Answers to Queries.
Page 19
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Our readers will be informed by the Editor on any points connected with the construction or use of commercial motors. Where a direct reply is desired, a stamped and addressed enveloPe should be enclosed : if a request for privacy is not
specially made, any query and answer may be published.
A Roomy Brougham.
[1,365] " CAPTAIN " enquires :—" Can you inform me what firms, if any, are building, what is much required, a motorcab or brougham for country houses, after the style of the later taxicab, with room for a lady's dressbox alongside the driver and usual luggage? " There at present seems nothing in the market, for men of moderate means living 5 to 8 miles from a station and town, to fetch and carry from statical and to theatres, dinners, etc., at a moderate price. " Do you know any firms going in for this class of goods, combining a light car of moderate speed (12 to 15 miles an hour and reliable) with roomy cab body, and facilities for luggage, and about the price complete with the necessaries? '
A NSWEL—There is no question that you would get entire satisfaction from the Austin town carriage. This is built upon a four-cylinder chassis of the cab type, and there is ample room for luggage, whilst the interior is roomily arranged to accommodate five people. It would fulfil all your requirements, both for station and evening work, but it is, of course, speeded to do more than an average of 15 miles an hour. It is priced at and we are afraid you will not get any really good and well-finished vehicle for much less than this.
Will It Pay?
[1,366) "SOUTH WALES" writes :—"I own a lightly but strongly built motor lorry, and its weight unladen would be about i6cwt. It has a two-cylinder Aster engine (electric ignition) and does about 12 miles to the gallon of petrol she travels at the rate of 4 miles an hour on top speed. This car cost me considerably over three figures, second hand; of course, it is in excellent condition, and it has solid De Nevers tires on all four wheels.
" I have been offered, by a neighbour, a contract to carry certain merchandise a distance of 30 miles (returning, of course, empty, and in all 6e miles) one day every week, for as long a period as I wish, and he oilers use the sum of Z..1 per trip. The roads are good but hilly. I am quite aware that the profits would be indeed small (if any), but, for my future guidance,. I would be extremely obliged if von would inform Inc in detail the actual figures (including depreciati;m) of the in
Jon rney.
The load will be from :5 to iScwt. Petrol
this part, is. id. per gallon, and I drive the cm my-elf. I use it for hatditrbottled ale and stout, alt..e v.-hich is my business. It is three years old. I hone to use it, during the summer months, for hiring out. I have had convertible seats to carry m persons oto on."
.:\Nswiao—It, of course, makes the propost:er mere leasilde if you drive, the vehicle yourself. For a 6o-7oilt.
journey, over and above the price of petrol, which ■.ou know, you would require to set aside 4s. for tires and 25. ftd, for mechanical maintenance. As re4_,Imals depreciation, you do not state how much yriou gave for the van, but we will suppose that you got it for as little as in which circumstances you should certainly not allow less than 3s. a day in respect of depreciation. We think it would be wise if you were to take out a third-party indemnity, which might cost you X;to a year, but which would protect you against payments for damage to people or vehicles on the road, and this would add about IRd. a day to the cost, You will, therefore, see that you have a very poor margin for yourself, and we should he inclined to say that you would be better off to keep the van in your yard if you cannot get 25s, a day for the work named. The loads you name are rather high for such a chassis. Rights on the Tramway Track.
[1,367] " R. H.B. " writes :—" I should be very pleased if you could give me any information as to whether I am liable or not in the following case. I was driving the steam wagon of which I am in charge in the outskirts of the town when I was pulled up by the police, who took my name and address for driving along the tram lines' when (the constable said), being slow-moving traffic, I should keep close in to the near side of the road. Now, what I want to know is this : can they class steam wagons, which are allowed 5-m.p.h., as slow-moving traffic, as I think it is rather hard if we are to be classed with coal carts and heavy railway drays going about 2-L-m.p.h.
" I should add that we were not obstructing, because there was not a tram, neither at the back nor in front."
ANswEa.—Unless there is some extraordinary by-law of the — City Council, and unless you are specifically summoned under that by-law, you are not liable to any fine. Any vehicle is allowed to use any part of the highway, so long as it does not cause obstruction to other users of the highway. If you correctly state the case, when you say that `` There was not a tram, neither at the back nor in front," you had every right to be on the tramway track. You must not, of course, wilfully obstruct any tramcar when one is there. We strongly recommend you to put the facts immediately before your employer and the makers.
Fruit Conveyance in New Zealand.
1],36S] " W.S.13." (New Zealand) writes :—" There are a number of fruit growers in a place I have recently visited, and they think of putting a motor or two—or more—on the road to take their fruit to the nearest railway station. I promised one of them to write you to discover the firms producing motor wagons equal to the following work :—To carry 2:.k, tons of fruit over a road which is very dusty at times (4 or s inches) and with several bad grades, one being a very long and steep hill, say, T in 6 01 7, though perhaps it is only S in 8—I will get its exact grade if possible; speed required, 12 miles per hour, but they say they will be satisfied with 6 or 7 miles per hour loaded, and 12 empty', distance to railway, 28 miles.
" in winter, I should say this road is practically impassable to rector tram,: but, of ourye, the fruit is nil carried from November to February, and (be climate is very dry as a rule.
" von would rake the trouble to get eLlLaludt {ICS frOM the different firms sent to rne, I will see that they arrive their deqination. If not, an answer in the " Answers ii Otterles '' columns must su ffiee."
ANFIVER.—Vic have posted several issues of " THE. CoNrmERcim, MoTon " for the use (If this correspondent, as we feel that their pages (both text and advertisement) will meet his needs. Disc wheels, not too broad in the tread, get through and over the sand best : low gearing will be needed, and it will depend upon the proportion of " good going " whether the average speeds named can be made : the lower ones should, we think, be achieved in the majority of cases.