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What Users Tell A Soap-boiler says—" Quite Impossible When we Relied on Horses."

18th September 1913
Page 15
Page 15, 18th September 1913 — What Users Tell A Soap-boiler says—" Quite Impossible When we Relied on Horses."
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

In thinking over the subject of the preparation of fresh notes and topics in connection with our

What Users Tell us" series, we decided that to-day' a, example should refer to the candle and soap trade. Many of the parties to whom previous interviews have referred, and the trades in which the various vehicles are engaged, have concerned only the delivery side. It. is not so with the soap and candle maker, and his ease is, of coarse, typical of others. One of the reasons, as we found on this cecasion, why the manufacturer in this industry is glad to possess Mechanical transport, is the safeguard which it provides ,against any stoppage in the supply of raw materials.

Nvill be noted, Mr. W. G. Senith, of Kingston and Hampton, does rely very largely upon his neiter transport for the conveyance of oil, tallow, and other raw materials. That is the normal. amuse of events, but he is by no means unconscious of the potential advantage of having ameans to bring in other supplies which usually come by rail or canal, such as caustic soda and salt. It is useless for a manufacturer to be in a position to keep up his deliveries, if he cannot keep up his output. That point too often escapes notice, and receives no attention.

For the purpose then of our 17th article of this series, we decided to interview Mr. W. G. Smith, of Kingston and Hampton, a wellknown soap and candle maker.

For business reasons, a tallow factory located at Staines had to be given up, and it was quickly found to be impossible to supply the Staines customers by means of rail and horsed transport. WHO; at the Grocers Exhibition of 1911, the head of the firm of Smith had his attention drawn to the delivery prospects held out by the modern motorvan, and he eventually became the purchaser of a 30-cwt. Thornycroft machine which he anticipated would suit his requirements. Those anticipations have been satisfactorily fulfilled.

The vehicle has now been in service for just over 12 months, it having been taken over on the 12th September, 1912. Up to date, the chassis has accomplished a mileage of over 15,000 without any repairs being necessary. The tires, in the user's opinion, are good for a further 5000 miles of running.

" And so you are quite pleased with the advent of the motor, Mr. Smith " was our first question.

"1 am more than pleased," was the answer, " I am delighted. In addition to increasing our delivery area considerably, a great saving has been effected in the transport of raw material from the docks to our warehouse and factory. This means a saving of both time and money. Why, we frequently do two journeys a day now to London, a feat that was quite impossible when we relied solely on horses."

" Do you find that the use of the van has led to an increase in business?"

" Undoubtedly." Mr. Smith was very emphatic on this point. " Several eases of this have been specially brought to our notice."

" How did you effect delivery before taking over the Thornyeroft " was our next question.

" By railway and by horses," was the answer, " We employed five horses altogether. These have now been dispensed with. Beforehand, it. was a very common occurrence for the horses to be out on the. roads delivering until 10 and 11 o'clock at night, and in winter, when the roads were in bad condition, this time was often exceeded. It is the exception now for the motor to be later than 6 o'clock."

" Quite a good point.," we observed. "You must not forget, also," pursued Mr. Smith, " that the work which the motor does can be doubled in times of pressure without any outside assistance being called in. When a horse has done its day's work, of course, until it is rested, no further help can be got from it. If the motor works for 12 hours, it is just as ready to go on for another 12 as to remain in the garage. We deliver principally to gi (leers in country districts and the load is usually something in the neighbourhood of 2 tons. Our wax candles and Volvolutum soap are our specialities."

"How do you find the actual cost of the motor works out, as compared with the five horses? " was one of our parting questions. " I find," was the answer, " that we do more work with the motor than we did with the whole of the horses, and there is little doubt., taking all things into consideration, that our costs are actually lower than the amount paid out per week with the horses. The only point which I do not properly understand is how we managed to carry on our business for the last fuv or six years without a motor." Continuing on general points concerning motor transport before we left this user's office, we gathered that the feature of "no attention on Sundays" was reckoned a valuable one by Mr. Smith. He told us, too, that he. has plenty of places in view where he can get an overhaul done.

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Organisations: World Health Organization
Locations: London

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