Small Users in Big Cities (No. 11)1
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In Newcastle on the Tyne.
Examples of Local Motor-transport of Cheese, Toffee, Beer, Furniture, Crumpets, Corn, Groceries, Newspapers, and of General Haulage.
This Collection of Users and their Vehicles, is Designed, so far as is Possible, to Include Variety of Machine Types as well as of Trades but it mast not, of course, be taken as Complete in either Sense, as it often happens that many different makes of Chassis are Employed in the same Trade or that several Trades Employ the same Types of Motorvans.
EWCASTLE ON-TYNE, taking into consideration its size, is certainly the busiest industrial and commercial centre with which we have, as yet, had the pleasure of dealing when gathering special subject-matter for this particular series.
Before proceeding, however, to re cord the impressions and experiences which we have received from .New castle users of utility machines, a few brief introductory remarks relating to this remarkable Northumbrian town may not be inappropriate. The history of Newcastle reaches back to the Roman invasion, when the Emperor Adrian, who built the great Roman wall, 80 miles in length, that was stretched from where Wailsend is situated to the Solway, threw a bridge across the Tyne where the present famous Swing Bridge now stands, and called it Pons Elii. This was somewhere about 86 A. U. Centuries after, William the Conqueror visited the place and took notice of the advantages which the locality would afford from a military point of view, and caused a castle to be built there. The present name of the town is accounted for by the fact that William Rufus rebuilt the first stronghold. That was in the 11th century. From this time onwards the place began to create a. name as being a great commercial emporium.
In the 14th century its chief business we find was the export of wool, and it is said that Newcastle was one of the 11 towns throughout England in which wool merchants were bound by Act of Parliament to carry their goods for sale "by the great " or as we now have it, "wholesale." In 1400, by Royal charter, Newcastle wa-s created a county in itself, and its continued prosperity from that time onwards is recorded by different historians.
The town, of course, is chiefly known to the outside world as being the centre and the chief port of the great northern coalfield, and we findthat the returns for 1912 show that no fewer than 16,233,462 tons were shipped from the Tyne. In addition to this staple industry, Newcastle and the immediate district possess shipbuilding yards and iron, lead, chemical and engineering 'works, which make the banks of the Tyne one vast worlohop. With regard to the shipbuilding, during 1912 93 vessels, representing a gross tonnage of 397,791, were launched. The engineering works of Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., Ltd., is one of the great sights, not only of Tyneside, but of England.
That the use of the industrial vehicle enters very considerably into the business life of Newcastle will be evident from the following observations which we have received from some of the principal tradesmen in this remarkable industrial centre.
A Newspaper Publishing House Uses Seven Armstrong-Whitworth Machines.
We can hardly classify " The Newcastle Chronicle" as a small user, for, not only does this publishing house possess quite a comprehensive fleet of machines, but each vehicle can carry a. ton of newspapers at one loading. However, the interesting testimony which we have received. from the management with regard to its motor facilities particularly warrants inclusion whilst we are dealing with Newcastle users.
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Three daily and two weekly newspapers emanate from this establishment, which, by the way, was founded in 1764—" The Daily Chronicle," " The Sporting Mau," " The Evening Chronicle," " The
eekly Chronicle," and "The Illustrated Chronicle." It takes seven machines adequately to cope with the speedy distribution of these periodicals to branch offices situated in districts in and around Newcastle.
Consistency of choice is a factor with the user ; for all the machines are of one make, viz., 18-22 Armstrong-Whitworth. They have been employed for more than four years, although so far back as 1903 the concern first went in for a motor to distribute its publications. It is only by the possession of this speedy modern equipment that the proprietors ale enabled to carry on a very extended distribution, and, what is equally important, the various branch offices and newsagents in general are assured of receiving the. bundles of papers consistently to time and by tire
quickest possible methods. Each machine, on an average, has 240 miles a week to its credit.
The concluding remarks given to us by a responsible official of the publishing house are indeed very significant. " We find motor delivery enables us to cover a larger district in a shorter time, and also that there is a saving over horsed-vehicles, taking area and time into account.'
"Increased Turnover and Profits Since Using Motors."
The desirable state of trading results proclaimed in the above headline is backed up by six-years experience in the running of utility machines. Messrs. J. Hindhaugh and Co., wholesale corn merchants, of 38, Cloth 'Market, first decided to go in for a motorvan in 1907. The choice then was a one-ton Albion. Business increased to such an extent that a bigger type of vehicle was afterwards found necessary to cope with wholesale oaders, and the Leyland threetonner was acquired.
