A Show that Teased the Hungry Dog!
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By Col. A. jerrett, President, Traders' Road Transport Association TO the C-licence operator the Commercial Motor A Show must have assumed rather the nature of the succulent bone in full view of, but safely out of reach of, a very hungry dog. Foi the managements of transport fleets must have cast envious eyes on such a feast of quality and design, while their imagination ran riot on replacement programmes for the home market, with " export " placed second.
All, however, must have taken pride in British craftsmanship, and any who may at one time have questioned the wisdom of permitting the Exhibition will now agree that this country's prestige for quality of workmanship and material will have received So valuable a boost as more than to justify the decision. One of the outstanding features of development from the " trader's " transport angle is the increase and splendid variety of small vans and trucks below the 30-cwt.' capacity; and within this category are included some very well-thought-out travelling shops, the design and building of which are to he commended for covering utility, hygiene and appearance.
The tendency towards forward control is marked and, on balance, sound, although still too little effort appears to have been directed towards giving the vehicle personnel the comfort such models require.
Scope of Articulated Outfits
Considerable progress seems to have been achieved in the 'bulk-capacity tractor-trailer type of vehicle, and one can visualize the possibility of traders some day supporting the passenger-carrying interests in their plea to the Minister for dimensional increases in chassis length and width.
Bodybuilding in general does not appear to have advanced in design in very striking degree, unless it be conceded that the occasional " rake " tends to give a more modern appearance and smoother lines. There is, however, one notable exception in this respect, and that is the light retailing body with almost street-level
a6 loading, the great accessibility of which should prove
decidedly popular for town deliveries. The general finish and paintwork of bodies in a number of cases was exceptionally good and appears to indicate, amongst other things, a considerable advance in paint material.
The light-metal or metal-faced panelling on the van bodies, coupled as it appears to be with considerable degrees of strength, is an expected and desirable advancement.
Tailboard Hoists—Spectacular Development Probably the most spectacular mechanism in relation to goods-carrying developments is the tailboard hoist, and one feels that here is real advancement in load handling. Naturally, the proof of the pudding being in the eating, the practical operation under constant load and varying conditions is the testing ground. A smaller model for the 10-15-cwt. vehicle, capable of a 5-cwt. lift, wOuld prove extremely useful under a variety of circumstances.
Doubtless many operators would be interested in the Brockhouse-Marchant device that claims to show a substantial fuel edonomy, and provided it lives up to its claims and can be made available for the home market it will find a ready demand.
The increasing call for oil engines in the lighter goods vehicle is obviously being met so far as supply difficulties permit, and some really interesting exhibits were noted.
By and large, the vehicle manufacturers and bodybuilders have whetted the appetite of the home-market user with fine workmanship and material, particularly having regard to the great difficulties under which they are operating. If the much-required release of vehicles to the home market can be implemented, then many transport problems of the C-licence operator will be very substantially reduced by some of the Earls Court exhibits.