OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
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Passing of the Overtype Steam Wagon?
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
L1538 j Sir,--The remarks of " Contributor " in your issue of the 13th M. St. are not convincing; even the title of his . article is postfixed by a sign suggesting that he isnot quite sure of himself. Besides, the greater part of his matter is irrelevant and enigmatic. The phrase " Slavishly copy". is an unfortunate one, inasmuch as our friend's article is actually illustrated from a photograph of a steamer, "slavishly copied," by his undertype friends, from the parent of the type he unjustly condenins. To my mind " Contributor" says in effect:—" Don't purchase overtypes ; they have failed to meet present requirements, etc.," and,during, the time that the moribund overtypers will " undoubtedly have to spend much time and money in experiments" we virtuous undertypists may have a rather better output !"
I hold no brief for so-called " overtypes," but I consider the article unfair.—Yours faithfully, J.H. Preston.
High Mileages.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1539] Sir,—I have noticed your paragraph on the above matter relating to Alldays chassis. The West Bridgford Urban District Council possess seven of thee chassis fitted with omnibus bodies, and the following partieulais might be interesting reading:— No. 1 chassis, delivered 30th January, 1915,
mileage to 8th September, 1917 ... 35,710 No. 2 -chassis, delivered 15th February, 1915, mileage to 8th September' 1917 ... ... 41,229 No. 3 chassis, delivered 10th March, 1915,
mileage to 8th September, 1917 45,319 No. 4 chassis, delivered 17th March, 1915, mileage to 8th September, 1917 ... ... 49,438 No. 5 chassis, delivered 2nd April, 1915, 'mileage to 8th September, 1917 ... ... 37,762 No. 6 chassis, delivered 25th September, 1915, mileage to 8th September, 1917 39,337 No. 7 chassis, delivered 12th April, 1916, mileage to 8th September, 1917 ... ... 21,835 Total ... 270,630 This mileage has been accomplished without difficulty and the least possible percentage of mechanical failures. Fuel consumption works out at 8.1 miles per gallon, tyre mileage (Macintosh) 15,400 per set, chain mileage 16,401 average. One fourth of this distance has been made with Smith-King paraffin vaporizers without disadvantage to the engines. During the periods named 31 million passengers have been carried with these chassis, equal to 216,000 tons in weight.—Yours faithfully, H. T. CHAPMAN, Motorbus Dept., West Bridgford Urban District Council.
Tractor Experiences.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1540] Sir,—We have recently Put a Titan tractor to work on the land, and after our first week's experience we must confess to a feeling something akin to disappointment. Our contribution towards the projected large increase of arable land throughout the country appeared very microscopic indeed, and it was evident that a vast amount of labour would be involved before the whole task approached anything near completion. It is known, however, to all concerned that the Government mean business. Tractors are being obtained in large numbers, and we are promised a total of 8000 by next spring. The country is being sectionized, district organizers appointed, staffs of ploughmen, mechanics and clerks allocated to various centres, whilst rules and systems for the working control of the whole are being promulgated. The wages of the mechanics are 22 10s. per week, clerks 22, and drivers and ploughmen 6d. per hour for all time employed, and a bonus of 6d. per acre for land ploughed. A charge of from 15s. to 21 per acre, aecording to the nature of the land dealt with, is made to farmers for work done. In our ease, it must be acknowledged that the Government was the loser in this respect, as the cost of the work must have exceeded 22 per acre. We were, however, employed on rough, virgin moorland, where going was excessively hard, having frequently to take the uphill course ' light " or with shares raised from the earth, and thus rendered inoperative. On low land the results will be much better.
The Titan is a fine little machine, but scarcely powerful enough for very hilly districts. Our experience, on Yorkshire soil, has shown that a tractor of " the Titan class uses daily (10 to 12 hours) about a gallon of petrol for starting up the engine, from 12 to 15 gallons of paraffin to work it, and a gallon or so of lubricating oil. The cost of working the tractor a week of 72 hours (6 days of 12 hours each), including wages, fuel and other minor stores, amounted to about ,215.—Yours faithfully, F. AND P. Skipton.