Answers to Queries.
Page 18
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Our readers soill be infmned by Ike 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 jor privacy is not specially made, any query anl answer may be published. Some replies, owing to Pressure on our space, are held several weeks.
Liveries for Drivers.
[1,530] " CAD PROPRIETORS " write:—' We shall be greatly obliged if you will let us know who is the best firm to obtain liveries from for taxicab drivers. No doubt. you are aware we are running several in this district, and shall be glad to know which firm is the best to deal with for these requirements."
ANsweR.—This correspondent should apply to Alfred Dunhill, Ltd., 145, Euston Road, W.C.; Carnage's, Ltd., Holborn, EC., and Hoare and Sons, Ltd., 254, High Holborn, W.C.
Records of Mileage and Cost.
[1,531] " Heim " writes:—" I am wanting to keep an exact account of mileage and cost of my motor tractor, for the purpose of entering for parade next year. May I ask you to be good enough to send me all necessary particulars, and much oblige:. Do I need to procure any special forms, or a record book?"
Axswee.—There is really no difficulty in your securing the information you want. Your driver should make a return to you each night of the loads taken, and the points between which the loads were conveyed. Whoever has charge of your stores should make a similar return as to fuel, lubricants, and sundry stores issued. A clerk in the office could then enter these in a book, ascertain the mileages and extend the costs, which will be necessary, apart from any inward invoices, as you will evidently draw most of your supplies from stocks which are used for various purposes. The replacement and spare parts will go through the books in the ordinary way, and you can thus obtain the total cost, including wages, and divide it by the total mileage, which will give you the cost per mile run. We disapprove the use of elaborate books or forms.
A Wagon for South America.
[1,532] " J.A.C." writes :—" I have been asked by a friend in South America, to make inquiries about a motor wagon for haulage of not more than five tons at a time over a distance of 40 miles. The road is little hotter than a good mule-track, smoothened, at present, as far as possible; in winter or rainy season, it is exceptionally bad. with possible gradients of 1 in 6. I should very greatly appreciate your opinion on the following points : " (I) Petrol or steam? Petrol procurable, but rather expensive.
Plenty of wood at band for fuel, but all coke, etc., would have to be fetched.
" (2) At present, everything has to be carried the 40 miles by mules, at an average cost of 1:10 per ton, but this increases considerably as the load increases. I therefore presume a lorry would be considerably cheaper.
" (3) Horse-power advisable. " (4) Transmission (chain or otherwise). (5) The names oi two or three firms who would be most likely to suit my requirements. " The machine would also have to saw wood, and it would be advisable to have winding gear."
Arm-INF:R.—We cannot do better than refer you to our " Overseas Special issue," and to suggest that you send it out to your friend. The conditions you name are extremely severe, and we doubt very much if loads as heavy as five tons could be taken—unless they are of a very dense and compact nature. He is, of course, working against a high existing cost, and that is in favour of the motor. When you have perused the issue named above, we shall be happy to answer auy further queries.
Municipal Motors.
[1,533] " A SURREY SURVEYOR writes : " I have read with interest your remarks in TEE. COMMERCIAL MOTOR for 9th December as to the increasing use of motors and steam wagons by municipal authorities. This council is considering the desirability of purchasing a steam wagon for general-haulage and street-watering purposes, and I shall be glad if you will kindly inform me the names of some municipal authorities who own such wagons and use them for the purposes above mentioned. I desire to get into communication with them as to their financial results of eorking. I more particularly require suburban and country districts, in preference to those of large towns, as in the large towns the work would be hardly similar to our own, where it would be principally haulage in the winter and street watering in the summer."
ANSWER.—You cannot do better than communicate with the borough engineers at Twickenham, Richmond, and Wandsworth, as they are on your line to London. Their experience, whilst in more-populous areas, should provide suitable information.
Starting a Fleet of 50 to 75 Taxicabs.
[1,534] " Newcouse. " (London) writes:—" Will you please answer the following questions:— " (1) How many days will a taxicab be off the road in London, if it be one of a fleet of 50, and if the fleet be properly managed? "(2) What are the safe earnings per cab per day?
" (3) How much per mile do the pneumatic tires cost? "(4) Which parts break down most frequently? " (5) What ought an engineer-manager to get per annum for managing such a fleet? " (6) Can you give me an idea of the necessary staff to run 50 cabs?"
ANSWER.—The following replies concern a fleet of 50 cabs:—
(1) You should allow 35 days off per annum, to provide for inspections and overhauls, repairs due to accidents, and relicensing; (2) You should not reckon on more than 27s. per day gross, although, with care, this should be exceeded, and some means should be taken to secure the payment-in by drivers of extras; (3) Tire contracts are being made at anything between 1.23d. per mile run and 1.5d. per mile run, inclusive of inner tubes, according to circumstances, with a probable reduction by March or April; (4) The parts which give most trouble vary with the type of machine selected, and it is quite impossible to make any general statement, except that most of the trouble is due to bad driving; (5) An engineer and manager should be obtained at £250 per annum, his duties to cover all technical matters, and control of the drivers and mechanics, but not to include secretarial and chief-clerk's work. which might be put at £150 per annum, and cover the general business control, cash, traffic, and costing ; (6) For 50 cabs, you would want a shed foreman, at S.:2 15s. per week, three mechanics at 35s. each per week, three mates at 18s. each per week, one filler and greaser at 18s. per week. four night washers at 25s. each per week, four night cleaners at iSs. each per week, a night watchman and timekeeper at 25s. per week, and a day storekeeper— according to organization; add, for the lamp room, two boys at 8s. per week, and occasional odd assistance for coachwork and coppersmithing, etc. ; add, also, general clerical staff, inspectors, and trainers of drivers, if wanted.