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Opinions from Others.

26th August 1909, Page 16
26th August 1909
Page 16
Page 17
Page 16, 26th August 1909 — Opinions from Others.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters one side of the paper only, and type-wrillen by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no should be on responsibility for the views expressed is accepted.

Lotis Vans and Lynton Wheels. The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1,015] Sir,—We send you herewith a photograph of a 15 cwt. Lotis van which we recently supplied to Hocksthn Bros., Ltd., wholesale confectioners, of Longton, Staffs. This vehicle, as you see, is fitted with Lynton wheels, and we may add that most of the cars we are sending to the Potteries are so fitted. This vehicle was sold through our Potteries agents, Messrs. F. W. Harris and Co., of Burslem, and we enclose a letter concerning the vehicle which Messrs. Harris have received from the owners. We have now another order for Horleston Bros., for a commercial travellers' car built on the same chassis.—Yours faithfully,

STIIRMEY MOTORS, LTD., HENRY STU R M EY , Managing Director. Coventry. [Corr.]

" We are more than satisfied with the Lotis delivery van you supplied us with last week. She is running splendidly, and we feel sure that it will be a great saving to us. I may say that she is considered the finest vehicle of its kind in this district. Allow us to congratulate you on the excellent workmanship of same, and on the extra fine finish of both build and painting of the body.—Yours faithfully,

HORLESTON BROS.. LTD.. (Signed) G. HORLESTON, Secretary. The Japan-British Exhibition (1910) at Shepherd's Bush.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1,016] Sir,—Under the auspices of the Imperial Government of Japan and with the cordial approval of the British Government, arrangements have been completed for a great japan-British Exhibition to be held next year at the White City, Shepherd's Bush. In view of the alliance between Crest Britain and Japan, no conjunction could be happier. His Majesty the King, with characteristic solicitude for everything that makes for the extension of British Trade and with keen appreciation of our allies in the Far East, sent to Prince Arthur of Connaught, the chairman at the inaugural banquet of the exhibition, the following message:— " I understand you will preside this evening at a dinner given in connection with the proposed AngloJapanese Exhibition next year. International exhibitions in these days largely depend on private suppert, and I hope therefore that the Japanese and British people will come forward to promote an undertaking which has for its object an increase in the commercial prosperity of both countries, and the uniting still closer of the bonds of fellowship which already exist between them."

His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, also sent a telegram as follows : "I take advantage of the occasion to tender ray congratulations to your Royal Highness and to those who join you in celebrating the inception of the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition, and to express my sincere wishes for the complete success of the undertaking."

His Excellency the Japanese Ambassador, on this occasion, said that he felt confident that the Exhibition would confirm the friendly sentiments and would greatly help the commercial relations between the two countries, and spoke of the intense interest taken in the Exhibition by the people of Japan and of the large sum of money voted for it by the Imperial Diet.

The Lord Mayor of London pledged his official and personal support, and expressed the conviction that nowhere would more real interest be taken in the Exhibition that in the ancient City of London. The full support of the London Chamber of Commerce and of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom is also assured.

As Hon. President and President of the Exhibition, we venture to ask the courtesy of your space in order to invite universal support for this specially important demonstration. The value of the traditional art of Japan and the influence it has exercised on the fine and industrial arts of the world cannot be over-estimated, and on the occasion of this Exhibition the nobles of Japan will pour out, from the treasures they have accumulated for centuries, works of art never before seen in this country and only by a favoured few in Japan.

The committee joins us in appealing to possessors of tho treasures of British art to make a like revelation of those priceless works, many of which are but little known to the general public, so as to equal, and if possible eclipse the magnificent display of art at the Franco-British Exhibition.

The unique character of the Exhibition is sure to attract multitudes of people, not only from Japan and the United Kingdom, and the Colonies and Dependencies, but from every European country and from America, and cannot fail to increase the commerce of the two nations and to create new commercial channels between them and the rest of the world.

We therefore trust that the manufacturers and producers of this country, as well as those of the rest of the British Empire, will rise to the occasion by displaying the best of their respective productions in arts and industries, so as to make a representation worthy of this great opportunity.

The Exhibition wilt have the advantage of the beautiful, buildings, already known to millions of people, which made the White City so famous in connection with the Franco-British Exhibition, and it only remains for the British Empire to provide a collection of exhibits which will worthily compare with those already promised by Japan, and to translate into reality the hope expressed by His Majesty the King that increased commercial prosperity and closer bonds of fellowship will result.—We have the honour to be, Sir, ARTHCR, Hon_ President. NORFOLK, President.

