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Answers to Queries.

16th December 1909
Page 20
Page 20, 16th December 1909 — Answers to Queries.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Our readers Trill be informed by the Editor on any points connected with the construction or use of commercial motors. Where a direct reply is desired, a stamped and addressed envelope should be enclosed : if a request for privacy is not specially made, any query ani answer may be published. Some replies, owing to pressure on our space, are held several weeks.

Hire.-purchase of an Agricultural Motor.

[1,520j " J.W.B." (13a rusley) writes:—' Will you kindly inform me if I can hire-purchase an agricultural motor tractor, as I think there is a good opening for hire-contracting and land-work if I had one? Please name the most-likely firms, with easiest terms, as I am only in a small way at present—farming and contracting. I have read the 'C.M.' the last two years, and I want to get forward without horses."

ANSWER.—Ivel agricultural motors can be purchased on the hire-purchase system. The address of the company is 46, Poland Street, London, W.

Taxicabs for South Africa.

[1,521] " CM." writes :—" I should deem it a favour if you would kindly answer the following questions: (1) the best kind of taxicabs for country roads; (2) the firm or firms that do instalment business; (3) the amount of deposit required, and how balance is to be paid; and (4) are good second-hand ones obtainable? "At present, I have six horsed cabs on the road, but I am unable to take lots of jobs owing to distance, so I think that motors would pay better. The only taxicabs near here are at Cape Town—seven miles away; they have Siddeley, two-cylinder chassis, and the price asked by the agents is £500 landed."

ANSWER.—The type of machine to be recommended cannot be stated without more accurate data as to road surfaces, gradients, speeds, etc. You will probably require a strongly-built machine of 14 h.p. to 16 h.p. Your best course is to write to these makers: Albion Motorcar Co., Ltd., of Glasgow Belsize Motors, Ltd., of Clayton. Manchester •' Arg3-11 Motors, Ltd.' of Alexandria, g.T1.; Straker and Squire Ltd., of Nelson Square, Blackfriars, London, S.E.; S. F. Edge, Ltd., New Burlington Street, W. If you give full particulars to them, they will fiend prices and descriptions of suits„hle machines to you. Very few manufacturers in this country are now doing business in taxicabs on the instalment systeni of purchase, and especially is this true of export orders. You would be much better advised, if you are in a position to do so, to obtain bottom prices by paying cash, and to purchase new machines. Second-hand taxicabs would require most

. careful selection. If you will write more fully as to the conditions under which you intend to run, we shall endeavour to send more specific information to you.

Starting a Compound Engine with Live Steam.

[1,522] " INS." of Stroud. writes:—" In a compound steam engine, working at 200 lb. per square inch. and fitted with an auxiliary valve which takes its steam to the low-pressure cylinder from the high-pressure steam chest, is it possible to place the engine in such a position as to be unable to start without having to resort to the reversing lever? "

ANSWER.—If your compound engine is fitted with an auxiliary valve, that not only admits high-pressure steam to the low-pressure steam chest, hnt also opens a separate exhaust passage for the steam from the high-pressure cylinder, there should, theoretically, be no point in the crankshaft's revolution from which it would be impossible to start the engine merely by opening the steam valve. There may be some difficulty in starting the engine if the glands be packed very tightly, and the two valves be set in such positions that one would be just commencing to admit steam into, say. the forward-end of one cylinder. while the admission of steam to the after-end of the other cylinder might be on the point of being cut off. unless the valve-setting allowed of steam's being admitted for the

whole length of the piston stroke. It is hardly likely, however, that such a wasteful method of using steam would be employed on any steam wagon or tractor engine ; if, on the other hand, you had got a very early cut-off, it is quite probable that, from one or more positions of the crankshaft, it would be impossible to start the engine merely by admitting steam direct from the boiler. If your auxiliary valve simply admits steam to the low-pressure cylinder, and does not provide a separate exhaust for the steam from the high-pressure cylinder, there are several positions in which a crankshaft might be set, from any one of positions which it would be impossible to start the engine without resorting to the use of the reversing lever.

Fire-engine Chassis.

[1,523] " b'utz ENGINHERS " write :—" We wish to have a 20 h.p. motor, capable of carrying a load of about 25 cwt., built to our specification, the chassis not to cost more than about E250 without tires. We should esteem it a favour if you will name to us such manufacturers as you think might be willing to undertake this work."

ANswas.—The price you name is rather a low one for a motor of 20 h.p., but we suggest that you approach the following :—Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd., Yoker, Glasgow; Clayton and Co., Ltd., Huddersfield; Dennis Bros., Ltd., Guildford; Commercial Cars, Ltd., Cambridge Circus, WA).; Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., Sootstoun, Glasgow ; John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd.. Basingstoke; and the Lacre Motorcar Co.. Ltd.

Motors for Undertakers.

[1,524] " W.T." asks us for as much information as ismsible with regard to motor vehicles which could be hired for the purposes of undertakers. The class of business in which he is interested is one in which many cross-country journeys have to be undertaken ; his clients mostly belong to the well-to-do classes. Our correspondent states that any vehicle he uses must be so constructed that it shall not be evident for what purpose it is being used.

ANswEs..—With reference to this inquiry, and another to hand as we go to press, we have now made inquiries in several directions, and are enabled to give the following information. Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., of Cambridge Circus, W.C., seems to be the company which has done the most in this class of work so far, but it is of course admitted that business in this direction has not yet been developed to any large extent. This company has already executed several contracts for Tilling's quite satisfactorily, and, in this connection, it has used a singledeck motorbus, which bears no outward semblance to the more-ordinary funeral car. The method adopted is for the coffin to be put in through the back door, and to be placed crosswise in the front of the body, at the end of the seat.. The bearers find plenty of room inside. Apparently, there has been no hindrance in the matter of the width of the door, and the contracts, so far as we are able to ascertain, have been carried out satisfactorily.

It is nor, as a role, found convenient to charge for work of this class on a mileage basis, hut, as a general indication of the cost of such service to you, we may suggest that for journeys which do not exceed 50 miles—Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., charges between £3 3s. and .C4 4s., according to the nature of the road and, we believe, the time of year. Our inquiries in other directions confirm this preliminary information, and no doubt it will now suit your purpose to get in touch with this particular company. Sturrney-Motors, Ltd., of Coventry, has recently constructed a motor hearse (see page 3211.


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