From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Clarifying the use and restrictions of General and Limited Trade Licenses under the Road Vehicle (Trade License) Regulations 1922.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 76\1\ scan0159 | |
| Date | 15th December 1922 guessed | |
| X677 It is not possible at the moment to say whether the £5 license plates will be sufficiently useful until we have seen the Road Vehicle (Trade License) Regulations 1922, which have not yet been issued to the Licensing Authority in Derby, but I think it very probable that a portion of our ordinary trade numbers can be taken out at this figure. CONTD. In considering the use of General Trade Licenses at £25 each for trials and inspection cars etc it should be noted that the regulations say that these can be used on "any vehicle, for the time being in his possession, for the purpose of his business as a manufacturer or repairer of, or dealer in, mechanically-propelled vehicles other than the conveyance of passengers for profit orreward." Further "It is intended that so long as the vehicle is being used for the purpose of the licensee's business, e.g. test or demonstration, any other purpose, subsidiary or incidental, may be served. For example, passengers may be carried gratuitously or useful loads may be carried, either gratuitously or on payment, when a vehicle is being tested or run on trial". It further states "It is also intended that a motor trader may run under General Trade Plates a general utility vehicle, commonly known as a "service vehicle", for the conveyance of spare parts, sending out repairers, or any other purpose in connection with his business. It is added "The Minister is of the opinion that in connection with a General Trade License the occasional user by the holder apart from strictly business purposes should not, without other cause for suspicion, be a ground for police interference or check." When considering the use of Trade Numbers as used at present those for which £5 will be charged are referred to as "Limited Trade Licenses" and "may only be used by the licensee upon a vehicle, for the time being in his possession, for one or more of the purposes definitely set out in paragraph 4, Article B, of the Road Vehicle (Trade Licenses) Regulations, 1922, and other use incidental or subsidiary to such purposes is illegal. It will, for example, be observed that with the Limited Trade License it is not permissible for useful loads to be carried, even though the primary purpose of the conveyance of such loads is for test or demonstration purposes, also, that the conveyance of persons other than the driver is not permissible under any circumstances on Sundays or public holidays, and only on other days subject to stringent restrictions." (CONTD). | ||