A New Repair Depot in London.
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We have been kept well informed of current developments in connection with the business carried on by Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., and it was no great surprise to us to learn recently that, owing to the .continued growth, not only of its hiring business, both for passenger and goods-carrying machines, but also of its general repairing activities, it had removed its headquarters to more commodious premises than those which it has until recently occupied at Lets Road, Chelsea. The new shops are at Junction 'toad, Highgate.
The busieess itself was established in 1909, and, until recently, the company's officials have been kept very fully occupied in connection with the establishment and maintenance of motorbus services in various provincial districts. Some of these have been turned over to locally -financed concerns, but Cornmeraiai Car Hirers, Ltd., retains a very considerable interest in this organization.
It is part of the forward policy of the concern now to make preparatimie on a considerable scale for the development of general repair work of commercial vehicles of all types. it will be realized that enlargement of facilities of this kind has not been a very difficult matter, in view of the fact that repair shops and garages of considerable extent have all along had to be maintained for the purposes of the company's own fleets ever since its establishment. This company, in respect of its interest in operating concerns which i( has established, and of which we have already made mention, has something like 100 machines of this c:ass more or less directly in its eery, but quite apart from these regular services, it has long continued to do considerable business in respect of hire work on its own account from headquarters.
When we were in the head offices et Caxton House recently, interlowing Mr. J. C. Moth, the secretary of the company, we counted no fewer than five separate calls on the telephone in the course of a short visit, all of them, be it noted, from would-be hirers of chars-à-banes. In the new works at Junction Road a star t has already been made with the installation of machine-tool plant, and we noticed a handy batch of new lathes, drills and shaping machines, together with the usual presa hacksaw., and other tools. A a-oil-equipped forge is also kept makes a speciality of its storage of spare parts, and, in order adequately to deal with this branch of the work, it is evident that very considerable stocks must be maintained, and that these must deal properly with a very large number of different types of machines. L wards of £3000 worth of stock of this kind is already held at the Highgate shops. A big proportion, of course, of this value is represented by Commerear spare parts, in which type of machine the company has.a preponderating interest. So far as mechanical replacements and reps ire are concerned, usei s need have little anxiety as to the company's capacity to undertake difficult jobs. It is prepared to quote for the grind
ing of pistons or cylinders, or for such orders as the truing of a bent crankshaft or the straightening of a distorted frame.
One interesting class of work in which this undertaking has specialized is the bringing up to date of some of the older types of re-cog. nized commercial vehicles. A point is made of securing replacements for, and effecting repairs to, old types of machines for which the owner or user is unable on his own account to obtain replacements, from lack of knowledge, very often, of the actual maker or of the people who have taken over the maker's plant or stock of sparer.
The construction of bodywork it another branch of the company's organization, and quotations can be made for all types of coachwork, whethet it be for single or doubledeck bus body or for light express delivery van. In the erecting bay at the works we noticed five distinct types of chassis undergoing repair : three of them were Commercars; one was a two-ton Unit, and a fifth was a twc-ton Mandslay, of which type the company is itself making considerable use.
Good facilities are available for carrying out the quick interchange of bodies when it becomes necessary. to meet special goods-haulage or passenger transport requests. There are three sets of clings and lifting tackle always in position, besides two lifts for transporting the bodies of light vehicles.
All the lorries which the company employ are subsidized, and each year, as a rule, is fleet of its own vehicles is sent to the Mameuvres.
We need only add that Commercial Car Hirers. Ltd., is now prepared to undertake the maintenance either of a single machine or of a Heat, and all inquiries for quota tions for work of this class will be carefully and promptly considered. -The head offices are at Caxton House, Westminster, S.W.