Correspondence.
Page 12
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Water Supplies for Steam Wagons.
Sir :—Allow me, through your pages, to thank Mr. J. Summer for his most readable article on " Roadside Water for a Penny in the Slot." The question of a proper water supply for the boilers of steam vehicles is one that has for a long time exercised the minds of users of this type of commercial vehicle. I have had some unpleasant experiences myself with boilers which, perforce, have been supplied by water taken from some muddy brook by the wayside, and, contrary to the expectations of the driver, the mere fact of carefully placing the coke shovel under the rose of the firing pipe does not always give the desired result. The water meter system, as put forward by your contributor, seems to me to be a comparatively simple plan for getting rid of the water difficulty. If these water-supplying apparata could be erected in London and other large centres, they would, I think, be the means of materially increasing the number of steam wagons sold. Boiler troubles have, to a certain extent, spoilt the sales of steam vehicles, because, to the uninitiated, who does not know the real facts of the case, a leaking boiler is always laid at the door of the maker. This is a regrettable fact, for there is not the slightest doubt that, up to the present, no vehicle can compete with the reliable steam motor for heavy loads. There are interested parties who would he quite ready to start transport services between certain agricultural districts and the neighbouring towns if only a constant and reliable source of water could be obtained for the boilers of steam vehicles. As matters stand, some men too often play on this question, and use it as an excuse for calls at public-houses. The convenience of such supplies would apply in a lesser degree to the petrol motor ; it has to have the water tank replenished on occasions. Every means by which the furthering of the sell-propelled commercial motor can be advanced should be supported both by makers and interested owners. It is to be hoped that the Motor Van and Wagon Users' Association will see its way to co-operate with the various water authorities to establish the water-supply pillar system.—
Yours faithfully, "ANOTHER LORRY OWNER."
Farm Motors.
Sir :—We have read with much interest the letter signed "Farmer "in your issue of the isth instant, and we may say that we have just the machine he wants. The Ivel agricultural motor can be used for doing all the work he mentions in his letter, such as ploughing, reaping and binding, cultivating, drilling, harrowing, mowing, rolling, hauling, etc., and, in addition to this, it can also drive a full-size threshing machine, as well as a chaff-cutter, pump, etc. The price of the Ivel agricultural motor is £300, and the ordinary implements of the farm can be used with the motor, with the exception, of course, he would have to procure a three-furrow plough. We would particularly like to point out that the Ivel agricultural motor is by no means an experiment, but that a large number of motors have been made which are at work in various parts of England as well as abroad. Showing the widespread want of suitable motors for agricultural work, I may mention that we have received orders for and supplied machines to the following countries :—Portugal, Egypt, Austria, Transvaal, Victoria, New South Wales, East Griqualand, Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, New Zealand, Holland, Tasmania, South Australia, France, Belgium, Rhodesia, Germany, Hungary, South Russia, India, Cuba, Spain, Turkey, and Honolulu.
I may add that we give demonstrations with our machines from time to time near I3iggleswade, and if " Fanner " would like to see the machine at work, we should be only too pleased to show him same, doing various kinds of agricultural work, and to demonstrate the capabilities of this wonderful machine.—Yours faithfully, A. HOFFMANN (Manager), For The Ivel Agricultural Motors, Limited.
45, Great Marlborough Street, W.
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 type-written by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for the views expressed is accepted.