A Specialist in FARM TRANSPORT
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A LTUOUGH farmers have for many i-1 years been pressed to use motor vehicles, the effects of widespread propaganda on the part of motor manufacturers and dealers, who thought that they saw possibilities for a more extensive use of the motor vehicle and appliance in the agricultural world, has not been encouraging. There are growing indications, however, that the matter is now being tackled seriously, but, perhaps, from a new and different angle. A representative of The Commercial Motor recently had a chat with Mr. J. II. Tattersall, of Gisburn, Yorkshireand Mr. Tattersall indicated what he thought would be the line of development in regard to transport for farmers and gave us details of his activities.
Mr: Tattersall, who has for some time been engaged in a specialized branch of the haulage industry, is interested in road transport as applied to the businesses of farmers, cattle dealers and
butchers. A lifelong interest in livestock on farms, coupled with a natural enthusiasm for motor vehicles, which was given a practical outlet by army service, has fitted him for the work he has taken in hand.
Three Vehicles Fully Engaged.
Over a year ago he seriously took up the business of a cattle transporter and now has three vehicles fully engaged in this work. Any class of job associated with farming and live-stock transport is undertaken, but Mr. Tattersall is almost
entirely concerned with the carriage of animals by road in connection-with the various auction marts in his part of the country.
Mr. Tattersall started operations with a G.M.C. lorry of the K17 type, which provided accommodation for three cows or 50 sheep, the latter being carried on two decks. His later acquisitions comprise a Chevrolet with a capacity 'which enables 40 sheep or three cows to be transported, a G.M.C. 27 h.p. vehicle for accommodating eight cows or 80 sheep and, finally, as his latest purchase, an A.E.C. Model 509 chassis, with a specially built body incorporating improvements, a knowledge of which was obtained from experience with the other vehicles. The body for the largest vehicle was built by Messrs. :Tames Rushworth andSons, Accrington Road, Burnley, and the vehicle, which has a. forward-control cab and a capacious blue body with bold white lettering on the sides, presents an imposing appearance. It will carry
cows or 130 sheep.
The Value of Forward Control.
The forward cab of the vehicle enables a long body to be used and facilitates mameuvring operations in narrow farm tracks and farmyards. Mr. Tattersall told us that at brat he was inclined to obtain a low-loading passenger chassis, but he fmally decided in favour of the goods-carrying type, on lite advice of the chassis maker's representatives. He considers that the advice given was sound, especially in view of the low ground clearance of the present-clay passenger chassis, a feature -which would probably present difficulties in the ruts usually found on farm roads. this opening into the .lower compartment. This enables sheep to be loaded singly without lowering the long ramp which lets down at the back and forms the tailboard. The ramp is lifted into position by means of a winch.
Mr. Tattersall's vehicles find regular employment amongst farmers, wholesale butchers, cattle dealers, etc., and he attends auction marts at Preston, Gisburn, Clitheroe, Skipton, Bingley,Colne and Hellifield. There are busy periods of extra work, however, when the sheep from the hill districts are sent down to the milder climate of the Yorkshire wolds, and even in this comparatively long-distance work he claims to be able to beat the railways on price and provide a more convenient service.
Naturally, the ability to run right up to a farm is a great advantage when the holdings are sometimes a distance of six to 10 miles'from a railway station. Mr. Tattersall has been approached to take loads into the South of England, but these have been declined, owing to
bus company," says Mr. Tattersall; " in fact, I think there are great possibilities in this work if it could be carried out on these lines."
The capacity of the A.E.C. lorry amazes most people ; nevertheless, there are times when its accommodation is taxed to the utmost Mr. Tattersall's vehicles often carry large numbers of pigs and occasionally hunters are transported, whilst a somewhat unusual load was once provided by a number of farm carts which had to be carried a considerable distance; these were run up a ramp and fastened in the body.
The Economy of Road Transport.
Fairly frequent journeys with animals are made to Liverpool and Birkenhead, and on the return journeys straw from Orreskirk• is carried. The Craven country, in which Mr. Tattersall's business is situated, is not a corn-growing district, although farmers need straw in fairly large quantities. In the ordinary course of business the straw is passed
The advantages in regard to loading and unloading of the low-loading chas sis would, in his opinion, have been outweighed by other points, whilst the springing of many low-loadline vehicles would probably require some alteration in view of the class of load carried. The 45 h.p. engine has •_ proved ample' for requirements, and, in fact, Mr. Tattersall may, at some future date, provide a trailer for the A.E.C.. vehicle. All the vehicles have double decks for carrying sheep and special care has been taken to ensure that there is ample ventilation in both, compartments.
The bodywork of the vehicle's is substantial, in view of the weights .which press from the inside upon the woodwork. The upper floor, which is employed when carrying sheep, is formed by the insertion of boards, and these. are used to separate the cattle' when large . animals are carried. On the largestvehicle two small doors are provided on the near side, One at the front end, which gives access to The upper compertinent, and the other at the rear, the fact that return loads cannot be ensured. The charges made are roughly is. and is. 3d. per mile, according to the size of the vehicle, although the price is not always the governing factor.
Tranquil Animals.
We were informed by Mr. Tattersall that he seldom has trouble with the cattle when they are being transported in the vehicles and if an animal has once been in a lorry it does not show any objection to a second journey. The ramps are well protected with cross-pieces to prevent the beasts from slipping, and it is usually an easy matter tq drive the cattle into the vehicles when the back of the lorry is driven against the gates of the pens. Animals are sometimes collected, at various points on the road, and on these occasions proportionate charges are made.
We run very much on the style of a
from the grower to the dealer and has to be carted from the grower to the station and then from .the station to the dealer's warehouse. When the farmer orders, say, a ton, this quantity is carted back to the station, addressed to the farther and sent to him from -the station. The price for handling alone is very high, but when the. straw comes by motor lorry, as Mr. Tattersall handles it, with only one loading from the grower to the user, a considerable economy is effected.
• The services which Mr. Tattersall provides give great advantages to the agriculturist, but to provide such services the organizer must be in close touch with every section of the industry, and with the allied industries, too. It
however, impossible for the farmer with an ordinary holding to equip himself in : a manner suitable for the economic execution a such work. Individual farmers do not-require sufficiently often the services performed by large lorries to justify the purchase price, but by meeting farmers' needs an adequate amount of work can be obtained.