Commercial Motor Vehicles.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 March 1906, Page 117

Commercial Motor Vehicles.

Great advances have been made in the production of the mechanically propelled vehicle for commercial purposes, such as the motor lorry, van and omnibus. For the heavier types of such vehicles, steam is the most useful motive power, particularly in British practice. For the lighter vehicles, which are in many cases merely developments of the ordinary private car, the internal combustion engine is generally employed. There is no doubt that before long the brewer, miller, farmer, builder, contractor, and hosts of others will recognise the merits and advantages of the motor vehicle much more largely than they do to-day. A large number of steam and petrol vehicles are now in successful use for public service work. These carry from fourteen to forty-two passengers, or an even greater equivalent amount of goods ; most of these are doing splendid work, and showing a satisfactory return for capital invested. Among the numerous advantages that the motor vehicle has over the horse are that it is more expeditious, has a larger range of action, and is considerably cheaper for transport. It can be worked at its maximum power all day without tiring, and does not require days of rest between two hard days' work. Moreover, an auto vehicle can do the work of five to seven horses, and thus by displacing these and their equivalent lorries, from the streets, the congestion in traffic becomes less. Only when actually working is fuel required, and the more fuel used, the more work done. When not in use, the motor vehicle requires very little attention and no keep. It can be manipulated with much greater ease and certainty, and in cases of emergency can be stopped in a space equal to its own length when travelling at a speed of ten miles an hour, without excessive exertion on the part of the driver. Only half the room is required in traffic ; it can in every case be much more easily managed, and it can with safety travel much above horse speed if desired. Last, but not least, the commercial motor vehicle is a first-class advertising medium, thus bringing business to the firm using it.