TkiE COMMERCIAL MOTOR THE WAR OFFICE AND SPARE PARTS.
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From various remarks which have from time to time been passed, and from statements which have reached our ears, we gather that a good deal of misunderstanding exists with regard to the manner in which the War Office is dealing with the spare-part question, and with the supply of these for the various lorries at the Front. Rumour implies a certain amount of incompetence in a department in which we have reason for knowing that the reverse is the ease and as from information in our hands we are well, able to refute any such implication, we feel that some good purpose will be served by the following, short description of the method adopted by His Majesty's
War Office, C.I.M.T. Department. . In the first place, a responsible official from this department visits each manufacturer and confers with him as to the number and types of spares which should be sent out for any particular model. As a general rule, the recommendations of the manufacturer are adopted. A complete list is drawn up of all those parts which, it is believed, may be at any time required, and these are allotted in proportion to the number of vehicles of the particular type under consideration, which the War Office is purchasing. Taking one or two examples at random from such a list, we might instance that in the case of connecting rods, one set for each five chassis is demanded, but, in addition, a complete set of big-end bearings is required for every second chassis, and also a set of connecting-rod bolts for every five chassis. A spare set of pistons with gudgeon pins and rings must be supplied per chassis. A complete spare
radiator is ordered for every three chassis, and an additional tube stack for every five chassis. Turn ing to the gearbox, sufficient ball bearings and thrust washers for one box are required as spares for every five chassis. Foot-brake shoe liners are ordered in the 'proportion of two spare sets for every chassis delivered.
All the above parts, it will be obvious to anyone with any experience of commercial vehicles, are amongst those likely to be needed somewhat frequently. It will be seen that a sufficient number has been ordered to enable the repairer to cope with any eventualities that may arise, in addition to ordinary wear and tear.
Now, if we consider other parts, for which under ordinary circumstances there is not likely to be so much need, such, for example, as the water pump to the engine, only one .spare pump for every ten chassis is ordered. Similarly with a great many such parts. Holding-down dogs for the tappet guides, one set in ten selector rods for the change speed gear, one set in ten ; petrol tank, one in ten ; and so on, steerbox and gear, one in 20.
It is obvious from a perusal of the above, that considerable care has been expended on this spare part question, with a view to arranging that anything which may be reasonably expected to go wrong, can be replaced from the depots without immediate recourse being had to the manufacturer. Beyond all this, of course, there is a running order for spare parts, enabling this standard, as outlined in the list, to be maintained as a minimum.