Opinions from Others.
Page 29
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Tractors for Fire.englnes.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1309] Sir.—I noticed some references in a recent issue to the use of converted motorbus chassis as tractors for superseded horse-drawn, fire-pumping plant. May I point out that my own experience of this class of compromise has been very unsatisfactory indeed After considerable trouble and experiment, we found that it was impossible to control the keam fire-engine when hauled on greasy surfaces. Moreover, in very bad cases of side-slip, we found that the steam engine itself would take the hack of the tractor with it, and so the whole eight-wheeled combination would become almost entirely unmanageable. It wasdmpossible to get sufficient adhesion en the tractor. It is feasible that such a " contraption " might do in the country, but for operation on .titIOW or on greasy, hard-surfaced roads, I consider it to be too dangerous to be allowed amongst other traffic.—Yours faithfully, ` EIRE BIRD."
Tractors for Fire-engines.
The Editor THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1310] Sir,—With reference to your comment, in your issue of 22nd January, under the heading '' To Ilse Old Plant," the Henley-on-Thames Fire Brigade must plead guilty to having been one of the first, if not the first, to convert a second-hand motorcar to the use of towing a steam fire-engine. Ours, however, is not a motorbus chassis but a 10 hp. Mercedes.
After several trial runs into the hilly country districts around Henley, we are delighted with the result.
Brigades like our own, who already possess a firstclass steamer, are hampered in getting away to an outside " call " by having to wait from 15 to 20 minutes for hired horses.
The demand for our services, coupled with the scanty support offered by those people who are resident outside the borough, does not warrant the necessary outlay for keeping horses on the premises to haul the steamer, hose van, etc., to the scene of a country fire, neither does it allow the purchase of a costly up-to-date motor engine. The only thing necessary for a brigade in our position is a readier means of transport, and this we have found in the car already mentioned.
Term it, if you choose, " a makeshift and a temporary expedient," but it is giving us every satisfaction, and I should, without further preface, recommend the " expedient" to any brigade placed in the same circumstances as ourselves, and who are denied the luxury of an up-to-date motor equipment. When writing of a country district, many things must he taken into consideration, the principal one of which is adaptability ; this is responsible for many so-called " makeshifts." Country brigades often find themselves in places where the water supply would be inaccessible to an expensive motor engine. Once off the main roads and the trouble begins. The motor tractor can draw the steamer to this point, the steamer can then be detached, thus allowing it to be manhandled over any difficult piece of ground, through farmyards, along deep-cut wagon tracks, over a bit of ploughed field or across a swampy piece of ground. Experiences of country brigades are very different from those of the towns, the latter hava no other difficulty than that of Henley's car-drawn steamer. See letter 1310 above. pulling up at the nearest sIreet hydrant. I could, if necessary, name from experience sites from, which our steamer has worked where a motor engine could never have operated on account of the difficulty experienced in getting the engine within working distance of the water.
I enclose a photograph of the car which we are guilty of using. [We reproduce this.—En.] It mag interest you and your readers to know that on 12th a"ovember last this "old plant" conveyed 12 men, 1500 ft. of hose and took the steamer (a 360gallon Merryweather) in tow, over one of the most difficult five-mile journeys we can encounter, in the satisfactory time of 18 nuns.
This was to a mansion fire atNettlebed, the highest point south of the Treat. On this five-mile 'journey— up hill all the waythere is Bix lull, 02-te, mile in length. The last time we did this journey witn a pair of horses the ntembers walked alongside., the time eccupied in covering this one mile being 17 mins. I
Surely this is positive proof of the value of a motor tractor, even if it be a second-hand one.
Upon arrival we had to worm our way over ground which: would never have been taken by a motor.
The car alone, carrying as it does all gear for a town fire, and having seating accommodation for 10 men, is a most valuable asset, the cost altogether, including solid rear tires, extra leaves to springs, lower gear wheels, towing bar. etc., being 2115. As a ready-to-hand and rapid means of transport for country brigades, who are for ever faced with the problem of horse hire, such a machine is a most valuable piece of " old plant"Yours faithfully,
THOS. H. SEYMOUR,
Capt. and Hon. See., Henley Fire Brigade.
[We should he interested to hear from our correspo Ident the cost of the seeond-hand Moreedes ehassis and also of the special body. Similar experiments on greasy roads elsewhere have been attended with difficulties owing to insuffiecnt adhesion of the tractor whorls, and of the tendency of the steel-tired fire-engine to skid-with no possibility of controlling it_Eud
The Currie Pree....vheel Device.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[13]1] Sir,—That Currie "free-wheel device," as you call it, of which you publish Particulars in your last issue, is a very cleverly-conceived and simple scheme, but I am very doubtful of the wisdom of embodying it in a light parcelear chassis, which I am scheming at the present time. It seems to me, so far as I can follow it without. actually trying it, that the inability of that wheel of a pair which retains adhesion on good ground, whilst the other is in grease, to keep the drive is likely to lead to endless trouble in traffic. I should Hie to hear what other practical users of this class of vehicle have tosay on this particular point —Yours faithfully, " KALA:4AN000."