER CO. (GREAT BRITAIN), LTD.,
"PAUL BRODTMAN'S, Managing Director."
[COPY No. .2.]
"Although you are already a user of Continental solid band tires, and to our knowledge entirely satisfied with them, we purpose, providing you are agreeable, to grant a kind of bonus to your drivers to whose vehicles Continentals are fitted on all wheels, in order to make them personally interested in the care of the tires which are entrusted to them. Of course, we wish you to understand that the tires will be supplied to you, as formerly, under our usual 10,000 miles guarantee.
"What we suggest is to grant a bonus of 58. per tire, or 30s. per car (if twin tires on the back), to the driver in your employ, when the tires have exceeded the guarantee of 10,000 miles, and we think that this scheme would be an inducement for the chauffeur to exercise every possible care to look after his tires well, to drive carefully, and consequently to save your engine, in order to earn the proposed bonus which we suggest paying to him through your good selves.
"If you are interested in our scheme, kindly let us know by return, at, the same time mentioning whether we have to communicate further on this matter with you or your chauffeur."
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,346] Sir,—Herewith copy of letter that is being circulated by the Continental Tyre and Rubber Co., and, as the points involved are likely to be of considerable interest to motor owners, I should be pleased if you would refer to same in an early issue of your paper, with a view to obtaining their views. In my opinion, the bonus scheme suggested will not work to the best interests of the owner, as, with all respect to drivers as a whole, many, I am afraid, are likely to be tempted to force the mileage returns to complete the guarantee, with a view to handling the bonus quickly, and, as any mileage over the guarantee is of no pecuniary interest to them, and the fitting of a new set (with a further bonus) preferable, the early failure of the tires can be anticipated. The scheme, to my mind, also savours somewhat of a bribe, and may tend to choke competition, in as much as the drivers will naturally endeavour to get the orders placed in the direction from which they obtain some benefit, to the exclusion of other makes.
I enclose my card, and would thank you to let me remain.— Yours faithfully,
" FAIR COMPETITION."
Allahabad Exhibition.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
11,3171 Sir,—We recently had the pleasure of sending you sonic information respecting our awards at
the above exhibition. We have however, just received a letter from " The Indian and Eastern Engineer Co., Ltd,. of London, pointing out that the silver cup which was awarded to us at the above gathering was given by their paper, namely' " Indian and Eastern Engineer," and not by the journal Indian Engineering," as named in our advice to you. We very much regret this error, which has arisen from a mistake in our advices from India, and you will therefore quite understand that we are anxious to get this matter put right as speedily as possible. Under the circumstances we shall be glad if you will give publicity to this.—Yours faithfully, INI,,,usnALL, SONS AND COMPANY, LTD.
Firebrigade Matters.
The Editor, Tim COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
Sir,---Your " A Belated Notice," in die 6th 'irtst. Hs been pointed out to me. You seem to crverlook the fact that the general arrangement of fire-engine has never been published before, and that engineers, as a rule, do not read penny weeklies which ;ire almost-exclusively published for the use of motor drivers and firemen. Also, unlike the " that the " Engineer'' was not anxious to publish a piece of engineering before it was anywhere near cum
pleted.—Yours faithfully, J.
Our readerA way remember Mr. Zwicky as the deF•rinier and con kructor of Tottenham' unique JAM. fire-engine, to whirl, ..ye hare frequently referred—EP. j The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,349] Sir,—In your issue of the 23rd nit, we notice, on the page devoted to the above, the note as to the recommendation made by the deputation from Edinburgh regarding the purpose of fire pumps. From this and other sources, we venture to think that a misleading idea is likely to arise respecting the effi ctency of the turbine as against the reciprocating pump, as, with apparently the same engine power, the centrifugal (turbine) pump has a smaller capacity than the reciprocating pump in the proportion of 350 to 450 gallons per minute. This, of course, cannot be admitted for a moment, unless the centrifugal (turbine) pump is of very-poor design, as, assuming the efficiency of the reciprocating pump of, say, 450 gallons capacity, to be 75 per cent. for sake of argument, then, if the centrifugal pump is only capable of discharging 350 gallons per minute, its efficiency is hut 53 per cent. Now, this, of course, by no means ; epresents the efficiency of a high-class turbine pump, as over 70 per cent. is quite easily realized. A further point, and one which is often lost sight
of, is that the high power of engine supplied is not for the purpose of merely driving the pump, but to attain high speeds in travelling and for hill climbilug. 'Yours faithfully,
MATHER AND PLAIT, LTD.
Ity cavnts1 lesigri and goad workmanship, turbine ptuuvs May be nride to give an ettieieney c, di) per cent., and it is only in the ease of pcor design and indifferent fitting that the efficiency fans so low BS 60 VI' mutt. We uree that high.powered engines are demanded by some nigades,it so uiueli IOT hign duty of the pumps, but Inc high speed of travel to the i6e-..rie oi the 11cC. When pmnpmg, they are often not working at full power.—ED.J
The Use of a Trade Mark.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
L.1,350] Sir,—Stand on a main road and watch. the various makes of vehicles passing. To the untrained eye, all seem like sheep in a flock—not much difference between any of them. Few manufacturers, of motor vehicles make use of a mark that instantly. impresses an onlooker not interested in the subject. tet, with the general adoption of mechanical transport, everybody on the road, sooner or later, will oecome interested in this method of transport. It thus becomes more and more important for the makers of this type of machinery to adopt an easilyread mark, to distinguish clearly the x.ehicles of their manufacture to the ordinary eye. n Anybody in in the movement ever so slightly can distinguish between a Daimler, a Lanchcster, and many other makes of touring cars ; but can the man in the street distinguish, say, in steam wagons, the makers of these at a glance, when we know that even to a policeman (who should know) any vehicle driven by steam, and carrying a load, appears to him in the form of a traction engine: In heavy-traffic machinery, there is no better instance of the good use of a trade mark than that shown by a firm in Kent: a brass horse (an invicta) fixed on the smoke-box of the barrel of the boiler. In this instance, there is no need to mention the name of the firm, because the trade mark itself is sufficient,. It would be very difficult to estimate the value of a mark of this type to the manufacturer of a mechanically-propelled vehicle. Run a Thornycroft, a " Commer Car," and a Clayton (of Huddersfield) motorvan past the ordinary road user, and he could not tell you whether or no these vehicles were all supplied from the same works ; it would, in fact, appear to him that they were. The mark must be clear and distinctive, the name of the manufacturer in small letters not giving sufficient distinction, seeing the increased speed at, which this type of vehicle travels. Take steam wagons of the Foden type, such as are made by Tacker, Wallis and Steevens, and Allehin ; it would be difficult in passing for the ordinary man to say which of these four makers produced the wagons in questien.—Yours faithfully, " THE LIMELIGHT."