A Service Station.
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The Place where the Infrequent Repairs to Garford Lorries and WiflysOverland Vans are Carried Out. A Plentiful Supply of Spares.
The application of the word service to the repair and upkeep. of motor vehicles was in the beginning an Americanism. At first it was understood to be free, and was part of the sales method adopted by American makers in the earlier days, when some such guarantee of freedom from maintenance costs was necessary before a sale could be effected. Of late this practice of including a number of months of free service with each car sold has diminished, and by now is practically non-existent. The idea still holds, inasmuch as that with a new car is frequently included a number of printed slips, each of which entitles the owner to certain reductions in whatever maintenance or repair charges he would ordinarily, incur. The meaning of the word has also altered with the times, and now is understood to imply the after-care of the vehicle when it has been supplied. Any expenditure of labour and material by a maker as service must, however, nowadays be paid for,. and it is not expected to be supplied gratis. Some such guarantee of attention at the hands of the manufacturer Cr his agent, coupled with the certainty that an adequate supply of spare parts will be available, is an important point with the user in a country of the area of the United States, where he may be a thousand mile S from the maker of his vehicle, and in consequence, the establishment of service stations in all the main districts has been found necessary by all the large American manufacturers. -The subject does not attain the same measure of importance. in this country, .where in normal times, with the assistance of the telegraphic and postal services or aassenger trains, supplies can be demanded from the makers and received within 24 hours in the majority of cases.
Owing to the very large number of American chassis now being used and offered for sale over here, this question of service becomes an important one in respect of such vehicles. It is not surprising that one or two of the big makers, particularly those of long-standing over here, are establishing what are called service stations, so that users of their vehicles are not likely to encounter any difficulties in keeping them on the road or in replacing parts that may wear out or be accidentally damaged. A case in point is Willys-Overland, Ltd., of 151-153, Great Portland Street, London, W. This company represents two large makers in the States, the Willys-Overland Manufacturing Co. and the Garford Manufacturing Co., both of which supply chassis for commercial use. The company's present service station is the third or fourth that it has occupied since it has been selling in this country. The removal in
each MEC has been caused by expansion of business and increase in the number of models stocked, and consequently of spare parts which must be kept on hand to meet possible requirements. The number of Overland and Garford chassis for touring cars, vans and lorries in use in the United Kingdom is, we gather, well into four figures. From observations made in the course of a stroll through the repaiiing rooms, -we feel justified in stating that the percentage of failures is a fractional quantity. The present service station, at Lot's Road, Chelsea, is admirably situated, and well laid out. The key-note is modernity. The orderliness and efficiency are a credit to the works manager, Mr. J. W. Longley. The ground-area occupied by the building is 36,000 sq. ft. Along one side, occupying the whole of a small bay, is the stores and offices ; across the end, occupying the full width, with the exception of the bay devoted to the stores and taking up one-third of the length, is the main repairs department. The rest is devoted to storage and garage of examples of the various models, with the exception of one small corner near one of the entrances, where running repairs on the "while you wait" arMciple are carried out. From the point of view of interest, the stores is obviously the most important department-. The bins, which are of the modern pressed-steel sectional types, were, erected by Roneo, Ltd., of High Holborn, London, W.C. These bins are built up to a height of 14 ft. to 15 ft. Access is had to the upper stories by means of ladders and small movable platforms which run on rails carried by the bins, one of these platforms being available in each row. Such a stores as the one at Lot's Road would do credit to many a large manufacturer. The. need for a department of this size lies in the number of models which the cOmpany is handling, supplies being kept for no fewer than 17 of these, including, of course, old as well as existing types. Each bin is numbered and lettered. The card-index system is adopted, and such is the degree of accuracy that we are credibly informed that the sudden absence 61 all the storekeeping staff would not incommode the company to any further extent than the temporary provision of a substitute staff. The actual labour could be taken up at the same point at which the existing staff left it, without the probability of mistake or trouble.
The stores is divided up into sections according to the divisions of a chassis ;_ thus in one portion of it are kept details of clutches; in another, those of differential cases ; in another, those of gearboxes, etc. To be certain' of being useful in any emergency, the scope eoyered by such a Stores must include every detail of a chassis, and such is the capacity of this one. Those who are acquainted with the thousandand-one parts that go to make a modern vehicle-will appreciate the importance of that statement. A stroll round the stores will very quickly convince them of its truth ; they will see on the one hand frames and machined castings, and on the other, such small items as lamp glasses, brake shoes, carbon brushes, and similar parts.
To anticipate the possible rejoinder of some Overland or
ford user user who has not been able to obtain a lamp bracket or some similar part by return, it should be mentioned that at the present time, owing to the very 'stringent import regulations and owing to the neces sky. for keeping freight down to a minimum, only, essential partsare being dealt in: for instance, it is quite conceivable that a roan could drive his Overland van or his Garford lorry with a lamp bracket made by the nearest blacksmith ; on the other hand, in. the event of his either breaking a propeller shaft or stripping the teeth of one of his The gangway of the stores. gear wheels, then that replacement would be available at short notice.
As showing the. care which is exercised in ,the selection of essential
Partsi , t may be pointed out that in connection with such things as propeller shafts of touring cars, the company stocks a few of those of the longest; then, or course, if an
order comes in for one for a short wheelbase car, it is a matter of perhaps an hour or so to shorten one of the long ones .stocked and to cut the key-way a little further along_ The company is finding it advisable, we understand, in some cases, to have some of its parts made in this country, thus saving the cost of freight (an important item at the present), benefiting British industries, and cutting the cost to the consumer at the same time.
Our tour of the premises was made in company with Mr. Qrant, the-secretary, and Mr. J. A. Mackie, the general manager. We were informed that the value of the parts in'the stores alone approximates 214,090.
It will be useful to conclude this article by a .brief reference to the types of convnercial vehicles for which this organization exists. The Garford. 1-ton, 1k-ton, and 3-ton capacities were described recently in these columns (4th November, 1915). They are soundly-made, American-assembled chassis, and there are now many users who can testify to the value given by these thichines in commercial service_ The -one-tanner (which is fitted with pneumatic tires on the front, by the way) is a very popular model. In addition to meeting civilian require. ments, the company has supplied 600 of this model alone to the Government; we understand they are being used to convey water for various purposes. An exceptional feature about the Garford trucks is the complete equipment which i included as a standard. Side lamps are actually fastened to and -enclosed by a large sheet-steel dash. A mileometer is also fitted as a standard, and the drivers' seats are comfortably upholstered. A new model,.with which we propose to deal in an early issue, is the 8-cwt. van, which sells complete with bddy, self-starting and lighting equipment, and all acces
sories for 200. •