Scammell's of Spitalftelds.
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An Old-established Van and Wheelmaker's Business, and the Large Extensions which are being made to it on the Motor-vehicle Side.
Established some 80 years ago in the heart of Spitalfields, in the East End of London, the works of Messrs. G. Scammell and Nephew, there is little doubt, were conducted in those far-off days under quite salubrious conditions. Under the atmospheric extremes of the present summer, it is difficult to imagine such a state of affairs after a visit to the present-day works, which still occupy the original site. Mr. A. H. Scammell, one of the energetic young partners of the business in its present guise, is ready to tell visitors that, although their works, every inch of which, by the way, is situated on freehold property, are nowadays located in a part of London which, to say the least of it, is malodorous and over populated to a degree, the neighbourhood itself is a paradise to what it was, say, 15 years ago. In 1840, or thereabouts, Scaminell's works in Fashion Street were in close proximity to a neighbourhood wherein resided the City magnates whose businesses only called them over the municipal border from their homes in SpiteMelds. Even to-day it is easy to recognize some of the fine old residences which here and there indicate the class of inhabitant with which the neighbourhood was previously identified. Many of these are within a stone's throw of Bishopsgate Street. After all, the social status of the surrounding inhabitants matters little if anything to the well-being of a factory of the ordinary kind, especially to one that has been established so long as that of Messrs. G. Scamrnell and Nephew. A visit to their works at once impresses one with the conviction that, if Scammell's had not decided to extend their premises, before long something serious would have happened to the retaining walls of the factory. Nowadays, it appears that it is no uncommon thing for the parts which are delivered for repair and reconstruction, in addition to the finished goods which are being turned out, to reach such a volume that it is almost impossible to get into the old works or out of them again!
Before we proceed to give some little indication of the class of work in which Scammell's have specialized, it will be interesting to draw the attention of our readers to the remarkable circumstances which have attended the acquisition by them of a very-extensive freehold property that immediately faces the original works. It appears that some ten years ago, a syndicate of people, who were interested in the East End Jewish community, constructed an elaborate closed market-place immediately opposite Scammell's old works. This marketplace covers a superficial area of 11,000 sq. ft. The intention of the promoters was to induce the hitherto-itinerant Jewish barrow
merchant, with whom those who are familiar with the neighbourhood will remember the district is more than well served, to ply his trade at this centralized depot. Those who were responsible for the scheme imagined that the police and other responsible authorities would welcome such a means for the ridding of the streets of what was fast becoming a nuisance. Unfortunately for the Jewish promoters, the police did not see eye to eye with them, and, moreover, they were legally unable to prevent any law-abiding hawker from using the streets in a legitimate manner. The consequence of this was that this huge market was practically never used at all, and then, at a time when Scammell's had definitely decided to lay themselves out for what they are thoroughly convinced is to be an enormous business in the maintenance and repair of commercial vehicles of all types, this property was put into the market. The partners of the "old firm across the way," with very considerable business acumen, closed the deal for the purchase of the whole place. Powers are being sought for the removal of the right of way, which at present exists through the market. The entrance to this gangway may be seen in the photograph, which we reproduce, of the frontage of the old Jews' market.
In this manner, therefore, have Scammell's now at their disposal a building which is in itself curiously well adapted for garage and repair work. It is estimated that the new premises will accommodate at one time 90 big commercial vehicles of the size at least of a five-ton steam wagon. In accordance with the usual type of construction that is adopted for markets elsewhere, the ground area is divided into a large number of separate compartments, and each of these compartments, as it happens, is amply large enough to accommodate a five-ton wagon with a high body. Wide gangways, of course, are already provided down the middle of the two 'big bays of which this market consists, and there is plenty of room for manceuvring and for plant and storage. A fine broad gallery, well ventilated and very stiffly constructed, is admirably adapted for the installation of machine-tool plant of every &.scription. Ventilation, lighting, drainage and other characteristics of a modern factory are all ready to Messrs. Scammell's hands, and it has only required the raising of certain beams to give further headroom, and the fitting of offices, store-rooms, etc., to bring the building to real perfection.
The most-modern types of machine tools only will be installed in these new premises, and, alto
get her, this replete repair-shop, situated as it is in close proximity to the docks and to the huge warehouse districts of the City, as well as to several of the great railway goods yards, is bound to be of exceptional use to owners of commercial-motor vehicles in the whole of the East End of London. Arrangements have already been made with Fodens, Ltd., of Sandbach, to hold a full stock of spare parts for its well-known wagons, and Mr. A. H. Scammell informs us that a considerable number of this particular make of machine is already being maintainedat Fashion Street. The enterprising Sandbach maker is affording Scam mell's every assistance that is po, sible in the establishment of the new side of the business. Amongst other steps that have been taken. with this end in view, has been the transference of several first-class
experts from the Cheshire shops to the staff of the Spitalfields works. In order to facilitate rapid attention to breakdowns on the road, Scammell's, amongst other suitable parts, always have in stock a fully-fitted " ready-for-service " Foden back axle, which can, of course, be put up in the place of a damaged one at very short notice.
We shall take an early opportunity, when the new premises are properly equipped and in working order, to furnish our readers with a description of the excellent facilities that will then be available for the repair and maintenance of all classes of commercial vehicles and their components. In the meantime, we may describe shortly the plant with which this firm is enlarging its present very extensive connection on well-considered lines.
