A Visit to the Commer-Car Works.
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It is a matter of common knowledge that considerable extensions to the manufacturing facilities of Commercial Cars, Ltd., have been in progress for some while past at Luton. On hearing from the company's London Sales Department that the major portion of the present programme of extension has now reached completion, we took the opportunity, last week, of paying a visit to the Luton works. We were interested to find that the original shop area, which was 19,300 sq. ft., has now reached a total of 41,700 sq. ft, ; over 17,000 sq. ft. represent. the latest addition which is now being put into full working order : it has been in occupation since Christmas. The extensions have been allocated to several departments which had previously suffered very materially from cramped conditions ; those in particular affected were the smiths', frame makers', pattern makers' and body builders', and part of the stores. In addition to this works extension, a fine new range of offices, forming a handsome frontage to the whole works, has been in occupation now for some while, and still further extensions in this direction are contemplated. The whole of these constructional additions have been designed and carried out by the company's own staff.
The shops, as on previous visits, appeared to be taxed to their utmost, in spite of recent extensions.
Additions to the machinery plant have been made on a considerable scale quite recently, and in the new bay to the machine shop we noticed a fine lot of modern capstans, and amongst other special machines one of the latest Parkinson gear cutters.
With regard to the chassis themselves, for the moment there is no sensational change to record : the latest range of models embodies the result of considerable simplification, which has been proceeding during the past few years. The original Commer-Car design, however, is maintained with all its principal characteristics. We may record, nevertheless, the standardization of larger wheels on all the types. For the War Office ma
chines, of which a batch is now under construction, coat-steel wheels—the rear ones of the L.G.0, star pattern—are fitted. We were interested to note, however, that the small one-ton, the worm-driven machine, of which not much has been said publicly, is receiving a considerable amount of attention at the hands of users, and several were in course of production in the shops at the time of our visit. Amongst other interesting jobs that were in hand, we noticed a Commer-Car fire-engine chassis with a 90 h.p. four-cylinder engine and a large number of seven-ton chassis specially designed for American requirements. We were struck with the immense strength of axles and springs—sufficient indication of the class of work they will be put to on the other side of the herring Pond.
Our representative was impressed with the state of activity which prevails at the Luton works. It is quite evident that Commercial Cars, Ltd., is getting its full share of the large amount of business which the industry at the present time as a whole is securing. Further building extensions are already contemplated, and by the look of things these will have to be hurried ahead at an early date.