Answers to Queries.
Page 17
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Our readers 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 stamped and addressed envelope shouki be enclosed : if a request for privacy is not specially made, any query and answer may be published. Some replies, owing to pressure on our space, are held several weeks, New East-End Repair Works.
[1,677] " SMITH " writes :—" 'Will you give me the name and address of the parties who are going to open repair works in London? "
ANSWER.--Your name and address will be handed to the parties who are about to open the repair works in question. No names can be disclosed at present.
Provincial Motorcab Co., Ltd.
11,678] " Dounrrtm " writes :--" I have been offered a responsible position by the Provincial Motor Cab Co., Ltd., but before closing with same would like to gain some knowledge as to their financial position and pros-. punts, etc. I have been a regular subscriber to your paper, but have found very little mention of this concern in your pages, except that in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR of the 3.8th August you mention that a charge of £40,000 has been made on their assets."
ANSWER.—We consider the financial position of the company named to be quite satisfactory, in all respects that can be of interest to an employee. Certain steps are being taken by way of concentration and re-organization, and this should tend towards the prosperity of the undertaking as a whole.
Passengers by Motor Lorry.
[1,679] " FURNISHERS " write:—" We shall be greatly obliged if you can give us any information on the following point : We have a 30-cwt. motor lorry for which we have made a char-a-bancs body, so that we can let it out for pleasure parties occasionally ; will you please say if we are obliged to take out a licence to carry passengers under these circumstances? "
ANSWER.—You are not obliged to take out a hackneycarriage or other licence for your motor lorry, provided you do not allow it to stand or to ply for hire. If you book parties, and they are picked up to order at fixed points, the vehicle is not standing or plying for hire. As a matter of fact, however, such conveyance of passengers may vitiate your claim to the petrol-tax rebate, in which connection we refer you to one of the answers (No. 1,676) which were given in last week's issue.
An Explanatory Book on Petrol Motors.
[1,680] " LosmoN " writes :—" T am being worried to suggest suitable books for the use of a man who is commencing to learn motoring—books which would give him information on the general mechanism of petrol motors, explanations of their working, why they are apt to go wrong, and how to manage them. I should be awfully obliged if you could tell me the names of some books. 1 have seen several in my time, hut have not kept either them or their names.
" I have been interested in your taxi campaign. The drivers are a far less pleasant lot of men to deal with than the old cabby about whom the world used to swear."
ANSWER.—YOU cannot do better than recommend your friend to buy the " Motor Manual." This is published at the offices of Temple Press Ltd., 7-15, Rosebery Avenue, 1.3.C.„ and is sold at is. 6d. post free.
We are sure it is high time that somebody took up the cudgels on behalf of the public in respect of taxicab men. You may care to peruse our pamphlet, of which we recently issued 50,000 copies, and which is still on sale on bookstalls at id. a copy, entitled "Twenty Points for Users of London Taxicabs."
Opinion About Running Expenses.
[1,681] OWNERS write:—" We respectfully submit the following for your perusal and opinion, to assist us in arriving at a decision re purchasing another. They
are the expenses for running a 10-12 h.p. motor delivery van for 12 months, from 23rd July, 1909, to 23rd July, 1910. Total distance, 11,937 miles; weight of van (unladen), 1 ton 4 cwt. 3 qr.; tires, 760 mm. by 90 mm. front, and 760 mm. by 120 mm. rear; Longuemare carburetter, No. 6 jet; house-to-house delivery; maximum
Car is garaged on own premises with another car; no rents or rates. Wages paid to driver, 35s. per week, and this includes other duties beside driving, such as looking after running repairs of both cars, taking and booking money, etc., so no fixed wage can he estimated. "Should be pleased to have your opinion and any comments as to individual items, bearing in mind car was secondhand when purchased for £230, and that the tires and tubes were not in the best condition. Accumulators are charged on lighting circuit of shop."
ANSWER.—We are of opinion that, considering the mileage is low (an average weekly of 229 miles), you are securing very-satisfactory results. With a weekly mileage of 400, a 10-cwt, van of satisfactory make would be doing well at 3.25d. per mile (excluding driver's wages). You are securing rather less than this result, on rather over half the mileage. Did you include the driver's wages, the low mileage would show adversely for that item. Your petrol consumption should be better than 14.6 miles per gallon: you ought to get up to 16 miles per gallon for loads which seldom exceed 10 cwt. It should be worth your while to experiment with a Solex carburetter (Wolf Bros., Southwark), which is a model that is giving remarkably-economical results. Your lubricating oil charge is unusually low ; 300 miles per gallon represents a good result. Your tire costs are rather on the low side, and your repair charges are also low—probably on account of the low mileage. The remaining expenses are quite normal, and the depreciation figure should be ample.
To sum up, you should be quite satisfied with the running costs you submit, but you should endeavour to secure improvement in the petrol figure.