CATERING FOR THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER.
Page 13
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Midi Details of Several Outstanding Types of Vehicle Built to Meet the Requirements of the Commercial Traveller.
S0 MUCH interest has been aroused by our article which appeared about, a month ago dealing with the problems facing the commercial traveller, in so far as his transport problems are concerned, that we have decided to amplify the details by including certain particulars of bodies which have been built especially to meet the needs of the traveller by those who have had considerable experience ihthis class of work, together with further notes on certain concerns which cater for those who prefer to hire rather than buy.
In many cases the traveller may decide to have a body constructed to meet his own views as to the most, convenient arrangement of loading space, shelves and interior seats, if any, but it will certainly be of value to him to know, what has already been done in this connection.
• The fleet of commercial travellers'' :vehicles owned by French's Motor_Engineering Works, Ltd., 279-314, Balham 'High Road, London, S.W.17, now .amounts to 49, most of the vehicles being employed by big houses in the -City of London. The schedule of hiring rates naturally varies according to the size or the machine and the particular business on which it is going to be employed, but the average rate is about 210 per week, including the driver.
• All the recent, types are mounted on 13.9 h.p. •elJassis of Sunbeam manufacture. One of our illustrations shows a special, high-class landaulet traveller's vehicle, with interior shelving, and wire grids to protect. the windows, so that a thief cannot obtain access to the samples carried merely by breaking the window and inserting his arm.
The whole of the internal fittings can be removed in five minutes, and a passenger vehicle is then available; in fact, some of those companies who have hired Vehicles of this type find them extremely useful for transporting buyers from their West-End houses to their showrooms in the City.
Another illustration shows the interior of a very luxurious type which is the
latest product of the company. This can be used for millinery, silks or soft goods, 'and to all intents and purposes is' externally, a high-class limousine. Internally, it is provided With Wide shelves,
and is comfortably fitted up to carry two persons facing each other, although only one seat is shown.
Another -useful type owned by the same company is a special long millinery bus with an all-weather enclosed front. In this class of vehicle room is very essential, and to assist in the carrying of light hot bulky goods a very deep rem rail is provided, together with an =usu ally convenient ladder, which stanch well out from the hod of the vehicb and is carried right over the roof rail, so that the upper portion forms hand rails. Aluminium kicking plates are fastened to the body to protect the highly varniihed surface from clarna„ge.
This vehicle can also be supplied with a special waterproof cover to go right over the roof when boxes, etc., are in position.
Some of the vehicles are equipped with roomy back-entrance bodies and fitted with rails in the roof, from whieh may be suspended hangers for carrying garments, of which a surprising number can he stowed away without risk of crushing. The G.M.C. vehicle was supplied by the Chelsea Motor Building Co., Ltd., of 164, King's Road, Chelsea, London, S.W.3, to Messrs. Bonds, the wellknown chocolate makers of Bristol. Travelling withrsweetstuffs is much different froth travelling -in, say, soft goods, and a iksonable amountOf advertising matter on the vehicles is considered quite in order.
The drawing which we reproduce shows details of the interior of the vehicle, including the arrangement of the drawers and shelving, and of the drop table at the forward end. The interior is in figured oak highly, polished, whilst the exterior is finished in white enamel with lettering in Parson's' midmauve enamel.
The body is panelled .inside and out, and specially insulated to prevent damage to the chocolate samples during the excessive heat of summer. Special provision is made to counterbalance the weight of the cabinet at the near side by ' arranging for the housing of a spare wheel and battery at the off side. This is certainly a very fine example of this class of body.
A few details Of a similar body suitable for mounting on a Dennis 20-25cwt. chassis may be of interest to our readers. The interior dimensions are :--8 ft. long, 5 ft. 4 ins, wide and 6 ft. 3 ins, high, the body being framed mainly in. English
ash reinforced with steel brackets and plates and built up on a frame having side and end sills supported by crossbearers. The floor is laid with tongued and grooved pine boarding screwed to the underframing and rebated sills.
A clerestory roof runs the full length of the interior, the two centre and rear end lights being made to piVot and the front light to open inwards at the top for ventilation. Sides and doors are panelled in sin. Sundeala, all joints being covered with mouldings. The inside of the roof is lined with three-ply wood.
The apace above the counter is . arranged with shelves, to accommodate BO boxes of chocolate, and two sets of pull-out drawers giving 10 drawers in all. Both the drawers and the chocoIlate boxes are secured in position by ver. tical flaps hinged to the pilasters dividing the shelves, the flaps being provided
with locking arrangements at their ends. The whole of the exposed portions of the interior are carried out in figured oak or Honduras mahogany, according to taste, and french polished. Lighting is by three cut-glass, semi-flush dome lamps, and a further lamp with a shade over the folding table at the front end operated by a second switch.
The 'Star Engineering Co., Ltd., Frederick Street, Wolverhanapton, have built several examples of vehicles for commercial travellers • on their car chassis, and from observations which we have made in districts where vehicles of Allis type congregate, quite a number of Star make is in evidence.
One very useful type was recently constructed to meet a traveller's own requirements, and mounted on the 12-25 h.p. six-cylinder Star chassis. The body is of an interior-type saloon type, the rear seats of which are removable and, when detached, provide ample space for samples. When in use as a private car, access to the rear seats is obtained by tipping up those at the front, which are of the armchair type, but in order to render the vehicle particularly suitable for commercial work there is a very wide. rear door.
Large windows are provided in the sides and in the rear door, and these are covered on the interior by means of removable wood panels, which obviate any risk of damage from the contents, which may amount to 5-6 cwt. The frame is of ash, and the panelling is in hand-beaten, lead-coated sheet steel, the vehicle being finished in grey with a black superstructure and antique leather upholstery.
Messrs. Alford and Alder, 53, Newington Butts, London, S.E.11, are amongst the oldest of those who hire out vehicles for the use of commercial travellers. For instance, so far back as 1904 they supplied to Cook, Son and Co., St. Paul's Churchyard,. London, B.C., specialists in men's wear, an .8 h.p. twocylinder car carrying 'a tonneau body
fitted with shelves to carry some 5 cwt. of samples.'
The vehicle Was so arranged that the traveller could 'ride, at his convenience, either inside or at the front with the driver, but from the appearance of the machine we think that he would usually prefer to ride outside. The removal ofthe brougham top converted the car into one having what was called a "smart tonneau for four persoris,!' and to obviate delays through punctures solid tyres were employed.
As showing the satisfaction which has always been given to their customers by Messrs. Alford and Alder, it is of interest to note that nine new vehicles of Chevrolet make, and provided with the latest type body for commercial travellers, were supplied to the same company only a week or two ago.
These vehicles have a well-arranged driver's seat, which gives complete protection to the occupants in had weather, being provided with a double windscreen