Answers to Queries.
Page 20
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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 advertisement columns are open to those who desire to make announcements to
owners for the purposes of trade.
Which Tires of Four Named ?
[2341] (Ardwell).—The four tires which you mention -can be classed as of equal excellence, as all of them stand up well in service.
Does He Pay 15s. or 25 18s.?
[2M2] (Rent).—If the vehicles in question nave been used as hackney carriages, you are undoubtedly liable, under the Motor Car Act of 1896, to pay the difference of which you are advised by the Controller for Kent.
A 55-mile Trip with 8 Tons Each Way.
[2343-; (Newbury).—As compared with our standard working costs, you must charge considerably more, as contractors, and you ought to see a revenue of not less than Is. 6d. per mile run, and if possible 2s. per mile run, for the trip which you mention. The double trip will probably take you three days.
British Subsidy Terms.
[2344] (Oil Works).—With reference to your inquiry 118 to the British War Office subsidy terms, the total :subsidy which is offered is .f.:110, and this is payable half yearly in arrears over a term of three years. There is a so-called purchase subsidy of £50, but -this is only paid half yearly in arrears ; it is not a payment down towards the cost of the vehicle. The vehicles cost more than standard similar load-carrymodels at the outset, but both the smaller and the larger models will carry higher loads than the 30 cwt. and the three-ton specified respectively by the War Office. They are very stoutly constructed.
.Discarded Private Chassis: Tire Fillings.
[234J.I (Market).—We should not care to estimate 'exactly the running cost for a 20 h.p. -chassis to be mei for the loads which you mention. We do not ..recommend the purchase of a pleasure ear for such work, and our experience with fillings for pneumatics *has been unsatisfactory. On the other hand, as you .can buy a car at so low a price as £90. complete with van body, you might care to risk it. You must realize that the chassis will be overloaded, but perhaps you are arranging to have it geared down a little. Without committing ourselves to the 'figure, -we should say that, inclusive of ordinary pneumatics, you should be able to run it at an outgo for oil, petrol, tires, and maintenance of about 41d, per mile. You must add depreciation, insurance, proportion of rent and interest. Why not buy a new 10-cwt. van ?
Accurate Horse Costs.
[2346] (Sales Manager).—There are great difficulties in the way of getting accurate horse costs. Re'cords in our possession show that for the smaller vehicles the cost is seldom appreciably below is. per ton-mile of useful work, although it undoubtedly falls as low as 4d. per net ton-mile when heavier loads can be taken, and when conditions are favour
able. The best data. of this kind in respect to brewers' performances are those which we published in our issue of the 24th October, 1912, on pages 158-159, to which we beg to refer you. We regret that this issue is out of print. It shows, in the case of a wellmanaged London brewery (Mann, Crossman and Paulin, Ltd.) that the horse costs, inclusive of proportion of returned empties, can seldom be cut down as low as 2d. per barrel per mile. There are also data for and from, brewers in our issue of the 29th. May last.
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The Next Big Show.
[23,17j (Pianofortes).—There will probably be no exhibition of commercial motors in London until the :milliner of 1916. A number of representative types will be exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show, at Shrewsbury, during the first week in July. There may also be a good exhibition in Manchester next January.
Wants to Hire at Liverpool.
[2348] (Produce).—We think that you can rnost probably make hiring arrangements with Messrs. J. Blake and Co., of Dale Street, Liverpool, or Leyland Motors, Ltd., whose Liverpool depot is in Vauxhall Road, but whose principal business is conducted direct from the works at Leyland. If you want to hire merely for odd jobs, you will no doubt be ablc to make arrangements with some Liverpool mastercarter, such as Messrs. John West and Sons, ba Chapel Chambers North, Chapel Street, Liverpool.
Relative Popularity of Final-drive Types.
[2349] (Brussels).—At the last Olympia Show, ot. 143 machines, the following final drives were to be noted : 61 bevel ; 42 chains; 29 worm and worm wheel ; 12 internally-toothed ring. The internal-gear method of final drive is not popular with British truck designers. A bevel-gear reduction, incorporating double-reduction spur wheels, for machines to carry loads of 21 tons or upwards, appears to be practice that is becoming increasingly favoured.
Bexley Heath to London, May to July.
[2350] (Nurseryman).--We recommend you to consmunicate with the undernoted contractors :— French's Garage and Motor Works, Ltd., 314, High Road, Balhani, S.W.
Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., Broad Sanctuary Chambers, Westminster, S.W. Yorke, Stoneham and Jones, Ltd., Shere Road, Deptford, S.E. We think it would probably serve your purpose better if you made the initial test by contract. You will have to pay, on a hiring basis, about double the cost per mile run that is experienced by owners who provide their own work exclusively, all the year round, for their own vehicles.
Taxicab Working Costa.
[2351] (Buyer).—It is some time since we published costs for a motorcab, but we find that we then gave the following figures