Answers to Queries.
Page 20
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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 tor privacy is not specially made, any query and answer may be Published. Some replies, owing to pressure on our space, are held several weeks.
Motorcar Manufacturers.
L1,571] " MOTHERWELL '' writes:—" We shall be glad if you will kindly let us know if there is any directory or other publication of any kind which gives the names and addresses of all motorcar builders in Great Britain? "
Astswen.—We are not aware of the existence of any such directory; if you purchase last Tuesday's issue of " The Motor," dated the 15th inst., you will practically find the whole of the representative manufacturers in the advertisement pages of that issue, which is a special number.
Motorbus Steering Gears.
[1,572] " LONDONER " writes:—" I should be extremely obliged, if you could give me an answer on a point in motor-omnibus design upon which I have had several arguments with friends. The point is whether a motoromnibus steering gear is so constructed that, in the event of anything striking the road wheels or the front axle, the steering wheel can be torn out of the driver's hands, or whether, as all steering gears are constructed on the worm-and-segment principle, they are irreversible, wherefore no road shocks are transmitted to the steering wheel?"
ANSWER.— For all practical purposes, steering gears of the worm-and-segment pattern are irreversible, although a severe blow to a front road wheel is invariably felt at the steering wheel. In the event of collision, the connections are so made that they are, as a rule, the first parts to " give."
Steamwagon Hiring.
[1,573] " HER F.FORD " writes :—" Will you kindly inform me, through the medium of your Answers to Queries ' pages, the general charges for hauling by steam, per ion per mile, and for hire of same per day? "
Asswea.—Given loads of five tons each way, and in the absence of delays at the terminal points, 3d. per ton-mile would be a fair price ; if there are only loads in one direction, 6d. per ton-mile is necessary. Should there be considerable delays of any kind, it might be necessary to hire on day rates. It will not pay any contractor to do the work at, much-lower rates than these, unless the roads allow the regular haulage of a trailer, which should bring the net leads up to eight tons per trip. In those circumstances, the above quotations may be reduced by one-sixth all round. £2 2s. per day without trailer, or 4:3 per day with trailer, may be taken as averages, subject to a mileage limit of 40 miles.
A Motor Vehicle for a Travelling Tinsmith.
11,574] " Tessmitn " writes :—" I propose to invest in a motor vehicle for the Furpsiee of a travelling tinsmith, etc. My own idea is a small solid-tired lorry of a carrying capacity of about one ton. I am writing to you to inquire if you would be kind enough to express an opinion on this matter.
" T believe the outside or maximum load would be 10 cwt., but I feel that T should like a slight margin for any exceptional circumstance. The mileage per day would be very small, as, during a great part of the year. I should stay where I found myself. but in the event of out-andhome journeys daily, I should guess that 30 miles would he a full run IS miles each way. Regarding the price. should like to do it, if posssible, on about £150. My only experience of motors consists of owning and riding three or four old types of motorcycles, and my calculations are all given from surmise. without any actual experience. Any assistance you could give me in the matter I should be extremely obliged for." ANSWER.— It would appear from the particulars which you give, that you would find a horse-drawn vehicle to be cheaper than any other. It would, however, be wise to remember that, in such an enterprise as that in which you are engaged, it is probable that considerable advertisement value would accrue to you by the employment of a motor vehicle. The 150 which you suggest will not provide you with a satisfactory new machine to carry over 10 cwt. Perhaps, however, you might get hold of something secondhand which would suit your purpose. High speed is not a requirement we presume, although, probably, in your district, you would have to encounter hills of some severity. We think, after careful consideration, that the best thing for you to do would be to insert a small advertisement in our sundries page, saying how much you are prepared to spend, and giving particulars of the load you require to carry. You may then get into touch with a man who has a suitable second-hand machine. We shall be pleased to help you in coming to a decision as to whether any offer is worth your acceptance.
Special Repair Tools.
[1,575] " PUTNEY " writes Please will you send me particulars and price and where to obtain a set of 40 h.p. de Dion road-repairing tools? "
ANSWER.—We presume you mean chassis-repairing tools ? It is not clear to us why You should require special tools for the repair of a 40 h.p. 'de Dion. To what tools do you refer ? We are quite familiar with this machine, and have not found it necessary to employ other tools, with the exception of a special greaser for the hubs, than those which are commonly found in any well-equipped garage. We have no doubt that de Dion-Bouton,Ltd., of 10, Gt. Marlborough Street, W., will be able to supply you with any special tool which you feel it is necessary to employ, bet such a course would surely involve you in some unnecessary expense. Perhaps you would care to send to us a list of the special tools which you have in mind ; we may then be able to advise you further.
"Ensign" Motorbuses.
[1576] " OBSERVATORY writes :—" I noticed in a recent issue of The Motor ' a small photograph of a stranded Ensign motorbus, which it appears is now rusticating, in the guise of a fowls' house, somewhere on the Hastings road. I should be interested to know what bus this is, and how it arrived at its present neglected state."
ANSWER. --The machine is probably one of the Ducommins, which were placed on the road in February, 1906, by the Rapid Road Transit Co., Ltd. These motorbuses were known as the " Rapides." The company which ran them went into liquidation after 'a chequered career of a few months. In July, 1906, three of these machines, which had been purchased by the London and Westminster Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., were placed in service on the Hanrmersmith-Piccadilly route, arid others were started in service at Hastings during the summer, The running in both cases was regrettably irregular, and, in April, 1907, we believe that the vehicles were finally withdrawn from service. It is recorded that a distress was levied on the last-mentioned company on behalf of the Hastings Corporation in May, 1907. Some attempt was made to bring back a few of these " Ensign " machines by road to London, and, presumably, they were not able to complete this last sad journey, and expired by the wayside in the manner suggested in the photograph. We presume it has not been found worth while to make any further serious attempt to place these machines in service again!