Conducted by EDMUND DANGERFIELD. Editor: EDWARD S. SHRAPNELL-SMITH.
Page 1
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Vol. XVII. No 137 24th July, 1913.
The Show Opening.
We publish (page 519) a brief report of the proceedings on the occasion of the opening of the Show on Friday last. The practical coincidence of this function with the announcement of the engagement between H.R.II. Prince Arthur of Connaught and the Deehess of Fife imparted an additional degree of interest to the proceedings, and Prince Arthur, on his making a reference to it at the luncheon, was heartily cheered. The betrothal is evidently popular. The proceedings of the Imperial Motor Transport Conference, to which so many delegates, representative of various parts of the Empire, have been appointed, will receive attention in our next issue we regret that we have not. space this week. The "Show Report" section rightly occupies a majority of our pages, but we have not failed to include articles of special interest.. The one from the pen of Mr. S. F. Edge is almost prophetic ; it is typical of his energy, farsightedness,and optimism.
Extra Pressure and Rotary Printing.
It is no small achievement, as any expert readers will agree, to complete an issue such as the present one in less than half the time which is normally available for an ordinary issue. The Olympia Show opened on Friday last, yet we nre able, by exceptional concentration and organization, to put this " Show Report" issue on sale at Olympia early on Monday. This result has been in no small timxasure due to the adoption of fast rotary printing. We referred to the matter in our issue before last, ancl explained how we had decided to make a thorough test of this method of producing our journal in connection with the Royal and Olympia Shows. This advance preparation was, we felt, due to our supporters, and necessary in order to enable us to deal promptly and properly with the growth of the industry and its prospects, as represented at Olympia, more particularly.
Although we have not yet had occasion to print the i -i,ono to 20,000 copies, which we mentioned as the usual test of economy for the adoption of fast rotary printing, the course which we have been following for several weeks past--of printing and producing TEE COMMERCIAL MoToa that way has been justified by the accelerated completion of issues so large as those of this week and lastweek The text and illustrated pages. to say nothing of the extensive business announeNnents. could not otherwise have been finished so nuickly, probably by at least 24 hours in .each i case. In fact, it would have been impossible to Ira-re tackled the Olympia Exhibition in adequate fashion, in the absence of such arrangements, and of their testing on other issues beicwehand. We trust it may not be long before those arrangements, now in finished shane, may have to be adopted as a general practice, rind we look forward with confidence to the early necessity foi a permanent change to this highspeed method of production. The closer anproximaLion to daily newspaper conditions, the better and more useful our service will be to our many readers.
Ascertained Working Costs.
At a time like the present, when very large numbers of interested persons will see a copy of this journal for the first time, we feel that it is incumbent upon us to write something in regard to established working costs. Economy is still one of the chief reasons for the adoption of motor transport for the purposes of commercial houses, and the opportunity to note running costs per mile, for a variety of types, if those costs be briefly stated, may well be regarded as an essential prefatory occupation at Show-time for any new buyer or prospective buyer. We include in the stand reports details of first costs, and the averages of these have been taken into account by us for calculations in respect of interest and depreciation. It is the annual costs that ultimately tell.
We summarize the working costs of petrol vehicles, exclusive of management charges, as follow -
The above costs per mile are on the basis of 100 miles per week lip to a load of two Ions, of 350 miles per week for the throe-twiner, and of 300 miles per
ii eek for the five-tonner. The following items are included : driver's wages ; fuel (petrol at is. 3d. per gallon); lubricants ; rubber tires ; maintenance (materials and wages, including sundry stores); insurance ; depreciation (at 12-!, per CV.111.. per annum); interest .(at 5 per cent. per annum). Expressed, for the mileages stated, in weekly expenditure, these running costs are, respectively : £4 5s. 4d. ; 16 13s.. 9d. ; 26 Gs. ; 28 12s. 2d.; 211 Os. 8d. ; 212 5s. 9d. ; and .214 9s. 6d.
The corresponding summary of working costs, for steam wagons and tractors, may now be given. In the ease of the 3.-ton load, the costs include solidrubber tires ; in all other cases they are for steel tires.
Per Steam. Per Mile Run
3.1-ton load ... 7.0d. 5-ton load (on wagon) . 10.1d. 5-ton load (on trailer behind wagon)... 9.8d. ',.ton load (on wagon and trailer) 11.-id.
The above are on the basis of 300 miles per week for the three-tonner, and of 21:0 miles each for the other machines. The costs include the same items as in the case of the petrol-driven vehicles, with the exception that Welsh coal at 28s. per ton is charged instead of petrol, whilst there is also included a proportion (15s. per week) of a second man's wages.
Expressed, for the mileages stated, in weekly expenditure, these running costs are, respectively: £9 is. 11d. ; £8 8s. 7d. ; 28 2s. 9d. ; and 29 9s. 4d.