It must be understood, of course, that the motor-vehicle maintenance
department is a comparatively-new development—it has been added within the last two years, as a matter of fact. Previously. Scammell's had for many years conducted a huge business in the construction and repair of horse-vans and of the wheels therefor. With the arrival of the commercial vehicle, the wheelwrights' department. had to be extended enormously, and bodies for motordriven business vehicles are now being constructed in large numbers at these works. It will be seen, therefore, that, while the old-established facilities for the construction and maintenance of horse-drawn vehicles are still available on a large scale, the newer industry in which we are particularly interested has been responsible for very far-reaching developments in the business scope of Scammell's body and wheel-building depart,. rnents. Realizing the enormous possibilities of the commercialmotor vehicle generally, Scammell's have not been content to secure that portion of such work which deals exclusively with the coachbuilders' branch, but they have, as is evidenced by the acquisition and intended equipment of their new large premises, decided to make a bold bid for the maintenance of the whole mechanical structure of commercial-motor vehicles of all kinds and sizes.
As this firm has, for so many years, enjoyed a remarkable repu tation for the building of first-class road-vehicle wheels, it will perhaps be fitting if we deal with the development of this branch of their business first. At the present time, they are building wheels for most of the big vehicle makers, as well as for many of the large tire firms.
All the rims are welded and turned in their shops, and the wheel is built up throughout and fitted with rubber or steel tires complete on the spot. Scammell's claim very considerable credit for their own method of artillery-wheel building, and from instances which have come before our notice we think they can do so with every justification. Not only are the spokes forced together at the centre of the wheel in a special hydraulic radial press, but, invariably, the central hole. which is to accommodate the metal hub, is left on the small side when the assembly is made. This hole is bored out with considerable care to such dimensions that the hub can then be forced into position with a press. It will be seen that this dual method of tightening avoids the possibility of the hub's becoming loose, although the spokes may be perfectly tight, or, alternatively, of the spoke ends' remaining slack, although they may be binding hard on the hub. Both of these weaknesses, all users of wooden wheels will realize, are far too common. Scammell's composite wheel is an interesting speciality, which these makers are gradually placing on the market in large numbers. A caststeel centre and a built-up wooden felloe are held together tightly by the insertion of a wedge-shaped metal liner between these two main parts, which are bored with opposite tapers to suit ; the liner itself is pulled up tight by bolts which pass both through it and the special flanges which are formed on the steel centre. Seammell's are not very enthusiastic in the matter of all-steel wheels, and, perhaps, their patented composite wheel may be taken as their technical solution of the all-wood versus all-metal wheel controversy. In view of the fact that this firm is closely associated with the headquarters of Fodens Ltd., and has made special arrangements for the efficient repair of Foden steam wagons, whose numbers in London are increasing so rapidly, it is interesting to note that this composite wheel affords special advantages in the matter of re-tiring Foden driving wheels. It is not necessary with one of these wheels to remove the whole structure if it he required to fit a new Lire: the wedge is loosened, and the felloe and the worn steel are replaced by a newly-tired part. A comprehensive plant, dealing with the building and tiring of wheels of all sizes and descriptions, is installed : this includes a large hydraulic radial wheel building press and the usual hydruilic tire press. Rim-rolling machines of various sizes and an extensive tiresmiths shop are important provisions in this department. We illustrate a wheel lathe upon which the built-un wheel is bored to receive the hub as already describer]. The body-building department has gradually undergone a similar transformation to that which the wheelwrights' shops have experienced. At the time of our visit, there were in hand examples of such widely-different classes of bodywork as heavy insulated meatvan bodies, taxicab bodies, and very highly-finh.h.n1 carrosserie for light delivery vans. We illustrate one of a series of special types of single-deck omnibus bodies that Scamitiell's are sending to various Parts of the country, and the photograph which we reproduce is of an omnibus which Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., is sending for additional service to Derby. This particular example comprises a smoking compartment in the front, which communicates by a sliding door to the first-class compartment at the back. In order to comply with the licensing iequirements, an emergency door is provided at the back of the body. Amongst the bestfinished types of delivery-van coachwork that we have seen, we would instance several highlyfinished bodies which Scammell's have built for Messrs. Bradley and Sons, the Arctic Fur Stores, of Bayswater.
The motor-vehicle repair department will not be in full swing until the new premises are properly equipped, although from this it must not be inferred that Scam'Dell's are not yet in a position to undertake anything of this sort. The present partners are keenly alive to the tremendous business which will have to be done in this direction in the near future, and they are keenly anxious to turn the natural advantages of the location of their works and of their long-standing business connections to the best account. Heavy steam wagons in considerable numbers are already being handled for repair, and, as an instance of the capacity for large jobs of this description which is possessed by Scammell's, we may cite the re-tubing of a Foden boiler which was successfully carried out there recently. Overhauls to private cars also form a considerable portion of the business of this new department. The existing machine-shop, which has been in working order for nearly two years, contains a number of heavy tools, amongst which we noticed a lathe which could swing a 7 ft. 6 in. wheel if necessary.
We shall postpone any further description of this new branch of Scammell's enterprise until the completion of the new installation, and we will conclude this present notice with an assurance to our readers that, close to the Eastern City boundary, before many weeks are past, there will be available a range of first-class commercialvehicle repair-shops, in which all kinds of maintenance and repair orders will be carried out satisfactorily.