OPINIONS
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and QUERIES
Why Jerks are Inexcusable with Vehicles Employing Fluid Flywheels. Estimating Rates for the Haulage of Coal Undertaking a Restricted and Specialized Class of Business Calling for Drivers who Have Ex perience of the Trade
AVOIDING JERKS WITH FLUID FLYWHEELS.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[43681 Sir,—We were very interested indeed to see your comments on the driving of fluid-flywheel buses and to notice the absolute accuracy of your remarks on the remedy for jerky driving.
There is, because of the ease of manipulation, much less excuse for anything in the nature of a jerk in operating a fluid-flywheel bus than in the case of a vehicle which employs the friction clutch and sliding gear.
If the engine speeds which are compulsory in the case of the sliding gearbox type be adhered to with the fluidflywheel type, the changes are made so smoothly that passengers are not conscious of any change having been made. F. G. Couen, Bus Sales Manager, Coventry. For THE DAIMLER CO., LTD.
THE BUSINESS OF THE UNDERTAKER.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[4369] Sir,—Re letter No. 4351 from "Hearse, Bromley." in The Commercial Motor of July 20, 1934.
As "Hearse, Bromley," obviously does not understand the business, has a very vague idea re vehicles, and no knowledge of rates, unless he serves for a period with a good firm he would be well advised to leave it alone.
The nature of the business is somewhat restricted and is highly specialized. Each driver must have a certain amount of training as an undertaker to enable him to be of assistance if required. Even firms of the highest class have to rely on the hearse driver, and very often the drivers of the first three cars, for assistance at the coffining of the corpse and lifting at the funeral, and for this to be carried out in a reverent manner a lot of practice is required.
I recently did a job for one of the largest London firms, a hearse and eight cars. The coffin contained a lead shell and arrived by rail with one undertaker. It required six of my men (all big hefty fellows) to handle it at the station and again at the cemetery.
You are absolutely correct in your statement that the rates cannot be based on the operating costs. In many parts of the country charges are based on the status of the deceased, i.e., a good price for the well off and a lower rate for those poorer. Naturally one would expect a better hire in Mayfair than in Limehouse. In Bromley, our friend is likely to. have both classes.
A normal discount to a normal undertaker is 10 per cent, but, unfortunately, there are some undertakers who insist on 50 per cent. ; then it has to be put on to take off.
A fair charge for a city turnout, say, within a radius of six miles', is for a hearse and £1 per car, subject 10 per cent, to the undertaker. For country work to the Midlands and Wales, for hearse £1, for turnout 1s.1 per mile from garage to garage, and Is. per mile per car„ subject to 10 per cent, to the undertaker.
In a town like Bromley there will not be a steady flow of work ; in fact, in all towns of any size the work will be intermittent, four or five funerals on one day and then a day or two without any. In 1933 my biggest month was 48 and the smallest 14 with two hearses.
Front my long experience I have found that RollsRoyce cars are the most suitable and profitable for this class of work, besides commanding a great prestige. Naturally, they require to be in good condition, and if so their maintenance is light. Certain others are unsatisfactory because of their smoky and evil-smelling exhausts.
I think that at lid. per mile you are much too low in your costs. SERVICE. Dundee.
[I am interested to have your letter and am much obliged for the information you send me. I note you prefer that it should not be published as it is, but assume that. so long as I do not divulge the source of my information, you do not mind my dealing with it in a general way. The inquirer "Hearse," to whose letter you refer, was not, so far as I gathered from his inquiry, prepared to cater for the supply of anything but the vehicle and driver, and it was on that basis that I replied to him. In calculating the cost at 1id. per mile, I took into consideration the fact that his tyre and maintenance cost would be extremely low. If, of course, he had to supply four, five or six men as well as the driver, his costs would necessarily be very much greater. In his case too, as he contracted to an undertaker only for vehicle and driver it would • not, in my view, be so very necessary for his driver to have any special experience.--S.T.R.] The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[4370] Sir,—I am glad to know that my letter was of interest to you, and I have no objection to you making use of it in a general way.
I do not touch undertaking, but supply the _vehicles to a number Of undertakers. In our city -there are no large firms of undertakers employing several men. The majority of them relies on the drivers for the help. they
require, and generally insist on having the drivers whom they find to be the most experienced in lifting, etc.
I provide, with each hearse two sets of what I term " coffin harness." This comprises leather waist belts with braces and two hooks in front to catch into the fillets in the coffin, which greatly facilitate carrying downstairs and in awkward places.
It all sounds very simple, but I am quite sure that you and I could not carry a coffin weighing 16 stone down three stairs.
I regret that I am unable to give data of cost per mile as I entirely retyre my hearses every year, thereby obviating tyre trouble. I also touch up and varnish them yearly. SERVICE. Dundee.
TENDERING FOR A COAL CONTRACT.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[4371] Sir,—Could you help me in getting out a price for the following tender? The haulage of 60 tons of coal per week to the local -gasworks, the distance being 25 miles each way, with very little chance of obtaining return loads.
The time taken on a journey is approximately three hours, and I anticipate that it will be possible to do three each day.
What would be the most suitable vehicle for this work?
Thank you for all the help which you have already given me. COAL MERCHANT. Ilkley.
[The cheapest vehicle for your work would undoubtedly be an oil-engined 6-tonner. The operating cost of that, supposing it were devoted entirely to the work of conveying 60 tons of coal per week, would be approximately £17 1.0s. On to that, of course, you must add something for contingencies and profit in order to arrive at a charge you must make to the gas company. If with this vehicle you can cover three journeys per day, then the work would be completed in three and a half days, leaving you a couple of days free to use the vehicle on other work.—S.T.R.1