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Answers to Queries.

17th August 1916, Page 18
17th August 1916
Page 18
Page 18, 17th August 1916 — Answers to Queries.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

F.I.A. '1 ractor.

[3063] (Dartford).—The F.I.A.T. tractor was briefly described on page 399 of our issue of 13th January.

The Government's New Standard Lorry.

[3064] (Accessories).—The Consulting Engineer for Munitions Mechanical Transport is Mr. G. W. Watson, of 83, Pall Mall, S.W., and he is Undoubtedly the gentleman to whom you should write on the matter in the first instance. The proposal is otherwise in the control of thee Mechanical Transport Committee of the War Office, upon which Committee the Ministry of Munitions is represented. It is probable that. the whole department concerning 'the proposed standard lorry will be under the Ministry of Munitions from now on.

War-time Overcrowding in Motorbus Service.

[3065] (N. Wales).—The Council of a Borough, has no right to control conditions of user outside the area of its jurisdiction but. it.has the right, inside the borough boundaries, to enforce such reasonable by-laws as it may make, including by-laws in respect of overloading. Such by-laws might certainly.forbid standing on the footboards, or standing. inside, but the majority of authorities, linclucling the Metropolitan Police for the London area, is recognizing the effect of war-time conditions, and allowing such overloading at the present time. If you will let us have a copy of the by-laws, perhaps we can give you further advice.

Further Imports from America.

[3066] (Importer).—We note that you agree with the view of the Secretary of°White Motors and Accessories, Ltd., as expressed by him in our issue of the 20th' ult., that importers of American vehicles received no hint from us in regard to bringing in extra supplies of chassis and parts betimes, before the effect of the Proclamation of Prohibition, subject to Licence, was promulgated on the 27th June. We have never claimed that we -gave any individual hints to particular people, as the result,of which tbey altered their business methods, or eabled /or-fresh supplies. It was a very natiiral presumption on our part, in our opinion, that our early knowledge official intentions, which knowledge was' announced by us so far back as 27th April, should haveJed to that result. If nobody acted on our published information, it is not we who can be either credited or blamed. The particular announcement tt which we refer was in the course of a leading .articler entitled "The Future of Imported Vehicles," on the first page of our issue of the 27th April last, the essential portion of which we now quote Forces are at work, the effect of which will certainly be observed within the next two months, and forces which may result in a marked curtailment—if not\ entire cessation—of orders for American-built lorries for military uses. .Mr. Runciman, replying to a question in the House by Mr. Peto on the 18th inst., stated that it was not at present intended, to extend the prohibition of the import of motorcars to vehicles intended for commercial tise. This answer, in its very terms, is highly suggestive : prohibition may in a measure be attained by the imposition of a tariff, whilst considerable improvement of the Exchange situation must follow any stoppage of Government orders—either for the British Army or its Allies." That was the beginning of a number of references, which were in fact based upon definite information from a very prominent official at the War Office, which information was given to us, at a personal interview with the Editor, on Thursday, the 20th April. Apart from that, we had correctly apprised the significance of Mr. Runciman's "at present."

B54 I.H.C.

[3067] (Sussex).—The address of the International _ Harvester Co., which is, as you surmise, the agent for the Mogul tractor, is 80, Finsbury Pavement, E.C., the full title of the company being :—The Inter• national Harvester Co. of Great Britain, Ltd.

Wants a Cheap One-tonner.

[3068] (Isle of Wight).—You can scarcely, hope to get a new machine. of one-ton capacity, at £300, under war conditions. You might pick up a secondhand vehicle for that load, and one in good condition, by stating your wants amongst our "Classified Ad. vertisements."

Free War Service Offered.

• [3069] (Ealing).—We are'not at the moment in touch with any Society requiring the free services of a motor driver from three o'clock on' Friday afternoons onward until Saturday mornings. We are 'keeping your. name before us, however, and will immediately put you into communication with anyone of whom we hear, and who is in need of such service. We note that you do not require any payment.

Mechanical Starters for Commercial Cars.

[3070] (Laundry).—We regret that we have no personaknowledge of the self-starter you name. On the face of it, it, would appear to be mechanically correct, In the ordinary way, we cannot see how the addition of such an accessory would prove useful to the,ow.ner-of a Ford or of any otter car which is used only for commercial purposes: The chief call for a self-starter is when female labour his to be employed for driving purposes, when it becomes advisable to reduce the physical exertion necessary to start the engine. A mechanical starter, as a. rule, merely transfers the point at which energy must be expended, from the front of the engine to the cab.

Does the Top or the Bottom of a Road-wheel Travel Faster (or Farther)?

[3071] (In the Field).—The speed over the ground considered at any instant, is _greater for a, point in the top of the rim of a wheel than for a point which at-the same instant is at the bottom of the rim of the wheel. The reasen for this is' that, in the case of the 'point at the top, rotational velocity has to be' added to the velocity of translation (the latter is represented by the axle), whilst, in the case of the bot tom point, rotational velocity has to be deducted from the velocity of translation. This state of affairs, at any particular instant, does not affect the fact that each point in the rim of a wheel, provided any number of complete revolutions is taken, travels exactly the same distance.

Spare Parts for American Chassis.

[3072] (Colchester).—We are holding the order for slant parts which you ask us to forward to the makers. We-can send it if you so prefer. We laeg to point out, however, that the maker's premises are in the United States.; further, we believe that it is the custom of American manufacturers in

variably to refer inquirers to their agents. Even_ if they do not do this 111 connection with your present

order, it is more than likely that they will refuse to supply an entire stranger until they have your cheque to cover invoice. Now, the postal facilities at present existing between this country and the United States are very

poor. Experience shows that one may expect to wait GiX weeks before receiving a reply to a letter. You 'will, therefore, understand that if any objections at all are raised, and correspondence follows, you are likely to see Christmas before your spare parts ax rive. We suggest that you allow us to send this order to the company's agents in London.


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