Wolseley Extensions.
Page 7
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Provision to increase output of Commercial Motors well advanced.
Those not behind the scenes can have no conception of the tremendous strides being made by many firms who have seriously undertaken the building of commercial motors. By " seriously" is meant a clear appreciation of the demand which is daily becoming greater for all types from the light van to carry a few hundred pounds up to the steam or petrol tractor capable of dealing with many ton loads. Some of these firms have founded their reputation primarily upon the turning out of reliable pleasure cars, arid, having gained years of costly experience, they are now reaping the benefit by the orders that are Flocking in, almost beyond their capacity of supply. Those who remember the position that the Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Company, Ltd., almost immediately assumed in relation to lighter traffic will not be surprised that large building extensions are now in progress at Adderley Park to cope with the pressure of work in hand for omnibuses, lorries, tractors, vans, etc., etc. The two illustrations on this page, showing the interior and exterior of the new buildings just on the eve of completion, do not well convey an idea of the real size. If the exterior view is examined, it will be noticed that a man is standing upon the roof gable of the fourth bay, and this will enable some comparison to be made. The building is 334ft. bin, in length by a width of 353ft., and is divided into eleven bays by the roof columns.
At the back of the building a new enginehouse will be erected for supplying power to the extension, as well as to another building just to the rear of the first (not shown in illustration) occupying a space of 200ft. by molt. A testing track will completely encircle these new buildings, and space will be found for a Dowson's gas plant within the track oblong. Like every other firm whose productions are reliable, the Wolseley Company has determined that British-built commercial vehicles shall fully maintain their position both in the home and colonial markets, and the addition of no less than seven acres to their already large works is proof of this intention. At the present time, 400 men out of a total of 1,200 employed by the Wolselev Company are at work in three of the completed bays. One of these bays is used for repair work and two for the erection of omnibuses, lorries, tractors, and other heavy vehicles. As no power has yet been installed in the new works, which are only about 209 yards distant from the old works, power is transmitted from the generators at the latter. It is anticipated that some 400h.p. will be required to drive the entire plant of the new works when it is finished, which will probably be in January next, and it is intended to use direct-coupled dynamos, with separate electric motors on each line of shafting. Looking at the exterior view below, it may be stated that the end of the building will be occupied by the drawing and general offices on the first floor, the ground floor serving for warehouse and selling stores. Inside the works there will be at least four separate "finished parts" stores for the supply of the several departments, but no machining is done there yet, and all parts are sent across from the old works.