Out and Home.—By the Extractor.
Page 11
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Leyland's Fine Home-made Extensions.
It was an inspiration of somebody's, and Mr. H. Spurrier, Junr., was too modest to "own the soft impeachment,' but soon after the war outbreak, the Leyland people boldly decided to get on with their projected Administration Building, and for the following reason. To make the various van and lorry bodies required in normal times, a large staff of skilled wood-workers is retained. Skill of that kind was scarcely necessary for constructing the body of the early War Department lorries ; they can be "woven,' as the expression goes. So the new offices were commenced, and it is with justifiable pride that Mr. Spurrier points out how every stick and stone of that magnificent building was put in position by their own employees. "You had to go outside for no architect, anyhow ? " I put to Mr. H. S. But there I was wrong. The design and plans came out of their own drawing office. No one orrtild know their requirements better than one of themselves. The wonder increases as one proceeds up the noble staircase into the rooms of the various heads of departments. A deal of oak panelling is to be found, and even the majority of the desks and office fittings were constructed by their own people.
A Board Room that is a Ball-room.
Unfortunate being that I am, I arrived too late to Mt and conterriplate the luncheon room to the accompaniment of mastication, but I was invited to" a dish of tea" in the dainty tea room which adjoins.. I coveted some interesting war photographs hanging on the walls, hoping to submit them to the Editor for reproduction in these pages, and it is hereby registered that a promise was given to me that as soon as the War Department's sanction can be obtained they are at our disposal. The next department; the finest and largest in the building, revealed a trait peculiarly Lancashire. "This is the Board room," said my guide. "It looks big enough for a ball-poom," was my comment, and it appears that was the idea. In normal times, the Leyland directorate entertains its staff from time to time. The Lancashire idea of diversion is to dance. I can conceive that it will be a blithesome task to give these rooms the desirable air of gaiety for such auspicious occasions.
Steamers Gone to Charley.
In the Leyland works there is little change, except a general expansion. The steam-wagon department has been removed entirely to Chorley, it being the conviction that steam and petrol are better apart. Anyhow, temporarily, the steam-wagon building, through war necessities, has been suspended. A new building is to be erected "across the road," because they cannot extend any further on the present side, and a works has been acquired at Middlesbrough for doing their own stamping, and later on it is hoped to do stamping for the trade.
Sliding Roofs for Summer Shifts.
Consideration for employees is ingrained in the Spurrier constitution, and a great boon in the workshops these summer days is a -sliding roof which -is being rapidly introduced. The day of my visit was a sultry one, and in most of the shops the air was cool and pure. It is hoped to extend this system right through. Eighteen hundred workmen are now employed ; there is a complete night staff, and they are turning out 40 vehicles.a week.
011a Podrida.
The demand for second-hand Rover " 12's " is becoming extremely keen, as the Rover works are engaged entirely on lorries and munitions. Mr. Edgar Bennett, of the Spiral Tube and Components, Ltd., was in negotiation for one for his personal delectation. He knew that I still held my Rover after two years, and hastened to have some talk with me over the telephone. My great enthusiasm for the Rover " 12 " decided the matter, but the slight delay proved too much. It was snapped up by someone else, and now he thinks I ought to sell him mine.
Mr. De Gory, the British representative of the Gaulois tires, is not here to see the completed great showrooms of that company in Great Portland Street. Ile is on war service in France in connection, I gather; With the Anti-aircraft Section.
Leonard M. Fox sustained a broken ankle slipping out of his car early in the summer. To a. man of his active habits he must have spent a wearisome time recovering, but he appears as spry as heretofore, and the business of acetylene welding and illuminating is going strong.
• Mr. F. G. Bristow has always been to the fore as an organizer on behalf of users since Mr. Rees Jeffreys turned the C.M.U.A work over to him, beginning in 1905. Legal defence and parades have been his great stunts. I have frequently met this active worker • he has more friends in the industry than he wots and has now followed a popular lead.