"W. & G." Express Parcel Delivery.
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W. and G. du Cros, Ltd., Turns Its Attention to Light Goods Haulage.
Since the last great cab strike in London—and residents in the Metropolis, in particular, remember quite a number of such disturbances during the past year or two, we have become accustomed to the appearance in the streets of a number of smart and speedy vans bearing the announcement " W. and G. Express Carriers." The appearance of the first of these units coincided, curiously enough, with the temporary disappearance of many thousands of rnotorcabs from the streets of London, and rumours began to float around that the great cab-owning undertaking of Acton Vale, tired of these constant upheavals in the cab trade, had decided to turn its attention to other and more regular use. Knowing something of the inner working of the principal goods and parcels collecting organizations in Greater London, we were curious to ascertain the extent of the " W. and G." plans in respect of this change of occupation for their fleet, or, at any rate, a part of it. We therefore sought the aid of Mr. W. A. Turpin, the " W. and G." manager, and he, with his habitual courtesy, welcomed our suggestion that we should pay a visit to the Acton premises, and there see for ourselves how far this new enterprise had proceeded. One morning early, last week, therefore, found us at Acton Vale, just at a time when the fleet of parcel vans was busily engaged in the loading-up process preparatory to the early-morning deliveries in the West End and in the western suburbs.
"You see," said Mr. Turpin, we have made a very good start, and it is surprising how the business has built itself up almost auto matically. Our vans themselves are their own advertisement, for the present at any rate, and the quantity of parcels, as you can see for yourself now in the loading bays, gives you some idea of how far we have got. We tried this as an experiment during the time of the last strike. We thought that we wanted something as a second line of defence, in view of these constant uncertainties in the London cab trade. We are more than pleased with the progress we have made."
" I suppose most of these vans, Mr. Turpin, are converted cabs?" "Well, some of them are. A few of them, however, are those we have built up specially for van work ; you'll see they have a longer wheelbase, and are capable of taking a 25-ewt. load." "Your drivers, are they old cabmen ? " "No, none of them ; they are men accustomed to the carrying business. The keynote of our scheme is smartness of turnout and speedy delivery. I am certain that the latter is what is making us known so quickly. Yes, we've remarkable facilities for an experi
ment of this kind. Here is this great concern of ours—we employ something like 3000 men at the present time—with the latest machine plant, and all the many varied departments for repair and maintenance at our disposal."
"Have you got an eye on the heavier side of the business ? "
"No. So far we have only thought of it," was the enigmatic reply. "We are just seeing what there is in this lighter parcel delivery work first. So far, as I tell you, we are more than satisfied with our progress. We have a couple of depots at present—one in Watling Street, and the other in Packinghain Street. The main advantage of our speedy delivery is that traders and others in the West End and the outer suburbs can order supplies from the wholesale houses in the morning, and by the time they have returned in the afternoon their goods are delivered for them."
" Well, it is evident, Mr. Turpin. that you have struck a good idea. and your enterprise appears likely to reap its own reward. I suppose you will go on and increase your fleet pretty quickly, in view of your already admitted success ? " "We have bodies coming through, and if needs be, of course, we can go on to almost any number. It is a promising experiment, and, in all probability, it will lead to big things in the near future."