Answers to Queries.
Page 18
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[1,429] "FURNITURE REMOVER " Writes:—" Being a regular reader of your paper, I write to ask your advice, with regard to the hire of a heavy petrol motor to carry 5-6 tuns. There would be a collecting radius of about 15 wiles, and then a run of about 30 miles out with a load and back, with returned empties, making a total day's work of 75 to 80 miles. Can you recommend anyone to me who undertakes to let out motors suitable for such work by the day or week ? The journeys would be five days per week, and shed day on Saturday."
ANSWER.—A load of from five to six tons upon a petrol lorry often renders doubtful its economical application, but you might be able to arrange the matter through either the Ryknield Motor Co., Ltd., of Burton-on-Trent, or Leyland Motors, Ltd., of Leyland, Lancs. In addition, you might address Pickford's Ltd., of 37, Gresham Street, E.G., and Mr. L. _Fenner, Hire Department, London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., 8, Grosvenor Road, S.W.
Motor Caravans.
L1,430] " OWNER " writes :—" Acting on advice frOm you, I purchased a chassis some few months ago and equipped it as a motor caravan. I am now, unfortunately, so preoccupied with urgent professional duties that I can't use it. The chassis has a good 24-28 h.p. engine and is in good order throughout, being practically new, whilst the body measures 12 ft. by 6 ft. inside. There is ample room on the top for luggage, and a permanent staircase. It ought to suit a small theatrical touring party, such as those contemplated in your several articles on the subject of fit-up touring, and which I observe the Great Western Railway Company intends to develop.
" In the circumstance of my being possessed of this machine at a time when I can't use it for a season, can you give me any advice ?"
ANSWER.—We should be prepared, from our knowledge of the vehicle, which has new rubber tires to all wheels, to recommend it to any interested reader as a bargain at £220 or thereabouts.
Magnetos for Cabs.
[1,431] " LONDON " writes: " I enclose herewith a list of six different makes of high-tension magnetos, and I shall be obliged if you will place them in order of merit, =cording to the types you would recommend.
" I believe the Renault cabs have a retarding position, and after starting the engine a fixed advanced position. Is that so ? I presume you advise a fixed position for a commercial vehicle? Personally, I am afraid to put an ignition lever into the hands of an ordinary driver."
AsrsvvEn.—We should place the six magnetos in your 'list in the following order with regard to their suitability for motorcab work: 2, 1, 4, 5, 6, 3; we should not recommend the last-named for commercial-vehicle work; 4, 5 and 6 are English made, and this fact may have some influence upon your decision. If prime cost is a paramount consideration, you will select 5. The best all-round machine is, unquestionably, the new pattern of No. 2.
The latest type of Renault motorcab has a Bosch magneto; there is no provision for varying the timing. We favour a definitely-fixed position for the ignition of petrol engines which are fitted to commercial-motor vehicles, About Tire Costs.
r1,432] " AGENT " writes :—" I am getting out a little card advertisement for sending round to my solid-tire customers, and propose to put upon this some tabular 'details of working costs of motorcahs and motorbuses. If you can lay your hands upon these and send them along, I shall be very much obliged, and I will, of course, pay for this information whatever you consider fair."
ANSWER.--We refer you to our special Motorcab Issue of the 30th April, 1908, and to the motorbus costs for the Eastbourne Corporation in our issue of the 17th June last. The mileage for the Eastbourne year is given on the first page of the " Motorbus World " in the latter number. Apart from the figures stated, which you may care to summarize for the purposes of your advertisemen card, we may say that you can fairly state that the cost of solid tires per omnibus-mile varies from lid. per mile for well-paved streets to about 2id. per mile for running on loose macadamised country roads, this being for doubledeck omnibuses. Turning to cabs, pneumatic tires sometimes cost as much as 1.75d. per mile, owing to bad and careless driving, but they can certainly be got down to 0.75d. per mile with care, attention and consideration. " K.T." pneumatic tires come out at below 0.5d. per mile on a cab. Solid tires are never used on motorcabs, but practically always used on motorbuses.
Two-ton Van Costs.
L1,433] " SECRETARY " writes:—" My directors want to consider estimates for the running of a two-ton van. Can you help me "f" ANSWER,—We append estimated analytical costs for a two-ton van to run under fair average conditions. We shall be pleased to modify the estimate, if you consider the restrictions which we have added are not in general accord with your requirements.
The total estimated cost per car-mile is on a weekly mileage of not less than 2.50; if this can be increased to 330, the cost should come down to 8d. per car-mile.
"Beanfeasts" and Licences Therefor.
[1,131] " HAULAGE CONTRACTOR writes :—" I am writing to you to ask your advice on the following matter. You no doubt remember my telling you about—as well as sending you a photograph—the outing of the firm's men last year on my Sentinel steam wagon; well, next month we are looking forward to another, but I have heard a rumour that I am not allowed to do 60 by law. I argue that I can, as I do it free of charge, just as much as tradesmen's vans sometimes take children to their school treats. Why, 1 enquire of you, whether I can do so or not, is because an owner of a Foden wagon here has heard the same thing, and he has taken children to their treat two or three years running. He, now, seems to be afraid, but I believe it's all nonsense." ANSWER.--YOU need not have the least fear of any legal difficulty in respect of the use of your wagon to give the men an outing. No question can arise under the Corrupt Practices Act, provided the people for whom you contract know all about it, and that nothing is being done secretly. The only other possibility of trouble would arise if you were to pick up casual passengers on the roadside, as that would amount to plying for hire, but we feel sure you have not the remotest intention of doing that. If you are clear on these two points, you cannot get into trouble with anybody, unless you drive furiously, ignore the usual rules and regulations of the highway, or have an accident for which you may be held responsible by the persons damaged.