Answers to Queries.
Page 15
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L.G.O.C. Receipts. •
[1,821] " BLACK AND WHITE ;' writes :—" Can you inform me if the total weekly receipts of the L.G.O.C., as shown in your journal each week, include the receipts of the Great Eastern Co., or are they not included at present?"
Axs wErt.--The receipts in question do now, for both this year and last, take into account the earnings of the Great Eastern motorbuses.
Not a Heavy Motorcar.
[1,823] " GIRAFFE " writes :---" The weight of a secondand motor wagon which I have on offer unladen is given as 5 tons 5 cwt., fully registered under the Act. Is not five _tons the maximum allowed under the Act? Would the purchaser be liable to be stopped at any time ? "
ANSWER—No vehicle with an unladen weight in excess of five tons can be registered as a heavy motorcar. Some authorities make allowances in respect of removable bodywork, and that may account tot the excess in the instance under notice.
An Inquiry for Front-drivers.
[1,826] " WEAPON " 'writes : —" We have an inquiry for a motor-driven watering cart, the driving to be on the front wheels, leaving the rear portion detachable. We understand that the Brasier Co. makes a machine of this description, but our client in the East wishes us to submit particulars of another make in addition. If you could assist us by informing us of any such makes, please let us hear from you."
ANswEn.—The type of vehicle for which you inquire is made by the Avant-Train Lath, of 9, rue Neuve-de-Villiers, a Levallois-Perret (Seine).
Solid Tires for "Ordinary" Rims.
11,827] '' P. W.11.," Barnet, writes : --Can you inform me if any maker manufactures a solid tire which can be fitted on the ordinary rims ? I want to have solid tires fitted for delivery purposes. I shall be glad if you can give me the name of any manufacturer who undertakes this work."
ANSWER.—Your inquiry of the 26th tilt, is not sufficiently explicit. By ordinary rims, do you mean those of clincher section, into which a tire is sprung? Also, about what load does your van carry? Ordinary rubber tires for clincher-section rims can be obtained from the North British Rubber Co., of Castle Mills, Edinburgh, and the Birder Rubber Co., Ltd., Crawford Street, London, W.,, and they are generally suitable for vans below one ton net. capacity.
Wants Private-hire Opening.
[1,828] " ESPLANADE writes :-" As a constant reader of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR and 'The Motor,'
I would be grateful for any information you can give me on the subject of private hire. I own two fairlypowerful landaulets, and am at present running same from a hotel. There is a lot of cutting, which makes it impossible to average more than 8d. to 9d. per mile at the outside. My mileage with one car is 10,400 per annum or 200 miles per week. I have not run the two together yet, not being able to find suffi cient work to warrant taking out an insurance policy, etc., for the second machine.
" Now, can you put me on to the right town or suburb for such work ? Preferably I would like to be attached to a first-class hotel, where I can safely ask is. a mile or four guineas per day, which can be easily obtained in London. Of course, if it is a place where there is only a five-months season or less, the takings
would have to be large to carry me over the winter. To show you that this part of the country is especially bad, I may mention that -has only. about 25 taxicabs, and things are so bad that all the original owners have gone wrong. The cabbies repeatedly accept jobs with no waiting time, or they even run by contract without the meter. I don't suppose they average 21 a day. "I must mention that my capital is strictly limited. I do not have to pay monthly instalments on the vehicles, but only interest on my capital.
"My method of obtaining work is to have framed cards in the hotels in the town, and I circularize all telephone people. I also give all hotel porters a commission on work obtained."
ANSWER.—With regard to your inquiry concerning openings for private-hire cars, we have caused inquiries to be made in several directions with the result that we are not enabled to advise you of any opening that is suitable to your special requirements. Most of the local services in the Provinces are being well looked after by local enterprise, and but little encouragement is now being afforded to outsiders by the authorities or by the public. The fact that your capital is limited restricts your possibilities. After careful consideration the best suggestion we can offer to you, is that you insert a small advertisement in this journal something to the following effect :— "To hotel and livery stable proprietors. Owner of two modern private-hire landaulets is open to work in conjunction with hotel in provincial town by arrangement. Write---" Motor Carrier's Requirements.
11,829] " C.W.S.," Herts., writes :—'Would you please give me answers to the following questions :
"(a) What would be the most useful size petrol motor for motor wagon carrier's business to and from London ? I live 21 miles out of London, and purpose going once a day, filling up spare time removing furniture and goods.
"(b) What would be the cost of running the same, and the best way to estimate for this class of work? Also what would be a fair week's average turnover ? "(c) What are the best methods to use to get in touch with some of the large business houses, and I shall appreciate a few hints as to obtaining business ?"
ANSWER.—We should say, for the class of work you mention, a low-geared two-tonner with large platform area would be very suitable. On a mileage of, say, 250 a week, it should cost you not more than 7-id. per mile run, inclusive of all maintenance charges, driver's wages, depreciation, fuel, insurance, etc. You would have to estimate your charges to secure you a revenue in the neighbourhood of 10d. per mile run ; otherwise "the game would not be worth the candle." As a matter of fact, we consider you should have no difficulty, after working up your business for a few months, in securing a revenue of Is. per mile run.
As regards building up a business, you had best in quire locally about any regular deliveries between and London, or vice versa, and so secure what may be termed a backbone for your traffic. The securing of traffic is a matter which must rest in your own hands.
Did you happen to read our Motor Hiring Special Number of the 15th October, 1908? That is out of print now, but you may be able to see a copy somewhere, or, if you care to call at this office, you may make notes from our file copy.