Yes...........tyres are greatly improved ! As a child I can remember the many punctures that needed to be repaired ; and the 'tyre levers' , jacks and hand-operated-pumps that were standard equipment , along with patches and glue and chalk-powder to put over the excess glue on the patched-inner-tube so it didn't stick to the inside of the tyre when it was replaced ! Of course ,
there were the 'self-vulcanising-patches' that you could ignite and they would fuse a rubber patch onto the rubber tube ! Exciting stuff....adult-only-fireworks ! Even though Dad always carried a "spare tyre" on a rim for easy replacement , quite often there were 'blow outs' or
'staked tyres' as well that needed repairs or replacement before the journey could continue!
The roads were terrible in those days , most were pot-holed-gravelled-roads with body jarring corrugations and motoring was more of an endurance trial than a pleasure on those country-roads ! We always looked forward to arriving at the major roads which were "sealed roads",
or as we knew them , macadamised roads , covered with bituminous-tar or asphalt and rock dust ,
and quite smooth and easy to drive on.
But tyres , like almost everything , especially the roads , are vastly improved and relatively cheaper than ever , but are 'taken for granted' today.
It is good that you took the time to reflect on just one tiny aspect of the modern world which has contributed so much to our prosperity and wealth ! Without freight haulage on good roads we would be still stuck with railways and unacceptable time delays , especially on perishable goods.
Mind you , I enjoyed watching the horses and delivery carts of the Baker and the Milkman !
The clever horses knew where and when to stop or advance so the delivery-man didn't have to walk any further than necessary between trips to the door and back to the cart !
Gratitude is the essence of doomslaying.
Yes...........tyres are greatly improved ! As a child I can remember the many punctures that needed to be repaired ; and the 'tyre levers' , jacks and hand-operated-pumps that were standard equipment , along with patches and glue and chalk-powder to put over the excess glue on the patched-inner-tube so it didn't stick to the inside of the tyre when it was replaced ! Of course ,
there were the 'self-vulcanising-patches' that you could ignite and they would fuse a rubber patch onto the rubber tube ! Exciting stuff....adult-only-fireworks ! Even though Dad always carried a "spare tyre" on a rim for easy replacement , quite often there were 'blow outs' or
'staked tyres' as well that needed repairs or replacement before the journey could continue!
The roads were terrible in those days , most were pot-holed-gravelled-roads with body jarring corrugations and motoring was more of an endurance trial than a pleasure on those country-roads ! We always looked forward to arriving at the major roads which were "sealed roads",
or as we knew them , macadamised roads , covered with bituminous-tar or asphalt and rock dust ,
and quite smooth and easy to drive on.
But tyres , like almost everything , especially the roads , are vastly improved and relatively cheaper than ever , but are 'taken for granted' today.
It is good that you took the time to reflect on just one tiny aspect of the modern world which has contributed so much to our prosperity and wealth ! Without freight haulage on good roads we would be still stuck with railways and unacceptable time delays , especially on perishable goods.
Mind you , I enjoyed watching the horses and delivery carts of the Baker and the Milkman !
The clever horses knew where and when to stop or advance so the delivery-man didn't have to walk any further than necessary between trips to the door and back to the cart !
Much better than a trip to a supermarket !