Answers to Queries.
Page 17
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A Typical Letter of Thanks.
The information you give me is just what I require, and I am extremely obliged to you for the amount of trouble you have taken in the matter."
'The Wrong Heading.
By an accidental transposition in the composing room, the heading which appeared in our issue of the 9th inst. over letter No. 1,892 should have appeared over letter No. 1,893. It is obvious that Devonian " is not "A Dissatisfied User," but that he was making inquiries from us in regard to licences for steam wagons applied to passenger conveyance. Letter No. 1,892 fell under the same heading as that which was printed above letter No. 1,891.
Non-skids for Solid-rubber Tires.
[1,900] "TEA DEALERS" write :-"Could you kindly let us know if there is on the market any suitable appliance for fixing on twin tires of a one-ton van, for preventing skidding on ice or snow 1" ANSWER.—You should communicate with Hessrs. de Fornier, of 100, Shaftesbury Avenue, W., giving the diameter and width of the tires. They may be able to supply you with non-skid covers such as are used on London County Council motor fire-engines, which non-skid covers will give you an effective grip on either ice or snow.
Difficulty of Replacement.
[1,900 " COALMAN " writes : " Would you kindly give me the names of firms of whom I could get cornmercial-motor cylinder castings? The maker of the Vulcan chassis, Zurich, seems to have disappeared. If I could get the cylinder castings, we could do the rest of the work ourselves."
ANSWER.—You can get cylinder castings from Messrs. Wilder, of Reading, Willans and Robinson, Ltd., of Rugby, and other makers. If you cannot supply the wooden patterns, such castings in small quantities will cost you a lot of money. If the engine is for any obsolete model, a replacement of this kind will be most expensive. It might be cheaper for you to use new cylinders of a different but standard type.
Cast-steel Wheels.
[1,9021 " MOTORBUS PROPRIETORS write : --" We should be glad if you could give us the address of the Sankey Hollow Cast-steel Wheel Co. ; also, the makers of the Atlas cast-steel wheel?"
[1,903] " OWNERS " write : "We not ice that on page 203 you mention the Atlas ' steel wheels. We should be much obliged if you would give us the name and address of the makers of these wheels, as we think we should probably like further particulars regarding them."
ANSWER. -The Sankey wheel is not made of cast steel, but is made up of pressed plates which are electrically welded together. The makers are Joseph Sankey and Sons, Ltd. Albert Street Works, Bilston. The address of Atlas Resilient Wheels, Ltd., is 37, Cross Street, Manchester.
About Town Haulage.
[1,904] " LIvRuPunLiaii " writes :—" The recent strikes and present boom in trade have entirely demoralized the heavy transport facilities here, as you are probably aware. All our cartage is done by a master carter, who is quite unable to cope with present demands. I recently tried hiring a -steam wagon and trailer, but, owing to the greasy state of the roads, it spent most of its time skidding. I have noticed in your paper several four-ton petrol lorries
ad cruised, and I see that the London General Omnibus Co. is also offering a large number of secondhand chassis, though I have read your remarks. " I should much appreciate your opinion as to whether the purchase of a four-ton petrol lorry would be likely to prove profitable. My firm are manufacturers of — —, and the work would consist in conveying raw materials from the docks, and delivery to the various railway depots and coasting steamers. The journeys would therefore all be pretty short, varying from half a mile to five miles for the single journey. The loads and journeys vary so much that it is difficult to arrive at any estimate, but I
should say that on an average team wagons will run
20-25 tons and cover a distance of say 15 miles in the day, whilst a one-horse wagon will average about 16 tons over a like distance, though under favourable circumstances one has carried 26 tons in the day.
"I should be glad if you can give me any indication of the minimum daily tonnage and mileage upon which a four-ton petrol lorry could be made to pay, and some idea of the working expenses. I may say that, at present, we pay is. 3d, per ton for goods inwards, and is. outwards."
ANSWER.—You did not get hold of a very good type of steam wagon for your experiment. Fairrie and
Co. have been using several Leyland machines, for haulage to and from the docks, with great success. You ought to do well with one or more rubber-tired petrol vehicles, and some of the L.G.O.C. chassis would carry four tons, but not all of them. If you could get rid of delays at the docks, which we know is a considerable difficulty, one petrol wagon ought to pay its way on your job handsomely. New vehicles, if you can get delivery, are really more attractive. On 60 miles a day, 8d. a mile should be the maximum cost.
We do not recall whether — Street is considerably up hill from the docks, or otherwise ; in the former event, the motor would be the gainer. It is impossible to give you any indication of the daily tonnage without more exact information about the delays, loading facilities, and number of tons taken behind a team of horses or a single horse per trip. We are sending (on loan) to you, under separate cover, our issue of the 16th February last, and yon will find certain suitable information in it. Please return this when you have finished with it, as no other copy is left. Like costs are given in this year's Royal Show number (dated the 29th June).