A.E.C. "Double-deckers" Excel on Farm-stock Transport
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LIVESTOCK carriers are frequently entrusted with loads which may be valued at anything up to £7,000. Choice of vehicle is, therefore, highly impormnt, particularly in the matter of reliability, since delay from mechanical breakdown may easily lead to heavy financial loss.
Prior to 1935 Messrs. Austin Clarke and S,-)n, of Minety, Wilts, employed only lightweight units for the transport of horses, fat m and show stock. In that year, howevet, they purchased their first big-capacity " doaoledecker," an A.E.C. Mandator, whith has now run nearly a quarter of a million miles.
So satisfactory has been the service given by this vehicle that it has been followed recently by a Monarch oil engined unit of similar design. The latest vehicle, with a body by Lee Motor Works, Ltd., has a long-wheelbase chassis, a body length, from the driver's cab, of 20 ft. and an inside height of 7 ft. 6 ins. For the accommodation of sheep there is a rpecial extension over the cab and a gate is provided to separate this from the main compartment o hen required There are two loading tamps, one the rear, of the split type, extending to the full height of the body and the other, of the hinged type, for use at the front near side. In addition, there is a calf gate fitted at the off-side front and provided with a solid door. Two division gates are fitted to each deck, and two high-division gates are available for use with the single deck.
With these two large A.E.C.s, Messrs. Austin Clarke and Sons are now able to carry, in either, vehicle, approximately 166 fat lambs, 200 Welsh lambs or 14 cows. Both are used daily for the .transport of livestock between farm and market and to and from the principal agricultural shows. The reliability of the transport provided is such that the firm is frequently called upon to pick up loads at places 50 miles distant. Long journeys are undertaken also, in some cases to Manchester, 250' miles from Minety.
When, prize cattle are ming handled —principally in connection with shows—only three or four beasts are carried at one time. In such cases, most of the remaining space it. the vehicle is taken up by special foodstuffs and by measuring instruments and equipment. On the showgrount; the actual vehicles nften provide sleeping accommodation for the men.