Motor Road Transport For Commercial Purposes
(Liquid Fuel, Steam, Electricity)

36 MOTOR ROAD TRANSPORT of maintenance costs. This faet can be easily realized by the owner when he remembers that the driver is master of the van during the time that it is on the road. Where no recorders are fitted to the vehicle, or governors to the engine—and these latter can in many cases be easily disconnected unless sealed up— the drive can piease himself as regards speed, provided he can complete his deliveries. So mueh, therefore, will depend on the reliability and conscientiousness of the man, that if he is trust- worthy and competent he can save his employer a very considerable sum of money in comparison with. the careless driver. It is tempting in hot or wet weather to push the van to its detriment, or when the load has been delivered, to hurry home, which is the worst time—as the van is running light—to drive with full throttle. Such faults are more likely to be committed by the semi-skilled mechanic-driver. The converted horse-driver is used to tre&ting his means of conveyance with a certain amount of con- sideration—for Englishmen as a rule are born animal lovers—moreover, the type of man is more trustworthy, while the skilied class of man will be mechanically- minded and, therefore, a lover of machinery. Even if this is not sufficiently the case to prevent a vehicle being mishandled, he will understand fully the effeet of any abuse in driving in its relation to maintenance and maintenance costs, especially if he works under a bonus system, and will be det erred on this account. Ignition : Fixed or Variable ? There are one or two means connected with driving by which substantial economy may be effeeted in the running of petrol vans. One is by employing variable spark control. The question has been mueh.