Suburban Taxicabs' Good Record.
Page 12
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A Small Fleet of Motorcabs Shows a Net Profit of Over 2d. Per Mile.
Earlier in the year, in the course of conversation with an owner in South London who runs a fleet of four Vinot taxicabs, figures were quoted, as proof of the utility of this type of cab, which related to the results obtained from the running of such vehicles in London service. As the oldest of the cabs had, at that period, hardly seen six months' service, the suggestion was made to the owner that, at the end of the first year, more complete and instructive figures might be obtainable. These later particulars were readily promised, and we have now had placed in our hands an interesting set of costs on this subject, for publication.
01 the four cabs in question, the oldest has been fourteen months in service, the remaining three having eornpleted a little mere than a year's running. The work during this period has included fully 85 per cent. of service in London; unless the cabs are hooked previously for local work, they proceed in the morning to the Brompton Oratory rank. The results from this first year's work have been obtained by the little fleet's covering as much as 113,076 miles, carrying in all 19,721 faresas distinct from individual passengers, and earning a gross income of £3,407 10s. Id., at a cost of £2,286 15s. 7d.
A striking feature of the whole record is the satisfactory evidence of the reliability of the 11-16 h.p. fourcylinder Vinot cab chassis; the four motortabs, whose record of service we are now discussing, ran for 353 days out of the complete year, without having been laid up on
the road or disabled during service. All repairs and adjustments during that period were executed during the night or the early morning, or at times when the vehicles ran back after midday to the garage in order to fill up with fuel; of these latter instances, the longest interruption of service was caused by a leaky radiator, whieli is reported to have taken three hours to put right. The twelve days on which the cabs "Stood off" were occupied in overhauling and revarnishing before they were presented for relicensing. We give herewith a list of the costs of running this fleet of four vehicles for the first year ; in this connection, the high percentage of actual working days should be borne in mind. As we have already stated, the total distance covered by the fleet during .the 12 months was 113,076; this total allots an average of 28,269 miles' running for each machine during that .period, or, assuming that each vehicle was in service for 333 days, the average day's journey wa,s over 80 miles.
Against the above figures, we may set the receipts at 7.23d. per mile, amounting to a gross total of i.:3,407 10s. Id., thus giving a net profit of £1,120 14s. fid. or £280 3s. 7d. per cab per annum.
In conclusion, we may say that an average fuel consumption of 20.998 miles to the gallon is shown over the whole mileage of 113,076 miles, while the tire figure, as shown above, is satisfactory. By way of explanation of the annual commission paid to the drivers and the existence of a charge for petrol, it is of interest to remark that this motoreab owner supplies everything that is necessary for running the cabs, giving his drivers 20 per cent. on the gross takings, instead of the usual 25 er cent., when the men pay for their own petrol.
In the near future, it is expected that the Vinot mo, cab will become more widely known in the Metropolis than it has been hitherto. The owners of the fleet referred to above intend to extend operations, for instance. The number in service at present does not exceed 50. Vinot Cars, Ltd. (formerly Messrs. T. S. Harman and Co.) has a private company of its own, which already runs 10 of the latest type; one of these is shown in the photograph which we reproduce herewith. As evidenceE1 by the fuel consumption in the foregoing figures, the fitting of the Claudel pattern of carburetter to the fourcylinder 80 by 100 mm. Vinot engine gives eminentlysatisfactory results on the road.