ANSWERS TO QUERIES.
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Speed of Trailers.
[4397] (Whalley Range), —A trailer, such as you suggest, is covered .by the patents of the Auto Trailer, Ltd., which was just cominencing to become known when war broke out.
As you rightly surmise, such a vehicle gets over practically every difficulty, as it does not make the hauling vehicle illegal as the ordinary trailer does when the hauling vehicle becomes unable to reverse ; on the other hand, a speed limit of five miles -an hour still applies. However, we notice a number of trailers being used nowadays, and the question of • speed does not seem. to worry the police, and the breach of the law in the Matter of reversibility seems not to disturb them, 'and, in the circumstances, their attitude is undeniably the correct one. •
Steam or Petrol?
[43981 (New Brighton).—In view of your experience, you Would be well advised to stick to a steam wagon. When your business grows, as it should, you could then buy a petrol wagon and engage a driver -for it.
You will probably not be able to get a wagon in better time than that quoted to you, but you would do no harm by writing direct to all the makers. You will find their addresses in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, and do not overlook the Atkinson. We should advise you to have a coke-fired one if you can get it. If you cannot get a new one, advertise for a second-hand
one, and be sure to examine it thoroughly and try'it yourself before you buy._
As to earnings with -a fubber-tyred steamer, and running .300 miles per week, you should have a gross return of £30 per week.
If'you wishto investigate the possibilities of petrol, the Petrol Controller is at 19, Berkeley Street, London, W. 1.
Buying an Obsolete Make.
[4399] (Sturry).—We have not heard of the ClienardWaleker Co. as being a live concern since war broke out. It is, as you probably knoW, a French company, and it is certainly not represented in this country now. From your description and your saying that the Machin is chain-driven, we should put its date back to aoout 1909 or later. They built a machine 75 mm. bare by 120 film. stroke, four-eylindered, selling at
• £235 for the chassis,. in 1909. The 10-12 h.p., with 65
mm. bore and 120 mm, stroke engine, four-cylindered, was introduced in 1912; Chenard-Walckers always had a good reputation,' and you will be the best judge as to whether it is worth while to buy the machine for £25 to convert. With regard to consumption, you ought to be able to reduce this by overhauling the engine and transmission. In any case; your have to consider whether the Petrol Control Department will give you a licence. We understand they are not issuing new petrol licences at all.
Elementary Text Books.
[44001 (Rugeley Camp).—It is highly likely that there is an official handbook on motor transport , issued to officers who are posted to that service, but this, like other military books issued for official purposes, does not get outside of the Service. If you want a book dealing with the mechanism of the inOtor vehicle, the best one is undoubtedly the "Motor Manual," published by Temple Press, 7-15, llosebery Avenue, RC., 'at 2s. and practically ob tainable at any bookstall. Of course, there are dozens of books on motor vehicles, but most of them go into the high technicalities, and we do not think would be of any material use to you in the Service.
Steam Wagon Instruction.
[4401] (Westeliff)—The makers of the White steam car were represented over here by White Motors and
Accessories, Ltd., Concannon Road, Brixton, S.W. Yell might write to them for anyinformation that they can give you. We should think that your best course would be to get time to take some.courses of instruction in steamengine practice, either a-A the .National Steam Car Works, at Chelmsford, or at some vehicle repair shop. D: j. ...Smith and Co., 58, Compton Street, London, E.C. 1, are very qualified steam-car engineers, and probably have had more experience than anybody of the various cars ; you might see if they can assist you in some way:\ There was a series of articles on the • upkeep of steam -wagons in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR running from the 22nd November last to the 31st February. We are shortly publishing—in fact, the book is now in the press—a manual entitled "Steam Wagon Manual,' which will give infbrmation on how to get the best out Of all types of steam road vehicles, maintenance, overhaul, and running and garage repairs.