Answers to Queries.
Page 22
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Petrol by Tank Wagon.
[2248] (Borough).—You should obtain an advantage of lid. per gallon„ in respect of delivery by tankwagon compared with two-gallons cans.
A Permeability Test.
[2249] (Castings).—The only suggestion we can make is that you communicate with the Director, Faraday House, Southampton Row, London, W.C. We think it is quite likely that he will undertake the tests which you desire to have made, An Inquiry re Benzoic [2250] (Bethnal Green).—You will find a complete list of firms supplying this fuel in each week's issue of "The Motor. With reference to other information concerning this fuel, we have pleasure in sending you a copy of the pamphlet which is issued by "The Afotor " concerning benzoic and its uses.
Working a 20-seated Bus.
[2251] (Secretary). A bus of the class to which you refer should cost you not more than 90, per mile run, provided you can work it usefully 60 miles per day. If you go below that, the incidence of driver's wages and certain other general charges will go up a little per mile. You should have an engine of not less than 28 h.p. Under the best conditions, the " all in" costs might fall to 70. per mile.
Dual-purpose Vehicles.
[2252] (Dudley).—There are no standard char-a,banes dimensions, but they are usually required to be not more than 7 ft. 2 in. overall in width. The seating and load capacities depend upon the power of the chassis. Many owners change a body of this type for a flat-platform body, but we have only once heard of merely removing the seats and using the platform below them for lorry purposes. A 28 h.p. chassis is a common type, and that is sufficient to carry about 30 passengers, or with a. platform body about three tons of goods.
A Body in Hand.
[2253] (Baker).—There is no reason why you should not be able to use your van body on a suitable chassis, but it will not be good policy for you to try to adapt a chassis to this body unless it is suitable. The chassis is the more valuable part, and it should dominate the situation.
It is impossible for us to advise you about a specific second-hand chassis, for such vehicles require to be carefully examined and tested. We think if you bought a second-hand chassis at anything like the figure you mention (236), you would have to spend at least another 220 on it for tires and overhauling, before you could use it with any advantage, and it is extremely doubtful if such a chassis would be safe for a regular load of 10 cwt.
Tractors for Abroad.
[2254] (Engineer).—You cannot get a heavy motor vehicle, whether driven by petrol or steam, to carry so much as 8-10 tons on its own back. You must use one or more trailers. If the road foundations are weak, it would probably be better for You to use a tractor, built under the Heavy Motor Oar Acts, and to haul a couple of trailers behind it. In order to do this, one has in Great Britain to register the tractor as a traction engine, in addition to registering it as a tractor. No tractor is allowed under the Heavy Motor Car Order to haul more than one trailer at a time. Of course, as the inquiry is for abroad, you may not be limited in any way by these restrictions. It then becomes merely a question of power to do the work, and you can rely .upon hauling 10 tons on two trailers, behind an ordinary tractor, on good roads.
D8 Requires Two-ton Lorry.
[2255] (Agents).—We have considered your recent inquiry for two-ton vans : we cannot do better than refer you to page 477 in our issue of the 17th July, which contains invaluable information. We have sent a copy of this issue to you direct.
Sales in London.
12256] (Dealer).—There are no regular sales in London of commercial types of chassis. Any that take place are duly advertised in this journal. Perhaps you would do well to communicate direct with Mr. Stuart A. Curzon, 98, Victoria Street, Westminster, S. W.
When Overtaking Other Traffic.
[2257] (Latchford).—It is necessary for a motor driver, when overtaking a vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian, to give audible notice of his approach. The Motor Car (Use and Construction) Order, 1904, says : "The driver of a motor vehicle must give audible warning of his approach.." The warning instrument is a necessary part of the equipment of a motor vehicle.
What is the Meaning of Ton-mile?
[2258] (Merchants).—There is much confusion as to the exact meaning of "ton-mile," and the term is really used rather loosely. Its strict significance, from the point of view of cost of delivery, is " net ton-mile of load." On each of your trips you perform four net ton-miles of work, as you carry two tons a distance of two miles. The mileage run empty does not add to the number of net ton-miles, but only to the number of vehicle-miles. It affects the gross amount of work done, but not the earnings or net work. You are performing, in the case which you mention (eight tons of coal, in two-ton lots, four times a day, two miles out full, and the same back empty, at a cost of 9s. 6d. for horse, harness and van), a total of 16 tonmiles per day, and the cost per ton-mile is 71d.
Before Buying His Taxi.
[2259] (Owner-Driver).—You ought to get a reliable • second-hand taxi for 2200, but it would pay you to have it examined first. The average weekly mileage depends upon the nature of your hiring. We doubt if you will run more than 150 miles a week with " fares " in the cab, although you will have a certain amount of "dead " mileage in addition. You had better base your total running costs, exclusive of any return for yourself, at 4d. per mile. You then have to add whatever you think proper to cover deprecia tion. If you get everything done at a garage, they will charge their own profits, so that you may do better with a locked shed, unless you can arrange low terms. Of course, when the time comes round for maintenance, you will do well to drive the cab to
London, and take it to the British agents. If you
buy a new cab, you may reckon that it will cost you 6d. a mile to pay off the capital charge, until you have entirely paid for the cab. Any of the places which you mention ought to prove satisfactory, if you work the job carefully.
We strongly recommend you not to base your charges at less than is. a mile for short runs, say, less than two miles, in any town in which you start, and beyond that radius, when you take longer trips, and have to go back empty, to charge 9d. a mile while the customer is in the cab, and 6d. a mile for empty return running. That is the lowest on which you can pay, and it is a rate which is in vogue in many parts of the country.
The trouble about Oxford is that it is. slack out of term time, but you might care to work there during term, and to try somewhere else during the vacations. It is not within our province to say exactly where you can find paying work.