Motors Speed Up Clothes Rejuvenation
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RECENT years have seen big developments in dyeing and 'cleaning services, and to-day people expect a much quicker delivery of garments subjected to these processes than formerly. It is not long ago since delivery in roughly a week would content the housewife, but the advent of the oneda:y cleaner has presented a problem to the old-established concerns which has been met only by an increasing use of commercial vehicles, Owning some 70 -collection depots in London and district and many more in places as far afield as Exeter, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Swansea, Whitstable, Colchester, etc., Bean Brummel, Ltd., which has its headquarters at 278, Western Road, Merton, London, S.W.19, has so organized its transport arrangements that orders received from any of its branches can be completed in about 48 hours.
The fleet, which comprises 19 vans and two private cars, operates over a radius of 40 miles around London and a regular morning and evening service is maintained to the London rail termini for the collection and delivery of goods from the provinces. By this means, goods received at a provincial depot during the day are dispatched to London by rail overnight and they are collected by van from the stations between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. the following day.
Dry cleaning is completed the same day and the goods are delivered that evening to the stations, being received at the provincial shops next morning. In the London area, an even speedier service is maintained, and garments collected on one day are delivered the next evening.
A similar service is maintained for dyed goods and the vans are kept busy throughout the year by the concern's laundry department, which is not subject to the seasonal fluctuations which 118.4 are, of course, a feature of the dyeing and cleaning trade. In addition to these activities, the company manufactures men's hats and does a good deal of dyeing and cleaning work for various concerns which carry out only the finishing processes.
A first glance at the vans of the Beau Brummel concern prompts the question as to why better use has not been made of the publicity value of these machines? The answer lies, however, in the fact that work for the trade forms an important section of the company's activities. Obviously,. it is undesirable that stress should be laid, on the ownership of the vehicles when they are frequently to be seen outside the
premises of other concerns engaged in a similar kind of business. .
Most of the machines are MorrisCommercial 15-cwt. vans, 10 of which are m employment. Six Ford 1-tonners are also used and the fleet is completed by two Jowetts, one Austin van, a B.S.A. Ten private car and a FOrd 8 h.p. saloon. The two private cars are used for special work and rush 'deliveries. Incidentally, 00 delivery cycles are also operated for short-distance work from the local depnts.
The concern has a well-equipped garage at its Merton headquarters and it carries out its own maintenance work: Washing and greasing are undertaken by the drivers and the schedule is arranged so that time is 'available for this purpose. • In the -main, this work is carried out on Mori'day . mornings, but, 'where. a van is ienuired for any special -spurpose at :Chi, time, the schedule allows for the work to be done at some other convenient period.
• Drivers: Build -UpIndividual Connection.
Each' driver cover's regularlya carefully mapped-out area and he is rarely called upon to operate in a.ny other district, 'except in case of emergency. 'As the men act as driver-salesmen and are paid -on' a' salary-and-coininiSsien basis, . this enables them' to build tip their own 'clientele and'to follow up' prespeaiVe
customers the district.
Apart virashing and greasing, the 'drivers are -not called -upon to 'undertake maintenance. 'work and a " bOlak • 'is' kePt in' 'the' garage.' in' Which they must enter any Mechanical fault that hasarisen during, the day's .work. The machine is then taken over by the 'transport manager who sees -that the fault is rectified before the • vehicle is returned. to service. Encidehtally,' the entry in the book is then signed 'by the transport manager so that no question can arise as to Whether the work
has been carried out: • • This -is particularly important in so far as those faults which are "covered by regulations are concerned, and' if 'drivers fail to report Such faults they are held responsible for any fines Whieh may arise from police action.
Transport Manager Always in Touch
w• . ith Drivers. Each • driver works to a carefuil , .schedule and his calls at the variou depots. are timed within reasonably fin .limits. The transport manager is, thu able to get in touch with his men b telephone at all times of the day. an .instruct .them to pick up' new order which have been received after the left on their rounds.
Each .van is checked every mOrnin _before, leaving headquarters, and th .transport manager personally under takes a weekly inspection of all. th .machines to ensure that they'are• beim kept in a clean and roadworthy con
._Where any doubt exists, short road' test is Made before the va is allowed to continue its duties. Overhauls are not carried out a definite intervals, but a keen watch is kept on the condition and performance of the vans, and every effort is made to prevent serious faults developing. One van is kept as a spare for emergency use. The transport department carries out body as well as chassis repairs and it is also responsible for repainting the vehicles.
. The vans are repainted once a year on an average, although, in certain cases, where the work' is -specially arduous—station service, for example— it is necessary to renew the paintworiz
at more frequent intervals. The transport department keeps a careful record of the maintenance costs of each vehicle and renewals are based largely on the 'figures resulting from the analysis of'these costs. The amounts of fuel and oil used are entered by the accounts department, which also records the standing charges, such as insurance, tax, etc. It has not been found necessary to make a complete analysis of the operating costs of each vehicle; but a careful watch is kept 'on the overall costs :of the fleet over certain periods. Ariy marked fluctuation is immediately investigated and the. fault' rectified. . • A recent visit to the company.'s head .nuarters;.. and. an explanation of its -varied actiirities, show that it owes -much: of its suCcess to the commercial .vehicle, which :alone has enabled it to .xleVelop a speedy .serVice. and give that regularity of collection and . delivery :which is demanded by the housewife to-day. •