What Users Tell Us
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An Ice-Cream Maker : ",I Do Double the Work for the Same Cost."
The day happened to be somewhat sultry, and it was with a delightful anticipatory thrill, reminiscent, perchance, of school days, that we caught sight of a motorvan bearing the name of Mr. H. Noakes' ice-cream manufactory, when recently " on the prowl " for further haphazard users experiences. Here was ample scope for a seasonable article, said we, mid so to Plumstead, where the North Kent Ice Cream Works, the, name by which Mr. Moakes calls his establishment, is situated.
On our arrival, we inquired from a bus conductor where the works were to be found_ He could not tell us but said he had often seen delivery vans running about bearing the name—direct testimony to their publicity value, of course. However, after a few further inquiries, we arrived at our destination, which was easily discernible by the large number of ice-cream barrows standing outside. Strange to say, we found Mr. Moakes working hard in a bakehouse, and, contrary to our expectations, he did not prove in the least a frigid gentleman, and, in spite of the fact that we had been told to study Italian, he proved to be a genial Britisher.
After introducing ourselves to him, we came straight. to the point by asking him why he had started running motorvans. " Well," replied Mr. Moakes, " I was simply forced to. Previously I had been using horsed vans, but so many complaints were received from my wholesale customers as to the lateness of some of the deliveries, that I had to look around for something by which I could speed them up considerably. I therefore purchased, in October, 1911, a 16 h.p., 25-cwt. Karrier, and 'this proved so satisfactory that in May, 19H, I purchased a secondhand 7-ewt. Thames. T have since run them alternately."
We had been puzzled by that bakehouse., and asked why this was found necessary for an ice-cream business.
" Oh, the reason for that is that in the winter I make muffins and crumpets, and in the slimmer icecream."
" Have yon found any financial saving owing to the use of motors, Mr. Moakes?"
" Oh yes. / non. do dou/de the work for the same cost and with much better a/i.f(rt ion fo my CU.5Miners. AS'inre starting the motors, my trade him greatly increased, simply from the fart of the vans' being noticed by people who would, not otherwise hare known the existence of the works uf 'Ill, Moreover, I ran awl,' tlie three ron ',fix in the same' fun, en Inxrd to in one."
" What is the daily mileage of your vehicles? " " Well it varies, of course, to a certain extent, but I should say the average was about 55 miles. We never have both vehicles out at the same time."
" How do you get on about drivers? " we next asked.
"I only have one driver for the two machines, and I find it better to have another man always with him to attend to deliveries. The driver is the same man who was with me when I kept horses, and, although he has had no special training, he has picked up enough knowledge to be able to do nearly All running repairs to both machines, as well as to keep them clean."
"What is your average number of deliveries?"
"I should say about three per mile."
"Doesn't that mean a lot of stopping and starting of the engine?"
" No. We never stop the engine while the van is out_ I've found that the Karrier does IC miles to the gallon, which I consider good enough, seeing the work it is called upon to do. while the small one does 16 m.p.g."
"What do you do about tires?" we asked.
" The Thames is fitted with Michelin pneumatics; the average mileage for the set works out at about 7000. The Karrier is fitted with Macintosh solids, which we
have found perfectly satisfactory." "Have you tried benzoic on your ears?"
" No, not yet, but I leave been intending to do so for some time past. Now that you have reminded me, I shall certainly experiment with some."
" What loads do you usually carry on your vehicles? " we inquired.
" Anything from 7 cwt. to 32 cwt., the latter figure being reached on one oocasion on the Karrier when there was: an exceptional call due to hot weather. During that journey, the vehicle travelled 52 miles and made 120 calls. I make o% cc two tons of ice-cream per week, which is equivalent to over 500 gallons, and during the winter about four tons of muffins and c r umpets weekly."
Is your trade all wholesale? "
"NO. I have 30 of the ordinary type of ice-cream. barrow, and keep these fully occupied. I supely many shops in the neighbourhood, and sometimes take my commodities long distances away. Of course, I also eater for fetes, garden parties, and similar functions."
Are you satisfied with the running of your vehicles?"
itather I I have never yet had to go back to horses, as one of the two vans is always kept ready for work. The Karrier travelled 17,000 miles before being overhauled, and we never have any serious stops beyond those occurring through occasional tire troubles."
"Can you say that you derive any special advantages from the use of your motors? "
"Certainly I I now have much more room in my small works since horses have been done away with. Also, previously, when horses were kept, for special deliveries I often had to use the railway, but since employing motor vehicles this has never had to be resorted to. There are also particular advantages which occur in connection with the nature of my deliveries. For instance, in hot weather the ice-cream does not get the same time to melt as was previously the case. Customers, therefore, are much more satisfied."
"Then we may consider you, Mr. Moakes, as a satisfied user? " we concluded.
" Yes, I can say with truth that I am more than satisfied,. and never wish to use horses again."
After this Mr. Moekes took us round his works_ The ice-ereann is produced in a free-sing plant using carbon di-oxide gas, which is compressed by means of an II h.p. electric motor. The capacity is 30C quarts of ice-cream in i hours, and the very thought sent a cold shiver down our backs. After manufacture, the cream is kept in a cold storage room, which is cooled by the brine from the freezing machine.
During the muffin season, all the ice-cream barrows are stored away in a remarkably little space, thus leaving more room for the other work.
We remarked that Mr. Moakes seemed to know very well how to take care of himself, as he has chosen trades which provide for his personal comfort both in wintei and summer.
As mentioned before, the factory is quite a tiny one, and we were really surprised at the wonderfully efficient organization which permits of the production of such large quantites of these seasonable and luscious edibles and their prompt delivery broadcast.