ENTERPRISE REWARDED T HIS year, coincident with the celebration of the
Page 32
Page 33
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Royal Silver .. Jubilee, marks the golden Jubilee of George Ewer and Co., Ltd., which was commenced as a cartage business by Mr. George Ewer in 1885. The goods-transport side of the undertaking has, however, now been overshadowedby the coaching department, which was inaugurated just after the war, and Mr. J. II. Ewer, the managing director, claims that his company is now the largest independent coach operator in London.
Nevertheless, it remains purely a family concern, the other directors being Mr. Ewer's sister, Mrs. Smith, and Mr. William Ewer, all of whom are actively engaged in the conduct of the business. In an interview with a representative of The Commercial Motor, Mr. J. H. Ewer attributed part of the company's success to the personal contact of ;the directors with passengers.
Progressive Policy.
The policy of the concern is one of expansion by the purchase, at fair prices, .of the goodwill or the undertakings of smaller competitors. The managing director maintains that it is necessary to acquire competing interests, not merely to extend, but to protect business.
Three Ford coaches formed the nucleus of the passenger-vehicle fleet, whilst in 1921-22 several Dennis vehicles, which soon became well known in London, were purchased. At this time the value of high-class vehicles was first realized, and a system of replacing annually a certain number of machines was instituted. Progress continued steadily year by year, until, in 1931, when the Road Traffic Act become operative, the fleet numbered about 40 machines, a figure which has since been raised to 77, Another point indicative of a progressive policy is that, in 1930, before the Act came into force and before the Traffic Commissioners announced their intention of abolishing street stands, B22 the company erected a modern coach station at 55, Stamford Hill, London, N.16, which has since served as headquarters. In 1931, when the concern first sought licences, it applied to the Traffic Commissioners for services to Bognor and Folkestone, and, although these were refused; they have since been obtained in an interesting way.
The first acquisition of• a competitive coach business occurred early in 1934, when the 16 vehicles, . premises, etc., of Messrs. Albert Ewer (Eva Coaches) were taken over. In this way the company was able to secure, amongst other facilities, the Bognor seasonal express service for which it had previously failed to obtain a licence. The Eva business was amalgamated with the Ewer organization, as were those of Mr. W. H. Jacobs (Monty Super Coaches) and Sid Page, Ltd. (Bee Line Coaches), which were purchased two or three months later.
In the case of the Monty service from London to Walton-on-the-Naze, Clacton and Frinton, only the goodwill was acquired, hut it was the subject of protracted proceedings before the Commissioners. Eight vehicles were involved in the Bee •Line deal, the service being from London to Lowestoft and Yarmouth, viaIpswich. The co-ordination of these two services enabled an annual saving of some 150,000 vehicle-miles to be effected, whilst retaining all previous facilities to the public and, by strengthening the company's influence in East Anglia, permitting an improved service to be given to booking agents. .
This year the Ewerorganization has taken over the goodwill of Central London Motors (M.E.), Ltd., which operated seasonal express services from north and east London to a number of coastal resorts. This development enabled the company to extend its Brighton service into Worthing.
Another acquisition this year is that of the goodwill of the coaching department of the Prince Omnibus Co., Ltd., from the London Passenger Transport Board. The Board took over, under the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933, the whole of the Prince business, but was unable to operate the coach services, and, by acquiring their goodwill, George Ewer and Co., Ltd., was able, amongst other benefits, to secure the desired Folkestone service.
Territorial Arrangements,
In connection with the taking over of the Prince services, the company reached an agreement with Keith and Boyle (London), Ltd., for the lastnamed concern to cease operation in Edmonton. Another territorial agreement was concluded with the United Service Transport Co., Ltd., in relation to the acquisition of the goodwill of Central London Motors, under which the United concern gave up four picking--up points to the Ewer company and the last-named transferred one of its points to the other party.
Protective Agreements.
When the application with regard to Central London Motors was before the Commissioners, the Ewer concern reached an agreement with Messrs. Criterion Coaches, under which the latter undertaking's excursions were withdrawn from Mile End, whilst the East Anglian services of Battens Coaches, Ltd., were withdrawn from King's Cross and Mile End. The object of -the agreements was to prevent the possibility of harm being caused to the two competing interests (which were suitably compensated) by the strengthening of the Ewer business in the east end of London.
George Ewer and Co., Ltd., is also one of the six London independent operators, which, as reported in the issue of The Commercial Motor dated April 5, applied to the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner under Regulation 49 of the Public Service Vehicles (Licences and Certificates) Regulations for the transfer of the seasonal express services of Birch Brothers, Ltd., and the. division of that company's territory amongst the interests concerned. The Commigtioner decided that the applications could not be proceeded with in the present form, but they will he heard again later. So far as the Ewer company is concerned, the effect of the applications, if approved, will he further rearrangement of the terri
tory between the two companies menmentioned.
Shortly, the Ewer company will be able to handle the whole of -its traffic from stations in north, central and east London. In the northern suburbs there is already the Stamford Hill station, whilst further premises are being erected at Edmonton. In the central area the King's Cross Motor Coach Station is used.
The east end of London will be served by an attractive station, which is. being built by the company in Mile End Road, •on the site of the headquarters of Central London Motors and four adjoining freeholds. The premises, will, it is anticipated, be the heaviest traffic point in the system, and will be of modern design. •
The frontage is 70 ft. wide, and there will be separate entrances and exits, with garage accommodation at the rear for 25-M vehicles.
The fleet of 77 vehicles comprises A.E.C., Leyland, Maudslay and Thornycroft machines, including seven oilers, four of which are A.E.C.s and three Leylands. This year nine new vehicles have been purchased, whilst Others have been rebuilt internally.
Not only has the strength of the fleet been increased, but the total seating capacity has been raised, by the replacement of small vehicles by machines accommodating about 32 persons. With the exception of a new Leyland, which has a body by Duple Bodies and Motors, Ltd., London, N.W.9, all the coachwork is by Thomas Harrington, Ltd., Hove.
Last year the fleet covered nearly 2,000,000 miles, and carried over 600,000 passengers on a big network of services. High-frequency services are maintained daily on four routes from London to East Anglia, including Colchester, Harwich and Dovercourt, Clacton, Walton and Frinton, Ipswich and Felixstowe, and Lowestoft and Yarmouth, etc. The daily departures on these routes total 24.
In addition, the company operates seasonal express services from London to Margate, Ramsgate, Portsmouth, Hastings, Eastbourne, Bognor, Littlehampton, Brighton, Worthing, Bournemouth, Torquay, Clacton, Norwich, Yarmouth, Folkestone and Hythe, as well as excursions twice daily to Southend-on-Sea. Race traffic comprises another important branch.
The Ewer concern has acquired an interest in the services operated by Messrs. Holliday and Bangs, from London to Fakenham, King's Lynn, etc. An application for the transfer of the licences for these services has been refused by the Commissioners, but a modified scheme has been submitted which, if successful, will enable the company to acquire the whole business.
Most of the vehicles are garaged at Stamford Hill, some at Dalston and others at various seaside resorts, whilst when the Mile End and Edmonton stations are completed further garage accommodation will be available.
Comprehensive Maintenance Scheme.
A 24-hour maintenance service is provided, all vehicles being washed externally and cleaned internally daily. The garages are well equipped, Tecalemit high-pressure lubrication plant, -highpressure washing and tyre-inflation appliances and other modern plant being installed.
The company carries out all its own maintenance operations, including engine and chassis overhauls, body repairs and painting. Every machine is stripped at least once every two years and, in certain cases, annually.
Finally, the Ewer organization employs over a score of vans.