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U.S.A. Happenings.

2nd November 1911
Page 12
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Page 12, 2nd November 1911 — U.S.A. Happenings.
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Keywords : Tires, Tire, Truck, Coal, Truck Camper

Coal-carting in the States is effected chiefly in bulk, and not in sacks. Hard coal is generally used in large cities, there being ordinances passed forbidding the use of soft coal, so as to prevent fogging the atmosphere. This hard coal is supplied in different grades, termed egg, pea, .nut and stove coal. The size of the egg coal is no bigger than a small marble, and the largest (stove coal) is about the size of a tennis ball. Use of this class of coal facilitates its transport considerably, as it can be delivered by chutes into the coal-hole direct from the body of a motor truck, and it will travel down quite a small grade, little time being wasted in unloading.. The loading process is also simple ; coal pockets in the outskirts of the city are filled mechanically from barges or railroad trucks. These pockets are sufficiently high to enable a motor truck to run right underneath them ; they are then opened out, and the loading process hence only takes a few minutes.

Two views of a side-chute body fitted to a seventon Commer truck are given. The chute, as is seen, is situated forward of the driving wheel. Seven tons of coal can be loaded in about two to three minutes, in this body, and unloaded in approximately five to six minutes. This process makes it possible to effect deliveries of from 70 to SO tons per day, with a truck of this description, over an average round trip of four to five miles. Such a feat would be impossible, if the coal were carted in sacks, as in London, as the delay in loading and unloading does not permit a motor truck being really profitably employed, on account of the running hours being so extremely short. There are many other styles of coal-delivery trucks employed in the States, side and rear tipping types, etc., but for hard coal the type depicted here seems to be the most popular, and it is much simpler than any type of body which has to be elevated.

An interesting lot of figures were obtained from the demonstration, prior to effecting sale of this particular truck to the firm which purchased it--since then, repeat orders have come to hand. The cost of carting coal by horse is given at 40c. to 50c. (Is. 8d. to 2s. Id.) per ton per trip, within an average radius of four miles. The cost of delivering coal by motor truck works out at under 25c. (1s. Oid.) per ton per trip. The saving per annum, if the entire deliveries of this firm's coal were effected by motor trucks, would work out just under 812,000 (2,400) and about 19 trucks would be required for this work, which includes two spares. These 19 trucks would dispense with 150 horses and 50 three-horse team-wagons. The extra capital outlay on trucks, over horse and wagons, would only be about $15,000 (E3,000).

I have to chronicle the recent arrival of Mr. G. AGreen, at one time chief assistant to the chief engineer of the L.G.O.C., who has taken a position with the New York Transportation Co. This company has been in operation for the last few years, and it has met with fair success, but, as I understand it, the undertaking has not been as successful as was anticipated, clue to extraneous causes. I shall shortly write full particulars of the work of this company. * The Polack Tyre Co. commenced operations out here last autumn, when they incorporated their own company in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Rubber Co., of Jeanette, Pa., and they are now doing great things. The American-made tires, from what I have seen, are as good as the best German-made Polacks. On some seven-ton Comrner trucks, fitted with American-made Polack tires, 8,000 miles have been run, and the tires look like wearing three or four thousand more miles before they will be worn out. The enterprise of the Polack Tyre Co. in coining out here will not only be of great financial gain to themselves, but will also be a great help to the commercial-vehicle movement out here. There are quite a quantity of makers of solid-rubber tires in the States ; none of their tires, however, from what I have seen, is likely to succeed as constructed at present. The clincher type of tires held in position by bits of wire is the general form of construction. One firm employs a couple of wires which are vulcanized in hard rubber in the base of the tire, and in this manner expects to keep the tire in position! During the last few months, we have heard that a well-known tire maker out here intends to manufacture the Continental tire (band-section type). The size of the States makes it difficult for any tire company to get properly going until it has arranged for branches, all over the country, where hydraulic presses have been laid down. Once the Polack Tyre Co. make their arrangements, there is nothing here, to my mind, which can prevent them from being a gigantic success. The prices they are charging are reasonable, and this is as it should be, since the labor expenses of manufacturing tires are small compared to the cost of material, whilst the cost of rubber out here is no greater, if not less, than in Germany. One can, therefore, readily see that the Polack Tyre Co. can sell their American-made tire at almost the same price at which they sell their German tires.

On the 3rd October, the first Trans-Continental auto-train left this city (New York) at 11 o'clock a.m., with the intention of running to Los Angeles, California-a distance of 4,200 miles. The motor caravan

consisted of four Garford touring cars, carrying passengers, and a Garford truck which will carry the baggage. A fifth car will join the party at Albany, and this originally made its start at Boston. at. Cleveland, another truck will be added. This autotrain is carrying 25 passengers, and each is paying $875.0(.1 (e179):, the time allowed for the trip will be 51 days. This price also covers the hotel expenses. There are two ladies in the party. It will be interesting to hear how many ears or trucks arrive in Los Angeles in the allotted time. The " road " between here and Los Angeles includes all classes and conditions of surface ; many hundreds of miles can hardly be termed roads, being open prairie land. The road runs through a desert, and over the Rocky Mountains and possibly the Sierra Nevadas. The trip will not be without excitement, as can be readily imagined, and I think, as a bit of sport, it could not be beaten. A Saurer truck has done this trip this year ; it arrived in New York at the beginning of August, after encountering tremendous difficulties,

but. getting through after many months.

On 1st November, some 30 or 40 members of the Society of Automobile Engineers are embarking on a European trip. They are sailing on the "Maure tania," and their itinerary covers an extended visit to England and shorter trips to France and Germany. We announced this last week, on our correspondent's cabled advice. EMI Their past-President, Mr. Howard E. Coffin, who is 'Vice-President of the wellknown Hudson Motor Car Co., together with his charming wife, will accompany them on the trip. Mr. Coffin is scheduled to speak at the dinner given by the Automobile Engineer in London, on various technical topics, on the 11th November, at the Trocadero Restaurant. Amongst the party are Mr. Donaldson, Editor of the " Commercial Vehicle," and our friend Mr. H. Kerr Thomas (late J. and E. Hall, Ltd.), assistant manager of the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Co., and the. designer of rte Pierce-Arrow worm-driven motor truck. I hear very good accounts of the running of the Pierce-Arrow truck. The worm drive has been subject to much criticism, and stories have been circulating as to the non-success or this particular part of its construction. I am, however, satisfied that all derogatory statements are canards emanating from Jealous competitors, and that the worm drive is holding its own, and living fully up to the expectations of its enthusiastic designer.

" Howie."


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