Opinions from Others.
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The Editor invite& correspondence on all subjects connected with the use ol 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 responsibilii,y for the views expressed is accepted.
The Best Gears Tor Cabs.
The Editor, "THE COmil KRC1AL Moron."
[931] Sir :—A few days ago, I noticed a taxicab endeavouring to turn round in a very narrow street; the driver had to reverse four or live times, thus necessitating extra wear on clutch and gears. Now, it occurred to me, while watching the manoeuvre, how quietly, quickly and easily it could have been done if the cab had been fitted with epicyclic gears. Unfortunately, owing to ignorance and petty prejudice, this type of gearing is despised by the majority of people, who seem to think them complicated and difficult, whereas, on the contrary, they are neater, easier to manage, and much more suitable for London traffic, than the noisy, more-or-less clumsy, and much-abused Panhard type. The only cabs, I believe, at present fitted with epicyclic gears are the Adams and Lotis, and I am surprised that there are not more of these excellent cabs running in London. Perhaps cab owners and proprietors will some day realise the overwhelming advantages of these gears. Until then. . . .—Yours
truly, E. A. ST/MA. East Street, Walworth, S.E.
The New Police Regulations.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL Moron."
932] Sir :—Like many others. I have read with interest your comments, together with those of your correspondents, on the new police regulations, in the last three issues of your journal, and I am of opinion that the chief point which calls for the attention of the motorbus and motorcab owners is the question as to when they should rise against the stipulation that an instrument, which will give "loud and continuous" warning when the legal speed limit is being exceeded, must be fitted to all of their machines shortly. With reference to the inevitable objection from owners of public-service commercial motors, I would like to remind such owners of the office motto which runs " Do it now." If any objection is to be raised, it should be done at once ; else, if, as it is suggested, the fitting of each instrument entails the expenditure of £5. some £10,000 may be wasted on London's motorcabs alone.
The recently-issued police regulations cannot but be regarded as most ill-advised measures, and, as motorbus and motorcab proprietors help considerably to support the police, they will be doing a good deal towards buying a rather expensive stick with which -to beat their own backs if they submit to the "Loud and Continuous Warning" and the " Light Motorbus " orders. Owners of publicservice commercial motors should remember that the vehicle which is kept strictly to the legal speed limit when travelling is not wanted any more than the single-deck bus, and both the former condition and the latter type of vehicle are about to be forced on Londoners by the Public Carriage Office.—Yours faithfully,
Airmen E. A. M. TURNER, Users' Experiences (No. XII).
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
[933] Sir :—It has been my misfortune to have an undesirable interest in a recent motor case which came into Court. Although the matter was of a serious nature, the element of comedy was strongly represented by the statements of our " learned friends " when they started to describe the peculiarities of motor wagons, and suggested that motor wagons would form a very appropriate subject for a nightmare. As I listened, I became conscious of a growing sense of pride, similar I imagine to that of a lion tamer or snake charmer as he caresses without fear the animals from which his fellow men shrink in terror. It is a misfortune to motorists that the legal mind does not condescend to learn more of the practical side of the subjects with which it has to deal; a very slight knowledge of most subjects would go a long way towards improving matters in this respect. We get some very inviting enquiries for work in connection with material for new factories, and the tonnage in the aggregate generally runs into four figures. In practically all cases, the want of a road makes the work unsuitable for motor wagons. I notice reference was made recently to a " Leyland " steam wagon which was accused of " snorting " when going up a hill. This only occurs either through bad driving or because the exhaustpipe nozzle under the chimney requires cleaning out, which may be done by disconnecting, heating to a cherry' red and hammering, when the scale formed will fall off. T have occasionally noticed wagons on the road in need of this little attention.
The mechanical lubricators I mentioned some three months ago are still giving every satisfaction, and have never yet required attention. Some of our wagons are fitted with cast-iron slide valves, and the makers advised us we were courting trouble by having these fitted, but we find an efficient lubricator has prevented this. English makes of lubricators contain better workmanship, but the makers are not so careful as to details ; one make, for instance, has no provision for keeping dirt out of the lubricator until it reaches a very fine gauze fitting at the bottom of the oil cup, and to clean this effectually means taking the lubricator to pieces, which is not very easily done on the roadside.
