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OPINIONS and QUERIES

8th March 1932, Page 119
8th March 1932
Page 119
Page 120
Page 119, 8th March 1932 — OPINIONS and QUERIES
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Simplify the Road Traffic Act. The Wis. doin of Using Modern Garage Equipment. The W.D. Convoy Progressing

A Plea for Simplification of the Road Traffic Act.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL Mona.

[36821 Sir,—With reference to the paragraph in your Issue dated February 16th, relating to "contract work," you state that the natural meaning seems quite clear. Well, if it is, what is It It is not clear so far as the operators or the owners' associations are concerned, and one hears that many different interpretations have been given by the Commissioners.

I quite agree that no advantage could be gained by elaboration, but possibly some could be gained by simplifying it and stating whether a law-abiding citizen can book a private coach to take him and his friends for a day's outing without the operator having to study whether he has a licence to traverse certain roads which the outing will cover. Whether he can go to their street or village to pick them up or require them to make a journey by bus, tram or foot to some particular starting point. If the meaning be quite clear, can I take it that if an operator does not advertise or arrange a trip in any way he can pick up it party at the most convenient place for them, even though they do not belong to a recognized club or society? If not, then it seems to be clear on one thing only, that the Act was designed altogether to cut out the "working man's private car" and the party must either go by service bus or wait until some company runs an advertised tour._ A. SMALL OWNER. Sunderland.

Quicker and Better Service Facilities.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[3683] Sir,—Now that the garages of the country are becoming progressively better equipped, it is not unusual to hear complaints from vehicle owners who think that this is a reason for lowering service prices and who, therefore, must be unaware of the true facts of the case.

Improved garage equipment aims at quicker and much more efficient service for the user. The necessary appliances which make this better and speedier work possible cost the garage good money, and such expenditure must be made commercially possible by maintaining charges at a reasonable level. Greater efficiency of equipment should, indeed, prevent costs materially increasing as service improves, but, it is not reasonable to expect to benefit at both ends—to get more for less.

The wise road user will surely encourage the garage engineer to serve him better with less delay by making the above viewpoint his own and by realizing that his best interests are not served by the price-cutter but,by the man who gives the fullest value for money expended.

WILLIAM FROST, For Harvey Frost and Co., Ltd.

The War Office Convoy Making Good Progress in Egypt and Sudan.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

MA] Sir,—With reference to the War Office motor convoy in Egypt and the Sudan, I have to inform you that a further report has been received dealing with the progress of the convoy, since it arrived at El Obeid on February 16th.

After consultation with the local authorities at El Obeid, the Officer Commanding the convoy decided to alter the route from that place in order to provide a more difficult and interesting test than that originally planned.

The route selected was south-west of El Obeid, through Dulling, Nyinaa labels, Wali Jehels, Ealol, Dar El Kebir and Kadugli to Melaka]. This route includes the crossing of the Nuba Mountains.

The convoy left El Obeid on February 19th and arrived at Malakal on February 23rd.

No mechanical defects of any sort developed and there was no overheating of the engines of the vehicles, in spite of an atmospheric temperature of 109 degrees Fahr.

The passage of the Nuba Mountains proved a very. severe test, but was successfully accomplished.

The War Office, A. J. MANSON. London, S.W.1.

Observations from a 'Reader in Canada.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[3685] Sir,—I would appreciate your Tables of Operating Costs. I am a native of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and have been here for 27 years. Although overseas during the war, I have charge of the dairy fleet here ; but I am always interested in the Old Country's engineering achievements and I read every issue of your journal.

We have various makes of U.S.A. vehicles here, and a comparison would be interesting; but I figure that your operating costs would be higher as the quality of work would be more exacting and demand more labour than that here. For instance, the maintenance staff here is one man to 10 trucks, and these are up to 10 years old and run as much as 80,000 miles a year. The vehicles average 13 m.p.g. of fuel and 500 m.p.g. of oil.

For six months we have really cold weather. As I write it is 30 degrees below zero. In the spring we have lots of heavy pulling in gumbo mud, and it sure pulls the mechanical system adrift. An International 1-ton truck chassis with cab costs $900.

figure that there is a big market here to-day for Old Country competition in cars and trucks, even against U.S.A. prices.

Good accessories are always in demand if they possess any novelty. J, T. Dom's. Winnipeg, Canada.

Ridging or Grooving of Brake Drums.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[3686] Sir,—The belief is very widely held th§t the ridges which appear in a brake drum after considerable service are caused by grit lodging in the rivet holes and cutting or scoring the face of the brake drum.

