Answers to Queries.
Page 17
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An Auto-carrier Wanted.
[1534] " Scikumfe" writes :—" I am wishful of purchasing a new motor carrier, which has just come on the market. It is called the Auto-Carrier, and is a three-wheeled machine for quick parcel delivery. Would you be good enough to send me the name of the makers ? I notice Dickins and Jones and many other well-known retail houses have it running about the streets."
ANSWER.—The Auto-Carrier has not just conic on the market: it has been out for some years, and good reports about its working are common. It is sold by F. B. Goodchild and Co., Ltd., Craven House, Kingsway, London, W.C.
Serpollet Replacements.
[1,83'5] " WALMGATR " wired :—" Please say where we can obtain 40-horse Darracq-Serpollet cylinders and back end these are most urgently required."
A reply was sent by telegraph and confirmed as follows :—" We have to-day wired you that the cylinders which you require are kept in stock by the Metropolitan Steam Omnibus Co., Ltd., of Lots Road, Chelsea, and we think it is likely that this company will arrange to sell you the parts you require if you make application to it. The 40 h.p. Darracq-Serpollet type of cylinder casting, when it was first designed, gave some trouble, owing to the difficulty of avoiding porosity at a certain part of the head near the valve chest. These were subsequently re-designed, but the later pattern were not interchangeable with the first type.
Local Monopolies For Services of Motor Omnibuses.
[1,830] " CONSIDERATION " writes:—" Can you give any information of specific instances where local authorities have given a company or companies the monopoly of the licences that are issued by the authorities to run a service of motorbuses I I think that, when a local authority approaches a company to extend its omnibus service, the company should be the only owner in the district to whom licences should be issued. I have some recollection that Motor Coaches, Ltd., were refused an application for a similar monopoly on one of the South Coast towns."
AwswEE.—There probably are no specific eases where a local authority has guaranteed a motorbus company or exploiter a monopoly. On the other hand, there are various eases of what may be termed tacit agreement. The best case in point is that at Tunbridge Wells, and we recommend you to get into communication with Mr. W. •Oscar Pritchard, of the Autocar (Tunbridge Wells) Co., Ltd., Woodbury Park Road, Tunbridge Wells, for information.
Spare Parts for a Vulcan Van.
L1,837] "ALL SAINTS" writes :—" Will you kindly tell me where I can get spare parts for a 40 h.p. Vulcan commercial motor. A reply per return will greatly oblige as these are most urgently wanted."
ANswEa.—We regret that, after inquires in several directions, we are unable to tell you where you can secure spare parts for Vulcan commercial vehicles. We understand from a gentleman who handled the majority of the Vulcan spare parts which came to this country, that he does not think you will be successful in securing any now, He tells us that the Vulcan machines were made in a factory that has now been taken over by the Berna Co., but that the manufacture of the former machines has been given up for some time. Probably your best course is to insert a small advertisement in the " Sundries " columns of this journal, asking for the required parts. Vulcan cars, etc., are built at Southport, but we assume your chassis not to be one from there.
Oil Data.
11,838] " OILMAN " writes : •-" I wish you would be good enough to give me the following particulars of
the average quality of Scottish shale ; I want to know the flash point, the specific gravity, and the calorific power of this fuel. If you can add similar information with regard to petrol, paraffin, and crude oil, I shall be additionally obliged.'
ANSWER.—Petrol, with a specific gravity of .73, has a calorific power which varies between 22,500 and 25,400 B.T. units. With regard to its flash point, vapour is given off at temperatures above zero Fahrenheit. Scottish shale oil (Scotch paraffin) has a specific gravity of .810, a calorific power in B.T. units of 21,000, and its flash point is 152 degrees Fahrenheit. Crude petroleum has a specific gravity of .85, its calorific power is 21,200 in B.T. units, and its flash point is 152 degrees Fahrenheit. Refined petroleum (paraffin) has a specific gravity of .790, a calorific power of 21,500 B.T. units, and a flash point of 76 degrees Fahrenheit.