Specialized Commercial Vehicle Repairs.
Page 11
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THE'
IS no doubt that many com mercial vehicle users of the London Portsmouth road will have observed with interest the rapid growth of the fine premises built at Kingston by Mr. W. G. Thomas. The buildings cover a considerable area of ground, and comprise workshops, stores, garage and showrooms, and they constitute an outstanding monument to individual enter prise. • •
At the invitation of:Mr. Thomas we recently visited the new works, and 'were .greatly impressed by their convenience and the very practical manner in which they have been laid out. We were surprised to find that they were both designed and built in 18 months by their owner, with whom expedition is a feature in everything which lie undertakes.
The first building shown in our illustration contains the offices, whilst the entrance at the other side of the main gateway leads to a capacious showroom, actually 75 ft. sq., with three large windows facing the main road. A corner of the main showroom is divided off for a comprehensive exhibition s of accessories. Next to the showroom is the bodybuilding shop, which measures 130 ft. by 70 ft Here many men were already busy building bodies for coaches and lorries, and Cabs for tank wagons, etc.. Conveniently situated at the end of this shop is the trimmers' shop. The' large stores are so arranged that both the body and the machine-shop can be served direct through separate windows, thus avoiding any waste of time.
The power for all the machines is obtained from a large 25 hp, electric motor, centralised, and with belt drive to the overhead shafting in the machine. shop, and a secondbelt drive to an underground shaft -which stretches right across the body shop.
The fitters' shop is also large, measuring 100 ft. by 75 ft. It has a convenient runway for blocks and tackle, which is carried right round it, whilst at one end A first story is provided, onehalf of the extra area thus afforded being added to the stores, whilst the other half forms a messroom.
There is a separate shop for sheet
metal work, welding and radiator repairs, and we noted that every radiator sent for repair is completely stripped. The smitbY is provided with a double hearth, the fires of which are blown by power-driven fans. Outside, and against the wall of the fitters' shop, is a paraffin-washing in stallation protected by a projecting roof. There is a large amount of garage space for complete vehicles, and a convenient tyre press the hydraulic primp for which is situated in the machineshop, whilst at the main entrance is a Bowser pump surmounting a 3,000gallon tank.
Every care ha,s• been taken to allow the workers Plenty of light. There are actually north and south lights, and the total area of glass is over half an acre.
Chassis rebuilt at these works are completely stripped, and customers are permitted to call at any time to see the , vehicles and watch work being done on them. Any make Of vehicle is accepted for overhaul, and such units as radiators, fans, etc., are often built up from castings produced from patterns actually made in the works.
Some of the work undertaken is of an urgent nature, and in such cases is completed with the utmost expedition ; fur instance, driversf cabs, including
windscreens, can be built and fitted in one day, and on a recent occasion a special lorry body built to an order received on a Thursday was delivered on the following Saturday.