Correspondence.
Page 13
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The Management of Motor Omnibus Companies.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR. "
Sir :—Referring to the letter signed " Motor Man " in your issue of the 25th ultimo, it would be very interesting to myself, and probably to other readers of your paper, if your correspondent would enlarge upon the views which he has expressed. I, for one, should like to know who this man is for whom, presumably, " Motor Man " holds a brief. Where did this expert gain his experience? Under what conditions has proof been given of his absolute capability as a motor omnibus engineer and manager? I would like to draw the attention of your correspondent to the fact that a really capable omnibus engineer should be an engineer by profession ; that is, he should have served his time. He should be an all-round mechanic, and a man absolutely capable of doing any possible job himself. He should be able to locate faults in any system of ignition, and he should also be a thorough driver of any type of omnibus with which he comes in contact. First-class motor mechanics capable of dealing with the running of motor omnibuses are very scarce, and the engineer must lie capable of " making his men " : this he cannot do successfully if he is not a really first-class man himself.
In addition to running work, the engineer-in-charge must be capable of advising his " Directors" as to what vehicles to buy, and he must al s-o be prepared to go into every detail of construction with a view to getting the manufacturers to produce vehicles which will be suitable for his work. He must, therefore, be a capable designer. My own personal experience has been considerable, viz., twenty years combined locomotive, marine, tool and motor-vehicle work, both light and heavy. I am glad to say that this enables me to lead my men with my knowledge and practical experience, and to make from the raw material those who can satisfactorily deal with my work.
I meet many " motor omnibus engineers," but I must say that most of them are certainly young in experience. Yours faithfully, 52, Yale Court, W. SPILLER. West Hampstead, N.W.,
February 1st, 1906.
The Renault Live Axle Patent.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir am informed by our Paris correspondent that an
agreement has already been signed between Messrs. Renault Freres and about ten motorcar manufacturers who had been threatened by them with proceedings for infringement. Messrs. Renault wished to make the licensees admit without reserve the validity of their patent, but the agreement is limited to be binding only so long as the judgment already delivered in the First Court of Appeal in France is not upset. On the other hand, if this judgment is reversed, which, in the event of another action, is very probable, the licensees would no longer be bound, and, accordingly, the agreement provides that the royalties fixed (half per cent. per chassis for 1906 and one per cent. per chassis for subsequent years) shall cease to be payable.—Yours faithfully, • THE BRITISH EMPIRE MOTOR TRADES ALLIANCE.
II, Red Lion Square, London, W.C. J. B. RING,
February 3rd, 1906. Secretary.
Canopies for Motorbuses.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—I am more than glad that you have raised the question again of having a canopy, or some protection, for outside passengers on motorbuses. The decision of the police on the subject is scandalous. What we want is, not only something to keep off the rain, but also a protection from the smuts in town. After a few miles' motorbussing in London one looks more like a sweep or a coalman than any,thinc, else. A nice, light, closed-in erection over the upper deck, with, I should think, a V-shaped front so as to offer little resistance to the wind, should do the trick nicely. Having done 7,867 miles of niotorbussing since last February as an ordinary fare-paying passenger, I have got my share of smuts, and at present have a far from kindly feeling towards the Commissioner of Police.—Yours faithfully, ARTHUR E. A. M. TURNER.
Raynes Park, S.W., Feb. 2nd, 1906.
The Hastings Motorbuses.
The Editor," TIIE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—Re the letter of "Always Anti-tram and Pro-bus" in your last issue, could you kindly inform me through your columns .what has become of the motorbuses recently in service at Hastings? I believe they were purchased by a company operating in London, and, as one who is watching
the progress of the motorbus, so far as L is concerned, should like to know which company bought tnem.—Yours faithfully, ALFRED S. J. MORRIS.
32, Avenell Road, Highbury, N.
February 3rd, 1906.
[The buses are in the depot at Hastings. The negotiations for purchase were still under discussion on Monday last, but it is not known which company is the buyer.—ED.]
A Police Trap for Lorries.
The Editor," THE COMMERCIALMOTOR."
Sir :--T write to inform you of a police trap in the New Ring's Road, Fulham, between Walham and Parsons Greens, a measured one-eighth of a mile. I am a lorry driver, and, having been caught myself this morning, I thought you might find a spare corner in your valuable " Drivers News" page as a warning to other drivers. I have been driving now between four and five years, and this is my first offence. Knowing the interest you take in lorry drivers, I know you will excuse the liberty I have taken in writing to you.—Yours faithfully, F. Kxwet.L. 12, Tindal Street, Brixton. February 5th, 1906.
Neglected Road Surfaces.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :– I have lived in many places at home and abroad and given some years of study to public health questions, but I would be hard put to it to find in any first-class borough so disgraceful a state of things as exists in Fulham and Chelsea on " greasy " days, when crowds throng the side walks to enjoy the sights of horses falling in all directions, and motor omnibuses skidding in the half-inch or so el grease which covers the main roads for hours, rendering steering of vehicles a matter of the greatest difficulty, and endangering the lives of passengers on the buses, as well as pedestrians using the roads. For seven or eight hours, on a recent occasion, this scandalous example of surveyors' indifference went on without any steps being taken to remedy the cvil, although both boroughs possess water carts which could have been put to work, and would have washed away the dangerous and filthy nuisance in a few minutes. It was only at midnight that the Fulham surveyor apparently awoke, and then, instead of water, three road sweeping vehicles appeared on the scene to brush the surface of the semi-glacier, and to leave it practically as dangerous as before. This disgraceful state cf the roads caused great damage to the buses coming into the neglected area of Walham Green, and as the London Road Car Company and the London and District Motor Bus Company (Arrow buses) are amongst the largest ratepayers in the district, and are in addition employing daily increasing numbers of workers who live and spend their money in this district, I think that in the interests of all concerned with the great and growing motor industry, and its importance in Fulham, our borough councillors should take steps to prevent such a scandal in the future.—Yours faithfully,
Clancartv Road, S.W.