The series of experiments carried out by my company with brake drums and facings seems to prove, however, that although superficial scratches may be caused by these means we must look elsewhere for the reason for the deeper scorings.

The rivet holes in brake shoes are generally drilled in the same circumferential lines and the cutting away of the facing for the rivet heads leaves lines or zones on the facing in Nstich the area a fabric in contact with the face of the brake drum is considerably reduced, with the result that the braking effort (which for convenience I will call pressure) exercised by the facing on the corresponding lines or zones of the brake drum is reduced in the same ratio.

With a riveted brake shoe we get zones of high braking pressure on the brake drum where the facing is unbroken, alternating with zones of low pressure on the lines of the rivets. This variation of pressure may exceed 30 per cent., and I hold it to he the true reason for the formation of the deep grooves aip ridges.

• Examination of a number of worn drums seems to confirm this theory, for it was found that with castiron brake drums the wear commenced with a deep groove opposite the central unbroken portion of the facing, and in pressed-steel drums this groove was in many cases accompanied by ridges opposite, the lines of rivets, where the ductile metal had flowed away from the high-pressure to the low-pressure zone This is shown in the illustration, which depicts half a brake facing, showing the area of all the rivet holes cut away at one end.

The elimination of this grooving of the drums is of considerable importance, as it prolongs the lives of the fabric and the drum, and enables the user to keep the vehicle on the road for longer periods between overhauls. It also assists the designer to reduce the unsprung weight of his vehicle by employing a lighter brake drum.

The brake shoes which are now available, in which there are no rivet holes to cause grooving or ridging, should therefore be of considerable interest to both car owners and manufacturers.

Braintree. W...13. LAKE, Director,

Lake and Elliot, Ltd.

A Plea for Green Line Services.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[3687] Sir,—I read with amazement of the ridiculous and unjustifiable restrictions that are being imposed upon certain London coach-service operators by the Traffic Commissioners, more particularly upon the services of Green Line Coaches, ria.

The "Green Line" was formed by the L.G.O.C. and its associated companies around London, who were the promoters of the majority of bus services serving the outskirts of London and the towns and villages farther afield: A number of these services was started so long as 25 years ago.

During the past few years the express coach service has come into operation, rural areas have become resir82 dental areas and the public wanted better facilities than the railways gave. The express coach seriously affected the local bus services, because, before the advent of the Traffic Commissioners, many coach operators were not satisfied with London traffic, they endeavoured to take the local traffic as well.

I consider "Green Line" was justified in commencing its services, for' not only have they to some extent protected the bus services of their associated companies, but they have instituted a regular, clean and comfortable mode of travel, far more beneficial to the residents and workers of outer London than the railways and many " small " operators can give.

I ant in no way conneoted with "Green Line," but I must surely voice the opinion of many of your readers when I say that the Traffic Commissioners are not justified in curtailing the hulk of this company's services, and it is quite time that this bitter controversy between coach-service operators in general and the

Commissioners should cease. HARRY E. RENEE. London, W.2.

Responsibility for Damage to a Load.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

136881 Sir,—I have been a reader of your journal'

for a considerable time,. have read with interest the useful advice given to readers and should be grateful

if you could advise me on the following point that is troubling me:—

Recently I conveyed some sign-written glass. This glass was well packed. My van boy was in the back of the lorry whilst a representative of the sign firm was in the front of the lorry with me.

When nearly at our destination my boy, in endeavouring to prevent the case containing the glass from falling, accidentally put his foot through the sign.

No liability for breakage was accepted by me, but the sign company says that I am responsible for the cost of the damage and threatens to put the matter into the hands of solicitors.

There was no contract price for the job, the lorry being engaged at an hourly rate.

What is my position? Am I liable, or would I be

justified in repudiating liability? W.J.N. London, EM. CAST IRON STEEL

[With regard to the claim which has been made against you in respect of the damage to the sign-written glass which you were conveying in your lorry. In order to succeed in their claim, the sign company would have to prove that the breakage was due to the negligence of yourself or of your an boy. Unless, however, the representative of the sign company definitely insisted on the glass being placed in a particular position in the lorr.v, the chances are that a county court judge would decide that there was negligence on your part in placing the glass in such a position that it might fall without taking due precautions against a fall occurring.

Alternatively, the judge might decide that the van boy was negligent in failing to prevent the glass from falling without damage to it.

In view of the fact that the chances of your losing an action appear to be greater than the chances of your winning, our legal adviser recommends you to settle the claim out of court—Eu.1

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