Re: (ET) Mother Earth News

[John Charles Fedor <John Fedor net>]

I e-mailed them a letter already

Allan wrote:

> An "honest mistake" is still a mistake.  People who don't know what they 
> are
> talking about should keep quiet.
>
> I agree that someone (but not me!) should write them a letter correcting 
> the
> misinformation.
>
> Allan
>
> Tim Chapin wrote:
>
> > I don't read Mother Earth News but I am guessing it is an honest 
> > mistake.  I
> > would guess Mother Earth News is a good publication that messed up.  
> > Instead
> > of bashing them in this news group, I would suggest someone draft a
> > letter,(I can't even communicate using spoken words let alone type up
> > something--maybe Dennis's letter), pass it thru the news group to get 
> > all
> > the correct information (including the electra ox out of Can.).  Then 
> > send
> > it to Mother Earth News editor from the news group.  Invite who ever is
> > interested in elec trak types of mowers to join.  It will get more
> > information out about elec traks and who knows we might find more out 
> > there
> > to salvage.  Maybe even more parts suppliers.
> >
> > >Return-Path: <owner-elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu>
> > >X-Authentication-Warning: cosmos5.phy.tufts.edu: majordom set sender 
> > >to
> > owner-elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu using -f
> > >From: "Hazen, Dwight L" <hazen indiana edu>
> > >To: "'Pestka, Dennis J'" <Dennis Pestka mkg com>,
> > >        Elec-Trak Email Discussion List <elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts 
> > > edu>
> > >Cc: "Stigall, John D." <stigall indiana edu>
> > >Subject: RE: (ET) Mother Earth News
> > >Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 09:15:03 -0500
> > >Sender: owner-elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu
> > >
> > >
> > > With thinking like that from Mother Earth we would still be driving 
> > > gas hog
> > >cars from the 60'es. So when did big oil take over Mother earth?
> > >
> > >   Dwight
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Dwight L. Hazen, Indiana University, UITS
> > >Bloomington, In. 47408-7378 Phone 812-855-5367 hazen indiana edu
> > >http://php.ucs.indiana.edu/~hazen/ Ham Radio wb9tlh arrl net
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From:        Pestka, Dennis J [SMTP:Dennis Pestka mkg com]
> > >> Sent:        Monday, September 18, 2000 6:50 AM
> > >> To:  Elec-Trak Email Discussion List
> > >> Subject:     (ET) Mother Earth News
> > >>
> > >> After subscribing to the Mother Earth News for over 20 years, I was 
> > >> really
> > >> disappointed with the response to a question from one of the 
> > >> readers.
> > >> There are so many inaccuracies in this that I don't know where to 
> > >> begin.
> > >> I am writing my response to this and I would encourage everyone 
> > >> else to do
> > >> the same.
> > >> www.motherearthnews.com
> > >>
> > >> Dennis
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Dear Mother,
> > >> Do you know of any company making electric garden tractors.
> > >>
> > >> Will
> > >> Coarsegold, CA
> > >>
> > >> We don't know of a commercially viable electric tractor being made 
> > >> by an
> > >> established firm today. The cost of high-capacity motors and 
> > >> batteries is
> > >> just too high to compete with gas engine-powered models. The obvious
> > >> environmental advantages alone won't convince enough buyers to pay 
> > >> ten
> > >> times
> > >> what a zippy little John Deere lawn or garden tractor costs.
> > >>   General Electric made the Elec-Trac lawn-tractor/riding mower in 
> > >> the
> > >> 1970's but lost their shirts on every sale and discounted the line 
> > >> years
> > >> ago. You can find used Elec-Tracs for sale at well under $1000. 
> > >> They were
> > >> robustly made, and parts are still available. But they were slow and
> > >> heavy,
> > >> underpowered for attachments, too low slung to use in the garden 
> > >> row, and
> > >> lack the run time to mow a big lawn on a single charge.
> > >