Answers to Queries.
Page 18
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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 and answer may be pubs ished.
11,435] " NEW READER " asks :—" Can you inform me of a good make of lamp for illuminating a taximeter in place on a cab ?"
ANSWER.—That made by Brown Bros., Ltd., of Great Eastern Street, E.C.
.A Small-van Enquiry.
[1,436] "SOUTH COAST" writes :—" We are in a little MI • culty as to the recommending of a small van to carry . about 4 cwt. or 5 cwt. to one of our clients, as we have had little to do with such very small vehicles, and we thought perhaps you would not mind giving us the names of any make of which you may think well, so that we can get particulars and put same forward."
ANSWER.—You could not do better than communicate with F. B. Goodchild and Co., Ltd., of Craven House, Kingsway-, London, W.C.
Bus Brakes in Good Order.
[1,437] " GARAGE MANAGER " writes :—" I should like your opinion on the following matter. When I took over this job, each bus here had merely one set of brakes : I suppose they had been taken off because inefficient. Besides keeping up the service and running the buses each week-end, I have fitted both hand and foot brakes on all but one. If there were an accident, would the Board of Trade come on me if they learned the state of the buses when I came to take charge?"
ANSWER.—The Board of Trade have nothing to do with the condition of the brakes upon your vehicles, and they have no jurisdiction over motorcars of any kind. We should say that any motorbus manager is responsible if he sends out a bus without two independent brakes fitted, no matter what delay there may have been on the part of the maker to supply parts. Probably, in law, you should keep any bus in the depot, in the event of its being in any sense defective, and claim upon the maker in respect of any loess due to unreasonable delay in the supply of parts.
Working a Single Taxicab.
[1,438J " COTTONOPOLIS " writes :—" Kindly say what your opinion is about a chauffeur investing in a taxicab. Would it pay in the long run?"
ANSWEK.—In order that you may decide if it will be a profitable investment for you to purchase a single taxicab and to run it yourself, you should, in the first place, inform yourself fully upon the following points :—(a), the class of district in which you intend to ply for hire, and the amount of present and prospective competition is hich you will have to encounter, and this enquiry should include information as to road surfaces, tramway services, possible gradients, and population and " class " of surrounding districts; (b), an estimate of your probable earnings, based, if passible, on the actual takings of cabs in or near your district ; (c), whether private-hire work through your own connection is obtainable.
If you are anything of a mechanic, and can carry out small repairs and adjustments yourself. and if you can see your way to register a minimum of 30s. a day, without tips, you can rely upon earning £9 a week, which, with an average of 2s. 6d. a day for tips, should bring you in a total of £9 15s. per week, or about 61d. per mile. You must, of course, purchase a machine of known quality. If you have to go out for all your repairs, you will do well to fix up a maintenance contract with some trustworthy local repairer.
The ordinary 10-14 li.p. cab, such as those used in London, should run, on an average, 60 miles per day, and it will consume about three gallons of petrol per day. Under good conditions, your costs, per mile run, for a single cab should approximate the following figures: Fuel ... ... ...
Total per cab-mile ... 3.86d.
About Herald Chassis.
[1,439] " Sstorisx " writes :—" Will you kindly tell me if you consider the Herald ' a suitable make of motor for a delivery van ':' Points for consideration : simplicity—we want our present carter to drive ; reliability—we want to do five days a week regularly, without getting 'hung up' (about 40 miles a day); speed—about 12-15 m.p.h., but a lot of stopping and starting. A slow-running engine would be preferable."
ANSWER.—We cannot recommend you to use a
Herald" chassis for commercial-vehicle purposes of any kind. This machine is not now handled in this country to our knowledge; it is of comparatively-light French construction. If you care to let us have a fuller outline of the class of work that you wish to undertake, and the loads, the outlay you are inclined to make, and other such details, we shall be happy to advise you. You make no mention of the load, Motor Transport Round Salisbury Camp.
[1,440] " SERGEANT-MAJOR writes :—" Some little time ago you announced in your valuable journal that men were required for the Territorial Mechanical Trans ports. Your interest in these matters may enable you to help me over an allied piece of work_ I want to hire some motor lorries for the camp (from 1st August to the 15th).
Would you be so good as to advise me in this connection. The weight of the machines must not exceed five tons, and they are required without drivers. The camp will be on Salisbury Plain this year, and, if you know of some local haulage people, I shall be very grateful if you can give me their names."
ANSWER.—You are not likely to get any owner to hire machines -to you in the absence of their being driven by
his own men, and we could not recommend anybody to try that course under peace conditions. You might be able to hire from the Private Hire and Haulage Department of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., of 8, Grosvenor
Road, S.W., which department has various petrol lorries at its disposal, or from Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd., of
Goswell Road, E.C. You may also be interested to have the following addresses of parties who might enter into hiring contracts with you : The Bourne and Test Valley Transport Co., Hurst bourne Station, Whitchurch, Hants.
Mr. J. James, Yorktown, Surrey.
Mr. R. Smith, Back of the Walls, Southampton.
Messrs. Poulter and Hunt, London Street, Basing stoke.
Messrs. F. Sharp and Sons, Blandford.
Mr. T. A. Howells, Green Street, Hereford.
Mr. R. Pool, Fleet Road, Fleet, Hants.
Messrs, H. W. Snow and Co., Wallingford.
Mr. T. F. Edwards, Whitelye Farm, Tintern, Mr. R. T. Arnold, Broadchalk, Salisbury.
Mr. W. S. Cleverley, Tillshead House, S.O., Wilts.