The Motor's Part in a
Page 41
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Some Details of a Mooches-, ter User's Experience With Removal Contractor's Success a Fleet of Albion Vehicles
I T is 35 years ago that Mr. Wm. Makinson, of Moston Lane, liarpurhey, Manchester, who is to-day one of the best-known removal contractors in Manchester, started in business as a furniture remover. For 21 years he carried out his work with horse-drawn lilt vans, which were conveyed by rail_ if their destination was far from Manchester.
Shortly after the end of the war he made his first purchase of a motor vehicle, selecting an Albion W.D.-type 32 h.p. on solid tyres. For some years this was used as a dual-purpose vehicle with an alternative char-a-banes-type body arranged to be interchangeable with the furniture-carrying body. Al though this chassis is in its fourteenth year, it is still in regular daily service with a pantechnicon body.
So satisfactory was Mr. Makinson's experience with motors that he soon decided to abandon the use of horses and to cut out rail transport in favour of road transport, whenever this was possible.
Since that time, Mr. Makinson's motor business has steadily developed, and as a result of his first experience 'of Albion vehicles, he has purchased 15 machines of this make, the latest being a 40-45-cwt. long-wheelbase overtype pantechnicon. Some figures as regards this van are available. During its first ten months' service, the aver: age load was 2i tons and the petrol consumption was at the rate of 12.2 m.p.g.—a creditable performance for a service which necessarily entails considerable town work. Mr. Makinson's vans operate as far as Aberdeen and Perth in Scotland and the south coast of England.
As a result of his experience of housefurniture removals be has formed the opinion that for this work the most suitable capacity of van is from NO to 1,000 cubic ft., and his existing fleet is being built up on this basis.
The interchangeable bodies for pantechnicon and char-a-bancs work referred to above formed the start both of the motor haulage and the coach side of Mr. Makinson's business. His tours have proved very popular and to-day
his fleet includes three Albion Viking 26-seater coaches, and two Albion Viking-Six 32-seater coaches, which, during the summer season are used for tours in England, Scotland and Wales.
Mr. Makinson believes his success is in no small measure due to the efficient service organization provided throughout the country by the Albion concern. He considers that such a feature should he carefully studied when purchases of vehicles are contemplated by those whose businesses necessitate that vehicles should travel far from their base.