Answers to Queries.
Page 18
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War Compensation.
[2771] (Hire-Purehase),—We fear it will be impossible to substantiate a claim in the circumstances which are explained—default in paying instalments. The manufacturers were clearly, at law, whatever the moral position may have been, entitled to take the action which they did, and to benefit by re possession.
Hiring Out a Ford and a 15-cwt. Arrol-Johnston.
[2772] (Yorks.).—You will find applicable information on our sheet of working costs (mailed direct). Certain corrections will be necessary in respect of the incidence of driver's wages, interest on capital, insurances, and proportion of rent and rates, in respect of the lower mileage for the Ford van. The cost per mile for a 15-cwt. Arrol-Johnston, on the mileage stated, can be taken at the same per mile as those which are shownfor 400 miles per week with a one-ton van. If you wish to act as contractors, hiring the vehicles out, you should obtain not. less than 7d. per mile for the Ford van, and not less than 10d. per mile for the Arrol-Johnston; with guaranteed weekly minimums on the basis of 200 miles a week for the Ford van and 300 miles a week for the ArrolJohnston. It is important that the Ford van should not carry more than 6 cwt. of net load unless the roads are good.
Rubber or Steel Tires.
[2773] (Contractors).If the back-axle weight is below six tons, you are entitled to a speed of 12 m.p.h., on rubber tires ; if it„exceeds six tons, to 8 m.p.h. That is only if all :four wheels are shod with solid rubber. If, therefore, you fit only the front wheels with solid-rubber tires, you will not be entitled to a higher legal speed than 5 m.p.h. The fitting of rubber tires on the front wheels will undoubtedly reduce wear and tear on certain parts, •but, if you incur part of the expense, we recommend you to incur the lot. It will probably be of benefit to you to incur the added expense, having regard to the likely trend of new legislation, although in Liverpool this consideration is not so serious, owing to the attitude of the local authorities, as it might be in country areas.
To Take Eight-ton Loads 102 Miles.
[2774] (Foods).—We have had pleasure in sending our free sheet of Working costs, as requested. The legal speed with a trailer is 5 m.p.h., but in practice this is exceeded with impunity. You might do best to use a five-ton petrol lorry, loaded only with four tons, and drawing theAalance of load 'on a trailer, if time is a great element with you ; such a combination,. with all wheels on rubber tires, might complete the Journey in a single day, although you would be accepting. a risk of summonses for excessive speed. We anticipate that a few months hence the law in regard to speeds of combined units will be relaxed, and higher legal speeds than 5 m.p.h. sanctioned. if you use a steamer, even on rubber tires, and with a trailer on rubber tires, you cannot hope to complete the Journey in one day.
Perhaps you will consider two four-five-ton units, each petrol-driven, when each can travel at 12 m.p.h., if you can so arrange the load that the weight on the back axle does not exceed six tons. Having regard to your location, we think you might with advantage call in Clayton and Co., Ltd., of Huddersfield, as manufacturers of suitable petrol vehicles.
A steam wagon will be cheaper than two petrol wagons, but the performance of two petrol wagons will he so. much higher that the extra cost, in our opinion, will be recouped to you as a company. You must always consider earnings in relation to outgo. As regards licences, any heavy motorcar calls for a single payment of RI for registration, and no annual fee, at present.
B52 Contracting at Is. Per Mile, with a Two-tonner, on 200 Miles a Week.
[2775] (Kent).—There will not be a margin of profit on the rate which you mention. You should undoubtedly get, on the low mileage which is indicated, is. (id. per mile. We do not think it will be worth taking the work on in any event at less than is. 4d. per mile.
The Ford Agrimotor.
[2776] (Midlands).—We regret that at the moment we are not in a position to give you any more definite information with regard to the Ford agrunotor than that which has already appeared in our columns. Communications from the Ford people in America are to the effect that they are not yet in a position to sell, and that they are holding any further information until the machine is sufficiently developed to be put on the market on a large scale. You may rely on i our giving publicity n our columns, at the first opportunity, when the machine is actually being placed on the market here. See, also, page 131.
One-ton Van, Five Hours a Day, and Only 20 Miles of Running.
[2777] (Hants.).--We think that you should charge 8d. per mile, with a minimum of 4s. 6d. per hour, and in addition that you should add to such charge the cost of the driver. It will barely pay at this rate, and, if competition is not very severe, you should obtain is. per mile, with a guarantee of not less than 20s. payment daily. You do,not say whether the van is new or old ; if you have bought a second-hand vehicle in good condition, and therefore have not to provide heavily for depreciation, the proposition may be simpler than it appears. The foregoing advice is affected by your statement that " you can also get odd jobs each day.!'