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Answers to Queries.

28th March 1912, Page 17
28th March 1912
Page 17
Page 17, 28th March 1912 — Answers to Queries.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Van, Renault

Our readers will be informed by the Editor on any points connected with the construction or use of commercial motors. Where a direct rePly is desired, a stamped and addressed envelope should be enclosed : if a request for privacy is not specially made, any query and answer may be published. Some replies, owing to pressure on our space, are held several weeks. Numerous requests reach us for lists of motorcab and commercial.vehicle owners ; these we never supply. Our adverli,ement columns are open to thus OW desire to make announcements to owners for the purposes of trade.

Renault Cabs by Hire Purchase.

[1952] " INTENDING BUYER " writes Reading in your COMMERCIAL MOTOR that. a company has been formed to supply Renault taxicabs on the hire-purchase system, and that it is called the Empire Taxicab Co., I should feel extremely obliged if you could give the address."

ANS WER. —Robert Bell, Ltd., Horseferry Road, -Westminster, S.W.

Please Refer to Our Advertisement Pages.

[1953] " EXPORT MERCHANTS (addressing us as " The Commercial Motor Wagon Co.") write :—" We have an inquiry for a motor wagon of about four tons, and shall be pleased to receive any catalogues which you may send to us."

ANSWER.—We are not manufacturers of motor wagons, but we are sending to you under separate cover a copy of our current issue, in which you will find that vehicles of the load capacity named are advertised.

Cheap Machines for Refuse Collection.

[1954] " DENNISON " writes :—" We have an export inquiry for some low-priced motor chassis which are suitable for dust and refuse carrying. We shall be greatly obliged if you will kindly advise us of the name of some likely manufacturers specializing in this line."

AN SW ER. —You cannot obtain good chassis which are offered at a low price, and which yet are suitable for the class of work mentioned. We strongly recommend you, in connection with this inquiry, to get into communication with the manufacturers mentioned in the separate list which has been sent to you. All these makers are likely to be able to offer you quotations.

Co-operative Delivery in a Colonial City.

[1935] "COLONIAL ORGANIZER" writes Just a

few lines to ask your advice as offered in your journal, under the heading of expert opinions, etc. "I have in view a co-operative delivery scheme, which I know has been tried in one or two places in America, and proved a great success. The idea is that various merchants in a town put their heads together, and, instead of each having separate delivery vans, they arrange a co-operative system by which all goods are carried to a central depot, and then distributed throughout the city. By this means, two or three different tradesmen do not have their carts going out only half full to one suburb, or running two miles to deliver one parcel. By this method, too, they are able to give more frequent and prompt delivery. besides which the cost per delivery is cut down about 100 per cent. or more.

" Now, I want to work a similar scheme here, but my idea is not to do it on actual co-operative lines, as this would require more trouble in organizing the retailers, and getting them all to be of one mind. Hence, my idea is to get the vans myself, and to run the busi ness in that way. I should call it a co-operative scheme, and give rebates at the end of the year, so as to ensure the loyalty of my customers, and to let them feel they had an interest in the concern. " One American system, of which I have details on my desk, was conducted with horses, butthat was in a small town of about 25,000 inhabitants. Here, we have a city of about 90,000, and the whole district for miles around is as fiat as a pancake, so that it lends itself in unrivalled manner for motor delivery. " In order to try this plan out on the mosteconomical basis, I had an idea of endeavouring to get hold of, say, three second-hand motor delivery vans of 20 or 25 cwt, load capacity. I thought of having them inspected by your engineering dfipartment, in London, and I judge that, if I secured 'Models not more than two years old, they should be suitable for my purposes, and, if they had not had too much use, 1 should get ample value out of them.

" It would cost me over ,100 to land 25 (mt. chassis here, and the bodies. would cost about another .e70 to build locally, so that, if I could secure reliable cars at home for £250 or £300. it is going to make a big difference to my capital outlay. I will be glad to have your opinion as to the advisability or otherwise on working with second-hand cars. Also

"(b) Are there any records of ansr similar scheme at home, arid, if so, can you give me a-ny indication of the earnings, or the mannsr in which the scheme has been hacked up by local retailers? One or two retail friends here have advised me that the scheme would pay well.

"(c) What would be the more suitable machines for my purpose? I presume any of the reliable makes, such as Halley, Lucre, Commie-, Albion, etc. ?

" Any information you can give along these lines, either directly or through your valued journal, will be appreciated."

AsswEa.—It is extremely difficult to advise you in regard to co-operative delivery schemes, because you may not he handicapped in your country by the innate conservatism which holds sway over here. Cooperative schemes, in regard to transport, generally break down because one farmer or trader does not like to let his neighbour know where he is delivering. Co-operative collection and delivery to a common depot, for later sale in the market centres, has been in a measure successful over here, in regard to dairy produce, eggs, etc., hut it has been a matter of slow growth. You might he able to obtain information as to that from the Agricultural Organization Association, of Queen Anne's Chambers, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W., and we have asked the secretary to post out to you a copy of the last annual report.

We are afraid that you may find the same jealousies amongst shop-keepers as those which have caused delays over here amongst farmers and dairymen. If you Huy the vans, of course, you would merely be acting as a carrier, and any rebate system would merely be incidental to the ordinary trading. Any purchases over this side would have to be made fur es:sir You might be able to pick up a few secondhand vans in good condition, but it is a matter of excsptional difficulty. We would not undertake the purchase for you, although we would undertake inspection before shipment.

It is quite out of the question to estimate earnings, but you would certainly need to see a revenue for a one-ton van of not less than fid. per mile run, if there were to be any profit in it for you.

The four names which you mention are quite good. and there are others equally good. You can probably rely upon picking up a secondhand van chassis, without tires, suitable for one-ton loads, at about £200 each, as a maximum, but you would not find very many of them offering.

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People: Anne
Locations: Reading, London

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