Opinions from Others.
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About Brakes.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,408] Sir,—Since that recent terrible, fatal accident, I have entered into a great deal of controversy as to which should be the emergency brake of a car— the hand brake or the foot brake. In my opinion, the foot brake should be used for emergencies only,. excepting hill descents, when, of course, the brakes should be used alternately. The hand brake, I contend, is easier on the car for general work ; working, as it does, on the drums of both the rear wheels, it has a large acting surface, whereas the foot brake, as a rule, has a small drum to work upon, and, consequently, involves harsher treatment, as all the power is centered on a small surface. I am aware it is the custom of the great majority of drivers to use the foot brake for general use and the hand one for emergencies only, as the latter course necessitates a little more work to manipulate the side lever, especially as on most cars the hand brakes are provided with short levers. A forward movement of the body has to be made each time the hand brake is used.
I should like to hear the 'opinion of some of your readers on this matter. I believe the handling of brakes affects the life of a machine to a great extent.
—Yours faithfully, HENRY LEWER.
Strike Experiences in Glasgow: The Motor Wagon Saves the Situation.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,409] Sir,—In your issue of the 3rd ult., I noticed a short article entitled "How to Move the Dilatory Co-operative Societies" [page 461.—End Well, Sir, if the conditions of the last two weeks do not move them, then where to get a prescription for the problem I do not know, What, during this period, has been the position of co-operative societies and of other large traders in food stuffs, who were entirely dependent upon horses for the delivery and conveyance of their goods? Perhaps, rather, I ought to ask what has been the position of their customers, when the food that they wished to purchase, and which the shopkeeper had set himself out to sell, was lying at the docks, stations and warehouses, out of the reach of the sleek, well-fed, well-groomed horse? An unenviable quandary, indeed. Not so with the progressive society and trader, who have kept up with the times and have, to a certain extent, equipped themselves with modern vehicles.
Take the Barnsley Society for an example. Thanks to the petrol vehicle, it has been able to keep up supplies to its customers at current prices, while other traders have been charging fancy rates, for perishable goods, such as butter, eggs, fruit, etc. The Barnsley Society had goods lying at Manchester, 40 miles away, and at Hull, 65 miles away, during the strike, The railways could not touch them. It was Barnsley Feast ; hams and bacon were much in demand. A motor lorry was despatched to Manchester for these stores, and in a few hours three tons were in the Society's warehouse at Summer Lane, ready for distribution to its 50 branch shops. Six tons of butter and three tons of eggs were lying at Hull Dock. The railway company said that it could do nothing for us. To send horses for the stuff was out of question. The Society quickly dispatched three motor lorries of 2 tons, 3 tons and 4 tons capacity respectively, and, as there were rumours of trouble with the pickets at Hull, the traffic manager, Mr. Ward, and the Society's grocery buyer, Mr. Wakefield, thought it prudent to accompany the vehicles. Hull was reached at neon. Mr. Wakefield took charge of the 3 tonner and saw the eggs safely
on board. Mr. Ward piloting the other machines down to the docks. The consignment of butter was quickly loaded, and the vehicles shot out of the subway and were well on the road to Barnsley before the pickets realized what the cargo was. Thus, as I said before, the Society has been enabled to meet all its customers' requirements at current prices. What would have been the situation had not the Society's traffic department been equipped with these speedy vehicles? In order to curtail the sales, prices would have had to be put up, as they were in thousands of cases,
When I mention the fact that the Society has an increase in its turnover of 264,000 for six months, and that the whole of this increased traffic has been undertaken by the petrol vehicles in addition to their ordinary work, what more can those fossilized people who still stick to horses want to arouse them to a sense of their duty to their members and customers. I have no hesitation in saying that the traders of this country have had such a practical lesson of the utility of the motor lorry during the last few weeks that no concern, with any claims to be considered progressive, will be found without them in the near future.—Yours faithfully,
G.H.W.
Roadside Water Supplies.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,410] Sir,--With reference to a subject which has been already ventilated in your columns, I think it will be found that most water authorities are willing to make arrangements with drivers of steam wagons to enable them to obtain water from the street hydrants ; this is a great convenience to the user and a considerable saving of delay. Here, in Birmingham, for the sum of 14s., a standpipe suitable for taking water from the street hydrants can be obtained from the water department. A further charge of 6d. per load is made. The fitment supplied consists of a short standpipe fitted with hose to lead into the tank of a, steam wagon, and a key for turning the water on and off. Since the local department covers a very big area, this fitment places the driver of a steam wagon beyond water trouble in an extensive district—Yours faithfully. T. C. AVELINO. Birmingham.
The Editor, Tax CommmiciAL MOTOR.
[1,411] Sir,—I am repeatedly receiving letters from waterworks engineers at various towns through which I run, complaining of picking water up without permission, demanding a licence of 20s. per annum. This morning I have received no less than three such apnlications. As I only travel occasionally through these towns, the charge becomes exorbitant, and we now return to the old request. Cannot the corporations or local authorities devise some means of supplying water and charging only for the amount used? It would be a great benefit to the motor users.
I feel that, in writing to you, some means may be arranged by the C.M.U.A., of which I am a member, and I shall be glad if you will give publicity to this letter, through the columns of your medium, whereby no doubt some of the readers would like to make a few suggestions.– Yours faithfully,
2nd September, 1911. "STEAM USER."
(The suggestion a 20s. tier authority, for the extent of user named, is preposterous. The C.M.U.A., we feel sure, following upon its pending installations at Smithfield Market and Commereisl Road. London, would furnish information as to plans and details to any owner. group of owners, or local body Where a road or town is seldom visited by steam-wagon drivers, the owners or the men must, as a rule, do the best for themselves locally, but watering-stations should usually pay,Elm