Answers to Queries.
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Which Steamer of Three Cited?
[3019] (Royston).—The Clayton, Garrett and Allehm makes, as you surmise, should give you practically the same good service. You can safely let the deciding factor be that of delivery date.
Seeking Commissions.
[3020] (Private).—We advise you to be content with the transfer, which you have obtained, to the corps for which you are qualified. You will not have any chance of obtaining a commission by payment, but only by good service and promotion.
, [3021] (Corporal).—Commissions are granted on the recommendation of the officer commanding any particular unit. You had, therefore, better go to see your commanding officer on the subject. The only alternative is to get some friend, who has influence with an officer in command of another unit, to apply to his own O.C. to permit a transfer with the same object in view.
"Reasonably Early Delivery" of a Steam Wagon.
[3022] (Works).—It is extremely difficult to know who can give you delivery just now. We recommend you to try the undermentioned makers, as being amongst the most likely :— Wm. Allchin Ltd., Globe Works, Northampton.
Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., Leiston. Alley and MacLellan, Ltd., Shrewsbury.
If any other makers keep us advised of their dates for delivery, we shall publish them.
Magneto: Starting-up Difficulty.
[3023] (Quandary).—We can express no personal opinion on the qualities of the " Swiss" magneto. Bosch magnetos are obtainable from the company's depot in Store Street., Tottenham Court Road, W. If you ordered a Bosch magneto, you are, of course, entitled to have one fitted, although we cannot see the connection between the magneto and the back wheels. It appears to us that any diffieulty in starting, which is remedied by jacking up one of the back wheels, must be due to faulty adjustment of the clutch, which apparently does not disengage properly, or is out of line.
Two-fuel Carburetters and Fittings.
[3024] (Maker).—We recommend you to get in touch with the undermentioned makers of two-fuel carburetters:—
Lawrence King and Co., Ltd., 122, Alma Street, Birmingham. S. Smith and Sons (M.A.), Ltd., 179-185, Great Portland Street, W.
Messrs. C. Binks, Ltd., Phcenix Works, Church Street, Eccles, Manchester. We think they are more promising than others whichwork entirely on paraffin, and they are as a fact types which are now receiving much attention. They are offering for general sale. Particular makers, including Albion, Leyland and Thornycroft, have their own fittings for vehicles of their respective makes.
Rates According to Class of Service.'
[3025] (Ownar-driver).—We have mailed to you direct one of our standard cost sheets. War conditions have now brought'un the running costs for the mileages shown by 30 per cent, in respect of petrol vehicles. Also, these costs concern owners who provide their own loads. No contingencies such as have to be covered by a contractor are included. We recommend you not to contract with a 1-ton van on a lower basis than 8d. per mile rim in conjunction with a minimum daily mileage of 50 miles. Similarly, for
B52
the 1-ton van, is. per mile, with the same minimum mileage. If the minimum mileages cannot be respectively realized, we recommend you to obtain payment by the hour, for waiting if excessive, or for delay, if the mileage per hour does not exceed eight miles, on the basis of 4s. 6d. per hour for a 10-ewt. van, and 7s. per hour for a 1-ton van. There is no fixed rule about loading or unloading. A porter generally accompanies any van an distribution, the said porter being paid by the people who give the loads, if the loads are obtained from a shop or factory. If you have to provide a second man, you must, of course, cover his wages additionally.
Two-fuel Carburetters for Motorbuses: Use of • Trailers in Passenger Service.
[3026] (Charl-bancs).—You will be all right in buying a Binks' set from C. Binks, Ltd., Eccles, Lanes., including an "anti-pinker" for each cylinder. The trouble is to get delivery. You should also certainly apply to the under-mentioned makers of alternative sets :—
Lawrence King and Co., Ltd., 122 Alma Street, Birmingham. S. Smith and Sons (M.A.), Ltd., 179-185, Great Portland Street, W. It is not lawful to use a trailer in a passenger service, unless the trailer weighs not more than. 2 cwt. unladen ; there is then no new speed limit. Proposals for fresh legislation are before the Local Government Board, on the recommendation of the Commercial Motor Users Association, but it is not yet known when action will be taken on those recommendations. The actual wording, which was put forward by the Editor, as the C.M.U.A. witness before the L.G.B. Expert Committee, reads as follows
Heavy Motor Car Order, Section 5.—That, in order to get-over a practical difficulty which arises in many country motorbus and char-a-banes services, where it is commonly found that passengers bring an excess of luggage, and cannot be stopped doing so, resulting in the piling of this luggage on the canopy with consequential risk that the vehicle will become top-heavy, legal sanction shall be given for the following clauses :
" The unrestricted use of a trailer, without brakes and without reduction of speed below that which is leyal for the heavy motorcar to which it is attaeaed, for the conveyance of luggage only, behind a passenger-carrying heavy motorcar, provided the unladen weight of such trailer does not exceed 10 cwt.., shall be permitted.
" It shall be legal for any motorbus or other passenger-carrying heavy motorcar to draw one passenger-carrying vehicle on routes which include no gradient of greater inclination than 1 in 122 "