THE ROAD TRAN OF FURNITURE.
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Dealing with the Fleets and Methods. Erni
and Co., and Ti
Lring and Gillow, Ltd., James Shoolbred and Co., Ltd.
IN few branches of industry can the commercial motor be employed to better advantage than in that dealing with furniture, whether it be in the wholesale distribution or in the delivery to the actual consumer. Experience has proved that transport by road is actually cheaper than by rail up to a distance of between. 150 and 200 miles, whilst the advantages, such as reduction in risk of breakage, personal super. vision, and satisfaction to the customer, are so important that it usually pays better in the end to send furniture by motor to almost anywhere in the
country. .
The experiences of the important and old-established concerns in any trade are always useful and interesting, and it was with a view to obtaining valuable information that we visited the companies specified above in the heading.
Our first visit was paid to Waring and Gillow, Ltd., the well-known furnishers, of Oxford Street, London, W. 1, who may, as the transport manager, Mr. F. Price, remarked be classed amongst those companies who pioneered the distribution of furniture by motor van. So long ago as 1913 the company delivered a large load of furniture to Aberfeldy, a distance of 482 miles from London. That the connection of the company is large is proved by the fact that the mileage run during the past 12 months was 220,000.
E The fleet now totals 25 vehicles; 14 of these are 3-4-tonners, 10 of which are Leylands, and the others Thornycrofts. There are also d 2-ton Leylands of the latest model, the 'remaining 7 vehicles including those of Vulcan, Wolseley, and Ford make.
All the work consists in the transport of furniture and everything for the complete equipment of the home. Large loads are carried to and from the various factories and showrooms of the company at Liverpool, Lancaster, Manchester and London. In addition to the deliveries to private houses, large consignments are handled to meet contracts for the fitting out of ships, theatres, hotels and various big
buildings. .
The company make a speciality of delivering to the customer's door by road, no matter what the /distance may be. For example, on the day we paid our visit they had a 3-ton lorry and trailer preparing to go to Liverpool.
The company have found that delivery by road, whenever possible, although not cheaper than rail transport when the distance is considerable, is cam. pensated for by the appreciation by their clients of this service, which obviates the trouble of packing and returning empties, canvas, etc., and which re. duces to a minimum the risk of damage to goods.
The majority of the fleet consists of fine box vans, but some are built with lift van bodies, so that the) can, when necessary, be carried partly by rail an partly by road. Where a great deal of furniture has to be movect two to six of the loose bodies are sent by rail to the nearest station, while one or more lorries are sent by road, thereby saving time, economizing in [motor vehicles, and avoidingthe risk of damage. Waring and Gillow can rightly claim to be amongst the pioneers of mechanical road transport, as they commenced operations with six chain-driven Coiruner Cars in 1006, and later on adopted Leyland vehicles.
In addition to the motor vehicles, there are six trailers, built by J. Liversidge and Sons, Ltd. The company are specially satisfied with the results they have obtained with their various vehicles.
All the repairs are carried out by the company's own staff at their head garage in Berwick Street: A log book is allotted to each van, in which, at the end of each journey, the necessary _particulars, such as driver's name, porter's name, date, department worked for, mileage covered and petrol and oil consumed, are filled in, a duplicate being handed in at the office. There are also other sheets in the book on which the fitter records any repairs carried out to the vehicle and any new parts fitted.
Mileometer readings are taken each night, or whenever a vehicle returns from a long journey. When going on one of the latter, each driver takes with him specially printed postcards, one of which he posts to the transport office each night. These cards automatically constitute a clear record of his journey.
As the major portion of the fleet consists of Leyland vehicles, a ispare engine, gearbox and back axle are kept in readiness for immediate use.
Mr. Price, the transport manager of the company, has been with them since 1906, and, from the way 1.11 which the whole fleet is organized, certainly appears to be the right man in the right place.
Our next visit was paid to James ShooIbred and Co., Tottenham Court Road, W., where we interviewed Mr. W. E. Dee, the transport manager and engineer to the company.
The company have been established well over 100 years, and they are, consequently, long-experienced in the handling of furniture. As an example of the work which has to be undertaken in this connection, they have in store at the present time the contents of between 2,000 and 3,000 homes.
