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Interview 35
The Happy Experiences of a Wholesale Confectioner.
Not every user of commercial vehicles, even in these latter days, when reliability and continuous service are the rule rather than the exception, can point to four years unbroken use of one machine, without ever having failed to come home under power, without ever needing an overhaul, and without the necessity for any replacements, beyond two exhaust valves and two road springs ; these latter replacements also admittedly rendered necessary owing to overloading. Such, however, is the happy position of Mr. Loft, wholesale confectioner, of Clifton Road, Kingston Hill. His van, a 1611.p. twin-cylinder Albion for loads of 5 cwt., was purchased rather more than four years ago. Since then, he tells us, it has been in use six days in every week, and has never failed to do its fair day's work. The average daily Mileage is perhaps not high, being 30 to 40, but, on the other hand, owing to the peculiarities of the work on which it is engaged, a more than usual amount of starting and stopping is the rule. On one particular journey, for instance, no fewer than 80 stops are made ; it frequently on the road from 9 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. Much of the business is c.o.d., and the engine is stopped during the calls.
Deliveries are made in the following districts amongst others :— Kingston, Weyhridge, Oatlands Park, Surbiton, The Dittons, Esher and Leatherhead. To many of these places, moreover, two journeys a day are made.
Commencing business some years ago with one horse (which, how-: ever, quickly had to be assisted by a second), Mr. Loft came to the conclusion four years ago that satisfactorily to pursue his vocation on an economical basis a motor was a necessity. He then purchased. the Albion, and has never regretted his choice, nor has he ever even considered the question of going back to horses. •Asked as to the possibility of so doing, he declared that such a reversion was unthinkable. His business must fall away, or the working costs go up, were he to try it.
• Since acquiring a motor his trade has increased to several times its former proportions. He finds that the van has considerable value as an advertisement, and, of late, he says he has found himself unable to take in all the business that has been offered. In fact, he has under donsideratiOn at the present time the possibility of increasing his transport facilities by adding a similar van.
On inspection of the machine, we perceived, perhaps, some portion of the reason for its super-excellen.t service, in the care and attention of which it has evidently been the recipient. Everything under the bonnet, for example, was wonderfully spick and span, and throughout the chassis was in perfect order, and gave evidence of having been well cared for since its having first been put into service sonic four years ago.
Mr. Loft informed us that at the time of its purchase, anticipating trouble, he laid in one or two spare parts, amongst others, a driving chain. Many of our readers will no doubt be surprised to learn that this driving chain has not yet been taken from the paper in which it was wrapped. He proudly opened one of the, inspection doors of the chain ease, and exhibited one of the chains actually in use, or, at any rate, so much of it as could. be seen ; as a matter of fact, it was so well covered in grease and oil that it was necessary to a certain extent to take the chain itself "as read." "That grease," said Mr. Loft, "costs nothing; it is all
old gearbox and engine oil, carefully cleansed of all particles of grit and dirt, and afterwards poured into the chain case. Hence the longevity of the chains." The business of wholesale confectioner is evidently one on which the war has had little or no effect ; up to the present, no difference in the volume of business done has been noticed. Questioned as to the possibility of the War Office commandeering his machine, he told us that he had several times seen the impressment officers casting an envious eye upon it, but it has been definitely turned down by the officials as being too small for their work, for which, Mr. Loft assured us, he is extremely thankful. Other 25-cwt. users have found the same.
Some of the participators in last year's Parade may remember the van, which is illustrated below. It had the honour of being the runnerup for the Shra-pnell-Smith Cup. As this is awarded to the owner of the vehicle, the bodywork of which disclosed the best advertisement effect, and as undoubtedly the artistic and well-cared-for appearance of the van would weigh considerably with the judges when making the award, it can readily be understood that the bodywork receives the same attention as the mechanism ; further, that it is a credit to both owner and driver. We cannot refrain from publishing our immediate acknowledgments and thanks to the officers of the A.S.C., M.T. Reserve Depot at Greve Park, Kent, under the command of Colonel H. F. T. Fisher, A.S.C., for their further generous donation of 2150 from the funds of that depot. This brings the Grove Park depot to the hig-hly-useful total contribution of £600 to date. This depot, of course, is a very large one, but its support is at least proportional to its extent, in relation to the other A.S.C., M.T., depots in the country. From the Aides-shot depot, commanded by Colonel A. E. Cuming, we have a further .225, bringing the total from that branch of the organization of the Aldershot command up to £105. Mr. S. E Alley, of Alley and MacLellan, Ltd., Sentinel Works, Glasgow, has brought his company's donation up to
We are reserving the list of smaller donations from other sources until our issue of next week, but it will then be seen that we have, during the month of April, made distinct and further satisfactory progress towards the accomplishment of our objective—E5000.
We again desire to point out that we have in hand a number of copies of the audited accounts of the Fund, from the 26th October to the 25th March last, as vouched by the Hon. Auditors, Messrs. E. Bishop and Co., chartered accountants, of 106, Jerrnyn Street.
A Report horn the Fund's Recently-appointed Special Travelling Commissioner in France.
It is not necessary to go far among the A.S.C., M.T., men attached to the British Expeditionary Free in France to realize the measure in which the gifts of the Campaign Comforts Fund are appreciated. In an organization of this nature, connected with men who are constantly on the move and who would not dare predict their place of billeting for 12 hours in advance, there must of necessity be occasional delays in the reception of goods, and even eases of goods having gone entirely astray. Usually, however, such delays am rectified almost before a, letter of inquiry or complaint from headquarters has got through to the forwarding officer.
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There were some such instances for me to take up with the forwarding officer at the Overseas Base, but with one exception it was discovered that every case sent out to the men in France had been delivered... The exception was a box of bull's-eyes, for an 0.0., which appeared to be addressed to an unknown unit. This speaks well for the forwarding organization of the British Army. [And for the Fund's own orgariizafion and observation of regulations, we submit. -ED. I
As will be readily understood, the change of season necessitates a change in the nature of goods sent out to the men. The forwarding officer at the Overseas Base asked for more footballs. "I could make good use of 200 footballs at the present moment, and I have reason to believe that the men will continue to play football until the middle of the summer. There is also a demand for cricket sets, although cricket does not arouse so much enthusiasm as football. It is hardly necessary to send wickets. A bat and ball are quite sufficient for a game. Woollen cornforters are no longer required, although socks and underclothing are always welcome. The men want more soap and very much appreciate the tooth brushes, tooth paste and towels you are • sending. Penny mirrors for shaving are considered a very handy thing to. have in the pocket." in a French factory transformed into a busy M.T. repair depot, the 0.0. was interrupted over a pint pot of tea which would have done credit to a popular. London eating house.. " Can't you send us someboxing gloves ?" he asked as soon as introductions were over. As proof that they were needed, he pushed across the table a typewritten programme of a boxing tournament to be held that. evening. "We are not like the men at the Front," he explained. "There they often work like niggers for two or three days, then do nothing for a week. In the repair depots the men have regular hours, and except in special circumstances are free to do what they like after 6 p.m. What the men need now are outdoor games. [It goes without saying that "we shall see what can be done."—En.)