Edinburgh to London by Three-wheeler
Page 60
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
T"performance and general capabilities of the Raleigh 5-ewt. threewheeled delivery van were thoroughly tested last week, when a run was undertaken from Edinburgh to London in about 20 hours' travelling time. Two vans did the journey, bringing a gift from the Lord Provost of Edinburgh to the Lord Mayor of London.
Other goods from a Scottish firm brought the load of eaeh vehicle up to 5 cwt., and with this they departed from Edinburgh on Monday of last week, arriving in London on the following day. Sir Maurice Jenks, the Lord Mayor of London, was waiting to welcome the vehicles.
The distance covered was 398i miles, so that the average speed was approximately 20 m.p.h., petrol being consumed at the rate of a gallon per 45 miles. Each machine used a quart of oil. The reason for these consumption figures being rather higher than might be expected is to be found in the extremely difficult weather, conditions.
On the journey thick fog had to he negotiated for 150 miles, whilst it was said that the machines travelled about 50 miles on the intermediate gears. This is a satisfactory explanation of the figures which, in more favourable circumstances, would have been much improved.
c38
At the luncheon which followed Sir Maurice Jenks proposed the toast of the health of Sir Harold Bowden, and congratulated him on his enterprise. He mentioned that he understood the Raleigh works at Nottingham to cover 20 acres and employ 5,000 workers. In replying, Sir Harold Bowden, chairman of the Raleigh Cycle Co., Ltd., remarked that plans were in ham] for the output of up to 25,000 vehicles a year, the Not tingham works being capable of dealing with this amount of business.
Finally, Sir Malcolm Campbell wished Sir Harold every success in his new venture.
It may be mentioned that during our standard one-day road test of the Raleigh outfit, the report of which we published on July 21st last, the machine gave a very good account of itself.