Answers to Queries.
Page 19
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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 should be enclosed : if a request for privacy is not specially made, any query ani answer may be published. Some replies, owing to pressure on our space, are held several weeks.
Petrol Saving.
LL,4?..c3j MOTORBUS MANAGER " writes :—"In your filmher for the 30th September, you describe the De Beers carburetter jet. We shall be much obliged if you can let us know where this can be obtained."
ANEWER.—From Mr. Thos. H. Parker, of 92, Avenue Chambers, Southampton Row, W.C.
Russell Motors.
L1,484] " STRANRAER " writes :—" I have a motorcar built by Russell (Canada) Cycle and Motor Co., Ltd. Would you kindly let me know if there is an agency anywhere in this country. My car is broken down, and 1 want her repaired at once. I cannot get this done till I fall in with the agents."
ANSWER.—We regret that we are unable to give you any information about the Russell Cycle and Motor Co., Ltd., of Canada. We are not aware that they are represented in this country, but some reader may know.
Which Make of Char-a-bancs [1,485] " V." writes :—.As a regular subscriber to your excellent paper, may I ask your advice re the following. We, that is a few friends and myself, are going in for a hiring syndicate for the coming season. We want your ()pin ion.
" We contemplate placing an initial order for a char-abents with one or the other of three firms. We fancy the — on account of the simplicity of gears and drive. Do you know of any drawback in their system? Or, perhaps, you would advise the best chassis for the purpose—to carry 20 to 24 persons on bad roads and steep gradients."
A Nswzn.—We strongly recommend, of the three makes you name, the " Commer Car" chassis.
Motor Furniture-removers.
[1,186] " CLAPHAM " writes :—" I should feel greatly obliged if you could give me the names of furniture-removers, in or near London, who use motor removingvans."
ANSWERS—You cannot do better than apply to Maple and Co., Ltd., Tottenham Court Road, W.; Messrs. James Shoolbred and Co., Tottenham Court Road, W.; Messrs. Wolfe and Hollander, 252, Tottenham Court Road, W.; and Messrs. E. P. Siggers and Co., London Road, St. John's, Tunbridge Wells. In addition to these, you can have furniture removed in ordinary vans drawn by motors, which class of work is undertaken by Warings, of Oxford Street; Mr. W. .T. Harris, Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells; and Messrs. E. P. Siggers and Co. (address as above).
When a Chain Breaks.
[1,487] " H.F." writes :—" Will you please give me an answer to the following question : If a chain on a chaindriven car were to break, would it be possible to drive home on one chain Also, please explain the action of the differential gear in a case like this."
Axswen.—Your query reads rather oddly, but we presume you refer to a vehicle in which the final drive to the back wheels is by means of two chains from a differential countershaft? If the differential gear be fitted with a locking device and may thus be rendered inoperative, it will, of course, be possible to drive home on one chain. A temporary locking device might be improvised on the road, but, without knowing to what make of chassis you refer, we cannot give you any information on that point.
There is still one more method to enable you to drive on one chain, and that is by locking the sprocket to the frame, with a clamp, or by means of the broken chain itself. By doing this, however, you might have to drive on your lowest gear, because the locking of one aide of the differential has the effect of gearing up the other side ;n the ratio of two to one of the differential-gear cage, and thus, if your low-speed gear were normally four miles an hour when driving on both chains, with one chain sprocket prevented from rotating the low-speed gear would be eight miles an hour.
If you require any further information, perhaps you will state the make of car, and, if possible, supply us with a sketch of the countershaft, when we shall endeavour to assist you further.
A Colonial Inquiry.
[1,488] " Libreout " writes :—One of our agents in Sydney has asked us for the name of any makers in this country who manufacture the best types of petrol wagons, from three to five tons. If you can give us any information, we shall be pleased to transmit it to our friends. From our weekly copy of THE COMMERCIAL 3.40TOR, we note a good many firms are making this class of engine, but it is difficult for us to decide who are the best firms to recommend for Colonial work."
ANSW ER.—You cannot do better than apply to the undernoted manufacturers of petrol wagons, as they, to our knowledge, have had much experience for Colonial demands:—
Commercial Cars, Ltd., Cambridge Circus, W.C. Leyland Motors, Ltd., Leyland, Lancs.
Milnes-Daimler, Ltd., 221, Tottenham Court Road, IV. Sidney Straker and Squire, Ltd., Nelson Square, S.E. John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., Basingstoke.
If you want a paraffin or petrol tractor, capable of hauling eight tons behind the drawbar, you might very well apply to the latter company.
A New Motor-contracting Proposition.
[1,489] " YORKS " write :— •' We are thinking of organizing a company for road-carrying, and we should be pleased if you would advise us which is the best kind of vehicle to go in for. We intend to start in a small way to begin with, and to buy either one-or two-tan lorries, but we are undecided whether petrol or steam would be best; as for the tires, we think solid rubber, with twin tires on the back wheels, would be best.
"We have the promise of all one firm's work. The roadwork for this firm consists of fetching and taking back between one and two tons of wool in bales, and the distances are about 20 miles each way. Some of the gradients are rather steep, perhaps 1 in 8. There is plenty of road-carrying work to be done, if a company could earn a profit. " Also, we should be glad if you would give us an idea as to what would be a reasonable charge per ton-mile. if it were a petrol vehicle, we could get some char-a-banes work at the week-ends in summer."
ANswEn.—Our special number of the 15th October, 1908, on"Motor Hiring," a copy of which we learn has been ordered by you from our business department, should answer nearly all your questions. A petrol vehicle is the better for the class of loads named, and you might begin to look into the matter of the right vehicle by applying to advertisers in this journal. You should unquestionably have solid-rubber tires, with twin sections on the back wheels.
As you will find set out in the issue named above, you will do best always to keep in front of you the necessary earning per vehicle-mile, and from that to calculate the charge per ton-mile or per ton for each separate job.