Answers to Queries.
Page 20
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Greasers in W.D. Specification.
[2632] ((oventry).—The Army Subsidy Specification specifies one-inch Rotherham greasers (No. 2 in Rotherham's catalogue) with a shank 4 in. B.S.F. Particulars are to be found on page 6 of the Technical Appendix A to the War Department Subsidy Scheme, 1912.
Where Can He Hire?
[2633] (Therts.).—You will, of course, appreciate that it is becoming more difficult day by day to hire vehicles of the class which you mention. You might apply to the Eastern Motor Wagon Co., Buttesland Street, London, N., or to Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., Caxton House, Westminster, S.W. Large numbers of machines on our list, which were available last year, have been impressed by the Government. Perhaps you will get what you want by the inclusion of a small advertisement in our next issue.
Can He Pay on 84. Per Mile Revenue 350 Miles Per Week, with Maximum Load of {hie Ton?
[2634] (Wilts.).—Our free costs sheet (mailed) will, we hope, be of use to you. We do not quite follow how you will average 350 miles per week on a 24-mile trip ; if you-do the trip once a day: yielding 48 miles there and back, the aggregate on ElX5yday8 will be 288 miles. Possibly you will do two double trips on certain days? The revenue which you mention (8d. per mile), with a. load of one ton as a maximum, should pay you handsomely, subject to normal supervision and treatment of the vehicle. Of the three makes which you mention, the Palladium is the one which appears to us most likely to suit your requirements.
Locking the Differential.
[2635] (Cornwall).—We do not know of any British petrol-driven commercial vehicle which is fitted with a differential lock. Practically all steam wagons and tractors have this very desirable addition to the design. it is also probable that, as a result of the urgent demand for such a provision in connection with the machines operating at the Front, this addition will be embodied in many lorries when the construction of aew lines starts after the war. We recall that the Clement-Bayard, a French lorry, was fitted with a differential lock, and an example of this was shown at the last Commercial Vehicle Show. We regard one as desirable.
Estimate of Battery-vehicle Input.
[2636] (Notting Hill).—The Edison catalogue gives the estimated consumption for a two-ton chassis at approximately 1.25 b.t.u. per mile run, and for a 34-ton chassis at 1.56 b.t.u. per mile run. The loads which we mention are stated to be "normal loading capacity." You inquire the current consumption for
a battery-driven three-ton, lorry, andshould therefore expect it to be something below 1.5 b.t.u. per vehicle-mile. The latest information before us, which has a bearing on this subject, comes from the general manager and engineer of the South Shields Tramways. He uses Edison batteries, and he states that, the input units have been 1.3 per bus-mile .(22 seats) during the summer, with the road fairly hard and dry, butithat during the winter, -when the roads were soft,' input units per bus-mile went up to 2.1. He also tells us that the maximum gradient is a slope of 1 in 16 for about 200 yards. We think it would be safer for you, over a period of years, to allow a margin on the estimates of current consumption which we have quoted above of at least 25 per cent. Our practice with petrol consumptions is always to put the figure on the high side, andanot to base it on new, hard-road, or dryweather conditions, and we therefore apply our general rule in making thin suggestion..
A54 Converting a Pleasure Car.
[2637] (Herts.).—It is probable that you might successfully try the experiment of fitting K.T. tires, as you suggest. We do not hold out great hopes of a live axle designed in 1907 standing .up under ordinary solid tires in spite of the fact that the speed has been reduced, but it is possible that you may get satisfaction with the K.T., which-is of the cushion variety. The address of the company manufacturing them is K.T. Pneumatic Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., 52, Queen Victoria Street, E.C.
Starting with Motorbuses and Motorvans.
[2638] (South Wales).—Have you considered the very great difficulty you will have in procuring commercial vehicles of anything like two, three or five tons capacity at the present time? It is practically impossible for early civilian delivery to be made for any of these types, owing to the Government's requirements. The only way we can suggest in which you can get in touch with local requirements, and find out whether there is an opening, is to put in a small advertisement either in our columns, or in some other suitable medium—say, "The Times."
Wants Petrol Lorries Quickly.
[2639] (Plymouth).—We believe that the Belsize London Agency, Ltd., of Dean's Yard, Cavendish Square, London, W., might have one or two threeton lorries available for prompt delivery at a. small premium. Otherwise, we can only recommend you to deal with the leading American manufacturers whose announcements are appearing in our advertisement pages. The output of the English makers is for the time being absorbed. If you will give steam a share, there are announcements in our advertisement pages from the leading makers of lorries, and these types should be useful to you.