Answers to Queries.
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Our readers will be informed by the Editor on any points connected with the construction or use Of corninereial 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 motoreab 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.
Wants the Name of a Correspondent. • [2332] (Vendor).—We do not part with the names of correspondents to anybody, but we shall be happy to forward any communication that you may send for the purpose of its being sent to the writer of Query No. 2323 (Salop).
Wants Our Lists of Char-awl:lanes and Motorbus Owners.
[2333] (Bodymaker).We have made up our own lists of motorbus and char-it-banes owners, but we cannot part with them. We regard these, as a publishing house, in exactly the same light that any other trading house regards its lists of customers.
Help in Hire-purchase Contracts.
12334j (Gradual).—One of the best financial groups which take a hand in the hire-purchase of motor vehicles is The British Railway Traffic and Electric Co., Ltd., of 15, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., and we understand that they are still open to take selected risks.
Paying Charges for a Contractor.
[2335] (Liverpool).—We have had pleasure in sending two copies of our sheet of working costs, and we trust these will be of assistance to you. it is usually found by contractors that they have to charge not less than 60 per cent. higher, and in the case of the smaller vehicles 100 per cent. higher, than these costs, which are the outcome of experience on the part of owners who work only for themselves and provide their own loads.
Wants More Than 9d. a Mile for a 25-cwt. Motormail Contract.
[2336] (Tenderer).Our sheet of working costs, of which a copy has been posted to you direct, may be of some assistance in helping you to form your own opinion. Our knowledge of competitive rates leads us to the conclusion that you will have no chance of getting the contract if you ask more than 9d. a. mile. Of course, if you have any special knowledge that you will not be. put in competition, you must act on your own judgment.
Commercial Motors in the U.K.
[2337] (Oil Merchant). The heavy motor vehicles registered at the end of last year were, according to Lord Montagu's figures in " The Gar Illustrated," 12,814 for English counties, 3886 for English county boroughs, 1015 for Scotland, and 290 for Ireland. The total of these is 18,005. The definition of a heavy motorcar is applied only to vehicles which weigh above two tons unladen ; hence, large numbers of light commercial vans are not included in the heavymotor category, although they are strictly trade vehicles. We place the number of light commercial vehicles at about 11.000 for the United Kingdom, and we also place the number of taxicabs, included under ordinary registrations, at not fewer than 12,000 for the U.K. Turning, therefore, to the data for which you ask in your letter, the new figures will be, so far as we can judge : 6000 public-service vehicles ; 12,000 rnotore.abs ; 3300 steam lorries and tractors : 15,000 other trade vehicles, both light and heavy. Hackney motors do include all public-service vehicles, whether motorbuses, chars-hebancs, hotel buses, hire motorcars, or electric tramcars. There are 12,700 electric tramcars in the U.K., and these are included in the
nie hackney-carriage records. They, as well as privatehire motorcars which are let on hire for less than three months, must be deducted from any inclusive hackney-carriage totals.
Tenders Wanted for Benzole.
[2338] (Tramways Manager).—We do not know any large suppliers of benzole whose names are not included in the lists in " The Motor." Messrs. Brotherton, of Leeds, and Messrs. Hardman and Holden, of Miles Platting, Manchester, are probably the parties from whom you will most likely get satisfaction in respect of your requirements, if they have any supplies available. You might also care to write specially to the Del Monte Co., whose address is Watergate House, Adelphi, Strand, W. C., and to the New Oil Refining Co., Ltd., Silvertown, E.
Increased Interest in the Light Van.
123391 (Hundredweight).—There is certainly a rapidly-growing increase of interest in respect of the employment of what may properly be called light vans, that is, four-wheeled, commercial-motor models adequately designed to carry loads of 10 cwt. and less. We have sent. a list of makers who are now producing machines of this type, and we would refer you to a series of articles to which we arc giving current publicity in this journal ; these deal with various aspects of the tradesman's employment of vans of no greater capacity than you state. With regard to your inquiry as to the Ford, this undoubtedly does very well for a net load of 5 cwt. Under certain conditions, it can without doubt be operated at a very low total cost. If used in this capacity, it should certainly be classified as a light van.
Petrel or Steam?
12340] (Quickly).—Our sheet of working costs will enable you to compare the cost of working for a three-ton petrol vehicle with that for a three-ton steam vehicle. The steamer is undoubtedly the cheaper, if that is the only consideration. So far as watering is concerned, we anticipate that, except when the roads are unduly heavy, you should he able to run not less than 24 miles with one of the smaller representative steamers on rubber tires. The cost of rubber tires is certainly not more with a steamer than with a petrol vehicle, as the effect of the greater dead weight of the former is counterbelanced by the smoother application of the power to the road wheels.
We gather that your chief point of difficulty is connected with the possibility of watering delays ; if, therefore, you cannot arrange to eliminate such delays, and to make arrangements on the road or at the termini, especially at the London end, to avoid difficulties of the kind, you may prefer to purchase a petrol vehicle. In our expelience, we should say that you are not. at 40 miles, outside the radius for a. three-ton steamer, provided there is reasonable despatch at the terminal points. A. steamer can maintain the same average as a three-ton .petrol lorry, subject to organization for water supplies—onee per trio each way, and once at the London end.
You might be able to arrange the hire of a rubbertired threeetonner for a week, at so much a mile, and you might care to make a similar arrangement to see whether the petrol vehicle, for your work, had advantages.