Keeping the Civilian Operators' Wheels Turning
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North London Company Builds up Post-war Goodwill by Maintaining Service Facilities Under Diffiadt Conditions
WHEN the size of the fleet operated justifies the establishment of a service department, there is no doubt that it can be made to pay dividends in the form of maximum mileage per vehicle per annum, and this may be an economical proposition. Where, howwer, the number of vehicles is small and, 'perhaps, comprises several different makes of machine, then it seems more practicable to iely upon the services of an outside concern w hi c h specializes in repair and overhaul work.
To-day, of course, things are somewhat difficult in this direction, and it may be that, for this reason, a visit we recently paid to the works of the Arlington Motor Co.,Ltd., High Road, Ponders End, Enfield, may prove of more than usual interest.
This concern fully appreciates the troubles which beset civilian operators, and is in a position to come to their aid in almost every conceivable circumstance. We .got the impression that if the job be beyond the resources of the ArlingtOn Motor Co.; Ltd., then it would be something of a most unusual character.
.Wliilsf the company, specializes in Leyland and Redford machines, for which it possesses the knowledge and equip. ment necessary to give efficient and speedy repair _and overhaul 5ervice IL does -not confirie its activities to these two makes. Neither does it restrict itself entirely to commercial vehicles, as it handles Gardner oil-engine repairs, the mechanical maintenance of agricultural equipment, corn_ pressor plants, and so on. '
• • Quite an important side to the company's business is that connected with the recovery of spares and components from old vehicles. One does not, however, see the usual • heaps of shafts, gears, axle casings, chassis frames, and so
on, piled up in hopeless confusion, but a vehicle park looking as orderly and presentable as a large number of derelict machines will allow.
As a vehicle is broken down, so its components are cleaned and examined, and, if considered worthy of being put to further use, they are stored on shelves in the manner of new spares.
The company is responsible for a considerable volume of business in engine reconditioning, rebuilt units being sold as such, or used in connection with the concern's replacernent scheme. In the case of engines removed from unserviceable vehicles, it , may be that a unit is considered to be reasonably useful without extensive rebuilding, in which event it would be sold, more or Jess as removed from the vehicle. However, the company would not accept any responsibility for its performance.
When" an engine is booked for rebuilding, the cylinder block is first carefully teited forthe soundness o( the casting. This is done hydraulically, careful observation being kept for .faulty areas. Other major components are examined for soundness, and if no serious trouble be discovered, yet another engine, which might easily have found its way on to the scrap heap, will be built-up to practically new. condition.
From our observations, we have no doubt as to the degree of thoroughness with which every phase in the rebuilding of such power. units—or, . for that matter, all repair work and reconditioning—is carried out. Orderliness and method, combined with an essential tiara spirit, are in evidence, in all departments.
At the time of our visit a number of Government-requisitioned coaches, which had been returned to their original operators, were being reconditioned. As may be imagined, the work involved was, in most cases, extensive, covering .complete chassis overhauls and the refitting of the interior of the bodies, together with exterior repairs. . • • The bodybuilding shop we found to he particularly busy, and although the structures did not appear to 'us to differ in any material way from pre-war prVetice we-soon learnt that, in detail, considerable ingenuity had been exercised irt_. order -effectively to
utilize the timber sizes. available. Such extemporizing, as is now called -for, brings out the skill of the operatives,. as few bodybuilding jobs to-day can., proceed „Withotit consideration of' the way S and means.
;Paitel,:beating is carried out "on the premises, and In section we saw badly mutilated wings and .other pressed-steel pates being brought back to shape, and, with the aid.of the ubiquitous,•welding torch, restored to -practically new condition.
'stores, -tyre. servicing and battery reconditioning departments provided, further evidence of that system and orderliness which characterizes efficient service. It may he of interest to operators who. are -contemplating the con versions of one or more of their vehicles to operation On producer gas, to know that this -concern is one of those officially .appointd for -carrying 011t this work. There are about 120, men and women at present employed by the concern and their wants are ably catered for in the works' canteen.
In the conduct of its business,: the company runs a Leyland I2-15-tonner, mounting a heavy breakdown crane, two Bedford vans and a Ford seirvIce van.
The company holds distributorships for Leyland and Bedford vehiclesant, as we have already said,-, it-is. iri connection with these -makes that -it is in..a position .to give a specialized, form cd service. It is the main distributor for.Leylands in Loudon and the Home Counties, and for the • Eastern Counties frorti its branch at Sudbury, Suffolk; .South Wales is covered from. its Cardiff premises.. For Bedford machines it is the Main clistlibutdr .North: London.
(pur general impressines of th',.§ iiye concern are that it takes pride in being ablu to carry out work ,,which is other. than straightforward, and that it appreciates being given the opportunityof showing civilian operators that, by its skill and resourcefulness, it can give a form of service under the restrictive-conditions of to-day which is almost on a par With that provided in normal times. •