Answers to Queries.
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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 si direct reply is desired, a stamped and addressed envelok should be enclosed : if a request for privacy a not specially made, any query and answer may be published.
Provincial Cab Company's Dividend ?
[1,3821 C.T." writes I will take it as a favour if
you can let me know when the London and Provincial Motor Cab Co. (London) paid their last dividend, and what it was? "
ANSWER.—The company named, whose registered office is at 32, Old Jewry, E.C., has not vet paid any dividend. There has scarcely been time to get it into a dividendpaying state, although we hear good reports of its cabs from various provincial centres. The first working year is not yet closed.
About Motor Contracting.
[i,3831 " INTENDING CONTRACTORS " write :—" We are very much obliged by Your several replies, and appreciate the trouble you have been to. We are now able to form some idea of the casts of working.
" Would you be good enough to let us have an opinicia as to the merits and capabilities of the petrol wagon,made by A, as against such makes as B, C, D, and E? "
ANSWER.—There is no question that the first make which vou name has been less used than any one of the others. As to the other four, we should say that they are equally good, except that the second of them has been more employed for loads of two tons (and less) than for greater loads. The other three people have had good experience with heavy loading.
A Motor Caravan Wanted.
[1,384] " N.A." writes :—" I shall be much obliged if you or any of your readers can give me any tips' on the following matter. What is the best kind of .engine and chassis for a motor caravan? My idea is to provide for a speed of six or eight miles an hour, for a continuous period of several hours at a time, with a load of two tons. The question of quick starting is of secondary importance to simplicity of construction and working. Any other information front those knowing about the matter will be gratefully received."
ANSWER.—Vlic shall be glad to assist if some particulars of the actual class of work it is proposed to carry out are sent. For instance, the following information : how many passengers; how much luggage; in what class of country it is proposed to travel; whether the caravan is to serve as a sleeping place, etc. ; and, roughly, what class of body will be employed on the chassis.
Motor Contractors Wanted.
[1,3831 "TRADER " writes :—" I shall be very much obliged if vou could let me have the names of contractors who would be willing to contract for the carriage of heavy goods by motor (coal, timber, etc.). The contract would be an annual one. I do not know of any firms who undertake this sort of work, but if you know of any and would be kind enough to let me have their names and addresses, I shall be very much obliged to you."
ANSWER.—You cannot do better than approach the Eastern Motor Wagon Co., Ltd., of 24, Coleman Street, E.C., with respect to contracts for the carriage of heavy goods by motor. This company runs a large number of Foden wagons, of three and five rims capacity, and is doing a very successful business. Pickford's, Ltd., of 57, Gresham Street, E.C., does similar work, and MacNamaras, Ltd., of 12, Castle Street, Finsbury, E.C., has a good equipment for high-speed work with petrol vans and lorries. Country Chars.a.bancs.
[r,386] " WEsrEaLy " writes :—" I at present Own a zoh.p. touring car, and I purpose adding one or two chars-à-bancs and a smaller car, in order to develop hiring business, and, if possible, to deal in second-hand cars on commission, Is it necessary to have hiring cars licensed for public service? If so, what is the cost of licenses and of insurance to cover all liabilities? What horse-power do you recommend for zo, 30, or more passengers?
"I thought of buying good second-hand chars-a-banes, with convertible bodies for winter work, and I want to know reliable makers of same, with the cost of tires and upkeep. Any information on above will be greatly esteemed."
ANSWER.—No license is needed for cars which are used for hiring by special contract, and not to pick up as stage carriages ; you should be able to cover all necessary in surance risks by a maximum of per annum per vehicle; you should have four-cylinder internal-combustion engines, and not less than zoh.p. for zo passengers, or 3oh.p. for 30 passengers; any regular advertiser in this journal can be counted upon to supply you with good stuff ; tires will cost you about zd. per mile run, and the upkeep, with ordinary care in driving, will figure about id. per mile run.
The Replacement of Patented Components.
[1,3871 " BerrLEAxE " asks for information in the following letter :—" The question of the validity of patents which are held on foreign-made articles is receiving so much attention, both from the authorities of the Patent Office and from the English licensees at the present time, that I venture to suggest that a little information on this subject in which I am personally interested might usefully be published in the columns of your journal. I am the owner of a Continental-built motorvan, and I have reason to believe that this machine embodies several component parts which are patented. In the ordinary course of running, I have had to execute certain repairs to these parts. What I want you to tell me is whether I am acting illegally by repairing such a patented component, or by replacing it with a similar part which I have manufactured myself. Ought I not rather to send for a replacement from the foreign manufacturer or his licensed agent here in England?"
