Big Chance for Oilers in U.S.A.
Page 56
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QOME comment upon Robert Cass' recent lecture to "-) the Automobile Division of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, as reported in your March 18 issue, should, I feel, be made.
. In this lecture, Mr. Cass made a number of statements which I know will be very misleading to British readers. His remarks that sales of c.i. engines in the U.S.A. are following a downward trend. is one of the most misleading. This power unit reached a first peak of sales about 1946, and as its maximum life is calculated to be 1 m. miles, 10 years is approximately the time life. Therefore, most of the engines are still in operation, but fast approaching the end of their usefulness.
The years 1956 and 1957 will see a considerable increase in sales. During the period 1946/1956, great strides in design and power output have been made; in general, swept volume has remained approximately the same, but power output has risen from 150 b.h.p, per engine to an average of 215 b.h.p. This is mostly due to the, now almost general, use of superchargers, with slight other modifications to the 1946 vintage engines to raise the horse-power to a 215 b.b.p. average.
The background of continuous runs from San Francisco to Chicago, pictured by Mr. Cass, is also misleading. Statistics show that in the general freight hauling classes, the average haul by motor truck is approximately 580 miles. The suggestion that 70 m.p.h. is considered practicable in many cases has raised much amusement wherever this lecture has been read. The average maximum speed for trucks throughout the United States is 40/45 m.p.h., although there are States which permit 60 m.p.h. by daylight and restrict 'speeds to 50 m.p.h. at night.
The two major turnpikes, the New Jersey and Pennsylvania, permit only 60 m.p.h., although in desert country, it is true that the State highway patrols do turn a blind eye to speeds in excess of 50 m.p.h., but 70 m.p.h. would invite immediate arrest.
The maximum speeds are to a large extent controlled by the leading insurance houses, which employ mobile patrols of their own, whose cars are equipped with special recording cameras which show date, time, speed and take photographs of traffic infractions.
The maximum loads permitted normally in the United States without special permits do not exceed 76,800 lb. gross, but greater loads and higher overall lengths are allowed in the Western States. Here the overall length is up to 60 ft., whereas the Atlantic Coast States permit only 45 ft., and loads as low as 45.000 lb. There are, however, no two adjacent States where the differential in overall permitted length reaches 20 ft.
The remainder of Mr. Cass' lecture was most interesting and should have been illuminating to listeners.
However, the reference to the position of the c.i. engine in the United States is far from commensurate with the policy of the company of which Mr. Cass is assistant president. During the past few years, the White Motor Company has consecutively bought out the Autocar Company, Exton, Pennsylvania, the Sterling Motor Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, finally, entered into a selling agreement with the Freightliner Corporation, Portland, Oregon. All three of these manufacturers have for some years built the heavier equipment used on the highways of the United States, and in all cases, by far the greater percentage of their B22 products has been equipped with, c.i. engines. It would seem strange indeed that the White Motor Company should enter a field in which its executive officers appear to have little confidence.
Washington, U.S.A. BRYAN A. PARKER.
Skill and Knowledge Count
xygni great interest I have read the many letters for " and against the proposed 30-m.p.h. limit for heavies. I have driven most types in my short period of 14 years and have had a loaded eight-wheeler run away with me in the fog on Nant-y-Caws, Carmarthen. Speed, in my view, is no substitute for skill and experience.
A new driver may do 30 m.p.h. or even 40 m.p.h. on his journey and lose time, because he may not know the short cuts or may unship his load by cornering too rapidly. The experienced man will know how to load, the district to which he is going and the shortest route. He will also have learnt howto deal with most types of cargo so that they will be safe in transit.
With the congestion of the roads as it is today, it is, in my view, ridiculous to raise the gross-weight limits and expect greater speed as well.
Any transport operator knows that his vehicles will show the lowest fuel consumption, his repair bills will be less and his accident claims fewer if he relies on his drivers to use care rather than speed.
To say: "We have driven 240 miles today with 14 tons up" is no good qualification. To such men I would answer: "Cali again when you have been doing it for a couple of years! "
Peas Pottage, Sussex. R. PESCUD.
Arrows and Stencilled " Stop " Preferred
REGARD1NG the letters from R. W. Knight (April 15), L. W. Dixon and C. A. Foster (both May 13) dealing with illuminated signalling devices, I would say that signalling by hand of the intention to slow down, stop or turn, is a doubtful and undesirable method of conveying a driver's purpose.
I consider that, in these days of crowded roads, and except for the process of gear changing, both hands should be on the steering wheel. it this point is conceded, it then follows that some other efficient method of indicating must be compulsory.
The confusion that has manifested itself by allowing the fitting of various signalling methods—illuminated semaphore arms, flashing amber, red or white direction indicators, etc., is appalling.
For my part, I would welcome the return to the front and rear combined amber illuminated directions arrows and stencilled " stop " light, in which there are no moving parts other than the switches, and the rear indicator assembly can be located well away from the tail lamps.
• Warning lights should also be fitted on the dash or instrument panel. It would be good to see the compulsion to use such a method retrospective so that all commercial vehicles from boxvans to heavies, including public service vehicles, should Ise so equipped. Ruislip, Middx. W.E. Cox.