Answers to Queries.
Page 16
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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.
FURNITURE REMOVER.•*—Your communication has been forwarded to " Sergeant-Major."
[1.441] " S.C.asks :—" Can you recommend a good insurance office for motor-vehicle risks ANSWER.—We recommend you to insure with the Car and General Insurance Corporation Ltd., 1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., whose announcements regularly appear in this journal (foot of front cover).
Particulars of Regulations.
:1.442] " STAFFORDSHIRE writes :—' As a reader of
your very useful journal, I should be much obliged if you would let me know how to procure information regarding road laws in connection with commercial motors, both steam and petrol, for heavy loads of five tons or upwards. Also, do you think it would be possible for me to hire a five-ton steam wagon and driver from some maker or contractor as a preliminary test for hauling coal in this district? If I could do this, I should be able to test the practicability of motor haulage here on a small expense."
ANSWER.—You may get much of the information you want by sending sixpence in stamps to the Secretary, Commercial Motor Users' Association, 1, Albemarle Street, W., and asking for the pamphlet prepared by the Association in the year 1905.
With regard to your second query, you could not do better than ask Mr. D. H. Simpson, of 20, Irwell Street, Salford, Manchester, who will probably give you a quotation. Alternatively, you might write to Fodens, Ltd., Elworth Works, Sandbach.
Return Taxicab Fares (Metropolis).
[1,443] "SURREY " writes :—" Would you kindly answer the following question? I hired a Napier taxicab from the West End, and instructed the man to drive to Hampton Court, a distance of about 12 miles. On arriving at Hammersmith, the driver demanded half-fare back ; otherwise, he said, he would not take us the journey. Is this a correct thing for the driver to do ? I ask this because other taxicab drivers have never asked for any more fare on other occasions."
AxswEn.—A Home Office Order, dated 30th December, 1907, re Hackney Stage Carriages in Metropolitan and City Police districts, Part IV, paragraph 37, reads as follows: " The driver of a cab shall not be compelled to drive for more than six miles; and, if hired by time, shall not be compelled to drive for more than one hour." The latter part of the paragraph evidently applies to horsed cabs, although it is probably applicable to cabs fitted with combined time-and-distance recorders. We are of opinion that, in the instance you quote, the driver had no right to claim half-fare back to Hanunersmith. A driver is not bound by the same schedule of fares outside the Metropolitan Police area ; Hampton Court is within this area. In the official schedules of fares (K. and L.) attached to the above Order, no mention is made of the old four-mile radius in the taximeter rates. These rates apply throughout the Metropolitan Police district (450,000 acres).
The driver in question evidently considered he was not bound to drive you farther than the old four-mile boundary, which is now only applicable to cabs not fitted with a fare-recording apparatus. He was not bound to drive you farther than six miles, or for a longer time than one hour, but, in the event of his consenting to drive farther, or for a longer time, within the police district, he had no right whatever to claim an increased fare for so doing. Under 16 and 17 Vict., Cap. 33, Sec. 4: " A driver cannot demand or receive, over and above his fare, any sum for or by way of back fare for the return of his carriage from the place at which it was discharged." It is presumable that this applies throughout the police district; outside that, the driver is not bound to proceed, and we presume can make a contract of his own, which may or may not include "back money." 1 and 2 W. 4, Cap. 22, Sec. 43, reads : " No agreement for the payment of more than the proper fare is binding on the person making it, and such person may on discharging the carriage refuse the payment of any sum beyond the proper fare."
About Second-hand Motors.
[1,444] " IRELAND " writes :—" Would you be kind enough to give us the names of one or two firms who sell second-hand motor wagons and tractors?"
ANswEn.-It is sometimes possible to obtain good second-hand tractors from manufacturers: you could not do better than apply to the following : Charles Burrell and Sons, Ltd., Thetford; William Foster and Co., Ltd., Lincoln; Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., Orwell Works, Ipswich, If you want petrol vehicles, you should address Martins, Ltd., of Bow Bridge, E. For steam wagons, try the" Sundry Advertisement pages of this journal.
Wheel and Tire Dimensions.
[1,4451 "A Hinz USER" writes :—" We shall probably have to renew the wheels of our Yorkshire steam wagon very shortly, and we hear there may be legislation on the subject of breadth of tires and diameter of wheels. We do not want to renew the wheels and then to find that within 12 months we have to get new wheels again to comply with the new laws. Can you advise us on the matter. The unloaded weight is 4 tons 19 cwt.; axleweights, 4 tons and 8 tons."
ANswaa.—We note the unladen weight and axle-weights of your Yorkshire wagon. There is no margin, under the present Act, for any material increase. Further, as any alteration in the Heavy Motor Car Order, when it does come, will certainly exempt existing owners, you need have no fear On the matter. We would suggest that you ask whoever is undertaking the supply of the new wheels to fit 12 in. tires on the back ones, provided the weight will not be brought up to an illegal total, i.e., above 5 tons will not be brought up to above 5 tons unladen.
One Day's Work.
[1,446] " H.A.C." writes :—" I am very much interested in the series of articles on 'One day's work.' Will you please refer me to those which you published several years ago, as I want to look up one which gave the experiences of a member of your staff upon a steam wagon on agricultural-organization service in the West of England."
ANSWER.The first articles on road tests under service conditions appeared in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR as under, the makers' names being added in parentheses :—
1.-6th April, 1905 " An afternoon with a delivery van " (Dennis). 2.-13th April, 1905: "A record trip—London to Swansea " (Lacre). 3.-25th May, 1905: " Harrod's Stores make a test" (Dougill). 4.-21st September, 1905: "Increased power for the Brighton road " (Scheibler). 5.-28th December, 1905: "Motor-aided commercial travellers ; a day with Mr. Mark Mayhew's chief representative " (de Dion-Bouton).
6.-18th January, 1906: "The rival of the light railway: a day's work in the Teme Valley" (Yorkshire).— [This is the one our correspondent has in mind.—En.]
7.—Lith July, 1906: "The field of the motor coach " (Durham-Churchill). 8.-19th July, 1906: "The motorbus in the service of the tourist " (Milnes-Daimler).