The April Subsidy Trials.
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Summary of the Official Communication from the War Department.
We are in rec.eipt of the official communique of the War Departenent concerning this year's "trials of lorries to qualify as type vehicles suitable for earning the War Department 80baidies." The contents of the five-page document are of direct interest only to intending competitors, and of but indirect interest to users and intending users of commercial motors. We do not, therefore, reprodnce the wording and its appendices. We understand that every manufacturer will have at least MB copy sent to him divect. So far as nese trials are of interest to °rimers and prospective owneris, we may state that their object is to increase the resources at the disposal of the War Department in respect of motor transport which shall canse. the least possible expenditure to the War Department -Per the time being, but which shall yet give the military anthorities of the eountry the call upon...suitable vehicles in case of -national emergency.
£110 Spread Over Six Years.
The purchaser of vehicles of the banes which pass the War Department trials can obtain a total subsidy of £1.10, payable in six half-yearly 4nstalmeuts, in arrears, subject to inspection. The literature of the Department on this subject points oat that the Purchase price of subsidy type lorries inclndes supplies of many spare parts and extras which would otherwise have to be bought separately, and that this .should be borne in mind when parties who are considering the relative claims of subsidy-type and ordinary commercial vehicles obeerve the higher prices of the former, For equal lead capacities. Again, the vehicles in these War Denartraent tnials are tested with imposed loads on the chaesis of 4 tons 10 mt. in class A, and of 2 tons 10 cwt. in class B--for the trials of April next, the imposed load in class A is to be increased to one of 2 tons 15 cwt., and the chassis in this class may weigh 2 tons 5 cwt.
The Only Way.
The War Department is now only granting subsidies under its new scheme, and not under-the provisional subsidy scheme, Which provided fur the temporary recognition of ordinary vehicles or fleets in being. We forecasted this intention many months ago.
Bodies Must Load Endwise.
It is pointed nut by the War Department that any type-cif body which allows of end loading will be accepted, and that the larger wheels than are-customary on ordinary lorries give smoother and more-satisfaettlry ruuning, whilst the cost of the larger tires is quickly repaid. Owners who can arrange to load their vehicles at the ends, instead of over the sides, will no doubt agree with these views, whilst other owners or intending owners may be able to arrange to overcome the difficulty of a higher loading platform.
Military Inspection.
It is announced, in order to encourage purchasers, that it is the intention of the War Department to arrange for the inspection of vehicles to take place " to fit in with customers' requirements." it is further pointed out that subsidized vehicles cannot be called out for manteuvres, and that, in the event of a national emergency, the vehicles will be purchased at fixed prices which are shown in the official regulations. We may say that the scale of depreciation that has been adopted is not an unreasonable. one.
Makers and Competitors.
At the present time, the following vehicle-makers are qualified under the new scheme : Leyland Motors, Ltd.; John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd. ; J. and E. Hall, Ltd. ; Clayton and Co. (Huddersfield), Ltd.; Walker Bros (Wigan), Ltd. ; and the Wiilseley Tool and Motor Car Co., Ltd. The Leyland and Wolseley companies are qualified in befit classes.
It-is announced that the latest date of entry for the April trials is 'the 3rd February next, but it is hoped that entries will be lodged at an earlier date, in order that drawings moy be passed by the Mechanical Transport Committee. We have -reason to believe that. there will be very few entries. The reg,nlations require that, before an entry can be finally accepted, manufacturers most send drawingis of their ianhicles for approval by that Committee, which drawings moat he
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eufficiently detailed to enable the construct-ion of all parts to be clearly seen. No entry will be accepted unless the manufacturer can show that he is. in a position to supply at least 30 vehicles, identical with the one submitted for -trial, within a period of one year, and the Department reserves to itself the right to decline any entry without assigninga reason. Any vehicles which are entered for trial must be ready for trial not later than Monday, the 30th March, whilst the road trials will !begin on the 24th April. It is pointed out that the trials are of a qualifying and not of a competitive nature.
The War Department is desirous more particularly to encourage entries in class A, for three tons of useful load, and 4 tons 10 cwt. of imposed load. It states that the number of entries in class B, and the number of those which will be certificated, is limited. Entries which are tendered after the 3rd February next will be subject to an entrance fee.
Governmental Generosity.
The War Department undertakes, subject " to fair prices for the supply during five years of the necessary spare parts being agreed urn between the War Department and the firm concerned,' to purchase the one vehicle from each maker which competes in the trials, in either or both classes, at the following prices: for class A (three tons useful load) £800; for class B (30 cwt. useful load) £700. The entrant is also to agree to sell to the War Department a second vehicle at £25 less, but it is nut to lie considered hound in any way to exercise this option.
Any vehicles which go through the trials successfully will be passed as types suitable for earning the War Department subsidy, and will be granted certificates to bold good for a period not exceeding two years from date of issue.
Fuel and Other Points.
The. petrol consumption for the trials, the first part of which will take place in the neighbourhood of the makers' works, must not. exceed one gallon per 50 gross ton-miles. The judges will be " members of the Mechanical Transport Committee, who shall have power to add one er more civilians to their number."
Various clauses deal with the question of liability for accidents, the whole of which is put upon the entrant.
Manufacturers may be interested to note that the specification for petrol lorries, which are alone eligible to compete in the trials, was officially amended in March and December last. They can no doubt obtain full particulars from the Secretary of the Mechanical Transport Committee, but we may remark that the alterations concern : ignition; radiators; change-speeci gears: hind axle; hind-axle bush; steering; ball bearings; thrust washers: screw threads; towing hooks; lamp brackets; wheelbase ; bodies; driver's seat ; sp-rags; accessories ' • protection from dust and wet; petrol tank; grease cups; gearbox ; transmission; universal joints; wheel track ; and hill-climbing test.
What We Think.
Users and intending users who are new readers of Tut COMMERCTAL MOTOR may care to know our opinion in respect ef these subsidy-type vehicles. We consider that, by reason of Treasury niggardliness, the scheme is commercially :mat tractive to any buyer. Any subsidized machine is undoubtedly a good one, and capable of rendering good service, but, taking all considerations into account, the advantages, to our mind, lie on the side of buying a non-subsidized vehicle, .unless feelings of patriotism are allowed to count. The War Department, with the. limited resources at its disposal, is seeking to obtain facilities at the cost of the commercial community, and to do so at rates which should be at least doubled to be of any value. Furthermore, in clam B, for 30-cwt, useful loads, the specification of the War Department renders the vehicle of such a nature that. it is only entitled to a legal maximum speed of 12 m.p.h.
Who Will Enter ?
Manufacturers will, of course, take their own decisions in regard to entering or abstaining from competition. The best argument in favour of participation is the possibility that the subsidy terms will be materially increased hereafter. More than one of the makers who have qualified are "holding their hands " as to output. against that day.