Fresh Vans on Order.
Page 16
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The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :--We have recently been giving one of our two motor vans (of the to-12h.p. two-cylinder type) a test for a stated period. This covers six weeks, during which the van worked continuously six days a week, doing the work iaf two vans and five horses, and running a distance of about 1,548 miles. The total running expenses for this period come to '28 175., 8d., and includedriver at Li 15s. per week, .4;io tos.; petroleum spirit, i8o gallons, ..,68 7s. 6d.; lubricating oil for cylinders and gears, etc., ,C,1 3s. 6d.; repairs, -./jio us. gd.; and sundry stores, 45. lid. If we add 4.2 a week for depreciation, being 30 per cent, on the purchase price, we get a total of £.40 175. 8d. for the six weeks, or £6 tos. 841. per week, inclusive of everything.. The charge for repairs is made up of the. following :-Sparking plugs, 7s.; spring security bolts, 3s. 8d.; charging accumulators, as. 6d; re-treading and re-lining cover, Ls 13s.; drilling and fixing commuta tor, 4s. 7d. ; brake band repair, 25. ; grinding valve, etc., 6d. ; repairing inner tube, 35. 6d.; repairing commutator and re-lining foot brake, 17.s.; making and fitting new spring and repairing old spring ;62 55. 6d.; spring clip, 2S. 3d.; stud bolt, is. 3d.; sundries, 3d. We have two vans in use, and, taking the period from August i2th to November 24th last, the average inclusive cost has come out at 5.ed. per mile, whereas the six weeks selected above is rather worse, being 6.6d. per mile. We reckon that our vans have only just paid for themselves so far, chiefly owing to heavy expenses on tyre . repairs, which will now be obviated by the use of heavier tyres, and probably of solid rubber instead of pneumatics. A motor van is certainly capable of replacing two horse-drawn vans and five horses, so long as it can be kept on the road, but we find that it is the time spent in the workshop for repairs that sends up the expenses by leaps and bounds. There is then annoyance to customers on account of delay, not to speak of many other inconveniences.
We are satisfied that the proper thing to do is to order a van which is strong enough to run on our local roads upon solid-tyred wheels, and we anticipate, a very great economy from the two Arrol-Johnston vehicles for which we have recently placed orders through the Rceul Carrying Company, Limited, of this city.-Yours faithfully, For the Bon Marche, Liverpool, HERBERT LEVY.
Church Street, Liverpool, December 16th, igo5.
The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one side of the paper only, and type-written by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for the views expressed is accepted.