ANSWER.—It is our opinion that, in such a case as that quoted by our correspondent, he may repair patented components for his own use and replace such parts of a patented component as are necessary, providing always that he does not remake or replace the whole of it. That is to say, he must not either manufacture in tato, or be in possession of a complete component which corresponds exactly to the patented device, and which has neither been manufactured by the inventor or his licensee, nor has had the royalty paid upon it.
Concerning Acts and Regulations.
11,3881"C,J.H.K." writes :—"I have read with interest your article on Tractors for Home and Abroad,' and I should be obliged if you could give me the following information. There are in that article several Acts mentioned which govern the use of tractors and traction engines on the road. Could you inform me of the panics from whcim I can obtain copies, and the prices of the Acts, etc., which govern the use of : (t) pleasure cars (if this is not too far outside your scope); (2) light delivery vans ; (3) heavy petrol vans on solid rubber and steel tires ; (4) steam lorries on solid rubber and steel tires; (5) steam tractors, and (6) heavy traction engines?"
ANSWER.—It is a very difficult thing for any ordinary member of the public to follow the various Acts without some notes and explanations upon them. You cannot do 'better, if you really desire to study the matter thoroughly, than purchase a book called " The law of mechanical traction on highways," by Montague Barlow and Joynson-Hicks, which is published by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., x, Amen Corner, E.C., at 8s. 6d. eon. You cannot buy all the Acts, as some of the earlier ones are out of print, but the list for which you enquire is : The Locomotive Act, 1861; the Locomotive Act, 1865; the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act, 1878; Roads and Bridges (Scotland) Act, 1878; the Locomotives Act Amendment (Scotland), 1878; the Public Health (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1879; the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896; the Locomotives Act, 1898; the Motor Car Act, T9o3 ; the Motor Car (Registration and Licensing) Order, 1903; the Motor Cars (Use and Construction) Order, 1904; and the Heavy Motor Car Order, 1904. The last six should cost less than zs., from Eyre and Spottiswoode, Ltd., Great New Street, E.C.
Cause of Petrol Engine Overheating.
i,389] " F.IVI." writes :—" Having read your paper for over three years and found a lot of good information in it, 1 am writing to you on the following little trouble I have got. I am driving a two-ton -van, and the water gets very hot ; in fact, it boils. I have ground in the valves, and the pump and fan seem to be working all right. I think it is timed correctly, because it is strong and pulls well. 1 have put some boiler fluid in the radiator, to clean out the grease, but it is still the same. I hope you will be able to give me some little advice."
ANSWER.—Overheating may arise from one of a number of causes : the ignition may be so set as to be firing the charge in the cylinders very late; some accidental cause may have tended to retard the ignition on ene or more of the cylinders only ; the carburetter may be passing a great deal more petrol than is necessary, and "wet" petrol may be getting.into the cylinders; or the air supply may be unduly cut down.
As you say that the engine pulls well, the trouble would seem to be with the water circulation. Is there any rubber connection on the suction side of the radiator which is partly perished and will suck flat under the influence of the pump? It is possible that the circulation is impeded somewhere in the system, but this you should readily be able to ascertain by careful examination. Does the fan belt slip at any particulre speed? Have the blades become bent? Does the fan ensure a good draught through the radiator?
Allegations of Extraordinary Traffic Damage.
[1,390] " STEAM HAULAGE CONTRACTOR " writes :--" An action is about to be brought against me by a district council, for damage done to roads : I am hauling with a -steam motors and trailers. The widths of the driving wheels on the motors are min. and izin., and the widths of the trailer wheels are sin, to sin. Will you kindly tell me what weight I can carry on the motors, and also on the trailers, what course I should take if they do proceed against me, and whether you think they can do anything. I have only been carrying eight tons on a motor and trailer together. The roads are very weak, and of course we make tracks."
ANSWER.--It is impossible to say whether you are liable or not, in the absence of fuller details. We suggest that you send a subscription of one guinea to the Secretary, Commercial Motor Users' Association, of t, Albemarle Street, London, W., which will include your annual subscription to" THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR," and ask him to forward to you one of the forms in regard to possible heavy traffic claims.
The dimensions you name entitle you to have the maximum total weights (including loads) of 12 tons for the wagon and eight tons for the trailer, provided yeu do not exceed eight tons on the wagon's back-axle, and excepting your trailers with three-inch tires. For these trailers, if they have wheels three feet in diameter, you must not exceed 21 tons per axle. In order to carry the full four tons per axle on the trailer, you require, with five-inch tires, to have wheels 3i feet in diameter. It is no answer to a claim for extraordinary-traffic damage to show that plant is le-gal, as the decisions follow other points, and particularly the nature of the other traffic an the roads which you use.