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As Cheap as the One-horse Van ?

24th June 1909, Page 1
24th June 1909
Page 1
Page 1, 24th June 1909 — As Cheap as the One-horse Van ?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

An increasing number of enquiries is being made about the prospects of real competition between the motorvan and the one-horse van. 'fhis branch of road transport has been recognised by the writer, for many years, to be the most difficult and obstinate which the commercial motor has to break down, although there has never been occasion for despair ; it was merely expedient to observe the proper sequence in which to attack the proposition, and that unquestionably was to work through the heavier loads towards the lighter ones, and from the long mileages per day to those which must of necessityowing to delays in collection and delivery, or lack of demand—be classed as yielding only small weekly aggregates. The stage of development at which it may be held to be possible for the mechanical vehicle to compete with the one-horse van is at last coming within visible range. A 10-15ewt. load, an average of little more than 100 miles a week, and a total cost of 55s. is about the usual town and suburban result from the one-horse van. Can it yet be shown that a motorvan' even on the ridiculously-small running for it of, say, 120 miles a week, is able to hold its own against the horse in this category ?

Results, chiefly from the use of the one-ton van, have now accumulated to the point when one is fully justified in the statement that the one-horse van will be increasingly pressed, from this day on, by the competition of its mechanical rival. It has only to be conclusively shown, upon low weekly mileages, that there is a reasonable likelihood of approximate equality in the costs, for the admitted and enormous potential superiority of the motor for longer trips to render it master of the situation. If sueh equality can be expected, no trader can afford to ignore the imminent passing of many one-horse vans, and we are confident, in common with the heads of certain great railway companies, several of which huge concerns. are moving, with clear purpose, to replace a large proportion of their one-horse vans by motors, that this equality will prove to be demonstrated during the next, year or two. The change will come gradually. Simplification of design, robustness of construction, standardisation of production, economy of carburation, perfection of electric ignition, reduction of rubber-tire costs, and ease of driving manipulation: these are the prime causes of the relatively-strong position into which the motorvan for loads of from 10 to 15 cwt. is steadily moving. It, has to he remembered, when the stated cost of 55s. per week for a one-horse van is under consideration, that only a very small reduction is possible when the van travels, say, half or two-thirds of the usual distance. For example, driver's wages (24s.) and fodder and bedding (13s.) remain stationary, whilst the same is true, in the majority of cases, owing to the existence of annual contracts, of the shoeing and veterinary charges (2s.). Added to the costs named, in order to secure the total of 55s. upon which we are worldng. there are : repairs, 3s.; rent, 3s. 6d.; stable labour, 3s. 10d. : insurance, Bd. ; interest and depreciation (15 per cent. on £80), 4s. 8d.; and sundries, 6d. Let us now turn to the motor.

It is not possible, having regard to realised costs, to pretend that an approved motor can be worked, on the basis of 120 miles per week, to cost only 55s. One can. however, be worked at a bare 12s. per week in excess of that figure, and, in cases where the journeys fluctuated between 60 miles one week and 180 the next, the motor should prove as cheap as horses, whilst any greater fluctuation, or any material increase of road mileage above a steady 120 per week, should put it on the safe side, without regard to the undoubted value of quicker delivery, advertisement, and all-round convenience. We may thus state the motor costs for a 10-15ewt. van, under the three alternative mileage scales :—

The horse-van is at its best on the 120-mile basis, at which it costs 5:1,d. a ; hence, it is somewhere between the totals of 120 and 180 miles a week that the motor catches end excels it.

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