Opinions from Others.
Page 19
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commer:ial motors. Letters should be on
one side of the paper only, and type-written by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and noresponsibilsty for views expressed is accepted. In the case of experiences, names of towns or localities may be withheld.
Foden Costs Wanted.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1063] Sir,—We are thinking of buying a Eoden-type steam wagon, a five-tonner, for general work in our district [A southern county.—En.], and. we should be much obliged if you or your readers could give us accurate figures as regards running expenses, and what we should charge per day for the hire of the vehicle, with a three-ton trailer, for a normal day's work.—Yours faithfully, "CONTRACTORS."
We shall be happy to make room for authenticated records of the kind for which these correspondents make inquiry.--Eml More London Motorbus Routes.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1064] Sir,—In your issue of the Sth ult., you call attention to the necessity of a motorbus service to Waterloo via Holborn. Such a service may be wanted, but what is urgently needed is one to Viat terminus, via Queen Victoria Street and Blackflaars Bridge, in place of the present horsed "black marina" which are little short of a disgrace to the city, considering that one can walk almost as quickly as they travel. The animals whichdraw them must be suffering from sleeping sickness. Why the London General Omnibus Co. does not run a service of buses from Victoria to Liverpool Street, via Victoria Street, Westminster Bridge, York Road, Stamford Street, Blackfriars Bridge, Queen Victoria Street and the Bank, is beyond my understanding. In my opinion, it would prove a very paying one, seeing that one cannot go by bus direct from Waterloo to Victoria, and in the other direction one is either forced to use the "tube" or else to ride in a vehicle which should be either chopped up for firewood or else placed in a museum.—Yours faithfully, "THAMES DITTON."
Practical Agrimotors for English Farmers.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1065] Sir,—I have been reading the letter headed ".Advance Agrimotor" in your issue of the 22nd August (page 564). With all respect to your correspondent, I venture to think he is not a practioal farmer, or he would see that, whilst it is possible to use huge engines economically on large, comparatively-dry and level tracts of land abroad, it is far more difficult to produce a small motor that will work successfully in our small, hilly and oft-times wet and irregularly-sha.ped fields, where the horse team is vastly more manageable and handy. This is especially so when reaping, owing to the horses' being able to move bodily sideways, thus swinging the binder on its main wheel as a pivot at corners.
As to farmers' combining to buy, this is impracticable, as, when Weather favours, all require to work simultaneously.
While a lighter motor may plough and reap, by the fixing in its wheels of biting irons of sufficient area to overcome slipping, it is evident that, to be able to haul a useful load on hard and hilly roads, it will require all the adhesion weight of the steam tractor. Springs are necessary to enable a useful speed to be maintained on hard roads.
The farmer is a very keen man of business, accustomed to operate successfully a great variety of machinery, and is a very good judge indeed of what is really advantageous to him, as I have found from long
dealing with him.—Yours faithfully, FRED PAGE. Romsey, Hampshire. Checking Repairers' Charges.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1066] Sir,—I am sure it is high time that the above question was ventilated in your columns, and I congratulate you on your preparedness to allow it to be discussed. It is fit and proper that the users' journal should provide an outlet for complaints of the kind, and at the same time indicate, as was disclosed. in your leading article last week, the direction in which the remedy can be found.
You state, Sir, that it is the outside and unattached repairer, and not the man who is appointed by—or connected with—the manufacturer, who is guilty of excessive charges for materials and labour ; but I will go further than that, and say that I have come across .cases where the spare-part bills from the works themselves have been absolutely exorbitant. I enclose, for your perusal, some charges which I consider justify my view, with regard to three -vehicles which belong to me.—Yours faithfully, R. J. WILLIAMS.
[We have looked through the accounts, in which we observe that charges for certain parts are repeated at short intervals. This indicates faulty design, had material or misuse. We additionally note that the charges have not occurred again during the last six months, and we conclude that the source of difficulty has disappeared, whatever it may
have been.—E.] An Agent's Complaint Against Manufacturers Who Give Trade Terms to Ordinary Buyers.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1067] Sir,---I notice with considerable surprise that members of the motor trade are apparently indifferent to the serious consequences that the policy Mr. Bennett complains of will eventually have upon their trade unless some means of checking the practice are speedily devised.
Although with this company inclusive hire-maintenance is the speciality, we yet find time to push the sale of motorvans, but I cannot say that we have received any great measure of support from manufacturers. There are of course exceptions, and, inasmuch as most of the vehicles we own and maintain for our clients are of the well-known Unic make, I should like to remark that from this quarter we have always received extreme courtesy and fair dealing. There are, however, many firms—not one or two—whose models we have pushed only to find, after much hard spade work, to say nothing of the cost of giving practical demonstrations of the utility of the commercial-motor vehicle, that our clients have received from the makers the promise of exactly the same terms of discount that we ourselves get as agents.
I do not quite see why we should go to the trouble and expense of popularizing other people's wares, unless a reasonable margin of profit is to reward our efforts when successful, and I cannot understand what particular object manufacturers have in giving trade discounts to private purchasers. To my mind, the policy can only mean that their vans are lacking in one or more of those qualities that are essential to economical running and hard wear, and that the makers, recognizing this, are anxious to dispose of them on any terms. That, at any rate, is the explanation I offer, and I leave it to those makers to whom these remarks apply to offer a better one.—Yours faithfully,
For LONDON PROVINCIAL MOTOR CARRIERS, LTD., C. W. 2%1AIRNE, Works Manager. Fitzalan Street,
Kennington, S.E.