KEEPING \ \ THEM RUNNING
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with Ron Cater With the ever-present need to increase the throughput of vehicle repair shops tools of the fitter's trade must become mechanized, and one of the best pieces of equipment a fitter can have in his toolkit is a small and handy air-powered wrench. While visiting the stand of the Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Co. Ltd. at the Commercial Motor Show I learned of a scheme under which mechanics can purchase the CP 734 air-wrench kit without suffering the immediate high outlay that this involves.
The 734 kit is quite a comprehensive unit which is ideal for the fitter. It includes the hand gun and six sockets of from 0.5in. A /F up to 13 /16in. A /F, a length of hose and a spare chuck unit all contained in a handy metal box. To the basic kit can be added such extras as an angle-drive head, a drill chuck, screwdriver bits, extensions and the like.
Under the scheme tools are purchased jointly by the fitter and his company, the fitter's contribution being as little as 6s 6d a week over a period of two years. If the fitter stays with his company for more than two years the equipment becomes his personal property. But should he leave before the two years is up he must either pay the full amount of his total contributions under the agreement which is outstanding, or hand the equipment back to his employer who will refund 50 per cent of the contributions he has paid in.
In garages and workshops where this scheme has been introduced, increases of up to 20 per cent in productivity are claimed to have been achieved. There is certainly no doubt that a set of head studs or sump studs can be run down far quicker with a mechanical wrench as well as being torqued far more accurately than by hand. And, of course these two items alone reflect higher productivity.
Further information about the Mechanics Purchase Scheme can be obtained from the head office of Consolidated Pneumatic Co. Ltd. at 97 to 107 Uxbridge Road, London, W.5.