Opinions from Others.
Page 15
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one side of tr.e paper only, and type-written by. preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for views expressed is accepted, in the case of experiences, minus of towns or localities may be withheld.
Wheel and Tire Practice.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
129-1] Sir,Your issue of the 25th ult. contains an article from an engineering contributor relative to wheel and tire practice, wherein he mentions " there are a few quite successful -spring wheels on the market," and we presume the particular type of wheel un., manufacture under Margetts patents is included in the number.
Your correspondent, however, omits to mention one of the greatest advantages -of a practical resilient wheel for commercial-vehicle work, viz., the increased life obtained from the rubber tire, From data which we have been acquiring during the last P2 months, we find that a resilient wheel i5 likely to increase the life of the rubber tire from 75 to 100 per cent. The actual amount of rubber worn off the tread of the tires fitted 10 a 40 h.p. petrol lorry weighing 10 tons loaded, and which has covered over 10,000 miles with-out change of springs or any repairs or adjustment of the wheels, is such that a mileage of over 20,000 miles is likely to be obtained from the tires. It is also of great importance to commercial-vehicle users that with the use of ies•dient wheels the tires can be used for a longer period than if fitted to rigid wheels, without incurring risk of seriously damaging the chassis through f-' X cessive vibration.
We contend, further, that up to 35 or 40 miles per hour, our patent wheel, in conjunction with a soft rubber tire of suitable section. is quite as capable of absorbing shock as the ordinary pneumatic tire when that is inflated to the pressure recommended by the imumfacturers.
Our type of wheel has also the advantages recommended by your correspondent, that any make of tire can be fitted, and that tires can he removed and refitted if necessary without the use of a hydraulic press. Over 1,000,000 miles have been covered with our patent type of spring wheel, on vehicles ranging from a. small 8 h.p. car to a 5-ton lorry, which is evid6nee of its practical utility, and we are now introducing a smaller type suitable for the driving wheels of light motor carriers, to overcome the tire difficulties at present experienced.—Yours faithfully,
JOHN A. CoNNontoe, Managing Director. Milo Road, T)ulwich, S.E.
Electric Vehicles.
The Editor THE COMMERCIAL :MOTOR [1205] Sir,--Referring to recent notices in your paper regarding electric vehicles and prospects in the U.K. for the exploitation and development of this type, itdoes. not need any close study of our city goods and merchandise transport and delivery methods to realize how backward we are, compared to conditions abroad, in tackling this problem hi the lightof modern scientific methods.
The horse still has a monopoly of this field, and thousands of pounds are being lost to the counnunitY in all directions through the congested state of our roads and streets On account of the number of vehicles required to do the work. This question has an important bearing on the cost of living to the community at large. The rising cost of horses and their keep, coupled with the low annual mileage possible with this form of haulage, as against self-propelled vehicles, resulting in high operating costs per mile, are in themselves sufficient cause for the abolition of horses from city work. I3ut when the other factors
in the situation are also considered, a very strong case is made out for the ad-option of self-propelled vehicles of the petrol or the electric type.
in the last few years the electric type has, of course, conic rapidly to the front in America, and at the present time thousands of electric trucks are in use in the services .01 express companies, department stores, wholesale -and retail houses, breweries and coal merchants and utility companies. In fact, in every kind of city delivery work, embraced in the economic field of tins type, as combining the qualities of simplicity, ease of operation and control, reliability and economy, it has been proved to be the cheapest goods carrier for short-haul frequent-stop service
The prospects for its adoption and success here are, in my opinion, particularly favourable, butin the early stages of a new industry conservatism, tradition, prejudice and ignorance have to be -overcome, and the haulage interests educated in modern specialized methods. Development in this field abroad has brought outthe importance of the adaptability of the truck to its work for the best operating efficiency, which ma-y mean more to the user than the question of first cost, and thatthere is an economic field for both the petrol and electric truck.
Our trucking problems offer plenty of scope For each type-of vehicle, and the relative field for each will be more clearly appreciated as the work of trucking becomes a science and the ancient monopoly the hors-e has had -of this field is broken down. A type war between the petrol and electric is not the best way to develop the field that exists for each typi-...--Yours faithfully, G. E. CLARICE, M.I.MECTER Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Clear View of Identification Plate.
The Editor THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1296] Sir,—I am. directed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to draw attention to the following provisions of Article XI of the Motor Car (Registration and Licensing) Order 1903 :- " Whenever during the period between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise a motorcar is used on a public highway a lamp shall be kept burning on the car so contrived as to illuminate by means of reflection, transparency, or otherwise, and render easily distinguishable every letter or figure on the identification plate fixed on the back of the motorcar or of any vehicle attached to the back of the motorcar, as the case may be."
It has been observed. by the Police that this provision is, at times, riot fully complied with, owing to various causes, among which may be mentioned : (1) the obscuration of the figures or letters by the frame or bracket of the lamp or by tire-s and other accessories carried by the vehicle ; and (2) the inadequacy of the light from the rear lamp, or the failure to place the lamp in a suitable position for the purpose of illuminating the plate.
The Commissioner desires specially to bring this matter to the notice of motorists, in order that where defects, etc., exist they may be rectified ; and he will be glad, therefore, if you will he so good as to give the matter due publicity.—I -am, Sir, Your obedient
servant, W. H. KENDALL,
New Scotland Yard. Chief Clerk. 3rd January, 1914,