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27th May 1915, Page 12
27th May 1915
Page 12
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Page 12, 27th May 1915 — What Users Tell Us
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Interview 37 Running Costs for Lyons' Electrics.

Our readers will remember that at the commencement of this series of -interviews we were able to include a short article expressing the • views of the manager of the motor department of one of the largest firms in the catering trade. Since that interview took place matters have in all respects so changed that we thought it would afford an interesting comparison if we were again to approach J. Lyons and Co., .Ltd., with a view to obtaining the impression of this pre-eminent catering concern as to the value of inotorvan delivery under the present altered conditions.

Some 18 months ago this. company was using nearly 50 machines, including amongst these Albions, Lacres, De Dions, and Renaults. When we called at Cadby Hall recently, we were not in the least surprised to hear from a director of thecompany that the fleet of vehicles has been increased.

"-Have you still the vehicles runn:ng that you had in service 18 • months ago ? " we queried.

"Well, we have many of them, but as you might expect we have replaced several machines of the older fleet by new vehicles, whilst we have also made many additions. We Still have the Albions in regular service, and I can tell you that. they are running very well. We have found that althoug*: little slow they are absolutely sure, and it is only. • in very exceptional circumstances that one of this make of vehicle is found in dock."

",So you consider it a good plan to sacrifice a little speed if regular and efficient delivery be. obtained thereby I" " Oh, yes. It is absolutely necessary, for the vans to be punctual in our particular line of business, and the Alloions are always well up to time.; in fact, they run by the clock."

Mr. •Gluckstein then went on to tell us that some of the older machines which his company possessed on the occasion of our presinus visit had been replaced by newer machines of various makes.

Referring to the De Dions, he remarked on the exceptionally good prices obtained for them after nine years of conVnuous service, and continued: "We have running at the present time, in addition to the

lbions, • .11 . Renaults, .8 'Fords. 6 Na,piers, 2 Avelina •tractors and -6 electric vehicles. The Renaults are used for inspection work only, and range from a' 9 h.p. two-cylinder

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machine to a 30 hp. The Fords we mostly use for provincial work. Perhaps you would be interested to hear -what the duties of these machines are?"

" We should," we replied. Mr. Gluckstein thereupon told us that the tea is made up in packets in the London warehouse, and is then despatched to the most convenient railway station in the district in which the machine operates. The driver of the Ford then collects his supply from the station and distributes it to the various shopkeepers and agents throughout the district. This is the daily routine, and the loads are so arranged that the driver exhausts his stock of tea each day.

" It. is simply a matter of careful organization. By means of motor' deliveries we.are enabled to supply the small village shopkeeper, and to see that he gets fresh supplies when necessary. We can also, in thin mariner, reach the smallest and most inaccessible villages, to many of which the railway service is usually very inadequate," he said. We were informed that in the case of the Fords the chassis only are purchased, and the company then has the bodies made to its own design by Blanch and Co., the well-known coachbuilders. There are no special fittings for these hat bodies, and the usual weight camed is somewhere in the vicinity of 5 cwt., although when business demands this load is slightly exceeded. The advertising value of these vans is also a desirable asset. Wherever they travel they carry the packets of tea and the name ot Lyons:

"We are so pleased with the Fords for this class of work," continued Mr. Gluckstein, "that we have placed further orders for early delivery.

"The electric vehicles we have in use are also proving their worth. We have in use at present eight machines of this class, ranging from a 10 cwt. vehicle to a fivetonner. Seven of these are of the Edison type, with, of course, Edison cells, the other is made by the General Vehicle Co. and uses Chloride batteries."

"What induced you to purchase electric vehicles?" we asked.

"Well, there are two reasons. The first is that when war broke out many of our horses were commandeered for Government service, and we needed further transport facilities ; secondly, we had heard rather glowing reports as to their capahaiths, so we decided to put a machine under test. We were rather pessimistic at first as to the advantage of using this type of vehicle, but we were, I might say, so astonished at the results obtained after many weeks of arduous test work, that we purchased several more, and we have no cause to regret our new departure."

"Have you any actual running costs for the electrks ? " we queried.

"Well, perhaps the best testimony I can give you on this point

is to let you see the detailed asts we keep as a record."

Mr. Gluckstein produced for our perusal many lists showing the runmg cost per week, and also over a period of six months. We reproduce for the benefit of our readers this latter list in tabulated form. , It will also be useful to include a summary of the running of these vehicles over a period of four weeks ended 16th April :—

For two 1-ton vehicles the average cost of current per mile was .45d. on a mileage of 222.3.

For two 2-ton vehicles the average cost of current per mile was .73d. on a mileage of 192.1.

For one -ton vehicle the average cost of current per mile was 1.M. on a mileage of 195.2.

We were unable to obtain actual running costs for all of the eight vehicles in service, but the above costs will be interesting.

"How do you find the actual working costs for electric vehicles compare with those for your petrol machines?" we ventured to ask.

• " Well, of course, the initial outlay is much greater, but we find

that the actual working in com

pare very favourably ; fact, so much so, that we shall be placing further orders for the electricallypropelled type."

• " Now as to the tractors. What are they called upon toado ? " "We use the two Aveling and

Porter tractors for hauling trailers; which carry tea in bulk, from the docks at Liverpool to the London warehouse, where it is made up in packets. They were purchased second-hand from _the contractor Yorke, Stoneham. and Jones, Ltd., and we are placing a repeat order as a result of our experience of the running of these machines. "You ask as to the Napiers. We have six 24 h.p. one-tonners, but they have not been in service long."

We asked Mr. Gluekstein if many of his vehicles were in dock at one time, considering the size of the fleet.

"No" was his reply, "we take special care to avoid any ,happenings of this kind. The Machines are regularly inspected, and if adjustments or repairs are necessary they are attended to by .a competent engineer. Those in London service are inspected in 'London; but the provincial garage is in Birmingham. I might add that we keep a spare set of chains for all

our chain-driven vehicles: These are •soahed in.-oil for a week, and then run for ,a'fortnight when they are again put in oil This partially accounts for the excellent running of the machines."

" Have kyou found any difficulty in obtaining petrol for your vehicles?" we asked.

"None at all, as we have 'Installed a 2000-gallon tank which operates on the Bowser petrolstorage system, and have no difficulty in keeping it replenished. "Now as to.tires ? -1A,Tell, we use several makes, and considering the speed and nature of our deliveries, they all prove very satisfactory. `.` The present conditions have brought it .home to us more than ever, that for a business undertaking of any size to be ,run successfully, it is absolutely essential to possess some means for quick and efficient delivery. We obtain this end by using motorvans.'

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"I suppose it would 'be: superfluous to ask if you are satisfied with naotorvane as a means of delivery?"

" It would."

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Locations: London, Birmingham, Liverpool

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