Utility Motors for Country Estates and Hotels.
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MR. WILIAM WATSON, secretary to MR. W. K. D'ARCY, of Blackwell Hall, Chesham, Bucks, writes on the 16th instant :—" I regret that I am unable to send you a photo of Mr. D'Arcy's Arro-Johnston car, but it is similar to that company's car built Sir the London County Council (shown on page 461 of your issue of February 15th), with the exception that Mr. D'Arcy's car has sideboards about 18 inches high. Mr. D'Arcy saw this type of car at the Crystal Palace Show in 1904, and purchased his car in the August of that year—it has been in constant daily use ever since. "The engine is the standard 12-15h.p. type, and the car is capable of carrying a load of 2 tons at about 12 miles an hour. It is principally used for carrying luggage and heavy goods from and to the station (a distance of nearly seven miles), conveying luncheon with servants, tables, seats, etc., to meet the shooting parties, and carrying keepers, beaters, dogs, etc., from one point of the estate to another. For these and other purposes I have found the car invaluable : it is easy to manage and economical as regards petrol, and, so far, we have experienced no trouble of any kind."
MR. W. SC701'T ()WEN, agent to LORD JO10EY, of Cefngwifed, Newton, Montgomeryshire, writes on the 16th instant :—" The Mann's patent steam wagon which Lord joicey has had working on his estate in Montgomeryshire for four years has proved to be a most usetul machine. The maximum weight it can carry is 5 tons, but, in practice, on hilly roads not more than 4 tons can be carried to advantage. "During the year 1905 it worked 159 days, and carried 542 tons over bad roads. The cost of coke, oil, labour, and repairs for 1905 was 1112 16s. 8d.
"Taking depreciation and repairs into account, 1 consider that the haulage on this estate has cost about one-third less than if done by horse labour. One of the greatest advantages of the machine is the saving of time in the haulage of heavier loads."
MR. H. B. NAPIER, on behalf of LADY SMYTH, of Ashton Court, Long Ashton, Bristol, writes on the 17th instant :—" I can speak in the highest praise of our Mann's steam lorry. It has now been at work for upwards of two and a half years, and has resulted in a tremendous saving in our estate haulage account. The engine has stood the wear and tear of heavy work admirably, and the outlay on repairs has been very light."
Mr. FRANCIS A. BOT.TON, Moor Court, Oakmoor, North Staffordshire, writes on the lAth instant :—" 1 purchased from the Ryknield Motor Company one .of their standard three-cylinder 15h.p. cars last summer, the same being fitted with a special body, making it adaptable either for ordinary pleasure purposes (seating four persons) or, with the back seat removed, a very useful luggage cart for station work, etc. The car has been in almost daily use ever since I got it, in all weathers, and on the worst of roads, and has proved most satisfactory and reliable in every way. It has done a lot of very rough work, but shows not the least sign of wear, and 1 am satisfied that it is a thoroughly well-constructed vehicle, all 'working parts being of the very best ma
terial. It is an excellent hill climber, and has a very good speed on the level. It is fitted with three speeds forward and one reverse, the top speed is a direct drive. The motor has the company's usual mechanically-operated valves with variable lift, and is fitted with Fisemann high-tension magneto ignition. The drive is by live axle. " 1 should have no hesitation in recommending the Ryknield cars, from my experience of this one, to anybody desiring a thoroughly reliable all-British car, and especially adapted for use in a hilly country. 1 might add that 1 have been a practical motorist for many years, and have owned and driven a very considerable number of cars of many different makes, so that I speak from practical experience." have now had it close upon two years. Of course, like all other beginners, we had the usual difficulties and troubles, but as time went on we gained experience, and have now fairly mastered it. We use it for plonghing with a three-furrow Kidd plough, or a large cultivator, or a Crosskill's clod crusher, and it makes, on the whole, excellent work on all these ; also for grinding corn, for which we use a large Bamford steel mill. We use it, too, for what I think may, perhaps, be uncommon, that is, for loading hay with an Ohio hay loader attached to the back of an ordinary farm wagon. We have also this season used it on a 711 cut Wood's New Century binder, with great success, cutting over 12 acres, and only working parts of days, the weather being showery."