Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-22
SOLID TIRES ON
TRUCKS GOING
Pneumatics Fast Taking Their
Place on Delivery
Cars

Contrary to the general suppo-
sition. it is more dangerous to be
in>advance OF. than behind. the pro-
cession in the matter of introducing
improvements in a motor car" says
F. H. Akers. Sales Manager of the
REQ Motor Car Company.
IT am reminded OF this by the
fact that just at this time all manu-
facturers are either equipping motor
trucks with pneumatic tires. or max
ing it optional with the buyer.
Dear me!-what a fight we had on
our hands three years ago when we
brought out the first REQ Speed
Wagon and equipped 1t with pneu-
matics!
We were so certain then that we
were right that we did not even
give an option on solids nor have
We ever done so up to this day.
After the most exhaustive COM
parative tests with several trucks
OF the same model, some equipped
with pneumatics and other with solid
tires, our engineers found that from
every standpoint the pneumatic tired
truck was infinitely superior.
First; II was more efficient for
the reason that it would travel at
nearly twice the speed and thereby
make twice as many trips in given
time.
In fact a one-ton truck on pneu-
matics would carry more tonnage day
in and day out than three-ton
truck mounted on solids and there
fore limited in speed.
Second: the upkeep cost was al
most unbelievably less, due TO the
fact that not only did We obtain
more mileage on set of pneumatics
than on solids. but that the air cush-
ion effects a wonderful saving on the
chassis.
The term solid tire is correct
when there is a load resting on the
rubber the section between the felloe
of the wheel and the ground is prae-
tically solid.
Not only that, but after two or
three thousand miles the resiliency in
the rubber has been exhausted or,
as the motorists say. the rubber
tires (not a pun, but meaning IA
tigue) and acquires more the con-
sistency OF wood than OF gutta
percha.
Also our engineers found that the
fuel consumption was less for the
we'll known reason that any pneu-
matte tired vehicle requires less
power.
Another factor that was much in
favor OF the pneumatics was the alb
sence of injury to loads OF fragile
materials. Per!Shable goods suffer
less in a pneumatic tired truck than
they do in solid tired vehicle even
though the latter so at half the speed.
This experience of ours was not
unique in the industry. however. as
any old-timer will recall, IL he just
thinks back a moment.
The four-cylinder motor had a
hard time making its way against
popular prejudice.
We can all recall the foolish argu-
ment that If one cylinder gives trou-
bleFsiene, WON'T four cylinders give
four times as much trouble?'
Finally popular opinion accepted
two cylinders but no more and in
sisted that the engine must be amid
ships because II it was anywhere else
it would throw the car out of ball
ance.'
Who would have a motor any
where but under the hood today
out front where it is easily accessi-
Bile?
Then take the lighting problem
First we had kerosene lamps and
then came the carbide tank.
With some reason there was OBJ
lection TO this on the ground that
il was dangerous.
The Prest-o-Lite tank which fol-
lowed was more readily accepted al
though a lot OF people had to be
convinced that If the car got into a
smash-up, the gas tank would not
explode and blow everybody to H-ger-
many. ....-
1t sounds ridiculous at this late
date. but it is a fact, that although
ever motorist wanted to get away
from the drudgery and the danger
of cranking his car, there was a
tremendous opposition to every form
Of self-starter.
"One argument against the electric
starter was that the motor would alb
sorb too much power for it's re-
charging. This argument came back
into vogue again when we first be-
gan to light lamps from the same
battery.
AT that. I don't know that the
customer was quite so obstinate about
these things as was the dealer. The
latter considered himself an authority
and appointed himself guardian for
all his customers and believe me, we
used to have to talk some to get
by him with an innovation or i'm
provement,
I'VE expected and were prepared
for a battle when we decided that
the right thing for a light. high
speed truck was pneumatic tires. but
we have always believed 1t was our
duty to give the buyer the best our
experience dictated and so we went
through with it.
To-day we are the recipients OF
the sincerest form OF flattery' in that
this feature, in which REQ was the
pioneer, is now being generally imi-
tated.
Everyone now admits the pneu-
matte tired truck is inevitable be-
cause it is the solution of most OF
the trucking problems. SO we feel
we'll repaid for our missionary work" "