Part of the duty of the road transport vehicles consists of the handling of this furniture, but a, great portion of the work comprises the delivery of new furniture.
• Under the prese it system the company pay carriage by rail to any part of the United Kingdom, and when they find it more advisable to send the goods by motor vehicle they do so on the same terms up to a distance of 100 miles.
Removals can be undertaken to practically any distance. Within 150 miles' radius the costs of road transport are below those of railway transport ; at this distance they begin to draw level, but even then the motor vehicle has the advantage. Delivery is much more certain ; there is only one loading and unloading' instead of the furniture being handled eeveral times, and men experieneed in their work aere carried on the vehicles; in addition, the customer is not troubled with melting, empty eases, etc.
The policy of the company is that if motors are available they seed them to practically any distanve 111 preference to using the railway.
The fleet of vehicles used in the furniture business consists of two 0-ton Sentinel steam wagons, with lift van bodies, provided with trailers made from converted horse pantechnicons. The latter have • been fitted with solid rubber tyres,
• the conversion being undertaken by Chas. Macintosh and Co,, Ltd. The Sentinel wagons have been apeeially equipped for dealing with furniture, lighter springs being used. As regards petrol vehicle, there are three 4-ton Lcylands, purchased two years ago, two fitted with pantechnicen bodies and one with a 7 lift van body. The remaining four vehicles are 2-ton Albions, which have been in use for 14 years, and are still running well. The latter vehieles deliver in suburban districts within a radius of 25 miles.
At the present moment the company have 51 horses, but the majority of these will be gradually replaced by motor vehicles.
The company first started using commercial motors in 1905, when they purchased a two-cylinder Albion. They continued buying vehicle of Albion and Lucre make until the Sentinels and Leylands were obtained.
' technicons out at MO time inngCUStangt Country removal WOrk:: At the garage in Torrington Place is ore of the first underground storage systems. This is of their own fitting, the tank beieg made by Braby and Co., Ltd. The total etorage capacity is 4,500
gallons. "
One of the Seetinele has run 74,000 miles, and they others. Iwo miles, the operating costs coming eat at is. Ild. per mile, excluding interest on capital and garage.
D14 Incidentally, these vehicles are still fitted with the original tyres, which are Bates and Dunlops. These wagons average 10 miles per cwt. of coal when hauling a trailer.
The Ley lands cost is. 6d. per mile, also excluding intereet on capital and garage. These vehicles axe specially constructed for the work, and carry full-sized pantechnicon bodies.
It is interesting to note that the 30-cwt. Albion vehicies cost 1s. OW. per mile, excluding garage and interest on capital.
One Leyland ran 28,000 miles on one set of Macintosh tyres, and another 25,000 miles on Bates tyres. Thomas Wallis and Co., Ltd., have been well known for many years as complete furnishers, in addition to this they have built up a large business in secondhand furniture, and do a large amount of removal work, to and from places all over the world. Their delivery fleet now 'consists entirely of mechanically propelled vehicles, the horse pantechnicons being used as tra,ilers behind Fed-en steam .wagons. Of the latter, tWo are employed, both being 5-tonners. The petrol vehicles include one A.E.C. 4-tonn'er, two 4-ton Thornycrofts, three 3-ton Albions, 19 2-ton Albions, a Ford ton truck, and a 2-ton Vulcan., which was purchased second-hand. Carrimore 3-ton trailers, on
• solid tyres, are drawn by the Thornyerofts and A.E.C,, and one of the horse pantechnicon trailers has been fitted with Skefko ball bearing hubs, which enable the Foden drawing it to rue an additional two miles per cwt. of fuel.
The smaller vehicles in the fleet are employed on the delivery of new goods, and average 60 to 60 miles per day. All furniture is delivered free of charge, and practically nothing is sent by rail.
Removals are made to any part of the country by road, and some of the machines are away for a week or more at a, time. Mr. W. Cartwright, for ten years the transport manager, stated that the, doorto-door delivery presents many advantages ; there is less handling, the minimum of breakage, quick despatch, all-round economy, and personal supervision.
• The inclusive cast of running the 3-ton Albions is Is. 4d. per mile, whilst that of the 30-cwt. Albions is is. per mile.
Bates tyres are used all round, and one set on a 30-cwt. Albion did 40,000 miles on the front wheels and 32,000 miles on the rear.