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A Pianoforte Manufacturer : "I Would a Thousand Times Rather Dispatch Our Goods by Motor Than by Rail."
We have before us the names of many well-known tradesmen using tha motorvan who are pleased to be included in this series, and, for this week's issue, our choice falls on one of the best-known manufacturers of pianofortes in the country —llessrs. J. B. Cramer and Co., Ltd., 139, New Bond Street, London, W.
In order, therefore, to gather ti-w necessary information for this article, we journeyed one day last weck to that " street of beautiful shops " as Bond Street has been named since the 17th century. On our arrival at No. 139 we were introduced to Mr. H. Chevelier, an official of the company, and, with but few preliminaries we were soon engaged with the business side of the interview.
" Yes, we dispatch our goods by motor," commenced the official ; " in fact, we have four of them in order to meet our requirements."
" We saw an A.lbion as we came along which had the name of your company on its panels," we inter posed. " What. make arc the others?"
Two are also Albions, the .!fourth is a Thames."
" How long is it since you instituted motorvan delivery, Mr. Chevelier ? "
" The first of our fleet was in stalled in 1909. Previous to that, however, we utilized mechanical transport, but at that time we were under an arrangement of maintenance carried on by Messrs. MacNamara and Co. We got our goods delivered with such despatch and expedition by them that we were naturally inclined to launch out on our own, and the result is a sequence of purchase of four vans which comprise our present fleet. must say that during the four years in which we have rim our own nua chines we have had ma cause to regret making the extension.'
" Can you give us any figures relating to cost ?" we inquired.
" No. I am not in a position to do so at the present time, but at this juncture I_should like to say a word in your ear about the exorbitant price of petrol. The current price of fuel I consider is by far the biggest. item of running cost which the present-day user has to contend with," " Other people whom we have in11G terviewed have made ,similar remarks to us. How about benzole ? we offered as a salve to excusably incensed feelings. " It is slightly cheaper than petrol and invariably gives more mites per gallon. Have you tried it ?"
" No, we ha-ye not ; in fact, I have heard but little of that spirit. Does it give good all-round results ?"
" Judging from the correspondence we have received from actual users," we replied, " it is certainly worth your while to give your drivers the tip to try a couple or so of gallons and form their own opinion."
" I will certainly consider the matter. Where can we obtain the fuel from?"
It was then that we gave the name of our sister journal " The Motor," which every week publishes a full list of names of establishments throughout the country where benrole can be obtained.
"What were your hauling facilities previous to utilizing motor delivery? "
"We kept. six horse-drawn lorries constantly employed, but we have discarded the whole lot."
" So you have not the slightest compunction in despatching your most costly instruments by the more modern method of transit 1"
Not the :11.-4-.est,; in fact., we
would much rather deliver them by motor, amongst other reasons that of being in a position better able to cater for hiring business, such as high-class concerts, parties, and entertaining generally.''
" What 'a about your daily mileage of delivery?
" Precisely I cannot tell you, but we have run the machines on occasions to as many as 130 miles. For the Provinces, we usually resort to the railway, but that entails very much additional cost and we have, as you may imagine, to make veiy expensive kinds of packing cases to enable the costly productions, to be transported without risk of being damaged.
" This involves, as you will readily understand, a considerable amount of extra expense.
" Then on top of this, there is the high rent which we have to pay for the extra packing room kept for such delivery. Seeing that we can send our own men along with the motm van, we are always sure of the instrument being delivered without the slightest damage, and I would a thousand times rather despatch our goods by motor than by rail.
"Perhaps you will be interested to hear," concluded Mr. Chevelier, " that we consider the machines quite a good advertising medium."