A SHOP WINDOW ON WHEELS,
Page 9
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How the Enterprising Roving Trader has Eliminated the Peregrinating Hawker with a Horse and Cart.
IN MANY parts of the country the linking together of townships and hamlets, with the more important distributing centres by means of the motorbus, has virtually ousted the general deafer who, in the earlier days, provided the rural populace with the opportunity to buy shirts and bathbrick, blouses and paraffin oil and other domestic wares from a horse-drawn cart with which he
made his regular peregrinations. The advent of the motorbus has brought the town shop within easy reach of the rountry dweller, and thus deposed the travelling hawker from the undisputed sway which he previously held. Many of these traders have sought other means of livelihood, but quite a good proportion of them (those with the necessary capital and initiative) have brought their methods of business intri line with the times, while others, who have also bought. tight motor vehicles, have invaded the province of the dealer with the horse van or cart.
These traders are qeite distinct from the town establishment, which special,' izes in its own particular lines—be it carpets or boots, draperies or groceries— and which maintains a regular delivery service to certain country districts withiz a definite radius of their headquarters, for they invariably carry a great variety of all sorts of household goods. In either ease these users require something more than the ordinary van body in which to accommodate their goods, and in the case of the trader who specializes, a different class of body is needed for individual trades.
We illustrate on this pagef.....a, body which has been built by the Commereial Motor Body Co., of Pechell Street, Ashton, Preston, tb the order of one of the leading firms of textile manufacturers in Preston, who are using motor vehicles for the purpose of taking their productions direct to-the public.
The van, which is mounted on a Ford chassis, is 8 ft. 6 ins, long and 5 ft. 6 ins, wide, and its outward appearance is of square and clean design. On the near side the body panel is divided into two, thc upper part, which is two-thirds the full depth of the side and runs the full length of the van, being made to lift up. When,-in the, open position it is held rigid by a sliding metal arm at. the front and at the back, and it.serves as a. canopy during wet. weather to protect the stock in the interior of the van and also the loose stock which is displayed on the remaining part, of the side which is hinged and falls down to form a counter. This flap is held in position by two stout chains secured to the front and rear toady supports.
On the near side, and set back a few inches from the body sides, a light, trellis frame is fitted, to which the range of stock for sale can be suitably attached. A very attractive display can thus be made by this means, and, moreover, the show of goods can be quickly and easily changed from time to time.
The full width of the off-side of the body is divided into three doors, which disclose, when open, a series of shelves, on which the remaining stock is stored. The fixtures in thie...side4of the body are all made of varying .e.eights to accommodate the different classes of stock which are carried, and any article can, be readily reached without. any disturbance of the stock displayed on the trellis
frame. Electric lights are fitted in the interior, and this serves to give the " shop on wheels" all the advantages possessed by the average shop window. In addition, quite a large amount of space is available.