ANSWERS TO QUERIES.
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Can I Run Gas Driven Buses for Pleasure ?
[4349] (Castleford).—Provided you comply with all other requirements, you would be allowed to run motorbuses for pleasure and touring parties on coalgas, whereas you would not be allowed to use petrol for the same purpose.
Difficulty of Getting Gas Supply.
[4350] (Norfolk).—It seems the only way out of your difficulty, as you are unable to get a gas refill in Hingham, will be to wait for the development of the metal cylinder. You might. be able to get hold of a cylinder or two from a railway company. These cylinders are being taken away from railway coaches and are frequently'available. You would then only have to arrange for the gas to be compressed, by means of a pump, into your cylinders, and you would then get considerably added mileage.
Only Getting 4 m.p.g. on an Austin.
[4351] (Bradford).—There is something radically wrong, either with your three-ton. Austin, your method of calculating consumption, or your mode of driving. It is absurd that you cdnnot get more than four miles per gallon. We cannot, however, advise on such small information as you have supplied, and to us it almost appears as though there is a leakage somewhere. You had better make inquiries with a view to discovering if someone habitually uses your petrol for cleansing purposes. A good plan would be to write to the Austin Motor Co. (1914), Ltd., Longbridge Works, Northfield, Birmingham, who are ever willing to help to the utmost all users of their vehicles.
Wants Piston Castings Made.
[4352] (Worthing).—You will find it very difficult to obtain the piston castings just now on account of the pressure of important Government work. Most firms, you will find, will not be free to take your order unless you can produce a certificate showing that the work on which you are engaged is of national importance. To meet this difficulty, we advise you first of all to communicate with the Priority Department, 1, Caxton Street, Westminster, asking them for a certificate to prove the importance of the repair.
Afterwards you might write to any of the following firms :—Laystall Motor Engineering Works, Ltd., 34, Queen Street, Cannon Street, London, E.C. 4 ; British Chuck and Piston Ring Co., Ltd., Holbrook Lane, Coventry ; Norman and Bliss, London Road, Hounslow ; Commercial and Marine Engine Co., Ltd., Church Road, Hanwell, W. 7.
Leading Live Steam to a Leyland Engine.
[4353] (Railway).—It is quite impossible for us adequately to explain to you by letter how you should couple live steam to your engine, unless we are provided with much more information than your letter provides. ,A• Retch of the present arrangement might be of assistance, but we doubt if it would be possible even then, unless we could send someone over to examine the machine for you. The latter course is, we are afraid, impossible, such is the pressure on our war-depleted staff. You had better communicate with the maker, Leyland Motors (1914), Ltd., Leyland. As regards the Commercial Motor Users' Association, the subscription is one ,and a half guineas an u nally, with an entrance fee of one guinea. If you join now you will be able to become a member to the end of this year for the entrance fee plus 15s. 9d. The address of the secretary is 83, Pall Mall, S.W. 1. •
Hiring Out a Three-tonner.
[4354] (Govan).—We understand that your threeton lorry is let out on hire to various clients during the day; that is to say, you may call on one of them first thing in the morning, do one or two journeys for him, and then turn to another for orders, and so on. If we are correct in, our assumption, and,only one of your customers wishes to have his name painted on the van, we think that, on the whole, your best course will be to decline. Anysuch concession on your part
will, we feel sure, e the other clients who are not so favoured. . They will most probably object to their goods being delivered regularly in a van which advertises some other man's goods. If the firm in question is willing to have portable and quick-removable boards or plates made, which could be slipped Into place when you were working for them, and removed wnen their work is done, well and good. In this case you could only fairly ask them to stand the cost of the fittings. No other charge should be made.