A Photo-engraver's Long-service Motorvans.
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A familiar Fleet-Street sight is the cream-painted motorvan, or rather the motorvans, of Carl Hentschel, Ltd. It so happened, recently, that. a representative of this journal, having a business call to make in Fleet Street, and being at the time held up in a distant suburb, took advantage of one of these vehicles quickly to arrive at his destination. A favourable moment having presented itself shortly afterwards, he decided to interview a responsible member of Carl HentscheI, Ltd., part of whose duty it is to superintend the running of this company's vans.
One would need to travel far, in order to secure more favourable evidence as to the reliability of the business motor in town than that here tendered. The vehicles used by this company comprise two single-cylinder 9 hp. de Dions, aged six and four years respectively. During the whole of their service, the vehicles have never failed to carry out their work in a satisfactory manner. In these days of newspaper rush and speed, when it is absolutely essential that the last word in the world's happenings should be photographed and transmitted to special editions, without the loss of one second, it will be understood that an engraver and block-maker's business calls for speed and reliability.
Carl Hentschel, Ltd., has two works, located in Fleet Street. and Norwood respectively, a distance of 7-i miles separating the two. We were told that each of the vans averages four return journeys per day, making a total distance for each of 60 miles. To this can be daily added a further 20 miles, representing journeys made to newspaper offices where urgent. deliveries must be effected. In addition to the driver, one boy is taken in each van, and his duties consist of hurrying into the offices with the supplies, and securing original photographs and drawings for transportation to one of the above workshops with all speed.
"Are you sure that the vans perform the journeys without trouble of any kind ? " asked our representative of the London manager.
"Try a run to Norwood and see for yourself," was the reply. "One of the vans is just leaving with a big load of work."
With three extra people aboard, making five in all, the van climbed the road to Norwood, which is practically a continuous ascent, without trouble, on first and second speeds, the lowest speed not being required. Having arrived at Norwood, our representative proceeded to ascertain the official view on the value of the vans.
" If we had to depend on trains," said the local manager, "we would be well advised to close these pre
raises. Our business is entirely dependent on the time factor, and, unless we can deliver our gouda when promised, especially in rush periods when fires, murders and wars are afoot, it would be no use our continuing this business at Norwood.
" We first started our transport between here and Fleet Street with a number of boy-propelled tricycles. The next departure was to buy two or three motor quads. This would be eight or nine years ago, and the performances put up in those early days were hardly regarded as satisfactory. Later, having acquired experience, we purchased our oldest de Dion, and it will interest you to know that this vehicle is rapidly approaching its quarter-of-a-million miles. Until three months ago, the gears had not been changed, and, when we decided to overhaul the vehicle thoroughly, the excellent condition of the teeth was such as to warrant. our securing a photograph as a record of excellent wear."
This photograph is reproduced on page 182. The state of the gears cart plainly be seen.
" On the rear wheels, we have almost throughout used Sirdar tires, and until quite recently we used Michelins on the front. We do all our own running repairs, and a further point of interest regarding the hardihood of the vans lies in the fact that they have never known the tender care of a garage. As a matter of fact, they stand out in an open shed all through the year, winter inclisded. This should give you some idea as to the treatment they have received during six years service."