Answers to Queries.
Page 13
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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 is 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.
Patents in re Prevention of Side-slip.
[1,36o] " A.E." writes :—" I should be very much obliged if you could tell me if there has been any reliable sideslipping device patented up to the present date, as I think my own idea will work all right. Could you give me the numbers of TUE COMMERCIAL MOTOR in which side-slip patents are noticed, as one might be similar to mine?"
ANSWER. —We regret that we cannot look up the numbers in question, but we send [Direct to this correspondent. • -En.] copies of our contents for the last two volumes. If likes to submit a sketch and description of his idea, it will be treated in confidence, and an opinion given free of charge.
Damage to Flags of Side-walk Crossing.
[1,361] " STEAMWAGON OWNER" writes :—" I shall be glad if you vill inform inc whether corporations can make a steam-wagon owner pay for repairs to crossings over footpaths? The statement is made, that a particular crossing is strong erough for ordinary traffic, but inadequate to bear the extraordinary weight ' imposed by a loaded six-ton steam wagon.
" A reply in the enclosed envelope would be esteemed, but, as the question is probably of general interest, you may desire to publish it."
ANS WER. —If the crossing in question is dedicated to the public use for vehicular traffic, you may be able to avoid payment fur the damage to which you refer. Otherwise, we are afraid you are liable. If, however, the crossing is part of a highway, the writer's knowledge of your district leads hint to believe that you have a good defence in maintaining that motor-wagon traffic has become part of the ordinary traffic therein during the last half-dozen years.
Alleged Damage to Roads.
[1,362] " hAULAGE CONTRACTOR " writes I notice in Tim Commaactar, MOTOR Of January 7th (page 361) an invitation to readers of same, if threatened or harassed in any way, to communicate with you. I enclose you a letter I received from the County Surveyor this day. What do you think of it? We are working on the main road, hauling iron ore with a tractor weighing 4 tons mcwt., the spriflg. lorry being about si tons loaded (net lorry about 3oewt.), en 6in. tires.
"The roads here are very soft, and in places boggy; we sunk in yesterday up to the axle. Please return me the enclosed letter, and say whether the Council is bound to make a road to carry my engine. They say this road was not made for such traffic."
COPY OF COUNTY SURVEYOR'S LETTER.
" I hereby give you notice that it is my intention to
apply for an injunction to restrain you from hauling the heavy loads, such as you are now doing, on the high way between --and This road is totally unsuited for loads such as arc now being carried, and the continuance of such traffic cannot be tolerated."
ANSWER—You cannot be restrained by injunction, as no Court will grant such an injunction. The only remedy which local councils have is to take action against you for extraordinary-traffic damage—a process which involves them in considerable investigation to secure records, and subsequent expense to carry the action through. In the absence of full information about the road at the points about which complaint is made, we are not able to advise you whether such a claim would be likely to succeed or to fail.
In any event, the terms of the letter from the County Surveyor to you are no more than an idle threat, and intended to frighten you off the road. You must not, however, lose sight of the fact that you may be incurring liability for damage, as it is no defence to an action to claim that you have a statutory right to run your tractor and its
trailer on the road, if it can be proved that the engine and its load (i.e., your traffic) are extraordinary either as to frequency or weight as compared with the ordinary traffic of the district. It is a most important point for you to find out whether the same roads are occasionally or often used by other motor wagons or traction engines? If so, you can lay a large proportion of the blame upon them. If you are desirous to answer the County Surveyor's letter, we would suggest that you merely acknowledge it for the time being, and then await developments. If he moves for an injunction other than on the grounds that your machine is a "nuisance," we do not think you need even trouble to appear in defence, other procedure having been laid down by statute and regulation. Finally, you ought to send an application and subscription of one guinea to the Secretary of the Commercial Motor Users' Association, s, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W., for this association will thereafter be able to advise you.
Another "Second-hand" Enquiry.
[1,363] " S.B." writes :—" I would be very pleased if you will give me some information and advice which I am needing. I am in the motor trade, but have so far had nothing to do with commercial motors, that is, vans, wagons, etc.
" I have a friend who is thinking of buying a motor wagon to carry about two tons. He has been offered one called the Stirling ' (18-22h.p.), price L:mo. Do you know anything of this make, and is it to be recommended? Also, can you tell me from whom I can get information as to running expenses, etc?"
ANSWER . —Our issue of the 3rd December last contains much of the information for which you ask re costs. The make which you name is not manufactured any longer, and a number were recently sold off, second hand, at prices below on each. If your friend contemplates a purchase of this kind, he would be well advised to have any machine examined by a competent engineer, but he might, probably to better advantage in the end, consider the purchase of a new chassis from one of the advertisers in this journal.
London Motorbuses: Information from Volume VII.
[1,364] " T.G.M." writes :—" I should be very much obliged if you could inform me, concerning all particulars— such as horse-power, cost, maker, and description of the General, London Road Car, and Vanguard motorbuses, respectively. I should also like to know how much the recent back numbers of ' THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR' Cost, as I want to geta copy (or copies) dealing with the Vanguard Motorbus Company's liquidation, and the amalgamation of the three companies mentioned above."
ANSWER—London omnibuses range in b.h.p. from 24 to 40, Each bus, inclusive of tires and body, costs approximately A;g5o, but many alterations subsequently became necessary, and some of these were charged to capital account. As to the makes, reference to any of our 1908 censuses, say, the issue of the 31st December, will answer that query. Volume VII of "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR" complete costs 6s. 6d., post free, and that ends on the 3rd September last, whilst practically all of the subsequent numbers can he obtained here (price id. each, plus postage).