ANSWERS TO QUERIES. .
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Our rea'clers will be informed by the Editor on any points connected with the construction or use of commercial motors'. Where a direct reply is desired, a stanired addressed envelope should be enclosed : if a request for privacy is not specially made, any query and answer may be published.
Latest Steam Engine Books Wanted.
L1370] (Manxman).—The following are suitable and up-to-date works which deal with the steam engine. " A Text Book on Stearn and Steam Engines," 17th edition,• by Andrew Jamieson, price 10s. 6c1., published by Charles Griffin and Co., Ltd., Exeter Street, Strand, and "The Steam .Engine," by John Perry, 7s. Gd. net, published by Macmillan and Co., Ltd., St. Martin's Street, Strand.
Upkeep of Machines of Various Capacities.
[43711 (Spirits).—The following figures for the cost of maintenance of commercial-vehicle chassis are based on averages calculated on the results of the experience of several hundreds of vehicles. They. cover 'the cost of repairs, including the necessary labour, the cost of spares, and also of sundry stores which are needed. We have reduced them to your requirements in the way of mileage, viz., 8000 miles per annum:— .
For a 1-ton vehicle ... go0 per annum.
-For a 2-ton vehicle ... 260 per annum.
For a 3-ton vehicle ... 266 10s. per annum. For a 5-ton vehicle. ... 285per annum. The necessary increases due to war-inflated prices
have been added. •• • As regards ,tyre coAs, you can readily ascertain these for yourself in each case by taking the net cost of a set of tyres as the Upkeep cost per annum. This is due to the fact that solid tyres are guaranteed for a minimum Of 10.000 miles or one year's wear.
Depreciation, on the same basis, shoulci be reckoned at :—
1-tonner ... 236 per annum.
2-tonner 240 per annum.
3-tonner ... 245 per annum.
5-tonner ... 260 per annum.
A certain allowance has been made in these figures for the difficulty of obtaining spare parts, but it should be borne m mind that arbitrary allowances for such delays, or, more correctly, their consequences, are impossible. You should be able to make them yourself.
Petrol or Steam for Travelling To and From London Clothing Factories ?
[4372] (Clothiers).—In the circumstances you name, the best vehicle is undoubtedly a petrol chassis fitted up to use coal-gas. The journeys are short, and no doubt you would easily be able to arrange your own filling apparatus for the gas holders. By this pro-. cedure you eliminate both of the difficulties which you name : that of restrictiort on fuel in the case of ;i petrol chassis, and the trouble of finding suitable drivers at the moment for a steam wagon. As regards the two vehicles which you are offered, it is not likely that the 1911 steamer Of the make named will be in anything like condition to warrant the price asked, while the price named for the petrol lorry is high for a second-band niachine.
Conveying Workers to a Colliery.
[4373] (Char-a-bancs ProprietOr).—The net cost, to you, of running the three journeys per day, and keeping one vehicle as a stand-by, will be 237 18s. per week of six working days. This cost covers three drivers, fuel, oil, tyres, maintenance; depreciation, interest on first cost of the vehicles, and insurance. It does not allow,for any of the establishment charges in connection with your business, nor for any profit at all to you. In the ordinary way of business, we should say that in order fully and profitably to recoup yourself you should obtain. 212 per day for the hire of the four vehicles. Reckoning on removing 200 men per day for a distance of seven miles, this is equivalent to 2d. per mile each man. Unless your establishment expenses are very low, you could not undertake to do the work for lAd. per mile per man, i.e.) 9d. per return journey (3i] miles each way).
Starting a Carrying Business with Coal-gas Lorries in the Provinces.
[4374] (Bodybuilder).—The difficulties of transport are so real and so universal that you will probably be able to find a demand for the work you have in mind almost anywhere in the country : certainly we expect that you will find a demand in that district which you mention. You must make a few investigations yourself on the spot, however, before coming to a final decision. We think that, in the provinces, you would be. well advised to lay yourself out for both classes of goods, heavy and light. The use of gas does not render the cleaning of the cylinders more frequently necessary than when petrol is used. The reverse is the case ; gas is a much cleaner fuel to use, from all points of view. There are no taxes to pay, beyond the ones which you name, viz., registration fee, 21, and the driver's licence, 5s. It is not necessary to obtain permission of the local authorities if you propose to do haulage contracting work.