Non-standard Bodies for Goods Motors
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A Well equipped Plant enables the Arlington Concern to Produce Highgrade Bodies at Competitive Prices HAVING over 28 years' experience in commercial-vehicle sales and service, the Arlington Motor Co., Ltd., which has its headquarters at High Street, Ponders End, Middlesex, has in the past three years developed its bodybuilding activities to keep pace with the company's progress in other directions.
As a distributor for Bedford and Leyland makes, it became evident that it was desirable that the company should be able to cater directly for the needs of operators requiring bodies that differed .from the makers' standard products. Accordingly, body shops were laid down three years ago and
equipped with modern machinery, capable of expediting body construction and maintaining a high degree of workmanship.
All the machines are driven by separate motors, so that the shops are free from belting and overhead shafts, and the plant has been carefully planned to maintain flow production. A drawing office is maintaiqed and the company is thus well equipped on the design side, whilst the works incorporate a spwious sawmill, setting-out shop, assembly shop, tinsmith's and 826 blacksmith's departments and a paint shop.
In addition to designing and building bodies, the Arlington concern has a big connection for body repairs and repaints, whilst this side of the business is closely linked with its chassismaintenance and breakdown services. The last-named section • numbers amongst its machines three smart breakdown appliances, the largest (which has as its basis a Leyland Buffalo chassis) being capable of dealing with vehicles weighing 22 tons.
• Reverting to the company's bodybuilding activities, it was evident from a recent visit to the works at Ponders End that the Arlington concern was fully engaged in building all types of body for goods vehicles. Drop-sided and platform lorries, vans, cattle trucks, etc., figured amongst OA vehicles we saw for which bodies were in course of production, whilst in the paint shop we noticed coaches and a variety of other machines which were being renovated.
Illustrations accompanying this article show examples of the Arlington company's craft, and a striking machine is a large-capacity Luton van, based on an A.E.C. Monarch oilengined chassis. Built for Hugh Stevenson and Sons, Ltd., this van is to be used on trunk services, and its capacity is about 1,500 cubic ft.
Having as its basis a Leyland SKZ3 chassis is a workmanlike cattle truck. incorporating spring-loaded ramps at the rear and off side; three folding partitions are provided.
Evidence of the high regard in which the Arlington concern is held by operators is forthcoming from the fact that, in each of the past two years, the output of bodies has exceeded 600. With its eight depots in London and the southern part of England, the company is well placed for catering for the varied 'needs of operators.