CONDUCTING A SALES CAMPAIGN BY ROAD.
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An American Company's Idea for Popularizing a Range of Products for the Workshop.
• -tlA LTHOUGH most prominent British commercial vehicle manufacturers now exhibit a perfect, understanding of the term "service" and are not slow to * appreciate the fact that by paying proper heed to users' requirements after a vehicle has been delivered goodwill is
• maintained, there is little questien that American makers set an example in this direction.
Quite a number of makers in the British Isles employ special service vehicles which work to definite itinera, ries and make regular calls on users with a view to ascertaining that their machines are giving satisfaction. Some of these vehicles are equipped as stores vans, whilst others carry • equipment which enables minor adjustments and mechanical repairs to be executed.
It would appear that in the employment of service vans of this kind British makers have set their American confreres an example, for we learn that a vehicle which has recently been put into service by the Straus-Frank Co., is claimed to be the first of its kind to make its appearance in the United States. Its use, however, does not quite coincide with that for which such vehicles are employed in this country, primarily because of the fact that the company are distributors of motorvehicle supplies and equipment and not actual manufacturers. The campaign they have recently instituted, however, is of particular interest as indicating the value of direct methods of approaching users. The company have put into service a. large Republic van, which is intended to serve as a travelling motor service equipment ahowroom, and it takes the term of a compact workshop equipped with the latest and most modern devices for the maintenance and servicing of motor vehicles.
The vehicle is making a tour Of the San Antonio trade territory, and will be shown to every dealer who undertakes repair and maintenance work, in an effort to spread the gospel of shop efficiency, and it is expected that its programme will take roughly six months to complete. The purpose of this campaign is to aid the dealer in his selection of suitable equipment distributed by the Straus-Frank Co. and to educate him in its proper use. All the machinery carried on the Republic vehicle is ready for actual use. There is a complete range of Black and Decker tools, electric drills on bench stands, electric polishing and grinding machines, carbon-cleaning and buffing brushes, and an interesting valverefacing and reamer-sharpening machine. A complete welding and cutting outfit also forms part of the equipment, and demonstrations of this plant are given by an expert welder and metallurgist. One of the most interesting machine tools wh'eh is carried is an electrically driven device used for reboring cylinders in order to permit the fitting of new pistons. It is claimed to give the cylinder wall a high-grade finish. Two of the largest manufacturers of workshop equipment in America, the • Weaver Manufacturing Co., and the Manley Manufacturing Co., have a representative range • of their products forming part of the equipment. The products of the former which are carried include a 28-ton forcing press for heavy shop work, a heavy-duty jack, a new type of press, which is for lighter press work and broaching, axle and crankshaft straightening, with extra attachments for use when relining brake bands and for testing the alignment of connecting rods. A 30-ton heavy-duty press, with broaching tack and many attachments for numerous shop tasks, manufactured by the Manley Co., is included, and micrameters. gauges, speed indicators and other precision tools are carried.
The chassis which forms the basis of this vehicle LS. a 3-tonner manufactured by. the Republic Motor Truck Co., of Alma, Michigan, and the body with which it ,is fitted was designed and built by the San Antonio Body CO.
As will be seen, from one of the accompanying pictures, the side and end panels are SO arranged that the upper halves, when raised, form an awning, whilst the lower sections at the sides are made to fall on chains to form a platform. Suitable compartments and drawers are fitted in the interior for housing the smallest tools. The vehicle is finished in a bright shade of orange outlined in black and carries the forceful slogan, " The Best Equipped Shops get the Busiaess," on each side.