VULCAN SERVICE FACILITIES IN THE SOUTH.
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Details of the Construction and Equipment of a New London Depot.
APEW years ago it could be said with a considerable amount of truth that the average British motor-vehicle manufacturer bad but a very inadequate understanding of the term "service," and that the main concern of makers was to find a market for their products, the user mostly being left to his own devices in the matter of the upkeep and maintenance of his vehicles. Not so today, however, for recent years have witnessed a very marked appreciation by makers in general of the need for afterpurchase servicing facilities.
That the makers of Vulcan motor vehicles can be included in this category is borne out by the recent erection for Vulcan Motors (London), Ltd., of a capacious building in Edgware Road, Cricklewood, London, N.W., from which the company will be in a position to cater for the needs of users of Vulcan business motors in an area south of a line drawn across the country from the River Severn to the Wash, whilst the sales organization in this area will also be controlled from there. The arrangements in the former connection are in the hands of Mr. C. C. Haylock, the service manager, late of the Manchester depot and the Southport works of the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., whilst Mr. A. H. Thomas is the London sales manager ; both have had many years' association with the company.
Some iden of the size of the new building can be gauged from the fact that the total floor area is 16,900 sq. ft. The work of construction was commenced over a year ago, and although the final arrangements are not yet quite complete and additional machine tools have to he installed, the company is already undertaking duties in the building which have hitherto been carried out from its repair and stores department in Augustus Street, London, N.W.
The building, which has a rough-cast finish, lies back from the main road, to connect with which a concrete road is being constructed. This concrete road will run round the front and sides of the building and enable vehicles to enter at one end and leave at the other ; Pollard's Rolodoor doors of a deep and wide pattern are used. The building is designed on modern lines and the layout is such as to facilitate work in progress and keep down costs to the minimum.
The main part of the building is divided into two sections, one being raised about 4 ft. above the other. Repair work is undertaken in the raised portion, which is skirted by four distinct sections, one dealing with engines, another attending to axles, gearboxes, steering assemblies and the like, the third being the machine shop, and the fourth the electrician's department. The last-named, in which the latest type of Crypto charging plant is installed, is entirely separate from the others, which are interconnected.
When the machine-shop equipment is complete, two lathes, a milling machine, a large vertical borer, a high-speed sensitive drill, a grinder and two emery wheels will be available for use.
A white-line system, as used for roadtraffic regulation, is employed in the repair department. White lines stretch from one end of the building to the other, two of them indicating the path along which vehicles can be driven, and others the way in which " parked " machines must be lined up. This overcomes the possibility of vehicles being accidentally damaged.
The other main section is chiefly for testing purposes, as well as for the use of the sales department. The offices and stores are situated in the front of the building and occupy 4,600 sq. ft. Certain offices and some of the stock of spare parts and replacements are accommodated on the ground floor, but others, including the sales and accounts branches, are housed on the first floor. There is a special office where business in connection with the company's scheme of replacements under guarantee is transacted, and an office for inspectors, who can deal with users' inquiries, is hard-by the main entrance. The stores organization is particularly complete. The approximate value of the stock of spares held is £15,000, but it is greatly augmented from time to time. The smaller parts are stored in bins, whilst sections are set aside for larger components. During our visit we noticed that ample stocks of cylinder blocks, spring assemblies, axles, gearboxes, wheels, brake drums and shoes, hubs, etc., were held. Not only are replacements available for models still in production, but certain components are available for users of vehicles built many years ago; in this connection we observed a range of radiators and wings for old models.
Adequate precautions are taken against the risk of fire and the building is well heated throughout It has been designed so that the best use is made of natural light both at the top and the sides. A Bywater system of petrol storage has been installed, two pumps drawing supplies from 3,000-gallon underground tanks.
It is interesting to note that almost all the work of construction and equipment has been carried out by users of Vulcan commercial vehicles. The contractor for the work was Dove Brothers, Ltd., of Islington, London, N.