Answers to Queries.
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Light Vans for Bakers.
[1,775J " BAKER" writes 1 should like your
general opinion about light vans, as this is a veryhilly district. Would they be any good in winter ?
ANSWER.—You should find particulars of suitable vans in our advertisement pages. You can undoubtedly secure what you want effectually with, for example, a Lotis van constructed by Sturmey Motors, Ltd., of Coventry, or, if that were too heavy, with an Auto-Carrier van, which is sold by F. B. Goodchild and Co., Ltd., Craven House, Kingsviay, W.C. The 10-cwt. Lacre van is another good model.
Passenger Enterprise in North Wales.
[1,776] " NORTH WALES " writes :—" On arriving at the Mauchester Show, I found myself too late to see Mr. Shrapnell Smith ; I thought I should have had a chat with him. I have been working hard, investi gating motor-passenger work throughout , and am glad to say that I am making very-good headway. have ordered a car from the Commercial Cars, pending permission from the Councils to run, and I take the liberty of asking you if you will kindly assist me in the way of what is required to commence a service. The car which I am having is a Counner Car,' and I have ordered a special body of my own design. It is of the char-h-bancs type, to seat 30, with room for luggage. Another owner has one of the open type of char-li-bancs running about here. This winter they have driven passengers away. The ear is now well known as the Pneunamia Car, and a good job for me, as I shall have a good chance to bring the 'Welsh sheep' back to the foldespecially old-age pensioners, who love to have . a trip on a motor, but fear the grave. The body will have doors on the near side, and only one (that for the driver) to pass out by on the offside, all windows to take out for summer use, a box fitted underneath the body behind for parcels, Allen-Liversidge lights, and lighted-up destination boards for use at night. I am also fitting locks, somewhat similar to those on railway carriages, and my idea is to put all the passengers that are travelling to the farthest: point in compartments of their own ; for instance, the route
of --to , distance 91 miles, with villages and stops en route. Now, supposing there were 10 passengers direct for the last place, I should put five passengers in each hind seat, and not get the passengers all mixed up, say, two for a village in between the — passengers, and so on. This plan, I think, would mean leas time wasted, and muchmore comfort, and, to accustom the passengers to this way I should have some small hoards made to
fit. along the side of each door, thus : compartment only, and so on.
" I enclose a letter which I have written io the Urban District Council, and I should like to know what you think of it. If you think thn t any thing else is needed, I will add it on. Is 153s. the charge for running a bus for twelve months ?
ANSWER.—We have read your long letter witli considerable interest, and regret that you were unable to find the Editor at the Manchester Show when you went there. We are interested in your scheme for a motor passenger-transport service in many of the
country districts of , and the body which you have designed appears to present excellent features. The passenger dissection may prove workable.
In answer to your query with regard to the licences and permits which you will require from, the various local authorities, you will only need to obtain permits to ply for hire from those authorities which have the power to issue such licences. Only those county boroughs or urban district councils which have the
right to have their own police force have the power to issue the necessary permits. You will, of course, require no police licences in those districts through which you only pass, and in which it is not your intention to ply for hire. It will probably, however, be the best policy for you to run with the acquiescence of all the local authorities in the district, which should make things a great deal smoother for you, but you must make a firm stand in your dealings with those authorities which have no power to issue licences. The Inland Revenue charges are those you have marked on the licence sheet—returned direct. The letter from you to the Urban District Council appears to be in order, but are you sure that has the right to insist that you take out a licence ? If they claim the right, you should ask the Clerk to the Council under what Act they claim to have such a right.
Changing to Taxicabs.
[1,777] " JOBMASTEN, " writes:—" As I am contem
plating gradually changing my horse-cabs for taxicabs, I should be very much obliged if you could kindly give me the addresses of firms who supply taxicabs on the hire-purchase system, and which you can recommend as being thoroughly reliable. The work would be principally ordinary station work. " If I may further trouble you, I should like to
ask, seeing that i at present know nothing of the mechanism of a motorcab, would it be wiser on my part to buy second-hand cabs. I only intend to have two, to begin with, instead of new ones? "Do you know anything of the Ballot engines, as I notice in your issue of 23rd February, that 10 cabs are for sale by Messrs. Grahame-White and Co., Ltd."
ANSWER.—We are interested to hear that you are
contemplating the substitution of taxicabs for your existing fleet of horsed-cabs. We are unable definitely to tell you the names of motorcab manufacturers who are at the present time prepared to supply machines on a hire-purchase agreement. You might, however, write and state your requirements to one or more of the following makers :— Tlelsize Motors, Ltd., Clayton, near Manchester.
S. F. Edge, Ltd. (Napier), 14, New Burlington Street, W.
Argylls, Ltd., Alexandria, by Glasgow.
Dennis Bros., Ltd., Guildford. Mann and Overtons, Ltd., Commercial Road, Pimlico, S.W.
Mors (England) Ltd., 45, Great Marlborough Street, W.
The machines supplied by any of these makers are satisfactory and reliable models. We should strongly advise you to purchase new machines in preference to second-hand ones, even although you only intend to start with two vehicles. The additional capital expenditure will more than repay you in the end.
The Ballot motorcab is known to us : a number of these has been in service in London, and we do not think that they have been the cause of anything extraordinary in the way of trouble. They are of French make. With regard to the 10 cabs of this type which you mention, we are, of course, unable to give any opinion on these without having made a thorough examination.. If you are inclined to purchase second-hand vehicles, we cannot recommend you too strongly to secure expert opinion as to the condition of the mechanism before you decide to purchase. There is an "Inspection and Trial" department in connection with this journal, and it is probable that such examination could be effected for you more cheaply and effectively than by other means.