What to Do with our Old Motor Wagons: A Suggestion to Motor Carriers.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1,017] Sir,—It is very often a difficult question, with owners, to know what to do with, or how advantageously to dispose of, their old motor wagons. These, very often, being too good to break up or sell as scrap, are yet not good enough to compete with the newer and improved machines. There are a great many owners of such machines, who are willing to purchase new ones, providing the price offered for their old vehicles is one above a breaking-up figure, or something a little nearer to the price on their books sum which makers cannot usually afford to offer for them in part payment for a new machine, as there is a very poor market for old wagons. As a rule, those old wagons are worth inure to their present owners—if they can find anything at all for them to do—than to anyone else.

A way of beneficially using these old wagons has occurred to Tae. Would they not be doing good work in collecting and delivering goods between customers' warehouses and a depot in large towns:. Newer and better wagons could be used for running long distances between towns, or between the depOt and the works. The expense of a depOt would, however, be too great for one motor carrier, unless he were in an exceptionally large way of business, and my suggestion is, therefore, that three or four, or any other reasonable number, should join together to form a small limited company, each taking a few shares to raise sufficient money for formation expenses, fitting up the depOt with a travelling crane capable of lifting flats weighing about eight tons, for transferring the loads which would be carried on flats from the better

carrying-motors to the distributing ones, and the purchase of the requisite number of second-hand wagons for collecting and distributing. Such a depot would make a capital headquarters for the motor-carrying industry in any town, and would be a most convenient centre for coking up and filling with water. Another very tuseful thing, and one that would soon pay for itself, would he a depot weighing-machine. It is a well-known fact that motor-wagon carriers carry many a ton which is never paid for, owing to lack of facility for weighing. The depot would be in telephonic communication, and customers could thereby make enquiries about loads, and wagon owners would be able to ring up when in need of assistance, whilst supplies of coke and general stores could be kept for the convenience of motor-wagon owners. All services rendered, whether to shareholders or outsiders, would be paid for according to a. scale of charges agreed upon, and the profits divided quarterly amongst the shareholders.

Such_ a scheme as this would, I feel sure, he a great boon to motor-wagon carriers. It would place them on a more-businesslike footing, and would tend to create confidence, besides helping them to get through their work better and in more-reasonable hours, in addition to finding a good use for old wagons. A wagon that would be totally unfit for carrying heavy loads long distances over country roads would be quite equal to its task of travelling a few miles each day over good paved streets. The expense of working these town wagons would be very low, for, in the first place, only one man would be required, and again the oil, fuel, repairs and depreciation accounts would be small, owing to the low mileages that would be run; also, the interest on capital for wagon account would be very low in respect of the hist outlay on a wagon four or five years old, which is not more than £200. Consequently, instead of distributing and collecting with a wagon costing £2 per day, it would be done with one costing from 12s. to 15s. per day.

The formation of such a company would not necessarily mean the finding of a large amount of new capital by the parties joining it; each one as nearly as could be arranged, should have the option of selling or transferring to the company one second-hand motor wagon at a valuation to be fixed by an independent engineer, the amount of the valuation to be al

lotted to him in shares by the company, or, as an alternative, the depot could be a joint affair only, and each contributor could find his own distributing wagons.—Yours faithfully, " OBSERVER."

Inspection and Trial.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.

[1,018] Sir,—I am a new reader of your journal. It is a matter of poignant regret to me that I did not see its contents six months earlier. The second-hand motor is' indeed, a purchase which may lead to trouble, and I want to give my experience. [We have had to abbreviate from this point.—ED.] A man down here told me of a wonderful petrol vehicle, and I trusted him: he rides a motor-bicycle, and has a reputation for general hadiness in mechanics. The van, I was told, could take 10 to 12 cwt. " easily," hut it did not do this more than twice; in fact, I have sent it on the road only 16 days in all. On the second day, with about half-a-ton of sugar, bacon and soap in it, a chain broke and got mixed up with the springs : this caused

one wheel to drag, and the tire was

badly scraped. It also delayed the van for 811 hours. On the third day out, I gave orders to put less weight aboard, as I did not want things to break, but a coupling between the clutch and the gearbox gave out some nine miles from my shop, and it cost 6s. to get it hauled back! This was replaced—after a wait of three days for the new piece—and gave no more bother. On the tenth day, the engine began "to blow" badly, and this got worse, but the " bicycle chap " found what it was and screwed it up. I may say that I only had a young fellow of 18 years, at 15s. a week, as driver, so he could not do much. It was on day No. 16 that the final hitch arose— a big piece of a tire pulled clean out of the rim on a back wheel. This meant that the van bumped along horribly, and that I was asked to pay £8 10s. for a new tire, or, " as the others were so worn," to get a full new set for £27. Now, Sir, r paid £115 for the yen in the first place, and the work it has done is not satisfactory. Do you think I can " see my money back " if I fit new tires, or do you advise me to sell it for what it will fetch—I am offered £60. I wish J had had the thing "vet

ted."—Yours faithfully, "

[We have arranged to look at the van and to advise this correspondent. Similar troubles are inevitable if a pleasure-car chassis be bought for trade loads.—E1).1


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