Answers to Queries.
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Our readers :vat 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 alai answer may he publislaed. Some rephes, owing to pressure on our space, are held several weeks.
[1,4653 " COVENTRY" writes :—" We have an enquiry from some friends in Australia as follows;—' Re Agricultural Motors.—You no doubt have heard of the machines of most repute, and we should be glad if you would send us particulars of the ones you know to be the best. We have particulars of the Ivel, so you need not send us anything about them. The machine we want, however, is a more powerful one than the Ivel, and is more in the shape of a tractor to pull a 10 or 12-furrow plough, and to be able to drag five or six tons. The Ivel is not heavy enough for the work we want to do.'
"We should esteem it a great favour if you could give us the name of a likely market for such a motor."
ANSWER --You cannot do better than enquire from A. P. Saunderson and Co., PI., Elstow Works, Bedford, and Marshall, Sons and Co., Ltd.., Gainsborough.
Variation of Axle-weight.
[1,466] " A" writes;—" Have you the formula by which the dimensions of wheels for the Heavy Motor Car Order are worked out?"
ANswsa.—Article VI of the Heavy Motor Car Order gives the rule an the matter about which you enquire, but not in the shape of a formula. The width of tire, which shall in every case be not less than 5 in., is required also to he not less than the number of half inches which is. equal to the number of units of registered axle-weight of the axle to which the wheel is attached. The unit of registered axle-weight varies according to the diameter of the wheel : for a 3-ft. wheel, the unit of registered axleweight is 71 cwt. ; for a greater diameter, the unit increases in the proportion of 1 cwt. for every ]2 in. beyond 3 ft. (i.e., 28 lb. for 3 in.); for a leaser diameter than 3 ft., the unit is diminished by 1 cwt. for every 6 in. below 3 ft. (i.e.,. 28 lb. for 11 Alleged Road Damage.
[1.467] " D.M." writes;—" Being a regular reader of your very useful journal, I should be obliged if you could advise me on the point which follows. In April, 1908, our local railway, which carried our goods (seeds, corn, flour, grocery, coal and lime) a distance of seven miles, stopped. There was then no way for us to get our goods except by road, so we had to consider what would be the best and cheapest way of getting them hauled. We decided on buying a steam motor lorry, and this was registered under the Heavy Motor Order. It started running in May, 1908, at which date, also, did a very heavy traction engine owned by another firm. In a very short time, the road started to cut up, as it appears that it was a very soft road—not good enough for the traffic. The motor lorry was, therefore, of very little use to us : we could only run with little leads—one journey a day with about three tons. We never loaded in the motor with more than four tons, but, the traction engine hauled very big loads, with two wagons and a load of seven tons in each, and this hauled all sorts of heavy traffic, such as slabs from two quarries in the district.
"The result is that the County Council has come upon us for damage to road. The owners of the traction engine have settled for a certain amount, but I have held out, and now they have placed the claim against us in the county court.
" Would you kindly tell me if the claim is good ? The particulars of the claim allege excessive weight and extraordinary traffic, hut we hauled nothing beyond the necessaries of life, which were bound to come to the neighbourhood, and which did come by the railway previous to its stoppage. Our engine is legal, according to Act of Parliament."
ANSWER.—It is quite impossible to give you an expert opinion on the facts that your have furnished. If the heavy traction engine with the heavy trucks you mention has been using the same road, we should say that you, prima facie, have a very good defence indeed, because you can allege that the whole of the damage has been done by the heavier machine. It will be important to have some evidence to support this view, and you will therefore need lawyer to defend you who has knowledge of this class of work and the right kind of experience. You certainly cannot let the case go by default. We strongly recommend you to get into communication with Messrs. Joynson-Hicks, Hunt, Moore and Cardew, of Lennox House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C., who are the right kind of solicitors, with immense experience in this class of work, or, first of all, with Mr. H. Howard Humphreys, M.Inst.C.E., of 28, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., who might be prepared to go down and give you a preliminary report on the roads.
It might possibly be worth your while to make the most yourselves of the defence we have indicated, i.e., that the traction engine did the damage owing to its greater weight and the strakes (crossbars) on its driving wheels, Further, if you can show that the wagons behind the traction engine had small-diameter wheels, and that the tires were not as wide as those on your lorry, you would provide support for the argument named.
Tractor Earnings per Mile.
[1,468] "STEAM HAULAGE CONTRACTORS" write :—"Being readers of your journal for a number of years, we are taking the liberty of asking for information. We are just opening up as steam haulage contractors, and we should be glad if you could give us any advice as regards the rates, etc., on :—
Bricks per 1,000 per mile. Other contracting materials per mile. Furniture removing per mile. Or, any figures you think would be of use to us.
"We may mention we have 5 h.p. steam tractors, and if at any time you shouid hear of any contract work or otherwise to be done we should esteem it a very great favour if you would keep our card before you, as we are anxious to open out a good business."
ANSWER.—The best way to reply to your enquiry is this : seldom take on a job which does not bring in Is. 3d. per mile run (inclusive of both loaded and light running), and do not accept a low rate unless you can see a revenue of £12 per week of six days. T is nothing in it for a contractor otherwise. We car .ot work out for you how much to charge per thousand "tica per mile, because we have not the necessary ii,forn. Mon from you as to distances, delays, and other point.. You can work it out yourselves to comply with the above necessary earnings. Por example, if the bricks in question run 2i tons per 1,000, and if roads are good, you can reckon to carry 2,000 bricks per trip. Next, let us suppose you run four miles loaded and travel back empty. To earn is. 3d. per mile, you should charge 5s. per 1,000, but this is not a good case.
One user recently wrote to us on this subject as follows: " Last month, the engine (a Faster's 'Wellington ') ran five days per week reserving Saturdays for cleaning. It worked for 21 days and ran 570 miles, or 26 miles per day. The cost was about 5c1. per 1,000 per mile double journey, or Md. single journey. I charge in these figures wages, repairs, redemption charges, interest on outlay at 5 per cent., stores and coal. The charges for horse haulage works out is. and 2s. per 1,000, for the double and single journey, respectively."