A TRAVELLER'S SHOWROOM ON WHEELS.
Page 10
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Latest Type of Commercial Traveller's Vehicle, which Enables Business Between Salesman and Buyer to be Conducted in the Body Interior.
THE motor vehicle has brought about an entire change in the methods of the commercial traveller. Until recent years the usual procedure of the traveller was to engage a suitable room at a commercial hotel or similar establishment, and there to display the samples of the goods in which he traded, inviting potential buyers to examine at their convenience the range of goods.
Such a methed has many disadvantages. In addition to the oast of hiring a stock-room, which in a good-class corninertial hotel represents a not inconsiderable sum, one has to reckon with what appears to be inevitable delay in transporting the goods by rail, quite apart from the time taken in packing and unpacking, and the cartage eosts to and
from the railhead at each end. This mode of procedure involves costly delays, and, instead of cementing business friendship between buyer and seller, often results in business being irretriev ably lost as a sequel to inability to keep appointments.
• In the case of most large buainess houses of repute this state of affairs is now changed, and, as in other spheres of activity, it has been left to the motor vehicle to effect radical alterations making for all-round improvement and efficiency. With a suitably designed brougham or van the commercial traveller can now keep the goods under his personal supervision from the time that they leave the warehouse or factory until such time as they are returned to stack, after the completion of a round of calls, or distributed amongst buyers.
Moreover, the whole order of things is reversed. Instead of putting the obligation on the buyer to visit the hotel and inspect the goods (which he may or may not do), the onus now rests upon the commercial traveller, who, as the salesman, takes his wares direct to the buyer. The number of buyers who may call at
an hotel during the course of a day to inspect the samples displayed is likely to be considerably fewer than the number upon whom the traveller would be able to call during a like period.
Another point to consider is the fact that the time spent in fitting up the stock room and by removing the fittings after the transaction of the necessary business is, in the case of a traveller using the road, turned to account in visiting other buyers. There is also another point of importance which, apart from those already mentioned, merits attention, and this is that there is less risk of damage and deterioration of the goods owing to the fact that they are handled only by the traveller. This point does not arise in the case of. some classes of goods, although, so far as fragile, delicate and perishable goods are conoerned, it is one to which the utmost consideration must be given.
The type of commercial traveller's vehicle which is familiar to us all, wherein the body interior is specially equipped with shelves, lockers, racks, neat of drawers, hangers or the like, according to the class of goods sold, does not by any means represent finality, as is indicated by a most interesting type of vehicle which we recently inspected at the works of the Chelsea Motor Building Co., Ltd., 164, King's Road, London.. S.W., who are responsible for the design and construction of the body.
Up till now the commercial traveller's motor vehicle has been used merely for the conveyance of samples to the buyer. Upon reaching the destination of the buyer the various goods have hitherto been taken from the van interior and placed before him in his establishment. With the new traveller's body which we
i
are about to describe, which s mounted on an R.A.F. Crossley chassis and is one of three similar vehicles being put into service by Messrs. Caller's, the wellknown chocolate manufacturers, this is totally unnecessary, and. the goods need not be disturbed in the body interior.
In effect the vehicle is a travelling showroom, for, apart from providing ample room for the display of samples, it also provides space for ordinary business transactions to be conducted between buyer and seller in absolute comfort and privacy, for which purpose two wicker armchairs, and a hinged table 3 ft. long and 2 ft. wide, fixed to the centre of the near side of the body above the wheel arch, are included in the fittings. On the off side of the body, and half-way between the floorboards and roof, a counter 1 ft. 9 ins, wide runs the full length of the body. This is fitted with four draw-out slides, 1 ft. 6 ins. wide, of the roll-top-desk type. Below the counter four capacious lockers are fitted, each being provided with a sliding door and running on ball bearings. These lockers are divided, and each is fitted with a shelf inside. Above the counter is a shelf 8 ins, wide, upon which samples can be displayed as well as on the counter top.
The body provides all the sociability which can he offered by the ordinary business office, and the salesman can discuss his transactions with the buyer over the friendly cigar and the appropriate liquid refreshment. Space in the body is by no mewls cramped, even with the armchairs in position, one of which can easily be set slightly back in a recess which protrudes into the driver's cab.
The framework of this Chelsea body is built, of selected ash, which is reinforced with steel plates at vulnerable parts in order to give added strength to the construction.
The body sides and end are panelled in Sundeala, which is an ideal board for the purpose. This material is marketed be G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd., 3a, Dean's 'fend, Westminster, London, S.W., and is light in weight, strong and homogeneous, and will not laminate or split. Sundeals is made of pure mechanical wood pulp, and in certain respects possesses advantages over wood. For instance, it has no flaws in the shape of knots, has no grain, and will not shrink or warp when proeserly fixed. It has special. waterproof properties, which enable the material to be painted and varnished in the same manner as ordinary wood.
The inside.decorativeecheme is carried out, so far as the upper panels are concerned, in a pleasing green shade of Lincrusta, the various mouldings and interior fittings being • in hard, white enamel, lined out in gold. The whole interior is built on the lines of a showroom, evidence of which is afforded in several directions, notably by the ILSB of fluted plasters in the construction of the lockers.
The roof of the body is of tongued and grooved raatehboardinge well bedded in white lead, and the outside is covered with a good quality waterproof canvas. There are two rectangular lights in the roof, which can be adjusted to permit of fresh air being drawn in and foul air being extracted. The floorboards are covered with linoleum, in order to prevent dust and dirt finding their way through cracks which may nutke, themselves apparent when the wood contracts. The interior is exceptionally bright and clean in every respect and offers the maximum of comfort. Apart from the roof windows, there are also two lights in the rear—one in the sliding door, which is fitted with a private lock, the key of which is in the sole possession of ell:a traveller, and the other in the fixed panel—as well as three smaller windows at the front. One of the latter, immediately behind the driver, enables occupants of the interior of the body to communicate with the driver, for which purpose it is made to slide.
There are also two oval lights in the protruding recess to which we have already referred, and as this recess obstructs the driver's view to the near side, they are primarily fitted to enable the driver to have a dear view through the body at the front of the near side. This recess, of course, restricts the accommodation given by the fixed seat (which, by the way, is fitted with coil springs and padded with horsehair) in the driver's cab to one person, but provision is made for bringing into use a small portable chair to the left of the driver.
The exterior colour scheme is carried out to resemble a replica of the chocolate cartons sold by Messrs. Cailler's, the body being painted a pale mauve, the wording in deep heliarope standing out in bold relief.
It has been suggested that the interior could be used to accommodate a small camp bed, but whether this idea will be turned to account is not yet known.
Messrs. Cailler's have shown great enterprise in putting vehicles of this type on the road, and that they will be directly instrumental in bringing extra business to the company is confidently anticipated. The Chelsea Motor Building Co., Ltd., must be given a weed of praise for the part whieh they have played in connection with the design and construction of this showroom on wheels.