Answers to Queries.
Page 16
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Dare They Sell Their Horses ?
[2072j " WHOLESALE " write We are consider ing the question of a commercial motor. We should be greatly obliged if you would tell us whether petrol or steam (on rubber tires) would be most suitable for our trade. Will you also tell us the best makers? " Our work consists chiefly in carrying 30 cwt. of goods to places 10 to 25 miles out, and making 40 to 60 calls in a day. This means about 50 to 60 miles in a day. Of course, a journey like this takes two homes two days, and it would only take a motor one day. llo you consider a motor would be as reliable as horses ? If we bought a motor, it would mean our selling all our horses, and, unless the motor were absolutely reliable, it would cost us a lot of money and trouble. We would not study the first cost of a good one ; what we want is reliability."
ANSWER.—We can with confidence recommend you to get into communication with any of the makers who advertise with us. They can supply convincing references. You need not fear in regard to parting with your horses, provided you have a reasonablyintelligent driver for the motor, and you should get a man of the kind for an inclusive charge of 35e. a week, at the most. If you can run the van as much as 60 miles a day, it should not cost you more than 6id, per mile run, inclusive of maintenance, depreciation, insurances and all charges. It might 'cost only 50., according to fuel and tire variations.
Can He Make It Pay?
[2073] " TowxsmAN " writes :—" May I, as a new reader, ask your advice on the following : I have a 20 cwt. .petrol lorry offered cheap. It is a 28-30 h.p. , with an extra heavy chrome-steel eardan shaft. (new) fitted. I have had an expert from a --motor firm, and he votes it an exceptional bargain and in exceptionally first-rate condition throughout. Well, I can afford to buy it, and if I do so I have the following offer from prospective customers. "They will provide me with 5i days' work per week, at a minimum rate of 25s. per day, distance covered not to exceed 60 miles per day. That is two journeys, each 15 miles out, returning empty, unless I could occasionally pick up a load for return. They will give me a contract for 12, 18 or 24 months. " I used to be a good driver and a capable repairer, a year or two ago, but never handled a commercial vehicle. I have been in an entirely different line of business for a couple of years since then, By driving this machine myself, can I make it pay ? I should need a youth to go with me, which would increase my expenditure. Any advice will be appreciated. Also, in the event of my taking on the job, would you advise me to join the C.M.U.A.1" ANSWER.---We think you would not find it pay to take on this job at 25s. per day, unless you obtained a lorry at a very low price, and unless the tires upon it were in good condition. There is really no margin for a carrier on an earning of but a trifle in excess of ad. per mile run. Even when allowance is made for the fact that you would be an owner-driver, you ought to figure at a minimum of 6d. with a one-Len load. It is of no benefit to you to give your labour for nothing. The type of lorry which you mention is not on the market ordinarily: it may be a pleasure car put forward for commercial purposes. If so, the gear .ratios will be wrong, and the vehicle will be otherwise illadapted for the purposes you have in view. If it is not a pleasure model, but an odd chassis that was built for trial commercial purposes, you may be awkwardly placed as regards the obtaining of spare parts. We strongly recommend you to be sure that you buy a vehicle that is designed for commercial work.
It would undoubtedly he of advantage to you to join the C.M.U.A., should you become a motor carrier.
A Three-tonner in Use by a Firm of Builders.
P074] " BUILDINGS " write :—" Have you had any articles dealing with the costs of motor lorries, together with any comparisons with horse traction'? We are not at all certain as to the kind of vehicle which would be Most satisfactory to us. On the whole, we are inclined to think that something to carry about three tons would be best.
" A good deal of our goods consist of such things as earthenware articles, i.e., drain pipes, lavatories, closet pans, also mantelpieces, grates, baths, and other such things. At other times, we should be able to make up a complete load of slates, cement or bricks.
"We think it might be important to have rubber tires, but we understand that these are expensive.
." (Jan you give us full particulars as to the running expenses, including wear and tear and depreciation? Also would it be possible to have repairs done by yearly contract, BO that we should know exactly what same would cost us? "How do these motors fare on bad ground? Sometimes at new buildings the roads are in a very bad state, and the cart wheels sink into the roads considerably. .Also, we are doubtful which is the best for our purpose, petrol or steam? We are given to understand that the steam motor, in many eases, can be got through or out of difficult places. " We should not, in many cases, be able to make up a full load of say three tons ; sometimes, it would only be one to one-and-a-half tons. We have also been thinking as to whether it would be possible to have two platforms to the motor in order to save time in loading and unloading." ANSWER.—Various issues of this journal have from time to time dealt with the question of motor costs, and have in some cases put forward comparable horse costs, It is, however, extremely difficult to make general comparisons to suit particular cases. You will undoubtedly require to have rubber tires, and we strongly recommend you to have these of ample section. The first cost is a little higher, but the wearing life is prolonged, and the cost per mile brought down. For a three-ton lorry on the class of work which you mention, you should insist upon having tires of not less than 1030 mm. by 140 mm., twin tires on the back wheels, and 900 mm. by 140 mm. single tires on the front wheels. A vehicle of the kind, if you can give it a matter of not less than 50 miles a day of running, say, a. minimum of 250 miles per week, should cost you, hclusive of maintenance, depreciation and all charges, a maximum of Ad. per mile run, even after extra allowance for tire cost due to bad surfaces. On soft roads, the heavy axle-weight would undoubtedly cause the motor to sink in, and you would have to lay a sleeper track in some cases, or to carry wheel troughs on the machine in others. The Quickest-acting and best jack for you would be the "Easyweigh," supplied by Messrs. James Bartle and Co., of Lancaster Road. London, W. The jack is a, hydraulic one, and it weighs as it lifts, which might be of some service to you. A winding drum and steel cable should also be specified. It would not be possible to have repairs done by contract with the maker, for a single vehicle, but you should have no difficulty in dealing with that matter yourselves, or through some good local garage. It would certainly be practicable to have two Platforms, or it might be better to leave a fixed platform on the lorry, andto use sune,,imposed "flats," such as are common in the Manchester cotton trade. slinging these flat off and on the platform as required.
If your ground is really extremely soft, von would Probably do better to use a large-wheeled steam tractor, such as those advertised in this iournal.