ANSWERS TO QUERIES.
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What About Next Year's Char-a-bancs Season ?
[4441] (Aberdeen).—We believe, although no official announcement has been made, that the ban on motor chars-a-bancs will be removed in time for next Easter ; whilst from the 1st January you will be able to apply for a licence for petrol. This latter haA been definitely announced with regard to commercial and public utility vehicles. The idea underlying action ion the part of the authorities is that they want to do everything they can to circulate money and to provide amusements for the people.
Hiring Rates for Lorry.
[4412] (Newton-in-Cartmel).—On the understanding that you are asked to hire out your lorry for 50 miles, or 70 miles, or 80 miles each week, and that this mileage is done in a reasonably short period, and the lorry afterwards returned to you for'your own use or for further hiring, then you should charge is. 6d. per mile, you to provide petrol, driver and all essentials. If, however, the intention is tljat you should hire out the lorry per week, and that it would then do the mileages stated, you should in those circumstances get a better return to recompense you for loss of tht useof the lorry. From £2 10s. to 23 per day would be a fair charge. You should make inquiries amongst other hirers in your district to see what the usual rates are, as these vary according to the locality.
The Value of Conversion Sets. •
[4443] (Newcastle).—Such a vehicle as you suggest, namely, a Ford chassis fitted with a Smith's " Mak-a, truck, is good value for money. It will undoubtedly give you good service if carefully looked after, but you should realize, of course, that it Must not be expected to last so long, or put up with such rough usage as will a 14on commercial vehicle specially designed for this work. You axe-correct, however, in your opinion that for the capital outlay and the weight carried, the outfit is worthy of consideration.
There is very little as•regards reliability between the various Ford 1-ton attachments which are now upon the market, and you will not go far wrong in purchasing that which you have tentatively selected. We do not think you are likely tohave trouble with the engine lubrication as long as you give it, as you say, a reasonable amount of attention. The difficulty of the front cylinder being starved of oil and the back one receiving an excess is not one which, in our experience, usually presents itself!' As regards charges, the following, are fair :—Daily, providing everything, including petrol and driver, 23 per day ; on a mileage basis, also providing petrol and driver, Is. 6d. per mile.
Gas Bag Data.
[4444] (Sydenham).—Much experimental work has been done in order to equip petrol vehicles to run on gas that it would be almost, impossible to deal with the matter in the course of a, letter. We may say that there is no need to alter the engine, the core: pression, of course, could, with advantage, be increased, but in that case the vehicle would not run well on petrol. With regard to lubrication, for this a cheaper oil can be used, as there is no spirit to leak down the cylinder walls to weaken the oil as always happens with petrol. Carburation calls really for a separate gas carburetter, one in which the gas is definitely shut off when the engine is throttled down, otherwise you get what you do not get with petrol, B44
viz., a leakage of gas out of the gas nozzle. An ordinary carburetter can be converted by means of a gas pipe with about a I in. or in. outlet being brought just below the throttle valve.
There are a good many points in connection with the housing, securing and connecting-up of the gasbag. If the gas is carried in cylinders under pressure, it must be passed through a reducing valve on its way to the carburetter. . It is better to retain the petrol carburetter unaltered and arrange for the float chamber to be kept filled with petrol ; if the float chamber is emptied the float plunges about and gets damaged.
'These are the main facts. Really, to get the hang of the whole thing, you want to have access to the files of Tan Commtiumar, MOTOR for the last—at any rate eighteen months, and perhaps you might manage to effect this by gaining access to the files of the local technical library.
Ford Running Costs.
[4415] (Birmingham).—We think that your best course would be to go and see Mr. George Heath, Heath's Garage, Birmingham,. and ascertain how he could help you to obtain practical experience in Ford driving. There may be a, school in Birmingham handling Ford ears, but of that we have no knowledge. Considering what you have in mind, we think you would be well advised to buy a new van; you would then have some sort of guarantee-as to its condition, and if anything is wrong you can go straight to the makers about it.
We do not think you will have any trouble in obtaining a petrol licence within the next few months; there is no doubt that the petrol position is considerably easier.
With regard to charges, we think you can put your cost down at quite 6d. per mile, or a 40-mile per-day journey at 27 per week. This includes depreciation, so that you, should be able to get 28 or .L9 per week plus the wages qf the driver even if you should be driving yourself.
Chassis Selection.
[4446] (Fleur-de-Lys).—A suitable vehicle for your requirements is made by most of the British heavyvehicle manufacturing firms, and you will find their i
names and addresses n our advertisement columns.
In all probability you will find the engines of standard chassis sufficiently powerful for your work, as the tendency has been, for some years, rather to overpower than under-power .commercial vehicle chassis. You would probably be well advised,. in making your inquiries, to lay special stress on this point, so that if the, conditions are really very severe, you could have the gear ratio altered slightly from standard to suit you. 'It is impossible to give you any more than a very rough idea as to the price of such a vehicle in the present circumstances. We estimate, however, that, complete with tipping body, you would have to pay from 2000 to 2700. The running costs of such a, wagon would be as follows. The figures given are pence per mile run:—
Petrol, 3.75d. ; oil, 0.30d. ; tyres, 1.75d. ; maintenance, 2.1d. : total, 7.9d. We would recommend you, in pursuing your inquiries, to consult the local agent or agents in Car cliff. These are men whose business it is particularly to cater for bona Me buyers of commercial motors such as yourself. They will be able to give you considerable assistance on the spot if you put your requirements up to them.