This company soon began to experience similar advantages from the motors which have from time to time been notified to us by firms who hitherto hired horsed-lorries, viz., "One special advantage we obtain from motor haulage is increased business, through being able to please +Jur customers by delivering to them direct and with speed, whereas previously other firms' lorries were employed." " Moreover," continue Messrs. iiindhaugh, " a lower percentage of breakages is now experienced.' Mis general satisfaction is borne out by the fact that eight months ago the firm placed another order with Leyland's for an additional three-tonne.r.
All three machines have to contend with good solid loads, as those who have tried to lift sacks of grain can testify. The two Leylands are generally sent off with full loads of corn to customers situated some distance out, when, as a rule, two-loadings-up a day are maintained for such deliveries. When there are too many sundry orders for the Albion to tackle, one or other of the lorries is requisitioned, and as -many as 30 individual deliveries of this kind can be effected in one day.
The ground covered in that period varies from 30 to 60 'Idles according to the nature of the calls. Besides thal important business asset—" increased turnover and profits "—which Messrs. Hindhaugh greatly attribute to the machines, simplicity of packing and the dispatch with which emergency orders cam be attended to are other advantages experienced.
"We can take Bigger Loads Over the same Roads at a Quarter the Cost of Hired Wagons."
Robert Deuchar, Ltd., Sandyfoed Brewery, Sandyford Road, has for a considerable while resortrd to motor vehicles for the distribution of its different productions. Six years ago this brewer ramght a three-ton Alley and McLellan steamer.
Six months after that another three-tonner, of the same make, was purchased, iind subsequently a thiad machine was acquired, also an Alley and McLellan, in this case, however; the largest type turned out
by this well-known maker, a machine %thief) ean carry six-ton loads. The photograph which we include in our composite block shows the wagon with its trailer attached, and it will be seen that quite a big consignment of boxes of liquid refreshment is aboard both machineand trailer.
Only 150 miles a week is covered by each machine ; their duties are principally the carrying of bottled ales, beer, wines and jars of spirits. The comparatively low mileage recorded is accounted for by the large number of steppages this class of trading demands, although on occasion the machines are sent on long journeys with a large consignment to outlying districts.
" A point which we are particularly satisfied about," states an official of this undertaking, " is that we are enabled to deliver our goods quite mitside the radius hither to covered by horses, and we also experience a final'. cial saving over that class of haulage." Continuing, he states, " Before we had the third machine, the six-tonner, there were occasions on winch we had to hire steam wagons to cope with extra rushes of business. Our latest acquisition has enabled us to be independent of,such contracting, and, moreover, we find we can take bigger loads oser the same roads at a quarter the cost."
A Ford Utilized for the Delivery of Groceries.
Messrs. Bell and Rcay are proprietors of one of the oldest-established grocery and provision concerns in Newcastle. The shop is situated at 26, Cloth Market. The firm recently decided to try modern methods and went in for a light type of van. Their experience in this direction only covers a matter of a few months, but, nevertheless, theywere pleased to communicate their impressions.
" We believed that we could cover the districts to be served much quicker if we went in for a motor," the proprietors tell us, " so after some consideration we decided to buy a Ford, and considered that a second-hand vehicle was quite good enough for our purpose, for the present at any rate. We can load it up to five cwt., and its duties, of course, consist of delivering all the different classes of -supplies incidental to the grocery business, including Italian bottled goods and other Continental commodities put up in glass jars.
" Since using the machine, the simplicity and often the entire absence of packing various goods, in order to enable us quickly to effect emergency orders, is quite a, feature. We do not cover a great distance with the motor owing to the local nature-of the Calks. About 100 a week is, we should think, about the present average. "We find now that our man can take many more calls and gct them, delivered much more quickly, hut at present there is no financial saving Oil the initial outlay. The point is that emergency orders can be attended to with much greater speed and expedition than with our old methods."
"A Great Convenience."
Whenever we get in touch with officials of wholesale provision establishments, in order to gather their impressions specially for this series, we invariably receive favourable comment. This is particularly pleasing, proving conclusively, as it does, the general convenience which motors afford in the matter of handling and • distributing the essentials of life.
A typical example is forthcoming from. .aNorth of England wholesale importer of provisions, M. Ora b r idge arid Sons, Ltd., lea• Pudding Chare, Newcastle on Tyne. T hi s establishment has run a Leyland lorry for the past four years. Its chief duties consist of transporting large consignments of hams, bacon, cheese, casks of butter and lard to wholesalers and retailers situated in and around the Northumbrian town.
