Bricks and Fruit by an A.E.C. Fleet
Page 51
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IN Leicestershire, a brick of a special quality is produced and, by reason of its characteristics, transport media has to be carefully chosen. 'For this reason, road vehicles are employed and the risk of 'breakages is virtually nonexistent, contributory factors to this end being that the bricks are invariably hand loaded and packed between layers of straw. From the Ibstock brickyards, Messrs. Bircher Brothers convey. almost daily, large loads to Birmingham and other important Midland centres, as well as to London, For this work they rely upon a fleet of A.E.C.s, comprising a Mammoth (converted) six-wheeler, a Matador (converted) six-wheeler, a Mammoth, Major sixwheeler and three Monarch four
wheelers. These units clearly exemplify the value of road motors for this class of duty, inasmuch as they enable fragile goods to be carried direct from the point of loading to that of delivery —a factor of considerable importance in brick transport.
This is one-way traffic and, with the object of obtaining return consignments, the firm have established a depot in Covent Garden, from which supplies of fruit are collected for transference to the Leicester market. Their A.E.C. vehicles, frequently transport, along with other commodities, 30 tons or. so of oranges, apples, grapes, apricots, etc., in a single night. Scheduled . for. departure from London at 10 p.m., the lorries reach the market in Leices
ter at 4.30 a.m. the next Morning, . .
without the fruit having suffered any . loss of condition, as is -sometimes the case in dealing with this particular class of goods. "
-Amongst the earliest operators of A.E.C. oil engines in the Leicestershire area, Messrs. Bircher Brothers have specified this class Of power unit for all . their vehicles. Each lorry averages , three round trips of 240 miles Per week • -and, thus, at, the end of a year, has covered close on 40,000 Miles. The firm Pay strict attention to routine maintenance, with the result that the mechanical condition of the fleet is highly trustworthy and always in a sound roadworthy state.