Answers to Queries.
Page 17
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A Weighbridge Wanted. "Buy.R" writes :—" Could you tell me of a good -linker to apply to for a road-vagon weighbridge to register from six to seven tons ?"
ANSWER.—Henry Pooley and Sons, Ltd., Albion Works, Kidsgrove, Staffs.
Wants Information about Heralds.
[1,818] " RaaPuTasa." writes :—" We are offered a four-cylinder, :30 h.p., 26-seated Herald char-h-banes for £250. Can you give us any information as to this make, which up till now we have never heard of 7 The vehicle is at present evidently doing public service work near —. Any information you can let us have will be greatly esteemed."
AsswEit.---We have no information which we can give you relating to the 30 h.p. Herald chassis whieli has been offered to you at £250. It is known to us by name, but it would not be possible to express any opinion as to whether the price asked is a reasonable one without first examining the vehicle. We shall be pleased to send an engineer to•make an examination, to test the chassis on the road, and to prepare a written report, if you wish it.
Traveller's Brougham or Train?
[1,819] LANCASTRIAN " writes :—" I read, with great interest, your article on The Uses and Advantages of Commercial Motor Vehicles,' which appears in the 'Drapers' Record.' I also take note of the comment made by the editor of this paper re your willingness to advise or otherwise.
"I am the representative of our firm, and have had a five weeks' journey ; by a re-arrangement, I have now another fortnight's journey added to this, which I have previously taken by the ordinary method, viz., trains, trams, etc. My districts are from —, returning each night: Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Wakefield, Leeds, Huddersfield, Burnley, Skipton, Clithe roe, Preston, Lancaster, Blackpool, "Wigan, Bolton, Manchester, and all other towns between above-mentioned places.
"Now, what I wish to know is, do you think it possible for me, by using a motorcar (by the time I should save waiting for trains, etc.), so to work these journeys in five weeks instead of seven weeks ? I carry with me about 56 lb. of luggage, but should prefer to carry l cwt. Also, what type of a car would you recommend? The first cost of same ? etc."
ANSWER.—We are certainly of opinion that you could effect an economy, both in time and money, compared with train and incidental means of communication, if you could drive the vehicle yourself, and if you were content with an average speed of about 16 or 18 miles an hour. The speeds named would allow you to use solid-indiarubber tires, which cost approximately .5d, per mile run, compared with 2d. per mile for pneumatic tires. We are confident that you can reduce a journey of seven weeks, as is now undertaken, to four weeks, by the use of a motorcar.
The solid-tired 15-cwt.-van type should suit you. The first cost of such a car would probably be in the neighbourhood of £500, and its working cost would vary between 4id. and 6d. a mile, inclusive of depreciation and driver, according to mileage. If you will address additional specific questions to us, we shall be happy to give a more-detailed answer, but there is no question that you will find that type of car admirably suited for your work. The small tricycle-carrier is cheaper and lighter, but it has not the effect or value of a vehicle on motorcar lines for your purpose.
In recommending a• vehicle of so high a capacity as the one mentioned, we bear in mind likely develop ments in connection with the use of a motor, and particularly the fact that a traveller often finds it convenient to carry extra loads, either in the shape of more samples or of passengers. The objection to light cycle-type machines is their inability to stand up well to the vibration and shocks imposed by run
ning over Lancashire and Yorkshire roads. Of course, if you at no time think that you will require to carry a full load above the V, cwt. named by you, an ordinary motorcar chassis of 10 h.p. or 12 h.p.. ought to meet your requirements.
In Trouble About Trailer Brakes.
[1,820] " J.A.W.," Bradford, writes :—" I should be glad of your advice on the following subject, being a regular reader of your paper. I am the driver of a five-ton Yorkshire steam wagon used in the furniture trade, and for the last two years I have travelled the greater part of Yorkshire and Lancashire with only one mate with me on the engine, and have never been interfered with by the police until a week since, when, on passing through Bolton, we were pulled up by an inspector, who said we ought to have a third man with us on the trailer to apply the brake, or else have an attachment to apply the trailer brake from the engine. Our usual plan, up to now, on approaching a hill, has been to pull up before commencing to descend, and my mate gets down, applies the brake and slipper also if required, which I consider is a far surer and safer method than having a third man riding on the drawbar, where he is liable to be lamed should the engine start skidding or running back on the setts. Then there is the extra expense to consider. As for fitting patent brake attachments, this would mean fitting new brakes to about 12 vans, which we use at different times not always having the same one for a trailer. We tried one patent trailer brake, which was put out of action the first time we turned a sharp corner and has never been of any practical use. Would you advise us to fit dummy brakes of this sort, or continue as we are and take a third man when we go to Bolton again I"
ANSWER.—We can only say you have been extremely fortunate to escape prosecution so long for infringement of the Motor Car Acts of 1896 and 1903 (Use and Construction Order). It is probable that in no place outside Yorkshire would the police be so lenient, and we are not surprised that you were qtopped in Bolton. It is clearly set down in the regulation to which we have referred that a trailer shall carry "a person competent to apply efficiently the brake : provided that it shall not be necessary to comply with this condition if the brakes upon the motorcar by which the vehicle is drawn are so constructed and arranged that neither of such brakes can be used without bringing into action simultaneously the brake attached to the vehicle drawn, or if the brake of the vehicle drawn can be applied from the motorcar by a person upon the motorcar independently of the brakes of the latter."
To put this into plain language, if your trailer brakes are not operated automatically by the vehicle brakes, or if they cannot be operated by a person on the vehicle, then you must carry a brakesman on the trailer.
Pending the fitting to your trailers of efficient brakes, which may be operated from the steam wagon, we advise you to carry a brakesman, or to let your mate ride upon the trailer instead of upon the wagon.