That the machine is kept busily employed will be evidenced from the fact that from 250 to 300 miles every week have to be covered in order to keep pace with customers' demands for fresh supplies of commodities.; 34 cwt, of provisions can be dispatched at one loading, so that large local shops and suburban depots situated some distance outside the town area are assured of getting their orders for bulk delivery attended to with the utmost promptitude, It is, of course, needless for us to emphasize the consistency of dispatch and delivery required by this particular class of business. This is where the user gets the " pull" of horsed vans, for, in the words of one of Oubridge's directors, "Although no financial saving is effected, you can cover much further distances."
"A great convenience," is the brief but significant final comment of that official respecting this Leyland lorry.
"Very Satisfactory for Quick and Efficient Transport."
For well over a period of seven years the extensive cabinet and upholstery business of Robson and Sons, Ltd., 42, Northumberland Street, has employed motors, the fleet consisting of no fewer than five machines. As would be expected of a general housefurnishing business of this magnitude, the costly articles of varying weight and bulk which are manufactured require very careful handling. With regard to transit, they would also call for the use of motors having a, load-carrying capacity somewhat on the heavy side, consequently Robson's acquired some big machines.
Two of the vehicles are from the Halley factory, and three from the Albion Co.'s works. The largest Halley is a. three-tormer; the other can take loads up to a couple of tons, whilst the three Albions have each
a load-carrying capacity of 20 cwt. Pal ticular interest is attached to the big Halley, in that its duties are three-fold, as will be gathered from the composite picture. which we include on page 92. Three types of bodies were ordered with the chassis, and consist. of a, large pantechnicon type for the removal of loose household furniture, a platform construction for transporting to railway station and quayside furniture packed in cases for further transit, and a char-h-bancs-body, utilized when the machine is required for organized country tours. The owner informs us, "Very well does the machine keep to its work." The management reckons to get on an average 1600 miles a week out of the five machines.
Some of the advantages experienced by this particular user are that loose furniture and carpets can be sent a distance where the employment of horses would be out of the question. Moreover, there is the saving of packing, which was a very costly item when the furniture had to be sent by rail, " We find the machines very satisfactory for quick and efficient transport," are the concluding words of one of the directors.
Two Thornyerofts Deliver Toffee.
Watson's Toffee Works, Ltd., Union Road, carries on a big business in the manufacture of cream toffee and other kinds of confectionery, and some hundreds of tons of different classes of sweetmeats are turned out of this factory each month. There are many retailers throughout the counties of Durham and Northumberland who trade in Watson's productions, and, in order to keep up a constant supply for the big demand for its confectionery in outlying districts the concern finds it necessary to rim a couple of motorvans. They are both Thornyeroft .machines, and are each capable of carrying Loans up to two tons, although ti-icy are of two eisranctive types from the basingstoke works, one tieing a 16 h.p, model and the other a 30 h.p. machine. The first-mentioned vehicle Watson's have had for 14 months, The larger horse-powered model is quite a recent delivery, and has only been In service a
couple of months. An official of the company speaks very well of both of them.
anis user gets the respectable mileage of .100 a week from each of the vans, and, as will be expected of such a business as this, a considerable number of calls have to be made day in and day out, the average number in this case being about 40. ies, we do experience special advantages from these motors," the official informed us, "for they enable us to keep up a much quicker and at the same
time maintain a dead delivery of our sweetstuils.
Moreover," ha continued, "the mschines are undoubtedly handy in cases of emergency, and of great service where delivery has to be made beyond the capacity of horse-drawn vehicles. Then there is another important consideration. Since we have utilized the motorva,ns, there is a distinct falling off in the percentage of breakages."
Halley's New Depot.
Users of Halley vehicles in and around Newcastle will be glad to learn that, the manufacturer of this well-known type of machine has just opened an extensive garage and repair depot in that town at 31, Bath Lane, where not only a lull and competent staff of mechanics (trained at the YokelWorks of the company) will be permanently employed, but a very full stock of spare parts will be carried. In order to facilitate repairs and renewals, a complete plant of machine tools has been installed as well as a forge and all the other appliances necessary efficiently to carry out repair work of every kind. This new depot will, of course, only undertake work on Halley vehicles. The office of the Newcastle branch, hitherto at 27, Grey Street, has been moved to 31, Bath Lane also, and we are sure the progressive spirit of the company will be fully repaid by the confidence local users will have in getting repairs done not only efficiently and cheaply but, what is of always paramount importance, quickly. The new premises have sufficient floor space to accommodate ten vehicles, and coincident with the opening of the repair depot is the permanent installation of a Halley B-type three-ton lorry for demonstration purposes. We reproduce a photograph showing the premises in Bath Lane with the new demonstration vehicle in the foreground, which is of the platform type.