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THE ADVANTAGES OF RECORDING MILEAGE.
Page 135
Page 136
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How Accurate Distance-checking Instruments Assist the Careful Owner in Running His Vehicles on an Economical System.
FOR each journey . made by a coramercial motor there is necessarily a corresponding expenditure on the part of the owner in petrol, lubricants, tyres and wages—not to mention the cost of general chassis and body maintenance. Thus, if the operator is to keep a careful watch on the working costs of his vehicles it is essential that he should have an efficient means for checking his outlay per mile on each item. This, of course, is the foundation of all economical systems of transport by road motor.
In spite of the fact that these rules, as they may well be termed, are generally known to all classes of operator, it is surprising to note that only a comparatively small number of vehicles is fitted with any type of instrument for the purpose of recording mileage. We learn on good authority, however, that the use of such devices by operators of large fleets is far more general than it was even a year or so ago, but the average small owner still seems to overlook their values.
When considering the use of an instrument of this kind particular attention ,should be paid to its standard of accuracy and to its ability to stand up to the strain of excessive vibration. This is especially so where those recarders generally known as hub odometers are concerned, this, of course, being due to the fact that they are not normally insulated from road shocks by springing. However, the great majority of hub odometers now on the market more than live up to the claims made for them by their manufacturers. We stress this point because should the mileage-recording instrument pecome damaged or inaccurate through excessive wear or strain, the owner's carefully compiled records immediately become not a little upset, for obvious reasons. There are, however, several manufacturers of mileage recorders who, in order to guard against such an occurrence, make a point of loaning service instruments to their customers should it prove necessary.
A firm which specializes in this class of recorder is Messrs P. E. Dickinson, St. Andrew's House, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.1, whose Veeder hub odometers have gained an excellent reputation with many users of commercial vehicles. Messrs. Dickinson are now handling a new model of this device, which sells at the reasonable price of £3 10s. to £5, according to the size re quired. A feature of this product, which forms a complete hub cap for the vehicle, is that it is hermetically sealed and washered to prevent grease from penetrating to the fine recording mechanism. A special, patented stuffingbox also assists in this direction. The Veeder can withstand heavy vibration, and it incorporates a special eccentric which operates a minute ball clutch by means of a pawl in order that the speed of its transmission shaft may be reduced from about the normal 450 revolutions per mile travelled by the vehicle to one revolution in the same period. The effect on the life of the instrument is, of course, enormous.
We also understand that the Veeder can be supplied in a special form so that the recording mechanism and .dial can be carried on the chassis frame. The concern likewise markets a model of this device which is expressly intended for use with Fords and which sells at £4.
Pipaults, Ltd., King's Road, St. Paucras, London, N.W.1, has also re cently introduced to commercial users a recorder of a new pattern. This instrument is notable for its neatness of design and its large, easily read figures It is suitable for fitting to the dashboard, the floor or the chassis frame of a vehicle, being thus free from unduly heavy vibration, and is driven by a cable, which is impervious to grease, from the gearbox, the cardan shaft, or from a front wheel, as desired. The cable speeds of the machine are low, thus ensuring long-wearing qualities, and, as is usual with most mileage recorders, it can be sealed against tampering. It is interesting to note that this compact and workmanlike instrument is priced at £5 5s. The company, of course, is still marketing its established range of other instruments for this particular work.
The maker of Davenport mileage recorders, Davenport Accessories, Ltd., 105, Clerkenwell Road, London, E.C.1, is making a special feature of service for users of its tailshaft-driven recorder. It It will doubtless be recalled that the machine, which has been fully described in The Commercial Motor, is driven by a comparatively massive worm and wormwheel, which run on ball bearings in a form of oil-bath. Consequently, the wear in this part of the fit
relent is almost negligible. We understand that the R.A.S.C. is a satisfied user of these recorders, which, incidentally, can be provided to be driven by other convenient methods, if required, and which costs up to £5, according to whether or not it be fitted with cable drive to the chassis frame or to a bracket. The company's hub odometer and other mileage recorders are also well-known to commercial users and provide an attractive range at reasonable prices.
