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NARRATIVES OF THE INDUSTRY.

25th November 1924
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Page 14, 25th November 1924 — NARRATIVES OF THE INDUSTRY.
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The Evolution of the Prominent Concerns in the British Commercial Vehicle Industry which Have Made History by the Pursuit of a Progressive Policy..

COMMERCIAL CARS, LTD.

TUD TOWN of Luton, situated 30 miles from London, has achieved a prominent place in the list of manufacturing centres mainly through its activities in connection with the mating of straw hats, but during the last two decades it has also acquired a status as an important engineering centre. In this sphere of enterprise, the activities of Commercial Cars, Ltd., are particularly well known' and the company claim the honour of being the first founded for the purpose of building commercial motor vehicles exclusively.

It was 19 years ago that the foundations of this company— who now manufacture a wide range of goods and passenger vehicles under the registered trade mark 0 "Commer "were laid. In 1905 a group of pioneers interested themselves in a series of experiments then being made with the Linley gearbox, and after exhaustive tests with this component (which gave satisfactory evidence of its capabilities both as a mechanical and financial proposition) a small syndicate was formed and a factory opened in Clapham Road, London, where the first Coinmer industrial vehicle—a machine to carry 4-ton loads— was built. Certain of its features can be observed in one of the accompanying illustrations, although it will be noted that the engine has been removed.

The potentialities of the motor vehicle for business uses were quickly foreseen. In the following year a plot of land was acquired on what was, at that time, the outskirts of Luton. On this site a small works was erected, and this formed the genesis of the modern extensive range of buildings which now constitute a conspicuous landmark to travellers on the main-line railway from St. Pancras.

With a larger works at their disposal the company set themselves the task of developing their trade both in the home markets and overseas, and they were unsparing in their efforts to prove that the motor vehicle was a sound proposition icor the transport of goods and passengers. Business houses of repute were not slow to recognize that they would possess a decided 830 pull over their rivals by speeding-up their delivery ServiceS, with the result that a steady and growing demand for goods vehicles was quickly promoted, and Commercial Cars, Ltd., played a prominent part in meeting the requirements of the earliest users of road motors.

So soon as the Commer lorry, bad gained for itself a definite place in the home market, the company conceived a bold and vigorous policy with the idea of introducing their range of products into overseas countries. A special study of Colonial and foreign conditions was made, and technical representatives were despatched to all parts of the world in order that they might investigate local conditions and secure first-hand information of the requirements of prospective buyers in other countries.

When one considers that primitive forms of transport were still being largely used in many of these spheres, due, in a great measure, to the fact that the roads possessed poor surfaces and unstable foundations, this action was not without its risk of disappointment; but that their astute enterprise was rewarded was indicated by the receipt of orders from all parts of the world. In addition to vehicles of conventional design, many machines built to meet special requirements were exported.

Lorries fitted with stroked wheels were sent to Patagonia, engines equipped with power-hauling gear were despatched to New Zealand, vehicles running on steel tyres and provided with hauling drums had as their destination Siberia, chars-d-bancssomewhat different from the modern conceptions of these passenger vehicles—were shipped to the Canary Islands, whilst chassis specially designed to conform with the regulations governing mechanical traction in Ceylon and other Colonies were also constructed in the company's works at Luton.

The ramifications of the company had by this time considerably widened, and the steadily increasing demand for Commer

vehicles made it imperative for their works to be largely extended, until, at the outbreak of war, the area of the Luton factory had been doubled and its productive capacity correspondingly enlarged. In the meantime, Commer vehicles, in all forms of service, had substantiated the claims made by the makers for their products, amongst which was excellence of design allied with high-grade workmanship and a wise choice of materiels.

One particularly noteworthy performance was that of a i-ton Commer lorry of the RC. type, built in 1907, which participated in the series Of trials organized by the Royal Automobile Club with a view to ascertaining the durability abd reliability of existing commercial vehicles. This particular machine cornPeted in these trials, which were most exhaustive and extended over a distance of 1,000 miles, without an involuntary stop, and was awarded a Silver Medal for its meritorious performance: Later in the year this vehicle was purchased by Lipton, Ltd:', the well-known provision merchants, in whose possession it remains to-day, being credited with a mileage of close upon 30(1000. It is still in use with its original units, and that it continues to give good service is a striking tribute to the excel-. lance of Commer products, as well as to the careful supervision exercised by those responsible for its maintenance.

From the commencement, all types of Commer vehicle were; with one exception, built for chain-drive transmission and equipped with the Linley semi-automatic gearbox operated by a horizontal lever located under the steering wheel. About 10 years ago the company introduced additional worm-driven models in the design of which the Thomas gearbox was incorporated. This is a more compact component than its foree runner and, whilst incorporating all the advantages of the component of earlier design, permits the use of the side-operating lever which has now become universal.

On the declaration of war, all chassis ready for delivery, as well as those in various stages of construction at the Commer Car works, were commandeered by the military authorities, and the company received instructions to standardize upon one type.

A worm-driven chassis had previously been built, as well as a War Office subsidy model for 8-ton loads—which was aPproved after test under the War Office scheme—but neither of these types was requisitioned by the authorities, their choice falling upon the 4-ton chain-driven R.C. lorry for standardization purposes. The resources of the company's works were concentrated upon the manufacture of this type until the cessation of hostilities, some thousands being supplied for various Army Purposes, Under the searching test of unprecedented war conditions, Commer vehicles fully maintained the reputation which they achieved in more tranquil spheres.

It is interesting at this point to record the vicissitudes of a Commer lorry during the late war. A German convoy captured, by the British on the Western Front was found to contain a Commer lorry, and its appearance in these circumstances being unaccountable, inquiries were instituted, and these proved that the vehicle was one supplied from Luton by the manufacturers to the Russian War Office in 1912. It had ,been used by the Russians in their operations in -East Prussia, until eventually captured by the Germans, who transferred it for service with their troops in France, where, after a period of use, it fell into the hands of the British, who, in turn, put it into service against the enemy.

The present activities of the company are concentrated on the manufacture of a wide range of vehicles for goods and passenger transport. In the former category are to be sound 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10-ton models, of which, in the first two, t the final drive is by worm. In the ease of the heavier models, final chain transmission—the company have always been exponents of this form of final drive—is still favoured.

'So far as passenger vehicles are concerned, worm-driven chassis capable of carrying from 16 to 46 passengers are included in the manufacturing programme. The coachwork for these models is built in the company's own workshops.

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