FLEET MAIN TENANCE ON A LARGE SCALE
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How the Large Carter Paterson Fleet of Express Carriers' Vehicles is Kept at High Working Efficiency A Well-designed Building Affords the Opportunity for Systematizing the Overhaul and Reconstruction Work
AN outstanding exhibit at the recent Olympia Show was the fabric-panelled 4-ton container and tray made. by Carter Paterson and Co., Ltd., the well-known haulage and commercial-body-building concern. This container weighed only 16 cwt., and it exemplified the ingenuity, arising out of long operating experience, which the company is able to introduce into its body-construction methods. Many of those interested in light-weight containers would have liked to learn something of the company's operating and maintenance system.
The usual drivers' daily report sheets, history cards and record books, are employed in this system, and there is a large board indicating by tickets the allocation of every vehicle to each depot, but behind these more ordinary expedients of an up-to-date transport undertaking are particular features which Mr. James R Osier, the chief engineer, has introduced. For example, every day each machine in the fleet is allotted up to a maximum of 6 points for mechanical efficiency, and a nightly total is taken indicating the percentage efficiency of the whole fleet during the day that has just been completed.
Also, there is a card-index system in which coloured tabs are attached to the card relating to any vehicle which is becoming heavy on petrol or oil consumption, is shortly due for painting or periodical examination, or is next on the list for complete dismantling.
The new building at Macclesfield Street has been laid out with a view to permitting maintenance of a large fleet on the most economical and up-todate lines possible, and practically everything is handled there except the manufacture of new bodies, most of which is undertaken at the company's separate body-building department at Stoke Newington. The garage occupies
the ground floor, and is marked out in alley-ways and in bays for the individual vehicles.
Vehicles are examined and overhauled periodically upon a mileage basis calculated according to the respective chassis model. This periodical " examination " includes decarbonizing, valve grinding, magneto and carburetter inspection, crankcase drainage and cleaning, wheel removal, brake and bearing examination, differential and gearbox inspection, mid every part of the vehicle is systematically cleaned. The work is undertaken in a part of the building that is set aside completely from, the reconstruction department.
The latter section, located above the garage, is, undoubtedly that which will most interest our readers. Practically all the bodies employed are of the contaMer type, and the first thing on the arrival of a vehicle for complete reconstruction is the removal of the container and its tray. If the container is to be rebuilt it is sent to the Stoke Newington works by means of a MorrisCommercial low-loading articulated vehicle, but even major bodywork repairs are undertaken at Macclesfield Street The chassis then proceeds to the stripping shop and is there taken to pieces ; marking of the floor space into bays ensures that the parts of individual vehicles do not become confused.
All parts then pass on a moving belt through an industrial washer, this being of the kind made by the Hobart Manu facturing Co., of Troy, Ohio. After cleansing, the parts are taken to the inspection shop, where they are critically examined by means of micrometers in order to determine whether they need reconditioning or replacement. Dis carded parts are immodiately replaced from the stores in which, incidentally, there are 17,000 numbered and indexed bins, and parts for reconditioning are Sent to the smithy or the machine shop.
In the smithy there are two main chimneys and around each are four fires ; one group of fires is set aside for the mechanical department and the other for the wheelwrights' department. This arrangement ensures that the men do not get in each other's way when at work. Radiators and wings pass to the tinsmith's department for attention ; there oxy-acetylene welding plant and all other modern appliances are available.
The machine shop is separately caged off, and accommodates several up-to-date lathes, each being driven by its own electric motor so as to avoid the need for overhead shafting. There also are a radial drill, a shaping machine, etc. Another cage is set aside for electrical parts, and all electrical components are sent there upon dissembly for overhaul and testing.
Reconditioned and replaced parts thus return to the main assembly shop. This was designed by the company's architect, Mr. Leslie Carter, and is quite remarkable in that it has a span of 150 ft. unobstructed by any pillar except those necessary for an electric runway, this being placed above the assembly line from one end to the other and having a roof of Vita glass as well as glass panelling extending the whole length of the assembly line which occupies one side of it. It is one of the most spacious shops that we have examined There are long lines of assembly benches, ample distance apart, and behind each man is marked out a bay so that the work of individual fitters is not confused. To prevent axle, gearboxes engines, wheels and other large components from being wrongly assembled, each bears a brass plate showing its own number, and a record of the component numbers is kept for each chassis.
One notices that in this assembly shop pipes and girders are painted in different colours ; this facilitates the maintenance of the building and plant. Cold water pipes are painted blue, and hot-water pipes aluminium, whilst the fire-extinguishing sprinkler pipes are all painted red. Electricity conduits are coloured green. even the roof girders are coloured distinctly from those which support the overhead runway.
A feature of the depot is the progress department, which keeps a tally on all the .parts going through various stages of work, so that a comprehensive record of the progress is available for instant reference at any time. Every workman has his own pressed-steel locker and hey, so that there is no untidiness.
The stores house tools and spare parts. Any workman can draw tools by placing with the stores clerk a brass tally which is returned to him when the tools are brought back. For parts, however, a requisition is necessary from a charge hand. Beyond this tremendous store is the paint shop, this being enclosed in fire-proof walls and doors. Actually, the entire building can be divided into sections by means of fireproof partitions and doors, and everywhere—even throughout the offices—is a network of overhead sprinklers.
For the servicing of its fleet of electric vehicles the company has its own electrical charging plant, this being housed in a separate garage set aside for the battery electric vehicles. As these vehicles wait at midday while drivers are at lunch, they can be given a midday boost if need be.
A rule of the organization is that all oil lamps must be removed from vehicles when entering the garage, no matter for what purpose. They are taken to the lamp room and there Cleaned, trimmed and replenished ready to be placed upon vehicles that are going out. High
pressure washers are available, and a washing staff is on duty day and night All vehicles 'which have defects, or which are due for inspection or reconstruction, are driven into the test dock. No vehicle may be taken out of this dock without a sanction, and every reconstructed and overhauled vehicle is tested before it is passed fit for service.
Concluding one's tour of examination of this interesting depot of a company which sells only transport and services connected with transport, one is bound to notice that whilst the building has at present but one upper story, the foundations and main uprights are obviously capable of supporting further floors, and there is a large open space on the City Road side which is available for extension when this becomes necessary.