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THE ACTIVITIES OF LEADING BODYBUILDERS.
Page 92
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A Brief Description of the Works, System of Production and Typical Models of Some of the Chief Makers.
A WORKS WHICH PRODUCES 12,000 BODIES A YEAR.
ABODYBUILDING department which has a capacity for 10,000 private bodies and 2,000 bus bodies a year is necessarily of vast proportions, and one may expect to find the very latest appliances and machinery for dealing economically with a huge output. A couple of hours spent in touring round the works of Vickers, Ltd., at Crayford, Kent, more than fulfil every expectation.
The plant at pi•esent is very busy with various contracts, there being orders in hand for quantities of no fewer than $5 different types of bus body, the vast space available in the factory alone making it possible to handle such a problem.
Deliveries are being made to various home and foreign corporations, including certain in China and Holland.
The commercial-vehicle side has recently been considerably extended to cope with the increased volume of work, the new varnishing shop allowing of ten 35-seaters being varnished at one time, up-to-date air-cleaning and heating plant having been installed. A number of trolley-buses has recently been delivered to the West Hartlepool Corporation and a further batch is in hand•for abroad. '
One enters a saw-mill of seemingly adequate proportions, but it is explained that the real business of machining the various parts of the framework is on an upper floor of one of the huge wings of the more recently built portion of the, works. Here, driven by electric power, is a wide range of the latest woodworking machine tools. As the timber passes through the mill the template accom, panics it, and each item is rigidly inspected for size and conformity to pattern. This inspection has tyre important advantages. It forms a means whereby incorrect Machining is readily discovered and the opportunity afforded of putting matters right promptly ; also, it ensures that all items which are passed will assemble readily in their respective jigs. A characteristic feature of the Vickers bus body is the inclusion of a rigid transverse unit, comprising two side pillars, cross-bearer and hoopstick, reinforced at the corners with gusset plates on each side. Hoopsticks are single or double-flitched, according to the roof load to be carried, and the pillars have steel inserts whenever the conditions of service demand it.
The whole of one long gallery is set apart for the serving . machines of the trimming department. Here Li machine is being fed with a strip of leather-cloth and lining material, and two rows of seaming cord connect the whole into useful welting for concealing the nail heads and edges of the upholstery. Another machine is geared up to do 3,000 stitches a minute.
A firm of such vast resources, with many experts at its command, is in an advantageous position for discovering ways and means for improving methods of production, whilst it is inevitable that the range of experience thus available must in due course have an important bearing on the develop.. meat of the scientific construction of bodywork in general.