BIRD'S EYE VIEW
Page 65
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Established Firm Finding what he took to be a " coachbutichng firm the other day, my colleague. Moses, soon found that he had discovered the oldest ished commercial vehicle coachbuilder in Watford. irm concerned is Alfred Walker Coachbuilders (1934) which is now operating from a new site on the Grey; Trading Estate. The concern began, however, in at a premises in Loates Lane. Watford, under the of Lovejoy. In the mid-1800s the firm was acquired fred Walker. the eldest of a family of eleven brothers, pprenticed as wheelwrights. Gradually, with the lion of the motor vehicle, the firm turned to both :e and commercial motor bodybuilding.
. Brian Walker. present chairman and managing or of the company, showed my colleague the photo(reproduced above) of an old Model T Ford with iody built about 1920 for Green and Edwards Ltd., furnishers, of Finchley Road. London, It made :eresting contrast to the smart modern box van standutside the premises, prior to delivery to Suchard, the ilate manufacturers. As for anyone wishing to dispute ite of 1837, Mr. Brian Walker possesses an old print te original premises. Clearly written, above the ice, I am told, are the words " established 1837 " enough!
ofiray -Places In these days when there is d for more standardization of street names, signposts o on, it is refreshing to see that in Rhyl, the North ; seaside resort, signposts have been erected on the mode which are most comprehensive. Some of the point to the Isle of Man (72 Miles across the Irish Eire (108 miles as the crow Hies) and New York Rhyl Council is said to be puzzled as to who led the faraway places when the signs were made ; sub-committee is investigating.
When a railway line closes is a sporting chance that the setting up of a preservaociety will be proposed. But if a bus service proves nomical, and closure is agreed upon, it is almost iwn for anyone to offer to take responsibility for its tuance. However, when after 40 years of operation 3ounty Motor Services' Slaidburn-CIitheroe route tently refused to pay its way, local people took instant In prevent the disappearance of their already limited )00 facilities.
stpous No More
A committee consisting of a garage proprietor, a brewery director, a grocer and a former Bounty director was elected. With a guarantee against loss the garage man, Mr. James Leedhant, became responsible for the undertaking. A driver has been engaged and the sole vehicle, bought from Bounty, continues to serve such picturesquely named places as Cow Ark, Bashall Eaves, Whitewell and Dtmsop Bridge. Fare.s have been increased but the older inhabitants say that they are still not so high as in pre-bus days when travel for most of the country people on that road meant a seat in the postman's trap_
At last month's meeting of the Killarney Urban Council productivity and manpower were to the fore. The town clerk reported a month's delay in delivery of a dust-cart. The town engineer had heard over the grapevine that it would be ready in a fortnight.
Appropriately, however, the chairman had the last word. The council agreed to his suggestion that a handcart should be operated. But there is no confirmation that the " driver" is to be paid a refuelling bonus: The Last Word The old music hall joke which invariably ended " a laugh in every line" was published recently in the " appointments and situations " pages of The Commercial Motor. With Prospects?
An Eastern Counties borough was advertising for a maintenance engineer who was required to be competent in no less than seven fields of engineering, all of which are purported to need seven years' apprenticeship_ This, I reckon, makes a man who starts work at 14 years of age 63 before he becomes eligible.
Add to this the time needed to fill appointments necessary before qualifying and the fact that he must pass a suitable medical examination, and our centenarian is offered the staggering sum of .020 per annum! 1 don't suppose that the superannuation will be much good to him when he retires.