There is no comparison between the rapid little motor vehicle and old methods of either pushing the vehicle by band or driving it by pedals worked by the driver. It is not only more rapid in covering a limited area, but in the aggregate will carry more. Promptitude is also a point which every trader should take into account. Just as the vehicle of the van type does the work of four horses better, so the small vehicle fcr work which amounts to almost house-to-house delivery is destined to do the work of one horse, and do it almost twice as well. The constant duplication of this machine by stores which previously delivered by horse van is proof that it is not only a more effective means of transit, but also a wise economy in the end.
An estimate of the cost of one of these vehicles has been carefully compiled from actual results by an expert. The car in mind cost complete about 1'100, carried about 7 cwt., and did its work under all sorts of conditions. Its cost per week worked out at : £ s. d.
Driver. . . 0 18 0 . . . .
Renewals, tyres, repairs, &c. .. 0 10 0 Petrol. . 0 10 0 . .
Garage, cleaning, Scc.. . . . 0 2 6 Oil and paraffin .. 0 1 0
• .
Insurance. . . 0 2 0 at present • .
Interest at 20 per cent.. . 0 7 4 Total. £2 10 10 For this sum the car is estimated to cover 60 miles per day, or about 360 miles per week, which works out at a cost of lid. per mile. It should be remembered that this estimate includes all costs that are likely to be incurred by the vehicle, and covers compensation for third parties, and when one realises that the car carries up to 7 cwt., its value as a method of distribution becomes at once obvious.
For instance, take the delivery of bulky goods which are difficult to hand:e and awkward to carry. A typewriter is as good an illustration as any, and the usual practice is to deliver these under some contract rate of about 6d. per machine round greater London. Such a car as provided or in the estimate would carry about twelve typewriters, and assuming it has to deliver at intervals of 2 miles for 24 miles to take each one to its destination, the cost only works out to 3,,cd. per machine. Similar illus trations could be given by the dozen. See also MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER.