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Answers to Queries.

9th December 1909
Page 36
Page 36, 9th December 1909 — Answers to Queries.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Our readers will be informed by the Editor on any Points connecied 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 ant answer may be published. Some replies, owing to Pressure on our space, are held several weeks.

Motorvan Licences.

[1,513] " BEDS " writes :—" Can you state what licences are necessary, and cost of same, for a commercial vehicle to be used for furniture removing, etc. P"

ANSWER.—A single payment, of LI, as a registration fee, is all that you have to make. Each driver has also to pay a licence fee of 5s. per annum.

Liability for Damage Caused by a Skid or Side-slip.

L1,514] " HEENE HILL writes :—" I should be greatly obliged if you could inform inc if the owners of a motorbus are liable for damage (caused by skidding) done to a private horsed vehicle, the latter being in its proper place on the roadway; also, if any cases of damage caused by skidding have been decided in the High Courts?"

ANseaat.--Liability is a question of circumstances. The fact that a skid has occurred does not necessarily involve the owner of the motorbus in liability. We would refer you to article in recent issues of this journal; for example, those of the 25th March and 28th October.

Cartage of a Tar Still.

[1,515] " LEEDS" writes :—" We ahonld he glad if you could advise us of a few likely firms who would be prepared to haul a tar-still, 12 ft. 6 in, high by 12 ft. in diameter, and weighing about 7?i tons, from these works to Cardiff."

on could not do better than apply to Messrs. John Kay and Co., carriers and contractors, dorton, near Manchester, who are accustomed to handling tar-stills. Other useful contractors are Mr. D. H. Simpson, of 20, Irwell Street, Salford, Manchester, and Messrs. Willeoekson Bros., Middleton; near Rochdale, whilst, farther from you, there is H. Viney and Co., Ltd., Preston.

About Two-ton Loads.

[1,516] "Liveiteom," writes :—"As an appreciative reader of your useful journal, I should be very pleased for your replies on the following questions, as I.think I see an opportunity for a sound commercial vehicle-a new machine, with probable guarantee (or not). (1) Price of a chassis to carry two tons of load, equipped with tires, and please advise make (single or twin) for back; (2) probable price of painted body for a carrier parcels service; (3) cost of licence for vehicle per annum ; (4) cost of insurance for same ; and (5), working on a mileage of 12,000 per annum, please give.—(a) cost of petrol consumed (or gallons), (1)) cost of oil, and (c) average yearly repair bill, working en a six years' life of machine. I should be very pleased if you could supply the above, so that I may compare capital available with expenditure.''

ANswae.—(1) A two-ton chassis of thoroughly-reliable type, fitted with tires, should cost you between £450 and a:480; (2) a well-made, painted wooden body for carrier parcel service should not. cost you more than L50 ; (3) in the matter of licence, you will require to register the vehicle, for which a charge of 20s. is made by the local council—an ordinary delivery van, such as that about which you are inquiring, is exempt from the wheel tax and the carriage tax ; (4) in the matter of the insurance of your vehicle, you will do well to submit an outline of the work, which it is to undertake during the year, to some established insurance insurance company, such AS the Car and General Insurance Corporation, 1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C. (Liverpool Office is at 2, South John Street); (5) the cost of petrol will amount to about lid. per mile, that of oil, grease, etc., to about 2d. per mile, and you ought to be able to operate the machine at a total cost, for all charges, of about 8d. per mile provided you can find useful work for not less than 250 miles a week. London's Hackney Carriages.

[1,517] " PROMOTED " writes : --" -Will von let me know whether the total of horse-drawn cabs in London is an increasing or a diminishing one?"

ANswee.---It is a diminishing one. The official totals for. two-wheeled and four-wheeled cabs in London are: Two-wheeled. 1904 -. 7,137 1005 ... 6,990 1906 ... 6,648 1907 ... 5,952 1908 .„ 4,826 The respective totals for matorcabs are 1904, 2; 1905,, 19; 1906, 96; 1907, 723; and 1908, 2,805. There are, now over 4,300 motoreabe licensed. Four-wheeled, 3,920 3,935 3,844 3,866 3,649 Total. 11,057 10,931 10,492 ,818 9 8,475 Buying a Good Taxicab.

[l,581 " WALEs writes :—° I have just enough money to buy a good taxicab. Am well up in most cars—four• years of driving. Am told that a good living can be made in London, but I do not know London. Please let me. know best way to start."

ANSWER.— It is difficult to give you all the information you should have in a short reply_ Perhaps it will enable you to formulate definite queries if we tell you that driver-owned taxicabs are able to earn reasonable profits underadvantageous circumstances in London. A good make of machine should not cost more than 4d. a mile to run, providing the owner-driver understands his machine.. Takings, are becoming leas, especially for the older cabs, owing to the increasing numbers on the streets, and 29s. a day represents a good average day's work now. Why not start elsewhere than in London? Begin by getting prices from the Argyll, the Belsize, and the Straker-Squire works.

Fourteen Passengers; 100 Miles a Week.

[1,519] "Loueeeono" writes :—" I shall be glad of your information on the following subject. I am thinking of starting a motorbus, for 12 or 14 passengers and poasibly. some luggage, to run from a country village to market towns, diatancea about six miles in most cases. From what I can see and learn, I could get plenty of passengers, and I am well known in the district. I have had some motor experience, as I have ridden motorcycles for four years, and done my own running repairs and adjustments. I do not want an elaborate and heavy vehicle, and I have worked out the following particulars. Do you consider same would; be suitable?

" Engine, 12 h.p. or 14 h.p. ; tires, pneumatic front, and solid back ; and accumulator ignition I do not want speed, but reliability, as you no doubt are aware. Would you suggest purchasing a second-hand engine and chassis, and to have same put in perfect order, and have a light. body fitted, by some well-known firm, with top and glass. sides for all-weather use t J. may add, I could average weekly in fares, for a total distance of 100 miles. Would you kindly give me the probable cost of upkeep of same, etc., as I shall be guided by your advice and opinion. Thereare not any steep hills in the neighbourhood.

ANSWER.—The cost of upkeep very largely depends on the type of machine you select. Without individual examination, it is impossible to estimate the running costs of a second-hand machine. A small single-deck motorbus, oY any well-known make, to do the work you outline, if properly maintained and carefully used should not cost more than 61-,d. per car-mile for a weekly mileage of „say, 250-300' miles, but 100 miles is a very low mileage for the week, and, unless you could increase this, we fear you will have little chance of making this a paying service on total reeeipts of £3 a week.

Tags

Organisations: Liverpool Office
People: D. H. Simpson

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