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GOODS TRANSPORT STOI
Page 114
Page 115
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ES IN BRIEF
MR. GOSSELIN'S 25 YEARS' EXPERIENCE WITH LEYLANDS.
AFEW days ago Mr. C. le M. Gosselin, the well-knoWn managing director of H. Viney and Co., Ltd., and Lancashire Petrol Deliveries, Ltd., chatted over his reminiscences With a representative of The Commercial Motor. His organization was founded in 1906, he became managing director in 1907 and has occupied that position continuously until the present day.
"Yes," said Mr. Gosselin, " we've seen a lot of progress in the industry and in our own company during the past 25 years. In 1910 we had five machines—Leyland steam wagons with steel tyres. To-day the two companies between t. hem haVe 80 machines, and all but one are Leylands.
" As a matter of fact, 1910 was quite an outstanding year for us, because we used our first set of solid-rubber tyres. We Paid a tyre company 5d. a mile for them, and afterwards their representative told me they lost heavily on it! To-day the pneumatic tyres on one of our smaller Leyland petrol-engined machines, carrying 5-ton loads like the steamers !licicost
"Each vehicle does mote work, to," he, continued, "and costs us less to run and •maintain. I recall that one of our old 5-ton Leylands in 1910 gave us 6 ton-miles for a pennyworth of fuel ; to-day, or I should say on August '8, because I am taking into account the .extra. tax of 7d. on heavy oil, we get from our oil-engined Leyland Cubs (carrying a.5-ton comparable load) 12.75 ton-miles for a pennyworth of fuel.
"The 1910 steamer cost 15 per cent. of its earnings in repairs; the comparative figure for one of our 12-ton outfits (Leyland and trailer) is only 4 per cent."
During the war the company carried a number of unusual loads for the Government authorities. The Viney concern still occasionally carries abnormal loads, although the major portion of its work consists of more orthodox loads for destinations in Lancashire and adjoining counties. The work of Lancashire Petrol Deliveries, Ltd., an entirely separate company under the same management, is confined to the carriage of liquids in bulk.
Some interesting work recently undertaken by Viney and Co., Ltd.. is the delivery of tramcars, including double-deckers, from the works of the English Electric Co., in Preston, to municipal purchasers in different parts of the country ; a special trailer has been purchased for the job.
A LONG-STANDING OPERATOR OF THORNYCROFTS.
QINCE 1927 the Mitcham Motor Co., of Hackbridge, Surrey, has been an operatur of Thornycroft petrol-engined vehicles, for it was in this year that its first 6-tonner was purchased. Early in 1933 the company was attracted by the possibilities of the oiler and, after careful inquiries, purchased t w Thornycroft Mastiff rigid sixwheeled 8-tonners, equipped with the maker's 82 b.h.p. oil engine and Maybach over speed gearbox. Thesa vehicles
Cable-drum transport forms part of the activities of the Mitcham Motor Co., Ltd., of Hackbridge, one of its Thornycroft Stag sixwheeled oilers engaged on this work
being shown. gave excellent service, the fuelconsumption return being equivalent to 11.5 m.p.g. and the lubricating-oil return to approximately
500 m.p.g. After 18,000 miles, each vehicle was recalled to the maker's works, when it was decided that leadbronze bearings were more suitable for oil engines. Neverthelessr it is of interest to note that, upon examin.ation of the original bearings, they were found to be in good condition.
The following year two Thornycroft Stag rigid six-wheelers were ordered, each incorporating the maker's 127 b.h.p. six-cylindered engine and overspeed gearbox. These maximum-load lorries were fitted with heavy platform bodies, having unloading gear, including hand-operated winches for off loading cable drums. These drums vary in weight from 2 to 5i tons each,' and are loaded on to the vehicles by means of an overhead travelling crane mounted on a gantry. The company makes delivery of such loads to all parts of the country.
The maintenance costs of these heavy-duty vehicles have, we are assured, been negligible, and a detailed record of the mileages shows that, after every 2,5004,000 miles, the lubricating oil is changed and the filter bags renewed. The annual mileage is between 25.000 and 30,000 per vehicle. These machines. are most flexible in traffic and have plenty of reserve power, so that a high average can be maintained without excessive speeding in open country. The fuel consumption is equivalent to a return of 9 m.p.g.
The company's latest purchase is a Taurus-class 64-ton long-wheelbase oilengined Thornycroft, with an 82 b.h.p. four-cylindered power unit, which is mounted forward of the front axle, thereby enabling a full legal pay-load to be carried without the axle weights permitted for two-axle machines being exceeded.