THE HARROW ROAD PETROL SUPPLY STATION.
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WITH. COMMEIMABLE enterprise the Anglo-American Oil 0o., fAd. have opened a Pratt's service depot on American lines for the, supply of " Taxibus " and "Pratt's Perfection'' spirit, air up to 110 lb. pressure for the inflation cif pneumatic tyres, and water for radiators. This service-station is of particular interest, as it is the first of this type to be opened in the country. It i$ conveniently situated in the Harrow Road at the corner of Hermitage Street, and is particularly useful as it i-;,• open day and night. At night it is well illununa,ted, and it. is practically im
possible to pass it Without compre hending its use. It is well to
emphasize. the piliint that only commercial vehicles, including hackney carriages. can be supplied. The depot consists of a capacious yard around which are situated four. Gilbert and Barker petrol supply pumps, three for " Perfection" spirit and one for "Taxib-us," the petrol being drawn by suction from three 1,000 gallon underground tanks supplied by the Steel Barrel Co., Ltd., of Uxbridge. The pumps themselves are operated by
compressed 'air. The air in the reservoir is kept at a constant pressure by means of an electricallyoperated automatic device
-the air compressor cutting in at 105 lb. pressure and out ' at 110 lb. pressure. Th# compa•e.ssor was -supplied by • Gerrard and CO., MI., ell
1519, Ticatheki Street, London, W.1. There are two air supply cocks and flexible connections for tyre inflation, and lavatory accommodation for the use of the drivers.
The service in remarkably .rapid. A taxicab can enter the depot mad be cut again with four gallons of petrol within 3 minutes, and we oniseives timed the actual filling of a taxicab tank with • 3 gallons of petrol es taking 18 seconds. The extreme accuracy of the Gilbert and Barker pumps is well known, and they
will be checked over periodically, as are all the rest of these pimps in the country, in order to ensure that this accuracy is maintained.
Great attention has been shown to detail, and even the cash register is a special pattern National, which im presses a double ticket with the name of the spirit sold, the number of gallons, the cost and the number in rotation of the customer. One half of this ticket is handed to .the driver and the other half retained by the man supplying the petrol, so that the amount of petrol shown on the register can be checked off each. day. The cash register shows the number of persons purchasing the respective brands
of spirit, is electrically operated, and has separate lock-up dritwore for the two cashiers. For those customers who desire it, benzole can be-supplied in cans.
This depot will certainly prove most useful to taximen and
others who have found it difficult to obtain supplies of petrel at night, as well as to all rosining CearnnerCial motor vehicles during
the day;
It is too early yet to say whether this depot will he followed by others similar, but we are sure that, ifthis proves to be the,ease, their advent will
be welcomed. "Certainly the Anglo-American Co. have set a. good example to the other petrol companies. •