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What Users Tell U S—Interview No. 43.

15th June 1916, Page 16
15th June 1916
Page 16
Page 17
Page 16, 15th June 1916 — What Users Tell U S—Interview No. 43.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Impressions of a Member of the Managerial Staff of a Large Watford Chocolate Company.

For No. 43 of this series, we decided to approach the Watford Manufacturing Co., Ltd., with a view to finding out this company's reasons for utilizing commercial vehicles, and We were successful M being able to make the necessary preparatory 'arrangements for our visit. • _

We arrived at .Watford on the date-chosen,. and, after 'seeking the friendly, aid of .6.: constable,. eventually found 0111;sely-es at the works of the company, Which are located in. most ..pleasant surroundings. We quiddy Made our. business clear, and we were able to secure the impressions of a Member of the managerial staff, who, ;although not in a. position .to give us actual details of the running 'of • the machines, owing to the fact that they are operated on contract, gave us . some sound .general information concerning the usefulness of industrial machines. • .

In answer to our opening question as to why it Wa-s.decided to resort to the use of commercial Vehicles, we received the follawing reply : e54

(` Well, let-me tell you the whole thing in a nutshell. Previous to November of last year, which was the month in which we put our first vehicle into service, we made exclusive use of the facilities afforded by. the railway company for our transit requirements. We hate siding direct from the main line of the L. arid N.W. Railway to the back of the works, so that our goods were loaded straight from the Warehouse.

Railway Service Curtailment. gives Motors a Chance.

"This means of transit served our purpose quite well until the early part of the war, when the Government decided to control and regulate the railway services. Then, owing to the fact that military requirements had to be met, the railway *authorities would not guarantee anything like reasonably quick delivery of goods. This state of affairs meant that we were either, to..find other means of locomotion, or our reputation was to suffer as a consequence of our being unable to give prompt delivery. "Being a, progressive house in the true sense of the term, we had no hesitation whatever in deciding to find other good means." • "Then your decision favoured the employment of . commercial vehicles? "we suggested.

`Exactly ! Horses Would not meet our requirements, and railways, as I have explained, were not available we had no canals in .close proximity. to the -works of which we could make use, so that we decided after much 'premeditation and careful discussion to utilize industrial vehicle.......'

" As we exp.ected, one or two difficulties presented themselves at the outset. The most important of these was to know the most suitable type of vehicle to employ. 'We needed the machine chiefly for direct delivery of goods to our customers in London and the suburbs."

" What was this particular difficulty you mention ? we asked.

"I am coming to, that point. At one time the load might only consist of., say, a few cwt., whilst at another -time, several tons. The lighter' goods would very often occupy just as much space as the heavier loath We-therefore had to make up our mind which would'be the most economical type of machine for us to operate. We weighed up the 'pros and cons of the question and subsequently decided that a machine of intermediate size would suit our purpose admirably. On this matter, as experience has already shown, our choice was correct."

"What. make of vehicle did you purchase, and what is its carrying capacity ? " we asked.

"A Burford with a rated loadcarrying capacity of two tons_ This vehicle was commissioned in November, 1915, and we were so

pleased with it-that after a month's satisfactory running we made ar rangements to contract for another machinee-also a two-ton Burford."

The Duties of the Burfords.

"What 'are the two machines called upon to do ? ". was our next query.' They are both employed for-similar duties. The vehicles are operated for us by a London firm of contractors, and before the run. to Watford is made each day, they are detailed to collect raw material from the various docks and warehouses for haulage to our works.. The return journeys to town are made with finished products, such as chocolates, cocoa, and table and other delicacies, all articles manufactured by the company." " That is the procedure so far as London and the suburbs are -concerned then, but " That is right" —how do you manage about provincial and other trade? " we continued, finishing our interrupted question. ".Goods whichare ordered from other parts of the country are despatched by rail, and this is the method we adopt if an urgent request Ter certain goods is received from, say, the North of England. The ordered articles a-re taken by one of the Burfords to town to the terminuS Of the .railway company whose line runs nearest to the town from which the order is _received. .. This method saves endless delay and secures for us the advantages of a direct London service.

"This feature is certainly a commendable one and has naturally enabled us to build up a reputation for. promptitude in delivery. If a customer can rely upon his order being executed quickly, it is, Of course, geiod for him and for ourselves too. Reliance in delivery undoubtedly assures business extension."

The Advertising Value a most

• ' Telling Point.

"-Are there any Other distinct advantages which you attribute to the use of your vehicle?" we inquired. "Yes! Another important and useful advantage is the advertising value afforded by the machines. For this reason each of the vehicles is furnished with a body neatly painted and suitably lettered, which is most pleasing in appea-rance. The distance which the vehicles travel and the fact that we can always keep the name of the company before the man in the street' undoubtedly materially assists to increase our business scope. Oh yes ! We considerthis a irmst useful and telKng point. "I am sorry that I cannot give you actual working details for the vehicles, but to obtain this information you might get into touch with our contractors, Charles Rickards, Ltd., 10, Spring Street, Hyde Park, W. r" I can tell you in conclusion that now we have once used motor vehicles, we shall have to stick to them; we have obtained immense advantages by their use, and to dispense with them at this time would be fatal to our business connection. We require -Service, and we get it from our machines. The use of the railway siding possessed advantages at-one time, as, of course, we knew when and in what condition the goods were desnatched, but our two Burfords fulfil this requirement in a, most satisfactory manner. I can tell you that if the cost was as much as 50 per cent. more than the railway charges—and it is not by _a long way—we should still have to use the vehicles or lose business, and we are wise enough to know which is preferable of these alternatives." We were , subsequently taken round the works of the company, which we understand is not the general practice in the confection

cry trade, and were certainly impressed with the thoroughness and cleanliness with which the various products are manufactured.'

Details of Running from the Contractors.'

Following our informant's' advice, we later got into touch with the contractors for the Burfords, and have been able to obtain some information concerning the running of the machines.

The contract mileagearranged for is 40 miles per day,, with an excess charge for anything over and above that distance. Forty miles, however,' is the minimum. figure contracted for per day. We were informed that American tires were fitted when the machine was delivered, but these have • now been

replaced by an make. In thecontractors' experience, they have found that as a rule the tires do not outlive their respective guarantees, but they appreciate the fact that English tire. companies willingly meet the user in this respect. The same remark applies to _ American-made tires, butthe company much prefers to patronize home products.

" Our Petrol Contains More Than 25 per cent. Paraffin."

in reply to a question regarding the spirit need and the mileage obtained; we were given to understand that petrol is used exclusively for the two machines: Messrs. Rickards stated, however, that although they pay for petrol and it is invoiced to them as petrol, they are sure it contains considerablY more than25 per cent. paraffin. Thq milea.ge to the gallon obtained is not very high, it being on an average somewhere about ten miles to the gallon.

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Locations: London

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