I append my log sheet for the current week : earnings, £46; mileage, 678; tonnage, 112; percentage of work done, 96; coke used, 5 tons ; oil (gear), 6 gallons; and oil (cylinder), 3 gallons.—Yours, etc.,
"MOTOR-WAGON CARRIER."
Spring Wheels and Flexible Hubs.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR,"
[934] Sir :—Having read with considerable interest the letter from " Observer " upon the above important subject, which appeared in your issue of the 15th inst., I should be glad of permission through the medium of your columns to reply to certain statements he makes with reference to Smith's Flexible Hubs," the patents for which are owned by my company. Whilst appreciating the opinion he is good enough to express as to Smith's flexible hubs being " the best and most practicable attempt to minimise road shocks and lessen jars transmitted by the axles of wheels travelling over rough roads and pavements," your correspondent directs attention to one or two points which he considers constitute a weakness in their design, but this, I think, the following explanation will convince him does not exist.
Firstly, in regard to his view that" rapid wear and tear is sure to take place owing to grit and dust working in between the hub and the flanges," I shall be pleased to demonstrate that this is not the case, by showing him hubs that have run for nearly two years, and covered many thousand miles, which exhibit little or no trace of wear and tear from this cause, the construction of the same providing lubrication rings, which catch and retain any dust or grit that may enter between the friction surfaces, though experience has proved that the amount of such deposits is practically nil.
Secondly, in answer to his statement that " the use of grease or oil lubricants would lead to deterioration of the rubber," I have to say that neither grease nor oil ,comes into contact with the rubbers : the lubricant used, and which is contained in the rings before mentioned and only very lightly smeared on the friction surfaces, is either graphite or plum bago. The rubber, therefore, is not in the slightest degree deteriorated from this supposed cause, as I shall be pleased to prove by showing him some that have been in use for a long period and are still perfectly good.
Thirdly, in regard to " Observer's " objection that " weight and cost have to be considered in adopting a wheel of this kind, and that for these two reasons he would never think of using a Smith hub in connection with a rubber-tired vehicle, as the rubber itself eliminates the jars and reduces the shocks, etc., but that on steel-tired vehicles the resilient or flexible hub would undoubtedly relieve the springs and axles," I should like to point out that, for such vehicles as tradesmen's delivery vans and commercial vans generally, carrying considerable loads, the relief afforded by solid-rubber tires alone is insufficient to prevent undue wear and tear of machinery and tires, and consequent loss arising from this cause, owing to the too-frequent necessity for having to lay up vehicles for repairs.—Yours faithfully,
For SMITH'S FLEXIBLE HUH, LIMITED, W. C. Gour.o, Secretary.
20, Copthall Avenue, E.C.
Benefits of the Home Industry.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
[935] Sir :—In view of the proposals which are always being mooted, to increase the taxation of motorcars, we think the following particulars of what has been accomplished in a country town, due to the increase of the motor industry, will be of value to you. Our Woodbridge factory now occupies over one acre in area, and stands on our own ground of 12 acres. We give employment to over 400 men, and, since this new factory was put up three years ago, no less than 35 new cottages have been erected in the immediate neighbourhood. On the land surrounding the factory, we have laid out allotment gardens for the use of our men, and there is also provided a large ground which is used for football in the winter and for cricket in the summer.
Our " Dennis " Athletic Club is in a very flourishing state, and it is very gratifying to note that every one of our employees is a member of this club. Our cricket team, last year, fully justified our expectations, and worked its way to the head of the junior league, and is this year promoted to the senior league. Our football team has been as successful this year, and we are looking forward to still further honours.
Besides these two leading games, we also have billiard tournaments, whist drives, boxing matches, etc., etc., and altogether you will see that the Dennis factory has provided both employment and recreation for a large number of men.—Yours faithfully, Guildford.
DENNIS BROS.; LIMITED.