Having specialized for some years in this class of .instrument the SpeedoMeter Supply Co., Ltd., 12, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, is in a position well to meet the needs of all classes of operators in this connection. The company makes a feature of its hub odometers, of which it can supply different types to suit almost all popular makes of vehicle, from the Ford tonner to the machines of Dennis, Karrier and other makes. The instruments sell at reasonable prices from £1 17s. 6d. to £5 5s., a model to suit the Morris tormer being marketed at £3. The maker states that these machines, of which wormdriven patterns can also be supplied, cannot be tampered with and register whether the vehicle be travelling forward or backward.
Recorders which come under a somewhat different category from those mentioned above are those incorporating the mechanism to take a circular daily chart, which shows the operator exactly how the vehicle has been used during the course of the day's duties. Servis mileage recorders, marketed by Brame() (1920), Ltd., St. Nicholas Street, Coventry, come into this class, and have proved their worth for facilitating the work of the owner and his staff in compiling accurate details concerning general running and mileage. The price of the Servis is £7 10s., and it is supplied complete with locks and keys, fixing screws and 100 daily charts. The Mechanical and General Inventions Co., Ltd., 10, Charles Street, London, S.W.1, manufactures another instrument which comes under this heading. This is the well-known Controlograph, which has already been fully dealt with in our columns. The device appears to be mainly suitable for use on public-service vehicles, although it should prove very useful in other spheres of work. A new model, known as the I.S.R., has recently been pro duced and is a combined chart-type mileage and performance recorder and a remarkably efficient speedometer. This company's recorders are guaranteed under certain conditions for five years and free service is provided for them, if necessary. The prices at first sight appear somewhat high, but this is not the case when one considers the quality of the products, We are informed that the I.S.R. Controlograph sells at £18 18s., the well-known A.T.I. vibration-actuated model at 115 15s., and the Magic pattern at £9 17s. 6d. To return to the hub odometer form of distance recorder, there is also the Are, which is marketed by Tyer and Co., Ltd., Ashwin Street, Dalston, London, RS. This incorporates several refinements, including a patent universal spring drive, which greatly assists the machine to resist tire ill-effects of vibration, all the aide shaking and end-play being absorbed by the spring before reaching the indicating mechanism. The machine is also specially lubricated, and has a conical ball-thrust race, which is claimed to take off all wear caused in the centre spindle of the recorder by the eccentricity of the road wheel. The device is also effectively protected against the creeping of oil into the indicator dial.
5. Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories) Ltd., Cricklewood Works, London, N.W.2, caters for the demand for a highclass recorder suitable for fitting to the dashboard or to some other convenient place. Those produced by this company are of a very neat and strong design and should prove eminently suitable for use in up-to-date saloon coaches and in vehicles built to similar standards. The concern markets both the plain mileage recorder at £4 5s. and the combined speedometer recorder at .f.6.
Brown Bros., Ltd., the well-known accessory factor, markets several types of mileage recorder, and prominent amongst these is the AN, hub odometer. This is of a particularly heavy type, and Is constructed so as to be able to under
go without any ill-effect the sudden road shocks and vibrations associated with the heaviest Commercial work. The A.T. is a compact and neat job, having a wellshaped gunmetal casing, and it sells at £4 15s. 'smaller model is also marketed for lighter work, the cost of this being £3 35s.
Super Dreadnought hub odometers, which are marketed by Henry Miller and Co., Mileometer Works, Walmer Road, London, W.11, are exceptionally, strongly constructed, a feature being the mounting of the main spindle in each instrument on a Hoffmann ball journal race. Another advantage is the special protecting cover which is fitted in addition to the hub cap. The flexible drive of the instrument makes it suitable for use with all types of stub axle. Dreadnought recorders to suit Ford and Morris vehicles are priced at £3 105. each, whilst those for use with other • makes are sold at £4 10s. .
The name of Rotherham and Sons, Ltd., of Coventry, is particularly well known in connection with this kind of device, and its Bonniksen distance recorders are popular with.all classes of user. In this case, the instrument is intended to be fitted to a front hub cap, the prices ranging from £2, for the recerder only, to £2 13s. 6d. for the model complete with hub cap, to suit Morris tonners.
A most extensive range of this class of equipment is manufactured by the Cooper-Stewart Engineering Co. Ltd., 136-137, Long Acre, London, W.C.2. Prominent in this range are the models M3 and M4, both being combined recorders and speedometers. The former type is for heavy work and is priced at £6 15s., whilst the latter pattern is intended for use with lighter vehicles and costs £4 15s,